Showing posts with label Acer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Acer. Show all posts
With their latest thin-and-light laptop, Acer has put together one of the best combinations of design, performance, and price available for the upcoming year in the Aspire V5-131. The V5 is the same basic design as Acer's C7 Chromebook, which as you will recall I liked quite a bit. The biggest difference with the V5 is that it brings all of the design with none of the limitations of the ChromeOS-based C7. And then Acer takes it to the next level by actually improving the device further, with a better screen and larger battery.
The V5 has similar specifications to both the C7 and recently reviewed Asus X201E, including:
Intel Celeron 847 processor running at 1.1GHz
Integrated Intel HD graphics
11.6 inch 1366x768 display
4 gigabytes of RAM
802.11b/g/n wireless, which supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands
Bluetooth 4.0
1x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0 ports
Full-sized HDMI and VGA ports
1x SD card slot
Where it differs is that it also includes a larger hard drive (500 gigabytes as opposed to 320 gigabytes) and it has a 5000mAh 6-cell battery, which should bring roughly 9 hours of battery life.
Beyond feeds and speeds, Acer's attention to detail demonstrates that they have been listening to their end-users. For example, unlike nearly every other device being released, Acer put a matte screen on the V5, improving visual quality and flexibility by reducing reflections. This is particularly helpful in schools, which tend to have a great deal of fluorescent lighting. And the battery is a relatively standard, removable part, which will be easy to replace when it eventually wears out. It's even easy to get inside, with a single screw holding the bottom access panel on. Popping the panel off reveals easy access to the hard drive and other components.
Nothing is perfect, of course, and the V5 does have a few, minor flaws. Chief among them is the touchpad, which, while it works well (that is, as well as can be expected from a touchpad), is somewhat small compared to the spacious touchpad on the Asus X201E. It's smaller size makes it a little more sensitive, which can take a some getting used to.
Another quibble for some will be the physical dimensions of the 6-cell battery, which must naturally be larger than the small 4-cell in the C7 Chromebook. Acer chose to increase the size vertically, which means the battery props the back end of the device up when in use. This makes the device feel bigger and offers something for the device to hang up on when inserted into a bag or case. It also angles the keyboard towards the user, which some don't find as comfortable as a flat keyboard.
Personally, I find the "bump-up" actually makes the device nicer to use in the lap, as keyboard angles generally suck when a laptop is in full lap-mode and the extra prop makes it easier to type on. It also brings the screen up a bit higher on the desk, which some might find more ergonomically correct. In addition, I find that the extra bump offers something better to grab when carrying a device around, bringing a firmer grip and reducing the likelihood of a drop.
And last, they didn't label the 1 USB 3.0 port in any way (which is why I missed it in the video review). The usual "SS" logo is not on any of the ports, nor is the tell-tale blue plastic that typically identifies a USB 3 port. I honestly still don't know which one it is, but figure it will be easy to determine in the rare circumstance that I might need to plug in an actual USB 3.0 device.
Obviously these are all very minor issues in an otherwise stellar device.
Of all the devices I have considered over the years, this is the one that I find to be closest to ideal, and have no problem recommending it for ubermix deployments of any size, far and wide. You should be able to get one for about $330 on the street, and I have heard that pricing gets under $300 in quantity and with enough lead time for Acer. If you are evaluating devices for an upcoming project, I encourage you to take a hard look at the V5. It is the most likely candidate to be the next ubermix device for my district.
I'll say it now, the Acer C7 Chromebook is a nice little piece of hardware. The 1.1 GHz ultra-low voltage Intel Celeron 847 it runs is basically a snappy, trimmed down Core i3 (for all intents and purposes), based on last-generation Core i Sandy Bridge architecture. And it has a real 3D graphics processor, making it a much stronger performer than any Atom-based netbook that's ever been released. In my own compile tests, I found it to be twice as fast as an Atom N2600 and nearly three times that of the latest generation AMD C-series found in most low cost 11.6" devices. Only the AMD's graphics processor was able to hold it's own with the Celeron.
Rounding out the specs is a roomy 11.6" 1366x768 display, 2 gigabytes of standard RAM, 320 gigabyte hard drive, both HDMI and VGA output, and an excellent keyboard and trackpad. And at a cost of just $199, you wouldn't be called crazy for asking, "what's wrong with it?"
As it turns out, there are a couple of biggies in the "what's wrong with it" category. First, it has a pretty feeble 2500 mAh 4-cell battery. While the Celeron truly sips power, don't expect more than about 4 hours and 15 minutes of battery life. There are aftermarket batteries which should nearly double the battery life for as little as $50, but I can't imagine why you can't buy the device with one out of the box.
And of course the second is that it runs ChromeOS. While I appreciate the vision, the idea of a device being fully functional when equipped with only a web browser still lacks a firm foundation in reality, presently solidifying this devices position in the "extra" or "third" device in most users' toolbag. And at $199, it can afford to be.
This is a shame for such capable hardware. Luckily, it's fairly easy to get ubermix on this device, turning it into a fully-capable low-cost powerhouse - with a few caveats:
- Chromebooks must be in Developer Mode to run any software other than ChromeOS. Developer Mode introduces an huge startup delay as the Chromebook splash screen sits and waits for 30 seconds at bootup, letting you know your are running in Developer Mode and offering the option to "turn Developer Mode off" by pressing the space bar. It also beeps twice (loudly) as a final warning before finally booting up. Luckily on the C7 you can skip the wait by pressing ctrl+d.
- Google could, theoretically, decide to update the way ChromeOS and the hardware work at a future date. While this is highly unlikely, it is theoretically possible that you could boot into ChromeOS, install an automatic update from Google, and no longer be able to boot into ubermix.
These make the idea of deploying Chromebooks with ubermix at scale troubling, but probably wouldn't be a big deal for individual use.
For further details and instructions, see ubermix on Chromebooks
As you may have noticed, the state of computers and computer design is suddenly moving at a rapid clip, largely driven by the release of Windows 8, the move toward ever-thinner and lighter designs (read ultrabooks), and efforts to bring touch into the equation through a variety of tablets, convertibles, and all-in-ones. It's truly great to see the hardware industry innovating again, after a noticeable lull in anticipation of this new operating system.
Since every Windows release tends bring with it new hardware requirements, optimizations, and design demands across the board, it ultimately has a positive impact on non-Windows operating systems, like Ubuntu and ubermix, as these new designs become excellent targets to develop against. Best of all, the increased competition generates ever-better hardware and downward price pressure, to the benefit of ubermix deployments around the globe.
So what's coming next in the low-cost device space? Let's have a look at our crystal ball and see:
10 inch screens in a low-end clamshell will be gone, but will rise in tablets
While I personally believe that 10 inches is an ideal size for a low-cost device, 10 inch screens look to be going the way of the dodo in the laptop form factor, due to Windows 8's requirement for 768 pixels in screen height (inexpensive screens are typically 1024x600). I've personally spoken with executives from both Acer and Asus and in both cases they said that they will only be offering 11.6 inch screens next year, but that they expect to hit last year's 10 inch price points. Early examples are the Acer AspireOne 725 (AMD Fusion) and 756 (Intel Celeron) models, and the Asus X201e (Intel Pentium, Celeron, or Corei3), with both manufacturers' pricing starting at around $280. The primary drawback of the current crop of devices is a combination of smaller batteries and more power hungry processors, which is resulting in maximum battery lives of about 5-ish hours on these models. But that won't likely be the case for long. In my conversations with Acer they have committed to a larger battery option for the education market, but that model has yet to appear.
There will, quite likely, be a number of 10 inch tablets and convertibles, however. The first of these to appear has been the Acer W5, however current price points are awfully high to make these practical for large scale deployments. To add insult to injury, these smaller tablets are all based on Intel Clover Trail Atom processors, which are a slight iteration of last year's Cedar Trail design, and are therefore not very open-source friendly (see below). Hopefully, increased competition will drive prices for these devices down, and newer Atom processors will make them better targets for ubermix.
Intel Atom Cedar/Clover Trail devices will give way to Bay Trail, but not until the second half of 2013 (at the earliest)
While the Intel Atom processor has been the standard for netbooks from the beginning, 2013 will bring another awkward break in Atom processor availability as last year's Cedar Trail line is to be replaced by the new, significantly more powerful and open-source friendly Bay Trail line - but not until the second half of 2013. Manufacturing of Cedar Trail devices has slowed dramatically, with availability already dwindling to the few remaining models currently in the channel. Acer appears to still be manufacturing the D270 (even though it is no longer on their price list) and the Asus 1011cx looks to still be available for order, but it seems fairly obvious that this won't be the case much longer, as their 10 inch, 1024x600 displays do not meet the minimum requirements of Windows 8, and Microsoft is no longer offering Windows 7 Starter to OEMs. It's difficult to say if either will commit to Linux in a greater way (although Asus has demonstrated greater interest than Acer as of late, with both the 1011cx and the X201e available with either no-OS or Linux options), so it seems relatively safe to assume that Windows will continue to steer the ship in regard to manufacturing choices for both vendors. The net result of this is that availability of Atom-based devices will likely miss the crucial summer window for school districts looking to purchase for fall deployments.
This is truly unfortunate, because Bay Trail Atom processors look to be incredibly well designed, and a significant improvement over the troublesome Cedar Trail. For starters, Bay Trail processors will be based on a new 22nm design process that will reduce size, heat, and power consumption. These benefits will enable Intel to double the number of cores, from 2 to 4, increase clock speed to 2.1+ GHz, and drive a powerful integrated graphics chip without a significant increase in power consumption. And that graphics chip will be an Intel HD4000 - the same hardware that is in Intel's current Core i line (as found in the most powerful ultrabooks). Intel's HD4000 is far more open-source friendly than Cedar Trail's closed, proprietary PowerVR (licensed from Imagination Technologies), and Intel has a whole team of engineers hard at work refining the Linux driver, which is already mainlined into the Linux kernel. Double the processing power, at least triple the graphics performance, all with extremely low power requirements makes for a potent combination that will lead to some of the longest lasting, most powerful low-cost netbooks and tablets to date. But sadly, not until the end of 2013.
So, what happens next?
With the big Consumer Electronics Show (CES) right around the corner, expect to see a number of announcements of low cost, 11.6 inch devices from a variety of manufacturers and, if you are bound to a summer deployment schedule, make your device selection based on that news. We should also gain a clearer picture and timelines for Bay Trail, and perhaps discover some unexpected surprises along the way. Watch for touch devices to drop below the $500 price point as well, making them good targets for the next ubermix release (code name "honey badger"), which will be more touch-friendly than ever. We're in for some exciting times ahead!
There will, quite likely, be a number of 10 inch tablets and convertibles, however. The first of these to appear has been the Acer W5, however current price points are awfully high to make these practical for large scale deployments. To add insult to injury, these smaller tablets are all based on Intel Clover Trail Atom processors, which are a slight iteration of last year's Cedar Trail design, and are therefore not very open-source friendly (see below). Hopefully, increased competition will drive prices for these devices down, and newer Atom processors will make them better targets for ubermix.
Intel Atom Cedar/Clover Trail devices will give way to Bay Trail, but not until the second half of 2013 (at the earliest)
While the Intel Atom processor has been the standard for netbooks from the beginning, 2013 will bring another awkward break in Atom processor availability as last year's Cedar Trail line is to be replaced by the new, significantly more powerful and open-source friendly Bay Trail line - but not until the second half of 2013. Manufacturing of Cedar Trail devices has slowed dramatically, with availability already dwindling to the few remaining models currently in the channel. Acer appears to still be manufacturing the D270 (even though it is no longer on their price list) and the Asus 1011cx looks to still be available for order, but it seems fairly obvious that this won't be the case much longer, as their 10 inch, 1024x600 displays do not meet the minimum requirements of Windows 8, and Microsoft is no longer offering Windows 7 Starter to OEMs. It's difficult to say if either will commit to Linux in a greater way (although Asus has demonstrated greater interest than Acer as of late, with both the 1011cx and the X201e available with either no-OS or Linux options), so it seems relatively safe to assume that Windows will continue to steer the ship in regard to manufacturing choices for both vendors. The net result of this is that availability of Atom-based devices will likely miss the crucial summer window for school districts looking to purchase for fall deployments.
This is truly unfortunate, because Bay Trail Atom processors look to be incredibly well designed, and a significant improvement over the troublesome Cedar Trail. For starters, Bay Trail processors will be based on a new 22nm design process that will reduce size, heat, and power consumption. These benefits will enable Intel to double the number of cores, from 2 to 4, increase clock speed to 2.1+ GHz, and drive a powerful integrated graphics chip without a significant increase in power consumption. And that graphics chip will be an Intel HD4000 - the same hardware that is in Intel's current Core i line (as found in the most powerful ultrabooks). Intel's HD4000 is far more open-source friendly than Cedar Trail's closed, proprietary PowerVR (licensed from Imagination Technologies), and Intel has a whole team of engineers hard at work refining the Linux driver, which is already mainlined into the Linux kernel. Double the processing power, at least triple the graphics performance, all with extremely low power requirements makes for a potent combination that will lead to some of the longest lasting, most powerful low-cost netbooks and tablets to date. But sadly, not until the end of 2013.
So, what happens next?
With the big Consumer Electronics Show (CES) right around the corner, expect to see a number of announcements of low cost, 11.6 inch devices from a variety of manufacturers and, if you are bound to a summer deployment schedule, make your device selection based on that news. We should also gain a clearer picture and timelines for Bay Trail, and perhaps discover some unexpected surprises along the way. Watch for touch devices to drop below the $500 price point as well, making them good targets for the next ubermix release (code name "honey badger"), which will be more touch-friendly than ever. We're in for some exciting times ahead!
Now that the weather is getting warm and summer is approaching, a number of schools and districts are looking into what netbook model they might want to purchase for the coming school year. With Intel having (finally) ramped up production of the Atom N2x00 (Cedar Trail) processor family and hard disk manufacturing back on track in Thailand, the market is flush with options. In an effort to help ubermixers make decisions around hardware, below are video reviews of models from the major players in the space. All have been tested with ubermix, and are known to work well.
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Asus EeePC 1025C vs EeePC 1011cx
Asus created quite a buzz around its new 1025C netbook model at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, but the 1011cx came out of nowhere and wowed ubermixers from coast-to-coast. The 1025C edges out the 1011cx on style and battery life, but the 1011cx is available with double the RAM and no Windows clogging things up - all for $20 less than the $299 1025C. Both models are excellent for use with ubermix.
Acer Aspire One D270 and Gateway LT40
Both of these models from the Acer corporation are excellent choices for ubermix. Acer has been aggressively pursuing the education market, and also appears to be listening to their customers, as these models demonstrate. Gone are the build quality issues from the Acer of old, replaced with much-improved durability and a surprisingly thin and light chassis. And Acer somehow manages to keep the price under that of most of its competitors.
All of that said, there are some issues to take note of with the Acer-built models. The touchpad rocker-button on these models is a bit stiff and has a very short throw, making it occasionally feel unresponsive. The 6-cell battery size on both of these models is on the small end of the spectrum at 4400mAh, which means you can expect roughly 6 hours of realistic battery life. The D270, however, has some upscale specs, like a quicker-than-the-competition GMA3650 GPU and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. And at $249 for the LT40 and $289 for the D270, these are some of the most aggressively priced units on the market.
HP Mini 1104
For HP fans out there, the Mini 1104 is the successor to last year's Mini 1103. The new model features a more refined design, with the trackpad buttons pushed all the way to the edge of the case, and rounded corners near the screen hinges which will hopefully fend off the broken plastic hinge cover problems on the 1103. It also features a student-friendly spill-proof keyboard, accelerometer protection for the hard drive, and a TPM module. That's all great, however for these additional features you get to pay $50 more than the competition, per unit (pricing starts at $349). If you're a die-hard HP shop, these are certainly worth looking into, but the extra $50 really adds up when purchasing in quantity. For every 5 HP units, you could have 6 (or more) of the competitor's models.
HP dm1z/3115M Mini Laptop
If you're looking for a little more horsepower from your devices, AMD Fusion-based mini laptops make quite an impression. These devices feature advanced graphics processing units (GPUs) capable of decoding 1080P HD video, as well as providing some impressive 3D performance. Screen sizes are bigger (11.6"-12") with higher resolution (1366x768) on these models, and keyboards are full-sized. That said, battery life isn't typically as good as Intel Atom-based netbooks, so don't expect to get more than 5 hours or so out of them between charges. And these are more expensive, typically starting at around $400.
Conclusion
I hope you find these reviews helpful as you look to make decisions about which hardware you might use for future ubermix installs. It's always great to have lots of options when selecting hardware, and the ubermix makes this easy as it runs well on just about anything, including full-sized laptops and desktops. Be sure to add your favorite devices to the comments and let us all know what you think.
