Acer Revo RL100 Multimedia PC Review
Acer, the fourth largest manufacturers of desktop computers in the world, is also pretty well known for its stylish designs and bold features, when it comes to desktop computers. Ever since they have started producing computers, they have been facing stiff competition from the likes of Sony, Hewlett Packard and Dell. In spite of that level of competition, it has managed to witness success and recognition. It has of late been experimenting with technology and is pulling off quite well in the sales of such uniquely designed computers. We are now going to talk about one of such uniquely and cheekily designed desktop computer from Acer, the Revo RL100. You may not want to call it a desktop, given the size and shape of the computer, but there is something really interesting about this product that you should not miss. The Revo RL100 looks like a promising model and let us go through the pros and cons of every aspect of this computer in order to know more about it. Be the witness as we examine and one of our most interesting desktop products.
Design:
Slim model:
In the past, it was usually not necessary to take a close look on the design part of any desktop since every desktop looked alike with the same old design and the same old cuts and shaping. Now, advancement of technology meant that we are going to have a pleasant headache reviewing the structure of each product. Since the design part of computer is one of the most important factors to affect the marketability of the product, the designers at Acer have tried hard to produce something new but still stylish.
Given the fact that slim desktops are now a common knowledge to people, Acer has come up with an even slimmer desktop. With the base measuring about (H x D) 64 x 194 mm, this beauty is incredibly slim, with a width that is as less as 25 mm. We can see why you are smiling now. This is the reason we have loved this product too. It strikes you at first sight itself. Now given the size of the computer, you can now place this wherever you want and you can also carry along with you wherever you go. It is incredibly portable, the Acer Revo RL100. It is slightly larger than a normal external hard drive, and hence it can easily be carried.
Monitor:
Although there are some good accessories featured on the Revo RL100 Multimedia PC, there is, unfortunately, no monitor provided along with the system. Now, considering the fact that the computer is reasonably priced, when compared to its similar counterparts from the other eminent companies, one can exempt the absence of a monitor and also it can be bought separately. But still, it would have been even better if a monitor was provided along with the system. The average person would not have cared if the price was a bit higher, but once there is no monitor, everybody starts looking twice at the price tag. Nonetheless, the rest of the system is just very good.
Accessories:
The Revo RL 100 comes with a very special touchpad, which can also serve as a keyboard. This touch pad has got quite a charm and you will like the feel of it. It supports multi touch and of late, this touch pad had been quite a good replacement for the mouse. The keyboard is also touch responsive, unlike the old model of keyboard with real keys. Maybe e should stop calling this a keyboard, since it does not sport any keys at all. It must be a touch board. We shall leave the naming to the people at Acer. But this is seriously a very good idea from Acer. To make a touch responsive keyboard, or whatever you want to name it, is such a good idea that it received quite a few good remark from technical experts around the globe. This touchpad also has a very good response to touch and the users may not face too many problems confronting the device. This touch pad cum keyboard is wireless and hence makes the Revo RL100 an even more portable device. Not to mention that this also avoids the cluttering of wires and cables on your desk. Now that is some real good accessory, is it not?
Remote Control:
For all those lazy legs in the world, and also equally for all those techno maniacs, wouldn’t it sound superb when we say the Revo RL 100 features a remote control mechanism? Well, it might sound ridiculous to some, and they must be wondering why a remote control is necessary to operate a desktop computer. But you will understand the fun and the pride in having a remote control for everything, in due course of time because people have started to find all kinds of ways that make them stationary, and still makes them get all their works done. Now, with the remote control featured on the Revo RL 100, you can operate the system from quite a lot of distance, and this does help when you and your kindred decide to watch a movie on Blu Ray or when you want to play multiplayer high definition games. But, either way, it is a very handy mechanism and having a remote in your hand always makes you feel like a dictator.
Ports and Connectivity:
Well, you might think that since this is a pretty slim device, it may not be completely connection friendly. No, that is not the case at all here. TYou still find all the ports and connectivity options that you see on a regular desktop computer. Acer has still managed to fit in all kinds of features when it comes to connectivity, because people at Acer know that no one would want to lose their connectivity in the name of a very sleek design. The Revo RL100 has got quite a few ports and connectivity options. Here we come with a list of all the provided ports and connectivity options: a 3 in 1 card reader, a Smart Card reader, Type I/II PCMCIA, an SD card slot, an optional modem connector, which connects your system to a modem, an RJ 45 network connector port, which allows you to connect your Ethernet cable and surf the internet, Three high speed USB 2.0 ports, a microphone jack, headphone speaker in and out. Now that is quite a list of ports and connectivity options for you. Some of the other conventional desktop computers may also not have as many options, and this is the reason why Acer has scored over its similar counterparts.
Features:
We have seen some good aspects of the Revo RL100 until now and expectations may already have risen. Will the new design be complemented well with some great features? Will Acer keep the reputation it has when it comes to providing world beating features? Let us have a look at all the important features provided by Acer in the Revo RL100. There must be something in the bag for us.
Processor:
Now anyone with reasonable technical knowledge will first look at how good a processor his computer sports. Regarding any computer on the earth, the foremost thing anyone would like to use to compare two similar computers, is also the processor. Now regarding the Revo RL100 3D Multimedia PC, it sports an AMD Athlon II Neo Dual Core 1.30GHz processor. Though you might have expected it to be an Intel processor, it is a well known fact that Acer has always had a soft corner for AMD processors. But you got to accept the fact that AMD processors are not as robust as their Intel counterparts and they often are known to get heated up when your machine is working for too long. Frankly speaking, this is still a very good processor considering all the other processors from AMD. It can help your system run at a pretty good pace without many issues. 1.30 GHz is also a reasonable clock speed, although it is a fact worth noting that the average clock speed today, considering all computers, is somewhat more than 2 GHz. But unless you are a diehard fanatic of the Intel processors, there is no reason as to why you should not like this processor.
Operating System:
The operating system is another vital aspect of a computer. It adds to the beauty of your computer and more importantly, it is also responsible for the quick access to all your programs, files and stuff. The Acer Revo EL100 comes with the latest sensation from Microsoft, the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system. It is also a 64 bit operating system, which makes it better than few of its other counterparts. Though the 64 bit thing has worked absolutely well is also being received well by the customers all around the world, many producers of computers are still sticking to 32 bit. And the reasons behind sticking to that are unknown. Hence it is a commendable that Acer has taken it to the next level. But, unlike the computers of some other manufacturers, the user has no choice of operating system. There is only one version provided and you got to accept it, unlike some other systems that give you a chance to choose an operating system of your choice. But seriously, we wouldn’t mind accepting an operating system that is as good and reliable as Windows 7.
Memory:
The Acer Revo RL 100 comes with the latest memory features available in the market. It has got a DDR3 type RAM and this one is regarded by technical experts, as a wonderful successor of the far famed DDR2. The former is quicker and has better response times with lesser volatility. This helps in making your system a faster and smarter device. And it has got 2 GB of memory for you, which is pretty good, although not the greatest, for a desktop PC which is aimed at general public uses. Then there comes the Hard Disk Drive, which has lived up to the expectations. This time around, Acer has sported a 500GB SATA hard disk drive which runs at 7200 rpm at maximum. This can be considered as one of the fastest in the market. 500 GB is more than sufficient for basic purposes like storing files, music, movies, videos and stuff. We are finally glad to see a 500 GB hard drive from an Acer desktop computer. It can help you store mammoth files, music, movies, videos, games, and a lot of other stuff. Hence, you have already got your money’s worth if you are talking about the memory of the Revo RL 100.
Graphics:
These days, Graphics have almost become a part of our lives and if you have a look at the increase in the production and sales of graphic cards across the world, you would get that you are not the only one craving for top notch graphics and an excellent graphic card on your computer. The development of the gaming industry with new game engines being introduced every now and then, and the increase in the sales of Blu ray movies, show that people have started realizing the importance of graphics on their desktops. Coming to the topic of graphics on the Revo RL 100, an nVidia ION 2 graphics card is featured, which is of course a pretty solid one, and helps you play high end games comfortably and also lets you watch Blu ray high definition movies without any sorts of problems. But, a slight lag is reported to occur while playing 3 dimensional games. While this may not be a problem at all to most of the multitude, it is still a fact that is worth noting while assessing the overall performance of the machine. These days the graphics cards are featuring a dynamic graphics property, which means that the computer uses only the required amount of graphics, and hence the durability of the card is enhanced.
Optical Drives:
The Revo RL100 Multimedia Desktop PC does have a pretty good optical drive. In fact, it supports Blu ray discs along with 3D Blu ray. Sounds awesome, right? The optical Blu ray combo drive supports almost all kinds of data discs like CDs, DVDs and Blu Ray Discs. There is no better reason as to why you should not stop watching 3D and Blu ray movies on your Revo RL 100. A pretty good graphics card to supplement a wondrous optical drive, gives you an optimum visual experience especially when you are watching movies and videos in high definition. What are you waiting for? You can now sit back on a couch on a Saturday evening and watch awesome movies in awesome quality.
Wi-Fi:
Today, Wi-Fi has become an integral part of corporate life. You see Wi-Fi everywhere around you. Then, why not on your cute little Acer Revo RL 100? It features 802.11 b/g and wireless browsing of the internet is now as easy as ABC. Once upon a time, Wi-Fi used to be featured only on laptop computers. But now, they have spread their influence and are seen almost in every electronic gadget, ranging from mobile phones, and computers to even HD television sets. Considering the fact that it is such an important weapon in any gadget’s repertoire, once can say that Acer has done a world of good to it users by providing Wi-Fi facility on the Revo RL 100.
Hence, we conclude our favourite list of features and are going to move further into the performance details of the Acer Revo RL 100. One must have already been satisfied with the number and quality of features that are seen on a computer that is intended for domestic use. Let us see if the device’s performance amazes us or not.
Performance:
Since the features seen on the system are quite impressive and in fact, impressive enough to make this an overall positive review, all we can say right now is that the performance of this very slim desktop computer is simply very good. It is very suitable for domestic purposes. There were no negative results or complaints in the tests that were conducted. All results were close to what was expected and we do not have any sort of complaints too. Acer is completely being latest when it comes to the technology used and is also right up there in the rankings. Hence one would expect minimal errors and maximum serviceability. We are also happy of the desktop computer and its fast, efficient performance, and it is not one of those computers that fall sick often. So you do not need to call the technician too often. Simply put, the Revo RL 100 is fast, smart, problem free, and user friendly.
Power Consumption:
The Revo RL 100 helps you save your bills since it consumes very low power, when compared to conventional desktop PCs. Slim design means there is no place for unnecessary circuits and this means that the power consumption is reduced. Since Acer is going for all latest technology in here, we can expect a very good power consumption rate here. The tests tell us that on an average the system consumes about 21 Watts of power. And when you play high end games that involve heavy graphics, or when you play Blu ray movies or do a lot of video streaming on the internet, the consumptions rises considerably and is reported to increase to as much as 31.2 watts. But, this must not worry you at all because this power rating can be considered low, and it saves both the environment and your monthly electricity bills.
Warranty:
The Acer Revo RL 100 comes with a one year return to base type warranty, starting from the date of purchase.
Verdict:
Well, if our intentions are not already clear, we would like to tell you one last time that if you are looking for a very slim desktop computer which can fit in almost any kind of atmosphere, and which has great features and performs pretty well, then the Acer Aspire Revo RL100 is the one for you to look out for. The pricing of the system may put some of you in dilemma, and we can understand it because there is no monitor provided along with the whole system and you need to purchase it separately. This may not seem ideal to you and if you are looking for a perfect desktop computer that comes with all features and that includes a monitor, you can go for other similar products too. You will find their reviews and pricing on our site.
Acer Revo RL100 Multimedia PC – Technical Specification Table
| Manufacturer | Acer |
| Model Name | Revo RL100 |
| Type | Slim Desktop |
| Series | Aspire series |
| Special Feature | Remote Control |
| Monitor Provided | No |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 338 x 33.2 x 244 mm |
| Colours available | Blackish Grey |
| Hard drive Capacity | 500GB |
| RAM capacity | 2GB |
| Memory type | DDR3 |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Data Protection | No |
| Graphics hardware | nVidia ION 2, 512 MB |
| Graphics Memory | Dynamic |
| Processor | AMD Athlon II Neo K325 |
| Clock speed | 1.3 GHz max. |
| Spindle speed | 7200RPM |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Audio chipset | Stereo Audio |
| Built-in speakers | Yes |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows 7 64 bit |
| Web Camera | No |
| Video outputs | Yes |
| Networking | Ethernet Wireless networking |
| Power | 21-31.2 Watts |
| Warranty | 1 year |
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