Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3
Build & DesignAt first glance the Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 looks like a basic widescreen laptop with a thin profile, but take a closer look and you'll see the all-metal exterior conceals a very well-equipped ultrabook with many ports and a nice keyboard. While the 15-inch footprint and 20mm thickness of the chassis makes this the largest "ultrabook" we've reviewed to date, that size provides just enough room for a tray-loading optical drive and some powerful internal components. It's fair to point out that the original concept for "ultrabooks" was premium thin laptops based on the 11-inch and 13-inch Apple MacBook Air, but it's also fair to point out that many people like larger screens and full-sized keyboards and 15-inch laptops remain the most popular notebook size in terms of sales here in the United States.
The magnesium alloy lid and chassis give the Ultra M3 the convenience of light weight and the durability of metal construction. The matte-black finish looks clean and professional while the chiclet-style keyboard and giant touchpad give this ultrabook more consumer appeal. Unlike some thin and light laptops with metal lids, the screen lid on the Ultra M3 is surprisingly strong and should provide ample protection for the screen when you're traveling. As for the chassis itself, Acer packed as many components inside as possible so the M3 feels solid when you pick it up; there are no weak spots or hollow sounds when you tap your fingers on the notebook.
