Acer AOD250-1633 Review, Compare, Prices, Discounts
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Acer AOD250-1633 Review, Compare, Prices, Discounts.
Product: Acer AOD250-1633 Amazon Price: Too low to display Availability: In Stock |
Compare Prices on Acer AOD250-1633
So I was recently in the market for a netbook for move reasons and happened upon the Acer One. After days of reading reviews and visits to local electronic stores, I had narrowed my choices down to the Asus (10 hour battery life) EeePC and this Acer One. As luck would have it, I was in the market fair as Windows 7 pre-orders began and both machines came through Amazon with the unique OS. In the waste, the AC adapter issues with the Asus kept me away, and I figured 10.5 vs. 9 hours of battery life wasn't too sizable of a inequity (and neither would live up to the claims regardless) .
The netbook arrived the day after Windows 7 was released and I immediately got to work removing the "extras" that near with the computer. Surprisingly though, Acer did not load too powerful bloat on the machine and getting it off took no time at all. So then began the installation process. Avast, Office, iTunes, CD Burning software, VLC, Chrome, Firefox, Skype and Quicktime (the usuals) were all immediate needs and all went on with ease. I did bewitch the extra gig of RAM that is recommended on most other netbooks (read around and you'll peer) as well, however, it did not advance until 3 days later so I had a decent amount of time to play around with this machine with honest 1g.
Even with 1 gig, iTunes ran smoothly, I was able to study Hulu with no hiccups, Office didn't slither... I was actually quite surprised. The 2 gig showed up eventually though, and things got even better. Installation was a inch (objective begin the memory "door" and clip it in) and took only 30 seconds. The computer recognized it instantly. Once up and running again, the system was noticeably faster... very noticeable. Having launch multiple programs is not a dilemma at all (something I will admit I was concerned about initially) .
Along the same lines as the memory upgrade, an external DVD drive may be another select you will want (unbiased like with every other netbook) . I did not invest in one, simply because I will not be needing it, but unbiased a conception when pricing out your "paunchy" recall.
So, what is superb and what is unpleasant?
Pros:
Battery life - lives up to the advertisement (for the most allotment) . I accelerate it on the intermediate setting and accept 7 hours easy. Currently at 45% apt now and have 4 hours and 5 minutes left.
Wireless N and Bluetooth - while not "famous" these are very nice. I can remove up signals with my netbook that other laptops in the house cannot acquire. Range is incredible.
Speed - A lot faster than what I was expecting and blew away all my expectations. Unbiased acquire certain you exhaust the extra 20-40 bucks and gather the extra memory. You will peep a spacious inequity (support in mind though, she does resplendent with 1 gig) . 2 is always better though.
Display - Very determined and easy on the eyes. Notion I might have issues with the tiny veil but it looks fabulous.
Windows 7 - you can read the reviews about it specifically but it runs mountainous. I'll leave it at that.
Cons:
Keyboard - slightly smaller than some other netbook keyboards out there and can be tricky sometimes.
Touchpad - Acer, as with others, boasts a multi-touch pad (similar to an iPhone or iPod Touch) . Maybe I unprejudiced haven't found the lawful exhaust for it, but I collect it nearly worthless and even when I can find it to "work," it is dull and not very useful. Also, some may obtain the touchpad a tad too cramped (at least I do) . Finally, the click bar on the touchpad is not broken up into two buttons, and while this is fairly well-liked, the click bar can be tough to click sometimes and there are times I will try to click and hit the middle, which does nothing, and you don't "know" until you glimpse down to contemplate what you're clicking. I contemplate two definite buttons would have been better and easier.
In the waste, this model (and it's brightly colored siblings), in my thought, are an advantageous occupy if you're in the market. At around $400 (depending on how worthy you accumulate the RAM for), this machine comes with features that you will only pick up in more expensive netbooks. While I've only had it for a week, I will say I am very joyful with my investment. If time permits, I will update this to review how it holds up with depart, etc... but based on simple home wireless exhaust, I have very very few complaints.
WARNING: netbook specs change snappy, as do their prices. So be distinct to research any changes since the date of this review.
OVERVIEW: knowing, distinct screen; rapid response (based on a couple of hours of adding and removing programs, after the 31 updates to Win7 first downloaded) ; tolerable streaming video (ran HD Apple trailers in 480 mode fine; Hulu was sometimes "choppy"; ran "Colossal" non-HD Apple trailers fine; ran ABC.GO.COM tv shows tolerably well; won't rush Hulu in 480 mode or beefy screen; ran HQ You Tube graceful) . Smaller mask and smaller keyboard at a time when other netbooks are bumping up against trim light laptops, but at least this is under 3 pounds WITH the charger. And you can't beat that battery life!
WHAT COULD BE BETTER: The 11.6" shroud on some Aspire Ones is agreeable - more pixels = ability to glance NY Times online bulky hide without scrolling (the 10.1" on this one requires runt scrolling, but you are only missing "ad boxes" on the fair hand anyway) . HOWEVER I bought a 10.1" because all the 11.6" models arrive with downgraded Atom processors (z520 with GMA 500 chips vs. the N280 and GMA 900 on this one) . SHOULD approach with 2 GB of memory to match the other upgraded specs on this otherwise upgraded version, but unfortunately, doesn't.
NOT ALL ASPIRE AOD250'S ARE CREATED EQUAL DEPT.: Peril Will Robinson! Distress Will Robinson! Difficulty Will Robinson! PLEASE Impress that Aspire has place the AOD250 designate on a WHOLE HOST of widely different netbooks. Things to study out for: the N280 is Worthy faster than the N270 - not because of the processor hurry (1.66 vs. 1.6, nothing!) but because of the front bus (memory) race (677 vs. 533, a lot!) . This version, as of the date I write this review, also comes with Win7 while many near with XP; comes with 250 GB hard drive instead of 160 GB on most AOD250's; has wireless N instead of G (a LOT faster, when internet cafes and other locations upgrade) ; has Blue Tooth; has the 6 cell battery (AND it's in the 5200 m.a. version, not the 4200) .
WHAT I DID ON DELIVERY (ymmv so consider before you leap:
1. BEFORE inserting the battery, I removed one easy screw from the middle wait on panel, pulled a couple of side clips off the existing memory module, and did a 5 little total upgrade to 2GB of RAM. Natty simple.
2. Install the battery, breeze in the charger, boot up.
3. Wait for normal status up; enter minimal information.
4. Load Internet Explorer and click on Windows update - the computer will update soon on its absorb, but this speeds it up.
5. Installed 38 security updates and 3 non-essential updates. Note: Acer has its hold update program to check for BIOS and plot driver updates, a nice touch, I went in and changed the update frequency to monthly from daily.
6. Uninstalled the trial antivirus program. Which virus program you determine is up to you; I've had valid luck with Panda (paid) and with AVG (free, no ads) . Based on what I read since then, I decided to try Microsoft's recent, free basic protection program, Microsoft Security Essentials (Google: download Microsoft Security Essentials) and hastily installed it. It's not supposed to be as up to date as some, but it's overhead is improper and I have some confidence that MSFT will try to compose it work well in conjunction with their Win7 patches and updates. NOTE: Security Essentials has its maintain Malware program which replaces Windows Defender which comes with Win7. Compose positive both aren't running at the same time (compose positive Security Essentials DID turn off Windows Defender) .
7. Uninstalled all the junkware (trial Office, Norton BackUp, eSobi, etc.) . Uninstalled all the excess MSFT baggage - Silverlight, Live Essentials. If you ever expend a program that wants chunks of these, they will ask to download and reinstall and you can resolve then. NOTE: you don't want tags of too many programs running in memory, that slows down the computer especially video - the "load" from the antivirus can be especially notable.
8. Downloaded Quicktime; iTunes; Flash 10 (already installed - profitable work Acer! - but there was an incremental update since the construct they installed on my hard drive.
KUDOS TO AMAZON DEPT.: I got this overnight, with the memory chip to upgrade, for only $28. Wow. I could have had free delivery by waiting a week or two with Smart Saver. And they actually got the lawful computer to me - given how my AOD250's variants they stock, and colors, that's no mean feat.
WHY YOU MIGHT WANT Pick Up THE SMALLER BATTERY DEPT.: The humongous runs forever battery is fatter and heavier. Heavy, not a problem; wider not a problem; quandary is, it juts down from the body which means it doesn't fit well in a flat computer slot. On the other hand, it elevates the rear of the deck slightly for better cooling.
YOU SHOULD Fetch THIS IF: You are cheap or on a budget or want a very light, very runt, very functional computer for fade. If you write, blog, browse the web, gaze YouTube, download to iTunes (250 gb helps) .
YOU SHOULD NOT Bag THIS IF: You want to gaze Hulu in higher resolution and/or at plump screen; if you burn a lot of DVDs; if you do Photoshop or build movies; if you play video games that do demands on hardware. Acquire the recent white Macbook instead.
MY CRYSTAL BALL SAYS THESE THINGS WILL CHANGE IN ONE YEAR: Dual core Atom chips (already available) ; lower power consumption benefit chips instead of the musty 945; better graphics chips (from Intel, or from 3rd parties, Nvidia already has the Ion) ; standard 2 gb with optional 4 gb; 11.6 as the "premium" netbook niche and 10.1 as the "standard" niche with runt screens disappearing; XP disappears, finally replaced by Win7.
AND THE Examine YOU WANTED ANSWERED FIRST: Yes, Win7 works out of the box. Abiword works pleasing with it. Yes it is as speedily, to my peruse and hand, as XP. Yes, it will be supported a lot longer in the future than XP. NO, pause away from Vista even on a end out model. I had it one one netbook and had to return it, it was so tiring,. Win7 Starter has no "gaze candy" for the desktop but it is Rapid.
The Acer Aspire One D250-1633 is exactly as advertised. A nice petite netbook with an easy to read mask. Windows 7 Starter works sparkling. So does Office 2007. I was concerned about the 1 GB memory but Windows 7 Starter seems very lean and Word and Excel and Internet Explorer accelerate (at the same time) with memory to spare. The keyboard certainly is smaller than normal, but I'm a hunt and peck typist so it makes exiguous inequity to me. If you're looking for a exiguous, light, inexpensive netbook this seems like a respectable choice.
