Acer Aspire R7 Two-in-One Ultrabook Review

Introduction

We're getting the chance to take a look at our first two-in-one convertible Ultrabook. Back at IDF, Intel said that the two-in-one convertible systems are going to be hitting the scene heavily this year, much like touchscreen systems did in 2013. Intel bills the two-in-one design as the best of both worlds: Play when you want it; work when you need it.

The Acer Aspire R7 that we have in the lab today diverges from the norm, and features a slightly radical design that makes most people take a second look. Is this radical design too radical for you to get used to, or does the design really help out the two-in-one system? Find out as we continue our review.

Specifications, Configurations and Pricing

Our Aspire R7 features Intel's Ivy Bridge based Core i5-3337U dual-core CPU. This processor is a dual-core model with Hyper-Threading, which means that it features four threads. It also features TurboBoost, which allows the processor to overclock itself when under a low load.

The i5-3337U is coupled with 6GB of DDR3 RAM, which is more than I would have expected on a system of this budget and performance level. 6GB should ensure a smooth-running system, even with multiple programs and web browser tabs open.

Graphics are provided by Intel's very own HD4000 GPU, a fairly capable graphics chipset that is able to provide enough graphics horsepower for most applications. Though gamers would definitely want to look elsewhere, the HD4000 GPU is capable of playing some games at low settings and resolutions.

Windows 8 is installed upon a 500GB hard drive that is coupled with a 24GB caching SSD; this allows the R7 to meet Intel's strict boot-up speed requirements, in order to be considered an Ultrabook. Acer has managed to cut costs by going with the much cheaper HDD. Unfortunately, this affects performance in a negative way.

Packaging

You can check out the Acer Aspire R7 packaging in the unboxing video below.