Configuration options and competitors
As we have mentioned, the Aspire S7 is
available with 11-inch and 13-inch models, with mostly the same industrial
design, except for the lid. At least in the U.S., the 13-inch model is
available in two configurations: the Core i5 version, at $1,400, and the Core
i7 at $1,650. Being more high-end means having more disk space: the Core i5
model with 128GB of storage, while the Core i7 model has 256GB. Whatever the
model is, it comes with 4GB of RAM, integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics and
4680mAh battery.
HP
Spectre XT TouchSmart
If you are curious about the smaller
11-inch figure, it is lighter as you expected (2.29 pounds vs. 2.86 pounds),
although it is actually a bit thicker, with thickness of 0.48 inch. Acer is
only providing one configuration in the U.S.: the $1200 system with Core i5
processor, 4GB RAM, 128GB RAID 0 storage and 3790mAh battery lasting 5 hours.
If you feel scared by the S7’s short
battery life, at least you can be comfortable with the fact that it is not new:
almost all the PC manufacturers are selling simple old laptops with a touchscreen
attached to it. For the purposes of this comparison, we will be associated with
the more advanced options, as those who are considering spending $1,400 for a 1080p
computer certainly would not want something with a 1366x768 screen. Perhaps the
most obvious rival comes from Asus, which is selling touchscreen versions of
the Ultrabook Zenbook Prime. In short, it has the same industrial design and the
1080p IPS screen as the latest Zenbook Prime we have evaluated, although we do
not have the opportunity to check that the touchscreen may reduce the battery life
or not . Hopefully, we will soon be able to test it. If you do not mind
carrying a little extra weight, HP is selling the 15-inch Spectre XT TouchSmart
(at $1,400 or more), the first Ultrabook HP that has a 1,920x1,080 screen. Weighing
4.77 pounds, it's pretty light for a 15-inch computer but not as mobile as the S7.
Conclusion
For each next generation, Acer comes closer
to building a perfect Ultrabook. The first model, the S3, felt cheap, with
short battery life, slow performance and hard trackpad. The S5 improved it with
more beautiful design and higher speed, thanks to the drive RAID 0 setup. But
due to low screen resolution, and other shortcomings, ultimately it felt too
expensive compared to the actual prices.
Now, we have the aspire S7, the best
Ultrabook Acer has ever produced, with an impressive 1080p display and the same
fast performance as we recognized in the S5. However, there is one problem:
Acer has never learned to improve battery life. The S7’s battery life is even
shorter than that of other touchscreen Ultrabooks, which generally do not last as
long as the non-touch models in our tests. While we can easily praise Acer
because it has progressed so far, it is difficult to introduce the first mobile
device with poor battery life, especially when it has the "high" price
as such. If you do not mind carrying the charger everywhere, this is a high-end
piece of hardware. But if battery life is important to you (or if you're just
looking for a comprehensive computer), you will have to take in a deep breath,
as we do, and keep looking.
For
each next generation, Acer comes closer to building a perfect Ultrabook.
Information
·
Price: $1,400
Advantages
·
Impressive 1080p IPS display
·
Beautiful build material
·
Thin and light, even for an Ultrabook
·
Very fast performance
·
Including adapter, mouse and bag
Disadvantages
·
Poor battery life
·
Noisy fans
·
Sophisticated trackpad
Key point
·
The S7 is Acer’s best Ultrabook so far, but it
has noisy fans and very poor battery life.
Thin
and light, even for an Ultrabook
|
Specifications
·
Type: Ultraportable
·
CPU family: Core i5
·
CPU model: 3317UB
·
Screen size: 13.3 inches
·
Screen resolution: 1,920x1,080
·
Touchscreen: capacitive (finger)
·
System RAM: 4GB
·
Hard drive: 128Gb (total) SSD
·
Maximum battery life: up to 12 hours
·
Dimensions: 0.47x12.73x8.79 in
·
Weight: 2.86 lb
·
Wi-Fi: 802.11 b, g, n (2.4 GHz)
·
Graphics adapter: integrated
·
Bundled OS: Windows 8
|
