Acer Aspire S3-391-6046 Review

The Acer Aspire S3-391-6046 ($648 list) proves that you don't have to start at $899 to get a decent ultrabook. To keep the price down, it uses an older second-generation Intel Core i3 processor, but that CPU is still faster than the AMD E series APU, Intel Atom, or Celeron CPU in other inexpensive laptops. The S3-391-6046 is also an inexpensive way to introduce your family to Windows 8 and that operating system's radically new interface. It's being featured at $499 at Walmart for Black Friday 2012, but it's still a well-equipped system after the price jumps back to the $648 regular price. It's a much better laptop than the netbooks you used to expect in this price range, and as such it comes recommended.

Design and Features
The S3-391-6046 looks every bit the ultrabook, with a thin and light design in line with other Acer ultrabooks like the Acer Aspire S5-391-9880. The S3-391-6046 measures by 8.52 by 12.59 by 0.68 inches (HWD). This means that it's much thinner and lighter than the budget laptop Editors' Choice Acer Aspire V5-571-6891 ($499.99 list, 4.0 stars). Granted, the V5-571-6891 is more of a desktop replacement laptop with a larger 15-inch screen and a DVD drive, but they are priced and aimed at the same budget market.