Gordaen's Blog

Now that I’ve owned the laptop for over a month, I thought I’d take a deeper look at it. First, the specs per the sticker:

• Intel Core Duo Processor T2300 (1.66GHz, 667MHz FSB, 2MB L2 Cache)
• 15.4″ WXGA CrystalBrite LCD (16ms)
• ATI Modility Radeon X1400 up to 512MB Hypermemory
• 100GB 5400RPM SATA HDD
• Slot-load DVD-Super Multi double layer (supports DVD+R Double Layer/DVD+/-RW)
• 1GB DDR2 (supports dual-channel)
• 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN
• Bluetooth 2.0+EDR

I won’t go into the details of all of that, because it would take too much room, but if you want to know anything specific, feel free to ask in a comment. This was the cheapest laptop I found that was geared more toward performance than portability or battery life. Newegg no longer has the exact same one I bought, but they have another for $1069, which is likely to be the cheapest you can find it (especially from a good company). Comparable laptops were generally around $300-$400 more, so I was skeptical about the quality. After quite a bit of research, I took the dive.

The hard drive comes split into two FAT32 partitions. That basically means the hard drive is separated into two pieces. FAT32 is more-or-less the old file system, but you can easily convert to NTFS by running convert X: /fs:ntfs, changing “X” to the drive letter (such as “C”). The laptop is well packaged, but it comes with minimal documentation (though there is some actually on the harddrive). It also does not come with an XP disc or “System Restore” disc. Instead, when the computer first boots, it prompts you for a DVDR to backup all the default settings. This is probably good for a basic user, but for someone who likes more control over the system, it is annoying. The computer comes loaded with a LOT of “junk.” Some of it you may use, most of it I think should be deleted. This is where it would be nice to have a CD or DVD with the extras on it so the user could decide what to install.

Mine came with a Norton CD with a 90 day trial. Personally, I think Norton has gone the way of bloatware, but freebies are okay in my book. I’d recommend AVG or Avast instead though. The computer will load around 300MB right from the get-go, if you don’t do some tweaking. A lot of people have recommended a format and a fresh XP install, but that’s up to you.

The speed is very good, especially for the price. If you are one of those weird people who buys a laptop for games, this laptop will do nicely. The gig of RAM is nice too, and one of the big points on the computer for me, because I tend to have dozens from programs open at once when working on webpages. I definitely like having a slot-load optical drive (meaning no tray, rather like a CD receiver in a car). The webcam is good, but very dependant on the light level. The quality is a bit below a Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 (which they appear to not make any longer, now they have the 5000). The software includes some extra camera avatars and such that are probably best deleted unless you have a young child (or are a child at heart).

The laptop can become rather toasty. If you are just maxing out the processor, it isn’t too bad, but if you are really taxing the system (CPU, HD, video card), it can become uncomfortable. The hot air exits out the right side of the laptop toward the back, so be sure to avoid blocking it. There are two USB ports on each side toward the front, which is absolutely great, I bought a Logitech wireless mouse with USB transceiver, and it definitely helps with productivity. Once you have used it the first time, you simply plug it in and start using the mouse with no delay.

The screen is very sturdy and the hinges are stiff, so you don’t have to worry about any play or shifting. When you open it, it’s a good idea to hold the base down because the hinges are strong enough to lift it as you open the screen! The display is very nice, but I had to do a little bit of tweaking to get the color correct. It appeared to be at 9300K, which is rather blue, and I would have prefered 6500K. I found no way to adjust the color temperature, but you can adjust the brightness of each color, so I dropped the blue a little and it looks great now. The biggest problem I have with the laptop is glare. This is not a problem inside, but if you use the laptop on a sunny day, you will find it very difficult. Maxing out the display brightness helps some, but not enough, and it drains the battery a bit faster. If you need a laptop to use outside regularly, this is not the one for you. When the screen is off, it looks like a black mirror!

Speaking of battery life, you can’t expect much from a “performance laptop.” Larger screens, faster processors, etc. all drain the battery more quickly. Two hours is about what you can expect, more or less if you adjust the settings. The laptop does come with “Acer ePower Management” which allows you to setup profiles for battery usage.

The speakers are pretty poor, but most laptop speakers are. It does include a card reader in the front, which is very nice. It’s great to be able to grab to photos from my digital camera while I am on the go without worrying about the extra USB cable (it’s mandatory to forget at least one item on any trip).

Overall, this is a good laptop for the money. It is probably best for someone who has computer experience, but does not want to shell out the few hundred extra for the usual “goodies.” If this is your first computer, this might not be right for you. If you intend to use the computer outside a lot, I’d recommend against this one. The computer is good, but the documentation is lacking. If I had to rate this, I’d say four out of five.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to leave a comment.