Acer Aspire 1410: Single-Core CULV Takes on Atom

Acer Aspire 1410: Conclusion

The Acer Aspire 1410 is a great alternative to the netbook class of devices. With its single-core ultra low voltage processor, it runs single threaded applications well and offers far better performance than any Atom-based (non-ION) netbook. Add to this the higher resolution screen, Windows 7 Home Premium, double the memory, and it starts to look a lot more appetizing than a netbook for just $60 more.

Take, for example, the ASUS Eee PC 1001p, our favorite current netbook. The Acer is on a different level entirely when it comes to performance, in both computationally and graphically intense tasks. Plus, the all-important benchmark of smooth 1080p video playback is pretty much accomplished here. (HD Flash, on the other hand…not so much.) The Acer gets knocked for its lack of multithreaded processing, but that doesn’t make any difference in basic usage, and as a laptop to use for standard tasks, the SU3500 offers a much smoother and less painful experience than the Atom N450. Typing comes nicer, with the full sized keyboard and the overall Windows experience is more pleasant because of the upgrade to Home Premium and the shininess of Aero Glass.

The screen could be a debatable point—the AS1410 has a higher resolution (and thus far less limiting) screen, whereas the Eee 1001p has a far higher quality panel that offers much better contrast ratios and a matte finish. Honestly, while I love the way the 1001p display looks, I prefer the openness and more usable resolution of the 1410. Windows was built for at least 768 vertical pixels, and in a netbook, you really miss that extra real estate. For those that prefer numbers, a 1366x768 panel offers a whopping 70% more pixels than your standard 10.1" 1024x600 netbook display.

The 1410 loses out in a couple of places: styling is not that great, and neither is build quality. The Acer also has a slightly larger footprint and weighs a bit more, though the 0.3 lb (10%) weight increase doesn’t make any difference when thrown in a backpack or carrying case. But the real problem is battery life. It gets hammered on the battery life front, with runtimes down 35% from the ASUS. However, with 6-7 hours of battery life still on tap, it’s still a fairly long running laptop—just not up to the netbook standards or the top of the CULV class.

If you can live with the hit on battery life, there are many, many reasons to spring for an Acer 1410 or a similarly low priced CULV ultraportable notebook, even with a single-core processor. They offer adequate performance, embarrass the Atom, and come equipped with some nice features that most netbooks leave on the wayside to reduce cost as much as possible.