subject: The Acer 522 Netbook Reviewed [print this page] The Acer 522 Netbook Reviewed The Acer 522 Netbook Reviewed
Acer have released the Aspire One 522 10.1-inch netbook powered by the new AMD Fusion chip with an impressive specification and a design and chassis that look identical to the newer models released last year. The decision to use the AMD chipset rather than the common Intel components allows the AO522 to make use of the newly announced AMD C-50 Ontario APU (Accelerated Processing Unit, dual core 1GHz) technology and Radeon HD 6250 graphics capable of running 1080p video and featuring HDMI output for HDTV.
Having this excellent graphics card means the 522 also supports Direct X and UVD3 acceleration.The new AO522 also includes 802.11 WiFi, optional 3G and Bluetooth. I must say, this model resembles previous Acer models in almost every detail; the multi-card reader, 250 GB hard drive and one GB Ram are unchanged.
The familiar cabinet, also used on the D255 is offered in black only. The plastic surface is coated with a metal flake finish which looks nice but tends to show fingerprints. Lifting the lid shows a mostly matte black interior with an accent of high-gloss picked out in the bezel
Despite the fairly thin build, the case feels good and stable but the wrist-rest proves to be the weak point as it can bend alarmingly and make a "snap" if is put under enough pressure. We found it impossible to open the lid one-handed as the Netbook is so light, so it would be sensible to exercise caution.
Connectivity is provided by the 802.11 wireless standard and a 10/100 MBps ethernet card. The 522 also features 24 Mb per second Bluetooth..
Acers fine tip keyboard is standard on the new model. This nice keyboard is easy to use although the arrow keys for navigation are too small and easy to miss. Once again the wrist rest is a potential problem area as the hands can slide off when touch typing.
The touchpad has a slightly rippled surface that makes it easier to use. Navigation is easy as multi-touch gestures are supported along with horizontal and vertical scrolling.
Acer has fitted a 10.1" Samsung screen to the AO522 with a resolution of 1280720 pixels and a 16:9 aspect ratio. Because the screen is very shiny it makes it difficult to see in bright lighting.
Verict
The Acer is a tried and trusted model, and the HDMI sockets, number of interfaces and multi-card reader are all strong selling points. The high-gloss screen does let the HD display down as it is so difficult to see in daylight. The processor is very good, although supplying the 522 with only 1 GB of RAM we feel was a mistake; the smooth HD video has to be one of its strongest suits.
The fan is quiet and the machine does not get over hot, but the single speaker and average battery life mean that the AO522 has some tough competition.
