Another Ace for Acer (Acer Travelmate 5730-842G25N)

Member Name: PhotoPortrait09

Product:	Acer Travelmate 5730-842G25N
Date:	19/03/09 (177 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: ergonomic keyboard, great battery life, lighter than most laptops

Disadvantages: finger print recognition - I don't use it, not much of a disadvantage!

I still can't believe that I am the first to write a review about this laptop, I have had mine for 4 weeks now and I must admit I love it.

First things first: Looks

Okay, nothing special with the lid closed, typical bulky laptop style. However, it does have a really nice locking system which you need to slide to the right to open the lid and reveal a very well thought through keyboard layout.

The keyboard is angled like a smiley face with plenty of space to rest the wrists below the keyboard. It's probably the most comfortable keyboard I have used and haven't oncee had any wrist strain. You might be thinking, yeah but you have only had it 4 weeks - this is constantly on and I'm glued to it working ridiculous hours!

Another well thought through aspect is the centralised placement of the mouse pad, I used to always catch the pad with my shirt sleeve or thumb as I type - not in this case, the curve of the keyboard manages to prevent this. The mouse pad while I'm on this subject is remarkabky sensitive, but when you glide your finger over it the mouse doesn't hit the side of the screen at 100mph - everything seems to work nicely.

The screen is a very nice size with a very clear display that isn't overly bright, its just right and I am using factory settings. Usually a new laptop glares at you and it isn't long before you have to alter the settings, but this is just right.

The hardware is fast enough to cope for the demands of general office applications, but then again who really needs Core 2 Duo P8400's. I'm not one for being blinded by speed, Intel advertising and PC World poor sales techniques don't fool me. I know I could probably do all the tasks I do on an old Pentium II - remember them! However, applications wouldn't run on the PII chip architecture so needs must... :o)

The built in wireless adaptor is very good, no issues with configuration, turn it on, find the network, enter your encrypted key (as always!) and away you go. Upstairs, downstairs, in the car (don't ask - but you have to try!) no connection problems. And it even has fingertip ID, if your into that sort of thing - I'm not so it has 1 redundant feature.

Battery life is also very good, I think I get about 3hrs which isn't that bad really, when are you ever 3hrs away from a plug socket?

All in all a really good laptop, definately recommend it - after all its Intel inside!

Mike Jones

Summary: Great laptop, comfortable to use and a real pleasure

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