None of those traits are unique to Acer, of course, but we're pleased to see that the TravelMate 8000 Timeline Series also incorporates a power adapter that stops feeding power to the battery when it's fully charged.

There are three formats in the range. The first to be listed at Acer's web site is the 13.3in. TravelMate Timeline 8371 model. Weighing in at 1.6kg, the 8371 qualifies as an 'ultraportable' notebook.

The other two models are larger and heavier, with 14in. and 15.6in. screens. All three have a 16:9 (wide-screen) aspect ratio, LED backlighting and a generous 1,366-by-760-pixel resolution. The touchpad supports multi-gesture controls such as moving a finger in a circular shape to scroll, pinching to zoom and flicking to move between pages.

Options include broadband connectivity, a webcam and a fingerprint scanner. Expect a full review and test of that 8-hour battery life soon.