The compact 11.6-inch laptops do not often get in our test lab. The average user mostly purchased a 15.6-inch models, more experienced and prepared, as a rule, prefer the 13.3-inch laptops, and representatives of the smallest class remember the last thing. And yet, in these models is very slim usage model in which the office or at home you connect an external monitor to your laptop, providing a fulfilling workplace and on the road trip, or take it with a minimum configuration, saving space and weight in carry-on luggage.

In the family of laptops Acer Aspire V5 includes models of three form factors – compact 11.6-inch ultraporty and 14 years, and 15.6-inch sredneformatniki. Moreover, as the hardware platform can be used by processors from Intel and AMD, so the choice of a particular configuration noutubka should be given special attention. In this review we will focus on the 11.6-inch Acer Aspire V5-123 on energy-efficient platform from AMD.

Options

Laptop Acer Aspire V5-123 comes standard with a set of package documentation and compact “monoblock” power with a single wire and a removable plug.

Design

Caught on the test Acer Aspire V5 is made ​​predominantly in silver, but available on the market and other color variants of registration. Top cover is decorated with laminated plastic, which is more resistant to scratches than the regular glossy. Smooth surface quickly collects fingerprints, but pollution will be clearly visible only in the dark version of design, in this case, the prints can be seen only at a certain angle view.

Lower housing Acer Aspire V5 is made ​​of a practical rough black plastic. The distal portion is allocated under a removable battery compartment capacity of 37 Wh, and the need to move the clip to use a pen or other small object. Most of the bottom of the case is to upgrade the hatch, dotted with holes for ventilation. After proximal to the leading edge of the hole clearly visible pair of speakers. 

The rear face of the housing Acer Aspire V5-free connectors on the front rendered three indicators of activity and edge single button touchpad.

On the right side wall can be found under the Kensington lock hole, the charger, a pair of connectors USB 2.0, audio ports combined and almost invisible due to rounding sidewall card reader with plug-sled. The left side panel contains a video D-sub, network RJ45, another HDMI video output and a “fast” port USB 3.0. At the same bend near the front panel submitted radiator cooling system.

Display

Because of the tight hinge cover Acer Aspire V5 unable to open with one hand, but the display unit can be practically put on the table, ensuring that the maximum angle of inclination. The inside of the display unit is made by the classical scheme with a fairly narrow edging of black glossy plastic.

Officially for the model proposed several modifications display with a matte or glossy finish, touch screen and even the IPS-matrix, but for the most part you will encounter a typical glossy TN-matrix. In particular, the samples tested Acer Aspire V5 -123 installed matte TN-matrix with a resolution of 1366 by 768 pixels and a brightness range from 15 to 180 cd/m2.

Ergonomics

Operating panel Acer Aspire V5 is framed in a contrasting style, it sets off the black surface of the silver island keyboard and the top of the battery into the top of the panel. Note that in spite of the natural silver color operation panel is made of colored plastic that can be quickly scratched with a sloppy operation.

The keyboard layout is typical for a 11.6-inch notebook – the size of the symbol keys almost hurt, but not all service buttons are in place. The most “narrow” place the keyboard – too small block arrow keys, with which we do not only move the cursor on the four sides and use the buttons Home, End, PgUp, PgDn, but also in addition adjust the volume and display brightness.

Touchpad Acer Aspire V5 is quite good for its size, and the successful construction of a single hardware button allows you to press it, not only from above, but also on the front.

Functionality

As we have already mentioned, the model Acer Aspire V5 can be built on a hardware logic from Intel or AMD. In terms of performance in the initial configurations, it really is comparable to netbooks, which is so like, so if you want a more powerful solution, you should initially look closely to the higher-level models based on the Intel Core and AMD Ax.

In our case, the Acer Aspire V5 -123 comes with an economical dual-core AMD E1-2100 with an operating frequency of 1 GHz and a maximum power consumption in Wh 9, performed on a 28 nm process technology. Graphics integrated into the processor, it’s Radeon HD 8210 with an operating frequency of 300 MHz, the performance of which is only enough for simple games. Also, the laptop is equipped with 4GB of RAM and a 500 GB hard drive.

Battery Eater

In this configuration, the laptop showed expectedly low results in popular benchmarks.

The battery capacity of 37 Wh model could hold out for three hours in maximum load, and almost five and a half hours in the emulation mode of reading.

The results

As a result, Acer Aspire V5 – is a compact 11.6-inch notebook, which, depending on the hardware configuration (and of course the cost), you can replace a netbook or a mobile home working laptop for business trips.

Liked

+ Cute design, multiple color options
+ Versions exist with IPS-screen
+ Full set of connectors (3xUSB, RJ45, D-sub, HDMI)
+ Removable battery door for upgrade

Do not like it

– Productivity in the initial configurations
– Too small block arrows

The post Notebook Acer Aspire V5 Review appeared first on Raqwe.

Design and build

It is not chic jewelery ultrabooks , but overly simple netbooks past years here and does not smell. Housing Aspire V5 neat and handsome . Thickness of about 22 millimeters like and not a little to the 11- inch laptop in 2013, but puffy and thick it does not appear . And all because the correct form, bottom and lid – flat . The base is made of plastic. It can see the vent, rubber feet and two speakers , more precisely, the speaker mesh . The bottom can be removed by unscrewing the screws on the perimeter, without this procedure from the laptop does not take forth .

Cover blue color is very similar to the brushed aluminum , but in fact , it is plastic . However, very nice and pleasant to the haptics . Externally, the device is more suitable for girls and children , so the compactness and lightness, it is especially important. Options laptop 289h206h21.6 millimeters and weighs 1.4 pounds , which is allows you to wear it with no problems , though modern 11-inch Ultrabooks mostly easier.

Compiled Aspire V5 good parts fit together. The cover bends , but the stock of decent stiffness . Laptop halves fastened to each other two joints , strong , but not too stiff. The opening angle – wide , wide enough to work by placing the device on your lap.

One is struck by a very thin bezel around the screen , making V5 design to order more modern than most of its competitors.

Ports and connectors

The right side is quite close to each other are located charging socket , USB 2.0, audiodzhek and the power button , the size and performance resembled those in smartphones. Thick headphone cord and thick as USB-modem may well not fit in neighboring nests at the same time , however, such a combination is rare.

Left has USB 3.0, Multi Card Readers , mini DisplayPort and grille . Location of the ports can not be described in any particular uncomfortable or vice versa. Normal, normal. Yes, included is an adapter with a mini DisplayPort to VGA, so connect an old monitor or projector is not difficult.

Display

Display, bordered by a thin frame , perhaps, the strongest part of the unit. Made by technology IPS, it features a wide viewing angle , and , despite the low resolution ( 1366×768 pixels ) , the picture looks quite smooth and pleasant to the eye. Such a resolution in 11 -inch screen , in my opinion , allows users to operate with all sorts of atavistic (from the point of view of sensor devices ) Windows- interface elements , such as small crosses , window frames and others.

The glossy surface is naturally somewhat hampered when working outdoors on a lovely day . But the brightness is sufficient to consider in such an environment image .

However it is better to move to Tenek , then do not be a problem . Contrast the laptop at the secondary level , the colors – nice , deep picture , good black color. As an input device display also proved to be good. It is sensitive to touch with your fingers, understands up to 10 simultaneous touches . In general , Windows 8 touch screen device I would not make a shortcoming all convenient. Just get used to .

Keyboard and Touchpad

Keyboard island type made ​​of lightweight plastic rough . Yes , the keys are large enough for you – quiet, move them short. However , I can not say that it is completely good. Move them sticky . The keys are already very tight in places adjacent to each other , literally hanging , the layout on the left side failed .

So , I did not like the traditional dial Acer unit with six tiny buttons, Toul each other like frozen kittens . Many users do little Enter, visually integrated with the “/”.

However, quite a full-fledged keyboard , and the text I type on it, already accustomed to , without much effort. The touchpad is small , but for a 11-inch chassis – at the time . Smooth , pleasant to the haptics , he razpoznaet multitouch gestures , including trehpaltsevy . Checked, he copes with them successfully . And its only drawback – the lack of differentiation of the left and right mouse buttons. In order not to make a mistake , you get used to reluctantly use the touch surface on the edges.

The system and performance

Basis subnotebook – presented in the summer of APU AMD Jaguar A6- 1450 . It is a line of low-voltage processors , known under the code name Temash and in fact is the successor of ” netbuchnyh ” systems AMD Zacate and Ontario. Although the presentation of these processors such comparisons avoided , preferring to face off capabilities with competitors. That is, with a competitor . As planned by AMD, new Temash occupy a niche between the Intel Atom and Core i3. A6- 1450 has as many as four cores and four threads . A lot , but remember , the clock frequency is something quite low : 1 gigahertz. Because of this processor works more slowly , losing , say, a low-voltage Core i3-3217U, standing at the ASUS VivoBook S200. But the consumption of energy it , in theory, makes all : 8 W , which is twice less than in the same Core i3-3217U. Integrated graphics card AMD Radeon HD 8250 – a typical entry-level solution , and is not intended to launch tazhelyh games. But in casual games or quests or old games – you can play well . But no more , and the confirmation of the test results : P533 in 3DMark11 and P1558 in 3DMark Vantage.

The system is enhanced by a 4 gigabytes of RAM and a 500 GB drive is working , according to PCMark, medium , at 1366 points. Finally, according to the estimate of Windows 8 the weakest unit is expected, the graphics . In general , a laptop with simple tasks to cope . It is possible to watch a movie or surf the Internet. But for those who love the game, it will not be interesting .

Endurance, noise , heat

Frankly, from the energy-saving platform Temash I waited longer battery life . In the read mode is turned off WiFi, the minimum screen brightness laptop lasted only 5:00 42 minutes. In normal operating mode (half brightness, browsing , typing, music) – less than four hours under heavy load – 1 hour 39 minutes. According to these indicators competing ASUS VivoBook S200vyigryvaet the hero of the review. Thus, in operation it was held for about seven hours. But Acer V5 is quite cold . Heating is felt only in the middle of the bottom under heavy load . The noise in a quiet room at night during the test run will be heard , but only at full load. A no-load you will hear the noise only if you put your ear to the bottom of the unit .

Sound

Sound is the most common , the stereo is enough to fill the sound of a quiet room is medium sized. But somewhere in the cafe , and even more so , on the train , it is better to use headphones (however, in such places is always better to use headphones ) . Sound ploskovaty , as usual , stripped bass , but overall acceptable : the average here is quite clear , pleasant high . Talk on Skype would be nice, but you can watch a film .

Competitors

Most natural competitors notebook – representatives lineup ASUS VivoBook, like ASUS VivoBook S200. Competitor somewhat faster with Windows 8 has more connectors , but it is worse screen, easier design. Such a thin frame he certainly is not. And yet, just the other day was announced at IFA 10 – inch touch subnotebook ASUS ASUS X102BA, also made ​​on the platform Temash. But it still must wait.

The bottom line

In all respects in front of us – a real modern subnotebook direct descendant of netbooks. Only by today’s standards , he is dressed in little more than a presentable suit and a touch screen . If you need a low-cost laptop , light and cute enough , but the performance is not important – it’s possible it’s your choice . In fact, everything in it is good for the money , and if I have something and truly upset , because it is low battery life. There are, of course, the possibility that our test battery podubita elementary idle for a long time , but I was in this little hard to believe .

I think this laptop is perfect little girls (well, teenagers , too) : he is very cute in appearance, a pale pale blue (surely there and pink version ) , with a thin frame beautiful , inexpensive, and not heavy . Girls are rarely productive in the game. Well, for a long time and is unlikely to happen in places far away from electricity.

4 Reasons to Buy Acer Aspire V5-122P:

• Good design ;
• Robust housing ;
• nice screen : IPS, touch , thin frame ;
• reasonable price (about $ 560 ) .

2 reasons not to buy Acer Aspire V5-122P:

• It is not enough for a long battery life ;
• low productivity.

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