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Complete listing of June 1996 reviews
By Jim Forbes
SOHO systems are shaping up as sweet deals. Acer, like many other vendors vying for a slice of this market, hopes to make its well-equipped Aspire Pentium 133 downright irresistible by bundling it with an assortment of top-notch software.
The Aspire Pentium 133's sleek mini-tower conceals a 133MHz Pentium CPU and comes with 16MB of RAM. The Aspire system's standard components include a Maxtor 1.6gigabyte hard disk, TEAC 6X CD-ROM drive, motherboard-based video with 1MB of VRAM and a 28.8Kbps voice/data/fax modem. A mouse and keyboard are also included. The test system came with a $449 speaker-equipped Acer Aspire 15-inch monitor.
After your eye wanders from the stylish system, it's bound to linger over the Aspire's impressive array of software. In addition to several sign-up packages for the Internet and online services, you get Lotus SmartSuite 96 with Word Pro, 1-2-3, Freelance Graphics, Organizer and Approach. Other software goodies are Intuit's Quicken SE, Storm Software's EasyPhoto, and a comm package that handles data, faxes and voice messaging.
Upgrading the Aspire is a snap. To get inside, you just pull up a front-mounted lever and slide the case forward. There is ample room for expansion-three PCI and four ISA slots-and there's room to work without having to remove any other components.
The CD-ROM drive performed slower than its 6X rated speed, and had a 231.9-millisecond access time. The drive's eject button is flush with the case and difficult to reach. I had to use a pen to push the button that ejects the disc caddy.
Compared to other 133MHz Pentium systems we've tested, the Aspire's video and hard disk performance was slightly below average, with ratings of 4.9Mpixels per second and 2.56MB per second for uncached throughput on our Wintune tests. Its CPU was clocked at 238.66MIPS, but its video and hard disk contributed to disappointing scores on our Word and Excel macros test-55.3 and 28 seconds, respectively. Also, images displayed on the monitor were somewhat fuzzy.
With its excellent collection of software, the Aspire is a good all-in-one solution. But for sheer power, other 133MHz Pentium systems overshadow this tower.
Info File
Acer Aspire Pentium 133
Price: Without monitor, $1,999; monitor, $449
Pros: Software; hard disk; expansion; monitor controls
Cons: Performance; display quality
Acer America Corp.
800-733-2237, 408-432-6200
WinMag Box Score: 4.0
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