Ferrari 3400

mrees · 30th December 2004, 2:09 PM

Ok, im able to salary sacrafice up to ~$8k at work, and im gonna get a laptop as part of the package.

After using so many different brands and models at work, i thought it would be a good idea to go with an AMD chip, and research led me to the Acer "Ferrari 3400".

The laptop has everything that i need, the only down side is that there arent too many, if any at all, stores around here that have one in stock that i can look at, and there arent too many reviews online.

So what i'm after is any comments from ppl that already own one of these lovely pieces of machinery.

I've been lookin around, and its hard to tell which supplier sells the laptop with WinXp Pro, and WinXP Home, as each website and supplier says different things.

Im also looking at a targus sportline delux bag to compliment it as well.

ruski · 30th December 2004, 3:03 PM

The targus sportline deluxe is great for big bulky laptops, i hardly notice my Inspiron 8600 in it! Only problem is that it isn't too roomy once the laptop is in, and once u put in your AC Adaptor, Mouse, headphones and perhaps a CD Case, there is hardly any room for anything else.

tanboy · 30th December 2004, 3:25 PM

I've recently purchased a 3400, after tossing up between the Ferarri and the dell 8600 or 9200 - whenever they had their $1000 off sale.

All in all it is a performance laptop but there is some good and bad to it all.
I'll start with the shortcomings.

- 3kg, although it might not sound too heavy, it isn't exactly the most portable notebook out there. But then again it does have a lot squished into a relatively compact size.
- Battery life is relatively short around 1.5hr on average use. you can prolong it by turning down the brightness, turning off wireless & bluetooth (when not required) and installing drivers which allows you to varies the speed of the CPU gives additional life to the battery.
- The computer runs hot, especially when gaming with the latest and greatest (ie. Half Life 2 or Need for Speed Underground 2). Without good circulation, the heat sensor auto protect will automatically shutdown the pc.
- The memory is only DDR333 but can be replaced with DDR400.
- The hard drive is only 4200rpm. For a performance notebook, that isn't up to scratch.
- Speaking of scratch, the red cover is prone to it!!

the cloth it initally comes with will be handy as a layer of protection.

Lastly the postives
- Good clear screen. Not a wide screen, but this wasn't one of my preferences.
- amd64 3000+ and ati9700 great for gaming. not the best GPU out there for a gaming laptop but if it were any faster, the portability will become totally non-existent
- bluetooth, connectivity to whatever PDAs I have on hand.

You can check out the following forum:

http://notebookforums.com/showthread...7&page=1&pp=15

which has comments from acer ferrari 3200/3400 owners from all over the world!

PhuckNut · 31st December 2004, 3:47 AM

I think you'll find that the 'standard' configuration for this notebook is with Windows XP Home Edition, as this is what apec/Acer tend to stock, however it can be ordered from Acer with XP Pro (probably looking at about $150 additional) however these orders will normally take significantly longer to fill, as it has to be custom 'built' so to speak.

mrees · 1st January 2005, 5:08 PM

Thanks for the info.
Im not overly fussed about the weight, as i wont be carrying it too far (between car & work, from car to building, etc) so that doesnt fuss me too much, plus i'll have other stuff in the backpack as well.

The only real downside to this laptop is the battery life, but if i can adjust the features like BT, etc, then that wont be a problem, and besides i wont be playing Doom3 or HL2 off battery for long periods too often.

tanboy, how much did you end up getting yours for? and did you get it online? i've found it online for $2975 plus $150 to upgrade to XP Pro.

Are there any better backpack style bags around that are good. Unfortunatly the selection to look at in the stores is limited, and they generally only stock 1-2 brands.

tanboy · 4th January 2005, 8:57 AM

Thanks a pretty good price there. I got mine through a computer vendor for $3200 without xp pro. Also got an acer shoulder bag with it (no Ferrari bags unfortunately)

I’d say for this laptop, the backpack is the way to go because its pretty tough on the shoulder with the laptop power supply and all packed in. But I can’t recommend any.

Varuna · 4th January 2005, 10:42 AM

Targus are garbage, get a crumpler.

mrees · 4th January 2005, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Varuna

Targus are garbage, get a crumpler.

Is there any reason as to why they are crap? and that crumpler are any better?

changlinn · 6th January 2005, 2:15 PM

I thought with those ferrari laptops a lot of your money was going towards the brand? correct me if I am wrong but I recall reading a review that compared one to a similar spec and it was like 700 cheaper... but it is red so it goes faster

fxr91 · 6th January 2005, 2:32 PM

The extra 700 is most likely for the Ferrari licensing.

tanboy · 7th January 2005, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by changlinn

I thought with those ferrari laptops a lot of your money was going towards the brand? correct me if I am wrong but I recall reading a review that compared one to a similar spec and it was like 700 cheaper... but it is red so it goes faster

That's right, the red makes it that much faster! Don't forget the extra fast red ferrari mouse!

Bullion · 7th January 2005, 11:18 AM

Cant say anything about the targus. But i do have a crumpler............they look heaps cooler, whether thats a reason to get one i dont know, but they do. I ride a bicycle ALOT and chose a crumpler "very busy man" because it is perfect sling it across the back and go.

mrees · 7th January 2005, 2:45 PM

are the prices in the stores similar to what they have on their web site? if so, they are a little bit too far out of my price range.

30th December 2004, 2:09 PM	#1
mrees Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Adelaide Posts: 179	Ferrari 3400 Ok, im able to salary sacrafice up to ~$8k at work, and im gonna get a laptop as part of the package. After using so many different brands and models at work, i thought it would be a good idea to go with an AMD chip, and research led me to the Acer "Ferrari 3400". The laptop has everything that i need, the only down side is that there arent too many, if any at all, stores around here that have one in stock that i can look at, and there arent too many reviews online. So what i'm after is any comments from ppl that already own one of these lovely pieces of machinery. I've been lookin around, and its hard to tell which supplier sells the laptop with WinXp Pro, and WinXP Home, as each website and supplier says different things. Im also looking at a targus sportline delux bag to compliment it as well.

4th January 2005, 10:42 AM	#7
Varuna Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sydneys Northern Beaches. Posts: 1,050	Targus are garbage, get a crumpler. Last edited by Varuna; 4th January 2005 at 10:51 AM.

6th January 2005, 2:15 PM	#9
changlinn Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 1,094	I thought with those ferrari laptops a lot of your money was going towards the brand? correct me if I am wrong but I recall reading a review that compared one to a similar spec and it was like 700 cheaper... but it is red so it goes faster __________________ Boxen: My Dual Athlon server R2D2 My Game and design box Spidey My Laptop Gandalf Succesful trades: Blinky, mickeylieu, pippin88 Clubs: Laptop Club member number ∏ Visit My Website

7th January 2005, 11:18 AM	#12
Bullion Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Im a vagrant Posts: 144	Cant say anything about the targus. But i do have a crumpler............they look heaps cooler, whether thats a reason to get one i dont know, but they do. I ride a bicycle ALOT and chose a crumpler "very busy man" because it is perfect sling it across the back and go. __________________ Brakes.... freewheel what do you need those for????

30th December 2004, 3:03 PM	#2
ruski Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Perth, WA Posts: 355	The targus sportline deluxe is great for big bulky laptops, i hardly notice my Inspiron 8600 in it! Only problem is that it isn't too roomy once the laptop is in, and once u put in your AC Adaptor, Mouse, headphones and perhaps a CD Case, there is hardly any room for anything else.

30th December 2004, 3:25 PM	#3
tanboy Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 114	I've recently purchased a 3400, after tossing up between the Ferarri and the dell 8600 or 9200 - whenever they had their $1000 off sale. All in all it is a performance laptop but there is some good and bad to it all. I'll start with the shortcomings. - 3kg, although it might not sound too heavy, it isn't exactly the most portable notebook out there. But then again it does have a lot squished into a relatively compact size. - Battery life is relatively short around 1.5hr on average use. you can prolong it by turning down the brightness, turning off wireless & bluetooth (when not required) and installing drivers which allows you to varies the speed of the CPU gives additional life to the battery. - The computer runs hot, especially when gaming with the latest and greatest (ie. Half Life 2 or Need for Speed Underground 2). Without good circulation, the heat sensor auto protect will automatically shutdown the pc. - The memory is only DDR333 but can be replaced with DDR400. - The hard drive is only 4200rpm. For a performance notebook, that isn't up to scratch. - Speaking of scratch, the red cover is prone to it!! the cloth it initally comes with will be handy as a layer of protection. Lastly the postives - Good clear screen. Not a wide screen, but this wasn't one of my preferences. - amd64 3000+ and ati9700 great for gaming. not the best GPU out there for a gaming laptop but if it were any faster, the portability will become totally non-existent - bluetooth, connectivity to whatever PDAs I have on hand. You can check out the following forum: http://notebookforums.com/showthread...7&page=1&pp=15 which has comments from acer ferrari 3200/3400 owners from all over the world!

31st December 2004, 3:47 AM	#4
PhuckNut Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Southern Adelaide Posts: 511	I think you'll find that the 'standard' configuration for this notebook is with Windows XP Home Edition, as this is what apec/Acer tend to stock, however it can be ordered from Acer with XP Pro (probably looking at about $150 additional) however these orders will normally take significantly longer to fill, as it has to be custom 'built' so to speak.

1st January 2005, 5:08 PM	#5
mrees Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Adelaide Posts: 179	Thanks for the info. Im not overly fussed about the weight, as i wont be carrying it too far (between car & work, from car to building, etc) so that doesnt fuss me too much, plus i'll have other stuff in the backpack as well. The only real downside to this laptop is the battery life, but if i can adjust the features like BT, etc, then that wont be a problem, and besides i wont be playing Doom3 or HL2 off battery for long periods too often. tanboy, how much did you end up getting yours for? and did you get it online? i've found it online for $2975 plus $150 to upgrade to XP Pro. Are there any better backpack style bags around that are good. Unfortunatly the selection to look at in the stores is limited, and they generally only stock 1-2 brands.

4th January 2005, 8:57 AM	#6
tanboy Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 114	Thanks a pretty good price there. I got mine through a computer vendor for $3200 without xp pro. Also got an acer shoulder bag with it (no Ferrari bags unfortunately) I’d say for this laptop, the backpack is the way to go because its pretty tough on the shoulder with the laptop power supply and all packed in. But I can’t recommend any.

6th January 2005, 2:32 PM	#10
fxr91 Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Brisbane, QLD Posts: 7,545	The extra 700 is most likely for the Ferrari licensing.

7th January 2005, 2:45 PM	#13
mrees Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Adelaide Posts: 179	are the prices in the stores similar to what they have on their web site? if so, they are a little bit too far out of my price range.