A couple of years after the Netbook was made redundant was slimmer, cheaper, smaller notebooks and a couple of quarters after the launch of the affordable tablet-based 2-in-1 devices, the Netbook seems to be making a comeback. The sales pitch is the same as before: be more productive on the move. But with its original nemesis, the tablet, losing steam, the small notebook seems to be on the revival path. Acer Aspire E 11 E3-112 The new E 11 E3-112 is not much different from the earlier Acer Aspire One range of netbooks. Actually, it is tough to make a netbook look much different. The 11.6-inch HD screen is decent with good viewing angles. However, if you are used to a larger laptop and keyboard, you will need to get used to this one. It will be almost an upgrade for those used to tablets. Specs: Windows 8.1 | Intel Celeron N2840 Dual-core 2.16 GHz | 29.5 cm (11.6") HD (1366 x 768) 16:9 | 2 GB, DDR3L SDRAM | 500 GB HDD | SD card readers, HDMI, LAN, USB X 3 | 3-cell 2670 mAh Li-polymer battery Price: Rs 18,500 What is good? The design of the E 11 E3-112 makes it very convenient to use on the go. The 11-inch is a very manageable size as proven by the MacBook Air and for those who need a Windows-based mobile computing device this could be the perfect design. The keyboard is not too cramped and except for the arrow keys there is enough space to find the right keys. Also, Acer has avoided unnecessary keys that just add to the confusion, especially on a smaller device. The screen quality is good, especially when considering the price of the device. What is not that good? The overall performance of the device is decent, but not good enough for me to stick my neck out. I believe an Intel Atom processor might have been better off as I felt the device was lagging once in a while. Especially when browsing, there seems to be a momentary lag between whatever you do. I would expect more battery life from a computing device that I want to use on the go. The E 11 E3-112 gives about four hours, which I think is a couple of hours short for those who want to use this for productivity. The trackpad is a bit stubborn at times and needs to be pushed to perform. Plus, the keys are a bit noisy. Should you buy it? If you are looking for your first computer, maybe to take to college or school, this the E 11 E3-112 is a good buy. But I would not suggest this for people who are looking for a more portable second computer as you will find the performance short. However, Acer has upgraded versions of the same model which might be better for these users.
