Woefully poor product information - Aspire V5 (and probably others)

CuriousCustomer
CuriousCustomer Member Posts: 3 New User
in 2013 Archives

Have overcome brand loyalty/snobbery against "that funny unheard of make, Acer" to realise they seem good value, nicely finished, quality products.  Great.

 

So ... I start researching the models and prices and I find, basically, a number of variations that all go under the same model numbering.  For instance, a shop might have one V5-571 for one price alongside another V5-571 with same processor/memory for a different price.  Or, similarly, you'll see different processor and memory on laptops both bearing the V5-571 number, for the same price.  What's going on??  If you're lucky you might spot some models are a V5-571P but nobody, in store nor the Acer website, can tell you what that P signifies.

 

The Acer website is completely useless in offering no product range overview, only lots of pictures and videos, assuming people will just randomly go out and buy any old random model without worrying if it’s the right one or best price/spec combo for them.

 

To add to the confusion, I see you can download user guides for something also called G model as well as the P, and even I think it said a PG too!?

 

Lastly, aside from anyone hopefully being able to point me in the direction of a simple conventional product range specification overview/comparison table, does anyone know what the true position is on the presence of network/LAN sockets on these machines?  What summary specification info I have seen all says they come with one ... until you pick one up in a shop and you find its not there.  Again, perhaps instead of looking for a V5-571 I should look for a V5-571 or maybe a V5-571??  Spot the problem there, Acer ....?  Please please sort out your model numbering system and provide proper information on the website.

 

You've won me over as a brand worth considering, not least because you helpfully have keys and laptop body in contrasting colours to make finding the keys easier and the keyboard plate is not, like some, too springy and flimsy, but all the while you think customers are brain-dead mugs who just randomly buy any machine on a random whim rather than want to research the technical spec then you're in danger of me drifting away again.

 

Answers

  • Cory-Acer
    Cory-Acer Administrator Posts: 1,449 Community Administrator

    I understand that trying to differentiate laptops can be a bit challenging without all of the information needed.

     

    Looking at "V5-571P" there are some things you can quickly take away and the start to look at the specifics. V5 is main model type. The 571 tells you a couple quick features like screensize (5 = 15.6", 1 = 11.6", etc) and the rest tells us overall power in the unit (CPU). The higher the number, the more power.

     

    In our current lines P stands for touchscreen, and G will stand for discrete video (dedicated, like Nvidia 730M).

     

    Finally, take a look at part numbers listed on the products. They're also available online http://www.acer.co.uk/ac/en/GB/content/models/ultrabooks/aspirev5. The Part Numbers will start to give you the specifics on what may come with the unit: RAM, OS (32/64), Software, Special Feature etc...

     

    Hope this help.

  • Leho
    Leho Member Posts: 525 Mr. Fixit WiFi Icon

    Cory

    Your response is good and much appreciated input.  I have to agree with Curious that the model numbers have always been confusing due to lack of information.  Would it not be a capital idea to have a complete explanation of the model numbering system used by Acer posted on the product information sites?

    Leho

     

  • CuriousCustomer
    CuriousCustomer Member Posts: 3 New User

    I'll look shortly at that link you provided but meanwhile can say, certainly based on both website and 'real' shop listings/shelf labels where I have played with the devices myself, both P and non-P types are touchscreen!!  So I'm afraid I'm still confused!  Perhaps the shop has displayed the wrong paper label but again, I think you ned more explicit model numbering.  I shall make a point of turning them over next time and check for any manufacturer's label underneath

     

    PS.  Have looked at those product codes ... is there a chart of what all those codes and numbers mean?  Why do Acer make this all so complicated?!

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