Laptops - Acer vs Packard Bell

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ClintX

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So I was reading that Packard Bell is now a subsidiary of Acer. I therefore presumed quality must be similar now although Packard Bell used to be entry level.

So much question is why the Packard Bell below is so much cheaper than the Acer even though the spec seems superior to me. I realise an upgrade to the OS will change the price (how much?).

Packard Bell Price R4900

Packard Bell Easynote TS11-HR Black Notebook
Intel Mobile HM65 Express chipset
Intel Core i5 Sandy Bridge Dual Core i5-2430M 2.4Ghz 3MB L3 Cache Processor
3072MB DDR3-1666 SO-Dimm Memory (1x2048 1x1024)
500GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
DVD Super Multi Writer optical drive
15.6" WXGA HD (1366 x 768 resolution) Glossy Type LED Backlit Display
Intel HD graphics
802.11b/g/n Wireless Lan
10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
Bluetooth
Webcam
6 Cell Battery
Full Size Keyboard with Numpad
HDMI output
2.7 kg
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic Edition 64bit


Acer Price R5700

Acer TravelMate TimelineX TM8572-482G50Mnkk
Intel Core i5 480M 2.66GHz 3MB Cache
2GB DDR3 Memory
500GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
15.6" Active Matrix TFT Colour LCD WXGA
Optical Drive DVD-Writer
Webcam
Bluetooth 3.0
Gigabit LAN
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth
Fingerprint Sensor
No HDMI output
2.60 kg
Windows 7 Professional 32-bit


Why I reckon the PB is superior (correct me if wrong):

Sandy Bridge vs Allendale tech
3GB DDR3 vs 2GB DDR3


What about TFT LCD vs LED screen?
 
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I can only comment on the ACER.

I have had my Aspire TimelineX 5820TG for around 16 months and I still get over 5 hours worth of movie watching on a fully charged battery.

I like the simple brushed aluminium finish of the cover and it feels sturdy when opening and closing the lid. The profile is slim so it doesn't take much space in my hand luggage when I travel and it weighs just over 3.2kgs (more or less) with it's charger.

All in all, I am quite happy with my ACER lappy! :)

But I'd say go into a shop and actually have them in your hands before taking the plunge.
 
ponder said:
PB is crap.
Click to expand...

Thanks. But I really dislike responses like this, as they are not of much use.

Is that based on your personal impression, personal experience, hands on experience, professional experience, what you have heard on the internet, or just because you don't like the two words?

Packard Bell do not make their own components as far as I am aware so are you saying the case it all comes wrapped in is crap? Or the way they put the pieces together?

As stated up front they are apparently one and the same company now. I realise that PB could still be pushing out the cheaper range will Acer is the premium range but the specs do not show this.
 
There's more to it than just those specifications, you pay a lot for better build quality(i.e. tougher, longer lasting), better battery life as Jase pointed out etc.
In this case the Packard Bell has better specifications, but the price tells me that the rest of it is pretty entry level.

Both have LCDs, they're probably both LED backlit too.
 
Thanks KhoisanX. I wonder if we're related as we have the same surname? ;)

Something I did not mention is that those prices are from two different suppliers so if you are basing quality purely on price then that may be inaccurate. If you are basing on the brand names then that is interesting.

For some pricing accuracy I searched online and found three prices for both with different suppliers (I battled to find one place that sold both). The Acer averaged at R6000 and the Packard Bell averaged at R5500.
 
ClintX said:
What about TFT LCD vs LED screen?
Click to expand...

:D

As mentioned, both are LCD, one might be LED back-lit. LCD quality is dependent on LCD matrix tech (probably the same in both screens, TN panels) and independent of back-light type.

So with that out of the way, I would much rather suggest you look at a Gigabyte laptop. Excellent value and they come with a 2 year warranty. There's a lovely Core i5 model with 4GB RAM and GT520 graphics card which can even handle some games.
 
Acer bought Packard Bell a few years ago. 2008 (About 80% share)
 
PostmanPot said:
So with that out of the way, I would much rather suggest you look at a Gigabyte laptop. Excellent value and they come with a 2 year warranty. There's a lovely Core i5 model with 4GB RAM and GT520 graphics card which can even handle some games.
Click to expand...

Thanks, point me in the direction of some online sellers and I'll happily check them out.

droid said:
Acer bought Packard Bell a few years ago. 2008 (About 80% share)
Click to expand...

Yip, thanks, mentioned that in the first post.
 
The Packard Bell is definitely the one with better components, however I dislike Packard Bell for their lack of support.

Like the one time I tried to get drivers for a PB desktop's motherboard, I couldn't find any drivers, since they were using a custom Gigabyte motherboard that didn't even exist on Gigabyte's or PB's website! WTH.

Usually Acer's build quality is far superior from that of PB and other unknown brands.
Unfortunately I'm not sure if this changed much since 2008 - but PB's support was pretty weak with the older hardware.

You could always go and read up reviews specific to that PB laptop and if they're all positive, then you can go for it!

Personally I'd stick with:
Dell (or Alienware) / Lenovo (or IBM) / Acer / MSI / Gigabyte / Asus

I'm not so sure about Asus any more since they're using Let Me Repair for repairs now. I think LMR is also servicing HP & Samsung hardware.
 
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I always thought Packard Bells where beautifully designed.

Since Acer and them combined development and production facilities quality will be pretty uniform.
Look at this job posting.

http://www.bestjobs3k.com/Computer-...cer-Gateway-eMachines-Packard-Bell-332566.htm

I also think the drivers would be pretty uniform now and be the product will be backed by Acer South Africa.
http://www.packardbell.co.za/pb/en/SA/content/contacts

This is from the contact website

"To write to us
Acer Group
Acer House,
Naivasha,
Road, Sunninghill, Sandton
SOUTH AFRICA


Technical issues
If you are in need of Technical Support please contact us by mail: [email protected]

Phone: 0861111222
Lines are open Monday - Friday from 08:00 to 17:00
excluding public holidays

"


Driver downloads

http://www.packardbell.co.za/pb/en/SA/content/download
 
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I've found Acer's after sales support to be superb as well
 
Pada said:
You could always go and read up reviews specific to that PB laptop and if they're all positive, then you can go for it!
Click to expand...

Unfortunately that is part of the problem. I also had preconceived ideas that Acer must be better as it was a name I was more familiar with when it came to laptops, however, reading reviews of the Packard Bell, and seeing it consistently get ratings above 80%, confused me even more.

The problem is I have really battled to find one site that reviewed both computers so you are inevitably comparing the view of one reviewer to that of a totally different one, so it doesn't really tell me which is better. I know I am probably being way too analytical but that is the way I am and half the fun of buying something :)
 
....AND the biggest issue, which I have not let onto yet, is that this is a decision that a good friend has asked me to help them with. I am far more likely to just take the plunge if it was for me but now I have to live with the moaning if it is not the best decision! ha ha

Can anyone comment on how much an upgrade from Windows 7 home to professional would be? And if they are likely to allow it or do they come as is?
 
ClintX said:
....AND the biggest issue, which I have not let onto yet, is that this is a decision that a good friend has asked me to help them with. I am far more likely to just take the plunge if it was for me but now I have to live with the moaning if it is not the best decision! ha ha

Can anyone comment on how much an upgrade from Windows 7 home to professional would be? And if they are likely to allow it or do they come as is?
Click to expand...

Not much, you get upgrade packs. Maybe R500 max.

What do they need that isn't in Home Premium?
 
You can't go straight from Home Basic to Professional, there's no available pack for that.

Personally I'd go for the Packard, even though its a very underrated brand in SA. Can't get those specs for that price on most other brands. Acer is now moving up from being a cheap-end provider to something better, and PB fills in the games for their value-orientated customers in the regular retail channels.

Also for those wondering who the accredited HP repair company is, its still First Technology, although LMR (seriously crappy option) has a deal with HP as well.
 
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