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Packard Bell dot

Specifications

Packard Bell dot
Packard Bell dot (dot Series)
Processor
Intel Atom N270 1 x 1.6 GHz, DiamondVille
Display
8.90 inch 16:9, 1024 x 600 pixel, glossy: yes
Weight
1.2 kg ( = 42.33 oz / 2.65 pounds), Power Supply: 0 g ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Price
400 Euro

 

Pricecompare

Average Score: 76.39% - good
Average of 31 scores (from 36 reviews)
price: 76%, performance: 67%, features: 69%, display: 64% mobility: 75%, workmanship: 85%, ergonomy: 72%, emissions: 57%

Reviews for the Packard Bell dot

80% Packard Bell Dot m/a UK020
Source: V3.co.uk English Archive.org version
Netbooks have been growing in size since the first Asus Eee PC hit the streets. The original was almost pocket-sized, with a 7in screen and a processor only powerful enough for simple browsing and office tasks. Packard Bell’s new Dot m/a, available from Tesco Direct, is much more like a notebook in miniature, with an 11.6in widescreen display, 2GB of memory and an unusual combination of processor and graphics chipset. An excellent small notebook let down by poor battery life.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 11/02/2009
Rating: Total score: 80%
80% Packard Bell Dot m/a UK020
Source: Channel Web English Archive.org version
Netbooks have been growing in size since the first Asus Eee PC hit the streets. The original was almost pocket-sized, with a 7in screen and a processor only powerful enough for simple browsing and office tasks. Packard Bell’s new Dot m/a, available from Tesco Direct, is much more like a notebook in miniature, with an 11.6in widescreen display, 2GB of memory and an unusual combination of processor and graphics chipset. An excellent small notebook let down by poor battery life.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 11/02/2009
Rating: Total score: 80%
80% Packard Bell Dot m/a UK020
Source: Computer Active English Archive.org version
An excellent small notebook let down by poor battery life

Good points Light-action, large-key keyboard; more processor power than most; excellent software bundle

Bad points Poor battery life
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 11/02/2009
Rating: Total score: 80%
Packard Bell - dot m/a UK020 review
Source: IT Reviews English Archive.org version
The line between netbooks and laptops continues to blur, with screen sizes from 9-inch up to 15-inch in the mix and performance specifications with a similarly wide range. Packard Bell sees its dot s and dot m as mainstream netbooks and the larger of the two, the dot m reviewed here, has an 11.6-inch widescreen LCD and runs on a 1.2GHz, 64-bit Athlon L110 processor with 2GB memory. This is a great little machine, though more a small notebook than an oversized netbook. Vista doesn't hold it back much and the extra memory and strong ATI graphics help with this. However, if you can afford the six-cell battery, go for it, or stay fairly close to a power socket all the time.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 10/22/2009
Rating: mobility: 50%
80% Packard Bell dot m/a review
Source: Tech Advisor English Archive.org version

Bigger than your regular netbook, the Packard Bell dot m/a offers AMD processors and an 11.6in screen. Breaking away from the pack, the Packard Bell dot m/a has a bigger screen and a potentially faster processor, not to mention a graphics chip that can handle simple games if you drop the quality settings. A generous battery pack is always welcome, although actual runtime is reduced here by the inefficient processors, when compared to an Intel chipset.


Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/12/2009
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 70% features: 80% workmanship: 80%
60% Packard Bell dot m/a AMD Athlon-based netbook
Source: Reg Hardware English Archive.org version
In its basic form, the dot m/a is let down badly by its farcically poor battery life but if you can lay hands on one with the six-cell battery for a reasonable price then you will have a very nice machine and one that represents decent value for money. A 10.1in screen Samsung netbook like the NC10 or N110 will set you back between £300 and £350, and neither has the hi-res screen or 2GB of memory of the m/a.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/21/2009
Rating: Total score: 60%
70% Packard Bell dot s review
Source: Techradar English Archive.org version

Will Packard Bell's smallest netbook offer big performance? The dot s is Packard Bell's 10.1-inch netbook. Unlike its larger brothers, the dot m and dot m/a, it stays safely in known netbook territory by featuring an Intel Atom processor and running Microsoft's Windows XP operating system. As with the dot m, the sample we reviewed was a pre-production unit so we were not able to provide full benchmarking results, such as battery life testing. While the Packard Bell dot s doesn't really bring anything new to the netbook market, it is a well-rounded machine that should be on most people's list of machines to check out before making a purchase. As long as the touchpad issues are rectified, we are big fans.


Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 08/27/2009
Rating: Total score: 70%
60% Packard Bell dot m review
Source: Techradar English Archive.org version

Essentially the dot m/a, but from an alternate reality. Packard Bell's second 11.6-inch netbook, the dot m, shares exactly the same chassis as the dot m/a, but differs internally by carrying an Intel Atom processor and running Windows XP software. While the keyboard may not reach the standard we expect, all in all, the Packard Bell dot m proves a great netbook. The screen in particular is fantastic and this machine is certainly worth a look.


Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 08/26/2009
Rating: Total score: 60%
70% Packard Bell dot
Source: Tech Advisor English Archive.org version
The Packard Bell dot s is a netbook with the fastest Intel Atom processor now available. Packard Bell has relaunched itself, now under the wing of Acer, and for the first time has brought two netbook models to the UK. Some wireless options are lacking, and the Packard Bell dot s feels smaller than other 10in netbooks, but the price is competitive when set against some other netbooks with long-life credentials. And don’t forget the red colour option if you want to stand out too.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/17/2009
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 70% features: 70% workmanship: 70%
75% Packard Bell dot
Source: CNet English Archive.org version
Hold the front page -- it's a netbook without an Intel Atom CPU! The Packard Bell dot m/a, also known in some circles as the Gateway LT3100, does away with the Intel norm in favour of an AMD Athlon L110 CPU. It also plumps for a larger-than-usual 11.6-inch screen and a slightly wider chassis, pushing it dangerously near laptop territory. The Packard Bell dot m/a is a good netbook, particularly for anyone seeking a larger screen than normal. It's slightly bigger than many of its rivals and its battery life is merely average, but it has an excellent keyboard and would make for a great second computer.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/11/2009
Rating: Total score: 75%

Foreign Reviews

90% Packard Bell DOT M U.GE 080
Source: Notebookjournal German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 01/25/2010
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 90% performance: 50% features: 30% display: 30% mobility: 90% workmanship: 90% ergonomy: 70%
80% Packard Bell Dot M (LX.BCV02.003) - viel Prozessorleistung im Netbookformat
Source: Notebookinfo German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/25/2010
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 62% features: 94% display: 75% mobility: 89% workmanship: 88%
Es muss nicht immer Intel sein
Source: Mobile News - 1/10 German
Single Review, online available, Length Unknown, Date: 01/01/2010
Rating: performance: 80% display: 60% mobility: 60%
81% Schneewittchen und die 7-Zwerge
Source: Computerbild - 26/2009 German
Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 11/01/2009
Rating: Total score: 81% price: 80%
80% Packard Bell dot m/a Netbook
Source: Minitechnet German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/28/2009
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 80% features: 80% display: 100% mobility: 80% workmanship: 100% ergonomy: 60%
100% Packard Bell dot m Netbook
Source: Minitechnet German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/15/2009
Rating: Total score: 100% performance: 40% features: 100% display: 100% mobility: 100% workmanship: 100% ergonomy: 80%
86% Note- oder Netbook?
Source: PC Praxis - 10/09 German
Comparison, , Length Unknown, Date: 09/01/2009
Rating: Total score: 86% price: 80%
52% Packard Bell Dot s
Source: PC Welt German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/05/2009
Rating: Total score: 52% price: 70% performance: 95% features: 52% mobility: 20% ergonomy: 67%
90% Die Netbook-Abzockfalle
Source: PC Praxis - 6/09 German
Comparison, , Length Unknown, Date: 05/01/2009
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 80%
89% Packard Bell dot Netbook
Source: Minitechnet German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/16/2009
Rating: Total score: 89% performance: 60% features: 80% display: 80% mobility: 100% ergonomy: 80% emissions: 60%
80% Packard-Bell dot 890 GE
Source: PC Go - 3/09 German
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 02/01/2009
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 90%
92% Die neue Mobil-Klasse
Source: PC Praxis - 1/09 German
Comparison, , Length Unknown, Date: 01/01/2009
Rating: Total score: 92% price: 70%
72% Packard Bell Dot
Source: PC Welt German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/30/2008
Rating: Total score: 72% price: 55% performance: 99% features: 73% mobility: 83% ergonomy: 58%
90% Packard Bell
Source: Notebookjournal German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/05/2008
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 80% performance: 70% features: 30% display: 60% mobility: 70% workmanship: 70% ergonomy: 70%
80% Kompakter Langläufer
Source: Notebook / Organizer / Handy - 1-2/09 German
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 12/01/2008
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 80% display: 50% mobility: 90% emissions: 80%
79% Packard Bell dot m/u
Source: MuyComputer Spanish ES→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 04/07/2010
Rating: Total score: 79%
Packard Bell Dot M\U: netbook di classe
Source: Pc Tuner Italian IT→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/10/2010
Rating: price: 80% performance: 80% mobility: 80%
80% Packard Bell dot m/a
Source: PC World Italia Italian IT→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/16/2009
Rating: Total score: 80%
Packard Bell dot
Source: Computer Totaal Dutch NL→EN Archive.org version
Comparison, online available, Short, Date: 08/19/2009
Rating: performance: 60% display: 80% mobility: 80%
Packard Bell Dot
Source: Hardware.info Dutch NL→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/19/2009
Rating: display: 80%
75% Packard Bell Dot S
Source: PCM Dutch NL→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 06/15/2009
Rating: Total score: 75% performance: 62% mobility: 88% ergonomy: 90%
70% Test: 9 netbooks
Source: Computer Totaal Dutch NL→EN Archive.org version
Comparison, online available, Short, Date: 04/23/2009
Rating: Total score: 70%
77% Review Packard Bell dot
Source: Portablegear Dutch NL→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/01/2009
Rating: Total score: 77%
70% Packard Bell Dot.nl/01
Source: PCM Dutch NL→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 12/29/2008
Rating: Total score: 70% display: 40%
50% Обзор нетбука Packard Bell Dot M/A - RU/018
Source: Retera RU→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/14/2010
Rating: Total score: 50% performance: 58% display: 41% mobility: 60% emissions: 43%
50% Обзор нетбука Packard Bell Dot M/A - RU/018
Source: Retera RU→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/14/2010
Rating: Total score: 50% performance: 29% display: 41% mobility: 60% emissions: 43%

Comment

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 is an integrated (onboard) graphic chip on Mobile Intel 945GM chipset. It is a faster clocked version of the GMA 900 and supports no hardware T&L (Transform & Lightning) accelleration (which is required for some games).

These graphics cards are not suited for Windows 3D games. Office and Internet surfing however is possible.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.


Intel Atom: The Intel Atom series is a 64-Bit (not every model supports 64bit) microprocessor for cheap and small notebooks (so called netbooks), MIDs, or UMPCs. The speciality of the new architecture is the "in order" execution (instead of the usual and faster "out of order" execution). Therefore, the transistor count of the Atom series is much lower and, thus, cheaper to produce. Furthermore, the power consumption is very low. The performance per Megahertz is therfore worse than the old Pentium 3M (1,2 GHz on par with a 1.6 GHz Atom).


N270:

Power efficient, cheap and slow Netbook single core CPU. Because of the in-order execution, the performance per MHz is worse than Core Solo or Celeron M processors.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.


8.90":

Large smartphones and a few small tablets are available for this display size. Unlike most smartphones, you can see more on the screen, more details and use larger resolutions. Such formats are better for people with defective vision. However, such devices are no longer easy to fit in a pocket, and they are probably not quite light either.

» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.


Packard Bell: Packard Bell is a subsidiary of Taiwan-based Acer. It is a name used by two different consumer electronics companies. The first was an American radio manufacturer founded in 1926, that later became a defense contractor and manufacturer of other consumer electronics, such as television sets. Teledyne acquired the business in 1978. In 1986, investors bought the name for a newly formed personal computer manufacturer. Originally the company produced discount computers in the US, later computers were produced for the European market. NEC took it over in the late 1990s. Acer acquired it in 2008. In spite of the similarity of their names, there has never been any corporate connection between the original or later Packard Bell and Hewlett Packard, or Bell System. Packard Bell is an international notebook manufacturer. Many years, the company focussed ruggedized laptops.

PB is not present in the smartphone/tablet market and a rather small manufacturer of laptops. There are hardly any reviews since 2015.


76.39%: This rating is not earth-shattering. This rating must actually be seen as average, since there are about as many devices with worse ratings as better ones. A purchase recommendation can only be seen with a lot of goodwill, unless it is about websites that generally rate strictly.


» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

 

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Packard Bell dot on Ciao

Packard Bell dot
Packard Bell dot
Stefan Hinum, 2008-12-20 (Update: 2012-05-26)