Acer Aspire AS5253-BZ661

Acer Aspire AS5253-BZ661

The Acer Aspire AS5253-BZ661 ($498.99 list at Costco) is a full-size desktop replacement laptop running on netbook parts. Those parts aren't Intel Atom based (which doesn't exist in anything beyond a 12-inch laptop) Rather, it uses what AMD calls an accelerated processing unit (APU), which puts the processor and graphics on a single chip. Based on AMD's Fusion technology, this super cheap laptop is more powerful than your average Intel-Atom netbook. It's a perfectly fine laptop for general-purpose tasks, such as Web surfing, office productivity, and light photo editing, and the price break ($499) and battery yields make this a solid second laptop. The Acer AS5253 uses a plain black top, which is not surprising given its budget price. Plain designs are common among aggressively-priced laptops, including the Gateway NV50A02u ($449.99 list, 4 stars) and Asus K52F-BIN6 ($479.99 list, 3.5 stars). As you move up the price ladder, laptops like the HP Pavilion dv6-6013cl ($650 direct, 4 stars) and Toshiba Satellite L655-S5161RDx ($699.99 list, 3.5 stars) have more sophisticated looks. On the bright side, the lid has a textured surface that's resistant to scratches and finger prints, like that of the NV50A02u.