Acer Aspire S7 Windows 8 Review

It's sliver thin. It's feather light. It's attractive—not quite beautiful, but attractive—without the design tropes of the MacBook Air. Made of aluminum, glass, and a white magnesium underbody, the Aspire S7 feels sturdy despite its lack of mass. The 11.6-inch screen is a lovely 1920x1080 IPS display equipped with a multitouch panel. The keyboard and trackpad surface has a uniform silver look, and save for some relatively tame branding elements, is about as clean as a PC input surface gets. When it's dark, the keys emit a muted green glow. It makes the machine look like something nerds would be using in a future 100 years from now.

Netbooks vs. Ultrabooks

If the last time you purchased a computer was in 2007, you'll find that the landscape has changed drastically in terms of what's available to you. Where laptops were once reserved for businessmen and students, they're now a must-have in most American households.

If you're in the market for something new, you might be overwhelmed by not only the choices, but the new terms that you're faced with at the computer store. By nailing down the differences between devices like ultrabooks and netbooks, you can be more confident as you look for the type of computer that is perfect for you and your needs.