Acer Iconia Review

A Review Of The Acer Iconia Tablet PC

If you are already accustomed to Windows 7, and you prefer some continuity in your selection of tablet pc, then the Acer Iconia would be the only feasible choice currently on the market. Apart from the fact that it utilizes a Windows operating system, is this really the tablet pc you really want to spend your money on?

Main Specifications Of The Acer Iconia

* Costs $449
* Released in 2011
* Operates on Microsoft Windows 7
* 7.48 by 10.83 by 0.63 inches in size
* Weighs 2.14 lb / 0.97 kg
* 10.1 inch display screen
* 1024 by 768 resolution
* 32GB storage space
* AMD C-50 1 GHz processor
* Wi-Fi & Bluetooth connectivity
* 1.3 MP cameras
* 6 hours battery life

Acer Iconia Review - The Advantages

Screen

The Acer Iconia looks and feels surprisingly good, with solid colors. Although it isn't a HD screen, playing HD videos looks great. You do have to make sure that your finger touches are very precise, which may take a little getting used to it initially .

Sound

As far as tablets go, the Iconia comes with a good pair of speakers. That said, no tablet pc audio speakers are designed for perfect sound quality, so you will still need a good pair of high quality earphones if you wish to enjoy your music or movies in all their glory.

Ease Of Use

The screen works well to get to where you want to navigate, and many die-hard Windows users will certainly be very pleased that a more high-end tablet pc finally features Windows 7. For anyone who is familiar with using Windows 7 and its applications, then you will be delighted to find a tablet pc that offers some continuity between tablet and your standard computer.

Keyboard Attachment

One of the outstanding features of the Iconia derives from the add-on that can turn your tablet pc into a small laptop computer. It attaches easily to the base of the device and makes it easy to type on the keyboard. Ideal for anyone who prefer to work on their tablet pc just like a laptop computer, typing email messages or documents with ease. However, do take note that the additional accessory will cost you extra money.

SD Slot

Having a full-sized SD slot is a nice addition for many people. Majority of the tablets that come with a SD slot tend to include a micro-SD slot instead. Although the latter is useful for adding external memory, it isn't compatible with most of the memory cards for digital cameras. Having a full SD card slot means you are able to transfer photos directly from your camera. You can certainly buy an adapter if you want to use the micro-SD cards.

USB 2.0

You will find two USB 2.0 ports on the Acer Iconia, which can be very useful for connecting external peripherals or storage devices. This is especially beneficial for users with plenty of files to work on.

Acer Iconia Review - The Disadvantages

On Screen Keyboard

Although, hardly any on-screen keyboard is perfect, and it is always quicker and easier to type on a physical version, there are numerous complaints from users about the Iconia's virtual keyboard. This can be bad news for those who cannot afford to purchase the extra keyboard attachment!

Storage Space

32GB is by no means a small selection for hard disk size, however, you need to understand that Windows 7 uses up a lot of storage space on the tablet pc - far more than Google Android or Apple iOS. You can expect to be left with only just over 19GB of storage space for your own files!

19GB will likely be sufficient for some music files and several apps, however, if you want to store movies or you have got a particularly huge music library, you will probably find this very limiting. To make matter worse, there are simply no bigger storage options available for purchase. However, it's possible to increase the storage space with an SD card, or by connecting it with an external USB storage device.

Cameras

The camera quality isn't the best on this device, with both the front and the rear cameras coming in at only 1.3 megapixels. This is rather surprising as the majority of the tablets out there in the market have higher quality digital cameras attached to the back of its devices.

Battery Life

Unfortunately, the battery life is not so great with the Iconia and it just cannot compete with the best competitors out there. The advertised 6 hours still means you can get a lot from the device, but some testers have demonstrated that it generally can last for about 4 hours only.

Size And Weight

This certainly isn't a lightweight tablet pc, and there's no getting around it. You can find far lighter and slimmer tablet pcs available on the market. As a result, it doesn't really feel as comfortable in your hands. Again, this is another situation where the extra keyboard dock will make the tablet pc much easier to use.

Should You Choose Acer Iconia Tablet PC?

The greatest thing that this tablet pc has got to offer is that it's a fairly high-end Windows 7 tablet - probably the only one available currently. If you're searching for other Windows tablet pcs, you are going to find it difficult to find many decent alternatives. Unfortunately, there are several drawbacks with the Acer Iconia. If you are looking for something much more user friendly yet still offers you value for money, then you may want to consider an Android tablet pc, such as the Motorola Xoom or Samsung Galaxy Tab, instead.

To order your Acer Iconia Tablet PC - click here.