- Celeron M550 2GHz CPU
- Intel Santa Rosa chipset with GMA X3100
- 1GB of DDR2 RAM at 667MHz
- 120GB Hitachi 5400 RPM HDD
- Pioneer DL DVD Multi recorder
- 802.11g and Gigabyte Ethernet
- Windows Vista Home Premium
- 6-cell 4000 mAh battery
Conclusion
With a poor battery life and hefty weight, at normal business value PC price of $600 I would advise most people to avoid the Acer Extensa 5220. But with a price of $399 (less with coupons) it is hard not to appreciate the value on offer here.
This is a solid workhorse notebook. It is built on a well-support platform that is compatible with lots of operating systems. It has the ports a business user needs and technologies like DASP to keep data safe.
It handles Vista well-enough, but Linux and other OSes work really well with the stock hardware and hint at just how much bloat is in Microsoft's latest OS. You really need 2GB or more to enjoy Vista. There is mention in the Acer documentation of an XP downgrade, that might be an option for some people.
For shoppers seeking a basic computer or hacking/tweaking platform this Acer will be a good choice. The Extensa 5220 is priced similar to a Pentium-M based used/refurbished business class notebooks you can find on eBay (IBM T4x, Lattitudes, Tecras), but it is new and comes with a lot of extra features (newer processor technology, better optical, warranty).
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