A laptop with a 12-inch screen, referring to a series TravelMate – is, of course, the companion traveler. As a rule, compact models – this is a compromise between ergonomics and productivity on the one hand and mobility – on the other. Is it possible to not sacrifice on the altar of mobility? So far, the ideal road to create the notebook could not (at least in our lab, he did not get), but with each new model developers are closer to this goal. This is confirmed by our experienced laptop Acer TravelMate 6293.
Delivery
The box with the laptop turned out to be surprisingly easy – it's size standard, such as ship models with larger screen sizes. A 12-inch TravelMate 6293 is too big and is easier than you expect from the package of this size. Laptop secured inside a large shock-absorbing insert, all the accessories are placed in a thin cardboard box.
Delivery includes all necessary components:
The notebook was preinstalled Windows Vista Business, however, corporate CD-ROM distribution system (as well as device driver) is not included. After restoring the system using the included CD-ROM drive, we were surprised to find that the "restored" OS – it is Windows XP. This means that, in fact, the laptop comes two operating systems, but if you want to continue using Windows Vista, then to restore the system will take care of yourself. Fortunately this is easy – in the preinstalled software includes a program for creating backup copies.
The choice of pre-installed software is sufficiently broad to deal with it in detail. It offers users the following proprietary and third-party software:
Technical specifications, according to the manufacturer
Processor
Intl Core 2 Duo P8400 (2,26 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB) Chipset
Intel GM45 ICH9-M Video
Intel GMA X4500, 64 MB Type of matrix
12.1 inch, 1280×800, Acer GridVista, LED lights RAM
2 GB, DDR3-1066 (Samsung M47B5673DZ1) Hard Drive
250 GB, Seagate Momentus 5400.4 (ST9250827AS, SATA II, 5400 r / min) Optical Drive
HL-DT-ST GSA-T50N (DVD ± RW, ATA) Interface
3x USB 2.0 (one shared with eSATA)
1x VGA
1x RJ-11
1x RJ-45
1x IrDA
1x PC Card (Type II)
1x external microphone
1x Headphone
1x Card Reader 5-in-1
1x Port Replicator Connector ezDock II / II Ethernet
10/100/1000 Mbit / s (Broadcom NetXtreme) Wireless Interfaces
802.11a/b/g (Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 5100) Sound
In addition, Realtek ALC268
Web-camera battery
Lithium, 47.5 Wh (4400 mAh, 10.8 V) Size, mm
306x227x37 Weight, kg
1.95 The suggested retail price of U.S. $
1799
Models of class "desktop replacement" have accustomed us to the fact that powerful laptop – this is a great laptop. And on a laptop with a small screen sizes and, therefore, expect low dimensions and low power configurations. However, the TravelMate 6293 disproves the rule. This notebook is based on the Centrino 2 platform and features a motherboard with a chipset chipset Intel Cantiga – it includes the "north bridge" GM45 and the "south bridge" ICH9-M. The notebook is equipped with a powerful 2.26-GHz Core 2 Duo P8400, it is noteworthy that this processor is not mobile and desktop systems. RAM is 2 GB, we tested the laptop was installed one module of DDR3-1066. Memory runs in single channel mode, dual-channel activation should purchase and install a second memory module. By the way, it is worth noting that we tested installed in an instance of laptop memory module is designed for frequencies up to 1200 MHz, so that the supply of upgrading the RAM is large enough.
The composition of the disk subsystem is familiar to the modern notebook – a capacious hard drive, optical drive and a universal adapter for memory cards. TravelMate 6293 is equipped with the same hard drive, as well as the recently tested namesake – Extensa 5630G – 250-GB Seagate Momentus 5400.4 with 300-Mb / s interface, Serial ATA II. Similar to the Series Extensa, TravelMate 6293 we tested has a proprietary system Acer DASP (Disk Anti-Shock Protection), protecting the drive from shocks and jolts. One of the components of this system – shock-absorbing pad on the bottom of the notebook also includes a shock mount and drive.
Generic DVD-recordable drive LG GSA-T50N equipped with an ATA. It allows you to write data to CD-and DVD-drives all modern formats. The drive is built into the case, the possibility of its removal is not provided. The adapter flash memory card is compatible with the five most common formats of flash memory cards: SD, MMC, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro and xD.
As you can guess by the name of the chipset, the TravelMate 6293 uses graphics controller integrated into the "north bridge". This latest generation of graphics chips Intel – Graphic Media Accelerator X4500, it reserves up to 358 MB of system memory videoOZU, clocked at 475 MHz and is compatible with DirectX 10. Performance of this controller is enough for watching movies, and even for some games, though most modern shooters him, of course, not the teeth.
Acer TravelMate 6293 is equipped with 12.1-inch LCD Acer GridVista with a resolution of 1280×800 (16:10 ratio) with LED-backlit display. The display has a matte finish – it is quite justifiable solution for the laptop, which claims to be a working machine for frequent travelers. After all, if the office lighting glare on the glossy screen is not very annoying, the "field" they can become a serious problem. There are ten levels of brightness. It should be noted that the maximum brightness is not very high – in broad daylight it is sometimes not enough. Contrast and color on high, low viewing angles (especially vertical), but it is familiar to most modern laptops. In the frame of the screen embedded web-camera and two microphones – the use of dual microphone makes it possible to provide greater clarity of the recorded sound.
The communication subsystem consists of a laptop Gigabit Ethernet-adapter, and Wi-Fi-module. The latter – Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 5100 – compatible with networks of standards 802.11abg. There is also a traditional dial-up modem and module Bluetooth.
Audio Adapter – a Realtek ALC268 – works in tandem with two stereo speakers located on the front panel. The special quality of sound from them is not expected, but the on the headphones sound pretty good.
Design and Ergonomics
Lovers of blue LEDs and silver inserts can perhaps say that the TravelMate 6293 is no design at all. But this, of course, is not it – we dare even say that the design is exactly the TravelMate 6293 and corresponds to the weighted entrusted to a laptop computer problems. Only it's not about art, and the technical design. According to the manufacturer, some of the hull of the notebook are made from magnesium-aluminum alloy (apparently, this is the outer part of the cover panel and working), but part of the panel is made of ordinary plastic. The body is painted black and looks quite robust. One note – we noted backlash plastic screen frame. It creaks in front, for which just opened cover – by the way, the mechanical latch cover is not provided.
At the front of the notebook is a flat vertical panel on which there are two audio jacks (microphone, headphones) and separate hardware switch Bluetooth and Wi-Fi with LED activity. At the edge of the casing above the left-hand side of this area has two indicator (they are visible with the lid closed) – Power and charge the battery. On each side of the panel are referred to the lattice sound speakers.
On the left side of the hull has two USB, expansion slot PC Card and communication RJ-45 connector. In the right panel of the cabinet – the optical drive tray, RJ-11, one more USB port and a socket adapter for the flash memory card. Connectors for external monitor (analog VGA) and a network adapter at the rear of the chassis.
It should be noted that, as with the previously tested model series Extensa, TravelMate 6293 with the location of all the ports on the sides and even the eject button, the optical drive icon marked on the edge of work surface. It is very convenient – the side panels are canted to the bottom of the form, and the edge of the shell closes the side panels. And thanks to the icons on the edge of the body to attach the cable or the corresponding button is easy to feel blindly.
The battery is located in the rear of the chassis and snap it – on its bottom. In addition, located on the bottom of the damper system DASP, a connector for a docking station and the hatch that provides access to basic elements of the configuration. We have already noted that the presence of a single hatch that covers all the basic elements that are very helpful and extremely easy maintenance of the laptop. Removing five screws, user can access directly to hard disk, and memory modules, and to the CPU and the cooling system. Access to all these elements does not short and very easy to use.
Unlike notebook series Extensa, TravelMate 6293 is equipped with a traditional, not curved keyboard. Although the developers were limited to a relatively small space – a 12-inch model, by definition, is not too large dimensions – they were able to equip the notebook is quite a decent keyboard. All function keys are in place, "arrows" in a separate block, shifted relative to the field to the front edge of the keyboard. The keys [Shift], [Enter], [Backspace], [Tab] or even [Ctrl] have a greater width. It is quite sufficient – 18.5 mm – and a step of alphabetic keys. However, here it is worth noting that we are talking about the English alphabet – letter buttons [X], [b], [M] and [E] has a smaller width, as the English letters on them there. By the way, the left [Ctrl] is located in the corner left of the [Fn] – because of its width, will not be able to miss. It should be noted, and seven additional keys arranged in a line above the keyboard.
Dimensions of the touch panel make 65h37 mm – it's not much, but any discomfort when using it, we did not notice. The panel can be used also for the horizontal and vertical scrolling of documents. Bordering the touchpad silver frame – perhaps the only bright element in the design of the laptop, but the composition of restraint, he does not break. Under the touchpad has two buttons paddle between them – a fingerprint scanner.