CNET Editor's rating: 8.0 out of 10
Reviewed by
Dan Ackerman
Review date: 5/22/08
Release date: 5/15/08
The good: First 18-inch display we've seen; true 16:9 aspect ratio; inventive media control panel mimics a remote control.
The bad: Higher-end model is twice as much as lower-end version, despite minimal specification differences; minor Blu-ray control issues; we expected better bass from a system with a subwoofer.
The bottom line: With Blu-ray and a true 1080p display, the 18-inch Acer Aspire 8920 is a movie fan's dream, but we'd go for the cheaper of Acers' two preconfigured models.
Description:
The Acer Aspire 8920-6671 is a 9-pound, consumer level notebook computer.
Compared to other general-purpose notebooks on the market, it is expensive at around $2,355.
Has Wi-Fi (wireless connectivity) built-in.
Features NVIDIA GeForce 9650M GS graphics with 512MB of video RAM.
Pros:
Has 4 GB RAM, which is considerably more than some similarly priced notebooks.
Also, this notebook has 1920 x 1080 native screen resolution, which is somewhat higher than some similarly priced notebooks.
Cons:
Has a 9-pound weight, which is considerably heavier than some similarly priced notebooks.
For example, the
Sony VAIO SZ780N8
, at around $2, 140, has only a 4-pound weight.
Suitability:
Suited for those who just need a basic notebook.
Comes with a DVD recorder, allowing you to convert home movies from your digital video camcorder onto DVDs.
Comes with office-grade word processing software; it comes with well-rounded features for most document authors.
With 512MB of dedicated video RAM, this machine will do very well compared to most other notebooks, when it comes to multimedia applications and games.
If you have a
wireless network
at home, wirelessly browse the Web from any room in your house with this Wi-Fi enabled laptop.
Value:
Notwithstanding its expensive price, this notebook has great features for the money.
However, if you were to judge strictly by how large the screen is, the average price of mainstream consumer products with a comparable screen size is considerably less -- in fact around $1,403.
Suggestions:
(1) Given this device's Wi-Fi capability, you may want to get a
wireless access point
for your home, so that you can browse the Web more conveniently from any room.
(2) To get the most out of this notebook's Bluetooth capability, you could have a Bluetooth-enabled headset, PDA or other device, and be able to link it wirelessly to your computer within a range of 20-or-so feet inside the same room.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular
Great Machine
I bought my 8920 from Meijer for $974. It is great for movies and I hooked up a outside TV tuner... Read more
by Ice4351 (see profile) -
July 2, 2008
2 ( 0 ) x Memory - SO DIMM 200-pin,
1 ( 1 ) x ExpressCard/54
Interfaces
1 x Modem - Phone line - RJ-11,
1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45,
1 x Display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15),
1 x Audio - SPDIF output/headphones/line-out - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm,
1 x Microphone - Input - Mini-phone 3.5 mm,
1 x Audio - Line-in - Mini-phone 3.5 mm,
1 x TV antenna - Input,
1 x Display / video - HDMI,
1 x Infrared - IrDA,
4 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A
Miscellaneous
Features
Wake on LAN,
System password,
Hard drive password,
Administrator password,
Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately)
Power
Power device form factor
External
Voltage Required
AC 120/230 V
Battery
Technology
8-cell Lithium ion
Installed Qty
1
Mfr estimated battery life
2.5 hour(s)
Recharge time
2 hour(s)
Operating System / Software
OS Provided
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
Software
Acer GridVista,
Acer Crystal Eye,
Acer Bio-Protection,
Acer Launch Manager,
Microsoft Works 8.5,
Adobe Acrobat Reader,
NTI Media Maker (OEM),
Acer Instant-on Arcade,
Acer Empowering Technology,
Acer Video Conference Manager,
CyberLink PowerDirector (Trial, OEM),
McAfee Internet Security Suite (Trial),
Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition (60 days trial)
Environmental Standards
EPA Energy Star Compliant
Yes
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support
3 years warranty
Service & Support Details
Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 3 years,
Traveler warranty - 3 years
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics'
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics' manufacturer rating (June 2008)
4.3
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics' manufacturer rating (Mar 2008)
5.7
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics' manufacturer rating (Sep 2008)
Manufacturer: Acer Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo (1.83 GHz), 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 9 lbs, 18.4 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Manufacturer: Acer Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo (2.6 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 9 lbs, 18.4 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
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