Acer Aspire 5920 "Gemstone" - We have tested

We already got to see these designer computers in May during their presentation in Milan . Furthermore, we have had one in the newsroom for days. Specifically, an Acer Aspire 5920 . In other words, a Gemstone , which is the surname that the Taiwanese firm has given its most seductive laptops . Taking advantage of the fact that Chema was in Berlin covering the IFA , we tiptoed into his office and we have temporarily stolen him to prove it.

Portable Seduction

The first thing we check is that the computer , live, has an impeccable finish . And that the laptop is not signed by the master designers of Apple.

The fact is that this Gemstone exudes elegance on all four sides . The curved silhouette of its case opens to reveal its pearl gray interior, dominated by a 15.4-inch widescreen display .

At his feet, a well-escorted keyboard : on the left, buttons for direct access to the web browser, e-mail and Bluetooth and Wi-FI activation / deactivation ; to the right, backlit touch controls for the multimedia reader (music, photos, videos) and two more shortcuts for video editing and management programs. Is it really not designed by Apple?

Beauty is not incompatible with power

It is not a simple makeup thing. As is usual in Acer computers , it is an efficient and well-equipped machine . It has a 2 GHz Intel Core Duo processor and 2 gigabytes of RAM . Enough pedigree so that the Windows Vista that comes standard does not crash . It uses an NVIDIA GeForce Go X8600M GT graphics card with 256 megabytes of memory and a Dolby certified speaker system with the Home Theater and Virtual SurrpoundSound logos . Virtual Surround Sound ( Dolby Home Theater) and also certified. Among us, thinking that a laptop, with current technology is impossible to have spectacular surround sound like that offered in movie theaters or well-equipped homes. Having said that, it must also be said that, of all the notebooks we've seen and heard [and we've seen quite a few ;-)], this one has the best sound by far.

Weighing almost three kilos and a thickness of just under four and a half centimeters (when closed), this is a laptop that's just the right size to walk around the house or take to the office (for ordinary travelers who live en route and always piggyback with the computer can be somewhat uncomfortable. These people need an ultralight). As for the connections, this Gemstone has everything: USB , HDMI , audio and video outputs for headphones and monitor, slot for five types of memory card and all possible networks (Ethernet, modem, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) … It also comes topped with a CrystalEye webcamon the screen, which we can use in video calls.

A laptop for those who ask for something more

Some users look only at the technical characteristics to decide on one or the other laptop. Others, after looking at the card, also take a look at the appearance of the model. If you are one of the latter, the Gemstone is a good alternative with Windows along with the latest designs from HP, Asus and Samsung.

A jewel that looks great, both for home users and for those professionals whose activity depends largely on the laptop. It is clear that it is not one of those small models that we can carry around all day without the shoulder suffering (see Asus or Samsung ). It is not distinguished by its size, but by its design and functionality.

Gemstone's strengths

In addition to all that has been said about visual seduction and its technical virtues, this laptop has the advantage that each user can take advantage of its additional functions depending on their interests. With a special phone, the kind called "skyphone" , we can make voice calls and video calls over the Internet .

If we have a well-equipped TV and a decent set of speakers, we can use the Gemstone as a central unit to watch the home theater (one of the versions has an HD DVD player ), taking advantage of the HDMI output and its compatibility with surround systems. . Although the laptop screen itself is not bad for bedroom privacy either. The executive may be more interested in the VGA output to show slides and presentations on the screens that are usually available for this purpose in meeting rooms.

It can improve

As trivial as it may sound, the touch controls on the right can be a bit awkward. Many of us do not like the touchpad , hence we often use an external mouse or the arrow keys to move around menus and documents. The fact is that these arrows are very attached to the touch controls, and we can activate them accidentally. Nothing that is not solved using a mouse or being a little careful, but the guys at Acer could have moved those ultra-sensitive controls a couple of centimeters up, so as not to conflict with the arrows.

Plugin Recommendations

- Mouse.

- Speakers.

- 8-cell battery (3.5 hours of autonomy).

- Skype phone.

Price

1,200 euros (1,400 euros for the version with HD DVD reader)

Data sheet