Blog

Taiwanese manufacturer Acer has just launched a new category of thin and lightweight ultraportable laptop ASPIRE S3 Ultrabook in Taipei. The Ultrabook was the most hot topic at the COMPUTEX 2011 computer expo that happens this year in Taiwan. This laptop features a new Sandy Bridge/Ivy Bridge based Consumer Ultra-Low Voltage (CULV) Intel processors with integrated graphics and SSD storage.

According to VR-Zone, some manufacturers also took the opportunity to launch their Ultrabook at the recent Intel Developer Forum (IDF) 2011. At the COMPUTEX 2011, the chip giant proposed the idea of making the notebook PC more portable and user-friendly with improved endurance to meet the needs of users for at least a day. But the most importent thing keep on mind the price for this kaptop must be below US$1,000. So finally Acer brings the first ultrabook on the market ASPIRE S3 launched on 28 September in Taiwan. Checkout the specifications and review from vr-zone bellow.

Specifications:

Aspire S3-951-2464G33iss01:
Processor- Intel Core i5-2467M 1.6GHz Turbo Boost 2.3GHz
Chipset- Intel UM67 Chipset
Display- 13.3- inch (1366×768) 16:9
Memory- DDR3 4GB x 1
Storage- 320GB 7mm SATA HDD + 20GB SSD
Battery- 3 cell / 6 hours
Ports- USB / HDMI / memory card reader
Wireless- 802.11 b / g / N
Bluetooth- Bluetooth 4.0
Webcam- 1.3-megapixel
Others- 1.33kg / 4th gen Dolby Digital/ 13mm
Pricing- NT$34,900(approx.US$1,140)

Aspire S3-951-2464G23iss02:

Processor- Intel Core i5-2467M 1.6GHz Turbo Boost 2.3GHz
Chipset- Intel UM67 Chipset
Display- 13.3-inch (1366x 768)
Memory- DDR3 4GB x 1
Storage- 240GB SSD
Battery- 3 cell / 7 hours
Ports- USB / HDMI / memory card reader
Wireless- 802.11 b / g / N
Bluetooth- Bluetooth 4.0
Webcam- 1.3-megapixel
Others- 1.33kg / 4th gen Dolby Digital/ 13mm
Pricing- NT$44,900 (approx. US$1,466)

Review:

The Acer ASPIRE S3 incorporates a 7mm 320GB SATA and 20GB SSD drives, 4GB DDR3-1333 memory and Intel Core i5-2467M 1.6GHz processor. Acer will also launch the 240GB SSD version, though the model will only be expected to retail in early October. In this review, we take a look at the ASPIRE S3 (ASPIRE S3-951-2464G33iss01) with the 320GB SATA and 20GB SSD drives.
This Laptop made by aluminium and aluminium-magnesium alloy, with the weight at approximately 1.33kg (including battery). In the I/O department, it is surprising that Acer did not include a USB 3.0 connector, though the company provided two USB 2.0, HDMI output, memory card reader that supports SD and MMC.

There is a y 3.5mm audio port on the left side. The sides are smooth with metallic finish and the entire machine looks thin overall. On the opposite side is the memory card reader that supports SD and MMC cards.

The ASPIRE S3 are the ventilation holes and connectors including two USB 2.0, HDMI output and power. The main consideration is the overall configuration of the motherboard. The rear is also the thickest part of the Acer Ultrabook.

The power button is on the left while on the right are the indicator LEDs. The button will hide while you put off the screen. The ASPIRE S3 is thinnest point at 13mm, while the display measures a mere 4.99mm thin. On top of that, the Ultrabook also comes with Doby Digital audio technology for your audio listening experience.

The screen resolution is 1366×768, which supports 720p high definition videos. The two sides measure 13.55mm thick; the top at 19.8mm while the bottom is 30.96mm. Above the display is the 1.3-megapixel webcam for video conferencing. Our review unit incorporates chiclet-styled keyboard with keys measuring 14.85 x 14.85mm. The arrow keys on the lower right are of reduced sizes than the rest of the keys, which made it tedious to use, especially if you have large fingers. The built-in microphone is actually very near to the Ultrabook’s integrated speakers, located on the base of the unit.

Many people would be interested to know the internal architecture of the machine, and therefore, we took it apart to have a closer look. The motherboard is not a single piece design, but the use of flexible cable to link the plates. The advantage is when a certain problem arise, you just need to replace individual parts instead of the entire motherboard. However, maintenance could be a huge problem.

The radiator with a single heat-pipe design that connects the processor to the south bridge. Note that the heat pipe measures 8.77mm in diameter. The ASPIRE S3 also comes with 4GB DDR3-1333 memory which unfortunately is welded to the board and can not replaced.

The ASPIRE S3-951-2464G33iss01 model with 320GB SATA hard disk and 20GB SSD drive. The 20GB SSD is using the Phison controller with Toshiba memory chip. If the last two digit of the model number is “02”, it means that the configuration is using SSD drive only.

The Ultrabook comes with a 3-cell 3280mAh 36.4Wh battery, and you can find out how good is the battery performance. There is also Nuvoton environmental control chip, as well as the streamlined I/O connectors.

The Acer ASPIRE S3 is stylish, but aesthetically, it may not attract everyone. On the other hand, it weighs 1.336kg and only comes with two USB 2.0 and HDMI output. The official pricing of the Acer ASPIRE S3 is NT$34,900 (US$1,140) though the retail price would be between NT$32,000 (US$1,047) and NT$33,500 (US$1,096).

Special Thanks To vr-zone.com For Image & Review Suggestion
[ttjad keyword=”laptop-acer”]