More SSD storage and a faster CPU: Is the Acer Aspire S3 finally worth buying?
Posted on 19. Nov, 2011 by Paul in Laptops, Laptops
Acer has released new more expensive, but higher performing Aspire S3 Ultrabooks. The new models include the $1,199.99 Acer Aspire S3-951-6828 and $1,299.99 Acer Aspire S3-951-6432. The $1,199 model features a 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5-2457M, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 240GB SSD; the $1,299 model features a 1.7 GHz Intel Core i7-2657M processor with the same amount of RAM and SSD storage space as it’s cheaper counterpart.
When Acer released the 13.3-inch Aspire S3 Ultrabook a month ago they only provided the $899.99 Acer Aspire S3-951-6646 which included a 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5-2467M processor, hybrid 20GB SSD+320GB HDD storage and 4GB of DDR3 RAM.
In reviews the Acer Aspire S3 lagged behind Apple’s Macbook Air and later the Asus Zenbook UX31 Ultrabook. Weak spots that the new models will address will be SSD storage space and processor performance (Core i7 model). However with more SSD storage and the option for a Core i7 equipped model is the Acer Aspire S3 a good buy? Short answer is probably not. If you’re buying a Ultrabook you’re not getting the best experience with the Acer. The lackluster battery life will not be improved with these new Acer Aspire S3 models and the same goes for build quality issues.
When the launch $899.99 model was reviewed last month the build quality wasn’t rated very favorably compared to the Apple Macbook Air and later the Asus Zenbooks. The Acer is made from plastic, and flimsy plastic at that, meanwhile Apple’s Macbook Air and Asus’ Zenbook UX31 feature rigid aluminum chassis. As for battery life the original $899.99 model was rated as offering barely 4 hours of life by Engadget, Acer hasn’t upgraded the 3-cell Lithium batteries for the new more expensive Aspire S3 notebooks.
The best Ultrabook at the moment is the Apple Macbook Air 13-inch that is more expensive than the Acer, but for around the same price as the Acer the Asus Zenbook UX31 is a better buy.
Related Posts
2 Responses to “More SSD storage and a faster CPU: Is the Acer Aspire S3 finally worth buying?”
Leave a Reply
John
21. Nov, 2011
Oh. So the Acer Aspire S3 is still not worth it with this new model. I figured that the build of this laptop is not on par with Macbook Air and Zenbook (what with the plastic build, it’s definitely not worth the price.
xiaojiewang
29. Nov, 2011
Now Ultrabook is in the first stage, that is the ultra-low voltage Sandy Bridge processor platform, no dedicated graphics card. As you may know, this type of processor’s TDP(nominal power) is only 17W that has clear difference with the 35W TDP of SNB standard voltage processor, and players who are more familiar with hardwares should know that the processor TDP (nominal power) actually has a large difference with the real power, and the true role of TDP is to provide guidance data for the radiator design. Therefore, with the ultra low voltage processor virtue of lower TDP and integrated graphics, Ultrabook can significantly reduce the radiator?thickness and the heat pipe diameter or the number in the interior design, which have laid a solid foundation for the light machine.
http://myultrabook.info/?p=312