I'm seeing a flaw in their design logic. They've assumed that the lack of bezels is more important than having a monitor sit further away from the keyboard, and being able to include a larger touchpad and a webcam fixed above the monitor. Alternatively they've also assumed that a 16:9 display is more appealing than a 3:2 display.
If this were a $600 computer, they might have something, but for $1,700 I would expect better usability.
This was my first thought as well. I was skeptical about the larger bottom bezel when purchasing my HP Spectre x360 13, but even with this bezel I notice that my hands can sometimes get in the way of the screen depending what position I'm in. I can see that being a huge problem with smaller bezels, and I'd prefer to keep bezels of the size my x360 has, and I find that including the bezels behind the same piece of glass really does still result in an attractive laptop design.
With all that said, I can see those smaller bezels making sense for people who place maximum value on a small footprint.
It seems that they are aware of that, including a wider than average touchpad. One only sacrifices a small shift in camera angle for a webcam at the bottom besides, I don't know anyone have used a laptop cam for a long time. I was impressed till I saw the price though. Checking with Amazon today, ASUS has a Zenbook with small bezels at $1200. The one with a second display on the touchpad
Overall nice article, but could you add the screen size? Is this a 13.3, 14, 15,...? Total footprint would be useful for those who are the most likely candidates to buy this baby.
Too much cost is tied up in making design claims that come at a cost in functionality or are of no benefit to the person at the keyboard. I'm sure there is someone out there willing to pay more for looks, but Acer and other companies produce more practical designs that don't give up functionality just to have a thinner casing or a meaninglessly high percentage number attached to the screen to bezel ratio.
Love the pg up/dn key placement for web browser navigation, since page scrolling is often messed up on many sites and require up/dn arrow adjustments. It's a tradition from TI Travelmate days and also seen in Thinkpad and Dynabook business machines. However, I also see Acer returning to their brain dead decision to eliminate physical F-keys. So yeah, this laptop is worth $500 to $600, just like their Aspire S7 series.
They could increase the screen height (like matebook or surface laptops) .. instead they DECREASED the keyboard area and make everything cramped? But why? there are still enough empty space above the keyboard...
The screen is garbo for 2019. Why would someone spend more then they would than a macbook or a thinkpad dell xps or any other high end laptop with a much better screen?
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pixelstuff - Sunday, January 6, 2019 - link
I'm seeing a flaw in their design logic. They've assumed that the lack of bezels is more important than having a monitor sit further away from the keyboard, and being able to include a larger touchpad and a webcam fixed above the monitor. Alternatively they've also assumed that a 16:9 display is more appealing than a 3:2 display.If this were a $600 computer, they might have something, but for $1,700 I would expect better usability.
Dizoja86 - Sunday, January 6, 2019 - link
This was my first thought as well. I was skeptical about the larger bottom bezel when purchasing my HP Spectre x360 13, but even with this bezel I notice that my hands can sometimes get in the way of the screen depending what position I'm in. I can see that being a huge problem with smaller bezels, and I'd prefer to keep bezels of the size my x360 has, and I find that including the bezels behind the same piece of glass really does still result in an attractive laptop design.With all that said, I can see those smaller bezels making sense for people who place maximum value on a small footprint.
stanleyipkiss - Sunday, January 6, 2019 - link
I agree about the price. Anything up to $900 and I'd buy it when it goes on sale.zodiacfml - Sunday, January 6, 2019 - link
It seems that they are aware of that, including a wider than average touchpad. One only sacrifices a small shift in camera angle for a webcam at the bottom besides, I don't know anyone have used a laptop cam for a long time.I was impressed till I saw the price though. Checking with Amazon today, ASUS has a Zenbook with small bezels at $1200. The one with a second display on the touchpad
tdydave - Sunday, January 6, 2019 - link
Overall nice article, but could you add the screen size? Is this a 13.3, 14, 15,...? Total footprint would be useful for those who are the most likely candidates to buy this baby.Brett Howse - Sunday, January 6, 2019 - link
Not sure how I missed that but updated the article to say it's a 14-inch laptop.PeachNCream - Sunday, January 6, 2019 - link
Too much cost is tied up in making design claims that come at a cost in functionality or are of no benefit to the person at the keyboard. I'm sure there is someone out there willing to pay more for looks, but Acer and other companies produce more practical designs that don't give up functionality just to have a thinner casing or a meaninglessly high percentage number attached to the screen to bezel ratio.fmcjw - Sunday, January 6, 2019 - link
Love the pg up/dn key placement for web browser navigation, since page scrolling is often messed up on many sites and require up/dn arrow adjustments. It's a tradition from TI Travelmate days and also seen in Thinkpad and Dynabook business machines. However, I also see Acer returning to their brain dead decision to eliminate physical F-keys. So yeah, this laptop is worth $500 to $600, just like their Aspire S7 series.nerd1 - Monday, January 7, 2019 - link
They could increase the screen height (like matebook or surface laptops) .. instead they DECREASED the keyboard area and make everything cramped? But why? there are still enough empty space above the keyboard...mkozakewich - Tuesday, January 8, 2019 - link
If *that's* 2.58 mm, then the whole thing is maybe 5 inches across. The bezels look more like 8 mm.Or is that not even a photo of the product?
snarfbot - Saturday, June 1, 2019 - link
The screen is garbo for 2019. Why would someone spend more then they would than a macbook or a thinkpad dell xps or any other high end laptop with a much better screen?