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The charm of a new laptop has a habit of wearing off in just three or four hours, or about the time when the batteries give out. This is a notorious weakness in laptop technologies, but Acer just might have the solution.

The new Acer Aspire Timeline series of notebooks are not only thin and light, its batteries are designed to hold out for up to eight hours as well.

On Thursday at Hotel Mulia, South Jakarta, the Indonesian branch of the Taiwan-based computer manufacturer introduced the series to the local market. Two models from the series are currently available here: the 13.3-inch Aspire 3810T and the 14-inch Aspire 4810T.

Jason Lim, president director of Acer Indonesia, said at the product launch: “Aspire Timeline marks the beginning of a new era in mobile computing, an era in which users will have more time to finish their job, to keep connected and also to enjoy entertainment.”

Supporting the whole energy-saving concept, Acer utilizes two Intel features: the Core 2 Duo Ultra Light Voltage processor, which only draws between 5 and 10 watts, or one-sixth of the power of regular mobile processors, and Display Power Savings Technology, which reduces the power needed for the display backlight by 33 percent.

The combination of the ultralight processor and the power-saving display is claimed to have the ability to reduce overall energy consumption, boosting the system’s efficiency by as much as 40 percent.

The series is also equipped with the Acer Smart Power key for power adjustability. When pressed, the smart power key enables the user to activate an advanced setting option that determines how long the notebook’s battery is going to last.

“This [feature] was, of course, encouraged by shifting trends in daily lifestyles, where people are no longer constrained to one place to work,” Lim said.

The Acer Power Smart adapter does even more as it consumes 66 percent less watts than the standard set by Energy Star, a US government-backed program aimed at saving money and protecting the environment through efficient products and practices.

The adapter also automatically stops charging when the battery is fully charged. But despite its increased power, the battery itself is neither thicker nor heavier.

All models of the series have a thickness tapered to less than an inch. With the flimsy yet stylish aluminum cover, the 13.3-inch model only weighs 1.6 kilograms and the 14-inch model weighs 1.9 kg, making it a convenient, fashionable and lightweight object to carry around.

Another comfort issue that a typical notebook has is the tendency to toast up after a while. But Aspire Timeline utilizes Intel’s newest cooling technology, Laminar Wall Jets.

Similar to the ones used to cool the turbine blade of jet engines, the cooling airflow is channeled directly beneath the notebook chassis and is used to drive out heat efficiently and smoothly.

The result allows users to type or browse away on the notebook for a longer period of time without uncomfortable heat underneath their fingers or on their laps.

When all’s said and done, Acer Aspire Timeline presents technology that combines stylish designs, energy efficiency, practical mobility and personal convenience.

Specifications
Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
Memory:  Dual-channel GB DDR3 SDRAM support, up to 4 GB of DDR3 1066 MHz memory
Optical Media Driver: 8X DVD-Super Multi Double-Layer Drive (N/A for 3810T)Display: HD Acer CineCrystal LED-backlit TFT LCD, 16:9 aspect ratio, super-slim design
Graphics: Mobile Intel GS45 Express Chipset with integrated 3D graphics
Audio: Optimized 2nd Generation Dolby Sound Room audio enhancement Storage: 320 or 500 GB hard disk drive