Acer Debuts Quick Start Netbook

Acer has introduced a Windows XP netbook with a dual-boot feature that enables users to switch to the Android operating system to boot up faster for Internet connectivity.

The Aspire One AOD250 offers one-click switching between the operating systems for "instant on" Internet access as a convenience to customers.

"The Android operating system and the Aspire One netbook is an ideal combination for end users that require a highly mobile device for data consumption," Sumit Agnihotry, VP of product management for Acer, said in a statement. "The unique dual-boot OS on the new Aspire One ensures users fast connections."

Dual-boot laptops were a highlight of this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Lenovo and Sony are among the vendors offering mobile PCs that can load a Web browser and other applications in 10 to 20 seconds.

The AOD250 has a 10.1-inch screen and an Intel Atom N280 processor. The mini-laptop weighs less than three pounds and comes with 1 GB of system memory, built-in Wi-Fi, a 160-GB hard drive, and a multi-gesture touch pad. The latter lets users scroll, zoom in and out, and flip through Web pages, photos, and spreadsheets.

The system also has a built-in Webcam and microphone and integrated Bluetooth for wireless connections to mobile phones, printers, and other devices. The netbook also has three USB ports, a six-cell battery, and is available in several colors: red, black, blue, and white.

The AOD250, released Thursday, has a starting price of $350.

Acer this week unveiled its Windows 7 lineup of laptops. The new products in the Aspire family included a system with a multi-touch screen and a smaller ultra-portable PC. The laptops will ship after Microsoft releases its new operating system Oct. 22.

Acer's focus on low-cost systems like netbooks has driven sales in the economic recession. The company in the third quarter surpassed Dell in becoming the second largest PC maker in the world based on shipments, according to market researchers IDC and Gartner.

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