Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 13
 Amazing specs for this price December 22, 2009
A. Cherian (Reno, NV)
21 out of 21 found this review helpful
I spent over a month researching and looking for a great laptop in the $400-600 range on many different online retail sites such as Newegg, TigerDirect, and this Acer notebook on Amazon stood out as the best deal. I haven't seen anything even come close to its specs for the price that Amazon has it. Sure, there are thousands of Intel Pentium T4300 and even Intel Core2Duo laptops to choose from in this price range, but almost all of them have the following limitations: 1) Those processors do not have hardware virtualization as the processor in this laptop has and 2)Most have Intel's integrated graphics chip (4500MHD) which pales in comparison to the ATI Radeon HD 4200 integrated graphics chip in this laptop.
This entire platform (AMD Tigris) is a recently released new platform for AMD and its nice to see many retailers start offering it. The AMD Turion II chip in this laptop is just recently released (Sept. 10, 2009) and uses the latest manufacturing technology and specs. The ATI Radeon graphics in this laptop is more than enough for mainstream use and is even capable of light-medium gaming. Intel may dominate the high end pc's now but it cannot match the bang-for-the-dollar value of AMD's offerings at the low-midrange price ranges. What most consumers don't realize is that Intel may sometimes offer a better or faster processor but skimp on the video capabilities on most laptops in this price range whereas AMD offers a good processor AND a good video chip on their offerings in this price range.
As mentioned, all new AMD processors have hardware virtualization built in. I know you need to have Windows 7 Pro or Ultimate to use WinXP mode with hardware virtualization but its nice to know that the chip has it if you ever upgrade your windows version or go to a Linux version that uses hardware virtualization. It's always easier to upgrade your software to include virtualization than to upgrade your laptop processor (impossible or cost-prohibitive nowadays). Best to have it in your processor now instead of wishing you had it when you upgrade your software later. Acer even does a nice job of turning the hardware virtualization on by default in the BIOS settings of their laptop models that have such capability so that it is ready to use when you need it.
Pros:
- Amazing Specs for the price.
- The laptop is fast, smooth, and wonderful to use. Windows 7 is a huge improvement and very responsive.
- The LED backlit screen is very clear and vibrant.
- I like the keyboard which uses raised keys and feels nice to type on without the keys being too small.
- Multi-touch trackpad. The trackpad is unique in that it offers multi-touch and gestures such as pinch zoom, flick scrolling, etc sort of like an iPod or iPhone. It's a feature you don't see commonly in this price range yet.
Cons:
- My only major complaint would be that the speakers could have been better. The sound sometimes distorts at extreme volume. But I guess they are better than average speakers for this price range. The laptops I am comparing these speakers too are in laptops that cost twice to three times as much.
- I wish they included Blu-ray since this system is more than capable of hardware Blu-ray playback. I know Acer has other configurations of this same model that they sell overseas which include a Blu-ray drive so it may come to the states in due time.
All in all, this laptop is a great deal and so far this configuration is only found on Amazon.com in the US. Acer has really done a good job here for a value system that can compete on specs with laptops costing hundreds more. You will not be disappointed with this laptop, especially for the price.
Excellent Computer, Excellent Price December 1, 2009
Moose (Boston)
33 out of 37 found this review helpful
I purchased this computer as a portable alternative to my 20-inch iMac. I was very close to purchasing the new 13-inch MacBook when I decided to take a quick look at the Windows alternatives. Although I had some moral issues about "switching to the dark side", this computer has certainly alleviated the majority of my concerns. After removing some of the added bloatware, I began using the computer, and felt pretty much at home. Ergonomically, the computer feels like a Mac. The design is very sleek, and it is clear that the placing of every key and button was carefully thought out. In terms of processing power, the 2.2 Ghz of memory, combined with 4 GB of RAM and a 500 GB Hard Drive, makes a fast and very capable machine. The computer also has incredible speakers for a laptop. Although it may not be true surround sound, as the box and stickers on the computer claim, it is as good if not better than the speakers on a MacBook. Overall this is a great computer at a price that is more than 46% less than the cost of a MacBook. Other bonuses include an HDMI port, HD-level graphics, and a Super-Multi Drive (all formats, including Blu-Ray). This is the perfect computer for anybody looking for a powerful computer at a reasonable price.
Great Laptop December 12, 2009
William Sumrall
17 out of 18 found this review helpful
I have been using this computer for a week - several hours per day. I have not had any problems. It is FAST. The Index rating, using Windows 7, is 4.2 with most individual ratings close to 6.0. We're talking speed and work capabilities where the max is a 7.9 rating. A similar HP with 500g hard drive and 4g memory only scored 2.0. Wireless works great. Webcam is great. Speakers are better than my desktop!
Great buy!
Bill
Dec. 21st...P.S.Had bought this computer for my grandson. While testing it after arrival, I was floored by it's performance! Faster than my 3ghz desktop with Itel processor.Bought another one for myself!
March 6, 2010:Update...used daily over 3 months now. Not a hint of a glitch or problem. Best computer I have owned in many years!
Great laptop! December 24, 2009
Sara Sue (USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I bought this for my dad as a Xmas gift. I am very pleased with this laptop. Fast, plenty of storage and RAM, full size keyboard, every port you'll ever need, easy setup, easy connect to plasma, stereo, camera, music, 64 bit CPU & OS, wireless g/N, gigE, etc. Cons: monitor not as sharp as my Dell (but very good) and sound is just adequate (connect to stereo or headphones to bypass). Overall: An excellent value for the money!
A terrific buy, especially under $600. December 27, 2009
Aaron Kalmon
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
First, a disclaimer: I've only been using this computer for one week, but I have been putting it through its paces already.
Information I didn't find in the product specs: the installed Windows 7 Home Edition is the 64 bit version; a most definite plus.
This is a great laptop. I used it to replace a 3 year old laptop that ceased to function. The speed and graphics on this build are well beyond what is expected for the price. The graphics card is highly capable, allowing me to play D&D Online (Standard Res) without issues. I am watching high-res movies and doing other tasks (browsing the internet, running an email client, etc.) without any slowing in the system. Another good surprise was the standard laptop speakers; they have terrific sound well beyond anything I have heard from a laptop before. The web cam and built-in microphone are very good as well.
As for cons, I have 3. The first is the huge software bundle the system comes loaded with: it took a while to go through and uninstall what was not useful. Second is that the cd/dvd drive eject button is oddly placed and not sensitive and makes it somewhat more difficult to use than it should be. I have a similar issue with the slide button to open the laptop as well, but it is not quite as annoying.
I am extraordinarily pleased with this purchase. It was much more than I expected to get and I continue to love this system.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 13
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