Acer TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi Description

Travel Mate 4504LMi-XPP - Intel Pentium M Processor 745 1.8Ghz (2MB L2 cache 400Mhz FSB) Microsoft Windows XP Professional 1GB DDR SDRAM 100 GB hard drive DVD-Dual drive (DVD+/-RW) 15 XGA TFT Display Intel 855GME chipset with integrated graphics 802.11b/g WLAN 10/100 LAN V.92 modem

Acer TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi Basics

Sporting virtually no weak links apart from its average 3D graphics performance yet priced comparably to notebooks that aren't as well equipped, the Acer TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi (LX.T5106.112) Notebook PC is an ideal choice for the savvy road warrior. Equally at home in the office or on the road, the unit features plenty of processing speed and oodles of memory while at the same time delivering admirable battery efficiency and easy portability. Acer hasn't skimped on the options either, equipping the unit with a massive hard drive, a state-of-the-art optical drive, and today's most popular connections and communication facilities. At this price point, the commanding yet efficient TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi is hard to beat.

Acer TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi Processor

At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and power of the entire unit. Some of today's notebooks are equipped with high-end CPU's on par with those found in top-of-the-line desktop PCs, while others are quick enough only for basic duties such as word processing, email and the like. The TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi is driven by an Intel Pentium M processor 745 running at 1.8 GHz. This is one of three components comprising Intel's efficient Centrino system (the others being a specialized Intel chipset and integrated wireless support). Centrino-equipped notebooks are generally smaller, easier on the batteries, and more versatile than their non-Centrino counterparts. Moreover, the new, upgraded Pentium M roster features an amazing 2 MB of Level 2 cache for lightning fast access to recently opened files and applications. This particular 1.8 GHz model is one of Intel's faster Pentium M chips, far from the stunning speed of a high-end Pentium 4 but definitely competent enough to breeze through most common notebook tasks while going easy on the batteries.

Acer TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi Memory

Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they also keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means more efficient computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. The TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi incorporates a whopping 1 GB of memory. This is double the current standard notebook allotment, thus ensuring you won't need to upgrade your memory for many years down the road.

Acer TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi Video

CPU's are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). A standalone graphics controller with "dedicated" video memory is preferable to an "integrated" controller that's permanently mounted to the mainboard and shares the system's main memory, as it will better handle complex procedures without borrowing resources and delivering slow or jumpy images. This system's graphics controller is an Intel Extreme Graphics with 64 MB of shared memory. Though not as efficient as a standalone card for the reasons explained above, this controller nevertheless is part of Intel's recently upgraded Extreme Graphics technology, which more efficiently appropriates main memory than preceding models. As such, the unit will deliver top-notch images and smooth frame rates to virtually any 2D and some 3D applications, but is not recommended for serious 3D gaming or high-end 3D animation.

Acer TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi Display

You'll love the way your images look on the system's 15.4-inch WXGA display. Not only does it sport super-clean resolutions of 1280 by 800, but it also offers a 16:10 "widescreen" viewing ratio -- the same panoramic dimensions favored by Hollywood movie-makers and DVD producers.

Acer TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi Hard Disk

One of the most surprising -- and welcome -- perks of the TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi is its storage capacity. At 100 GB, the system's hard drive is one of the largest found in any current notebook and will easily handle a massive selection of applications and user files and an extensive photo/multimedia/music library too.

Acer TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi Optical Drive

An optical drive is essential in today's computing environment. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can watch DVD movies. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can "write" home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of a CD). Some drives allow you to do a combination of all of these tasks. The TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi features a modular DVD-Dual drive that supports all of the above and is also compatible with double layer DVDs, each of which delivers nearly twice the capacity of traditional DVDs (8.5 GB vs. 4.4 GB). Moreover, its modular format allows you to quickly detach it and thus reduce weight for those extra-long road trips.

Acer TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi Audio

The unit features two integrated stereo speakers, a stereo headphones/speakers/line out port and a stereo microphone/line-in ports.

Acer TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi Keyboard and Controls

You'll control your notebook via an 88-key Acer FineTouch keyboard with an embedded numeric keypad and numerous hotkey controls, and a convenient touchpad with two mouse buttons and four-way integrated scroll button.

Acer TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi Connectivity and Expansion

Whether you prefer wireless or corded connections, the TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi is ready. The unit offers a wide variety of ways to keep in touch, including a standard dial-up 56K data/fax modem for low-speed communication, a 10/100 LAN for high-speed wired network and Internet, and integrated Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG for cordless e-communication at home, at the office or remotely via local public hotspots. Other key amenities include three high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play devices such as external drives and digital cameras, a FireWire port (commonly used for quick data uploads from digital camcorders), an S-Video TV-out for high-quality digital feeds to a monitor or television, and an infrared port for interaction with cordless peripherals.

Acer TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi Operating System and Software

Acer has equipped the unit with Microsoft's top-of-the-line version of the Windows XP operating system, Windows XP Professional Edition, CyberLink's respected PowerDVD DVD software player, and a small selection of multimedia and operational utilities.

Acer TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi Dimensions and Weight

Notebook computers are manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and weights. Many of today's most powerful notebooks are also the largest, weighing ten or twelve lbs or more and therefore too big and cumbersome for extensive, continuous traveling. These are often referred to as "desktop replacements". On the other extreme are "thin and lights" or "ultra-portables", super-miniaturized units that typically aren't as powerful as their larger brethren but weigh as little as two lbs and will often fit comfortably inside a large purse. At 14.2 by 10.7 by 1.3 - 1.5 inches and 6.5 lbs with optical drive installed, the TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi is slightly under the current notebook average.

Acer TravelMate 4500 TM4504LMi Power

The unit is equipped with an eight-cell lithium ion battery that delivers an admirable 5 hours of use under ideal conditions. Average recharge time is 1.5 hours with power off and 3.5 hours with power on.