We bought the equipment after the SSD drive our Acer computer broke down and - true to Murphy - at precisely the time when it was very much needed. After the successful implantation fortunately the original plate of the decision matured to acquire a secondary spare and family computer.
After unpacking booted 14:04 directly from a flash drive and installed Kubuntu. This worked as expected without problems and after an hour the computer was ready for a first user trial by my better half:
This is already very satisfied with what is now a two year old Acer Aspire of the same size and class of device, so that a direct comparison is possible here. Thanks to Dropbox also provides the latest documents were now available.
Test Results:
- Linux compatible. No problems installing a recent distribution (Kubuntu 14:04) The UEFI Fuppes must here fortunately not mucking around.
- Minus points are the built-in Bluetooth. I did not yet up and running. Bluetooth would have been nice to a wireless mouse to operate directly. So just put a mini USB adapter port. On the other hand it falls short with me currently and at the time and the need to find a solution.
- The computer boots G700 much longer longer than the SSD drive with Acer retrofitted by 2012. (With the standard drive takes it too so long), but an appropriate plate is already prepared for installation :-)
- The keyboard is small for a 17 incher. Too bad, because the case would have offered enough space. To get better, again shows the Acer.
- The screen reflects unfortunately (Glossy), but that was known when buying. But he is at least bright enough. The colors are also good enough for our applications. The viewing angle is not great, but if you alone so works (= normal case) he naturally extends easily. Overall, the older Acer is here no worse, but no better.
- The volume of the fan is nice and quiet. but it runs virtually forever. Again pluses for the two year old Acer, the one does not hear most of the time. Here there are points for losses Lenovo.
- About the processor speed, I can not say much. For our main applications LibreOffice, Firefox, Konqueror, Cewe and Gimp it loose enough. And with the planned installation of a SSD, I hope also a small increase in speed when you start the applications (and the operating system)
- WiFi works. The range in is normal.
- Sound works. The sound is okay.
- Four hours of battery life we liked.
- The plug of the power supply like me unlike other Rezesenten well because it is well inserted, better than the Acer. But he is not angled and (still?) No default. Replacement is therefore likely to be more expensive. The power supply itself is small and light.
- That the USB connectors as far forward side are, and there are none on the back of the unit, however, does not apply those who have permanently connected something ourselves. The above-mentioned mouse adapter does not interfere practically on the side and our printers to communicate over the network.
Conclusion:
A simple Linux notebook widescreen and good battery life for a very good price. Effective way possible well. Quiet enough to work in the office and fast enough for all standard applications. To play probably a little processing power is lacking. For professional image editing or for presentations with the built-in screen, it is less suitable for the viewing-angle dependence and the reflections.
Criticism:
From a real advance over the more than two years older Acer models at the same price but you can not see anything. The fan runs almost constantly albeit silently, and the keyboard is a bit smaller. The technical data are more or less identical.
For Linux users, it is perhaps important to know that the built-in Bluetooth is not working.
While it is recognized that it exists, but no device is found. On the other hand, there are Mini Adapter-digit Euro range, which protrude a few millimeters from the USB port and almost do not interfere.
*** UPDATE 15/07/2014 ***
The camera works yet! I do not know why it did not work the first time ...
The corresponding rates I have therefore deleted above.
***
Greetings,
Gerhard