Acer C720 Chromebook (11.6-Inch, Haswell micro-architecture, 4GB) Reviews

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $249.99
Sale Price: $249.00
Today's Bonus: $0.99 Off

To give some background, this is my first Chromebook. I own a PC which I use for gaming and editing video files; and I've owned an '08 MacBook (recently died, which prompted this purchase) and a '12 MacBook Air (donated to Mom), both of which I primarily used to surf the web, check email, watch youtube, and play music and video files.

I needed to replace my MacBook so I researched my options, and based on my needs I narrowed my choices down to the Acer C720 and HP Chromebook11. I read through the limited reviews available at the time, and the overall theme was that the C720 offered greater performance over build/screen quality while the HP11 offered better build/screen quality over performance. I've always valued function over form so the C720 it was.

I'm glad to report that, IMO, the claims against the C720's screen some of which made it sound like it was a total POS are unfounded as I feel it's as good as my Macbook Air's screen. Of course, the build quality isn't the best, but it's not like it feels like a flimsy toy by any means. The keys and touchpad feel thinner, lighter, and of lesser quality than my MacBook but still adequate; and for $250 it's a solidly built machine that meets or exceeds all of my expectations.

At the time of purchase the available reviews had not covered whether this machine could meet my main criteria (detailed below in order of importance), and I am pleased to report that the C720 passes with flying colors on all counts! (Note, my '08 MacBook could not play 1080p video from my Sony Action Cam or GoPro (without the help of Plex Software), a limitation of the CPU/GPU.)

1. smooth playback of raw 1080p video files from my Sony ActionCam and GoPro 3 (1080p HDMI output to HDTV also works great!)

2. efficiently browse the web no realistic limitation on open tabs/windows (thanks to the 4gb of ram)

3. compact size (the C720 feels just slightly heavier than my Macbook Air and a hair larger in all dimensions)

4. great battery life (based on a full charge and screen at 70% brightness, the battery indicator esimates 7 hours of use)

5. ability to continue using all of my external HD's (some laptops I've used before don't play nice)

Overall, I am super impressed with the C720, and IMO at $250 it's an outstanding bargain for a very capable machine. Assuming your primary use is similar to mine surfing the web while on the couch / in bed, and playing music and videos this laptop will surprisingly meet most if not all of your needs. The Intel Celeron Haswell chip, while dumbed-down, enables this Chromebook to match the performance of my MacBook Air for all my intents and purposes and even surpasses my older MacBook in video playback. I'm officially a Chromebook convert, and I don't see myself missing my MacBook anymore! I'll update this review as I develop further impressions but so far I am very happy with my decision to go with the C720.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

==UPDATES==

10/27/13 Added in some additional side notes

This review is going to assume that you're OK with the idea of a Chromebook that you're OK with using pretty much nothing but the Chrome browser. You won't be able to use Skype or Microsoft Office here, neither will you be able to use things like Final Cut Pro or Photoshop. However, you'd be surprised at how powerful some of the things you find online have become: there are substitutes for programs like Skype and Microsoft Office, found in the form of Google's Hangouts and their productivity suite. More complex programs like Photoshop have yet to be replicated online, but there are basic photo and video editing software now as well. If you're OK with this idea cloud computing which some have named the "next generation of computing", then I encourage you to buy a Chromebook. They're optimized for the web and only the web. You won't have to deal with viruses and updates are automatic. It's simple, it's fast, and it's efficient. But only if you can handle the limitations.

The Acer C720

With the C720, Acer has fixed the most glaring issues of its previous generation of Chromebooks most noticeably replacing the HDD with a SSD, decreasing the boot time to a mere 7 seconds, and upgrading the processor to a 4th generation power efficient Haswell processor, improving the battery life to an impressive 8 hours. With a $249 price tag, these specifications alone makes this a tempting buy, but let's look at some of the other factors first.

The Externals

To keep a long story short, it's not great. Compared to the catchy design of the HP 11, Acer's Chromebook looks kind of ugly, It's all gray color scheme is pretty boring, and the bottom of the Chromebook is filled with vents (see picture above). That being said, it's not a bad design either. It's thin with a slightly tapered finish, and it's light and easy to hold. Looks aside, this Chromebook is perfectly functional and definitely an upgrade if you're coming from the previous generation. It's actually pretty sturdy it doesn't bend easily and it seems like it can take a light beating. I've been traveling around with it and I don't feel it at all in my backpack.

The screen has a 1366x768 resolution with a matte finish. It has poor viewing angles, but it's perfectly fine if you're using the Chromebook alone. The keyboard works pretty well if you're used to previous Chromebook keyboards or Apple keyboards, you'll be used to this one. Keep in mind that the caps lock key has been replaced by a `search' button, though you can always remap it in the settings if you miss it. The clickable touchpad also works well it's surprisingly responsive and the 2 finger scrolling works well. You use a 2 finger click for right clicking, and you can also do a 3 finger swipe to switch tabs. The smoothness of the multi-touch capabilities really surprised me here. Also, regarding the webcam, it's exactly what you'd expect from a $250 laptop. It'll work well enough for Google Hangouts, but don't expect to look like a supermodel. However, it's definitely a bit better than the HP 11's webcam it's not as grainy and it works a little bit better under low light situations. Speakers are also pretty loud for such a small notebook, but the sound quality is average.

This Chromebook also comes with a variety of input/output ports (1 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI, 1 SD, 1 Kensington lock, 1 Mic/Headphone), much more than the HP 11, and I've found the abundance of ports to be quite useful. Finally, note that there is a fan in this Chromebook, but it's barely noticeable: you have to lean in close and be in a quiet room before you can hear it.

The Internals

This is where this Chromebook really shines. For $249, we're used to getting a sluggish computer, but that is not the case with this Chromebook. The Intel processor and a generous 4GB of RAM really shines here, and it shows in the performance. It can handle multiple tabs with no problem and runs 1080p videos and graphically heavy websites smoothly. Unlike the ARM based Chromebooks, there are no stutters or pauses which might distract you from your work and research. Once I used this Chromebook, it was really hard to go back to the HP 11. The battery life lasted around 8 hours for me, but the best part is that it only takes around 2 hours to fully charge, which is pretty fast in my opinion.

All in all, I love Chromebooks because of their simplicity and speed. It works so well for those who just need to surf the web and do some basic writing or note taking and I'd recommend everyone to give it a try before dismissing the idea. You'd be surprised at how much we depend on the web these days. Personally, I've been waiting for a Chromebook which combines good battery life and performance with a decent design, and I think this model does just that (even if it falls a bit short on design). This would be the perfect model for those who prefer function over form, and for $249, it's an absolute bargain.

Some side notes regarding the other models:

I've used the Samsung Series 3, the Acer C7, and the HP 11, and this model trumps all of them in terms of performance.

The screen on the Hp 11 is the best out of all 3, with the best contrast, brightness and viewing angles.

This model has the best battery life for an 11 inch chromebook, though I think the 14 inch Hp chromebook is supposed to have 9.5 hours.

Also, for those interested, this Chromebook comes with the standard perks of 100GB of Google Drive for 2 years, 60 days of Google play music, and 12 sessions of GoGo in-flight internet.

Feel free to ask any questions below in the comment section!

Best Deals for Acer C720 Chromebook (11.6-Inch, Haswell micro-architecture, 4GB)

I got Samsung Chromebook last year and have been using it for about a year. As soon as Haswell Chromebook was announced I ordered it because the ARM chip in Chromebook sucks. Its extremely slow. Enter Intel Haswell. Its freaking awesome. Pages load quickly, and no matter how many tabs you have open, this chromebook keeps going blazing fast. I am sure 4 gig ram also helps. So to summarize:

1) Superfast. Orders of magnitude faster than Samsung Chromebook (and HP Chromebook-11 because it also uses the same crappy ARM chip)

2) Awesome battery life. I got close to 9 hours

3) Screen is better than what I had in Samsung Chromebook. Same resolution, but more bright and colors are not as washed out as with Samsung.

4) Super thin and light.

5) Both Keyboard and trackpad are good

Best $250 I spend

Honest reviews on Acer C720 Chromebook (11.6-Inch, Haswell micro-architecture, 4GB)

This model replaced the old model C710. I want to do a brief review on the hardware.

CPU.

I am happy with the update because it comes with the newest Intel Haswell generation Celeron 2955U dual core 1.4GHz CPU. The older model only clock at 1.0GHz. But still keep in mind Celeron is low-end cpu from intel so don't expect too much for performance. This chromebook is about easy functionality such as web based things, emails at a very minimal cost.

The build quality.

This machine is made of plastic. It is very well built, feels good in my hand. Also I noticed it is pretty resist fingerprints.

Boot speed.

Boots very quickly from sleep, I personally never shut down this machine I always let it go to sleep mode, so the instant on from sleep mode is a very good feature for me.

Display.

1366 x 768 resolution on a 11.6" matte TN display. Not a very bad resolution on a 11.6 inch display, however you do need to do some angling back and forth to get the best viewing angle. This display is not too bad for me, I know you cannot compare this display with IPS but for this price there is nothing to complain about.

Keyboard and trackpad.

Nice and large, giving the fact this is a very small device. I like the rigid feeling. When I press the keyboard, I do not get much movement with all of my hand so that is a good thing.

Trackpad is standard chrombook trackpad and it behaves pretty well for me. It supports two fingers scrolling also.

RAM and Storage

4gb of DDR3 ram. It is pretty standard for laptops nowadays, but for chromebooks this is a change. Most chromebooks today still come with 2gb of ram.

16gb of SSD, you don't get too much space but it is not a big deal for me. This chromebook is web based so I do not see why I need the extra storage.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Acer C720 Chromebook (11.6-Inch, Haswell micro-architecture, 4GB)

This is my 2nd chromebook (also own a Samsung ARM Chromebook). This is the exact combination of speed, quality and price I've been looking for. It's slightly bulkier but is still really small and feels great to use. I'm running Ubuntu with a window manager alongside Chrome OS and have about 40 tabs open (and a bunch of other apps) and haven't noticed any performance issues. This is the chromebook I've been waiting for.

Differences from the Samsung ARM Chromebook:

The keys are less wiggly, this keyboard is nicer to type on and better protects from small amounts of liquid spilling on it

The trackpad is much more sensitive

The screen is a bit nicer

This thing has a fan which runs nearly silent but makes it slightly bulkier (still only 2-3 lbs). Because of this, there are vents across the bottom and rear, and the rear footpads are slightly raised (facilitating heat exchange). All this differentiates the feel of it from the Sammy ARM (which is literally just a board and no moving parts).

The footpads are rounded which makes it less grippy to the surface below. To fix this, drag the laptop around a bit to wear off a tiny amount of the rubber coating.

The Acer is MUCH faster. Even with swap enabled on the Samsung, it doesn't come anywhere near the Acer in speed. I'm more productive on it.

The battery lasts about 2 hours longer (running the same apps, doing the same tasks) despite the fan(s), etc.

Cheap Lenovo W510 15.6-Inch Laptop

Customer Ratings:

Top 10 reasons I like this laptop:

1. Compatible with 32GB of memory

2. Compatible with 2TB space with optical drive replacement (2x 1TB 7200RPM 32GB cache)

3. Light on top of screen so you can see papers and keyboard when working in the dark

4. One USB 3.0 port in back

5. Extremely robust shock cage (I've checked my carryon computer bag on flight with no issues)

6. 1GB dedicated memory which is good enough for almost everything

7. Optional 9 cell battery gives around 3 hours of use unplugged

8. Fingerprint reader has two modes and the secure one is a good replacement for having to type in a password

9. Arrived looking new even though it is refurbished and about $1400 off new price

10. eSATA port great for my SSD drive

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Buy Clevo P150EM (Sager NP9150) - 15.6" Gaming Laptop

Customer Ratings:

AWESOME! runs quiet & cool, great display, fast graphics. Great bang for the buck for an all-around gaming/work pc.

1). Cool extremely quiet during normal operation, runs cool while quiet. Runs multiple applications and a zillion browsing tabs at same time with no hesitation.

2). While in intense rendering operations (photographic manipulation and intense gaming), second fan comes on which has a slight noise. But it is still very quiet, just a low hum you barely notice at most. The heat output from the fans is thus increased but there are TWO fan air outputs on the REAR of the laptop I love this because it means NO hot mousing hand on either left or right the hot air is exhausted away from the user. This is nearly unique within the laptop spectrum, and great for ambidexterous or left-handed mousers, particular graphical and gaming mousers who have hotter running machines to contend with.

3). The specs for this machine are great includes eSATA, DVI-I, HDMI, USB 3.0 ports. You can have either an extra drive or a B/DVD-CD burner/reader on the left side. The battery has a pretty good life when unplugged, especially when not running intensive games. The display/machine size is either 15.6 (P150EM/NP9150) or 17" display (P17EM/NP9170, about 2-3 lbs heavier).

4). Clevo is the OEM for this machine, the P150EM. Clevo builds good stuff. The Sager NP9150 was built upon the Clevo P150EM platform.... I.e., Clevo P150EM was rebranded and customized/souped up with certain components (like the high quality monitor options, drive & RAM & optical options) by Sager, sold as the NP9150 & supported afterwards as such by Sager. Sager is really good stuff. The NP9150 Sager is then resold and customized more (with Sager-made and quality 3rd-party optional components and software apps) by any of a number of US custom resellers, some of whom are excellent (see user forum reviews) and have higher-priority tech support from OEMs like Sager as well as their own in-house tech support. Either way you go for purchase, this is a solid machine. I did not get this machine directly from this vendor (the platform OEM Clevo), or from Sager, but from a custom US reseller of the Sager NP9150, so I would have maximum customization options and better/best tech support quality in case that was ever necessary, or just to get good answers to tech questions. (I researched resellers & chose xoticpc out of about 10-12 US resellers of this platform, based upon pricing, desired customizations, and overall tech support; I have been pleased.)

5). I am writing this to apprise readers of the excellency of the P150EM/NP9150 in general. My NP9150 has Win 7 64-bit running on an intel i7-3720QM processor (now this would come with a slightly faster processor, this machine is a year old), 22nm, 2.70GHz, DDR3-1600MHz, and I had it configured with 16G RAM. (The RAM capacity is expandable to 32G, but it does everything I need fast on only 16G; I suppose a programmer or graphics artist or the most recent A/S game out there might benefit now or in the near future from 32G). Sager gives different monitor options, my machine has the higher quality 95% color gamut NTSC matte finish. It's wonderful accurate color, resolution, and no glare.

6). NOTE!!: the graphics processor on this amazon vendor's NP9150 configuration is the intel Radeon card very fast very good card, but some tech issues have been reported with certain gaming sitations, look it up on the user forums. My machine choice was the NVidia GTX 675, because I wanted less chance of tech problems during all applications and gaming, and I've been very satisfied with the GTX. The 675GTX graphics card system actually has two modes for efficiency intel graphics for regular stuff like Office and web surfing, and the GTX for intensive beautiful graphics when needed. That's another reason it runs efficiently yet handles anything you throw at it, "seamlessly" i.e., without fuss and with quickness & beauty.

7). With my hardware configuration, I can have multiple applications open and running, AND a rendering-intense game like Witcher 2 or a recent Oblivion game, running at the same time. Game graphics rendering and game processing runs fast. And the graphical quality is excellent in resolution as well as color rendering as well as for black&white text applications it does it all. Great eye candy! Movies and video graphics and operations are also excellent.

8). The keyboard is comfortable and quick, and since its relatively compact it is efficient ergonomically yet fits smaller or larger hands. It's about 14" wide because it has a numeric keypad on the side (handy for business or gaming needs). You could customize this by swapping the keyboard out (have your tech or customizer do this) with a MSI Steelseries for a smoother feel as some shops can do, but it's not necessary. If I remember correctly, the stock keyboard is illuminated & you can control the colors, flashing not, illumination on or off, etc.

9). The Sager NP9150 is the Clevo P150EM with some added customizations, support etc.

Sager/Clevo machines have been known for their higher reliability and also components quality and construction quality than most other laptops on the market. They are well worth the extra buck. It may not have the sleek flashy shiny thin appearance of more popular, marketed and trendy laptops like asus or dell, but the engineering quality is generally superior for lifetime sturdiness and operational reliability. It's only a little thicker. The weight is under 10 lbs WITH the power brick and carrying case for the 15.6" NP9150... You do need the big power brick because it is engineered to support power needed by graphics operations during intensive image rendering (like, games or photography work). You can damage your machine if you use a lower-rated power brick; stick to the OEM power brick.

10). If you get one of these laptops from a customizable reseller (there's about 14 in the US), you will pay a lot more, but you will have better overall warranty, and better support warranty service because their customers get priority at the manufacturer over consumers who have to go directly to the manufacturer for support if that becomes necessary. Also, the US customizer houses like xoticpc offer more custom option choices for the laptop components than off-the-shelf from the manufacturer... with the entire still backed by the manufacturer warranty.

11). But either way, if you choose this machine from a well-reviewed vendor (that's VERY important do your research) with just the standard OEM warranty, you'll probably be happy with it. Sagers overall have the superior performance and reliability, and that is why gamers often choose Sager/Clevo over other makes/brands of gaming laptops like asus, msi, etc... which are flash in the pan compared to Sager/Clevo build quality. Sager/Clevo don't chintz on components & construction so reliability is higher while providing excellent performance, and also design intelligently for servicing at the same time. Discerning laptop consumers return to Sager/Clevo. For that reason, used Sager/Clevo machines often cost more than other used laptops they are a good bet compared to others. This machine (NP9150 for 15.6", or NP9170 for 17" display) has been a top gaming and all-in-one laptop choice for those who can afford it. This machine is no longer brand new but it still handles anything I throw at it. It is also known for its excellent of handling action/shooter games there are some youtube demo user posts and user reviews online.

12). Another strong unique feature of this machine is that its design is very modular. So it's easier for you or your service tech to modify and upgrade for memory, disk drive, etc. because everything is easy to get to, yet sturdily put together.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

This laptop is an absolute beast! For a 15.6" laptop it can run any game on Ultra settings and run like a champ. The only thing that I could complain about is that you may want to have a laptop cooler or use it on a hard surface while gaming. Anyone that games on a laptop already knows this though. Besides that, the mSATA leaves a whole 2.5" bay open for additional storage and this thing has great wifi reception. 5 Stars all the way!

Review of APPLE POWERBOOK G4 17

Customer Ratings:

I bought this 550 MHz Powerbook G4 in 2001. I don't use it much for iPhoto anymore but it is quick as a bunny on the Net and just right for word processing and general computing. Amazing. Instant startup. Ever so much better than any of the newer Windows computers around the house. I wonder if it will last forever?

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Cheap HP G60-630US 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)

Customer Ratings:

This laptop worked perfectly right out of the box! I had absolutely no problems setting this machine up or in getting it to connect to my network. It does everything that it was advertised as being able to do. Even the built in webcam works great. If there is even a single negative , it's that it comes with a lot of superfluous HP software. Other than that, I am incredibly pleased with this laptop.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Overall, I'm very happy with this laptop. Works great, is fast, clear picture, and love the Windows 7 vs. my old Vista. Only gripe is the battery lasts under 2 hours with normal use not the 3.75 hours listed. We keep ours plugged in mostly, and use on the go as necessary. Would buy similar one again, just upgrade the battery.

Best Deals for HP G60-630US 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)

The internal microphone is broken, and not just in the one I bought. According to HP, it's broken in the entire G60 series of laptops. I've had mine for one week; I discovered the microphone was broken on the second day, and I've been talking with HP's case managers about my options. Looks like I'm going to return it, because there's no fix in the works at HP. And who needs a laptop that you can't use for videoconferencing, Skype, Gmail Videochat, and so on? It's a shame, too, because the laptop is otherwise great.

Why is HP still selling this product when they know it's dysfunctional?

Honest reviews on HP G60-630US 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)

I too was very frustrated when I purchased this laptop and discovered an issue with the mic. However, HP has put out a downloadable software driver and I installed it and it works fine now!!! My wife uses skype and messanger. As for the rest of the laptop....we are very happy with it. The webcam has fantastic clarity even in not so good lighting. So, ignore the previous gripes with the internal mic. You may purchase the laptop with the defective driver but you can download the new one in two minutes.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for HP G60-630US 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)

I have only had this laptop for a week and so far it has been working very nicely. I have always been an HP fan so I love it even more. I love the look and feel. The graphics is wonderful and the brightview screen enhances the colors. All the features makes it very exciting to use and I love the fact that it has a built in webcam and wireless network ready. I have also notice that it is not a noisy machine in which is a plus.....thanks its wonderful!

Buy Dell XPS14-8182SLV 14-Inch Ultrabook: 3rd Intel Core i5, 4GB RAM

Customer Ratings:

perfectly as descript except for the battery life which was advertised to last for 11 hour but lasted for 6-8 hours went doing little tasks like reading; while browsing on 3g gives me only but 4 hours on the average which is kind of disappointing bcos I use internet a lot on the go.

will like an extra usb 4 wireless usb mouse.

it is compact and feels solid and well packed; for those who cares for weight, it is not as light as u might expect compare to Samsung series 9 and Acer s 3 & 7 ultrabooks.

overall, I'm very satisfied with this product.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Buy HP Pavilion dv4-2170us Intel Core i5, 2.26Ghz, 4GB, 320GB, DVDRW

Customer Ratings:

Had this HP DV4-2170US for just over a week and love it. The keyboard has a nice silky feel to it and responds nicely. Love the "touch" volume and WiFi controls; you basically just slide your finger over the volume level to adjust and just "tap" the WiFi icon to turn it on/off, cool! The screen is nice and has that glossy look that most new laptops have.

I got a pretty good deal on this laptop through Staples. The offer included a $46 instant savings, plus a $50 savings from HP and it was priced pretty low to begin with. I ended up paying ~$670 shipped, tax, etc., not bad for an Intel i5 processor, 14.1" machine with 4GB/320GB HD.

My only issue was that initially, it did recognize my WiFi setup but would not authenticate? I tried resetting my wireless router, rebooted it, reset all the settings, etc., nothing worked! I then finally just reloaded the driver/software for the adaptor (off of HP's site), and that fixed it, go figure!

Battery life could be a bit better, I get just over 3 hours on a full charge which I believe is less than HP indicates (4 hours?), but that's not really a deal breaker. Others have mentioned that the Intel i5 processor is a bit of a power monger, not a bad sacrifice for more speed/power!

Overall, if you don't mind the white cover and keyboard I definitely recommend this laptop.

On a side note, the HP DV4-2160US is the exact laptop (same specs) but with a brownish/plaid cover and black keyboard instead of the white setup on the HP DV4-2170US.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

GOOD STUFF: It is fast and quiet. Fit and finish is excellent. Matching accessories add a nice touch. Touch pad behaves predictably. Price ($650) is unbeatable for the specs. External control for volume is a useful feature. Keyboard and touch pad are laid out conveniently.

NOT-SO-GOOD STUFF: It is a little heavier for a laptop of this size. Battery life could be better. Tons of HP bloatware. It gets hot, when the processor is working full throttle for an extended duration.

Overall I love this laptop and there are no major complaints so far.

Best Deals for HP Pavilion dv4-2170us Intel Core i5, 2.26Ghz, 4GB, 320GB, DVDRW

I bought this computer because I needed a fast processor, and it has that. Unfortunately, the computer has other problems. Not since my 2001 iMac have I had so many technical problems in a new computer. The keyboard is shoddy -a key popped off when I'd been using it for about a month or two, and was very hard to put back on -and there's a nasty glitch with the cursor suddenly going out of control, so that the end of what I type pops up in the middle of a previous word. The touchpad is so user-hostile that I bought an external mouse. HP tech support is frustrating to deal with. All this would be easier to excuse if the computer were cheap, but it wasn't.

Honest reviews on HP Pavilion dv4-2170us Intel Core i5, 2.26Ghz, 4GB, 320GB, DVDRW

I was very happy with this Laptop. It is the first one I have bought and I am very pleased!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for HP Pavilion dv4-2170us Intel Core i5, 2.26Ghz, 4GB, 320GB, DVDRW

I picked this up at Staples for $649 after rebates, which seems like a great price for an i5 processor. Seems like a nice computer, satisfied so far. But the sounds quality is horrible. I had an HP Pavilion that's 4 years old with no special sound card or anything like that, and it's set up to play through a decent (but not high end) AltecLansing system. I was thrilled with the Pavilion's sound. When I plugged this one in, the drop-off was so noticeable I wondered if I actually had it plugged in correctly. Maybe the sound card is the issue. Who knows? But in any case, if you're not dedicated to excellent sound, this is a good little laptop.

Discount Acer 14" i5-480M 2.66 GHz Laptop | AS4743-6481

Customer Ratings:

Love it so far -

Fast boot up 14" screen is what I wanted. i5 1st Gen seems faster than expected. Built in Intel HD graphics are average. Not recommended for gameplay but for everyday apps its great. Speakers are below average but speaker jack sound is great which works for me.

500 GB HD is 5400 speed. 1.3M camera & Under 5 pounds Perfect.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I received the notebook, in less then two weeks. For a college student, and has not had any problems with it. We have had it for approximatley 1 month now.

Best Deals for Acer 14" i5-480M 2.66 GHz Laptop | AS4743-6481

I just received my Notebook today, which was very quick, but bummed because the webcam hasn't worked at all, "device not found." Acer is going to fix the problem which is great. Just not happy that I have to send my "new" notebook (I've had it for one day) for service which will take at least two weeks!

Honest reviews on Acer 14" i5-480M 2.66 GHz Laptop | AS4743-6481

Needed a small but reliable computer and was a little bit worried about buying refurbished, but the price was just too good. The computer works great. It has a couple little quirks, for instance,1.it will only accept the password for the administrator login when it first boots up, if it goes to sleep and I wake it up, it no longer recognizes the password. and 2. the clear system/reboot program always opens up upon first login, I've almost accidentally accepted and cleared my computer a couple of times. Otherwise I've had the computer for over a year and it is still fast and it still looks and works great. Pretty glad I bought this computer even more than a year later.

Reviews of Sony VAIO VPCS137GX/B 13.3" Silver Laptop

Customer Ratings:

this laptop is compact and pretty fast. A businessman look laptop. A must have laptop for the people who are not into gaming and want to use the laptop for its real use.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Great laptop, and also worked for gaming. Never gave me any issues in conparison to my old HP pavillion, this was a great upgrade for me. Well worth the price.

Best Deals for Sony VAIO VPCS137GX/B 13.3" Silver Laptop

I got this laptop about a year ago and it's still going strong. Only way I could see myself upgrading is for a newer Vaio, Alienware, or a Mac at some point.

Honest reviews on Sony VAIO VPCS137GX/B 13.3" Silver Laptop

Sleek and more than enough power for the normal Joe. This is a Grade A laptop. The keyboard is what got me. Love the quite key taps.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Sony VAIO VPCS137GX/B 13.3" Silver Laptop

I am a bit disappointed that the laptop is very slow and sluggish. I have owned a Vaio laptop before even though the RAM was only 2GB, and 6 years older its performance was a lot much better than this one. I am afraid to load new applications for fear that it might slow it down even more. It comes with a single drive unlike my older Vaio which had factory partitioned drives. The only positive on this laptop is the battery, a standard battery which can go up to 6 hours and a bit! And I love the silver colour it appears rich and expensive.

Sony VAIO VPCS137GX/B 13.3" Silver Laptop