Acer have just unleashed two new Aspire One models, both of which are small and rather cheap machines that are probably best labelled as netbooks or ultra portable laptops. While the 10.1 inch Aspire One 521 and the 11.6 inch Aspire One 721 have most of their technology and build quality in common, they sport two very different looks indeed.
The smaller 521 has a screen resolution of 1024 x 600 and comes in at 2.8 pounds, while the 721 features 1366 x 768 and weighs a little more at 3.2 pounds. The two units differ a lot in terms of their overall look, with the 521 featuring a glossy mocha or black coloured lid with a Tetris type pattern and the 721 going for a mesh and much more minimal design.
Both of these new Aspire One netbooks feature new AMD processors, ATI Radeon graphics, and improved performance regarding heat and battery life. Acer have been let down by these two issues with previous models, and the Aspire One duo seem to finally meet the benchmarks set by their competition. Overall graphics performance is impressive in both models, with smooth HD playback and a HDMI port for connectivity.
While the build quality of both Aspire One models is ultimately unimpressive, for the price they are going for it is hard to complain too much. While the keyboard is a little too flat for extended use and both units feel a little loose in some areas, the touchpad at least tries to impress with its intuitive multigesture input. It is not perfect however, and feels ultra-sensitive and almost random in some applications.
Overall, the Aspire 521 and 721 netbooks are far from perfect but offer a lot for their price. With the smaller model going for $349.99 with Windows 7 Starter and 1GB of RAM, and the 721 shipping with Windows 7 Home Premium and 2GB of RAM for $429.99, it is very hard to complain.
Specifications
AMD Athlon II Neo Dual-Core
ATI Radeon HD 4225 Graphics
1GB RAM / 2GB RAM
10.1 inch / 11.6 inch
802.11n WiFi
HDMI
3-1 Card Reader
VGA
3 x USB
Ethernet
