Acer Aspire 5720-4649 15.4-inch Laptop (1.46 GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core T2310 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium)

by Acer

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 16 x 8 x 18 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000W09L8U
• Item model number: ACER AS5720-4649
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 21, 2007

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Give your laptop an artistic vibe with the Acer Aspire 5720-4649, which provides a contrast between the high-tech, dark and glimmering exterior and the pearl-grey CeramiFinish interior of its Gemstone design concept. This multimedia maven has a 15.4-inch Acer CrystalBrite display, which provides great color saturation and excellent contrast in all environments, and Intel GMA X3100 graphics with up to 287 MB of video memory shared with the system. It also offers easy video conferencing with the integrated Crystal Eye webcam, which supports Acer PrimaLite technology for enhanced performance in low-light environments.

This notebook is powered by the 1.46 GHz Intel Pentium T2310 dual-core processor and it comes with 1 GB of installed RAM (which can be increased to a maximum of 2 GB). Other features include a 160 GB hard drive, 54g Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11b/g), multi-format/dual-layer DVD±RW drive (which also burns CDs), ExpressCard 54 slot, and a multi-format memory card reader.

It comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you'll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

The Basics

• Processor: The 1.46 GHz Intel Pentium T2310 dual-core processor delivers additional computing resources and help expand the PC’s capabilities by providing higher throughput and simultaneous computing. You'll be able to perform multiple tasks such as digital rendering and gaming all while running virus scan or other background tasks seamlessly. Each core shares 1 MB of L2 cache, and they have a 533 MHz front-side bus. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

• Hard Drive: The 160 GB hard drive (5400 RPM) offers enough to room to hold a digital audio library of over 26,000 songs and still have room left over for movies, games, and a large collection of software. This Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.

• Memory: The 1 GB of installed RAM (PC5300, 2 x 512 MB) is a good start, but you'll want to add more RAM to handle today's demanding multimedia and gaming software. It also offers a top-of-class 667 MHz speed. This notebook has a 2 GB maximum RAM capacity (2 x 1 GB). To receive the faster data transfer benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed.

• DVD/CD Drive: The dual-layer DVD drive is compatible with a wide range of formats, including both DVD+RW and DVD-RW discs, CD-RW discs, and dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can hold up to 8.5 GB of data--great for backing up your MP3 collection or your most important documents.

• Keyboard & Mouse: The keyboard features an inverted T cursor layout, embedded numeric keypad, hotkey controls, 2.5mm minimum key travel, and international language support. It also offers a touchpad with four-way integrated scroll button, WLAN easy launch button, volume adjustment wheel, and independent US dollar and Euro sign keys.

Screen, Video & Audio
Get 30 percent more multimedia viewing space than with traditional 4:3 XGA displays via the wide-aspect 15.4-inch screen (1280 x 800). Acer's CrystalBrite display technology guarantees the best possible visual experience by preventing the diffusion of surrounding light and internal ray. Compared to normal TFT LCDs, Acer CrystalBrite technology is able to read color coordinates more accurately, thus minimizing distortion and creating high-fidelity colors in all environments. It's great for sophisticated professional applications, photo manipulation, and immersive 3-D games.

Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, which provides up to 287 MB of video memory allocated from the system. It also features Windows Vista Aero interface support and enhanced 3-D graphics performance--delivering over 2x scores on 3-DMark 06. Intel Clear Video Technology provides outstanding video playback with sharper image quality, increased clarity, and customizable color controls. It also enables enhanced visual quality of interlaced content on progressive displays.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
This Acer notebook has an integrated 54g wireless LAN (Acer InviLink) that's compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g networks and offers Acer's SignalUp technology for enhanced antenna efficiency. You also get super-fast wired connectivity via the Gigabit Ethernet port (10/100/1000). Here's the full list of connection options:

• 4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• ExpressCard 54 slot
• 5-in-1 card reader compatible with MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO and xD-Picture Card
• 1 VGA for external monitor
• 1 headphone jack (with S/PDIF Support), 1 microphone jack
• 56K modem (V.90)

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software
Norton Internet Security, NTI CD Maker, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Acer Arcade, Acer GameZone, Acer GridVista

Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 14.4 x 10.8 x 1.7 inches (WxDxH) and weighs 6.2 pounds.

Power
It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of approximately 3 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the Acer Aspire 5720-4649 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better Than Anticipated, January 27, 2008

By 

MagnumMan (Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Acer Aspire 5720-4649 15.4-inch Laptop (1.46 GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core T2310 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) (Personal Computers)

Looked at this unit in my local office supply store until it finally went on sale for $499 a couple weeks ago. Vista didn't thrill me but my old IBM's hard drive bit the dust and it was either buy a new $200 hard drive for an old computer or cough up another $300 and just get a new computer.

Got home with my prize and saw my first warning that things weren't going to go well. Acer put a note on top stating Vista would take at least 30 minutes to boot and set up.

Guess what, it tooks less than 10! Unlike XP, Vista even figured out what time zone I was in and properly set the time and date without asking. As usual, Microsoft had about 2 GB worth of updates waiting for me, but I got used to that with XP.

I used the computer for about 2 hours installing all my old programs and even my old printer. Vista didn't even blink and even took the time to located my Samsung printer driver from the internet (allegedly a printer that could never be used with Vista).

On the pro side:

* It never gets hot. Not even warm.
* The screen is crisp and displays graphics with vivid colors.
* It's built like tank. Not a creak or groan anywhere.
* Colored plastic casing is a nice break from the gray or black bricks I've been used to.
* Wireless sucks in signals I didn't know existed.
* The webcam not only works, it works better than my current 7 MP digital camera. Crisp, clear pictures. Guess I had better start combing my hair when I sit in from for video chats.
* Solid keyboard. Comparable to most IBM Thinkpads although the board itself isn't spillproof.
* Limited bloatware. Cripes, my new Fujitsu came with so much junk ("Free Software!" offers) that I had to spend an hour to get rid of it. This one was nice enough to warn me that Norton Anti Virus was about to be installed unless I chose otherwise. I chose otherwise and deleted it.
* CD/DVD burner works as it should with little fanfare or excess noise (in fact, it'll spin sometimes and you'll have to listen for it or you may think it's not working)
* Vista is not as bad as people say. The bad Vista version is the Basic setup or the upgrades. Many complaints are from people who attempted to use a new O/S on a computer that originally came with Windows ME. Avoid Basic, even on a new computer. It's worthless.
* Customer service seems good so far. I sent an email about the power brick and actually got an uncanned response while still on the internet (about a half hour later).

Cons include:

* Irritating wireless light on the keyboard flashes to advise you you're connected. No way of turning it off.
* Keyboard is solid but unforgiving. Miskeying can result in deleted work (FN key too close to CTRL key)
* Computer stays cool but the power brick can cook pizza at close range. I contacted Acer and they are looking into the problem that has been reported. Not a danger, but it does get too warm for my liking.
* Battery power really sucks at roughly 2 hours of wireless internet surfing. Better than my new Fujitsu, though (it gets less than 1.5 hours).
* Quirky, unmarked touchpad. You can accidentally start scrolling and highlighting text to delete if you don't watch out. While typing it will very rarely catch a glimpse of my wrist movement and move the cursor.
* Portable? Maybe, with the battery removed. It tips the scales at about 6 pounds with the battery installed.
* Really nice gloss black cover is a covert fingerprint magnet. Makes a nice mirror in a pinch, though.
* No card slots. That's reserved for the more expensive units. No great loss, but it's nice to have sometimes.

Overall, a very good unit for the price. Much cheaper than the competition and most reviews are positive so far.

By the way, make sure you get the version with the 2 GB of RAM and at least the Pentium Dual Core or Turion processor. The Celeron processor is a waste of time and quite often is packed with no more than 512 MB RAM.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love my Acer, June 4, 2008

By 

Dena L. Hamilton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Acer Aspire 5720-4649 15.4-inch Laptop (1.46 GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core T2310 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) (Personal Computers)

I was wary when I had so much trouble with my cursor jumping all around. It was a setting. I also had a time when my camera card slot stopped working. But I emailed Acer both times and within 24h (by the next time I set down, I needed to walk away anyway) the answer was in my inbox. Simple instructions about how to use the recovery and restore button for reinstalling a driver, fast and easy.
I have never updated any software or computer without having to learn or do something, so I was okay with this.
It is lightweight, doesn't get overly warm, nice screen, Vista was not that big of a deal (coming from XP), and economical.
The biggest headache was having to upgrade software I was using with XP to use Vista. (Not an Acer problem). I ended up returning Microsoft Office and purchasing Open Office online for $11. You just use "save as XP doc" or whatever you want. Although it says if may change formatting, it didn't change at all. Great alternative!!!!! Some software did transfer, some didn't.

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a good product vs price, August 18, 2008

By 

Alex A. Orellana Funes - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Acer Aspire 5720-4649 15.4-inch Laptop (1.46 GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core T2310 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) (Personal Computers)

I don't have a problem with this Laptop

Pros: Good processor and ard disk vs price, good resolution, good wireless, DVD Burner.

Cons: Not have bluetooth.