Category: Geeks r Us
Ok, so the time has come for me to get a new laptop. I had been druling over a Macbook Air but have decided to go with another Acer for a couple of reasons. Let's set that debate aside for now though because I need the help of my techy friends to decide which one to get. I know there are lots of brands but I've always had really good luck with Acer computers. I think I'm going to go with the one who's details I'll post below. My biggest concern is that it runs Windows 8 and I've heard mixed reviews on Win 8. The funny thing is, my blind friends say it's awesome and every sighted person I know, hates it. Go figure. Anyway, based on the fact that I'll be running Jaws 14 (15 when it comes out) and Win 8, do this computer's specs look like it'll be able to handle all of that without slowing to a maddening crawl. If there's one thing that drives me nuts, it's a slow computer. lol I know, I should really look into some valeum or something but that's another story for another day. Ok, here are the details. I'm looking forward to yall's feedback and input.
Screen Size 13.3 inches
Screen Resolution 1366 x 768
Max Screen Resolution 1366 x 768 pixels
Processor 1.9 GHz Core i3 3227U
RAM 4 GB DDR3
Hard Drive 128 GB
Graphics Coprocessor Intel HD Graphics 4000
Graphics Card Ram Size 128 MB
Wireless Type 802.11bgn
Number of USB 3.0 Ports 2
Average Battery Life (in hours) 6.5 hours
Brand Name Acer
Series Apsire S3-391
Item model number S3-391-6423
Hardware Platform PC
Operating System Windows 8
Item Weight 3 pounds
Item Dimensions L x W x H 12.72 x 8.60 x 0.69 inches
Color Champagne
Processor Brand Intel
Processor Count 2
Computer Memory Type DDR3 SDRAM
Flash Memory Size 128
Hard Drive Interface Solid State
Optical Drive Type No
Audio-out Ports (#) 1
Battery Type Lithium Polymer (LiPo)
Batteries: 1 Lithium ion batteries required. (included)
If you do email, surfing and that sort of thing it will work just find.
Windows 8 is just fine as well, and you'll be getting your start button back with 8.1 upgrade coming soon.
If you played games or something, or wanted to do some heavy recording you'd maybe need and i5, but this machine should work good.
is a mac out of the question? excellent little devices I found it much better then windows.
I don't like the processor speed though but the question is also what do you want to do with your computer? I actually recommend a speed of at least 2.3 or 2.4 or 2.5. yeah, i5 would be preferable. And only 128 gb wow! that's tiny I think mine is at least 200 I think. the intell processor is good though.
I heard asers are not as good as other brands, and all.
Hard drive space would be my only concern. Windows 8 once fully installed will take up probably 12% of the 128gb of space. I had an air, and thought the SSD was doable but once I got going there was no way I could even install my dropbox as it is 40gb by itself. I have two hp probooks here one is an i3, and the other an i5, and there is a very noticeable difference between these two CPU's IMHO.
sounds ok, but you might wana beif up the processor. depends on what you wanna do as wayne said.
BTW ware did you get that at
Hi.
I got the info from amazon.com.
Ok, so I've found another one in my price range that has an I5 processer. The only downside is it has a regular hard drive rather than an SSD. The good thing though is it also has a 20 gb SSD for the fast start feature so that's cool.
What brands would yall recommend aside from Toshiba, Dell, and HP. I'm not really a fan of those. I know Acer is more of a bargain computer but honestly, I've had fewer problems with my 3 acers than I ever did with Dell, Toshiba, or HP. Granted, my experience with Toshiba was in the 90's with the Keynote Golds so perhaps they've improved. Dells are ok I guess. I will never ever own another HP product. All the one's I've had were ridiculously expensive and didn't last more than 6 months before crap started going out.
I've been looking at the Samsung 9 series. Those look pretty cool but have gotten negative reviews for not having actual page up and down keys or a home and end. Those are kinda important. lol
I think what I may end up doing is going with an ultrabook with a faster processer and traditional hard drive with SSD add on for fast start.
In answer to the question about why I don't just get a Mac, I've always wanted one but just can't justify quite that much expense right now. Besides, this is going to sound stupid but it is what it is. There's no Playroom app for the Mac yet and my Hubby and I play some hella card termaments againly one another with him on the desktop and me on the laptop downstairs.
So, knowing all of that, yall's thoughts?
i have had my dell laptop since 2006 and it continues to work. still blazing fast with windows XP and 4GB of ram.
one thing to look at is how often are you gonna upgrade pputers?
another thing to think about is are you gonna be interested in doing anything more than you are gonna be doing now? stuff that would take up more processing power for instance?
4 GB of ram is pretty good i feel but you can get away with 2.
ok, so what is the fast start option ? that's somethin i've n never heard of before.
Whether or not to go for the I3 and a 128GB solid state or an I5 with a traditional hard drive but with a small SSD for the operating system is an interesting question. On balance I'd go for the I5 even though it means some of your files may be slower to low as they'll be stored on a traditional hard drive.
If you're happy with Acers then there's probably no reason to change. You will find fans of each major brand along with people who don't like each. For instance, over the years I've had success with both HP and Toshiba laptops, but could never get on with Dells. Yet your HP failed and John hasn't had trouble with his Dell.
my desktop is a custem whitebox too so that doesn't even play into this
Yeah, I'm pretty much thinking that going with the fastest processer I can get is the best bet. I'm assuming that quad core is better than duel core and that hyper threading is a good thing.
Also, I've seen different types of ram. What's the diff between DDRM and sodim, or something like that?
Hmm, let's see, what other questions do I have? Can't think of any off the top of my head.
The fast start option basically saves your place and allows you to boot back up right to where you were. For example, if I'm in the middle of something and the kidlet needs something, I can just close the machine and it'll go to sleep. Then when I open it again, and/or power it back on, it goes right back to where I was.
That's what I understand anyway. It's just supposed to be a faster booting process.
I'm not as concerned about files loading slowly. I don't do too much advanced stuff my laptop. Any of my music stuff, I'll do upstairs in the office. I mainly use this one down here for web surfing, recipes, downloading books from Bard, gaming on playroom, etc.
I have a thought, boot camp the mac and there you go play room and all. :) I am typing on a macbook pro midd 2012 8 gigs and 2.5 it can ramp up to 3.1 gigs if needed. Its a I5 processor. I know its not for every one "boot camp" but I can tell you it works.
As for acer, I had one loved it, well until two years later it died flat out pissed me off so no acer for me. It was an open book one acer so I get what I paid for but here is the kicker, my macbook is an open box and I would not traid it for anything. I would adventure to say a life would be lost if this thing was stolen!!.
Well, it's the $1000 price tag that has the hubby against the Mac. Besides, then I'd have to figure out how to bootcamp it and all that and I'm really not a techy person at all and I don't know anyone who that I'd trust to do it without costing an arm and a leg. Thanks for the idea though.
From what you say you do the one you chose first in my opinion will work just fine.
It will load faster because of the type of hard drive and Windows 8 runs easy on less power even over Windows 7, so the I3 is good.
I love mine actually.
Like Big Dog, I do say an i5 makes a difference, but for you and the things you do you won't have a problem.
I agree if you like Acers stay with them.
I have both i5 and i3. My laptop is a Dell with a better processor, it has 2.3, and yes quad core is better than 2.
As to the hard drive space, you can get extranal drives for low cost now or even like a 64 GB USB key for around 40 dollars, so the space is no big deal either. You have other computers to use.
The first one will also be smaller, lighter, so can fit in a large purse for tracel if you like.
You've got 15 days or so to return it, but I'll bet it works just fine. Smile.
Ah, that's good to know. I found, on ebay, an Acer with an I7 and a 128 gb SSD for $575. The seller says he got it new as a gift but wanted a different laptop so is selling it. I'm so tempted to buy that one because it's exactly what I want but there are no guarantees or returns so that's kind of a deal breaker I think.
Good to know the I 3 will work just as well.
I think if we ever get serious about recording stuff, we'll probably get a Mac Mini with Garage band but that's a ways off. Watching stuff on youtube is probably about as stressful activity I would do so we should be good. I gotta wait til payday so I'll chew on the whole thing some more between now and then, I'm sure.
I'd not buy a computer for that price with no guarantees or returns no matter what it had.
Must be a reason they put these restrictions on it. Maybe it was dropped or something, but looks just fine.
If you aren't a techie as you say get one that is covered. You'll be much happier if you have problems.
*nods head vigorously*
Yeah. please don't go for something without warrantee. We are not sure how the machine would be so always buy a new machine with warrantee.
I always look these things if I'm buying a laptop or a desktop myself. Processor speed, which can be I5. if you ask my suggestion. Storage capacity, at least 360 or more. 4 gig ram is ok though. and I like Toshiba better than all the other brands. it's your own preference. good battery back up. so that we can use it for long travels as well.
Raaj.
ah, wow! star, sounds like we have the same kind of tsetup on our macs, although I got mine in December. I was gonna suggest vm fusion, but indeed bootcamp works decently as well. I do my recordings on the mac on audacity. The mac is definitely worth that 1000 some dollars. the hardware is excellent and makes up for the price and the software is damn amazing. Voiceover is definitely very handy and awesome. My favorite part about the mac is that it literally comes out of the box accessible. No need for waiting, downloading, and buying software. I don't regret owning the mac. I was all anti-apple too at one point, swore up and down I never would get a smart phone or touch a mac, but as of last month, I got me an iphone too, I was so damned impressed with apple.
the question is how much ram for that other computer. and how much ram.
I like the dell, rehab bought me one and for two years now it works fine. And, I have an asus and that's even better my asus is stronger then the dell, so I use it more. that one is also still working fantastically for 3 years now. Well, sort of at least since march of this year I have mostly switched over to the macbook, so I fine myself using it less and less. I don't find many reasons to use it. teamtalk is one, playroom another, and school work. not that I can't do it on the mac, I can do school work on the mac, but I can't stand working and playing on the same computer since I have more then one. three in fact. four counting this one, the braillenote
I just baught a acer lap top from walmart.com literally I just got it yesterday. for 349 dollars 500 gb hard drive 4 gb ram 11 inch screan. it even has windows 7 64 bit edition. 1.5 gb intel processor. however it doesn't have a cd drive but I won't use it any way. I wanted a mac but can't afford it right now. let me know and i'll paste the link.
Sounds like the one I got for my son last Christmas but with more ram. How's jaws working on it? I need to look and see how much ram and wht kind of processor his has because there's got to be a reason why it's so fricken slow when we load Jaws. He says it's fine otherwise.
Jaws is a hog.
ok so i still do dont see t the advantage of fast boot via a seprit Solid State Drive.
my computer comes back plenty fast enough from standby mode.
Now if this SSD thing would help with hybernation mode, that could be a different thing all together.
I's supposed to wake up in 2 seconds and wake up from deep sleep, whatever that is, in 4 and when it does, you're right back where you were, not having to go through the complete startup process.
but you dont have to go thru the complete startup process from hybernate either, right ?
deep sleep i think is probably the new termb for hybernation, but found under Windows 7 and 8. in other words they dont call it hybernate like they did in XP.
It's still called hibernation in windows 7. I personally don't see too much of a fuss yet with SSD versus another drive type, but that's just me.
I have a Toshiba and it's starting to die, but I've used this thing hard, travelled with it, banged it around for two and a half years. Admittedly I'm not wonderfully pleased with how it's slowly broken down, but I have to say it's still quick, responsive and does what I need it to. A cold restart takes no more than twenty-seven seconds on most days, and if I wanted it to go to sleep and wake up again, it takes maybe ten seconds...not a huge deal. If I'm not running Skype on a call I can get about three and a half to four hours on my battery, sometimes a little more, even two and a half years in. I do find mine starts to heat up sometimes though.
Anyway, I agree that if you have a brand you like, generally go with it since it'll probably be comfortable.
ok, so is 10 seconds vs 4 that huge a deal?
personally i think an SSD just for startup is a bit overkill. if you were gonna go SSD, get one with a big enough drive so that it can be like 40 or 60 gigs, and use an external for music and things.
for the original poaster! on my new acer jaws 13 is working perfectly. it comes back from sleep in 10 seconds. of course the computer is new and I haven't put anything on it. I need a new external hard drive any way I think i'll just leave most of my music and junk on there. for what its werth, I have a eMachine desk top computer running windows vista that I baught in 2007 its still working good but its just out dated with a gig of ram and it can only take 2 gigs so I didn't bother plus I needed a lap top now. I also had a Lenovo lap top since march of 2009 and it was really slow I gave it away to a relative who wanted it. i never had a experience with acer we'll see how it goes but I have faith in this one though lol.
I hope you'll enjoy your Acer. I've had good luck with mine. This one is on it's last leg but it's a 4-year-old netbook that has been rode hard and put up wet, so to speak. I can't count the number of times it's been dropped or knocked off the arm of my chair but it's definitely the best laptop I've ever had. Granted it's only running XP with Jaws 13 with 1 gb of ram, but then again, it's only running XP. lol
Do you know which new Acer you got?
heres the link for the acer. I hope it works
http://www.walmart.com/ip/25582028?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227018222449&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=32301288430&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=53332038790&veh=sem
For me a solid state drive is well worth it on startup. I normally shut my laptops down when not using them, and the startup time between my solid state and non-solid state ones is significant.As others have said, the startup benefits will be less evident if the computer is just put in standby or hibernated.
thanks yall
yeah, I don't see the point of fast booting either. Fine with the regular drives.
lol I was anti apple until I got moved to the lab, before that, I walked into best buy all they had was windows8 computers and I said heck no!!, I asked if they had a mac and wouldn't you know, they had some open box ones. Any way good luck find a computer, out side of this mac I would suggest an asus or lanovo.
asus is excellent. have one for nearly "thhree years now!
It always interests me to read what brands people love, and which ones they hate. I have an HP Netbook that I've been using a lot for the past year and a half, and this machine is still doing amazingly well. It's got a dual-core processor and 4 GB Ram. I'd love to own a Mac, but at no point in the near future can I justify spending that amount of money on a computer. I know the people who own them say it's well worth it, and I'm sure it is... if you've got that kind of money to put toward it.
Ok, I've got one other question before I make a decision. Actually I'm going to Best Buy to put my hands on these before I buy on Monday so I won't decide until then. Anyway, I looked at the specs on my desktop. My destop is an Acer running Windows 7 64 bit. It has an I3 processer with 6 gb ram. I use Jaws 14 on it. It is honestly the best computer I've ever had. All that to say, is the I3 processer on a laptop the same as the I3 in a desktop? Is Windows 8 more power hungry than Windows 7?
I looked at my son's computer to see what it has and I discovered it only has 1 gb ram and a adam 2600 processer or something like that.
if you get the exact same processor , HD capasety and RAM running the same oS, then yes.
keep in mind though that there are different generations of I3 processors out there.
the latest is 4th generation.
i cant tell you moere than that, as I'm running a Pentium 4 3.0 GHZ with 4 gigs of DDR2 ram and Windows XP Pro 32 bit.
my dad told me that his windows 7 32 bit box boots up in 30 seconds , and he's running a 3 year old laptop. not sure of the ram or processor. so you'll be more than fine with boot time.
Usually desktops have better processors than laptops, so you'll want to check the kind.
This computer is new, so should run a 3RD or 4th Gen i3.
The newest processors are good on laptops because they are now making battery life much longer, but don't have much barring on a desktop where battery life isn't an issue.
You also have more ram on your desktop than the laptop you describe, and ram makes a difference.
I don't think I'd worry to much about it, because an i3 is going to be good on this machine.
If you can get a bit more ram, do so.
If you want it to run like your desktop check the specs on the desktop and try to get as close to it as you can, but I really don't think you'll have much issue as it is described here.
Want it powerful, go quad I5 not dual, but that will cost you more cash.
AMD has some nice quad processors too, but I'm an Intel man.
Tell us what you decide, and remember if you are getting your computer from Best Buy, you've got return on it. Hate it, take it back.
how about those hozwell processors? how are they?
Smooth, dude, smooth.
As I say, they save battery power on laptops greatly. Worth the money if you are unplugged often.
that's what i hear. that they are very nice.
they just came out not that long ago.
And then I think I've found the mother of all ultrabooks on Walmart.com.
It's an Acer S3-391-6106 or something like that. Anyway, I've got it saved on my other computer. It's just like the one described in this post except ithas an I7 and Windows 7. It lists for $999 but is on sale for $648.
I think I'm going to go with that one.
i'd snag if i were you!
I am just posting here for those who want to know how to boot camp a mac, 1. use your
vO key plus right arrowif you do not have quick nav on, 2. right arrow to your mac HD and do a VO key plus space bar on the mac HD to open the drive. 3. open applications arrow down to utilities and open it up. 4. find boot camp and open it up so you can get started working with the app.
5. Have your windows DVD handy your going to need it or an image its easier to use a DVD. now your going to click start or something like that, it will ask how much of your drive your willing to give to windows, select it and find next and activate. It will begain the process by downloading the drivers needed for windows, when it reboots and begins to install your going to come to the set-up screen which sighted help willl be needed until you get past the area where you type your lisen key. If any of you want to try this you can find me here sometimes on the zone to ask questions.
Sounds like a nice machine. Let us know what you end up with.
Well, I ended up going with a different one. It's an Acer 15 inch touch screen with 8g ram and a 500 gb hard drive with an I5 processer. It installed Jaws in about 5 seconds. Wootwoot!
Now, this windows 8 thing is totally different. I can't see any real accessibility problems other than I don't know what the hell I'm doing. lol
What's the best tutorial yall can recommend?
As a side not, the sound on this thing is amazing! I also got a Bluetooth headset which I'm about to get going. I went a little over budget but it's better to get forgiveness than permission. lol Hubby should really know better than to send me to Best Buy with my mom. lol
how do you use a touch screne?
ok, you are shitting me, right ?does jaws really install that fast ?
Yes. With an i5 stuff happens fast. Smile.
Jaws doesn't have support for the touch screen yet, but ED_G says in 15.
You simply touch the screen like you do an iPhone to open programs and such.
For a blind person I can't see the benefits, but for the sighted it be neat, or I should say is neat.
Microsoft has a page with all the keystrokes for using Windows 8. Just search for it.
Here is a tip that will help.
Press the windows key and you are in the home screen. If you want to get to programs and Windows 8 apps, simply do control tab and you are in the list. Arrow down.
To find things, just start typing and you will be searching in the start screen.
That is a few tips. Freedom talks about some things in the first Jaws 14 improvements, but I got lots from Microsofts key strokes until I understood it
To shout the computer down from the desktop, and you get to it exactly the same way with any Windows, hit alt F4 and you'll find the list, sleep, shutdown, restart, like that..
I really like it much.
Nice box.
wel while o we're ont the subject of processors, what do you t think of celeron?
i hear its kinda slow.
I shit you not. It really is that fast. Thanks for the tips, Wayne. I think I'm going to like it. Internet explorer is so far the most different thing I've noticed. I actually love that instant search thing too.
Now I just gotta wait til tomorrow to call freedom scientific to get the keys reset for my jaws because of course it's out.
I shit you not. It really is that fast. Thanks for the tips, Wayne. I think I'm going to like it. Internet explorer is so far the most different thing I've noticed. I actually love that instant search thing too.
Now I just gotta wait til tomorrow to call freedom scientific to get the keys reset for my jaws because of course it's out.
Celeron are okay if you only do basic things.
In Windows 8 you have 2 different internet explorers.
You have the app, or metro version, and that is the one you are trying to figure out that seems and is weird.
You also have the regular version, or desktop, and that one works exactly as you are use to with a few extras.
If you click the one on the start screen, that is the metro. Use Windows T to get to your task bar. On that, if the machine was configured with no changes you'll have the desktop version.
Before you open it use the applications key or control F10 and move it to a place you want it. Opening file location is where you'll find the program, and the controls to move it and such, you are use to on Windows 7.
In fact pressing applications using arrows to find program location will bring you to the place you can use them just like on Windows 7.
Also using the control and tab key on the start screen, than arrowing down gets you to the apps and programs.
You'll understand.
Hope all that made sense.
I deleted the metro version, but leaving it is okay, you just have to remember you have 2. Smile.
Here is an article that might help.
http://oxfordsbsguy.com/2013/01/15/how-to-open-internet-explorer-10-in-desktop-mode-on-windows-8/
I had said you have 2, but actually it is one. You just want to open it in the desktop mode if you want it to work as you are use to.
If you need a blind method, because this bit I've given isn't English, say and I'll post it. Lol
Enjoy. It is sweet once you get past the hair pulling.
Awesome. Thanks very much. I really do appreciate all your help.
Any time.
Hi,
I imagine you may have contacted FS by now, but to be aware you don't need to call or write to them to get your activations reset if you don't want to. YOu can go to www.fsactivate.com, choose continue with product activation, then request a reset of your activations.
Oh, that's good to know for the future. Thanks.
this might help you with a few aspects of windows 8.
http://vip.chowo.co.uk/
Wow, that was indeed very helpful. Thanks very much.
your welcome.
So, the verdict on Windows 8 is in. I absolutely love it. Now that I've customized my start screen a bit, and solved the issue with IE, I'm really liking Windows 8. I like Windows 7 too and really couldn't say which I like better but at least I like them equally well.
I have to give credit where credit is due, yall have helped allot with links to tutorials, advice, etc. Also, Freedom Scientific has actually put together some pretty decent training materials. I've never really taken advantage of those before as I've pretty much just been able to figure things out on my own. For some reason though, probably age related lol, this time has been a bit different. I've had allot of fun discovering stuff though. I've even convinced my mom to let me put a demo copy of Jaws on her Windows 8 machine so I can help her with a few things.
My next task is to find a good tutorial for Office 2013 because wow, that's pretty different. I'm using the 30-day free trial that came with this computer of Office 365. That's really a pretty good deal when you consider you can put it on up to 5 computers for only $99 per year.
Here is the trick for Office. Pretend it is not new and try some of the thiings you did before.
It is really not that different, but if you go in thinking it is, you get lost.
I love it too, and just like Windows 8, I promise you you will too.
I honestly don't know the one I like better between 7 and 8 either. I guess 8 seems to run a bit smoother on lower powered machines, but for people like you, that isn't a factor.
It isn't age related. Windows 8 is flat out different until you learn it isn't really. *stands up and faves the Windows 8 flag. Smile.
Do you remember how to find the keystroke map in office? If so, read it, but just using many of the same controls, and you need to turn on the rribbon in Jaws, it works.
Tab arrows and control tab are the main keys I use.
In word when it opinons you get a list of patterns or plates, but just hitting enter twice takes you to the blank page.
Also read Jaws keystrokes for Office. It will help.
Need more ask.
Sweet, Thanks.
Yeah, I had a blast today freaking the guy at Geek Squad out by telling him that I actually love Windows 8. lmao
I'll give that keystroke thingy a looksee. Thanks.