Although it’s sold standalone as 10.1 inches tablet, its outboard keyboard is a compulsory for user who want to use this device optimally. One of its reason is, because Windows 7 is not designed to be used in touch screen.
User’s impression to W500 seemed would be mixed since it’s not as prominent as iPad2. its technical specification is impressive on paper, with processor AMD C-50 Dual-Core 1GHz, 2GB DDR3 RAM and internal storage room 32GB as standard.
This device appears with overall Windows Experience Index rating for 2.8. Compared this with windows Experience rating 2.7 from Fujitsu Lifebook PH530, which its score is a bit doubted since its graphic capability decreased overall scores.
Its LCD widescreen 10.1 inches touchscreen offers resolution 1,280 x 800 and presents bright picture caused by backlight LED support. But this screen is surrounded by big black panel seemed like less-used optimally. According to calculation, Acer can improve its screen size into 12 inches. Fact of this extra room isn’t used becomes weirder, since majority of useless panel is a part of its LCD panel itself.
Other features planted into chassis included 2-in-1 card reader, HDMI and USB 2.0 port also WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. Just like other advanced tablet, W500 also provided front camera and rear camera, both of them has 1.3 megapixels calibre.
It seems like business user would need its outboard keyboard a lot. To connect the tablet, plug its screen in keyboard’s USB connector, which would be appeared when its cover is lifted up.
When this device is not in use, cover in its keyboard can be folded down and the screen can be placed on it, locked, then brought just like a netbook.
Trouble comes when W500 is plugged into keyboard. The device has 1 kg weight, but most of its weight is in the tablet, which made its upper part heavier. W500 should be put in very flat surface or it would be tumbled.
Using W500 on your lap also need special technique and careful attitude to assure its screen won’t be fallen from dock. Along test, it’s found that W500 cannot be put in soft surface such as sofa or bed without tumbled down.
It needs 5 to 10 seconds for W500 to detect whether a dock has been planted. Although it’s not long, there’s an impression this device is so slow and tend to be slower in long term.
Its dock able keyboard is usable, but still far from the best product ever. This device appears with 84 buttons, two USB ports and an Ethernet socket.
Its alphabets, generally placed neatly in island style, but it’s so shallow and easly caused mistyping, since its letters aren’t fully pressed.
Unfortunately, there’s no trackpad, and you’ll be forced to use trackball fine track put on the middle of keyboard. Its two mouse buttons also positioned reachable in keyboard side and user could be accidentally press space bar, not left-click. For you who never use trackball before, you will need to get used to, and the experience made this device, need to plug USB mouse as something required.
Compared with Asus Eee Pad transformer hybrid which its screen size is similar 10.1 inches, it’s presented with full size trackpad and ability to fold screen when the tablet is still connected to dock.
Reminding Asus Eee Pad transformer has dimension 271 x 171 x 12.98 mm, which is closely similar with W500 sized 275 x 190 x 15,95 mm, it would be felt that this Acer product has been defeated by Asus.
Acer bundled its tablet with Windows 7 home premium, so, it won’t be optimized for business usage. But for sure, W500 will provide better desktop experience than other tablets.
Its internet experience is similar with laptop or netbook by open access to all browser such as IE9, Firefox 4, chrome and opera. Software installed inside it included Microsoft Oficce Starter edition and common free trial anti-virus software. Other feature is Acer Ring, the interface created to optimize its touch screen function.
User can explore the internet and access applications such as notetaking, camera and kalkulator from this Acer Ring. While My Journal feature is an aggregator managed so that web site can be updated and Clear-Fi made user possible to search, share and play music and video through WiFi.
On-screen Keyboard (from screen) is similar with all Windows-basis touch devices. It’s quite easy to be used to type web address, but it’s not suitable to write long email. And it’s pretty old-fashioned compared with virtual keyboard in iPad and Android tablet.
Its battery durability cannot reach six hours just as claimed by Acer, and it’s quite disappointing, especially when its portability is counted on. W500 reasonably will survive two hours and 49 minutes in Battery Eater Pro Classic test which similized intensive activities.
In this test, W500 booked three hours and 21 minutes. Actually, battery durability among these two tests is when dock is connected.
When using W500 in office as desktop replacement, this device is able to survive 3 hours 20 minutes with hibernation duration 36 minutes, which supported Reader test. As comparison, Asus Eee Pad Transformer which adopted Android Honeycomb offers battery durability to 16 hours when it’s connected to dock and lapdock Motorola Atrix which would be soon available, promoted to offer 8 hours durability.
Meanwhile, iPad 2 is last 20 hours in test. It’s note 9 hours duration when used this tablet to surf internet through WiFi and 3G, watching video for 3 hours, and movie with 2 hours duration. Rest of 11 hours are spent in standby condition where 8 hours of them left on all night.
It weakness is in design and high price including dock content, so it can cancel the prospective buyer intention, but fact that the tablet run Windows, can be special appeal for businessman.
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