Acer 5738 : bundled softwares

I recently got my new laptop-acer 5738.Its a budget laptop with lucrative features for Rs.35,000.Its an excellent machine with all the right configuration and the right price too.I’ve dual booted with Windows Vista Home Premium and Linux Mint 7Its got


-Intel core2duo T6400 processor

-3 GB DDR3 RAM

-320 GB HDD

-a DVD writer (dual layer compatible)

-15.6” LED LCD screen

-Intel GMA 4500MHD

It also features a fingerprint sensor and a multi gesture enabled touchpad and a floating key board.I will write a detailed review later.But right now i intend to share the solutions for a few issues that I faced.

1)Finger Print Sensor : My notebook came with preloaded DOS.So when i installed Windows Vista on my own,i found that the resource DVD only had the drivers for the respective hardwares but no applications were included.The Finger print reader would work only if the required software – ‘Acer Bio-protection finger print solution’ – is installed.I searched the web for a long time but couldn’t find an answer.Finally i called up the Acer customer care in India ( toll free number : 1800 116677) and they sent me the link to download the applications from their repository.Here’s the link: ftp://ftp.support.acer-euro.com/notebook/travelmate_5720/vista/Applications/

The finger print reader works fine now.

2)Multi gesture touchpad: The resource DVD that comes bundled with the laptop has two drivers for touchpad,namely-synaptics and ALPS.Initially i installed both of them out of confusion and found that the multigesture thing doesn’t work…the scrollbar too failed to respond satisfactorily.But the right driver to be installed is ALPS and not the Synaptic one.The multi-gestures work fine now.

I was particularly impressed by the support that Acer offers.I got my mail from them containing the link to their repository within a few minutes of my request.

A few things that you should remember before calling the customer care:

1)Register your laptop with acer.You have to log on to www.acer.co.in and register your product with them by providing the serial number of your product.
2) Keep the serial number of your laptop handy.You will find it at the bottom of your laptop (its a 22 digit code that starts with L).They’ll ask for it.

But the sad part is that they don’t provide drivers and applications for linux.I really hope they would give a serios thought to it as more and more people are turning to open source.Also,it would have been better if Acer could give these softwares in the resource DVD itself.

Any queries are welcome:)