Having only just awarded the Packard Bell EasyNote Butterfly Touch our coveted Recommended Award, we're now looking at the Acer Aspire 1825PTZ, an 11.6in convertible tablet laptop in the same mould. And when we say "in the same mould" we mean that literally - as Packard Bell (PB) is essentially an Acer subsidiary, the Butterfly Touch and 1825PTZ could have been separated at birth.
However, while they share the same genes these two machines are not quite identical twins. Aside from a variety of relatively minor cosmetic differences, Acer has gone for a different mixture of components, comprising a more powerful processor but a smaller hard drive and less memory, and adding 100 onto the starting price in the process.
Thus, rather than the Butterfly Touch's 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Celeron processor, the 1825PTZ has a 1.3GHz dual-core Intel Pentium SU4100 at its heart, which is up to 20 percent faster in our testing. In real world use, however, the only thing we can think of that this CPU can handle that the SU2300 cannot (for the average consumer) would be demanding 1080p video, which is offloaded to the video card anyway when using compatible playback software under Windows 7. Still, far be it from us to complain about a faster CPU!
Acer has compromised by only providing 3GB of RAM, which seems a bit stingy when 4GB is pretty much the minimum standard these days at least at a 600 price point. It's even odder considering that the company has elected to go with the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium for the 1825PTZ, while the Butterfly Touch sported 4GB yet came with a 32-bit OS. This should be other way around, surely?
A 250GB hard drive is also on the small side, though other specs remain the same as on the Butterfly Touch, including the Intel integrated GMA 4500 graphics, Wireless-N Wi-Fi, and the absence of Bluetooth. Connectivity is likewise identical, comprising three USB ports, VGA and HDMI video outputs, microphone and headphone jacks, Gigabit Ethernet and a multi-format card reader.
Visually the piano-black lid of the 1825PTZ is fairly nondescript, and we prefer the chromed inset on the Butterfly Touch. Both are equally susceptible to fingerprints and dust, though - a common complaint among laptops these days.
It's the interior where we begin seeing some real design differentiation. Specifically, the screen's bezel is largely matt and textured rather than glossy, with only a narrow shiny strip right around the screen's edge. We definitely favour this more rugged finish, as it means you'll get far fewer fingerprints than on the Butterfly Touch when using the laptop in tablet mode.
On the other hand, we definitely prefer the Packard Bell's softer, textured palm-rests to the hard, smooth plastic ones found here. On balance, however, we would say Acer wins out slightly in the looks department, though there's very little in it really.
The 11.6" Aspire 1825PT features a convertible design and multi-touch screen for uniquely flexible use. And with an ultra-low-voltage processor at its heart, this Aspire lasts a full 8 hours with one single
acer aspire 1825ptz battery charge, giving you all day to nurture connections and enjoy multi-touch infotainment.
The Aspire 1825PT features a special convertible design that allows you to use it as a photo frame, portable cinema or the perfect presentation tool. You can also fold it up like a notepad to take notes, read ebooks or navigate maps. Whats more, this Aspire features a built-in accelerometer that automatically rotates images! Smaller than a magazine, the Aspire 1825PT still offers total usability via its Acer FineTip full-size keyboard with larger keys for better typing.
All it takes is a one-time battery charge to handle your entire days communication and infotainment needs. Power-saving technologies extend
acer aspire 1825 battery life so you can do more and enjoy more. Advanced Wi-Fi and optional 3G connectivity keep you in constant touch via the Internet. The Acer Crystal Eye webcam, Video Quality Enhancement (VQE) technology, and built-in mic make sure your video calls are as good as they can get.
Experience the magic of touch! The 11.6" HD display features an integrated multi-touch screen supporting finger touch for faster and more intuitive navigation. Enter the Acer TouchPortal to manage your multimedia with drag-and-drop convenience. You can also create colorful memos using Acer TouchMemo; cruise the web with Internet Explorer; and view your next travel destination using Microsoft Surface Globe. To complete your "touching" experience, the multi-gesture touchpad is perfect for scrolling, rotating images, zooming and browsing -- all with your fingertip.
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