TechCrunch announced the Acer Aspire S3 “ultrabook” which apparently packs a big punch in a small package. It was the first product announcement I had read for the ultrabook form factor, so I wanted to take a look at what Acer is doing with it.
Text of My first impression: The Acer Ultrabook
1. My first impression: The Acer Ultrabook (NOT Netbook, NOT Tablet, NOT Laptop) October, 2011 http://www.everybodyscritic.com @EverybdysCritic
2. The Setup: TechCrunch announced the Acer Aspire S3 ultrabook which apparently packs a big punch in a small package. It was the first product announcement I had read for the ultrabook form factor, so I wanted to take a look at what Acer is doing with it.http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/10/acer-announces-the-core-i5-aspire-s3-ultrabook-available-this-week-for-the-ultra-bargain-of-899/ http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
3. First, what is an ultrabook? http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
4. According to Wikipedia: An Ultrabook is a computer in a category of thin and lightweight ultraportable laptops, defined by a specification from Intel corporation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrabook http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
5. In other words It allows Intel to lay claim to a form factor that Apple defined with the Air. Intel has some smart product people. http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
6. Lets see how Acer ispromoting the platform http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
7. Our trip starts at acer.com http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
8. Acer Home: A region selection page http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
9. A region selection pageshould NOT be the firstpage a consumer sees http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
10. Hello Acer Homepage At least it saves your preference http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
11. After you select a region, you see the other homepage http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
13. The S series is front and center http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
14. I stared at the glamourshot too long and the slide changed, so I hit Products http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
15. Selecting Products yields this menu Where are the Ultrabooks? I see every other book http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
16. A consumer might look at this and think http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
17. Did I get to a library or a computer manufacturer? I want the ultrabook! Notebooks = Laptops, ok http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
18. Did I get to a library or a computer manufacturer? I want the ultrabook! My friend got a Netbook. It was small, kind of cute. Its like a small laptop? http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
19. Did I get to a library or a computer manufacturer? I want the ultrabook! Doesnt Google havesomething Chrome? It was a book? http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
20. Did I get to a library or a computer manufacturer? I want the ultrabook! Does anyone still buy these? http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
21. This is not the ultraexperience I thought I would get http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
22. I took a shot and clicked on Notebooks Can you find the ultrabook? I have no idea what the defining features are of the Aspire or the TravelMate http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
23. Its a good thing I knew to look for S There it is! http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
24. The page is super long or should I say, ultra long? Someone in the Acermarketing department thinks he is ultra cleverBut he doesnt realize that no one scrolls that far down a page http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
25. Summary of the product page: Its a thin laptop with every feature you would expect (like wireless aka ultra seamless connectivity) http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
26. Stray Observations Acer creates many different products aimed at different markets, but makes no attempt to direct their audience The Acer website doesnt drive the user to buy, discover more information, or sign up for a newsletter S3-951-6646 is a very bad product name http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
27. Conclusions: Acer can say, me too. They created a decently-priced ultrabook with solid specs. It looks good, but is that due to the ultrabook definition or Acer? Intel can say, there is another manufacturer outside Apple making an ultrabook, and we made that possible. Consumers have no idea why they should get this over a netbook, thin and light laptop, or tablet http://www.everybodyscritic.com | @EverybdysCritic
