CNET editors' buying advice
We have not reviewed this product but here is CNET's buying advice on Laptops. This content was chosen based on the features included with this model of laptop.
Thin-and-light laptop computer
A thin-and-light laptop computer offers the optimal combination of portability, performance, features, and cost. Power-tuned mobile processors deliver enough power to keep you working smoothly, and unlike ultraportables, most thin-and-light laptops have a more reasonably sized keyboard and display, a larger hard drive, and a built-in optical drive. Yes, they're more expensive than slightly larger, heavier mid-size laptops, but if you need maximum productivity in a portable package, this is the best choice.
Read more in the Laptop Buying Guide
See more Thin-and-light laptop computer products
Business laptop: Power user
If you rely on the same notebook at work, at home, and on the road, you need a well-balanced system. And it has to deliver the performance to keep up with a wide range of applications. A thin-and-light laptop is just the ticket.
Read more in the Laptop Buying Guide
Microsoft Windows 7 system requirements
Ready for Windows 7?
If you want to run Windows 7 on your PC, here's what it takes:
- -1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
- -1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
- -16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
- -DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
Additional requirements to use certain features:
- -Internet access (fees may apply)
- -Depending on resolution, video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics hardware
- -For some Windows Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required
- -Windows Touch and Tablet PCs require specific hardware
- -HomeGroup requires a network and PCs running Windows 7
- -DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive
- -BitLocker requires Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2
- -BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive
- -Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM, an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space, and a processor capable of hardware virtualization with Intel VT or AMD-V turned on
- -Music and sound require audio output
from windows.microsoft.com
See more Microsoft Windows 7 system requirements products
Home user laptop computer
Home users are increasingly turning to notebook computers as their primary PCs, as they like that laptops can offer similar performance and features to those of a desktop PC, and can be easily moved from room to room. Though of course almost any notebook computer will do for typical home use, there are two types of laptops most suitable for home users: mid-size notebooks, which tend to be budget-friendly, and desktop replacements, which are usually packed with features.
Read more in the Laptop Buying Guide
Student laptop computer
Students and others on a tight budget should look for a cheap laptop computer that delivers the most bang for the buck. In particular, students need a notebook that is small and light enough to lug back and forth across campus but rugged enough to withstand bouncing around in a backpack.
Read more in the Laptop Buying Guide
CNET product brief
Description: The Acer TravelMate 4730-6916 is a 5.3-pound, consumer level notebook computer.Compared to other mainstream notebooks on the market, it is very inexpensive at around $685.The 14.1 inch widescreen has a native resolution of 1280 x 800, which is fairly standard among laptops.Runs on the Intel Core 2 Duo CPU.This configuration comes with a 160GB hard disk and 2 GB of memory.
Pros: Includes an HDMI port so you can easily output the notebook's audio and video to a compatible TV or monitor.The built-in fingerprint reader will speed up the log in process while adding a strong layer of data protection.An anti-theft security tether can be fastened into the built-in lock slot.
Cons: Has only 3-hour estimated battery life, which is somewhat shorter than some similarly priced notebooks.For example, the Acer Aspire Timeline 5810T-8952, a 5.3-pound notebook at around $665, has 8-hour estimated battery life.Also, this notebook has only a 160GB hard drive, which is smaller than some similarly priced notebooks.For example, the Dell Inspiron 13, a -pound notebook at around $740, has a 500GB hard drive.The poor battery performance of this notebook means it has to be recharged more often than other laptops in its class.Integrated graphics controllers that rely on shared video memory are sometimes an acceptable trade-off for budget-minded users.
Suitability: A consumer level notebook, suited for general mobile computing.If you have a wireless network at home, wirelessly browse the Internet from any room in your house with this Wi-Fi enabled laptop.Archive your digital videos using this computer's DVD writer.
Value: In view of its very inexpensive price, this notebook has great features for the money.Generally, it should be considered by serious bargain hunters.
Suggestions: (1) Given this device's Wi-Fi capability, you may want to get a wireless access point for your home, so that you can browse the Web more conveniently from any room.(2) The integrated camera, while it does not have the resolution of most digital cameras, can be handy if you want to web chat over the Web.
CNET's Product Briefs are generated by a software tool that combines product specifications with knowledge of our editorial experts. They do not reflect hands-on assessment or labs testing. For more information about how we create Product Briefs, contact us.
Where to buy
Acer TravelMate 4730-6916 - Core 2 Duo T6570 2.1 GHz - 14.1" TFT:
$585.00 - $629.99
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$629.99 | Yes |
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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$609.99 | Yes |
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$597.99 | Yes |
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$615.99 | Yes |
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California Computer Center
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$585.00 | Yes |
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