Acer TravelMate 739TLV

WHAT'S HOT: The TravelMate 739TLV is Acer's best-equipped laptop, and the first we've seen with a built-in fingerprint reader provided as an extra layer of security. You can use the bundled Veridicom VBX application (which blocks access at the boot level and prevents BIOS changes), the Qvoice WhoIsIt program to protect data on your hard drive, or both.

Activating the postage-stamp-size reader window, located in the wrist rest, is easy: Our tester typed in his name and pressed a fingertip on the window three times, as directed. Thereafter, at each boot-up the notebook requested identification, which our tester provided by pressing a fingertip on the window for about 3 seconds; the unit then flashed a welcome message. Four incorrect tries lock the system.

The 739TLV's other notable attribute is great battery life. Though it poops out a little over an hour sooner than the TravelMate 737TLV, which we reviewed in December, it's still outstanding at 4.2 hours.

WHAT'S NOT: New technology comes at a price--in this case, the TravelMate 739TLV will set you back $2799. Also, the notebook's stereo speakers distort at the highest volume.

WHAT ELSE: The TravelMate 739TLV earned a PC WorldBench 2000 score of 157 in our tests, not too far behind the average of 162 for similarly configured notebooks. It weighs a reasonable 7 pounds without the AC adapter and measures from 1.5 inches at the front of the case to about 1.75 inches in the back, where the stereo speakers sit in a raised panel.

In addition to the usual notebook connections, the 739TLV includes a network jack and an S-Video port for hooking it up to a TV. Do-it-yourself upgraders should have no trouble reaching memory and storage. The floppy drive is fixed, but the removable DVD-ROM drive can be swapped out for a SuperDisk drive (an extra $241), a second hard drive ($625 for 18GB), or a CD-RW drive ($387).

The quiet keyboard sports extra-big Shift, Enter, and Backspace keys for easier typing. As an added convenience, you can use the included Synaptics touchpad utility to program the mouse buttons to launch applications. Documentation includes a print manual and two similar electronic manuals, one in HTML and the other a PDF document.

BEST USE: With an easy-to-use fingerprint reader and great battery life added to all the usual features expected in a high-end portable these days, the TravelMate 739TLV belongs on the short list for companies seeking an extra-secure desktop replacement suitable for the road.

SUMMARY

Acer TravelMate 739TLV PC WorldBench score of 157, Pentium III-850/700 CPU, 128MB of SDRAM, 256KB L2 cache, Windows 2000, 15-inch active screen, 8MB of video memory, 20GB hard drive, 8X DVD-ROM drive, built-in V.90 modem and network adapter, touchpad pointing device, 8.1 pounds (including AC adapter and phone cord), Microsoft Works 2000. One-year parts and labor warranty; free 24-hour tech support. $2799 800/733-2237 www.acer.com/aac