X-bit labs

Acer Ferrari 4005WLMi Notebook Review (page 4)

Category: Mobile

by Alexander Britvin

[ 03/24/2006 | 02:59 PM ]

The rest of the system indicators are located on the notebook’s front panel next to some interface connectors and in between two stereo speakers. These are visible irrespective of the position of the notebook’s lid. This group is shown in the next two pictures. It includes (from left to right):

• 5-in-1 card-reader that supports Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, MultiMediaCard, SecureDigital, xD Picture Card formats
• Integrated microphone
• IrDA port
• Power indicator (alight when the computer is turned on)
• Battery indicator (alight when the battery is being recharged)
• Line audio input with support of digital S/PDIF interface
• Line input
• Bluetooth switch/indicator
• WLAN switch/indicator

The Acer Ferrari 4005WLMi has a great number of ports, connectors and interfaces which are conveniently placed around its case. The line audio input is perhaps the only one you may have troubles working with. It is very handy to have it on the front panel if you’re using headphones, but if you use any of the notebook’s several video outputs (see below) and have to connect a speaker system, too, you will have the computer’s front cluttered with the cables.

The following can be found on the left panel of the notebook:

• 15-pin D-Sub connector for an external monitor
• LAN port (RJ-45)
• Modem port (RJ-11)
• USB 2.0 port
• 4-pin FireWire port
• PC Card slot (for one card of type I or II)
• PC Card eject button

The notebook’s right panel carries the following:

• Three USB 2.0 ports
• Optical drive with an activity indicator and a disc eject button
• Power connector
• Kensington lock

These three USB 2.0 ports are placed at a big enough distance from each other, so you can easily use them all at the same time. The optical drive is slot-loaded, which is handy, but you cannot use mini-discs in it.