- Introductory note -
It already sounds like a conclusion, but I want it yet chic ahead: "Man, that would formerly have been a real killer" This netbook is the kind of things where one imagines or "Where was the part when I was looking for a couple of years ago then?". Netbooks are not in vain almost disappeared from the market due to the tablets and convertible shaft; insofar as the Easy Book is in my eyes a little anachronistic, but it provides in comparison with, for example, due to the low price a Convertible for my purposes (in the morning on the bus write to my books) the best solution and solves a spite SSD and more memory now In the tooth Samsung NC10 Plus from. Compared to such a device is the Easybook something like a quantum leap since - although it kind of like the "Man Trap" seems to me. Many Netbooks this kind we may no longer see before Convertibles à la "Asus Transformer" completely take over this market segment.
Important: I have now once installed the system "to have had" a SSD and will post the resulting, new information as comment on this review. Would be nice if you give the review a "helpful" if this information has helped you in any way.
- FIRST IMPRESSION -
I work a lot with Acer Equipment. In this respect I was not surprised to find the typical Acer optics in this unit again. Why did I so expected device with a Packard Bell? Well, because Packard Bell has always been a brand already that has been used by other manufacturers "under license", to selectively operate the end-customer segment or the airline market. After the Packard Bell brand has gedümpelt a few years offside, it was bought by Acer and discovered for the low-cost consumer market. In this respect, the appearance does not disappoint: It acts with the netbook a pure Acer device. Who wants now screaming for the hills, because he / she / it has been so collected his experiences with rattle-Klimper-Aspires & Co or the almost legendary Acer service (like me) who can rest assured: It has been in Acer done a lot. The relatively heavy and without battery by the LCD panel relatively "top-heavy" Easy Book (the battery is used as a counterweight - otherwise the netbook flips through the weight of the panels to) acts with value and robust, seems no great difficulty with sprains and the Acer times to have familiar creaking. All well so far.
- PACKAGE CONTENTS -
The scope of supply is relatively limited. A netbook, an AC adapter, a little piece of paper work - including a cardboard with a Windows Key. Nothing that you would not expect. From a Recovery CD, however, there is no trace - but here are deposited in view of the non-existing optical drive regarding eh the spirits of the utility.. Windows is stored in a recovery partition, which is why there should be no major problems with a system restore.
- FACILITIES AND FEATURES -
Caveat: the other reviewers "raised frame made of matt aluminum" I could find neither at first nor at second glance - for me everything about this netbook plastic ... times in black, sometimes gray. This is so far not as bad as it is in the broadest sense "valent" plastic - if I had already make some bitter experience that the rugged surface of the acting Easybook unfortunately capitulated to a CD case. Since then, the netbook was accidentally stowed with this same protection in a backpack, made Netbook scratches. But at least it's the envelope well ;-)
The netbook comes with Windows 8. Unlike other reviewers but I had initially problems with the import of 8.1, which had been dissolved but on the second attempt as by an (undocumented) wonders will be gone. Through the touch screen Windows 8 gives considerably more sense than Windows 7, which I have used on my old netbook; Look and feel are so much closer to what one knows so of convertibles or current notebooks. In addition, Windows 8 delivers with in the present version of Office 2013, which increases the already high price-performance even further. But you should at the same time the included Office not overrate: Microsoft responded here on a development that is already more advanced in Android and Apple devices. Office suites are here almost from the beginning "for nothing" supplied and thanks OpenOffice had under Windows for some time this effect. Microsoft has therefore responded with this "bonus" on the market pressure to Office at all still be able to keep on the market.
Anyway - the built-in LCD / LED screen with a maximum resolution of 1366x768 pixels is comparatively bright, unfortunately from the specular variety (with touch but unfortunately eh standard) and, as already indicated above, relatively heavy. Would be taken for the screen to set a good 10-inch tablet. He probably also comes from such a production line.
Unlike the manufacturer writes Neither the built Celeron, even the 2 GB DDR3 RAM are suitable to allow "power reserves" or "lightning-fast access". Also depending on the version up to 500 GB hard drive (in my case it was about 320 GB) are not suitable to be a joyful now. BUT: For a netbook, and for the price you wanted all this is definitely the best thing you can get at the time.
With one exception: For some reason it has meant for Acer / Packard Bell that you can not do anything as a normal user with USB3. On the device ie only ports are installed after the USB2 standard. Anyone - like me - a lot with external drives working as a mass storage device or "just" means USB3 want to transfer data from a USB flash drive, which is slowed down at this point. I personally would have liked rather omitted here to also existing HDMI port and built in its place a USB3 port. But this is probably more a matter of taste.
A problem related to USB2 and Windows 8 I want to talk directly to this point, before I forget. I know many people who believe that external mass storage "now is not as important" to create eg backup. I'm constantly on the contrary, because I am aware as a professional ITler A. the risk of data loss and I know as what you probably do not know about Windows 8: Windows 8 encoded by default the data on your system disk using Bitlocker. This means that you can no longer just go now and when eg a defective notebook "just" the hard drive can "pluck out" and access the stored data. This leaves a two options: Either you deactivated Bitlocker or to save on external media periodically from backup copies of the data that you are on the netbook. I'm for the latter method.
To short time to come to the performance parameters: With the Celeron, the dinky 1.3 megapixel camera and the little RAM I would Easybook now not propose it to be "performant" performed as a picture in the dictionary under proof. Let yourself be because of other reviews, please do not be fooled. A netbook is not designed for performance, but on delivering basic functions.
The "video card" called "Intel HD Graphics 4000" was at this point tells you how short (but you know probably already): It's the usual aufgeflanschte on processor graphics cards feature that has been developed at Intel for several years for devices where lack of space or because of heat build-up danger no dedicated graphics chipset can be placed. Again, please do not expect miracles. The Easybook is no gaming machine - even if a lot of old songs that I collected on Steam, have come to the box to work: fun, it did not make me.
Finally, a note on the WLAN type: The built adapters, the standards B, G and N, but only to 2.4 GHz. Therefore here also can not be expected outstanding options for backing up data over the network or to stream movies such as WLAN. The absence of a LAN adapter makes Easybook in my eyes so that a stand-alone solution when it comes to the issue of connectivity - but for the ordinary consumer, it should be enough.
Something impractical and misbehaving repeatedly during the detailed examination of the unit is to me the fact that (again) been provided a lot of nonsense in the Windows image. For example, the well-known for its deep roots in the host operating system Norton. Symantec's antivirus solutions to remove it usually causes retrospectively sacrificing performance and annoying sequence errors. Would be nicer (as always) been a solution in which you get offered as an end user to decide at all to want to install it or not. Well, as I said: The image would have closer to the "pure" Windows 8 may be. That would have had the side effect that the (specified by the manufacturer 10 hours to reach probably only when issuing the Monitor via power settings after a while) would make holding battery much later the sliding tackle in normal operation with me up to 7-8 hours , After nibbling Norton & Co when real-time protection and on the battery.
The issue raised by other reviewers "very quiet" cooler is almost impossible to listen to me. That's a good thing, because neither of the hard drive nor from the processor should somehow expect heating in normal operation. Celeron processors are not built for Boost stories and so because of their "always at a low level" bobbing around operation more power efficient and do not require large heat generation.
- Commissioning and installation -
Pitching. Done. Well - do and "almost finished". The usual queries from Windows 8 come soon enough and one has yet to update to Windows 8.1 Marathon in front of him, but that's almost self-running. Also known as forest and meadows users you have here certainly no problem if you have only once internalized, that 8.1 even comes without registration clearly with a Microsoft account - with registration (as of Windows 8 available) goes there even easier and you can at least "normal" Apps downloaded from the Store. There also is a way, the update offered automatically to 8.1 when Windows 8 is on an update status sufficient. If the update is not so available immediately, then it is because Windows 8 is not yet vollens on the necessary level. However, every now and then makes the store no move despite various updates to provide an update to 8.1. In this case, it makes sense, once the cache of the store using the command wsreset (under "Search" Enter) to reset and restart the computer. This has sometimes wonder.
- Unboxing aka MAINTENANCE -
Normally I do not give up so quickly when I keep a notebook in hands. I want to open it and see what's inside it. In the case of Easybook I certainly have to give up relatively quickly. The reason is: I was afraid to damage the device irreparably. Apparently not having worked only with screws, but in the back of (beneath the bowl in which the battery is located) worked with glue. It seemed to me at least not possible to open the device by means of the usual aids like Guitar Plek and screwdriver. That makes me respect. Maintenance so my thoughts. Be likely to be unfavorable for the conservation status of the device, the battery is quite well even can hook into its compartment and is hard arrettierbar. My tip: The battery will not push with force into the bay, but take again completely out and then work with gentle pressure.
- Usability and ergonomics -
The robust, lightly textured feel and the touch screen to know how to please. Windows 8 should be the subject of another review - the debate about whether Windows 7 for such a device (because it could indeed touch) is the better solution. I find that it is quite well positioned with 8.1 on the Easybook. Office 2013 (the yes in the product enclosed) as already Office 2010 is an example of perfected user confusion if one knows older Office suites. Wonder not so if you times not find something as mundane as page numbers: others, it is also so ;-)
- FEATURES AND TIPS -
If this netbook came out two or three years ago, so it would be something like the "perfect netbook" was in my eyes. It brings everything (including mileage) with, what you need as a commuter for the little private Geklicker on the way to work and has just under a kilo while still the weight of a water bottle. All in all, it would have been top times. Today it is still a very good position, even if it has the drawbacks described above (eg, USB2). These shortcomings are for normal operation but not great decisive.
- AFTER A WEEK -
Does what it should and accompanied me for several weeks every day to and from work. I do not even repeatedly dropped and still does (not a given in LCD panels and HDDs). And yes, it's just what it is without me to surprise negatively. Overall, I am very satisfied with what the Easy Book provides me. A few scratches are gotten - which, although not life-threatening, but the Easybook shows just like his scars. That's not so bad, because (at least) I rate my netbook is not for beauty but for functionality.
- Conclusion -
A durable, scratch-prone Begleiterchen for the way to work or during leisure time - if you're looking for and the value a keyboard, but do not want to pay the price of a convertible, then they are right here. The value is hard to beat and can see through the small absurdities of time. Windows 8 with Office 2013 as a bonus, the unit also make relatively future-proof and in combination with the HDMI port to a candidate for School & study. The advantage to steal this netbook would be too great the effort. But as a bonus, it even has a connection for a Kensington lock (sorry, I know - that sounds almost ironic considering the price).
With a clear conscience I can for the whole package awarded 5 stars - with the restriction that you can not please see compared with twice as expensive convertibles or five times as expensive notebooks this netbook. Since the Easybook will surely lose. In the low price segment, it is definitely a very good position and provides more than one would expect for the price.
- OVERVIEW -
+ Robust
+ Touchscreen
+ LCD / LED display with 1366x768 pixels
+ 320GB hard drive (can be used by about 290)
+ Long battery life (7-8 hours)
o Windows 8 (.1)
o MS Office 1013 (not necessary, but a nice gimmick)
o Celeron (there are the ghosts - an i3 would again require more power)
- 2 GB RAM (4+ would have done it)
- USB2 (instead USB3)
[This review is often updated by me. Just a corresponding comment. Thanks.]
