Important features that you should know before purchasing, are: a detachable keyboard with a good range, wireless AC, IPS display with 1920x1080 (16: 9), completely fanless design, 128GB SSD, a good battery and various compilations modes, which always provide good service.
Housing, appearance, processing
The switch measures 22cm in height, 31cm in width and 1.6 mm in depth, which is significantly larger than a tablet, but less than many laptops. And this intermediate existence it shows the weight, because with 1.1 kg of the switch is not intended for permanent gehaltene'Anwendung eg when reading an eBook, but is also not reach the weight of my laptop. Because of the weight and of course mainly due to the weight of the "foot" is the switch but again also very stable and allows you to work very well with him.
The 12.5-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 in 16: 9 format sits slightly recessed into the casing, so that you can feel an edge when you go to the edge with your finger from the display. On the housing located below the speaker, left the power connector, a USB 3.0 port and a Micro-HDMI port, above the on-off switch and a MICR SD card reader, right Headphone output, Windows key and volume rocker and right at the base / Battery a USB 2.0 port.
The housing is made entirely of plastic, is on the back and structured slight foot and are so a better grip. All edges are cleanly processed, you see nowhere a gap and the switch acts as a device whose shell will keep very long. Interesting for a device that you hold in your hands regularly, are the rather sharp edges. From my phones, I'm used to a slight rounding, but you can feel the switch the edges more, without that it would cause injury or even just get bruises. Overall, the look of the switches is but chic not thoroughly noble, what is the plastic in particular.
The stand can be folded approximately 110 °, thus the possibilities Aufstell modes arise. The display can also be fully protected at all times by the keyboard and the foot. And the detachable keyboard can be plugged into the back of the display, where it is also loaded or at the front, right in front of the display.
But = not chic elegant appearance
+ Very stable plastic with a slightly brushed surface
= Weight and dimensions are between a tablet and a laptop
+ Full HD IPS display
Aufstell modes
The switch is by foot and the detachable keyboard a real quick-change artist. Whether completely unfolded and placed as tent (Tent mode) for easy reading on the table or put the removable keyboard away from the display or the keyboard directly to the display, the switch makes always a good and especially stable figure. For the evening surfing on the couch, I can use the switch to complete as a tablet and do without the keyboard.
+ Very many different and useful modes
+ I prefer the Tent mode and Laptop Mode
Display
Although the display is permanently open, you should not do to Katzer all too worried. The display is protected by Gorille glass 3 and therefore holds a lot from. A fall on the display would surely still a knock-out criterion, which of course I have not tested it.
Photos displayed on the screen of very strong, sharp and lifelike, also a black is a black. The display can be adjusted as desired really very bright, the contrast is pleasantly good and overall the screen is really very well done. Whereby the display reflects and recognizes one less in the sun on the screen.
The touch operation of the display works really excellent. The display responds to the entire screen very accurately on single tap or a wipe.
+ Gorille glass 3
+ Very good display
- Unfortunately it reflects
+ Pleasant responsive touch screen function
Sound
The speakers used in the switch, I'm really pleased, despite the small size makes listening to music really a lot of fun and the speakers make in movies or games a good job. The sound is not perfect, but highs, lows and mids are played back on a well-balanced manner.
+ Very good sound quality
Power, Battery life
A device that is somewhere between a tablet and a laptop is representing certainly not the newest games in full HD and with best details. And so it is with the switch, games are possible, especially from the Windows Store, but releases up only in low details. Office applications and also simple surfing is no problem at all. And the latter is the touch screen really comfortable. Looking at pictures on the screen is possible mainly due to the good display, a costly image editing then already less. For video editing I tried video with GoPro Studi on the switch to adjust, but unfortunately this is more of a spoiled and would not be recommended, although the SD card reader would easily make.
The battery capacity is really sufficient for the switch, but of course highly dependent on the implemented application. I only hear a previously music and unlock the screen, then I'm in over 5 hours, I watch "a" film then are there about 5 hours and while playing I could see fall the battery indicator and I was able to switch less than 5 hours use.
+ Very good performance
+ 5 hours of video are no problem
Keyboard, WiFi, Bluetooth
The keyboard is a stripped down version of many desktop keyboards. She does not own F-key row and no number pad. Even on a touch pad has been omitted. The F_Tasten series is in the figures as a third assignment and called up via the Fn key. A navigation of the mouse pointer with the keyboard still possible because GBH between the keys is a small and very sensitive trackball. The operation so required but for me some exercise. Quite below the space bar are still left and right mouse button.
The keystrokes on the keyboard are really quiet and they have a very good tactile feedback. The surface of the keys is very pleasant on a keyboard light has been omitted. This will give results in a better battery life.
When the battery capacity of the keyboard I have not yet managed to empty this before the battery switches, so I then plugged in to load repeatedly to the switch, even though she was not yet empty. The keyboard can be switched off separately from the switch when needed via a small slider. But not only the battery life is really good, but also the range of the keyboard, because within a radius of more than 5m, I can operate the switch comfortably. The display then I realize though only a little, but when I hold a presentation and in the room a little want to be removed from the display port that there is no problem at all. Finally, not everyone is happy with a presentation directly centered over the audience.
Due to the rapid integrated WLAN module I really been getting streamed in HD quality when connected to my NAS at home every make of my video. A download is for the switch is not a problem, I could achieve at home, depending on the experimental 5-12 MB / s and that's really great.
+ Very compact but really sufficient Keyboard
+ Good battery life
+ Range of> 5 m
+ Silent keystrokes
+ Very good and fast WLAN module
+ Bluetooth 4.0 with low-energy mode
Accessories
In the accompanying protective cover of the switch in fits comfortably, but its power supply must be stored separately. The casing is very smart and at first glance one has the feeling, keeping leather in your hands, but I think that it is artificial leather. It is slightly increased in key areas and should provide enough protection for a normal life.
What I miss in the delivery of such a device is a stylus. The switch would be suitable perfectly for such a command, but Acer saves here at the pin and at one place in the housing for the pin.
+ Chic and sturdy protective sleeve
- No stylus included
For this wide range of functions, the mapping of the switch, it has its 5 stars really deserves *****. Any weaknesses (in the individual points so described) are compensated by the strengths and also the price of this functionality is really okay.
