Acer Aspire AS7740-5691

Available from Staples, the Acer Aspire AS7740-5691 ($649.98 list) offers a spacious 17.3-inch HD display, a dual-core CPU, and a few nice entertainment features. However, as is the case with most budget notebooks, there are trade-offs. While the integrated graphics helps keep the price down, the laptop has limited 3D capabilities. Additionally, the screen is only capable of displaying high-definition content at 720p rather than the full 1080p resolution. And of course, you have to put up with the inevitable barrage of bloatware that seems to accompany every affordable multimedia notebook these days. That said, the Aspire AS7740-5691 is still a good choice for budget-conscious consumers seeking a big-screen desktop replacement system.

Acer Inc.

http://www.acer.com

• Price as Tested: $649.98 List
• Type: General Purpose, Media, Value
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
• Processor Name: Intel Core i3 330M
• Processor Speed: 2.13 GHz
• RAM: 4 GB
• Weight: 6.7 lb
• Screen Size: 17.3 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: Intel GMA HD
• Storage Capacity: 320 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11n
• Primary Optical Drive: Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW