The excellent news is the typing expertise on this Acer is great. Low cost laptops usually skimp out on the keyboard, however that isn’t the case right here. The keys have nice journey and are spaced effectively, and there isn’t a ton of flex within the keyboard deck that you just may see on different price range laptops. Talking of, the chassis feels fairly stable general. The Aspire is just a little thick, however that lends it a sturdiness that avoids feeling low cost regardless of a liberal use of plastic. It is not significantly fairly, however Acer will get some fashion factors for the tasteful textual content logos on the lid. (I’m actually drawn to the “Aspire” textual content towards the underside for some purpose.)
I’ve one reservation about sturdiness. Whereas opening the laptop computer throughout testing, I gripped the lid in such a approach that I felt the backing draw back from the show bezels ever-so-slightly. It caught me off guard and will have been a fluke in how I grabbed the lid, but it surely makes me query whether or not it would maintain up over years of use.
For followers of taller shows, the 1,920 x 1,200-pixel display has a 16:10 ratio, providing you with extra vertical house to work with. As a author, that is my most well-liked ratio due to the respiratory room you get working with paperwork, so I’m glad to see it right here. Nevertheless, the display high quality is precisely what you’d anticipate with a $300 pc, with washed-out colours and horrible viewing angles.
One other space that disappoints is the webcam. Merely put, I wouldn’t choose up the Aspire Go 14 if you wish to look your greatest on video calls. The 720p digicam is beneath common, with a muddy, washed-out look. Perhaps seize a separate webcam?
{Photograph}: Dan Thorp-Lancaster
The port choice is fairly good, with two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and a full-size HDMI port. Sadly, the laptop computer fees with a barrel plug, however hopefully, the prolonged battery life means you gained’t must journey with the included charger too usually. It might’ve additionally been good to see an SD card slot so as to add extra storage.
At this value, you possibly can’t ask for the world, and the Aspire Go 14 lives as much as most expectations for a $300 laptop computer and exceeds them in some methods. Glorious battery life, an ideal typing expertise, and loads of energy for primary duties make it an honest Chromebook competitor. The one space that might kill this laptop computer for many individuals is the shortage of cupboard space, although you could possibly carry a USB drive round to carry paperwork and different media.
If you happen to don’t require Home windows in your day-to-day life, it’s value a Chromebook Plus laptop computer as a substitute. You gained’t get the identical battery life, however you might be able to get a greater display and webcam, and these machines are sometimes on sale for underneath $400.
