Looks like Acer was the first one to let out a 12-inch netbook in the market with the 11.6″ Acer Aspire AO751. After using one for a couple of weeks, I got to the bottom of things. Check out our full review after the jump.
The large 11.6″ screen is a big plus for the AO751 with a large 1366×768 pixel resolution only the Sony Vaio P can beat. Despite the size, it did not sacrifice the weight and dimensions to separate itself from the regular 12-incher notebooks — still under 1 inch thin and weighs just about 2.75lbs (pretty thin and lightweight for its size actually). Biggest advantage here is the almost 100% full chiclet-style keyboard.
What’s in the box? You get an Intel Atom Z520 @ 1.33GHz, 2GB DDR2 RAM, 250GB HDD, Intel GMA 500, Bluetooth, WiFi 802.11b/g. Pretty nice specs IMO. The only biggest concern here is the seemingly underpowered CPU. While 1.33GHz isn’t really that slow, you will still feel that the pre-installed Windows Vista OS is dragging it.
Here’s what the Windows Performance Index looked like:
Obviously, the CPU has the lowest subscore (1.9) among all other components of the netbook. SuperPi 2M took about 4m 56s. As a point of reference, an N270 1.66GHz takes 3m 45s on SuperPi 2M and has a subscore of 2.2 on Windows Performance Index. It would have been nice if a 1.6GHz Z530 was in here or maybe even a 1.66GHz N280 but the latter would have needed an exhaust fan.
As for the GPU, Acer used an Intel GMA500 which turns out to be better than the GMA945 for Windows Aero (2.9 vs. 2.0). The screen is glossy which makes the display bright and crisp (similar to the AOD150). What I found somewhat buggy is that the screen turns black when launching apps (outside the app window) and doesn’t refresh back to normal display immediately.
Battery life is impressive, just like its earlier siblings (6-cell 5200mAh), and ranges between 5.5 to 6.5 hours depending on the brightness level of the screen. I haven’t been able to squeeze it anywhere near the promised 8 hours but the 6.5 hours on regular use (with WiFi) is already a good number.
I’m still a bit disappointed that the 3G SIM card slot isn’t there (the label says it’s WAN-ready only so I don’t know what it means). That would have made the retail price of Php27,500 a great bargain.
Just a fair warning — since the Acer Aspire One AO751 runs Windows Vista Home out of the box, you will most definitely experience a laggy performance. I somewhat avoided that by upgrading to Windows 7 RC (Windows XP should also do the trick). What this model gives you that no other 10-inch netbooks out there cannot give is the larger screen and higher resolution (1366x768pixels). That and the full-sized keyboard.
Hi, would like to ask who you were able to downgrade ur OS from vista to XP? did u just install it urself?
it comes with XP in ireland so happy days
I think its a bit overpriced. Compare that to other 27k laptops with CD-roms.
If it would come on XP, Windows 7 or Ubuntu it will be a power and Atom 1.6.
PS: It looks like a “Nokia E63″ with its curved edges and color. And more pictures would be great IMO.
hi sir! i just bought this netbook and i found it super bagal with vista os.. ok lang ba kung idowngrade ko siya sa XP? wala bang hahanaping drivers? ayos lng kaya idowngrade? tnx po.. (newbie sa laptop)
sir Abe, ok na sa akin yung 28k na acer na to kaso , i would waant it to be windows 7.. how much in php windows 7 OS..thanks
You guys are better off with Gateway’s LT3103i… besides.. Acer’s the one distributing this laptop here in the Phils.
It has the same specs and all… and it really boots very fast under Vista.. and bought it for 26K flat.. which is about 1,500 cheaper that Acer’s release..
Here’s the specs..
http://ph.gateway.com/products/product.html?prod=LT3103i
how much will it cost me if i upgraded it to windows xp?
nice review… thanks!
[...] Acer Aspire One AO751 [...]
HI, I recently bought this Acer A0751h for my wife same color like yours, and was disappointed also that I couldn’t find this 3G SIM card slot but I keep on trying to find why the box has this 3G logo and found out that it really has a 3G sim card slot. Here’s how you can find it:
1.Remove battery
2.On the center, beside the battery terminal. Try to find this “black tape” that cover the 3G sim card slot.
3.Remove that tape
Nice blog!
It comes with XP in Singapore.
You think ACER Philippines push this to Vista? now im confused LOL
Twitter: _ampere_
says:
^talga may 3G sim card slot? my brother got me an Acer AO751h white in Singapore pero sa December ko pa makukuha..plano ko sanang ibenta para yung HP Mini 311 na lang ang bilhin pero kung meron talaga syang sim card slot i’ll just keep it
Yes my 3g sim card slot, just download the driver and software here http://www.acer.com.sg
Twitter: _ampere_
says:
^thanks so much..now im excited to get hold of my acer AO751h goodbye HP Mini 311 hehe..
does this have windows 7 driver for the 3g sim slot?
i got this netbook almost 3 months by now..vista is soooo slow..i got this in white and pink and the sides of the lcd screen gets scratched up easily i duno wer the scratches came from maybe from carrying it around..im gona use windows xp now since its such a pain in the ass especially when im using multi task on this netbook..pretty face lng
[...] Acer Aspire One AO751 [...]
Twitter: _ampere_
says:
@Ralph
sir have you tried putting sim card dun sa slot? paano po yun hindi na ba kailangan mag-install ng 3g module? sabi kasi sa acer website if you can’t find a switch for the 3g then it doesn’t have a module installed…
hello sir abe, actually i got myself one and been using it since july 2009. i agree medyo mabagal nga talaga xa sa vista, will upgrading the os to windows7 help? minsan naghahang din xa.. i really like the pretty face though, real slim and i luv red, the keyboard is very friendly to use ang lapad kasi, nice talaga! thanx po..
medyo nabother lang ako at first sa battery kasi nasa labas, got used to it though..
i bought AO751h september 2009. i got attracted sa kulay, size at sa weight. kaso ala pa 1week naghang na siya, ambagal pati. diniscourage ako i-change OS sa XP, mas maganda raw pag i-upgrade sa windows 7. tama po ba advice nila?
i asked acer Philippines about dun sa sim card slot na nabanggit sa specs kasi binali-baliktad ko unit ko, hindi ko makita ung slot na un. according to them, ala p raw available model ng AO751h dito sa Pilipinas na merong 3G sim slot.
hahaha! i just said naghahang ang unit ko, ala pa five minutes after ko isubmit first comment ko naghang na ulit siya…
my computer has no sound when I plug in the external DVD rom. What shall i do?
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