Soft-Download

Whenever someone asks us if you can really get a decent laptop for $600, we're going to offer up the Acer Aspire 4710 as evidence. Here you've got a thin-and-light laptop with an attractive, 14.1-inch display, a solid keyboard, and all the ports and connections a home user could need, for just $599. The catch, if you consider it one, is that inside the case you'll find a dual-core Pentium processor which, though it has multiple processing cores, isn't enough to keep up with Core Duo and Core 2 Duo systems. No one expects a cheap laptop to win any speed contests, though. Many home users just want a machine for checking e-mail, typing documents, and watching DVDs, so for those users, we recommend the Acer Aspire 4710.

Price as reviewed/starting price	$599
Processor	1.73GHz Intel Pentium dual-core T2080
Memory	1GB of 533MHz
Hard drive	120GB at 5,400rpm
Graphics	Intel GMA 950 (integrated)
Chipset	Mobile Intel 945GM Express
Operating system	Windows Vista Home Premium
Dimensions	13.5x9.4x1.3 inches
Screen size (diagonal)	14.1 inches
System weight/weight with AC adapter	5.6/6.4 pounds
Category	Thiin-and-light

Like its larger and more-expensive sibling, the Aspire 5920, the Aspire 4710 features Acer's new Gemstone design, which includes a matte-black lid and a light-gray interior. The case's rounded corners and beveled edges give the laptop a soft look that, in this smaller form, reminds us of the original clamshell Mac iBooks. Despite its soft looks, the Aspire 4710 feels pretty solid, though the screen did wobble a bit on its hinges when we accidentally bumped our desk.