Acer's CULV-based Timeline series notebooks have popped up on European price search engines, and the prices and specs look quite impressive.

We think the 13.3-inch Aspire 3810T Timeline is the most interesting one, as it's the most light and compact of the lot, and, more importantly, the cheapest one. Based around Intel's SU3500 Core 2 Solo at 1.4GHz, it packs 4GB of memory, 320GB of storage, n-draft wireless, HDMI and GMA X4500 Intel IGP. It packs a 6-cell battery and costs €599, making it one of the cheapest 13-inchers on the market. At 1.6kg, it is 300g heavier than MSI's X340, but it has more memory, a bigger battery, and it ends up quite a bit cheaper.

The 4810T is a 14.1-inch unit with similar specs, but it unlike the smaller model, it has an optical drive and it weighs 1.9kg. The list price is €649, and like the 3810T, it too sounds like a good deal.

In case you wan't something even bigger, you can go for the similarly spec'd 15.6-inch 5810T for €666. All three ship with Vista Home Premium and are backed by a two year warranty.

Retailers expect to have the Timelines in stock in mid-May, just in time to lock horns with MSI's X340, although Acer will obviously be the first vendor to offer 14-inch and 15-inch CULV-based models.

You can find the listings here.