Acer Aspire 5749 review

In spite of its glossy finish, which made it difficult to avoid reflections, image quality on the 15in screen was surprisingly good. Colours were vibrant and contrast was also good. With its 1,366×768 resolution, there’s room to work on two programs at once, but you’ll only be able to watch 720p videos natively. There’s a huge amount of screen tilt, which helps make up for the average vertical viewing angles.

As with virtually every laptop, the integrated speakers aren’t up to the task of playing loud music or movie audio. They’re fine for YouTube videos, but the lack of bass means you’ll want to use the 3.5mm audio jack to connect a pair of headphones. Other connections include three USB ports and a multi-format card reader.

Although it doesn’t lead the pack in terms of design or features, the Aspire 5749 still has almost everything else you need from an entry-level laptop. Great performance and battery life, a massive 750GB hard disk and a high quality screen make it a joy to use, and with a collect-and-return warranty, you can’t ask for more at this low price. It’s the obvious choice if you’re on a tight budget.