Netbook Review – Acer, Asus Netbook Review

Acer Aspire AS1410 Netbook Review –  6.5/7

Acer has packed in an impressive set of specifications into the AS1410, which blurs the lines between netbooks and notebooks. In fact, many people would say it crosses the line into the notebook sphere, but it’s price point – $437, puts it firmly within the netbook category. And a frisky little netbook it is.

Before I get into the meat of this review, I want to get some confusion out of the way. I’ve never got the way most companies choose their model numbers. After looking at all the different versions of the AS1410, I think I can conclude their aim is solely to confuse customers. I’m going to base this review on what I’ll call the 8 series – the 8414, the 8804, and the 8913 (same specs, different colours). The 2 series – 2801, 2285, 2954, et al – generally have lower memory specs and an inferior processor. (They’re priced about $40 dollars cheaper)

Acer Aspire AS1410 Netbook Review – Top Features

• Processor Speed – The 8s have an 1.4 GHz Intel Core 2 SU3500 Processor (far more powerful than the standard Atom) which means that applications like Chrome and OpenOffice work great. You won’t be able to install Photoshop (well, maybe the old one) but the AS1410 packs in good processing power.
• Memory – The AS1410 comes loaded with 2GB of RAM and 667MHz memory speed, which contributes to its nippy performance.It also features a 250GB SATA HDD.
• Sleek design – There’s no two ways about it; this is one good looking netbook.
• 11.6″ Screen – Size matters, and the above average resolution (1366×768) makes this baby stand apart.
• Built in webcam – The built in cam is pretty good, and picks up picture decently in low light (still a bit grainy though).
• HDMI port – This is via Intel’s dual monitor hybrid setup and works quite well.
• Free Windows 7 upgrade – This will (hopefully) be less of a drain than the Vista.

Acer Aspire AS1410 Netbook Review – Drawbacks and things to keep in mind

• No bluetooth – Come on Acer, what were you thinking??
• Watching videos online – Even with the higher specs, viewing youtube videos on fullscreen is just not on.
• Glossy in the light – The gloss screen means that when its bright outside, you may not be able to see the screen.
• Battery life – The battery only lasts 6 hours in power saving mode. If you use it aggressively, it’s more like 5 hours.

(Please note – this is just superficial whining. We love this netbook!)

Acer Aspire AS1410 Netbook Review – Ratings

1. Price and Value for money – 1.0 Star. The AS1410 may be on the more expensive side, but the superior processor and additional memory are totally worth it.
2. Speed and Performance – 1.0 Star. See above.
3. Screen – 1.0 Star. The resolution is above average, the screen is larger than 10.1″ netbooks, the colours are rich and vibrant , and the LED backlight works well.
4. Keyboard, Touchpad, Usability – 0.75 Star. Quite a decent keyboard, with a full-sized shift key. The AS1410 loses marks here because the touchpad is a bit on the smaller side.
5. Portability and Battery Life – 1.0 Star. Okay, this may be a little controversial since it’s about 60% of the top netbooks, but the processor, additional RAM and Vista are a drag on the battery; the 6 cell Li-Ion actually holds up quite well. At 3.1 lbs, its heavier (but only slightly) than most other netbooks.
6. Looks and Design – 1.0 Star. This is a sleek, goodlooking netbook. The plastic molding is attractive and it has a refined look about it.
7. Connectivity and Extensibility – 0.75 Star. No complaints, but it does drop points because you expect this netbook to have bluetooth.

That gives the Acer Aspire AS1410 an overall rating of 6.5/7 Stars.

Acer Aspire AS1410 Netbook Review – Our Recommendation

Let’s keep this short and sweet. It’s totally worth it. Buy it. You can pick this baby up at amazon for $437.

Acer Aspire AS1410 Netbook Review – What have buyers on Amazon said?

Before going into the pros and cons, let me reveal that this netbook has no reviews under a 4-star. And that’s after 60 plus reviews.

Pros:

1. “This laptop is just by far the best laptop for the overall features.”
2. “This is a great laptop with very reasonable price tag! ”
   
3. “I am amazed that Acer can squeeze 1366×768 into an 11.6 inch screen, and still keep it so sharp and clear. It is very comfortable to view, and I do not feel any different from viewing my old 14 inch LCD. ”
4. “The moment I started using it, all I could say was Wow.”

Cons:

1. “HD movies from Vimeo and Youtube are bit sluggish”
2. “Shiny LCD screen is too reflective”

Acer Aspire AS1410 Netbook Review – Technical Specifications

• OS: Windows Vista Home Premium
• CPU: 1.4GHz Intel Core2 Solo ULV SU3500 Processor
• RAM: 2GB DDR2 667 MHz Memory (4GB Max)
• Storage Space: 250GB SATA Hard Drive
• Screen: 11.6″ WXGA CrystalBrite LED-backlit Display, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500 MHD
• Connectivity: 5-in-1 card reader, HDMI & VGA video output, Intel WiFi Link 5100 802.11a/b/g/ Draft-N
• Battery: 6 Hours 6 cell Li-Ion (4400 mAh)
• Weight: 3.1 lbs

Filed under: Acer Netbook Review