Acer TravelMate C301 Tablet PC (1.50 GHz Pentium M (Centrino), 512 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, CD-RW/DVD Combo)

by Acer

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 8 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0001JXAFM
• Item model number: LX.T280E.079
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,247 in Computers & Accessories (See Top 100 in Computers & Accessories)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 15, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Up until recently, one truism has existed with all tablet-based notebooks -- they're small, with a small display screen. Most are also comparatively underpowered. Not so with Acer's distinctly upscale TravelMate C301 Tablet PC. Though it doesn't sport the same ultra-lightweight design as many of its smaller tablet peers, the TravelMate C301 combines many of the perks of a tablet with the larger display screen and processing power of a traditional notebook, and houses it all in one convenient package.

At 12.8 by 10.7 by 1.4 inches and 6.2 pounds with optical drive installed, the TravelMate C301 is indeed heavier and larger than the typical tablet but less bulky than the majority of standard notebooks. Unlike most tablets, however, the unit features a generous 14.1-inch XGA TFT LCD display (1024 x 768 maximum resolution) and a high-end Intel Centrino-based CPU.

One of the chief reasons for buying a tablet is its input flexibility, and in this regard the TravelMate C301 certainly doesn't disappoint. Users who prefer traditional data entry may take advantage of the integrated keyboard with scroll feature and programmable touchpad, while those who prefer "handwriting" via digital ink can utilize the enclosed stylus and eraser to freehand sketch their ideas on the display screen.

But there's far more to like than input versatility in this, one of Acer's most advanced tablets. Driving the unit is a snappy 1.5 GHz Intel Pentium M CPU, 512 MB of DDR SDRAM memory, and an Intel Extreme Graphics 2 video chipset with 64 MB of shared (not dedicated) video memory. As such, the system will suffice for practically any typical mobile or midlevel desktop task, but may have trouble efficiently displaying high-end 3-D games and animations.

The system features today's most desirable connectivity options, including two ultra-fast USB 2.0 ports for plug and play peripherals, a single FireWire port for attaching external devices such as digital video cameras, an RJ-45 LAN port for fast network access and Internet interaction, a low-speed dial-up 56K modem, and an 802.11b wireless LAN with internal antenna. Data handling components include an average-sized 40 GB hard disk and a detachable CD-RW/DVD drive through which you can archive data, install applications, burn and play audio CDs and enjoy the latest DVD movies.

Bundled software includes Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system and a wide variety of general and tablet-specific utilities. Battery life is estimated at a commendable 3.0 hours in ideal conditions.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My Acer Experience, August 2, 2004

By 

P. Davis (Pennsville, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Acer TravelMate C301 Tablet PC (1.50 GHz Pentium M (Centrino), 512 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, CD-RW/DVD Combo) (Personal Computers)

I've had my TMC300 for over three months now. After reading other reviews, I decided to defend this tablet. Although I've had one key that sticks (the right mouse button) and my screen went to black, I use this Tablet all day every day. I was upset I had to send it back to Acer, but they had it picked up the next day, and returned in five working days, one day before they promised.

The inking abilities with Microsoft Office 2003 are ok, but even though there are many things lacking, I've been able to produce document instruction manuals twice as fast with the pen than drawing elements in Word. Creating notes with Windows Journal is great. The dictation abilities with XP Tablet are also ok, but the text recognition of XP Tablet SP2 is much improved. The battery seams to last forever. I've had the computer on for the past 6 hours. With the hibernated mode, there is still 50% battery power. I've been able to play 2 DVD movies on a plane with one charge. My only complaint to this tablet is the low speaker volume and the lock that keeps the screen closed sometimes sticks.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I am not sure if it was a good idea to get this, July 24, 2004

By 

I. Voln "computer geek" (Bay Area, CA,USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Acer TravelMate C301 Tablet PC (1.50 GHz Pentium M (Centrino), 512 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, CD-RW/DVD Combo) (Personal Computers)

Overall, I like the system features and performance.

I love that it is a tablet - it is so much more convenient

than a regular laptop.

There is one very annoying problem with this model though:

the keyboard is "sticky" - meaning, despite this tablet is

brand new and just arrived, when I press and release a key on the keyboard it acts as if I kept it pressed, continuing to

type the same character again and again. Sometimes, when I compose an email and press the "DEL" key to delete a character - ooops! - it deletes half of the email. Unfortunately, this problem happens way too often, a few times per day. I did not expect this behavior from a new computer.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Died early, July 16, 2004

By 

Carl A. Trapani "Carl A. Trapani" (Eau Claire, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Acer TravelMate C301 Tablet PC (1.50 GHz Pentium M (Centrino), 512 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, CD-RW/DVD Combo) (Personal Computers)

I purchased my Acer from Amazon with great anticipation. I had read a lot of reviews about the various features and it seemed very promising. My son had also purchased one and he was pleased with it. Mine came and I was very excited - but the fun lasted for a very short time. The Microsoft Tablet software (Journal and the free download trial version of OneNote)while being hyped as great - weren't. And so my productivity dreams vanished within a couple days. Then the screen became unpredictable, and in a short time I could not get it to work at all. I returned the unit to Amazon and now wonder if I will ever try another tablet pc. Probably not, because the current software is designed for scribblers and note takers not organized document makers. I really do hope that some company will take the tablet seriously enough to make it lightweight, cool, bright, and powerful enough to do the work of regular notebook. And also for Microsoft to work on a tablet pc word processor at least a little bit like Word.