NOTE: This machine is sold default with DOS. At CoolTOYZ we have pre-loaded the model with XP-PROFESSIONAL(30D) to allow buyers to experience the laptop before purchasing. At CoolTOYZ You can test the audio, display and webcam before you purchase. Responsibility to install Genuine software on the notebook rests with the buyer.

Our take: In Typical Acer business model, a Core2 Duo powered laptop at a very affordable price. Question, is it worth the additional Php6,400.00 price premium over its Pentium Dual Core sibling, the Acer 4736Z? Read on and find out for yourself. Our opinion: Hayden could have been protected with this model.

Both the Acer Aspire 4736z(T4300) and 4736(P7350) offer the exact updated Gemstone design featuring a lid in Glossy Blue finish. There is an Acer logo right in the center on the lid which extends the impression that the Acer 4736-series is a large version of the UMPC Acer Aspire One. In general the design is a good looking and offers absolutely no differentiation between the two Aspire Models.

The difference between the two models is in their internal components. The Aspire 4736 features the new Intel Core2 Processors known with their "P" designation, and with a faster 1,066-MHz front-side bus(FSB) and 3Mb L2-Cache. A new chipset in the Intel 45 Express is introduced to allow support for the faster 1,066-MHz FSB of the processor. All data passes across the FSB, and technically speeding it up is like adding extra lanes to an interstate highway. Importantly the new chipset will be able to support up to 8GB of DDR2 memory.



The Acer 4736z features the Pentium Dual Core T4300 which like its more expensive Core2 Duo cousins offers two processing engines that work in tandem. The difference between the Core2 Duo and the Pentium Dual Core is the FSB and the L2 Cache. The Core2 P7350 has 3MB-L2 Cache while the Dual Cores have only 1Mb L2 cache. The Dual Core T4300 also has the a slower FSB of 800Mhz and technically this should result to a slower system versus the Core2 Duo with a 1066Mhz Front Side Bus(FSB)

It has been a practice at CoolTOYZ to measure the performance of any new system using the Windows Media Experience Index, a feature found in the Vista Operating system. Below we compare the Acer 4736(P7350) and Acer 4736z(T4300)


Versus


Surprisingly, the Pentium Dual Core T4300(2.1) with 5.1Pts is rated with a higher processor speed than the Core2 Duo P7350(2.0) with 4.9Pts. Apparently the Higher Core speed of the T4300(2.1) more than made up for the less L2 cache and lower Front side bus.

Also both the 4736 and the 4736z have the same overall rating of 3.1Pts. We guess that this is because while the Core2 Duo P7350(2.0) has a faster 1066Mhz FSB, the actual speed of the system is limited by the RAM Speed which is 800Mhz. As evidence of this inference we revert back to the initial release of the 4736z with DDR3 RAM <click here>, which provided a WEI rating of 3.4Pts despite having the slowest processor among the Acer laptops compared here.

Both 4736 and 4736z feature an LED-backlit TFT LCD display as the centerpiece of the series. An L.E.D[Light Emitting Diode] display is a technology up from a normal LCD found in most laptops. In theory LEDs use less power (extending battery life), offer 30% percent greater brightness, and provide greater uniformity of the image throughout the screen. Both models also offer a 16:9 format on a 14inch display with a 1366 x 768 resolution. The 16:9 resolution is ideal for playing DvD movies because there are less black bars above and below the movie, however we have to warn that when using word and excel and surfing the net, you get less Height.



The 4736 has a built-in Biometric fingerprint reader security feature that is not available on the 4736z. The Biometric allows you to log on at windows start-up and also simplify user authentication with single sign-on support and signing in to frequently visited Web sites easy. This feature has previously been exclusive to business notebooks, so it's great to see it filtering down to value priced multimedia products as well.

The two Acer 4736-models features exactly the same ports. Features include a 0.3Mp webcam, 5-in-1 Card Reader, HMDI Connection, and a Multi-Format DvD-Writer with Dual Layer Support. For wireless connectivity both 802.11BG/N WiFi lan (N-is the newest generation WiFi connection) and Bluetooth for ease of connectivity with your Cellular phone and other bluetooth devices are standard features.



Once again evident on the chart above we did not see any difference in the battery life between the 4736[Core2 Duo] and the 4736z[Dual Core]. We had always thought that the battery life of the Core2 Duo will be better because of the premium chipset[Intel G45] and the premium Core2 processor, but for this specific Acer 4736 model we were proven wrong.

In conclusion, it is our opinion that one will buy this Acer 4736 not because of the faster Core2 Duo processor [… not proven to be faster]. Rather the 4736 is for those who want a larger harddrive [320Gb] and importantly want to keep information close to their fingers since the 4736 features biometric fingerprint reader security not found on the 4736z[Dual Core] model. Is the larger harddrive and biometric fingerprint reader worth the P6,400.00 price premium? That would depend on the confidentiality and security requirement of the user because as the case of Hayden has shown... at the end of the day, privacy of personal data is priceless.

Hope this helps prospective buyers looking at this model.