Acer Aspire M5 581TG

Acer Aspire TimelineU M5-581TG-6666 Review

Acer was the first company to add discrete graphics to Ultrabooks with the Timeline M3, and now it's back with the 15.6-inch Acer Aspire TimelineU M5. At $829, this sub-5-pound notebook packs Nvidia Kepler graphics for playing some of the latest games and Intel Ivy Bridge power for a lower cost. The M5 seems like a good bet for college students and gamers on the go who consume a lot of multimedia content, but is this thin-and-light machine versatile enough?Click to EnlargeEssentially the same design as the Aspire Timeline Ultra M3, Acer keeps things pretty modest in terms of design on the M5. The lid of the M5 is swathed in a slate gray brushed aluminum with a lone chrome Acer insignia. When the lid is closed, the back ridge of the interior deck is exposed, displaying the Dolby Professionally Tuned logo.While the same color as the lid, the interior of the notebook is constructed from anondized aluminum. A spacious keyboard resides in a shallow depression, while the touchpad is surrounded by a thin strip of chrome. The display, also wrapped in a very thin gray soft touch bezel, features a small chrome Acer logo at the bottom.Click to EnlargeAcer has played hide-and-seek with the power button, placing it on the right front lip of the computer.