dgrevillius
Member
Link: OfficeMax
Specs:
Intel Core i3 330M (2.13 GHz, 32 NM fabrication)
Intel Mobile HM55 Chipset
4 GB (2 x 2 GB) DDR3 1066
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD
15.6" LED/LCD (1366 x 768)
320 GB 5400 RPM HDD
Acer Nplify 802.11 b/g/n (Atheros)
10/100/1000 Gigabit LAN
56K Modem
5-in-1 Digital Media Reader (SD, xD, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, unable to identify 5th type)
Dolby Home Theater Virtual Surround Sound
8x DVD RW Super Multi Double Layer
6-cell Li-ion Battery
Acer Crystal Eye Webcam
4 x USB 2.0
1 x HDMI out
1 x VGA
1 x Headphone, 1 x Microphone, 1 x S/PDIF
Kensington Lock
Windows 7 Experience Index:
Processor: 6.2
Memory (RAM): 5.9
Graphics (Aero): 4.6
Gaming Graphics: 5.1
Primary Hard Disk: 5.7
Okay, for $500 (at OfficeMax), this laptop rocks. The i3-330M provides a lot of computing power for a small price. The laptop is very responsive and able to multi-task very well.
The Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD on these new i3, i5, and i7 chips is MUCH better than the 4500M/4500MHD on the previous generation laptops with the Pentium Dual Cores. The Windows 7 Experience Rating Test gives the graphics a 4.6 for Aero Performance and 5.1 for Gaming Performance. For Intel integrated graphics, this is monumental. While it still won't play your newest graphics intensive games very well, it will definitely play older games, newer casual games and MMOs requiring lower requirements.
It runs Office 2007 application flawlessly, launching with very little response time. I can edit Powerpoint presentations very easily, without having to wait on the laptop at all. Launching Internet Explorer also is flawless. I am very pleased with the overall responsiveness of this machine.
The webcam is very good. I do not use a webcam very often at all, but the one on this laptop is untouched by other ones I have used. It is extremely clear in low light situations and the color is very vibrant.
The Acer Nplify Wireless, which is a rebranding of an Atheros chipset, works very well. It is connected to my Netgear Rangemax WNDR3300 at 300 mpbs. The throughput seems to be very good, transferring files accross the living room at around 10 mbps, with a computer on a 100 mpbs wired connection. My previous Acer, while claiming to be N, only connected at 54 mbps, so this was definitely welcomed.
While the Hard Drive is 5400 RPM vice 7200 RPM, the average user, like myself, will never know the difference. As I said, this laptop is very responsive, so it does not seem to affect it very much.
The speakers on this machine are again very impressive for a $500 laptop. They are very crisp and are very loud. They are definitely better than your average budget laptop. The Virtual Surround Sound makes them sound even better. My first thought when I heard it was, "Wow!"
I can not comment much on the battery life, as I have had it connected to AC power the whole time, but it is rated at 4 hours.
Of course, it comes with the usual Acer bloatware. I powered it up, created the restore disks, although the machine has Acer eRecovery, and re-installed a fresh copy of Windows without the bloatware. I tend to do this with all my laptops as I will never use 70% of the pre-installed software. Acer's driver download page is complete with everything you need to get back up and going. I just used the Driver and Application disk I burned from the eRecovery prior to the Windows re-install.
My ultimate reason for buying this machine were the i3 CPU, 4 GB DDR3, 4 USB ports, and the price. I have yet to find another $500 laptop that will perform like this one, and I know where to look for bargains. I would recommend this laptop to anyone who needs a laptop for everyday computing and casual gaming. It will definitely last for quite a few years.
Specs:
Intel Core i3 330M (2.13 GHz, 32 NM fabrication)
Intel Mobile HM55 Chipset
4 GB (2 x 2 GB) DDR3 1066
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD
15.6" LED/LCD (1366 x 768)
320 GB 5400 RPM HDD
Acer Nplify 802.11 b/g/n (Atheros)
10/100/1000 Gigabit LAN
56K Modem
5-in-1 Digital Media Reader (SD, xD, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, unable to identify 5th type)
Dolby Home Theater Virtual Surround Sound
8x DVD RW Super Multi Double Layer
6-cell Li-ion Battery
Acer Crystal Eye Webcam
4 x USB 2.0
1 x HDMI out
1 x VGA
1 x Headphone, 1 x Microphone, 1 x S/PDIF
Kensington Lock
Windows 7 Experience Index:
Processor: 6.2
Memory (RAM): 5.9
Graphics (Aero): 4.6
Gaming Graphics: 5.1
Primary Hard Disk: 5.7
Okay, for $500 (at OfficeMax), this laptop rocks. The i3-330M provides a lot of computing power for a small price. The laptop is very responsive and able to multi-task very well.
The Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD on these new i3, i5, and i7 chips is MUCH better than the 4500M/4500MHD on the previous generation laptops with the Pentium Dual Cores. The Windows 7 Experience Rating Test gives the graphics a 4.6 for Aero Performance and 5.1 for Gaming Performance. For Intel integrated graphics, this is monumental. While it still won't play your newest graphics intensive games very well, it will definitely play older games, newer casual games and MMOs requiring lower requirements.
It runs Office 2007 application flawlessly, launching with very little response time. I can edit Powerpoint presentations very easily, without having to wait on the laptop at all. Launching Internet Explorer also is flawless. I am very pleased with the overall responsiveness of this machine.
The webcam is very good. I do not use a webcam very often at all, but the one on this laptop is untouched by other ones I have used. It is extremely clear in low light situations and the color is very vibrant.
The Acer Nplify Wireless, which is a rebranding of an Atheros chipset, works very well. It is connected to my Netgear Rangemax WNDR3300 at 300 mpbs. The throughput seems to be very good, transferring files accross the living room at around 10 mbps, with a computer on a 100 mpbs wired connection. My previous Acer, while claiming to be N, only connected at 54 mbps, so this was definitely welcomed.
While the Hard Drive is 5400 RPM vice 7200 RPM, the average user, like myself, will never know the difference. As I said, this laptop is very responsive, so it does not seem to affect it very much.
The speakers on this machine are again very impressive for a $500 laptop. They are very crisp and are very loud. They are definitely better than your average budget laptop. The Virtual Surround Sound makes them sound even better. My first thought when I heard it was, "Wow!"
I can not comment much on the battery life, as I have had it connected to AC power the whole time, but it is rated at 4 hours.
Of course, it comes with the usual Acer bloatware. I powered it up, created the restore disks, although the machine has Acer eRecovery, and re-installed a fresh copy of Windows without the bloatware. I tend to do this with all my laptops as I will never use 70% of the pre-installed software. Acer's driver download page is complete with everything you need to get back up and going. I just used the Driver and Application disk I burned from the eRecovery prior to the Windows re-install.
My ultimate reason for buying this machine were the i3 CPU, 4 GB DDR3, 4 USB ports, and the price. I have yet to find another $500 laptop that will perform like this one, and I know where to look for bargains. I would recommend this laptop to anyone who needs a laptop for everyday computing and casual gaming. It will definitely last for quite a few years.
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