Is the Acer R7 worth it?

QuackzMcDuck
QuackzMcDuck Member Posts: 7 New User

I'm thinking of going to my best buy and asking to see if they have an Acer R7 with a SNID above 328. That being said, aside from the wifi issue on the earlier models, is the laptop worth it? I really do quite like the design and hinge feature, but I can't decide if I should get the R7 or opt for a more powerful laptop.

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Answers

  • ScottyC
    ScottyC Member Posts: 433 Practitioner WiFi Icon

    It really depends on what you intend to do with the thing. It's more than likely more than powerful enough to do what you need (unless you're doing video editing or HEAVY gaming). You're hard pressed to find a computer today that won't do all you need and more.

  • QuackzMcDuck
    QuackzMcDuck Member Posts: 7 New User

    My main purpose will be schoolwork for college. The most demanding game I really plan to play would be League of Legends. I have a desktop for all of my heavy gaming needs.

  • ScottyC
    ScottyC Member Posts: 433 Practitioner WiFi Icon

    I would say it's worth it, just remember to create recovery media IMMEDIATELY after buying the computer. I can't even tell you how many computers I've had to fix recently due to Windows 8 crapping out during updates. Microsoft claims this will be solved very soon and denies it's their fault, but it's happening on pretty much every model of every brand with Windows 8 installed so...

     

    As long as you do that, and keep backup copies of your important files on another drive (should be doing this anyway) you'll love this unit.

  • QuackzMcDuck
    QuackzMcDuck Member Posts: 7 New User

    I'm not sure if youre familiar with the game, but do you think the 1.8Ghz processor and HD4000 can handle League of Legends. Also do you think it would be a better idea to wait for the Haswell version of this laptop?(If you had any information on a US release date that'd be cool)

  • ScottyC
    ScottyC Member Posts: 433 Practitioner WiFi Icon

    Well technically you have more than 1.8Ghz as it's a dual core or quad core depending. Game recommends 4 gigs and you're above that, and they're suggesting DDR2 (you would have DDR3). The graphics card is more than powerful enough for this game and this system would have no issue running it. Now that being said, I personally would wait, but I have no clue when the release is. Sorry, you'll have to google that one.

     

     

  • zapman
    zapman Member Posts: 2 New User

    Ezel is sweet.... beats anything currently in the market...

     

    Slight design change would have made it sweeter when I dont want to use full palm gesture, specially lying on sofa simple touchpad finger gesture could do the job, might help hardcore users as well...

     

    my781.png

  • Luis_Finlay
    Luis_Finlay Member Posts: 11 New User

    I recommend this R7!!!

     

    Unless you have to use WiFi Connection XD

    The R7 is a fantastic laptop and as the other users say. The Ezel mode is fantastic! The only problem is that some Units (including mine) have some issues on the WiFi connection (very poor quality and speeds). besides that, it's really cool.

     

    The new R7 with haswell will hit Europe, the Middle East and Africa in late 2013.... (With an active pen -_-)

     

    If you are going to Europe, please bring us one XD

  • zapman
    zapman Member Posts: 2 New User

    R7 is the best convertible laptop in the Market. Yes wifi is a known issue (not only with Acer but also with Sony, Lenova <- using Broadcom adapter).

     

    Though Acer has the wifi issue fixed in Units with SNID above 328... Based on different forums(acer, sony,lenova), I see Acer has acknowledge (not formally) and addressed the issue quickly then other brands.

     

    Before buying I came across the wifi problem thread on this forum where the SNID tip was posted. After shopping few BB stores, found one unit with SNID 330.. and no wifi issue... sweet.

  • mazen
    mazen Member Posts: 57 New User

    Get the Asus mate, acer R7 is not worth it at all beleive me, i have one and returned it afte 4 days. Accessories are expensive and there is not alot( barely u find it) .

    Good luck

  • QuackzMcDuck
    QuackzMcDuck Member Posts: 7 New User

    What makes you say that? I mean, I know compared to the Asus the specs of the R7 aren't as good but the ezel design is really cool. I'm not worried about accesories because quite frankly, I can't image what accessory you would need for a laptop such as this. It will fit almost any 15.6' laptop bag/backpack, it will work with just about any wireless mouse, and I don't think a screen protector would be that necessary (though I did get curious to see if they made them for this particular laptop, they do, check amazon).

  • Smurk
    Smurk Member Posts: 30 Troubleshooter

    Windows Experience Index on this Aspire R7 with i7, SSD, GT 750M and 8GB mem is 7.1/7.9. One of the most recent 3D video games that requires high performace graphics is COH2. It can run it in 1280x720p with +45 FPS. Older like CoDWaW run with +60 FPS. The games are running from USB3 drives. Only the OS occupies the C drive.

     

    Internal WiFi works perfectly no thanks to Acer support. Bought an Intel adapter online and went to an Acer repair shop, they installed it in less than 30 minutes for 26 euro. Just downloaded 2.24 GB in about 10 minutes with it.

     

    The computer comes with Win 8. And Acer BIOS prohibits booting windows 7 setup from UEFI, so it´s not possible to format the C with GPT. So if you want Windows 7 with C drive formatted with GPT, then it´s not worth it.

     

    Maybe a BIOS mod could fix it and some other flaws too.

  • QuackzMcDuck
    QuackzMcDuck Member Posts: 7 New User

    Too bad I can't get that version of the R7 in the US.

  • Smurk
    Smurk Member Posts: 30 Troubleshooter

    Why do you think you cannot order from EU ? According to their site: "Amazon.de gladly accepts orders from all around the globe. Available product lines, shipping rates and fees may vary depending on the deliver address for your order." http://www.amazon.de/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200198570

     

    Here´s what you should try: Create an account on your LOCAL Amazon, so they have your address registered. Then go to http://www.amazon.de/Acer-R7-571G-73538G25ass-Notebook-i7-3537U-Touchscreen/dp/B00CO0XVHS and select the correct modifications which is i7 and SSD, GT 750M, 8GB mem. Then add it to your buys and logon with your account created locally on amazon. It will automatically select your US address.

     

    That´s how this piece was shipped from Germany to Spain.

     

    Just expect a delay in customs because of the high price. You can track delivery online.

     

    If you get any problems with internal WiFI, order the Intel WiFi AC-7260 Adapter: > https://communities.intel.com/thread/44019 

     

    Here´s about the experience with the Intel WiFI adapter on this computer: https://communities.intel.com/thread/44437

     

    Note that it was a local Acer reapir shop that installed it.

  • simeon
    simeon Member Posts: 6 New User

    yeah I am in love with it, asides from the wifi issues it is an amazing computer

  • simeon
    simeon Member Posts: 6 New User

    Smurk,

    How did you find a local acer repair shop? Where you just lucky enough to have one in your city?

     

    Thanks

  • Smurk
    Smurk Member Posts: 30 Troubleshooter

    Shops that sell Acer products also have somewhere they can have them repaired in order to comply with warrenties. So here at a shopping center they were so kind to provide an address when asked about special accessories for this Acer computer. The repair shop was called Olympia .. something (not Acer) but they specialized in repairing Acer and PackardBell.

  • Smurk
    Smurk Member Posts: 30 Troubleshooter

    Here´s a picture of download speed on this Aspire R7 with Intel Wireless-N 7260: http://s8.postimg.org/6puj8m9dx/Speed.jpg while browsing and streaming youtube. It´s almost as fast as copying from USB3 to USB3 drive.

    Here´s a picture of device: http://s23.postimg.org/6em4d5amj/Capture.jpg

     

  • statecb
    statecb Member Posts: 2 New User

    We bought the R7 for my son to take to college 600 miles away from home.  All he wanted was a laptop to perform the basic functions of word processing and excel, plus to be able to watch Netflix - everything else was ancillary to these main functions.  He loved the look of the device, the display was great and had all the right features for his use pattern.

     

    Our experience:

     

    While still at home he experienced the almost ubiquitous WiFi problem - but we just wrote it off as weak signal in his bedroom as it seemed to work better in other areas of the house (even though every other wifi device he has - iPhone, XBox and old Toshiba laptop - accessed the WiFi without issue in his room).

     

    Once at school (600 miles away from home and my support - limited as that is...) the WiFi issue persisted even in a small dorm room, right next to the in room access point,and it did not work anywhere else on campus.  So after looking at the Acer forums and the large thread of problems with the WiFi we just purchased an USB WiFi adapter and moved on - not happy that we had to resort to spending more money, but it wasn't much and it worked great! 

     

    Three days later the hard drive in the unit crashed - trip to Best Buy, two days of service and $100 later he had his laptop back - time to reload everything again...

     

    1 week after that, the R7 will not power on without being plugged in to AC power.  If the AC power cord is removed the unit just turns off (not shutdown, turn off).  Again, he is 600 miles from home, has no car at school - so getting to Best Buy is troublesome, but will happen at some point.  I have not seen much on this issue with the R7, I found a similar thread with this issue with the S7 - and the recommended (and only soultion that seemed to bear results) was to tighten a freaking screw on the back of the unit.

     

    So after spending $1250 (R7, USB Wifi, Best Buy Geek Squad - and not included is the external DVD rom device we purchased to use on the unit) - I have a laptop that functions only when plugged into the wall limiting it's use as a resourse and a son who just wants to be able to get his course work completed.  He now wants to give in to the dark side and switch to a Macbook ($1500 more dollars, becuase he needs the retina display - another topic on needs vs. wants!!!) because in his words 'THEY JUST WORK.'

     

    I don't know how many of these units Acer has sold, probably 100's of thousands, and maybe the number of support issues on the forums is a small percentage, but I cannot wholeheartedly recommend this unit to anyone who just wants to have a laptop that just works.  Additionally, I cannot believe that Acer has not made good to those of us who have a unit below 'SNID 328' - whatever that means - this is the first I have seen this.  If there is truely an issue with units prior to SNID 328 Acer should fix ALL units at their expense (no shipping charges, no service fee) as THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

     

    Okay, I feel better....just wish the laptop worked better now as well!

     

     

  • Smurk
    Smurk Member Posts: 30 Troubleshooter

    @statecb, get a waterproof laptop or let the bugger buy it for own earnings ...

This discussion has been closed.