Whenever it’s time to upgrade my laptop, I’m thinking about budget and performance. Balancing these 2 characteristics is not always easy. We all want the best technology but we might not have the budget for it.
I needed a new laptop for work and to play occasional games. I’m not an avid gamer but I like to relax with a new release at the end of the week. In the gaming world, you only get suggestions that cost thousands of dollars. But I don’t want to pay as much for a simple laptop I’ll upgrade in a few years regardless of its performance.
My choice was Acer’s Aspire 5. With an i5 processor and Nvidia dedicated graphics, it checks most of my boxes. The laptop is ready to offer a balanced performance. It also comes with blue light protection which is crucial for me. I work on the laptop and I relax on the laptop. Taking care of my eyes becomes even more important.
Acer Aspire 5 Features
Nvidia Games
One of the first reasons to consider the laptop is its GeForce MX150 Nvidia graphics card. It plays Farcry New Dawn at 30fps at 1280 X 720 resolution. It turns to 18fps at a medium 1920 X 1080 resolution.
For most occasional gamers like me, this means having the ability to play games is not hindered by this affordable computer. I play the latest FIFA game on the laptop on occasion without any interruptions. At times, it heats up but that’s normal under demanding programs.
At work, I use it for general office work. However, my marketing job requires an occasional photo and video edits which the laptop handles smoothly. I edit short videos of various houses or flats for sale. They aren’t long videos or very high 4K quality videos. However, I like that my laptop can handle any type of use.
Easy Upgrades
Upgrading a laptop is complicated and even discouraging with some releases. But things don’t need to be as bad as many expect in the case of the 5th generation Aspire. It allows easy access to the memory and to the hard drive.
This means that I can upgrade both myself. If you want to try this on your own, there’s nothing special you need to worry about. These compartments only allow access to the memory and there’s nothing that can go wrong with a bit of attention.
There are about 10 tutorials online showing you how to do this in real-time. At the moment, there’s no need for an upgrade. But I might consider one a couple of years from now just to keep my laptop in top shape while it’s in my possession.
Blue Light Protection
Another top feature is given by its blue light reduction technology. I don’t know about you, but my eyes get sore quickly. Even after a couple of hours of staring at the screen, my eyes become dry and they start to itch. Blue light is responsible for these sensations.
While I also wear blue light reduction glasses, I can tell the difference while looking at the screen. However, the refresh rate of the screen remains low. You should not expect a considerable difference in the time you can spend in front of a monitor before taking a break. In my own case, I know that the monitor could be better but that it’s also a lot better than others.
My advice for those with sore eyes is to use blue light glasses and to still take frequent work pauses. It may even be worth it to take a 5-minute break every hour or every 2 hours.
Screen Angle Adjustments
There’s a bit of screen angle versatility which also allows you to use it while lying in bed. The screen folds down completely. Of course, visibility depends on the angle. But you can also use this screen orientation versatility when traveling.
When I’m on a train, I need to adjust the screen a bit lower as the laptop sits in my lap. But I also need the extra screen adjustability when their sun is shining directly on the screen while in public places such as coffee shops.
Office Use
The laptop’s 15.6” full-HD screen also works well for office use. You can enjoy the screen with any writing and editing program without restrictions. But the laptop also goes a bit further. It integrates a backlit keyboard.
This then works for extra visibility when typing. You can also rely on this keyboard to quickly answer emails or type in web URLs while in bed when the lights are off. I like this keyboard feature and its one of the characteristics borrowed from gaming laptops.
Gaming Use
For gaming, the laptop is used once or twice per week for a few hours at a time. I also have a USB controller so I don’t need its keyboard as much. However, I would have loved a CD drive to be able to play a few of my old-school favorites.
Given the price of this laptop, I’d say it’s worth trying it out if you’re not an avid gamer. If you look it up on gaming forums, you will find most compare it to laptops which are 2-3 times more expensive. I don’t think it’s a fair comparison. Most users like me don’t want to spend as much on a laptop which may or may not be used for an occasional game.
Price
At the moment, you can purchase the laptop for $585.99. It is a fair price. Now, for this price, you get a dedicated video card and good physical characteristics such as an included SD card for quick photo transfer. But at the same time, the laptop could have included an optical drive. However, it would have gained a bit of weight and extra thickness.
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Pros
Cons
Final Verdict
The laptop manufacturer has always been one of the budget-friendly names for the home user. But this laptop is a combination of basic features with a few gaming features which allow it to be sold at an affordable price.
It has a very specific type of user in mind. If you’re the type of person who plays games every day, it is not the laptop for you. The same applies if you’re only looking for office work on this laptop. You can find more affordable alternatives.
However, if you’re the type of user who wants a laptop for all computer tasks like me, it is the right option. The laptop feels solid and it allows easy upgrades even without taking it to an IT specialist. Its blue light protection and backlit keyboard remind of some of the most expensive gaming releases in its class.
You can check it out today while in stock. Releases in April 2019, the laptop is going to be replaced with a newer version this year. However, this also means the remaining stock is going to be sold at a fairly lower price.
