Matte embossed plastic -- it is always practical and beautiful at the same time. Acer took advantage of this win-win option and made the right decision. Acer Aspire 5742G derive simple, but representative and rigorous. Matte cover adorns a brilliant logo of the manufacturer. The same texture pattern -- on the inner surface of the notebook.
According to tradition -- the only glossy surface -- the frame around the screen. This unfortunate decision goes in the line of Acer Aspire from generation to generation: to open the lid and leave no fingerprints on that narrow edge -- virtually impossible. At the top of the frame -- built-in webcam with a resolution of 640 × 480 pixels. The camera can not provide very high quality picture (the standard for notebooks of this price), but Skype is quite amiss.
To achieve a low value of the company had to use a cheap plastic. Not that he was very nice, but more expensive models in the stability of injuries he concedes. On the side faces housed ports and connectors that may be needed in the process. All the standard features are implemented in a laptop.
On the left side -- microphone and headphone jack, USB port, VGA, HDMI connector and adapter, LAN and power socket. On the right side most of the space occupied by a DVD-drive. Place left for 2 more USB ports and Kensington lock.
Communication capabilities are also very standard: via LAN adapter to connect to the Internet by wire, and using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth -- the wireless Internet. In our modification was Bluetooth 3.0, but they do not all laptops are equipped with the series.
Picture and sound
Acer wanted to equip a laptop powerful stuffing and save cost, so saved on the matrix. She is 15.6 inches, with a maximum resolution of 1366 × 768 pixels (HD-resolution). Widescreen aspect ratio, backlight -- cost, LED. Brightness and contrast of the screen is quite decent. Get pleasure from watching movies or your favorite photos will without problems. Colour rendition is good, but not enough to work professionally with graphics. When amateur use (photos, games, movies) such nuances you will not even notice.
Speaker in a laptop the only one he had built over the keyboard. Organize a disco with its sound level does not work, but you can watch a movie in the mid-size room and did not connect external speakers. Sound effects, computer games will also be an impressive and rich.
The keyboard and touchpad
Acer Aspire 5742G keyboard equipped with brand Acer Fine Tip. The size of the laptop enough to use a variant with a separate numeric keypad. If you see a keyboard for the first time, you will probably be surprised that the keys as if hovering above the base case. This feeling is created due to special design, the feeling on the set with this keyboard is a little different: perhaps a couple of days will have to get used to. Keys are completely flat, with rounded edges and small distances between them. They clearly are pressed and when touch typing finger find the right keys without difficulty.
Developers keyboard took care of those who often uses the arrow keys and right-Shift. Arrow keys 2 times smaller than the others, but on top they are separated from the remaining short distance away. It seems that a small addition, but the keyboard, where it is not, work with the cursor buttons become a problem: his fingers ever get the wrong direction.
Elan Smart Pad touchpad with a smooth surface is large. In the right part -- the band to control the vertical scrolling. Provided and horizontal scrolling, but no special lanes for her on the touchpad is not shown. Keypad a touchpad, double.
Performance and Capacity
To write a review, we had a notebook Acer Aspire 5742G-5464G64Mnkk (LX.R530C.003). He has a processor Intel Core i5 460M with frequency 2.53 GHz. This processor supports Turbo Boost. This allows the notebook when dealing with complex programs to increase the clock speed above rated -- up to 2.8 GHz.
The processor also supports multi-threading technology, Hyper Threading, so each core can process information in multiple threads. This processor allows you to work comfortably with any simple and mediumly programs.
The laptop 4 GB of RAM and 2 Video Cards: Integrated Intel GMA HD + discrete nVidia GeForce GT 420M. The combination of these maps gives the notebook an opportunity to work with completely different programs, and maximize energy. Switching between video cards automatically, using technology NVidia Optimus.
The notebook is ideal for watching movies. He pulls HD-video with no inhibitions and hang-up. If you like to view photos and process them, Acer Aspire 5742G will allow you and it. The notebook allows you to comfortably work in Photoshop, even when processing large files. 5742G is good, and as a gaming computer. Number of RAM and video card allow you to run modern games at low and medium settings. If a sudden memory not to be missed, the notebook has expansion capability of up to 8 GB.
The laptop runs on an operating system, Windows 7 Home Basic 64 bit. There are modifications that are cheaper to run on Linux.
Conclusions
Acer has got to make a cheap laptop and it does not save in the most important. In a decent laptop accessories that will run a variety of programs, to enjoy games, movies, work. Shortcomings of the laptop also has: a cheap plastic one speaker, for a small multimedia computer set of ports. In this case, Aser Aspire 5742G boasts a comfortable keyboard and a practical matte body. (www.laptopi5.com)
