Acer Aspire AS7745G-6572 17.3-Inch Laptop (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)She Who Must be Obeyed bought it for me a couple of weeks ago. It booted up with no problems, there are minimal installation requirements such as choosing a language, choosing a name for the computer, setting a password, etc. and the Windows 7 installation did the rest. Absolutely "painless".
It requires 4 blank DVDs to create your recovery disks. Have them on hand when you boot up and make your recovery and driver disks immediately. No need to take a chance.
It is preloaded with installation options for McAfee antivirus, Norton backup, Microsoft Works and a 60 day trial of Microsoft Office.
I didn't want any of them so I installed Avast antivirus and Revo Uninstaller from a thumb drive, then deleted the software that I didn't want using Revo Uninstaller. No problems.
windows 7 is proof that even Microsoft can get it right. I prefer using Firefox as a web browser and Open Office as my office suite.
All in all, This is my third Acer Aspire laptop (through the years) and I've never had a problem with any Acer product.
As far as features that I was looking for (and got),
I7 processor (64 bit)
Windows 7
1 GB dedicated video card
4 GB DDR3 Ram (2x2GB) with 2 empty slots left so I can upgrade a max or 16GB memory
500 GB hard drive (5400 rpm)
RGB and HDMI video ports
USB 2.0 (3 ports)
SATA port
Bluetooth
17.3" HiDef (720P) wide screen
I plan to use it extensively for photo and video editing and AutoCAD so the processor, video memory, and RAM capacity were important.

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Acer Aspire 7745G: Immersive Entertainment
Take your media enjoyment to a new level with the Acer Aspire 7745G (AS7745G-6572) PC laptop, which features a 17.3-inch LED-backlit CineCrystal display with a fast response time so that fast action moves seamlessly across the screen and a 16:9 aspect ratio--perfect for viewing content created for the widescreen. And it combines best-in-class Intel Core i7 processing power and stunning ATI Radeon HD graphics with a Dolby-optimized surround-sound system for an immersive on-the-go cinema experience.

You'll be able to burn through the hottest new digital media, content creation and advanced 3D gaming with the breakthrough performance of the Intel Core i7 processor thanks to the combination of Intel Turbo Boost technology and Intel Hyper-Threading technology, which maximizes performance to match your workload.

Enjoy the next generation of video playback with the HDMI output, which allows a single cable to transmit uncompressed high-definition video and audio to your digital TV or capable external monitor. The 1.3-megapixel HD webcam presents vivid images even in low-light situations so you can go face-to-face in online chats and easily take still pictures and videos to share. A Multi-Gesture Touchpad enables you to pinch, flick and swirl your fingers across the touchpad for more natural photo and video viewing as well as intuitive navigation of web sites. Other features include ultra-fast Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking, and a SuperMulti optical drive that's compatible with double-layer DVD discs.

This Aspire laptop comes pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version).

Key Features
17.3-inch CineCrystal LED-backlit widescreen display with 1600 x 900-pixel resolution (native 720p for high-definition viewing). Its widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio is designed to present websites without lots of left-right scrolling, as well as with a smoother line of sight. Specs include a 220-nit high brightness rating, 8ms response time, and 60 percent color gamut.
1.6 GHz Intel Core i7-720QM processor (with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.80 GHz) delivers maximum processing power in response to peak demands. Intel's Turbo Boost technology maximizes speed for demanding applications, dynamically accelerating performance to match your workload--providing more performance when you need it the most. It also comes equipped with Intel HD Graphics--an advanced video engine that delivers smooth, high-quality HD video playback, and advanced 3D capabilities, providing an ideal graphics solution for everyday computing.
500 GB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM)
4 GB of installed DDR3 RAM (1066 MHz; expandable to 16 GB)
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 graphics deliver advanced technology to deliver cinema-quality audio and video with 1 GB of DDR3 discrete graphics memory. Using ATI Stream technology, it helps accelerate even the most demanding applications, enabling you to do more than ever with your notebook. It's compatible with the latest DirectX 11 games
8x SuperMulti DVD±R/RW drive can also write to CD, DVD-RAM, and dual-layer (DL) DVD±R discs--which can hold up to 8.5 GB of data.
Multi-Gesture Touchpad allows you to pinch, flick and swirl your fingers across the touchpad for more natural photo and video viewing as well as intuitive navigation of websites such as Google Earth. It also enables you to scroll, zoom in and out and flip through web pages, photos, spreadsheets and more. (Learn more)
1.3-megapixel Crystal Eye webcam with a built-in digital microphone that helps keep background noise levels low and minimizes echoes. Acer Video Conference Manager software supports 1280 x 1024 resolution online video calls.
2 integrated stereo speakers and 1 subwoofer supporting low-frequency effects
Dolby Home Theater suite of technologies delivers virtual surround sound from stereo speakers or any pair of headphones.
Headphones/speaker/line-out with SPDIF support for true 5.1-channel surround-sound output
Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking capability provides up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range using 802.11n-compatible routers as you would with 802.11g networks. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found at Wi-Fi hotspots and in older home routers). This laptop uses Acer InviLink Nplify technology that enables multi-stream input or output for faster and more reliable bandwidth, and it also offers Acer SignalUp technology for enhanced antenna efficiency.
Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity enables you to communicate and synchronize wirelessly with Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as printers and cell phones.
Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000)
Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader compatible with Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard (MMC), Memory Stick (MS), Memory Stick PRO (MS PRO), xD-Picture Card (xD)
Four USB 2.0 ports
HDMI high-definition audio/video output allows a single cable to transmit uncompressed high-definition video to your digital TV or LCD. It also includes a standard VGA video output.
Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. And you can watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV on Windows Media Center. Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium.
Get more features with Windows Anytime Upgrade. It's the best way to add features to Windows 7, takes as few as ten minutes, requires no software or downloads, and you'll keep your existing programs, files, and settings. Windows will walk you through the simple upgrade process.(Learn more)
Pre-loaded software includes Microsoft Works SE 9.0 for word processing and spreadsheet work. Enjoy a 60-day trial version of Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007.
Up to 2.5 hours of battery life (6-cell, 4400 mAh battery)
Dimensions: 16.1 x 11.3 x 1.6 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 7.2 pounds
Warranty: One-year parts and labor limited warranty with concurrent International Traveler's Warranty

What's in the Box This package contains the Acer Aspire AS7745G-6572 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions
It also comes with the following software: McAfee Internet Security Suite (trial version); NTI Media Maker; Google Toolbar; Acer Recovery Management; Acer GridVista; Microsoft Works; Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Trial (60 days); Norton Online Backup

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The Acer Multi-Gesture Touchpad
A Multi-Gesture Touchpad allows you to pinch, flick and swirl your fingers across the touchpad for more natural photo and video viewing as well as intuitive navigation of websites. The Multi-Gesture Touchpad enables you to scroll, zoom in and out and flip through Web pages, photos, spreadsheets and more.

The TouchPad can also be disabled with a one-touch button, eliminating accidental cursor movement with palms and wrists when using an external mouse.

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
Pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version), you'll be able to easily create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. Windows 7 is the easiest, fastest, and most engaging version of Windows yet. Better ways to find and manage files, like Jump Lists and improved taskbar previews, help you speed through everyday tasks. Windows 7 is designed for faster and more reliable performance, so your PC just works the way you want it to.

And with Windows Anytime Upgrade, you'll be able to add new features to your PC in as little as 10 minutes. Windows will walk you through the simple upgrade process, it requires no software or downloads, and you'll keep your existing programs, files, and settings

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Zalman ZM-RS6F 5.1 surround sound headphones Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Not bad. No subwoofer but I don't even like subs that much. When 1st plugged into sound card (creative SB AUD2 NX) the sound was muddled. But if you tweak with the graphic equilizer on the sound card and the tone control utility. you could make it sound clear. Im doing that now as I write, haven't found the perfect combination yet, so that's one of the hassle for it (ie. it doesn't have a tone adjustment knob on the headset, you need to tweak the equilizer). Another bad thing is it doesn't have a volume control knob either, but you could solve that easily by tweaking the master volume on sound card. That's why I'm giving it a 4, the hassles of finding the perfect combination of tone and volume, detracts from its enjoyment (but once you get it right, its awesome).

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5.1 Channel Equivalent 6 speaker real surround sound headphones.Electro Dynamic Round Type Micro Speaker. Frequency Response - 50Hz 20KHz (Extension Effective).

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Infocus Play Big IN72 480p DLP Home Theater Projector Review

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(More customer reviews)Holy cow this was a great purchase. I use a digital projector in my living room as my "tv". When I went to replace my existing Infocus projector, I considered stepping up to the IN76. After all, the IN72 is just the current version of the model I already had, right? Well, ok, technically, that is true. But, wow is there a difference.
This model has really wonderful brightness and color. The difference between it and earlier models is truly striking. Since light pollution from the surrounding environment (windows, etc.) has been my only real complaint with digital projectors, the added brightness of this model has really made me fall in love with them all over again.
Additionally, the fans are so quiet that I did not even build a hush box for it. I couldn't find any fans that were more quiet.

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The IN72 uses Pixelworks DNX video-processing technology to dramatically improve the quality of video by combining multiple enhancement techniques to deliver clear, natural-looking standard and high-definition images. DNX technology utilizes sophisticated digital video processing to deliver a lifelike picture every time. Enjoy setup in a snap with a simple keypad and a new, full-featured home entertainment remote control with patent-pending flashlight feature, direct source access, programmable presets and more. An icon-based menu allows you to quickly scroll and select your settings in your choice of 12 languages without interrupting the show. Five user-selectable video inputs enable impressive connectivity with a full range of devices, including VCRs, DVDs, component and RGB HDTVs and your game console of choice. The unique swivel base lets you set your IN72 conveniently on your coffee table or easily mount it on your ceiling.

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Acer AS7551G-6477 17.3-Inch Laptop (Mesh Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Summary:
This is a very decent Laptop. I ordered it with the intentions of using it as my main gaming machine and to do business on. I was a little concerned about it being able to handle the latest games, but it seemed to have the best chance for the price point ($650 at the time of this review). Overall it performs very well and I have not encountered a serious problem with it.
Pros:
According to the Windows 7 Experience Rating, this system scores a 5.7 out of the available 7.9. The highest score points went to the RAM and the lowest went to the Hard Drive (which received a 5.7). In games this system performs very nicely. It can run Battlefield Bad Company 2 on all high settings at Maximum Resolution (as long as you turn anti-aliasing down to 1x). It's a very smooth process. The Trackpad is responsive and the single button works well. The screen is sharp and has a maximum resolution of 1600x900. It includes a full Keyboard (chicklet style) and a full Number Pad. It has 3 USB 2.0 Ports as well as a SD Card Reader. The casing does not seem like it would be prone to fingerprints. The speakers work well, although there is no bass (Subwoofer).
Cons:
The biggest Con that affects performance is the Hard Drive. This system comes loaded with a 500 GB 5400 RPM Hard Drive. The standard for this class of machine is a 7200 RPM drive (which would bring up performance considerably). The whole casing is 100% plastic which could potentially make it prone to breaking at some point. Many modern laptops come with full or partial Aluminum cases which would reduce the potential for damage. The 5650 Dedicated Graphics Card only has a 128-bit Interface. This is really a bottleneck for performance and will slow the flow of data from the video card to the rest of the system. Most high-class video cards come with a 256-bit interface or above. This package also does not include any driver disks. For me this was a problem because the first thing that I did was to install Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit. Windows 7 does not come with any support for your Wireless Card or Ethernet Card. So after you install it, you have no way of getting online to download Drivers from the Acer Website. I ended up tethering my cell phone to the computer to be able to download the wireless driver. When you look at all the drivers for this laptop model on the Acer website, they list 2 different wireless drivers (aetheros and broadcom). Just for your reference, this machine uses the Broadcom driver. The battery life is about 1.5-2 hours. This is probably acceptable considering that it's a 6-cell battery that is powering a gaming machine. The 17.3" Screen is glossy, so it may not be ideal for well-lit environments (lots of glare/reflections).
Conclusion:
This is a great machine for the price that can run modern games right out of the box. It can also easily be upgraded to keep it modern. The Triple-Core processor can be upgraded to a 35watt or 45watt Phenom II Quad Core Processor for a big boost of performance. The RAM can be replaced with 8 GB of DDR3 1333 Mhz RAM. The Video Card can also be removed and upgraded (recommended to get rid of the 128-bit model that ships with this system). The biggest upgrade would be to go with a Solid State Hard Drive. This was the lowest score point for the system and would wildly improve the performance. Unfortunately this system only has 1 Hard Drive slot, so you may need to go with a big SSD which would be very expensive. Still, it is a great upgrade opportunity for this system. You may also want to consider a 9-Cell Battery to get a little more time away from your plug. Overall I would highly recommend this system to anyone that is looking for a gaming monster that isn't $1,000.

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Acer Aspire 7551G: Mobile Cinematic Entertainment
Enjoy a portable theater experience with the Acer Aspire 7551G (AS7551G-6477) PC laptop, which features a 17.3-inch CineCrystal display with a fast response time so that fast action moves seamlessly across the screen and a 16:9 aspect ratio--perfect for viewing content created for the widescreen. The two built-in speakers produce vividly realistic audio. You'll also be able to connect this laptop to your HDTV via the HDMI port.
Enjoy cinematic brilliance on the 17.3-inch HD Acer CineCrystal widescreen LCD display with a true 16:9 aspect ratio and Intel integrated graphics delivering crystal-clear images and brilliant color for today's best entertainment.

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Ear Force DSS 7.1 Channel Dolby Surround Sound Processor Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you are traveling, and you need something that can handle optical 7.1 channel audio, this is a fine item to bring along. It's a little smaller than a pack of smokes and can be run off of a usb to ac adapter. I live in a small apartment in Japan, so I don't have space for a huge sound system. Also, I suffer from insomnia, and sometimes I want to play a game or watch a movie late at night. This gadget allows me to hook up some good headphones and enjoy my movies and games without being a pain to my roommates or neighbors.
It's also worth noting that the surround sound, even on standard headphones, is remarkably well-done. I have been testing it with Metal Gear Solid 4 on my ps3, which I connected to the unit with an optical cable. I'm hearing things I never noticed before in the game, and I really can sense the location of enemies and other things by sound alone with this device.
I think audiophiles would prefer other DACs for listening to cds or lossless music, but if you want a surround sound system that can fit in your pocket or go with you on a trip, or want to be able to listen to surround sound without disturbing your neighbors or flatmates, this is what you've been waiting for.
My only other suggestion is to use good headphones with this unit. It'll work with whatever you hook into it, but better headphones will reveal the high-quality bass, mid, and treble sound that this unit produces.

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The Ear Force DSS 7.1 channel Dolby surround sound processor transforms any stereo headset into full, immersive surround sound for playing Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or PC games and watching movies with Blu-ray or DVD players. It works with any set of stereo headphones and is the perfect complement to the Turtle Beach Ear Force series of stereo gaming headsets (X31, X11, XLC, Z1, Z2 and PX21). The optical digital input easily connects to a game console or media player for Dolby 7.1 channel surround sound and the analog input can also be used to upgrade analog stereo audio sources to Dolby Pro Logic IIx for virtual surround sound. A bass boost control adds sub-woofer effects for enhanced realism to any audio source.With the Ear Force DSS, video game and movie fans will be able to hear distinct audio events happening all around them, greatly enhancing the overall experience and rewarding gamers with a newfound competitive edge. DSS users playing games and watching movies on their game consoles will actually hear the 7.1 surround sound from certain 5.1 channel audio tracks via additional "hidden" channels called Dolby EX.

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ButtKicker BKA300 Wireless Home Theater Kit with ButtKicker Advance and Power Amplifier Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased the ButtKicker BKA300 based on prior reviews here. This is my first time owning one of these systems. The intended purpose of was for more immersive movie-watching and playing on a PS3. The kit was setup with a HDTV using the line out on the TV using a Y-adapter to split between it and a 2.1 (two satellites one sub) speaker set. The rumble unit was setup under one of the four rear legs of a three-person sofa.
Watching live concert music on the Palladia channel really gives the feeling of being there. I started noticing that on regular TV programming one can hear muffled sound on most dialog as if the sofa was the speaker. This is a bit distracting, and an annoyance that could be addressed by sound proofing the furniture a bit.
The blu-ray version of The Dark Knight has some loud low frequency passages that causes a loud metallic thump. At first I though it was bouncing against the furniture or floor, so I took a couple of mouse pads as a quick fix test and put them in between the floor and another between the rumble platform and the sofa, but it did not fix the problem. I then watched Pirates of the Caribbean, again on blu-ray, fortunately not much of an issue here.
Gaming on the PS3 was another issue. Playing Call of Duty 4 with the rumble kit really brings gaming to a whole new level. Unfortunately, once I went online, grabbed a sniper rifle and aimed at someone, every heart beat the game produces started causing the metallic thump. I had someone else play while I tried troubleshooting the problem and noticed it was coming from inside the rumble module as if it was bottoming out. A few days later a family member was playing Resistance 2 and the module was not working. It had stopped working within an hour of playing, and was very hot to the touch. Once it cooled it worked again so it appears that it disables to prevent damage. I tried multiple settings for several days, lowering the "volume" on the amplifier, selecting different modes (music,movie,game,) but was not able to fix the problem.
Ultimately, I decided to return the unit. Really disappointing, I recently learned from reviews of the bigger brother (400 watts min, 1100 watts max) unit also bottoms out; this one is 50 watts. I may still give it a cautious try.

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All new ButtKicker Kit with new 4 ohm ButtKicker Advance transducer, the new wider couch / chair mounting accessory kit, new BKA300-4 amplifier (115v) with integrated wireless option, optional vertical stand, and remote control with preset EQ settings, 6m of high quality speaker wire with banana plugs, 1m high quality RCA interconnect and high quality male to female RCA Y adaptor and a speaker level interface adapter for connecting to A/V systems without subwoofer pre-outs, and an illustrated Quick Start Guide.

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Portable Mini Audio/Video 13 Lumens LED Light Projector with 150:1 Contrast Ratio and Built-In Stereo Speakers Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I liked the price of course and I was attracted to the LED feature with it's lower power consumption, quiet opperation and long bulb life. The Problem are that this unit is so stripped down in regards to features you wonte be able to use it with very much versatility. I bought one specifically to hook up to a laptop and project the computer image.............Nope. It don't do that. I did hook up an old VCR just to make sure it worked. It does work but not very well. Picture quality is dull and not very vivid at all. There is also an annoying pattern that is visable and reminds me of the dot pattern you see when you look at a magazine photo through a magnifying glass. I desperatly want to brighten up the picture but there is no control for that. All and all I think I can say that I don't think I'll get much use out of this unit. The concept is good but that's about as far as it goes. The picture is simply not clean enough for anyone who is trying to duplicate a television quality image in a larger version........ How do I send this thing back?


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Featuring 480 x 240 resolution, 2 stereo speakers, and a screen projection of up to 80-inches, this compact and lightweight LED projector is perfect for entertaining at home, in the dorm room, or anywhere else. Connect to a DVD player, VCR, TV, digital camera or video game console with the included composite RCA cables. The projector is extremely easy to operate - just plug in the projector, connect the composite RCA cables to your video source, and turn it on! Plus, with little to no operating noise, and no heating/cooling time required for use, the Mini AV LED Video Projector is the perfect addition to your home theater system.

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