The good: Very low price; dual-core processor; full feature set, including an ExpressCard slot and S/PDIF audio-out jack; comfortable keyboard; easy-to-use system management software.

The bad: Slow performance on outdated components; display wobbles easily; glossy screen finish results in distracting reflections; lacks external media controls.

The bottom line: We recommend the Acer Aspire 4710 for home users who want a low-cost laptop for basic computing tasks.

Read full review of the Acer Aspire 4710 »

By Michelle Thatcher
Aug 31, 2007

Whenever someone asks us if you can really get a decent thin-and-light laptop for about S$1,500 (US$1,079.99), offer up the Acer Aspire 4710 as evidence. Here you've a thin-and-light laptop with an attractive 14.1-inch display, a solid keyboard, and all the ports and connections a home user could need, for just S$1,448 (US$1,042.55). The catch, if you consider it one, is that inside the case you'll find a dual-core Pentium processor which, though it has multiple processing cores, isn't enough to keep up with Core Duo and Core 2 Duo systems. No one expects a cheap laptop to win any speed contests, though. Fortunately, some countries offer configurations equipped with a speedy Core 2 Duo processor. Many home users just want a machine for checking email, typing documents, and watching DVDs. So for those users, we recommend the Acer Aspire 4710.

Editors' note : This review is based on tests done by our sister site CNET.com. As such, please note that there may be slight differences in the testing procedure and ratings system. For more information on the actual tests conducted on the product, please inquire directly at the site where the article was originally published. References made to some of other products in this review may not be available or applicable in Asia. Please check directly with your local distributor for details.

Design

Like its larger and more-expensive sibling, the Aspire 5920, the Aspire 4710 features Acer's new Gemstone design which includes a matte-black lid and a light-gray interior. The case's rounded corners and beveled edges give the laptop a soft look that, in this smaller form, reminds us of the original clamshell Mac iBooks. Despite its soft looks, the Aspire 4710 feels pretty solid, though the screen did wobble a bit on its hinges when we accidentally bumped our desk.

The Aspire 4710's display is great for watching movies and working with images, thanks to its sharp 1,280 x 800 native resolution. Though not a deal-breaker, it's worth noting that colors tended to look particularly washed out at the highest brightness level. Also, the screen's glossy finish is among the more reflective ones that we've seen lately; the reflections were manageable in a typical office environment but intolerable when we were seated with our backs to an outside window. While higher-end configurations of the Aspire 4710 include a Webcam in the display bezel, the baseline configuration we reviewed does not.

We enjoyed typing on the Acer Aspire 4710's sturdy full-size keyboard. The keys provided plenty of travel and were remarkably quiet. Our palms did frequently graze the laptop's touchpad while typing, but the sensitivity of the pad was such that doing so did not misplace the cursor. Between the two standard mouse buttons sits a four-way scroll key that's particularly handy for reading Web pages and scrolling through long documents. A vertical row of controls on the left side of the keyboard include a convenient Wi-Fi on/off button as well as two programmable application launch buttons that default to the Web browser and email. The last button in the row is designed to turn the Bluetooth radio on and off; pressing it on this our review configuration only calls up a message declaring "No Bluetooth device". However, some retail configurations will include a Bluetooth radio as standard.

Given the Aspire 4710's movie-friendly display we wish Acer had found room on the keyboard deck for media controls; volume is controlled by a wheel on the laptop's front edge. Above the keyboard, next to the Dolby surround speakers, sits the triangular Empower key which launches a suite of utilities for managing battery life, network and sound settings. We loved having quick access to this information and enjoyed the design of the Empower suite, which looks very much like the Dashboard in Mac OS X.

Features

We expected the Aspire 4710's low price to come from small economies on its features, but Acer has packed the laptop with all the ports and connections you'd expect on a thin-and-light laptop, including an ExpressCard/54 slot that should make it easy to add 3G/HSDPA card or a TV tuner. There are also two USB ports on each side of the laptop's base, which makes it easier to plug in lots of peripherals without getting cords tangled. The sound on the built-in Dolby digital speakers was decent, if a little tinny at high volumes; fortunately the S/PDIF audio-out jack lets you connect the Aspire 4710 to external stereo speakers for better sound quality. We like that Acer provides a software tool to quickly choose among multiple sound settings (music, movies, and games) so you get the best sound possible.

Rate It Now

Rating guidelines

Acer Aspire 4710 (Core 2 Duo T5500 Processor 1.66GHz, 1GB RAM)

Rate this product:
1 - Abysmal 2 - Terrible 3 - Poor 4 - Mediocre 5 - Average 6 - Good 7 - Very good 8 - Excellent 9 - Spectacular 10 - Perfect

Need help? Read our guidelines for what each number rating represents.

Submit your opinion

User Reviews

More Products To Consider

• Most Popular

• Upcoming

Latest Downloads

 

What's Hot