TECH REVIEW ............Acer Aspire R7

TECH REVIEW Acer Aspire R7  PRICE 74,999 SPECIFICATIONS 15.6-inch touchscreen (1920 x 1080 pixels), Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD, 3 USB ports, HDMI, D-sub, card reader, Windows 8, 2.4kg Unique design, multiple placement modes, fantastic display, amazing sound Reversed placement of trackpad and keyboard, no Ethernet port, average battery life The R7 has a gorgeous full HD 15.6-inch touchscreen and uses Acer’s new proprietary Ezel Hinge that lets you change the screen’s alignment to suit your need. The Ezel hinge is centrally mounted and sturdy enough to support the weight of the display. Thanks to the unique hinge, you can easily switch between various modes. The issue with this design is that the device feels bulky overall — even though it weighs 2.4kg. There are four modes you can switch between — notebook, tablet, Ezel and Display mode. The notebook and tablet mode are self explanatory. In Display mode, you can flip the display around so that another person can view the screen. In Ezel mode, the display can be moved towards you, hiding the trackpad behind it — great for use on a desk. You should note that, on the R7, the placement of the keyboard and trackpad is reversed compared to a conventional notebook. Its great for use in Ezel mode, but in notebook mode, it can becomesa nuisance. In terms of ports, there are 3 USB ports, HDMI and VGA. Some users may find the lack of Ethernet port unsettling. Performance was top notch with the notebook scoring an impressive 5.6 on the Windows Experience Index (lowest score was for the graphics). Sound output from the four speakers is fantastic — one of the best we have heard on a notebook. We were able to get just over 3 hours of battery life from the notebook — acceptable, considering the hardware & touchscreen, but it's not a machine for the road warrior. Overall, the R7 is an interesting notebook. The only other notebook that offers so many modes is the Lenovo Yoga Ultrabook. The Yoga is lighter and sleeker, but has a smaller 13-inch display. ALSO SEE Lenovo Ideapad Yoga 13 81,390 13.3-inch touchscreen (1600 x 900 pixels), Intel Core i5, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD, 2 USB ports (1 USB 3.0), HDMI, card reader, Windows 8, 1.54kg KARAN BAJAJ ET130729