CNET Asia Blasts the Acer Aspire Gemstone BMW Laptop

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Acer recently released the Acer Aspire 5920 Gemstone designer laptop that sports the new Intel Santa Rosa platform. CNET Asia got its hands on one and they don't exactly love the design.

Acer Aspire 5920 Gemstone BMW designed laptop

The Aspire 5920 apparently took Acer seven months of work to design, and involved 100 designers at the BMW Designworks lab (better known for designing cars) to create a notebook that would be as much about fashion and taste as it is technology. As you may know, Acer is fairly giddy about cars, they were the first to start the trend of designing laptops after cars with the introduction of the Acer Ferrari line. So it makes sense Acer went back to another car maker to help with design, though no BMW logo will appear on the Aspire 5920. Despite all the design effort, according to the Singapore based CNET Asia, this attempt fell flat: &quot;we're really not feeling the design.&quot;

Some other zingers from the editors about this laptop include:

 

• &quot;The glossy black lid is okay, but every laptop maker, his mum and his dog has one of these--so nil points there.&quot;
  
  
• &quot;They also get zero props for the granddad-pleasingly grey keyboard section. It looks white in the pictures, but believe us when we say it's greyer than John Major after a bout of autoerotic asphyxiation with Madame Whiplash.&quot;
  
  
• &quot;The next design faux pas is the USB port arrangement. There are three ports on the left side, which is fine, but we reckon the lone port on the right was stuck there by a petrol-head who knows nothing about laptops. The port sits about 1mm away from the DVD-ROM drive, so any standard-sized USB device physically prevents the drive bay from opening. The USB logo is even printed in the wrong place--above the DVD drive.&quot;
  
  
• &quot;Ironically there's even a button that does absolutely nothing--like the dummy switches on cars that haven't got all the optional extras. We have no idea why they've included this--it makes you wonder whether there's something missing.&quot;
  
  
• &quot;We can't argue with the price, either--a measly S$2,698 (US$1,716.50) goes a long way to make up for the design car crash.&quot;

Pretty funny stuff. The upside to the Aspire 5920 is that it is a Santa Rosa laptop with nice specs:

• 2.0GHz Intel T7300 Processor
• 2GB RAM (@667MHz not 800MHz)
• NVidia 8600M graphics
• 15.4&quot; glossy screen
• Dolby certified speaker system, with subwoofer underneath

The article is not a full review from CNET, but the editors promise a full one will be coming up. I'm wondering if Acer is regretting sending them this laptop in the first place after that initial drubbing though! Link to the full Hands-on with the Aspire 5920 article here.

 

Agreed. 100 designers? If I wasn't so apathetic I'd be embarrassed about starting a thread on this laptop!

Too curvaceous for my liking. Also a major blunder to have a usb port so close to the DVD drive. Doh! Of course you could remedy this by buying a usb-hub, but that shouldn't be necessary in the first place

 

Boy does that reviewer sound like he was having a bad day!

When I first saw the specs, price, and design by BMW of this laptop when it was first announced I was very impressed.

This seems to have changed my mind though.

 

Honestly I think this is probably why it's best to have people with expertise in, say, laptop design, design laptops.

Notice that BMW, Mercedes, etc. never make a big announcement about how they've hired 100 laptop designers to design their newest car model.

 

TBH, you don't really need to be an expert, with regards to the usb port placement blunder... a little common sense goes a long way you know

 

This is really the once in a while time that i agree with CNET

 

What can I say? Asia Cnet knows better than to bite the hands that feed it and in this case it's not Acer. Also, check out the comments at the end of the article it's hilarious! It should come as no surprise that they will design something that hideous, I have no quibbles with the specs, since the BMW "designers" f'd up the cars themselves (take a look at the monstrosity known as their 7 series and the 5 series aren't any better, though they seem to have gotten better with the 3 series)

 

Awww, I thought the design was pretty.

 

The USB port too close to the optical drive is a huge flaw.

I'm wondering if this was a pre-production unit.

 

Another pathetic review from CNET.I think some of their reviews like this one can really fall under the "trolling" category.

 

Gotta agree on this one- pathetic. Somebody had a bad day or sth...

Does it take a "petrol head" to know Santa Rosa doesn't support DDR2 800?

As for the DVD drive I expect the final version will use a slot-loaded drive.

 

Don't much like CNET but I'd loose my job over a minor mistake like that USB port.

 

Yeah, they never quit on that.

 

CNET Asia is usually better than North American CNET, but any laptop review that uses the word 'autoerotic' is clearly over the top. I really don't find the aesthetics that repulsive, and the price is reasonable. Misplacing the USB port however, is inexcusable and will either sink the notebook or cost Acer millions in redesign costs.

 

That is if the 1mm is really 1mm. :laugh:
EDIT : I'm not an Acer fan at all, in fact quite the contrary in many cases, but I just can't help hate the totally amateur way that CNET reviews stuff.

 

Looks pretty damn close though…
Don’t know if it blocks the drive or not if you use standard USB but I don’t think you can use a pendrive and open the tray.

BTW- on this photo it lacks some connectors- I think I saw at least two near this USB, anyone?

http://www.nbprice.ru/image/test/acer_press_24-5/222/5.jpg

 

Oh you're right, the USB port is too much close to the Optical Drive.
It might be indeed a pre-version as Chaz pointed out...

 

If it is a pre-production unit (one without even the final design), it is kind of baffling as to why Acer would send it to CNET to review. It's one thing to send a pre-production unit if the design at least has been finalized, but it would be pretty crazy to send an incomplete version over.

The idea of it being a pre-production unit might be bolstered though by that comment about a "dummy" button that doesn't seem to do anything (i.e. that's either a button that some functionality will be added to in the final rev, or the button will be removed in the final rev).

But still, have to wonder what Acer was thinking.

 

And there is the reason- I knew I saw more of them ports
Took a screenshot from ACER's presentation that is here:
http://global.acer.com/products/notebook/2007newid/as_look.html

I don't think they can move it that easy...

 

The thing I wonder is do these companies not even try and use the laptops before they send them out? I mean that's a pretty obvious fault it would seem, that definitely should be caught by any sort of usability testing.

 

I guess it would depend on how thorough the user testing is. Technically speaking, i can at least see how you could have people try the laptop out, comment on it, etc. without ever actually encountering the scenario where this would become an issue (having something plugged into the USB port and trying to open the optical drive).

 

That's why I thought that the final version will use a slot-loaded drive. The tray is wider by at least 2-3mm judging by my own slot-loaded. These 2 or 3mm would make a hell of a difference here.

 

A slot loading drive would certainly make more sense and address that issue.

 

i just find the design unpleasing to the eye to begin with. Is it just me or does it look thick?

 

I just really understand what these people are doing with the design.

Its also the same thing with HP design those consumer laptop with some engraving like a dollar bill on it.

And all these glossy finish.

They should get down to the basic with non glossy screen and all the connections like USB, ethernet and power port at the back.

I like the layout of the D620/D630.

 

Yeah I agree with you. I think the design is terrible but that is just my opinion. Of course this laptop had amazing specs, but it doesn't make up for its design flaws.
Tim

 

Wow, that picture shows the USB port really is crowded right up against the optical drive.

I'm not smitten by the design either. It's different, I'll give them that. But it does look a little too muscular.

I have to say, I'm not a huge fan of CNET reviews, some writers do well and others not so much, but this guy wrote a really funny piece and it's quite refreshing to see an article that doesn't just sound like a rehash of marketing material -- the guy stated his real opinion and why he doesn't like the design. Also remember this isn't their full review, it's a first thoughts article, he said the review will be coming.

 

I do not like it at all and with the mentioned flaws its a killer.

Its ugly.

 

Wow! The USB post is practically right on the crack of the optical drive. I don't see how even the smallest USB toy wouldn't block it.

 

Ya.. i agree with you as well... care to make a poll of whether this laptop is hot or not?

 

The design looks quite nice from this photo. Then again, I have to look at the actual product before I make my purchase

 

cNet really cannot review. Even with a physical notebook in front of them, they cannot get the basics right. Just watch or read the Asus G series review on cNet.com. They do not get the screen size right, nor the screen resolution...

They compare a 15.4 gaming notebook, to Alienwares and Dell XPS's that cost a LOT more.

Plus, their reviewing style seems to praise other products...Suspicious to me. Who funds this lot?

 

Hmm, I think its a prepro unit that Cnet got. The production model will prolly have a slot load drive and some functionality to that mysterious button.

Besides, whos bright idea was it to hire BMWs design team for this? Audi would have been a much better choice, they make cars that actually look good. BMWs newest designs, save for the 3 coupe and Z4, have looked soooooooo bad, the 7 and 5 especially.

 

They will facelift the 3 series soon..i ll update the picture when i have time..

 

The 3 facelift is really really minor, like the 5 series facelift (but that got new engines, so its not that bad). It really doesn't change much, the sedan still looks way too chunky in the front and frumpy in the back. The coupe is beautiful overall, especially with the Sport package wheels.

 

No.. it ll have a bigger facelift.. it looks like aston martin+bmw 6 series...

 

Wrong specs, horrible reviews, lots of bias. It's like they look at pictures and then make up stuff. Then they say to stay tuned for the performance tests, and they never do them. This is typical of so many cNet reviews. That's why I come here for reviews .

 

Didn't like the internal style ( keyboard area in particular ) at all , now it seems the design is faulty too .

Hopefully this will slow the wave of useless cars barnding in laptops which I find no point of as the two are not even remotly related and this is a "fine" example to that .

 

too bad it doesnt look as nice as a bmw

 

CNET tch! i haven't read their review, but if i read its usually a waste of my time, they're usually just elaborating the spec sheet, and mostly amateurish comment.

frankly i'am surprised at BMW design. they usually came up with one of the most beautiful merchandise design (from BMW lifestyle) this laptop is certainly is nowhere as striking as the stuff from Acer/Ferrari or Asus/Lamborghini

 

One of the photos of the presentation shows a bit more space between the USB port and the drive. Not a lot but possibly enough. Unfortunately I cannot attach the photo.

However, I do not think that there will be a slot drive or at least not for now as it is not listed in their spec sheet.

Overall I like the exterior design, bar the USB issue, but I am really not liking the interior. I am willing to bet that the white on the keyboard will start to fade pretty quickly.

 

Looks like a POS to me. Ugly design

 

This is insane. Is there something I'm missing here? The notebook isn't exactly a revolution in design so where are these strong feelings rising up from? They just rounded some corners, made the internal faces white, and put the long speaker on top of the keyboard. This thread is turning into a lynch mob. With the huge and ongoing success of Apple blurring the line between computing and fashion/fun, why wouldn't Acer try to jump in on the action as well?

Check out the Acer page for some better pictures and download the PDF for a closer look. ( http://global.acer.com/ ) Just click the flash presentation for a pop-up highlighting the whole gemstone concept as well as a look at the new Travelmate series.

As for the unfortunate placement of the USB port by the CD drive, there are some products which would provide no problems for using the port and drive simultaneously. For example, the Kingmax flash drive that I have ( http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=013194&cid=990.420 ). If your accessory is too big, there are three ports on the left as well.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to someone who's looking for a bargain in current technology. Especially if it's just going to be used around the house for light tasks and durability is not an issue. Which notebooks are really competing with this one in terms of price/performance? Possibly some of the lower end Dells (white-bumper models) and Averatec?

 

Looks like a nice laptop to me.

I am just scared to buy an acer....

 

You know, this would have been a lot nicer looking if they had kept the front edge straight instead of curved.

The Profile notebooks look really sweet though.

 

Am I the only one who finds the entire concept of designing laptops after cars pointless? The ferrari, the asus lambo, and now this...thing...

Those ridiculous frills and lambo "style" was the only reason that stopped me from buying a VX2...if I wanted a lambo..i'd save the money I would've spent on getting that extra "vroom vroom" at system startup and save it towards that car instead...(not that I can afford one at any rate, but still).

 

I definitely agree. I know some people like the vroom vroom aspect of these car makers on their laptops (I don't think it makes it go any faster, does it? ) but I'm actually the opposite. I like more minimal design approaches. So paying extra for some Lambo logo is like a double whammy for me - in my mind, I should have to pay less to have that gaudy thing on my laptop.

Some of the designs are actually quite nice - I would even consider buying one if it weren't for the branding and the $1000 price premium over a similar laptop.

 

Show me the similar config for $1000 less. I think this is a common misconception. My current notebook was actually very competitively priced and actually a bargain when I bought it.

The seeming disconnect between computing technology and racing technology is not what some may perceive. Fans of racing as a sport would know that it is a highly technological field and computers are necessary for a winning team. This is why laptop manufacturers want to be associated with being a part of the cutting-edge tech that can give a racing team that 1/1000 second they need to win. Even aspiring "street racers" turn to "chipping" their cars or evaluating fuel and air consumption by hooking up a notebook to their cars' computers.
I'm sure Vivek and lunateck would agree on the amount of tech that goes into cars these days. That said, it's no different to have a Tennis player support a tennis racket than to have the Ferrari team support Acer computing.

 

Okay. I'll compare the ASUS VX2 Lambo versus the ASUS G1.

Both have 15.4" WSXGA displays
Both have 2GB RAM
Both have 160GB 5400RPM drives
DVD burner
Go 7700 512MB
The VX2 has Vista Ultimate versus G1's Vista Home Premium
The VX2 has a T7400 versus the T7200 of the G1.

Price difference: $3,089.99 - $1,968.99 = $1121

G1 - http://www.ncix.com/products/index....A1231211CAL400T&manufacture=ASUS&promoid=1034
VX2 - http://www.ncix.com/products/index....A5311212GAL100T&manufacture=ASUS&promoid=1034

So yeah, factor in some of the differences and you've got about a $1000 premium.

 

Its got that clam like resemblance
It also looks like its very aerodynamic. Maybe they tested this in a wind tunnel. What would be the COD (coefficiency of drag) of that thing be? hehe

I can definitely say its not a very attractive notebook being all rounded like that. But then again didnt BMW go thru a extremely fugly stage a few yrs ago?