So I went to get a portable computer. I saw this great review of the Acer Aspire One AOA150-1447, which reportedly comes with a 6-cell battery, 160GB internal hard drive and WinXP. Then I decided I wanted that model.
At something like 2.2 pounds, I could deal with the tiny keyboard and smallish screen, since it is basically a Wi-Fi device (to let me post to this blog more often!) Selling points: big HD; native Linux support.
The press release, quoted by Technorati, TechShout, AspireOneUser and several other tech blogs mentions that it is available from any Acer authorized reseller.
A bad joke.
I called my supplier and he confirmed that, not only were none available, but that he couldn’t even backorder them from either of the two largest wholesale distributors in the world.
Well, it wasn’t a complete waste of time- I did learn that Acer seems to own/control Gateway.
Which explains how some of the Gateway models that didn’t move very well are now on sale as… Acer computers.
Odd, don’t you think?
I’m still waiting for one to become available.