Notebook Tablet with potential for improvement

With Windows 8 Microsoft is trying to bring the old Windows desktop world with new touch operation concepts together. This step is followed by the hardware manufacturer, they offer hybrid devices that fit a laptop in the Windows desktop world and are also equipped with a touchscreen. The Acer Aspire switch 11 follows this trend. There is a full-fledged notebook with trackpad and keyboard, but can also be used from the keyboard separately as a tablet with touch screen.

This multifunction is an interesting idea, but Microsoft has with Windows 8.1 is the problem that the operating system is still divided into two parts. On the one hand the good old Windows that can be operated with poor touch and then touch a surface, which, however, important programs missing. Some like Skype or OneNote is available in two variants.

The device makes at first sight a good impression, even if a lot of plastic is installed.

Inherently, the screen part is heavier than the keyboard part, which is normally reversed at a notebook. The weight distribution does not seem quite balanced, in use, I have not the problem that the notebook over. This risk exists when the screen is tilted far to the rear, which is not the case under normal use.

The keyboard is easy to operate, but it rattles when typing on solid supports. Only when you press the palm of your hand on the palm rest, quiet can be typed. The touchpad works well, but again, the mechanical click is quite noisy. However, one can circumvent these sounds by using the touch gestures. I think the size of the keypad sufficient because I am not a fan of big notebooks anyway. On the keyboard, Acer has accommodated a USB socket, all other switches and connectors are located on the screen.

The positioning of switches and plugs on the screen could be a bit better. On the left side, from top to bottom, a headphone output, the Windows button, the on / off switch and volume control. Unfortunately, the switches are quite smooth, so I stayed several times, inadvertently operated the on / off switch. The headphone jack should be placed rather down, so that the headphone cable is not hanging in the air. On the right side there is a MicroSD slot, a micro HDMI connector, another USB port, as well as the socket for the charger.

The inner values ​​are sufficient for surfing and normal work with Office. Since I have an older tablet with a 64GB SSD in use, which is almost full 8 Apps with Microsoft Office and a few Windows, I'm pleasantly surprised that the Aspire Switch with the installed trial version of Office365 still 28,3GB free has space available. You can expand the memory via a MicroSD Although, however, most programs install on the C partition, so you can just outsource data. I'm curious to see how the SSD memory developed in further use. From the factory, the hard disk also has a large 9GB Recovery partition. Here Acer provides a tool to be copied with the data to another media and the 9GB can be freed (in a comment (see below), I was advised that this unfortunately does not work). If you install more programs is prudent to rely on the 128GB SSD version.

The device fan is not installed, the operation is thus pleasantly quiet. A special heat generation, I could not tell.

If the screen part is detached from the keyboard, the Acer Aspire Switch 11 is transformed into a tablet. Here the Windows compromises its full benefits because the desktop applications are with your fingers hardly to operate. It would have been nice if Acer had settled a pen, because that can be operated applications such OneNotes better. Unfortunately, to pay about 50 for the pin again.

The Full HD screen resolution requires to increase the scaling factor in Windows, otherwise the font is too small. To do this quickly, Acer has the program QuickAccess settled, with the can perform additional settings like Bluetooth. Unfortunately, the font when scaling is slightly out of focus.

When using as a tablet do not like the screen aspect ratio. To read books and websites I prefer portrait format, resulting in a narrow range during the reading switch. The screen is bright enough, however, the writing could be sharper.

The battery lasts at the 4 1/2 hours, too, is in need of improvement. He can not replace like other notebooks. Screw on the screen part are not visible. Whether and how these can be opened, I do not know.

Who is a mainly a Tablet searches for surfing on the couch and will rarely leave a text should purchase more of an Android tablet or iPad. For these devices, there are also many keyboards or case combinations. This, however, you do not have full-fledged notebook. If you prefer working with a notebook and want to use only once in a while a tablet is certainly very well served with the Acer Aspire Switch 11.

+ Full-fledged notebook
+ Enough power for word processing and surfing
+ Small and portable as a notebook
+ Can also be used as a Tablet
+/- Much plastic
- As Tablet something heavy and clunky
- Clatters keyboard
- No pen included
- Speakers sound bad

Overall, not bad, which leads to the Amazon criteria to three stars.