Acer Aspire 5745DG

While PC makers initially targeted laptops with 3D displays and glasses at gamers, Acer is hoping to widen their appeal to all sorts of entertainment seekers. Priced at $999, the Aspire 5745DG is the least expensive 3D notebook we've tested that uses Nvidia's impressive 3D Vision technology. Powered by a Core i5 processor, this 15.6-inch system can also output 3D content to a compatible TV via its HDMI connection. So is this multimedia machine really a bargain?

Design

There's nothing really remarkable about the 5745DG's design. Its glossy black lid picks up fingerprints, but a subtle striped metallic pattern adds some visual flair. The rest of the somewhat boxy chassis is a gray plastic, and the palm rest is made to look like brushed aluminum.
While not as large as a desktop replacement, the size and bulk of the 5745DG means it's not going to travel much. It tips the scales at 6.2 pounds, around the average for a 15-inch system. Its 9-cell battery protrudes out the bottom towards the rear, and while it angles the system towards you--making typing more comfortable, it raises the height of the notebook to 2.3 inches.

Heat

Having a spacious underside means that the 5745DG stayed fairly cool. After playing a Hulu video at full screen for 15 minutes, the touchpad and the G and H keys reached 92 degrees, but the middle of the bottom stayed a cool 85 degrees.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The 5745DG uses the same FineTip keyboard that's become standard on all Acer notebooks. The keys are flat on top and separated from each other, and a full number pad sits to the right. We found the typing experience fairly comfortable but certainly not best in class.
Above and to the right of the keyboard is a programmable quick-launch button and an eject button. Considering that the system is geared toward entertainment, we would have appreciated dedicated media keys, or at least ones to control the volume.
The 3.5 x 1.9-inch touchpad is comfortably large and friction-free, and we like like the discrete mouse button beneath. However, a divot in the middle would have been appreciated.
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Posted in: notebook Acer