The excellent news is the typing expertise on this Acer is great. Low-cost laptops typically skimp out on the keyboard, however that isn’t the case right here. The keys have nice journey and are spaced properly, and there isn’t a ton of flex within the keyboard deck that you simply would possibly see on different finances laptops. Talking of, the chassis feels fairly stable general. The Aspire is a little bit thick, however that lends it a sturdiness that avoids feeling low cost regardless of a liberal use of plastic. It isn’t notably fairly, however Acer will get some type 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 method that I felt the backing draw back from the show bezels ever-so-slightly. It caught me off guard and should have been a fluke in how I grabbed the lid, nevertheless it makes me query whether or not it is going to maintain up over years of use.
For followers of taller shows, the 1,920 x 1,200-pixel display has a 16:10 ratio, supplying you with extra vertical house to work with. As a author, that is my most popular ratio due to the respiration room you get working with paperwork, so I’m glad to see it right here. Nonetheless, 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 under common, with a muddy, washed-out look. Possibly 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 costs with a barrel plug, however hopefully, the prolonged battery life means you gained’t need to journey with the included charger too typically. It might’ve additionally been good to see an SD card slot so as to add extra storage.
At this value, you may’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. Wonderful battery life, an excellent typing expertise, and loads of energy for fundamental duties make it a good Chromebook competitor. The one space that would kill this laptop computer for many individuals is the dearth of space for storing, although you could possibly carry a USB drive round to carry paperwork and different media.
Should you don’t require Home windows in your day-to-day life, it’s value a Chromebook Plus laptop as a substitute. You gained’t get the identical battery life, however you could possibly get a greater display and webcam, and these machines are sometimes on sale for underneath $400.
