Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)It has been a long netbook/laptop search for me. I've been looking for something that is small (but not too small), light, thin, and has a better performance than Atom powered netbooks. I looked through every brand and model, including Toshiba, Asus, HP, Lenovo, Dell, etc. Sure, there are some nice ones out there, but all of them have at least one considerable drawback: high price, Atom processor, or some kind of problem like sluggish mouse pad.
I've spotted an old model of Acer Aspire One 11.6" about a year ago. It looked nice. So, when I saw that a new model has been released, I immediately bought it. Now, as I am typing this review using my new Acer, I can not say enough how glad I am that chose this model.
Pros:
1. I really like 11.6" screen. Bigger than 10", but smaller than 13". Very useful for work! And it is very bright too.
2. Performance is great. 1.7 GHz processor is FAST. Clear advantage over Atom processors.
3. Keyboard. Full size keyboard is very comfortable.
4. Mouse pad is responsive and has a nice multi-gesture feature that allows you to zoom in or zoom out the page. Since 11.6" is not 17", it can be useful at times.
5. It is VERY thin (less than 1-inch!) and VERY light. It is so easy to throw it in your briefcase, backpack or purse and carry everywhere with you.
6. I really like that the power cord attaches on the side and can be rotated. This design keeps it from constant bending and breaking.
7. It has a web camera and mike. Skype lovers rejoice! :- )
6. 2 GB DDR 3 Memory is plenty (assuming you are not going to use it as your primary laptop for Photoshop or something like that). You can add one more 2GB card if you wish.
7. 250 GB Hard Drive.
8. Comes preloaded with Windows 7 Home Premium! Update: Someone commented on Windows 7 and said that it is unstable and creates all sorts of problems. Praise God, I did not have any of those issues. Mine runs well and I did not have even a single instance of "hanging" so far.
9. Impressive ATI Radeon HD 4225 Graphics video card.
10. Of course Wireless Setup Card.
11. HDMI output so that you could share your photos and videos with your friends and family on a big screen.
12. 1366 x 768 magnificent resolution!
12. So far the fan was quiet and laptop did not heat above average. Of course, as with any other laptop, if you are planing to use it on your lap for hours and hours, plan also to get a cooling pad (unless it is a cold winter and you need to warm up :- ) By the way, cooling pad is a worthwhile investment-- it will prolong the life of your laptop.
Overall, it is a very nice laptop with VERY professional, stylish look, great performance and characteristics. If you want something small and inexpensive, yet powerful, Acer Aspire One is about as good as it gets.
Cons:
Well, it is hard to name any. It is good. There are though some things that you have to accept when you buy a laptop of this size and price.
1. Of course, there is no CD-ROM, but availability of wide range of flash drives basically takes care of this issue.
2. Speakers are clear, but, please, don't expect them to blow you away with a powerful sound.
3. The battery will last you about 5-5.5 hours (in economy mode). Yes, most Atom powered netbooks give you between 6-10 hours of battery powered work, but they are also slow. The bottom line, you have to choose what your are willing to sacrifice. Spend about $300 more and you can get something as powerful with an excellent battery life. Buy slow Atom and enjoy battery, or buy Acer and enjoy good performance with a descent battery life. Honestly, how often you will be away from the power outlet for more than 5 hours?
4. The hinges seem to be plastic. I would not mind them to be aluminum, but I have to remind myself that plastic is not all the same and can be pretty durable. I guess only time will show whether this fact is really a minus or not. Since overall quality of this laptop is very good, I expect this to be true about the hinges too.The bottom line: my quest for a small laptop/netbook was finished with the purchase of Acer
Aspire One 11.6". I like it a lot and it meets all my needs for a VERY good price. Money is not your concern? Buy something better, otherwise enjoy this laptop and feel good that saved several hundreds dollars while getting a GREAT product!
Click Here to see more reviews about: Acer Aspire AO721-3574 11.6-Inch Netbook (Mesh Black)
Aspire One AO721: Ultra Mobile Power and Productivity
Optimized for improved energy efficiency and designed to deliver balanced performance needed to enjoy multiple applications and features, the Aspire One 721 features a powerful AMD Athlon II Neo processor, a full-sized keyboard for fast-paced, accurate data input, and up to 5.5 hours of battery life. Browse the Web, check e-mail, share photos, keep up with social networks, listen to music, and enjoy a wide variety of entertainment on the 11.6-inch LED-backlit display.
The powerful Acer Aspire One 721 netbook with AMD Athlon II Neo processor and 11.6-inch LED backlit display.
Click here for more information about Acer Aspire AO721-3574 11.6-Inch Netbook (Mesh Black)
