Acer Aspire iDea 500 review

What you need to know

Reviewed by: Rory Reid

Reviewed on: 13 July 2006

Tags: Acer, Acer Aspire iDea 500, component video, ports, outputs

We like:

Styling; plenty of connectors; quiet operation

We don't like:

Poor 3D graphics performance; lack of hardware upgradeability

You might also need:

External hard drive for backing up or quick transfer of media

CNET UK judgement:

The Acer Aspire iDea 500 is the best Media Center PC we've seen. Aesthetically it's inspired by traditional AV equipment, so it'll sit alongside or replace your existing DVD player without looking out of place. It's not very upgradeable, but it's packed with just the right multimedia components to make the most of the Intel Viiv platform

Full review:

Intel promised a lot with its Viiv multimedia PC concept, but very few of the PCs that use the platform have delivered. The Aspire iDea 500 is among the most exciting Viiv prospects we've seen, incorporating all the components that make Viiv interesting in a package stylish enough to co-exist with your current multimedia equipment. Continue Reading...