Acer Aspire 4740G: Work Away From Home
This post was written using this notebook.
As soon as I learned that I was able to get a salary loan from SSS and a multipurpose loan from PAGIBIG, I went out looking for laptops that satisfy that budget. After those few years of working at home at a desktop computer, maybe it is time for me to get out of my home and explore the world, right?
When I went out shopping, I already had set my sights on the ideal computer that I want: as light as a netbook but as powerful as a laptop. Performance was my first consideration; weight comes second. Soon I learned that finding one was difficult at this time.
After scouting around I decided to get an Acer 4740G notebook computer. Any person looking over this laptop gets to see these specifications written at the palmrest just below the right hand side of the keyboard.
- Intel Core™ i3 processor 330M (2.13 GHz, 3MB L3 cache)
- NVIDIA® GeForce ® 310 M 512MBVRAM
- 14.0 inch HD LED LCD
- 2 GB memory
- 320 GB HDD
- Acer Nplify ™ 802.11 b/g/n
And, What Else
There’s actually more to what is written on that, as I am happy to be have a DVD recorder (8X DVD Super Multi double-layer drive), 3 USB 2.0 ports (one of this is located at the right hand side of the computer where a right-handed optical mouse can be placed), multi-in-one card reader (SD™, MMC, MC, MS PRO, xD), built-in webcam and microphone.
The 14 inch LED LCD is at 1366×768 pixel resolution which I find suitable for most office application tasks and blogging work, but sometimes inadequate for web design work (I often need larger resolution monitors for this, that why I still need that maintain that desktop computer with the huge LCD monitor at home).
At times, I would turn this laptop into a portable entertainment center: its 16:9 aspect ratio lets me enjoy movies. I just plug in a high-quality headset to be able to enjoy the Dolby® Optimized sound (3rd generation Dolby® Home Theater® audio enhancement). The 8X DVD Super Multi double-layer drive is already enough for me to enjoy these high quality videos.
My kid was also at all excited when I got that toy, that she was even willing to pose for the camera as I got home and unwrap that from its box.
Why This Laptop Fits Me
I am a very heavy internet user, a Firefox user with several add-ons installed (for web development), an Adobe Photoshop user, a moderate application multitasker and a very heavy internet user. Since I do freelancing, I had to use the computer more than once a day and it should allow me to easily connect to wifi internet and/or USB broadband internet.
I had been carrying this laptop for a few weeks, checking in at restaurants, malls, coffee shops and other places where wifi and/or broadband internet is available. So far, I am happy with the performance of this computer.
However, this laptop is still quite heavy for me. This baby is weighs at 2.3 kgs without its laptop bag: quite bulky, really. I carry that just like any other ordinary sling bag to avoid getting that snatched from my grasp.
Another disadvantage of this notebook is that it’s battery life lasts only 3 hours. A frequent traveler might to consider buying additional batteries; keeping these batteries fully charged most of the time is an additional thing to keep in mind.
I do not really like working with slower netbook computers even for blogging work so I decided to have this computer despite it’s heavy weight at 2.3 kgs (without the laptop bag) and short battery life (typically 3 hours, if I keep the LED LCD brightness at its lowest level and not plug any peripheral on its ports).
This notebook computer only costs me P33,600 (around US $750) which I bought from a local computer shop along Session Road here in Baguio City. If you are looking for a laptop that just covers only simple office tasks or even blogging then you’d realize that this laptop’s is more than suitable to your needs.
jojo siao
June 28th, 2010 at 12:15 pm #
Wow,
ganda naman nyan.
Jojo Siao
Tweets that mention Acer Aspire 4740G -- Topsy.com
June 28th, 2010 at 12:19 pm #
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Gem, Gem. Gem said: [Lady Programmer] The second computer that I use for freelancing http://ping.fm/EDaSm [...]
ever
June 28th, 2010 at 4:25 pm #
magandang simulain yan…magandang bagay ang may nainvest ka para naman sa sarili!.;)
Ishar
June 28th, 2010 at 8:08 pm #
Acer is quite ok for everyday use these days, I saw the same Acer model with different specs,
(http://www.metropolitan.lk/groupCategory/productGrpDetail.aspx?id=665) but the price is bit expensive, approximately US$ 1188. That’s Sri Lankan price at here. When I buy any electronic item I give expiry date, so 18 months is enough for a laptop! Also I never go for the best one at that time on the market.
Fonacier
June 28th, 2010 at 9:15 pm #
wow that’s great and very nice investment…I really like the specs of that toy of yours, sana ako din, goodluck to your freelancing works and if ever na meron kang extra works in designing paki bato mo namn sa kin, he he he…
Gem
June 29th, 2010 at 3:13 pm #
It’s pretty useful now that my fast home internet is down.
Gem
June 29th, 2010 at 3:17 pm #
That’s really a bit more expensive because of the higher specs. I could not find one locally in my hometown but I’d probably be able to find that one in Manila (capital of our country).
I agree with you, it’s not a wise to buy the best one in the market because the prices of these gadgets go down in a few months.
Gem
June 29th, 2010 at 3:18 pm #
True, at dapat mabawi ko agad ang investment ko dito soon enough!
Pastilan
June 30th, 2010 at 7:48 am #
I can work better with a PC but a laptop is good too kung lagi tayong on the go. Ganda ng laptop mo, kelan kaya ako makabili ng ganyan? Acer is good, if I decide to buy a new lappy it’ll have to be an Acer or a Sony, kung biglang magtitipid I’ll settle for an Asus.
JDM
July 3rd, 2010 at 2:09 pm #
Hayst.. pangarap ko din yan.. need ko pa madameng buyer sa odesk para makabili nyan.. tssk!
Gem
July 4th, 2010 at 8:29 am #
I had to LOL, your comment ended up sa spam. (kaya gumagamit ako ng ibang email address for each blog kasi, para di affected ang main email ko).
I know you have enough to buy, pero malamang di biro-biro ang bumili nito (it’s not one of the cheapest laptops in the market, at least in my place).
Maybe you’d consider one to lift up your motivation and even improve creativity? Nakaka work naman ako even if I am outside.
jojo siao
July 13th, 2010 at 7:01 pm #
pwede ba kahit pahawak?
pansay
July 15th, 2010 at 6:15 pm #
this is nice..
it’ll be one of my options when i buy me a new one.. 
Jhong Medina
August 11th, 2010 at 10:46 am #
Ang Ganda naman ng Model!
Great Job Gem!
Ian Buena
September 18th, 2010 at 1:45 am #
~I really like your site. Please keep it up. hehehe. Ate, if you can. Please provide tutorial post about how to earn money while surfing or using the internet. Yeah. Im glad that I have found you website. ^_^ God bless.
Ian Buena
September 18th, 2010 at 1:47 am #
~sorry. I have found your website pala. ^_^
jake
October 28th, 2010 at 9:22 pm #
hi, saang shop nyo po ito nabili? kasi mas mura pa po kesa dun sa mga tinignan ko sa SM. San po sa Session Rd.? TIA.
jen
October 29th, 2010 at 12:47 am #
Hi, San pong shop nyo binili sa session? ito po kasi pinagpipilian ko o kaya yung 4745g. Same specs but 4740g looks much better (for me). wala po yatang dedicated keys para i-deactivate yung touch pad at other keys sa right ung 4745g. fingerprint magnet po ba yung lid? Any problems encountered? Sorry, dami ko pong tanong. TIA. =D