Acer Aspire One review: Acer's first netbook. Acer Aspire One review: Acer's first netbook All about the acer aspire one series netbook
Acer's all-new ultra-light, ultraportable netbooks have been designed to bring you the ultimate in mobile freedom. Bringing together all the simplicity, quality and ease of use you'd expect from Acer - everything you need to stay connected, communicate and manage your life on the go, these Netbooks are set to change our expectations of simplicity on the go.
Smaller than the average diary and weighing less than 1 kg (models with NAND flash module), the Aspire One puts freedom in the palm of your hand. Freedom to use Wi-Fi, WiMAX and 3G Networks* to explore new ways to communicate, connect and engage with the world you care about. Freedom to go beyond ultra-mobility. Freedom to be yourself anywhere you want.
Ultra-compact, stylish design
Ultra-lightweight for maximum portability
instant for immediate communication
Easy to use interface
Full color 8.9" screens, LED backlight
N270 Intel® Atom™ Processor
Built-in CrystalEye webcam
Acer® InviLink 802.11b/g wireless local network
SSD and HDD versions
Combination card reader:
Acer Aspire One Netbook Specifications:
| Operating System | Genuine Windows is legal software Windows that is properly licensed and legally installed. Find out more about the special benefits reserved for genuine Windows customers by visiting.
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| CPU | Intel Atom™ Processor N270 (512KB L2 cache, 1.60GHz, 533MHz FSB) |
| Chipset | Mobile Intel 945GSE Express |
| Memory | 1GB (512MB onboard / 512MB SODIMM slot) DDR2 533 SDRAM or 512MB DDR2 533 SDRAM |
| storage | 160GB* HDD or 120GB* hard drive or 8GB* NAND flash (SSD) Optional external USB 1.44MB* floppy drive * When specifying storage capacity, GB means one billion bytes and MB means one million bytes. Some utilities may indicate different storage capacities. Total user available capacity may vary depending on operating conditions. |
| Video | 8.9" WSVGA (1024 x 600) TFT LCD, Acer CrystalBrite technology, up to 262,000 colors, LED backlight Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 Built-in digital camera Acer Crystal Eye VGA port |
| Audio | Two built-in stereo speakers, built-in digital microphone, Headphones/speakers/line-out and microphone ports, Microsoft DirectSound compatible |
| Port Interface |
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| Card slot | SD card reader Multi-in-one card reader: |
| Communication | Acer InviLink 802.11b/g wireless LAN, Acer SignalUp technology for enhanced antenna efficiency, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Built-in Acer Crystal Eye digital camera |
| Software included | With Windows XP Home Edition: Acer eRecovery management Acer Launch Manager Adobe Acrobat Reader McAfee Internet Suite Security ( trial version) With Linpus Linux Lite: AOA150-1570 only: |
| User interface | 84-key keyboard, built-in numeric keypad, hot key control, 1.6mm minimum key travel, 12 function international language support, four cursor control keys WLAN switch with LED, power button with LED, touchpad with two buttons With Windows XP Home Edition: one key for Windows With Linpus Linux Lite: one home key |
| Dimensions and weight | 9.8" (249.0mm) W x 6.7" (170.0mm) D x 1.1" (29.0) H / 2.2 lbs (995g) with NAND flash, 2.3 lbs (1.04kg) with HDD Size and weight may vary depending on configuration |
| power | 30 Watt AC Adapter Lithium-ion batteries: |
| Limited Warranty* | One year parts and labor limited warranty* with concurrent International Traveler's Warranty** *To obtain a free copy of the standard limited warranty, end users must see the reseller where Acer products are sold or write to Acer America Corporation, Warranty Department, PO Box 6137, Temple, TX 76503. TFT displays typically exhibit a small number of discolored dots, referred to as "non-conforming" pixels." This phenomenon is a limitation of TFT LCD technology and is not a product defect and, as such, is not covered by the limited warranty or upgrade programs. ** Valid only in countries where Acer has an authorized service center. A list of these countries is available at http://global.acer.com/support/itw.htm. or call 800-816-2237. Service and response times may vary in countries outside the United States and Canada. Specifications are subject to change without notice. |
In 2008, many of the largest IT companies managed to launch netbooks. Of course, ASUS succeeded more than anyone else as the initiator of the entire movement. The Eee PC 900 and Eee PC 1000, as well as several of their modifications, came off its stocks. MSI Wind U100 netbooks have become quite popular. Now the Taiwanese company is already going to release the U120. Manufacturers such as HP, Dell, Fujitsu and several more have distinguished themselves. But, unfortunately, so far only ASUS, MSI and Acer products have reached our shelves in sufficient quantities.
Acer Aspire One is one of the youngest netbooks on the market. However, his start was very rapid. Firstly, it immediately became available in several configurations. Well, secondly, its price is on average slightly lower than that of its analogues. By and large, the Acer netbook is something of a mixture of ASUS Eee PC 901, 1000 and 1000H, and at the same time MSI Wind U100. The Aspire One comes with both Windows XP and Linux. Well, either a small SSD or HDD can be used as a permanent data storage. But we'll talk about configuration later. Let's look at the design for now.
Design
The appearance of the Acer Aspire One is very attractive. Acer, like MSI, supplies netbooks in four different color options: dark blue, light gray, pink and brown. We got the first one.
Many of us are accustomed to Intel processors installed in netbooks. Intel Atom and 10.1-inch laptops have become something like the “Wintel platform” - this is how the “symbiosis” of PC-type computers and the operating system from Microsoft was called for several years. But as the time of the outdated “term” passed, netbooks based on AMD chips began to appear.
It was the single-core Athlon Neo MV-40, which was a CPU based on the K8 architecture, whose power consumption was greatly reduced - up to 15 W. It was paired with the M690T chipset with the built-in Radeon X1270 video card, which was already outdated at that time.
In the summer, the Congo platform followed, within which the first dual-core AMD chips with a TDP of no more than 18 W appeared. A little later, they were joined by the M780 chipset along with the faster Radeon HD 3200 graphics core. But this solution did not gain fame either.
The Nile platform, released in the spring of 2010, became much more popular. The new 45 nm energy-efficient processors received a good M880 chipset with a Radeon HD 4225 accelerator. Such a tandem was able to interest a much larger number of manufacturers, including Acer. She is one of the few who decided to release a 10.1-inch netbook based on Nile - the rest were often limited to 11.6-inch and larger models. It is precisely this almost “experimental” Acer product that we will look at in this article – the Acer Aspire One 521.
But before moving on to the description of the netbook, it is worth mentioning the Brazos platform, presented in January 2011 at CES. It is used by many more manufacturers, and some (including Acer) have even announced tablets based on new processors. However, for now we have gotten our hands on a laptop based on the previous platform.
Design
Designing a netbook in an original way is quite simple, even though it is the smallest of the “classic” mobile computers. Their 10-inch screen is downright “huge” compared to 4-inch smartphones, where there is even less room for “decorations”, but even they manage to be differentiated by their appearance. Another thing is that not all manufacturers take care of this very important component. But this does not apply to the Acer Aspire One 521.
The Acer Aspire One 521 netbook is not a new one, but the company has not given modern models much great design– the old one was only slightly modified. And we understand why this was done - the Aspire One 521 looks pretty good. In principle, Acer didn’t do anything special - everything was somehow quite ordinary and ordinary, but at the same time stylish and elegant. The body shape is classic, rectangular. In some places there are smooth bevels, but the corners are sharp - the result is both strict and soft - something like stylish business laptops.
The first thing that attracts the eye is the design. reverse side screen covers. It is entirely flat, but slightly sloping on the sides. But this is common, while the pale brown color is much less common. However, the most important touch is the texture with small sketched and hollow rectangles. They are applied to the right side of the lid and gradually break off. In general, it turned out to be at the same time not pretentious, but original - this design option gives the Aspire One 521 its own individuality, while the all-black Aspire One 522 looks much more boring.
Plus, the lid is covered with a lacquered coating, which glares in an interesting way, but practically does not collect fingerprints. And even if they do collect them, they are very hard to see against a light background. However, the “real” gloss was found on the edge of the screen - black and easily soiled. I'm glad that you only have to grab the top edge of the cover in the area of the camera.
Inside, the Aspire One 521 is designed rather ascetically, but that's more than enough. The keyboard looks very solid - its keys seem large, as if they were from a full-fledged laptop. This, by the way, is not far from the truth. The working area is small, so even if the designers had left it empty, it would have looked pretty good. However, in addition to the touchpad, there are two stickers pasted there, which adds “complexity” to the device.
Well, it remains to mention the very unusual design of the on and off button, located on the left above the keyboard. No, it performs its function more than standard, but it is made of silicone and has the shape of an unfinished circle. As a result, we managed to make it beautifully illuminated - along the circumference, part of this light penetrates the button itself.
And finally, about the build quality. It is, as we expected, quite good. We did not notice any creaking or play in the body parts; everything fit together well. The material used is high-quality and durable plastic. Aluminum, of course, would be more reliable and solid, but also more expensive - you rarely see it in netbooks.
Equipment
The Acer Aspire One 521 comes in a small, stylishly designed box made of good cardboard. The box features a photo of several Aspire Ones in different colors.
Inside we found a more than ordinary kit: a quick user guide, a booklet with warranty information, a CD with drivers, a power supply and a cloth for wiping the case. The latter is not so necessary for the laptop in question, but still its presence cannot be called superfluous.
By the way, the power supply is made quite unusual. It resembles a large phone charger rather than a typical “bracket” for a laptop or netbook. Such small dimensions made it possible to make it a power of only 40 W (19 V, 2.15 A), but the larger Aspire One 521 is not required. Plus, the plug is made removable, which makes it easier to transport the unit, and at the same time replace it if you suddenly find yourself in an “unusual” country.
Ergonomics
We must assume that the popularity of Acer netbooks is not least related to their ergonomics. Acer has managed to get the most out of the small dimensions of its 10-inch models. Of course, working with their keyboard is not as convenient as on larger laptops, but there is no obvious discomfort.
So, the keyboard. The size and shape of the keys attracts attention. One immediately gets the impression that they are of a completely normal size, which is not far from the truth. Their rounded shape further enhances the effect - this makes them seem even larger. The size of both keys is impressive - they are more than comfortable to work with. It seems relatively short, but in principle it is long enough. I also had to trim it, but not much. But it turned out to be no longer than a regular key, which is more difficult to get used to - at first the finger constantly misses.
As for the pointer block, one of the most painful issues on most mobile keyboards, in the case of the Aspire One 521 it has both advantages and disadvantages. The first is the separation of the block from the main layout - it is quite easy to find it by touch. As for the minuses, the keys are made half as low as the others, which is not very convenient. In addition, in addition to the arrow keys, they have also been crammed into the block, which does not make it easier to control the cursor blindly.
The touchpad is not very large - the height of the working area did not allow it to be made higher, and expanding it does not make much sense. However, the comfort of work did not suffer from this - the touchpad area is more than enough for the resolution that the Acer netbook display provides. As for the coating, it is slightly rough, which allows you to precisely control the mouse pointer without much effort. The buttons under the touchpad are not very hard to press, but have a characteristic click.
There are no additional buttons on the Aspire One 521. On the left above the keyboard there is only a button to turn the laptop on and off, which we described in detail above.
To the left of the touch panel there are four LED indicators: netbook operation, battery charging, operation hard drive and wireless controllers. And, of course, another one is combined with the computer’s power button.
The AMD mobile platform has always been famous for its gluttony for energy, as well as its “hot” disposition. However, by fitting it into a 10.1-inch compact body, Acer did not turn out to be just another “frying pan” - the netbook did not heat up any more than a regular “nuclear” one. mobile computer. And this is despite the fact that there are very few ventilation holes on the bottom (only a small row at the front) and the Aspire One 521 is more powerful than most solutions on the market. Intel based Atom.
One of the nicest things about AMD's ultramobile platform is its support for up to 4 GB. random access memory, Intel limited this volume to half that figure. However, in the case of the Aspire One 521, it will not be possible to install more than 2 GB - there is no second slot for the memory module. But you can “reach” the first one without any problems at all. In addition, access to the hard drive is open, which is quite rare for netbooks - manufacturers usually allow you to change one thing: RAM or hard drive.
Connectors, screen, sound and camera
Netbooks on the AMD platform often differ from Intel ones by one additional connector. We’ll tell you what exactly below. For the rest, the “positions” are the same.
On the left side there are D-SUB, HDMI, a block of ventilation holes, one USB and a card reader. On the right side there is an audio output, a microphone input, two USB, a power connector placed in unusual place– in the center, Kensington Lock and RJ-45. The front and rear sides are empty.
So what is this “extra” connector? HDMI. Its absence on netbooks with Intel Atom inside can be explained very simply - through the digital output, the video card built into the processor can display an image with a resolution of no higher than 1366x768 pixels, which is not enough for HDMI. In the case of integrated AMD graphics, this limitation does not exist, which is why all manufacturers equip even the most compact computer models with this output. Otherwise, as we said, the set of connectors is completely standard.
Acer decided to hide a pair of stereo speakers at the front of the underbody. Small holes are made under them in the removable cover so as not to muffle the sound. However, their placement in any case muffles it, especially the mids and highs. Bass has never been found in such small speakers, so the sound quality in the case of the Aspire One 521 is not at all up to par. It would be better to connect headphones or external speakers.
As for the screen, in modern fashion it is equipped with LED backlighting, which makes it thinner and more energy efficient. As for its quality, overall we liked it. At one time we were delighted with the display of the ASUS Eee PC 1015PD netbook, but were disappointed with the quality of the MSI U135DX screen. So, the display of the Aspire One 521 is subjectively worse in color rendition than that of the first, but better than that of the second. Moreover, it is closer to the ASUS laptop, which is very pleasing. In general, the screen shows a very good picture and has a good brightness margin. Viewing angles are not bad, but it can be better.
As for the resolution, it is standard for a 10.1" diagonal - 1024x600 pixels. This option is not critical for the eyes, and there is not enough space on the desktop. By the way, the newer Aspire One 522 is equipped with a display with a resolution of 720p or 1280x720 pixels. Here is an option for The 10.1-inch solution is much better in our opinion.
Well, a few words about the camera. The quality of its images is not at all different from other webcams built into netbooks - it is very mediocre. You can evaluate it yourself:
Camera resolution – 1.3 MP. Also standard, although netbooks often have a 0.3 MP sensor.
Configuration
If you take a laptop or netbook based on the AMD Brazos platform, its processor configuration will not differ from any other similar product. AMD currently ships four 40 nm chips based on the Bobcat core, of which only two are actually used: the dual-core C-50 and E-350. Netbooks get C-50. They are distinguished by a low clock frequency of 1.0 GHz, and at the same time low power consumption. The situation with the previous generation of the AMD Nile platform is somewhat different - it has more processors available and, pleasantly, it also competed well with Intel Atom. Now let's take a look at what the Aspire One 521 is based on.
If you don't look at the top of the table, then we have a typical 10.1-inch netbook, and one of the most inexpensive ones at that. However, the AMD platform makes it stand out from the “atomic” ones. The point is primarily in the processor - its frequency is 1.7 GHz, which is quite good for a netbook. In addition, this is an almost full-fledged Athlon II, which in any case will be faster than the popular Atom N455. But we’ll leave such conclusions for the testing section.
Of course, the chipset and video card differ. The Radeon HD 4225 is a very decent solution for a 10.1-inch laptop, although the Radeon HD 6250 integrated into the AMD C-50 processor may be better. In any case, in terms of graphics performance and functionality, the AMD platform (both previous and current) is superior to Intel Atom, as we will also see.
There was very little RAM in our copy of the Aspire One 521 - only 1 GB. Windows 7 Home Basic was preinstalled on the computer, for which such capacity may not be enough for comfortable work. We would recommend increasing the amount of RAM at least twice.
I wasn't happy with the hard drive either. 160 GB is the level of the most budget netbooks. More expensive models are equipped with a 250-320 GB hard drive, and some of them have a spindle speed of 7200 rpm. In our opinion, this is a parameter that should not be skimped on.
In terms of communication capabilities, the Aspire One 521 also does not shine. The only standout is a Wi-Fi controller that supports the 802.11n standard. But the Bluetooth adapter was noticeable by its absence. However, it is optional and may be present in another modification. As for Ethernet, its speed cannot exceed 100 Mbit/s.
The dimensions and weight of the Acer netbook correspond to a typical Intel Atom-based product. However, this is already an achievement - previously in such compact cases AMD processors were not installed. As for the price, it is, of course, low. If desired, the Aspire One 521 can be found for 9-10 thousand. True, instead of the Athlon II Neo K125, a weaker one will be installed there AMD chip V105 (1.2 GHz). That is, this product clearly refers to the very budget segment.
Testing
To evaluate the performance of the Acer Aspire One 521, we chose two ASUS netbook: Eee PC 1015PD and 1015PEM. Both are based on Intel platform Atom, and also have some differences in design. In particular, the Eee PC 1015PEM is white.
As you can see, both ASUS netbooks differ from each other in only one thing – the processor. The Eee PC 1015PEM has a dual-core Atom N550 chip operating at 1.50 GHz, while the Atom N455 has an operating frequency of 1.67 GHz.
The results in PCMark tests are more than indicative. Acer netbook beats both ASUS computer, including Eee PC 1015PEM with dual-core Atom N550. The single core Athlon II Neo turned out to be faster in all tests, and the Radeon HD 4225 video card complemented it perfectly.
In CINEBENCH the situation is not so clear-cut, but still indicative. The dual-core Atom N550 performed the same as the single-core Neo K125 in the rendering test, which makes good use of the capabilities of multi-core processors. Well, the OpenGL test doesn’t even have anything to compare - the difference of 6.5 times in favor of the Aspire One 521 speaks for itself.
It's not hard to guess who will win the graphics tests. The superiority of the Acer Aspire One 521 is obvious, and the more complex the benchmark, the more significant it is. So in 3DMark 2006 it is almost an entire order of magnitude.
As you can see, netbooks on the AMD platform handle old games without any problems - they achieve an acceptable FPS level. As for both ASUS laptops, they are very far behind. The two cores of the Atom N550 do not help it in any way - they clearly lack a faster video card.
Together with the Acer netbook, a 6-cell battery (44.82 Wh; 4150 mAh; 10.8 V) is sufficiently capacious for a 10.1-inch mobile computer. Both products compared have a slightly larger battery.
Well, the Aspire One 521 can’t beat you in everything. You had to pay with time for good performance battery life. However, the “price” turned out to be not very high - the Acer netbook lagged behind both ASUS quite slightly, showing a very outstanding result overall. A full charge of its battery will last for six and a half hours in reading mode and four hours of watching standard quality videos. HD video eats up the battery in three hours.
Conclusion
AMD is clearly trying very hard to displace Intel in the market of mobile and ultra-mobile platforms. And, it should be noted, its last year’s Nile platform and the current Brazos are very successful. However, very few products were released based on Nile, especially 10.1-inch netbooks. In our opinion, this is in vain - the Acer Aspire One 521 is a clear confirmation of this.
In terms of its external parameters, this is the most ordinary 10.1-inch netbook, no worse and no better than typical representatives on the Intel Atom platform. It heats up no more than them, has the same size and weight, and runs on battery power for a long time. However, among its advantages is noticeably higher performance, superior even to the dual-core Atom N550 chip. And the difference is especially visible in graphic tasks – it reaches several hundred percent.
Otherwise, the advantages of the Aspire One 521 include a fairly comfortable keyboard layout, a good screen, an unusual design, good assembly, and good self-updating capabilities. Plus, this netbook costs very little today. So you don't have to worry about its obsolescence - the Aspire One 521 can easily compete with modern netbooks.
- Netbook Aser Aspire One (AOA110-Ab)
- Case
- Battery (2400 mAh)
- Power adapter
- Description, quick user guide
- Recovery DVD (Linpus)
Russia, according to the latest data, is recognized as the leader in the growth of Internet users among European countries. It is not surprising that more and more companies are striving to introduce users to the “global web.” It doesn’t matter what kind of device it is: a phone with a built-in browser or an iphone/ipod touch with one of the most convenient mobile methods surfing the net.
Laptop manufacturers have also become interested in this sector; they want to become a guide for buyers worldwide network, a kind of guiding light, providing a device that is always connected to the network and guarantees an enjoyable time. This device could be a netbook.
4 months have passed since the publication of Artem Lutfullin’s material. During this time, the market, including the Russian one, has been replenished with several models of netbooks from various manufacturers. And the very concept of “netbook” is assigned to small book-sized devices, the main purpose of which is to work on the Internet and with text, as well as moderate use of the multimedia capabilities of the device.
The differences between the models on the market are not particularly large. They mainly relate to different amounts of RAM, storage space (HDD or SSD), as well as the operating system installed in the netbook - often Windows XP or one of the subtypes of Linux.
Founder Asus EEE PC 70x series showed two important points: the screen size should be more than 7 inches, and the resolution should be 1024x600 or higher, the keyboard installed in the Asus EEE PC 70x was also very small, it was simply inconvenient to type large text on it.
Asus continued the EEE PC series with models 900 and 901. The first of them was not much different from the netbook that Artem described in his article: only the screen size and, accordingly, resolution increased; the keyboard has not changed - the size of the keys remains the same. The next model, 901, had a very important innovation, namely the Atom processor, which later became the de facto standard; other manufacturers produced their devices on this processor (with rare exceptions).
Competitors soon followed Asus and presented their netbook models: MSI U90 and Acer Aspire One. Slowly, models with 10" screens are starting to appear on sale - Asus EEE PC 1000x and MSI Wind (U100), however, we will not touch on them today; the dimensions and, most importantly, the weight of these devices are somewhat larger, which means a different level of compactness.
Let's finally move on to talking about the Acer Aspire One.
Positioning
The presentation of the Aspire One, which I was able to attend, was aimed at clarifying the positioning of the device and explaining the differences between this netbook model and its competitors.
Acer emphasizes its interest in the proper presentation of its new device. The company really doesn’t want the Aspire One to be on the shelves in the same row as “large laptops” and recommended to those customers who don’t have enough Money for a full-fledged laptop. Acer really wants to achieve a correct understanding of the essence of the device: an additional element in home network, but not a replacement desktop computer or laptop. Not the least role in the product-customer connection is played by store sellers or, in extreme cases, resources like mobile-review.
The netbook as a class and the Aspire One in particular is a device, a faithful assistant that is always at hand and at the same time light and compact, has a larger screen than modern phones, PDAs and communicators, and allows you to satisfy all your needs regarding working with the Internet. Aspire One is designed for communication, work, study, entertainment and storage. As a consumer product, this device can become the very first computer in the family and introduce the user to the Internet, multimedia and office editors, or it can become a second computer, functionally located between the PDA and the main computer/laptop in the family.
Possible configurations
The laptop will be supplied in two configurations: the older one (index 150) and the younger one (110, which we tested).
110 : Screen 8.9" CrystalBrite WSVGA (1024x600), Intel Atom N270 processor (1.6 MHz), RAM 512 MB DDR2 (soldered into the motherboard), 8 GB SSD, LAN 10/100, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, operating room Linux system(Linpus Lite).
The RAM can be expanded by purchasing an additional stick and installing it in the slot yourself (you can get to it only by disassembling the entire laptop), the warranty is not lost. But the 8 GB NAND-flash, on which the system in the lower model is installed, cannot be easily replaced with a full-fledged HDD - the layout of the devices will not allow this. On the Internet, some craftsmen were able to connect an HDD, but it looks unpresentable, but users who like to dig around and find non-standard moves, sacrificing appearance, however, there will always be. If you still really want to increase the capacity, you can buy an SDHC card and insert it into a special Storage Expansion slot, the system will automatically expand your system space using the card. A good option, considering that SD cards cost pennies these days - for 1,800 rubles you can buy a 16 GB drive.
Model 150 has the following configuration: Screen 8.9" CrystalBrite WSVGA (1024x600), Intel Atom N270 processor (1.6 MHz), RAM 1024 MB DDR2 (of which 512 MB is soldered into the motherboard, the second 512 MB are installed as a strip), 80 GB HDD, LAN 10/100, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Operating Windows system(Home Edition).
Both models come with lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2400 mAh, which is enough for 2.5-3 hours of operation. It takes 1 hour 20 minutes to fully charge.
A high-capacity battery will also be produced - its charge, according to preliminary information, will be enough for about 7 hours of operation. Estimated cost - 3000 rubles. It is also possible that future Aspire One configurations will immediately include a high-capacity battery.
As you may have noticed, Bluetooth is not implemented in any of the configurations - the manufacturer believes that there is no urgent need for the module, but if the user really needs this type of data transfer for his needs, he can purchase it in the form of a USB key fob.
In the future it is planned to release a configuration with installed module 3G or WiMax. This will be carried out in an alliance with one of the telecom operators, tentatively before the end of this year.
The configuration with a 3G module will be about 1000 rubles more expensive.
Equipment
In the colorful box you can find: a leather case. a substitute, a compact power adapter and the netbook itself. In addition to the brief and detailed description Recover Disk for Linux is also available.
The case is a very ordinary one, designed only to prevent scratching the glossy surface of the netbook when carried in a backpack or bag.
For comparison, Asus EEE PC 701 adapter
The adapter is really very small; one would expect this size from a charging device for mobile phone, but not for a laptop. If you're going on a trip and need to bring a charger, you don't have to worry about carrying something bulky with you all the time.
Design, dimensions
After using the Asus EEE PC 701 for ten days, I came across the Aspire One. Subjectively, I like the Aspire One better. Glossy surfaces, mercilessly overgrown with fingerprints, however, give a more austere look to the device. The matte and rough material from which the EEE PC 701 is made leaves the impression of a certain “budget”, an inexpensive device, during the development of which a lot had to be saved.
There are four body color options: Golden Brown, Coral Pink, White Shell and Sapphire Blue. The first to go on sale were models with white and blue body designs. Pink and brown netbooks will appear later this year.
The back surface of the cover (the half with the screen) and the area around the keyboard, including the touchpad, are painted in color. Blue and brown models have a black-painted keyboard as well as side edges; in the white and pink models, these elements are painted white. Regardless of the main color, the screen edge remains black.
The Aspire One netbook does not have a single right angle; all the lines of the body are rounded. The designers highlight the orange rings located on both sides, next to the hinges, as a special design element. However, this step is not repeated anywhere else, except in the design of the Recovery disk.
The size and weight of the device are still one of the most important parameters of a netbook. Aspire One is moderately compact and light: physical parameters are 249x170x29 mm, weight - 977 grams. Naturally, the 150 model, with an 80GB hard drive, will weigh a little more; Also, the dimensions of the device will increase when installing a high-capacity battery.
The difference in size with the Asus EEE PC701 is not so great, but the additional space is used to increase the number of keyboard buttons. We'll talk about this later.
The Aspire One will fit into bags of various sizes without any problems, but if you are used to carrying a backpack with you, then most likely you will not notice the presence of a netbook in it at all.
Housing, build quality
The plastic of the case is painted with a fairly high quality, no scuffs or scratches appeared during use - the coating inspires confidence. But the outer side of the netbook lid, due to its gloss, constantly collects fingerprints. The interior around the keyboard is painted in the main color of the device, but with a splash of glitter.
The build quality is not satisfactory. The body parts fit tightly together; I did not notice any play, bending or wobbling.
Cooling system, heat dissipation
The cooling system in the Aspire One is active - the fan at the bottom of the case starts working only when the system is under heavy load (when running resource-intensive applications).
The case practically does not heat up; if you hold the netbook on your lap, you do not feel any discomfort.
Controls
The arrangement of the elements is quite standard for laptops: on the left side from top to bottom there is a socket for connecting the power adapter, an output to an external display (VGA), a small hole for the cooling system, Ethernet port, 1 USB and Storage Expansion slot for expansion internal memory, supporting SD\SDHC format cards.
On the right side there is a Kensigton Lock connector, then there is a card reader that supports SD, MMC, RS-MMC, MS, MS PRO, xD standards, below there are two USB 2.0 ports, a 3.5 mm audio output and a microphone input.
On the bottom of the netbook, in the right corner, there is a slider that activates Wi-Fi.
On the front panel, in a small recess, there is an on/off button with a built-in indicator (the indicator lights up green when the netbook is running, blinks orange in standby mode, and lights up orange while charging).
Above the display is a Crystal Eye camera for video conferencing with support for 0.3 megapixel resolution. A little to the left there is a small hole - this is the built-in microphone.
The speakers are located at the bottom of the case, in its lower part. Their volume is average; it may be suitable for background sound, but for deeper listening to podcasts, music and movie dubbing, I recommend using headphones.
The operation indicators are located on an oblong cylinder located at the very top of the lower half of the body. When the lid is closed, the cylinder is exposed, so that the indicator lights remain visible. The first of them notifies you about the battery charge, the second blinks in time with the operation of the disk drive, the next two indicators light up when activated Caps Lock And Num Lock respectively.
Screen
The TFT display has a diagonal of 8.9"" (195x114 mm), it has a good brightness indicator, uses Acer's proprietary CrystalBrite technology and is equipped with LED backlight, has a resolution of 1024x600 pixels and supports 262,000 colors.
Thanks to the increased resolution, there is no need to use horizontal scrolling when viewing Internet pages.
Horizontal viewing angles do not cause any complaints, but vertical ones could be better. However, you won’t have to search for the optimal angle for a long time - just tilt the lid of the netbook as far as possible (which is 155 degrees), in this state the colors are not inverted.
Keyboard
Keyboard Aser Aspire One
Keyboard Asus EEE PC 701
The keyboard includes 84 keys with a travel of 1.6 mm. Their implementation in the Aspire One is superior in all respects to that in the Asus EEE PC 701, primarily due to the size of the buttons (89% of the size standard keyboard), which allows you to print large texts without much effort. This article, like several others, was printed on an Aspire One. You quickly get used to the location of the buttons. It's not very convenient to use only cursors - the buttons in the lower right corner are very crowded, and your finger often touches Pg Dn or Pg Up, which are located next door, almost right next to each other.
Many may find it inconvenient to put symbols on buttons - Cyrillic and Latin have the same color and size, and only numbers (activated using Num Lk) are blue. Personally, this circumstance does not bother me at all.
In the top row there are F-buttons, half of which, using the Fn modifier, allow you to put the netbook to sleep, switch between the built-in and external display, mute the sound, and so on. You can also use the Fn key and cursors to change the sound volume and screen brightness.
The touchpad on the Aspire One is extended horizontally. Despite the low height, vertical scrolling works, although the stripe is not applied to the surface. The keys are located on the sides of the touchpad, and not under it, as is most often the case. It seemed to me that using them is not very convenient, but you can get used to their work.
Platform, performance
So, we have come to the most ambiguous, I would say even ambiguous, aspect of the Aspire One.
The thing is that all attempts to make working with a netbook convenient are cut short in the bud “thanks to” Linpus Linux Lite installed on the model under test.
Acer tried to make the interface intuitive by dividing the “desktop” into 4 zones, which include the main motives for future work on the Aspire One.
Let's briefly go over the contents of the sections:
Connect
Reviewer- web browser Mozilla Firefox version 2.0.0.14 (you cannot update to version 3.0 in the usual way)
I.M.- a communication program that supports the MSN Messenger, Yahoo mesenger, Google Talk, AIM protocols (Skype support is missing, although it was promised; ICQ support is also expected “soon”)
Email - mail client with support for up to 5 accounts. Also contains a contact book and calendar.
RSS feeds- a simple program for reading RSS subscriptions
As you can see, the manufacturer tried to implement most of the popular Internet services, but due to shortcomings and a rather unfriendly shell, the customization possibilities were reduced to nothing.
The biggest surprise for me was the lack of Skype support in applications, despite the fact that the fact of its presence appears in almost every brochure. The absence of ICQ is explained by the unavailability of the protocol for Linux platforms, however, it is not clear how the application can be updated.
Here, for example, is a description of how you can update your installed Firefox to version 2.0.0.11 (quoted from the user manual):
- Go to http://rpm.pbone.net
- In the search bar, search for Firefox
- Select Fedora 6 from the search results
- Once downloaded, run the rpm package -Uvh firefox-2.0.0.11-.1.fc6.remi.i386.rpm
Using standard means, via a browser, this procedure impossible to implement.
If updates appear for the installed software, you will probably have to use the method presented above. Why it needs to be so complicated is beyond me. Most likely these are operating system limitations.
Job
Text editor.
Spreadsheets are the standard three applications from the OpenOffice 2.3 office suite.
Presentations.
The calendar is the same calendar that is part of the email program.
Contacts - contact book also from the mail program.
Calculator - can be displayed in both simple and engineering form.
Notes is an application for taking small notes.
Entertainment
Media Master- multimedia player
Photo Master- image viewer
Games- 11 easy games
Web camera- video recording from the built-in camera
Artist- analogue of Paint
The system does not have audio and video codecs installed, which makes watching your favorite videos, trailers, and listening to music almost impossible. The method for installing codecs is a bit similar to the process of updating Firefox, which I cited above, with the only difference being that the codecs still have to be registered.
Files
My Documents
My music
My images
My videos
My downloads
My files
The last item launches a simple file manager, the rest are links to the corresponding folders.
An unpleasant feature of the shell is the inability to add shortcuts to your programs. That is, if you download Skype yourself and install it, you will have to launch the program using command line, which, you see, is very inconvenient.
All the restrictions boil down to the following: if you are not satisfied with the capabilities provided by the built-in software (and this happens in most cases), then you will have to start “dancing with tambourines” or immediately “demolish” the local Linpus and install a more familiar OS.
Personally, I finally decided to install a lightweight Windows version. However, the method tested on the EEE PC 701 did not work with the Aspire One. I gave the device to Artyom Lutfullin, and he managed to adapt the netbook to Windows. True, according to Artem, in this configuration (110) the Aspire One noticeably slows down, subjectively the work is even slower when compared with the Windows OS installed on the EEE PC 701. However, this is a topic for another discussion. In the near future, expect new materials on netbooks on our website.
Setup menu
This menu contains the following items:
Screen- allows you to select the method of displaying images from different displays (external, internal).
Energy center- power management when running on mains or battery power, selecting and customizing three profiles: “performance”, “balanced” and “energy saving”, as well as the ability to create your own profile.
Network Center- connection manager for setting up and creating an Internet connection. Allows you to select the encryption method, set a password, configure DNS addresses and TCP\IP.
Sound- adjust the volume of sound and microphone.
System- basic information about the system.
date and time- setting date, time and time zone.
Touchpad- adjust the sensitivity of the touchpad touchpad: touches and scrolling.
Live Update- system component update service.
Printer- search and configure connected printers.
Input language, Keyboard- add and manage different keyboard layouts.
User and password- setting a password.
Conclusions. Prospects. Competitors
The fact that netbooks have found their buyer has already been shown by the high sales of Asus EEE PC 701, as well as the excitement with which they await the release of each new model. The main competitors offer devices with a screen diagonal of 8.9 inches; they do not have many differences from the Aspire One. In this case, I advise you to look first of all at the size of the buttons and the ease of use for you personally - try typing small text in the store.
I also advise you to talk to the seller before purchasing and personally try out the operating system installed on the netbook. Even for a short time you can understand how easy it is to communicate, how easy it is to make updates and other important points.
In the wake of the increasing popularity of netbooks, Acer plans to sell an impressive number of copies. The main motives for the promotion will be the fame of the Acer brand and the vast successful experience in producing laptops. It is planned to launch an advertising campaign together with one of the Wi-Fi providers, this will happen closer to the fall.
Sales of Aspire One have already begun. Acer has set the following recommended prices: 11,990 rubles for the younger model and 14,990 rubles for the older one.
The price is quite competitive for both the younger and older models. However, I would recommend turning your attention to the second option, since the familiar Windows turned out to be more user-friendly than Linux Linpus. Acer launched a special website on which they promise to have programs for Linpus, but at the time of writing, nothing has appeared there. Three thousand rubles that are asked for the older version - read twice the amount of memory and installed operating system from Microsoft - not such an impressive amount for additional comfort.
If, as a result of this article, you are undecided whether you need a netbook, namely the Aspire One, then I recommend waiting for the next article, which will examine competitors’ offers available for free sale in our country.
A cer Aspire One is an 8.9" netbook, with an ideal price-performance ratio, one of the strongest competitors in the entire netbook market. The base model of the Aspire One includes an 8GB SSD and Linux starts at $329, not to forget the Intel Atom processor. In this In the review, we will find out all the pros and cons of the Acer Aspire One, and see how attractive it is for the buyer.
Technical characteristics of Acer Aspire One:
Design and build
The design of the Acer Aspire One is very organic - a smooth body with rounded edges and a glossy surface, this laptop is very pleasant to hold in your hands. The top cover of the netbook, as well as the area around it, is made of glossy plastic. LCD display. Sometimes in a brightly lit room, the frame around the screen begins to glare, distracting from the screen.
The quality of the material itself is quite good, the netbook seems quite durable and resistant to damage, with the exception of glossy surfaces, on which even small scratches will probably look quite noticeable. The plastic resists squeezing or bending well, and the lid and surface around the screen are especially durable, which is important for protecting the fragile LCD panel.
If you are a fan of upgrading laptops, the Acer Aspire One is not such a suitable model for this. The covers are quite difficult to remove, and accessing components like RAM or HDD is not easy. But this step may be justified if you plan to install Vista, which is very memory-hungry, or you can install a faster hard drive. Another disappointing fact is the Mini-PCIe slot, which can probably only accommodate a SIM card for 3G communication, but if you can attach anything else there, then you can obviously be called very successful.
Display
The LED backlit display on the Acer Aspire One is very bright, and the colors look natural and vibrant. This is made possible by using a glossy screen, which unfortunately increases reflection and causes glare. Indoors, in not very bright lighting, the screen is well readable and contrasty, but outdoors or in a bright room it becomes difficult to read and uncomfortable to view.
The viewing angle is above average. The horizontal viewing angle is very good, essentially you can look almost perpendicular to the screen and still see true colors. Vertical viewing angle is also good, but the limit of normal quality is +/- 15 degrees up or down from the average position.
Keyboard and touchpad
The keyboard is as large as the dimensions of the netbook allow. Overall, the Aspire One is a 9" netbook in a 10" model. A small drawback of this solution is the large borders around the plastic screen, but this made it possible to make the keyboard as comfortable as possible. It is, of course, not full-size, like regular laptops, so you will have to practice before getting used to it.
The keyboard itself feels secure and doesn't flex, and the keys don't wobble. The page up and page down buttons are given special placement. For scrolling long web pages, especially with mini touchpads, the page up and page down keys allow you to move around the page more accurately and comfortably, and most importantly, quickly.
The touchpad design is unique compared to other netbooks and laptops because the buttons are located not under the touchpad, but to the right and left of it. The only other netbook with a similar touchpad is the HP Mini-Note 2133. The format is a little unusual, so at first there may be situations where you just press the case under the panel and then try to move it around the touchpad, but this will all go away with time. The surface responds easily to touch, even with low pressure. If you can get used to the format of the touchpad buttons, the touchpad looks pretty good.
Performance
Of course, with Intel processor Atom this netbook will not show record speeds, but for everyday work, especially on the Internet, its power will be enough. Whether it's working with text or editing photos, it will handle any task perfectly.System performance results when tested in 3DMark06:
| Laptops | Ball 3DMark06 |
| Acer Aspire One (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950) | 122 3DMarks |
| Sony VAIO TZ (1.20GHz Core 2 Duo U7600, Intel GMA 950) | 122 3DMarks |
| HP dv2500t (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB) | 1,055 3DMarks |
| Sony VAIO FZ (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100) | 532 3DMarks |
| HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400) | 827 3DMarks |
Sound
The speakers of the Acer Aspire One were nothing to please. high and low tones are not displayed enough, the sound volume is also “lame”, so if you don’t want to suffer while watching a movie or listening to music, then it’s better to connect headphones. Good quality headphones are able to solve all of the above problems.Interfaces
The set of interfaces is very diverse, just like for netbooks. There is a card reader and a standard set: three USB ports, LAN, VGA and an audio jack. The only thing that causes criticism is the replaceable additional Mini-PCIe slot, which can be used for subsequent upgrade to a 3G modem.
Front: Wireless On/Off
Rear: Battery
Left: PSU input, VGA, vents, LAN, one USB, SDHC
Right: headphones/microphone, two USB, multi-card reader, Kensington Lock Slot
Heat and noise
Almost all netbooks built on Intel Atom have low heat output, and the Acer Aspire One is no exception. Under normal operating conditions, such as when browsing the Internet, or with text documents, or in icq, the temperature is within the acceptable range. The temperature on the surface of the keyboard is slightly higher than the temperature in the room, and the bottom of the laptop gets even hotter. The photographs below indicate the temperature in different parts of the netbook in degrees Fahrenheit.
Noise sets the Aspire One apart from all netbooks, and not in a good way. Immediately when you turn on the netbook, the fan starts working, and the operating sound is louder than that of ordinary full-size laptops. When working, One gets hotter and the fan starts to work faster, and the noise from its operation increases, which can even cause dissatisfaction with others, or simply get on your nerves.
Battery
With screen brightness set to 60%, Wi-Fi turned on, and browsing the web, the Acer Aspire One had a battery life of 2 hours and 23 minutes. It is equipped with a standard 3-segment battery; Acer plans to release models with an additional 6-segment battery.Widget from SocialMart
Conclusion
For those looking for an inexpensive and functional netbook, the Acer Aspire One is an excellent solution. This laptop has an attractive design and good quality materials and assembly. Of course, the operating time from a 3-segment battery is not the best that is currently on the market, but this issue can be resolved by purchasing an additional 6-segment battery. Another pro factor is its low cost.pros
- Low price- Good execution
- Two card readers
- Good touchpad
Minuses
- Heavy to upgrade- Fan noise
