All about the Acer Aspire one series netbook. Acer Aspire One review: Acer's first netbook. Ease of use of the keyboard

After the Centrino platform captured the mass market, it might seem that, from a configuration point of view, all modern laptops are twin brothers. Although there are, of course, always some differences (the most important is the size of the LCD screen), in general, even laptops of different classes offered the user approximately the same set of capabilities. Plus or minus an additional graphics controller, plus or minus a TV tuner and a web camera. But with the advent of netbooks, it became clear what a truly close configuration is - almost all netbooks on the market have such a similar filling that you often don’t even have to look at the technical characteristics table of the new model. And although performance different models not the same, but as our previous tests showed, by and large, only the performance of the ROM matters - the remaining subsystems are completely identical. And which user will pay attention to a 10-15% difference in certain tests and understand its reasons? After all, netbooks are aimed at the mass user and are positioned on the edge of consumer electronics, in close proximity to communicators, e-books and other similar devices. In other words, most netbook buyers are not the kind of people who will make purchasing decisions based on percentage advantage in benchmark tests. Here completely different factors matter (and reviews of our netbook testing confirm this) - the weight of the device, time battery life, reliability. Let's risk adding design to this series. Firstly, when choosing among devices that are almost identical in technical characteristics, the user will inevitably give preference to the model with the best design. In the end, any high-tech “toy” also has an image function. Secondly, the share of the fair sex among netbook users is obviously greater than among users of full-size laptops. It’s not without reason that some manufacturers focus on white models; moreover, there are even pink netbooks on the market! However, until recently, all netbook manufacturers tried to make their devices as accessible and inexpensive as possible. The first netbooks were created within the framework of the OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) concept, which limited the cost of a netbook to $100-$200. Accordingly, there was no need to demand special design refinements from them. After all, the development of a bright style, and, most importantly, the high-quality materials necessary for its implementation - all this increases the final cost of the netbook.

Developers Aspire One clearly placed emphasis on the design of the model

However, there are models whose developers have focused specifically on design. One of them, Acer's Aspire One, visited our laboratory. What advantages, besides the interesting design, can this model offer the user?

Contents of delivery

The keys lying nearby will help you evaluate the compactness of the Aspire One box

Appearance Acer Aspire The One makes an impression even before it's even taken out of the box. This model comes in a colorful miniature cardboard box that's smaller than any of its competitors - ideal for retail sales.

The delivery set includes a branded case

However, compact packaging in this case does not mean poor packaging; in the box, in addition to the netbook itself, the user will find:

• battery,
• carrying case,
• OS recovery CD,
• detailed user manual,
• power supply and power cord

Specifications

Just like most modern netbooks, Acer Aspire One is equipped with a 1.6 GHz Atom N270

The configuration of the Acer Aspire One confirms the words with which this article began - the design and hardware of all netbooks are very similar, and the list of differences is much shorter than the list of identical elements. Just like most modern netbooks, Acer Aspire One is built on the basis motherboard With mobile version recruitment Intel chips 945 series - 945GSE. Intel processor Atom N270 with a clock frequency of 1.6 GHz is paired with 533 MHz DDR2 memory (one module is installed in the laptop). It is noteworthy that the Aspire One does not have hatches for access to replaceable components - to upgrade the netbook, the bottom panel will have to be completely removed.

GMA 950 graphics core is integrated into the chipset

The graphics core - Intel GMA 950 - is built into the " north bridge"and reserves part system memory under video RAM. The netbook's LCD display has a diagonal of 8.9 inches and a resolution of 1024x600 - these are also familiar characteristics, although more and more manufacturers are announcing the release of models with a larger screen diagonal. But, unlike most of its competitors, the Aspire One boasts a glossy screen finish that visually improves image clarity. However, not all users will like this, because the glossy coating glares and gets dirty easily. A 0.3-megapixel web camera is built into the screen frame. A single 8GB SSD drive with an ATA66 interface is used as ROM - the capacity is modest by modern standards. Apparently, the developers understood this very well, since the Aspire One is equipped with two memory card slots. One of them is compatible only with SD/MMC and, according to the creators, should be used as an additional drive. The second allows you to work with SD/MMC cards, Memory Stick (including Pro) and xD. Communication controllers are represented by a 10/100-Mbps Realtek RTL8102E adapter and an Atheros AR5007EG wireless module, which is presented in the manufacturer's specifications under the name Acer InviLink. But, despite the brand name, its characteristics cannot be called outstanding - it is compatible only with 802.11b/g, and does not support the faster 802.11n standard. And the saddest drawback is the absence of a Bluetooth module in the Aspire One configuration, because most of the competitors are already “blue-toothed”.

However, it should be noted here that most users connect GPRS or 3G modems via Bluetooth, and in the future the Aspire One will have a built-in modem for 3G networks - this has been officially announced. There is already a slot for SIM cards - it is located under the battery, which will have to be removed to install the SIM card. However, there is no doubt that along with the 3G modem, the new Aspire One models will also have a Bluetooth module - after all, most competitors have it and the gap needs to be caught up.

Miniature three-cell battery included

The capacity of the included battery is 26.6 Wh

The package includes a compact three-cell accumulator battery, its capacity is 26.6 Wh. For an additional fee, the manufacturer also offers a six-cell version of the battery; according to the manufacturer, such batteries will soon appear in Russian retail. It should be noted that the dimensions of the six-cell battery model are, of course, larger - it noticeably protrudes beyond the dimensions of the netbook and with such a battery it will not fit into a branded case. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the Aspire One configuration is the presence of active cooling. The netbook has a built-in miniature fan, hidden under a round protrusion located closer to the center of the bottom panel. The noise level of this fan is very low, even in a quiet room you have to strain your ears to hear the sound of its operation. At the same time, it provides a relatively low level of heating - the Aspire One is noticeably “cooler” than many competitors. To summarize the description of the configuration, it should be noted that modification AOA110-A was provided for testing. On the Russian market, Acer also offers the 150th modification (AOA150-B), the main difference of which is that a 120 GB is used instead of an SSD drive HDD(Serial ATA interface, 5400 rpm).

Design and ergonomics

The glossy surface of the lid is decorated with the Acer logo

Of course, there are no comrades according to taste, but, in the author’s opinion, the Aspire One is the most beautiful netbook currently available in Russian retail. The glossy case with a mother-of-pearl tint can be white or dark blue - it is obvious that the white models are intended for the fair sex, and the blue version will appeal more to men. As you can easily guess from the photographs, a blue netbook visited our laboratory; we will describe the design in more detail using its example. The lower part of the case is made of ordinary black plastic, and the upper part and lid are made of blue varnished plastic. Unfortunately, the glossy surface of the lid and screen quickly becomes covered with fingerprints, but this is perhaps its only drawback.

The lid hinges are decorated with red metal rings

LED indicators are visible both when the lid is open and closed

The lid hinges are decorated with red metal rings, and a few more striking elements are the silver Acer and Aspire One logos on the lid and hinges. On the left side of the hinges there are four LED indicators, which are visible both when the lid is open and closed.

The LED light built into the power button is not annoying in the dark

A green LED window is built into the silver power button - its light is soft and dim, and is not at all annoying in the dark. On the cutting edge working panel There is a silver insert, on the sides of which there are LED indicators that display the operating mode of communication devices.

The netbook is compact and, most importantly, very light (compared to its competitors) - exactly 1 kg. This is partly due to the active cooling system - it does not need a bulky and heavy radiator. The placement of the I/O ports is well thought out and very convenient to use. The right side panel houses two USB ports, 3.5mm audio jacks for microphone and headphones, a main memory card slot and a Kensington lock slot.

On the left side panel there is a connector for the power supply, as well as an analog VGA connector, an RJ-45 network connector, a third USB port and an additional slot for SD/MMC memory cards. There are no ports or connectors on the front or back (the only exception is the sliding switch wireless module right on the front panel) - this is reasonable for a model that the user will often work with while holding the body on his lap.

Keyboard

The key pitch is 17.5 mm and the “arrows” are placed in a separate block

In addition, the Aspire One keyboard is distinguished by full-size “arrows” placed in a separate block and a good location of other function keys. Only the key is not too wide - the same as the alphabetic keys.

The manipulator buttons are located on the sides of the touch panel

We also found the netbook's wide touch panel convenient. The manipulator buttons are located on the sides of it, and not under it, as usual. This option is more convenient, since there is no risk of touching the touchpad with your middle or ring finger when pressing the button with your index finger.

Linpus

The creators of Aspire One are trying to emphasize high quality LCD display?

The owner of Aspire One has the opportunity to feel like the head of the Energy Center

The system interface of netbooks supplied to the Russian market is completely Russified. It really is extremely simple - even the most inexperienced users can easily operate the netbook. Unless they get confused in the translation, the main menu items and sections are translated quite correctly, but in the depths of the dialog boxes you can find sayings such as “Enable power management for a specific monitor.” However, the main menus can also please, for example, with “Energy Center”.

But on almost all pages of the interface there is a search window that allows you to search for both local documents and send a request search engines on the Internet - both are very convenient. But, nevertheless, for any experienced user the capabilities of Linpus will not be enough, and the interface will seem too limited. Although, at first glance, everything you need is available, with prolonged use you will definitely discover that the necessary codecs and some programs are missing. Updating Linpus yourself is a hassle even for someone familiar with Linux. So if you are willing to spend time setting up drivers, it is better to install full-fledged Linux, and if not, Windows XP.

Tests

* a 16 GB drive was used during testing. Although other netbook models are “terrible on the face” in comparison with the Aspire One, they are noticeably “kinder inside” - they have a more successful configuration. However, the expected dip in the performance of the memory subsystem did not appear - the gap between DDR2-533 and DDR2-667 in test tasks is minimal.

The performance of the built-in SSD drive is inferior to competitors

But in terms of performance of the Aspire One SSD drive, it is noticeably inferior to competing models, and this affects the results of other tests. Unfortunately, test package PCMark05 ran with constant glitches and it was not possible to find the cause during testing.

But based on the MobileMark05 Productivity result, you can see that the Aspire One's performance is almost equal to the performance of the eee PC 901, demonstrated by the latter when tested on the slower of its two drives (marked with an asterisk). It can be assumed that the results of the Aspire One in those tests that it did not pass will be close to the values ​​marked with an asterisk. And these values ​​are generally less maximum performance eee PC 901. The Aspire One netbook loses even more noticeably to the eee PC 1000 model.

The Acer Aspire One battery lasts for two hours in the Battery Eater Pro 2.60 test

It also takes two hours to fully recharge the Acer Aspire One battery

However, as noted above, it is unlikely that many netbook buyers are seriously concerned about their performance and compare the performance of individual subsystems. Enough power to browse the web, read email, and Skype works and “ICQ” - that’s enough. But battery life is important for any user, and here the Aspire One, alas, again lags behind its competitors. At maximum load(Battery Eater Pro 2.60 Classic) battery life was just over two hours. When working in the mode simulating normal office work (MobileMark05 Productivity), the battery charge lasted for three and a quarter hours, and in the most gentle mode (MobileMark05 Reader) – for three and a half hours. Good results for regular laptop, but for a netbook with a 9-inch screen, LED-backlit screen and an economical SSD drive, this is not enough.

Performance of the built-in SD/MMC adapter used as an additional drive

In addition, we measured the reading speed of the memory card adapter, which the developers recommend using as an additional drive, using the HD Tune program. To do this, we installed a 1 GB Apacer MMC Plus 290X card (maximum data transfer speed - 43.5 MB/s) into the memory card slot. The performance of the adapter turned out to be only slightly less than that of the built-in SSD drive, so, given the availability of SD cards on sale large capacity, it is really worth using to expand persistent memory.

conclusions

• Minuses: relatively low performance and average battery life
• Pros: excellent design, light weight and compactness, excellent keyboard, well-thought-out ergonomics

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 could interest many larger number 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 new, but the company has not given the modern models a very different design - the old one has only been 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 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.

Touchpad not very large - the height of the working area did not allow making it 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, work hard disk 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 most pleasant qualities of ultramobile AMD platforms– support 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 an 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 AMD V105 chip (1.2 GHz) will be installed there. That is, this product clearly belongs to the budget segment.

Testing

To evaluate the performance of the Acer Aspire One 521, we chose two ASUS netbooks: 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. Dual-core Atom N550 in a rendering test that makes good use of the capabilities multi-core processors, showed the same result as the Neo K125 with a single core. 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 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 doesn't beat everything. It had to pay for good performance with 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, good opportunities for self-updating. 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.

Acer netbooks: review of the best models

At the same time, few people will be surprised by a reader today, and besides, the cost of a good e-reader is approaching the cost tablet computer or even a laptop computer.

Acer netbooks bring joy

It is the latter that will be discussed in our review today. There are a number of reasons why a device in the netbook form factor can be considered one of the best options for a New Year's gift, we will not list them all, because such a task is not worth it, it is better to take a look at the Acer line of netbooks, and everything will become self-evident. Let us make a reservation right away that we will not consider any single the lineup, but several devices, quite different in functionality, configuration and internal architecture, in order to cover the widest possible range of devices (as possible within one review).

Acer Aspire One 725

We will begin our review with a netbook, for the simple reason that this device is the most popular among users, and I must say that this popularity is well deserved. This netbook can be called a compact, cute mule among its fellow netbooks, which are often leisurely donkeys.

Acer Aspire One 725

The Acer Aspire One 725 is built on the AMD APU Fusion platform. Fusion APU series processors are specifically designed to work in netbooks, laptops and all-in-one desktops. Thus, it is easy to guess that installing a processor of this series on a netbook makes the latter a fairly powerful and functional device.

To be precise, as a CPU processor on the Aspire One 725 dual core processor C-60 with a clock speed of 1 GHz and the ability to overclock in Turbo CORE mode up to 1.33 GHz. The Aspire One 725 also carries on board 4 GB of DDRIII RAM and a 320-500 GB HDD drive.

The implementation of graphic solutions for the netbook deserves special attention. As a graphics card, the Aspire One 725 has integrated AMD Radeon HD 6290 Graphics with 256 MB of dedicated memory. Thus, this netbook is not just portable device, and also a good solution for lovers computer games, because with such graphic equipment, even simple 3D games will run on it without any brakes.

The Aspire One 725 case makes a good impression

In addition, we cannot ignore the visualization solutions used in this netbook. The Aspire One 725 is equipped with an 11.6-inch Acer CineCrystal LED TFT LCD display with a resolution of 1366x768, which is characterized by wide viewing angles, image clarity and color depth. In addition, in certain configurations, the netbook is equipped with a NON GLARE matrix, which increases image clarity and makes the netbook more suitable for use in open spaces.

An ergonomic, full-size island-type keyboard allows you to work with text or graphics for a long time without feeling tired.

Of course, if you consider the Aspire One 725 netbook as a New Year's gift, you cannot ignore its appearance. Perhaps, only one thing can be said here: the design of the device is made with five plus marks. The netbook body is made in two colors: strict black and quite playful blue. The lid of the laptop has a glossy finish, while the wrist area is made of matte material, which creates a certain contrast, and besides, the matte surface of the internal areas of the device is not so easily soiled, fingerprints practically do not remain on it, so the netbook will always look neat.

As for functionality, the Aspire One 725 holds a good mid-high level. This is exactly the case when the manufacturer’s stated characteristics - “devices for daily performance of everyday tasks” - are fully justified. Working with text, images, surfing the Internet and using multimedia functions - there are no problems with anything. The netbook works quite quickly, and there is no strong heating or noise from it. Aspire One 725 has wireless support Wi-Fi networks 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0+HS.

Interfaces and connectors Acer Aspire One 725

Of course, we should not forget that one of the most important characteristics of a device such as a netbook is mobility. Aspire One 725 is equipped with a four-cell lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2500 m/Ah. The battery life is just short of 6 hours.

Thus, we can summarize: the Aspire One 725 can be a fairly serious New Year's gift for a person looking for a fairly powerful, mobile device, which you could always take with you, but at the same time not lose functionality due to the form factor.

Aspire One D270

Next in line is the netbook. Consideration of this model should be divided into two groups, since the design of netbooks in this line is divided into two different branches: some of the devices have a rather strict appearance, enclosed in monotonous colored cases, and some have a cheerful design, with multi-colored bubbles on the lid and touchpad. Unfortunately, there is no space here for such a detailed analysis, and in terms of hardware, netbooks have no differences, so in support of the spirit of the holiday, we will simply keep in our mind’s eye a netbook in a colorful, cheerful case, and, accordingly, consider it as excellent a gift for a cheerful girl who easily goes through life with a conceptual Aspire One D270 under her arm.

The cheerful Aspire One D270 gets into the holiday spirit

To make the life of our imaginary heroine seem even more cloudless, and the operation of the netbook to remain stable and fast, the manufacturers equipped it with an Intel Atom N2600 processor with a frequency of 1.6 GHz. The netbook's RAM capacity is 2 GB. When looking at such indicators, of course, there is no particular admiration, but they are quite sufficient for stable and generally fast operation of the system. In addition, it is worth remembering that in this case we are talking about a device that has been on the market for a long time, i.e., it is completely established and has already proven its viability. Consequently, the Aspire One D270 has a decent number of grateful users.

The device is equipped with a rich set of interface connectors: on the left side of the netbook there is USB 2.0, an HDMI connector, a VGA port, a standard RJ-45 and a connector for network adapter. On the right: a universal 5-in-1 card reader, a standard audio jack, a microphone input and two USB 2.0 ports, with a Kensington Lock connector in the very corner. The front and back edges are free of any interfaces. On top panel, above the screen there is a black peephole of a webcam with a resolution of 0.3 MP, providing standard video communication capabilities.

The Aspire One D270 keyboard is quite ordinary

The Aspire One D270 is equipped with a 10.1-inch diagonal screen with LED backlighting and integrated Intel GMA3600 graphics. The maximum screen resolution is 1024x600 pixels. The resolution, frankly speaking, is not maximum, but one thing that cannot be taken away from a netbook is excellent viewing angles. When deviating left and right, the image does not fade or become distorted. The same goes for downward deflection. The only visible distortion appears when the vertical axis deviates upward, which is a characteristic feature for all devices in general.

Another argument in favor of the fact that the Aspire One D270 is a more acceptable gift for a girl is the size of the keys. Frankly speaking, they are not large, especially the arrow block, so the keyboard is not the most comfortable for men’s hands, but for the light fingers of our hypothetical user it is just right. But we had no complaints about the touchpad of the Aspire One D270. The matte surface is pleasant to the touch, the cursor clearly responds to touch. The touch vertical scroll bar does not act strangely or jump around. The touchpad buttons are merged into a single key, the press is tight, noticeable, but without a loud click.

The battery life of the Aspire One D270 is slightly less than that of the previous model, but also quite decent - 5 hours in moderate use mode, i.e., viewing images, working with text, surfing the Internet and other simple tasks.

Appearance is the undeniable advantage of the Aspire One D270

Thus, we have a nice little netbook with full set necessary functions and long enough life cycle away from the power grid.

Acer Aspire One 756

A netbook is quite a “dark horse” and, oddly enough, not many users can boast of being familiar with it. The strange thing is that this netbook comes in a fairly diverse configuration, which should arouse interest among those who like to experiment with hardware. On this moment Acer laptop The Aspire One 756 is available in the following configurations: based on Intel Celeron 87.887 processors clocked at 1.4 GHz. The RAM capacity is 4 GB, expandable up to 8 GB via two SO-DIMM modules, or 2 GB RAM.

Acer Aspire One 756

The storage capacity can also differ from either a 320 GB HDD or a 500 GB HDD.

Appearance this laptop It is quite strict, despite the fact that it comes in four different colors: black, blue, red and silver. The dimensions of the Acer Aspire One 756 are 285 x 202 x 20.95-27.35 mm, and the weight is 1.38 kg. The indicators are quite normal for an 11.6-inch device, but they fully meet the requirements for a device that is always with you.

The netbook is equipped with all the connectors and interfaces necessary for fruitful work, such as a reader and writer of SD and MMC memory cards, stereo speakers, a microphone, a web camera that allows you to record video with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels (like the One 725, this netbook can be equipped with a NON GLARE matrix), communication modules, RJ-45 and a Wi-Fi module that supports 802.11b/g networks.

Acer Aspire One 756 has good screen performance

This model would be quite suitable for a prudent user who perfectly understands the purpose of a netbook, its functionality and capabilities.

Packard Bell dot s

And for a snack we were left with a very interesting Packard Bell dot s model. In general, Packard Bell devices have always been of particular interest among casual users. I think with this device the situation is absolutely the same. Packard Bell dot s is perfect for those who want to emphasize their own individuality without falling into an absurd addiction to flashy colors and kitschy design.

Packard Bell dots

The lid of the netbook seems to be chaotically cut with transverse textured stripes. Regardless of the color of the cover, and it can be black, white or purple, the netbook body is made of black plastic. On the one hand, it seems that there is nothing supernatural in the design of the netbook, but at the same time it is obvious that the device has a certain charm and attractiveness.

Like previous netbooks, the Packard Bell dot s comes in two different configurations. By choosing the junior model of the Packard Bell dot s netbook, the user receives a device equipped with a 10.1-inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 WSVGA type and LED backlight, a 0.3-megapixel webcam, an Intel Atom N2600 processor, a hard drive with a capacity of up to 320 GB and full-size keyboard. It would be more correct to call the netbook's touchpad a multi-touch control panel. Packard Bell dot s carries adapters on board wireless communication Bluetooth 2.1 (or Bluetooth 4.0 optional) and Wi-Fi standard 802.11b/g/n, HDMI port plus a six-cell battery providing up to 8 hours of battery life.

The Packard Bell dot s design is familiar to many fans of casual products.

It is also worth noting the presence of a full Ethernet port and a multi-card reader.

The older Packard Bell dot s model has the same configuration of external ports and interfaces as the younger one, but the internal architecture is slightly different. The older model is based on an Intel Atom N2800 processor with a clock frequency of 1.86 GHz and 2 GB of RAM, versus 1 GB of RAM for the younger model. This configuration is naturally more powerful.

The graphics system in the older and lower configurations is Intel GMA 3600.

Packard Bell dot s configuration is sufficient

As mentioned above, Packard Bell dot s will become a great gift for the casual user in the best European traditions.

Bottom line

To summarize all that has been said, we can only note that by turning to Acer netbooks you can easily solve the problem of a New Year's gift for people of completely different social status and provisions. The presented lines can satisfy the tastes of almost any user.

Indicators such as mobility and performance will always be valued by users, and Acer products fully meet both indicators, and, importantly, do not require extremely high financial costs, since each of the presented devices can be classified as a budget model, despite the high quality of the products . It is also worth noting the large number of possible configurations, which not every manufacturer provides today. For example, the Aspire One 725 and Aspire One 756 netbooks are available not only with different drives and processors, but also with different screen finishes (matte anti-glare or “glossy”).

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:

Today we will talk about the Acer Aspire One D257 netbook. The characteristics of this device are definitely worthy of attention. The current generation of ultra-thin Aspire One models is distinguished by convenience and great mobility. They are simply irreplaceable on the road: you can use them to complete unfinished work or have fun. The presence of different colors added to their popularity.

Model description

The Acer Aspire One D257 design has the following characteristics:

• it is very compact, its overall dimensions are 256 x 184 x 24 mm;
• it has comfortable weight data - 1.3 kg (with battery);
• stylish colors - blue, black, red and white.

Characteristics of model D257:

• black body;
• the material of manufacture is high-quality plastic, due to which there are no bends or squeaks;
• standard appearance, smooth panels and rounded corners;
• a lid with a corporate logo in the form of a drop with voluminous “waves” from it;
• the inside is also black.

About the netbook screen

This model is equipped with an Acer CrystalBrite display. It is widescreen with a diagonal measurement of 10.1 inches. The display resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels allows you to do any work, and also allows you to watch movies, create videos and edit photos. The presence of a 0.3-megapixel webcam opens up the joy of communication on Skype and allows you to participate in various video chats. The Acer Aspire One D257 netbook has a proportional screen (16:9).

Input Devices

This model is equipped with a user-friendly keyboard. The keys are large enough to allow you to type without worrying that nearby buttons will be pressed at the same time. The only block that is “offended” by its size is the turnout block. It has been significantly reduced, but this nuance does not reduce the overall attractiveness of the netbook. The Acer Aspire One D257 model does not have the usual function buttons at the top of the keyboard. Here is an element for turning the device on and off. Users will be pleased with its size. They are relatively large. Form touch button has the shape of a rectangle, elongated in length. She has quite high sensitivity. The touchpad response is instant. The keys located below are covered with one solid “rocker”. By pressing it along the edges, you can activate all the necessary functions. For Acer Aspire One D257 Windows 7 is the main one operating system. However, in some cases, the device may be equipped with a Linux platform.

Model D257-N57Ckk consists of:

1. Dual-core processor with clock frequency 1.66 GHz and 1 MB cache. 45nm technology is used. TDP is low at only 8.5W. There is a possibility of four-thread information processing.
2. RAM is 1 GB. The hard drive contains 250 GB, which is quite enough for work.
3. The presence of a built-in video card (Intel GMA 3150) makes it possible to carry out high-quality graphics processing. There is 256 MB DirectX 9 provides the ability to display high-quality images and easily decorate videos.
4. Those who want to use a netbook as a gaming platform will be disappointed. The video card has insufficient performance. Only games that require minimum specifications can be used.

Description of connectors

The Acer Aspire One D257 netbook has a very convenient connector system located on its sides. The left side contains:

• USB output (2.0 standard);
• power connector;
• ventilation device;
• 15-pin VGA;
• network output (RJ-45), speed 100 Mbit/s.

The right side is equipped with the following connectors:

• 2 USB ports;
• outputs for using a headset (headphones or microphone);

The presence of a digital HDMI interface is not provided in this netbook model. It has an incomplete set of communications: only a Wi-Fi adapter. There is also no Bluetooth. The netbook comes with a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 4400 mAh. The Acer device is capable of operating autonomously for eight hours. Charging a netbook to 100% takes only 2 hours. It is not denied that it is equipped with three-section batteries, the capacity of which is 2200 mAh. This will ensure the device operates without charging for no more than 4 hours.

conclusions

Acer Aspire One D257 is popular because it has:

1. High performance, allowing you to work for a long time without charging.
2. Compactness, convenience and originality of design.
3. Variation in the choice of body color.

The netbook is easy to use, convenient for both work and leisure. Acer D257 will become an indispensable assistant for students, students and ordinary users.

Opinion

So we figured out the main features of the Acer Aspire One D257. Reviews about this device are very diverse, and now we will find out what its owners say about the netbook. Among the undeniable advantages of the model, the most often cited are its affordable price and long battery life. Speed ​​is more often cited as a weak point. The device is called convenient and lightweight. According to the owners, it is great for browsing the Internet and working with office programs. Playing movies and playing music is also easy. Many people were pleased with the body's resistance to fingerprints. The absence of squeaks and noise during operation is also considered by the owners as a plus. The quality of materials, pleasant to the touch, and functionality are also appreciated by users. Some owners of this device note that installing a USB port on the rear panel would be advisable. A number of comments say that the screen also copes well with its tasks. The owners also note that the netbook does not overheat even under heavy loads.