I ordered the Acer Timeline 4810TZ-4508 to replace my two-year old Lenovo Thinkpad T61, and I love it!
Getting started was very easy. It only took me about two hours to register Windows 7 Home Premium, upgrade to Windows 7 Professional (through the Anytime Upgrade feature), create factory default backup discs, remove some bloatware, and install some of my favorite programs. After reading some of the reviews of the older models, I was worried about the prospect of flashing the BIOS or updating the VGA/LAN drivers, but my computer has worked fine without those updates. I suspect that Acer may have fixed those problems for this model, since it's a new release with Windows 7.
Although the processor is ostensibly slower than the Intel Core 2 Duo processor in my T61, I had to underclock the T61 because it tended to overheat and shut down. With this Timeline, I'm able to run the processor at full speed without any heating or cooling problems. The computer is surprisingly zippy. I found that I was able to listen to music, convert tracks on iTunes, surf the web, and install programs all at the same time, without any noticeable lag in performance. Full screen streaming video on [...] and [...] also looked fantastic, without any jerkiness or skipping. (In fact, video playback was better than on my Thinkpad which, notwitstanding the faster processor, had less RAM and a slower video card.) The screen is very bright, and even at the dimmest setting, I was surprised with how much clearer it was than my old Thinkpad. It is a glossy screen, however, which means that it looks great indoors but is very difficult to use outdoors. I have found the glare a bit distracting, but not a deal-breaker. I don't play computer games, so I can't say anything about its performance in that regard.
Of course, one of the main reasons I purchased the Timeline was for portability, and it really doesn't disappoint. The laptop is noticeably thinner and lighter than my T61 - I think the total weight is about 4 lbs. and it's just over an inch thick. Acer wasn't kidding about the battery life: I spent 4.5 hours today at Starbucks surfing the web, listening to music, and using Microsoft Word with the screen at medium brightness, and still had 45% battery by the end. I am sure that I could get about 8-9 hours of total battery life, if I minimized all the settings. After fighting for power outlets and worrying about tripping over power cords with my Thinkpad, this is a refreshing change.
Coming from using the T61's fantastic keyboard, I was kind of nervous about this chiclet-style design, but I easily got used to it. The keys give a lot of tactile feedback, and they are well-enough spaced that you don't hint the wrong keys. The touchpad, however, is a bit difficult to use, and I'm still getting used to the stiffness of the touchpad button.
Overall, this is a fantastic computer, and a great value at the price. I think if you are considering the different 14 inch models, the 4810TZ-4508 has some advantages over the cheaper/older models: more RAM, faster processor, 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium, and newer drivers.
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