by Jane Stockton

Acer Notebook Buying Criteria & Recommendations – Cape Town

Buying a notebook computer is a serious decision and should be done after proper needs analysis, research and consultation. Herewith a synopsis of five criteria to assist new buyers to make an informed decision to achieve maximum return on their investment.

Price

To buy the cheapest notebook computer available on the market today may not necessarily meet individual performance / connectivity / mobility / warranty requirements over the primary lifespan of the product. Notebook pricing generally range from R4 800 to approximately  R20 000 and it’s not to say your choice should be at the extreme ends of this pricing continuum. A notebook should be acquired to fulfill a specific personal / business requirement and a three year ownership period should be considered to provide the required Return On Investment.

Recommendation: The Acer notebooks in the R5 500- R7 500 range will be a solid investment for the serious student and / or Microsoft Office user. Backed with the standard one year warranty or extended three year on-site Acer Advantage Fetch, Repair and Return warranty these products will want to “work” for you long past your daily bedtime.

Performance

Notebooks today are as powerful as most desktop models and will provide an excellent mobile and integrated platform for an array of high intensity Central Processing Unit (CPU), graphic and memory applications. Acer notebooks will either be configured in an Intel Celeron or Intel Centrino solution. The Intel Celeron CPU product is for entry-level and value users, whereas the Intel Centrino solution will provide for higher level CPU and graphic applications.

Recommendation: Acer notebooks configured with the Celeron CPU is an excellent choice for students and Microsoft Office users. The Centrino-based TravelMates will provide superior performance with a choice of optional graphic / rendering possibilities. Be prepared to pay a premium for high-end graphic / gaming functionality. In most instances the Celeron-based notebooks will be the intelligent choice for students and Microsoft Office users.

Connectivity

Today most notebooks are configured with state of the art connectivity options. It is important that your notebook is configured with your current and future requirements in check. Standard on all Acer notebooks will be Wireless Networking / LAN / Modem / USB ports. Other options to consider will be Bluetooth and embedded 3G HSDPA.

Recommendation: To buy as much technology as you possibly can – stretch your budget a little for this. Bluetooth should be a serious consideration as it allows for excellent synchronization with most cellular phones. For 3G HSDPA your Cellular Service Provider will either provide an Express card or USB modem. It will work on all Acer Extensa and TravelMate notebooks.

Mobility

This is one of the main reasons for acquiring a notebook. Generally the Acer notebooks will vary from about 2.5 – 3.5 Kg in weight. In notebook terms the latter is heavy. Decide on your normal day at the office / work. How often do you need to lug the computer between meetings / clients / home and office? The lighter notebooks are not necessarily the cheapest as they have smaller technologies embedded to keep the weight down.

Recommendation: Buying a notebook with a bigger LCD screen than 15.4″ will make the notebook not just heavier but will also drain the battery much faster. 15.4″ is more than adequate and currently the main stream standard. Consider a 12″ or 14″ for ultra-portability.

Warranty:

All Acer notebooks come standard with a 1-year warranty which for R995-00 can be upgraded to a 3-year on site warranty.

Recommendation: Seriously consider the 3-year warranty if you can afford it. Notebook parts can be very expensive to replace once the product is out of the initial warranty.

Copyright Vernon Chalmers © July 2008

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