Posts tonen met het label ACER AL12B32 batteries. Alle posts tonen
Posts tonen met het label ACER AL12B32 batteries. Alle posts tonen

dinsdag 24 juli 2012

Acer Aspire One 725 Notebook Review

Case

Ivy Bridge might be the belle of the ball in laptop-land, but small and nimble will always be on the dance card, too. Despite its petite 11.6-inch 1366x768 screen and 2.6-pound frame, Acer's newly announced ACER Aspire One 725 can still pirouette with a dual-core C-60 AMD processor, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, Radeon HD 6290 graphics, and choice of two colors. Along with the 320 or 500GB hard drives and HD output, those specs should allow you to edit the odd video while still doing the emailing and surfing it was made for.

The case itself, compared to the acer Aspire One 722, has only changed a minimal amount. The display lid for example doesn't have the stylish water-drop design any more, but is instead kept simple with one color. Customers are only left with two options, which are either Volcanic black or Caribbean blue.

The case proves itself to be relatively stable, merely under a lot of pressure does the material start to bend. The display hinges also perform their task well. Definitely impressive is the very wide maximum opening angle of the 11 inch netbook, which spans up to 150 degrees. Less favorable are the sharp edges of the device. Especially around the LAN port, where there is a chance of getting cut. Thanks to its typical netbook weight of 1.2 kg and size of 11.6 inches diameter, the device is well suited for mobile use.

Connectivity

Compared to the Acer Aspire One 722-C62kk, the reviewed device has a speedy USB 3.0 port, as well as two USB 2.0 ports. Otherwise the netbook also provides a modern HDMI connector as well as an integrated card reader, as did its predecessor. One negative aspect in our opinion, is the combination port for the microphone input and headphones output. The previous model still provided these two separately. Now external headphones and an external microphone cannot be connected in parallel. All the ports are distributed along the left and right sides of the netbook.

Communication

The highlight when it comes to the communication features of the Acer Aspire One 725 is surely the version 4.0 Bluetooth module. Only a few netbooks, such as the predecessor Acer Aspire One 722-C62kk model for example, provide this new standard. Bluetooth 4.0 is Low Energy power saving thanks to its protocol stack. The distance between two communicating devices can now also extend to up to 100 meters.

Gigabit LAN is unfortunately not supported by the 11 inch netbook. In this case the owner will have to make due with the Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller (10/100 Mbit).

WLAN is provided for users by the Atheros AR5BWB222 Wireless Network Adapter. Acer has not equipped its netbook with a UMTS module though.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The adopted chiclet keyboard has only slightly changed compared to the Acer Aspire One 722-C62kk. Among these the keys now have a bigger gap in between them. Otherwise the size of individual keys has also changed, whereby the letter keys still have a size of 19 mm. The arrow keys are, as is the case with many netbooks, still small. Apart from this the whole of the keyboard supporting surface also gives way. The inflection point of the keys on the Aspire One 725 is relatively undefined, and the key travel is also quite short.
Touchpad

When it comes to the touchpad, Acer is betting on old strengths. The mouse replacement is more or less identical with that adopted for the Acer Aspire One 722-C62kk. The touchpad is sufficiently big and possesses good gliding properties. What is less favorable in our opinion are the accompanying buttons. One big panel is supposed to be used for both of them. Two separate buttons would be considerably more pleasant though.(ACER W83066LC batteries)

Display

With its 11.6 inch diagonal display, the Acer Aspire One 725 belongs among the larger netbooks. The display manages a maximum resolution of 1366x768 pixels, and is also reflective, as with the Aspire One 722-C62kk. A matte display would be far better for outdoor use. Due to the average brightness of 210.8 cd/m², the netbook is merely average when it comes to outdoor suitability. The maximum brightness lies at 223 cd/m². In this case the Aspire One 722-C62kk has an advantage with a maximum brightness of 261 cd/m². At least the brightness doesn't reduce during battery powered use. The illumination is relatively balanced at 91%.

The contrast level is than less than ideal. Due to a high black level of 1.35 cd/m², a mere contrast of 164:1 is the result. In addition, the sRGB color space is also not completely covered.

The outdoor suitability was tested by us in practice. One thing that speaks in favor of outdoor use is the luminance of over 200 cd/m², however, this is also curtailed by the absence of an anti-glare display surface. Text and graphics are only recognizable to a limited extent outdoors, since the reflective display makes itself clearly noticeable. In this case the brightness could also have been a little bit higher as well.

The viewing angle stability has the familiarly weak characteristics of panels in this price category. While the display shows considerable changes to the displayed images when deviating from the center horizontally, the picture quickly breaks down when deviating vertically. This characteristic is depicted by the above photomontage. For this we photographed the netbook from different angles in a dark room, using the same shutter speed and lens.(acer al12b32 batteries)

Speakers

The integrated speakers in the Acer Aspire One 725 are not especially good, as we are already familiar with from its predecessor models. For listening to music we would recommend using external speakers. The frequency response of the integrated speakers is very much concentrated in the high frequency range, while bass frequencies are completely missing. External speakers systems can be connected via the 3.5 mm audio socket, or also using the HDMI connector.

Battery Life

The battery runtime was tested by us using three different scenarios. For the first test, we wanted to determine the maximum battery life. In this case we used the most frugal configuration (lowest brightness, WLAN deactivated, power saving profile), and carried out the Readers Test from BatteryEater. During this test the reviewed device managed to stay on its feet for about 7 hours and 5 minutes. The predecessor Acer Aspire One 722 C62kk, managed approximately an additional 2 hours, albeit with a higher capacity battery. While our reviewed device has a 4 cell battery with a capacity of 37 Wh, its predecessor had a battery with 6 cells and a capacity of 48 Wh.

During our practical test we simulated internet surfing. In this case we activated the WLAN and set the display brightness to a pleasant 150 cd/m². With this test the netbook ran out of steam after 4 hours and 21 minutes. Last but not least, we tested the battery life with a high processing load. In this case we used all the highest performance settings (highest brightness, high performance profile), and once again the BatteryEater software, albeit with the Classic Test. During this scenario the AC adapter had to be connected again after 2 hours and 38 minutes. With the Acer Aspire One 722 C62kk, this was the case almost an hour later.

Verdict

The performance difference between the Acer Aspire One 725 and the Acer Aspire One 722 C62kk is hardly noticeable. Moreover the reviewed netbook is merely a new variant with small differences. Buyers will once again receive a reflective HD display with the new model, which will limit the potential for outdoor use. The display brightness could also have been a little bit higher. One thing that makes the Acer Aspire One 725 stand out from its predecessor is the speedy USB 3.0 port. The battery life of a maximum of 7 hours has been reduced with the newer version. With the Acer Aspire One 722 this was still 9 hours.

Unfortunately the old weaknesses have remained. The soft keyboard is just as much worthy of improvement, as the high temperatures developed with a high processing load.

A good alternative to our reviewed device would also be the 11 inch dimensioned MSI Wind U270. The netbook may also have a reflective display, but provides considerably more performance with its AMD E-450 processor. The price for the MSI netbook however lies at approximately 450 Euros.

More info: laptop-batteries.com.au , laptop-battery.org.uk , battery-store.eu

maandag 9 juli 2012

Lenovo IdeaPad U310 Computer Review, L11M3P01 Laptop batteries

LENOVO IdeaPad U310 Battery Life

    Product ID: 1003072
    Battery Fits: IdeaPad U310 Series
    Property: original computer batteries
    Rating: 11.1 V
    Capacity: 46 Wh \ 4160 mAh
    Feature: Rechargeable Li-ion battery
    Color: BLACK
    Brand: LENOVO
    Warranty: 9 months  
LENOVO IdeaPad U310 Series computer batteries

During the L11M3P01 Battery Test (continuous Web surfing over Wi-Fi), the LENOVO IdeaPad U310 lasted 5 hours and 19 mintues. That's below the 6:51 ultraportable average, but in line with other Ultrabooks we've recently tested. (Many Ultrabook makers seem to be willing to trade endurance for a thinner profile and lighter weight.) The VAIO T13 and the DELL Inspiron 14Z Laptop Battery managed only 5:05 and 5:35, respectively.

Design

To call the IdeaPad U310 an Ultrabook of a different color would be an understatement. We were immediately mesmerized by its aluminum Aqua Blue lid. The subtle sheen of the tiny metallic flakes danced with every flicker of light. A slightly raised diamond-cut chrome Lenovo insignia sits in the top right corner, creating a beautiful contrast.

The U310 is also available in Cherry Blossom and (boring) Graphite Grey for people who aren't keen on blue.

The interior of the notebook uses matte eggshell white plastic that extends around the sides of the notebook. It's cool and distinct. A lone chrome power button sits in the top left corner just above the black matte keyboard.

In terms of weight, the 3.6 pound, 13.1 x 8.8 x 0.7-inch U310 is smack in the middle of the 3.4 pound, 12.7 x 8.9 x 0.71-inch Sony VAIO T13 and the 4.6 pound, 13.7 x 9.5 x 0.83-inch Dell Inspiron 14z. However, it cuts a slim profile with its 0.7 inch thickness.

Display

The LENOVO IdeaPad U310's 13.3-inch HD 1366 x 768p display delivered sharp text, making reading the latest headlines from NYTimes.com and CNN.com easy to read. The HD YouTube trailer of Django Unchained was a canopy of subtle beauty set against the violent backdrop of vengeance, such as delicate drops of crimson blood being splashed across pillowy plumes of cotton. Our eyes were also drawn to Jamie Foxx's electric blue suit against a rose and tangerine sky.

Unfortunately, the U310 doesn't have the brightest display. Measuring only 148 lux, it was easily outshone by the 239 lux ultraportable category average as well as the VAIO T13 and XPS 13, which measured 163 and 254 lux, respectively. We were also disappointed with the shallow 45-degree viewing angles, which led to immediate washout if we ventured any farther from in front of the display. (ACER AL12B32 batteries)

Audio

Despite receiving a hearty assist from Dolby's Home Theater v4 technology, the LENOVO IdeaPad U310's speakers barely filled a large room. However, the sound was nice and clear, and we appreciated Dolby's optimized presets for Music, Movies and Games along with the ability to create our own custom presets.

As we listened to Marvin Gaye's Got To Give It Up, we clearly heard the funky bass, distinctive cowbells and background party vocals accentuating Gaye's silky tenor.

Keyboard

The non-backlit Chiclet keyboard (28cm x 10cm) is identical to the one found on the U.S. models of the IdeaPad U400, U300 or U300s. Each key of the AccuType keyboard is evenly spaced and of generally equal surface area - including the directional keys - unlike most Ultrabooks like the Dell XPS 13, Portege Z835, Acer Aspire S3, Asus Zenbook or the ultrathin Samsung Series 9. As a result, both scrolling and typing on the LENOVO IdeaPad U310 never become very cramped. The keys are flat with no concavity, but tactile feedback and key depth are both satisfactory and a touch deeper than many Ultrabooks and are even quieter than expected.

However, users may not initially agree with the shorter than usual Shift, Enter, and Backspace keys thanks to the encroaching Home, End, and PgUp/PgDn keys from the right end. Typists who are accustomed to having Enter and Backspace keys on the edge of the keyboard (for example, on MacBooks or desktop keyboards) may require some time to grow accustomed to the smaller sizes and different locations.

The F1-F12 keys take backstage as they can only be activated with an accompanying FN key. Fortunately, users can easily bring these important keys back to the forefront through the system BIOS if desired. Otherwise, we found the keyboard experience of the U310 to be agreeable without any noteworthy issues.

Touchpad

The large and flat touchpad surface is smooth and made of glass, but is still textured similarly to the adjacent palm rests. Its surface area (10.5cm x 7.0cm) is exactly that of the touchpad found on the IdeaPad U300s and similar in size to the touchpads of the XPS 13 or Asus Zenbook UX32. Left and right mouse clicks are integrated into the touchpad, although the bottom half of the surface is more easily clickable than the top half. Despite this, clicking or double-tapping anywhere on the surface will result in a left click input as only the smaller bottom right portion is reserved for right clicks. While the click depth itself is shallow, the feedback feels solid.

Gliding across the touchpad is easy and responsive. Even multi-touch gestures like two-finger scrolling, pinch-to-zoom, and three-finger flicking happen smoothly and quickly without significant misinterpretations or input errors. Up to 5-finger gestures can be recognized by the touchpad, but this is likely a preemptive compatibility feature for Windows 8 as the default Synaptics 8.0 software only provides customization options for up to 4-fingers only.

Lenovo also boasts a “smart sensor” that automatically disables the touchpad while typing to prevent accidental cursor movement. The feature works as intended and proves to be quite useful during word processing.(LENOVO L10M4P12 batteries)

In general, we found little to complain about the touchpad. Its precise performance makes the notebook that much easier to work with without a nearby mouse. The surface is a huge fingerprint magnet, however, and may be difficult to wipe clean the inevitable grime buildup without a wet cloth.

Heat

After watching a full-screen video on Hulu for 15 minutes, the touchpad space between the G and H keys registered a cool 80 degrees Fahrenheit while the underside measured 82 degrees. We were able to watch video, play some Bastion and write this review with the U310 in our laps for well over an hour with no complaints.

Webcam

The 1-megapixel webcam delivered sharp images overall. We saw better color in natural lighting, while images in fluorescent lighting were slightly oversaturated. The webcam can capture stills and video in 1280 x 720 using CyberLink YouCam 3.

In addition to video chatting in ooVoo, we used the webcam to add an extra layer of security via Lenovo VeriFace 4.0. The face-recognition software was quick and intuitive, taking about 30 seconds to record our faces and create a profile.

Ports

The right side of the U310 houses a USB 2.0 port, a combination headphone/microphone jack and a jack for the AC adapter. An SD Card slot sits on the left front lip of the notebook. A pair of USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, Ethernet and a button for Lenovo's One Key Recovery service is located on the notebook's left side.
Performance

Intel's Ivy Bridge processors continue to impress, powering the Lenovo IdeaPad U310 to solid scores. Equipped with a 1.7-GHz Intel i5-3317U processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB 5,400-rpm hard drive with a 32GB SSD and an Intel GMA HD Graphics 4000 GPU, the U310 easily streamed video from Hulu while we played a few rounds of Plants vs. Zombies with seven open tabs in Google Chrome and Internet Explorer.(FUJITSU FPCBP324 batteries)

During PCMark 07, the LENOVO IdeaPad U310 scored an impressive 3,480. That's 781 points above the 2,699 ultraportable average. The VAIO T13 and the Inspiron 14z, which also have 1.7GHz Intel i5-3317U CPUs, notched a lower 3,334 and 2,984, respectively.

The U310 booted the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium in 33 seconds, much faster than the 0:47 category average. However, other Ultrabooks are faster. The Inspiron 14z and its 500GB 5,400-rpm hard drive loaded Windows in 0:28 while the VAIO T13 and its hybrid drive (500GB 5,400-rpm and 32GB MLC SSD) booted in a swift 0:25.

During the File Transfer Test, the U310's hard drive duplicated 4.97GB of mixed media files in 3 minutes and 29 seconds for a transfer rate of 28.6 MBps, which is well below the 45.7 MBps average. The Inspiron 14z notched 29.8 MBps, while the VAIO T13 delivered a dismal 18.6 MBps.

On the OpenOffice test, the U310 took 6 minutes and 6 seconds to match 20,000 names to their corresponding addresses, blowing past the 8:33 ultraportable average. However, the VAIO T13 and Inspiron 14z finished slightly faster at 5:53 and 5:47, respectively.

Verdict

Those in search of an eye-catching portable Ultrabook at an affordable price should put the $799 Lenovo IdeaPad U310 on their short list. The notebook delivers fast Ivy Bridge performance and sound ergonomics inside a design that doesn't look anything like a MacBook Air clone. However, the battery life could be better, and the display isn't the brightest.

Consumers looking for more graphical oomph will want to check out the $899 Dell Inspiron 14z. For an additional $100, shoppers get an ultrabook with AMD discrete graphics. Overall, though, the U310 is one of the best value-priced Ultrabooks yet.

More info: laptop-batteries.com.au,laptop-battery.org.uk, battery-store.eu