Acer Aspire One 521 10.1-Inch Netbooks Comparison and Guide
The Aspire One 521 is one of the newest 10.1-inch Acer netbooks in the US. Apart from the AO521, the following are the 10.1-inch netbooks from Acer:
- Aspire One D150
- Aspire One D250
- Aspire One 531h
- Aspire One P531h
- Aspire One 532h
- Aspire One 533
- Aspire One D260
Just like the rest of the newer 10.1-inch netbook models (e.g. AO532h, AO533 and AOD260) the AO521′s keyboard is 93% of the standard keyboard size of notebook computers.
The Aspire One 521 stands out because it combines the defining features of the 11.6-inch netbook, AO721, and the 10.1-inch netbook, AO533. If you’re looking for a notebook that has the characteristics of an Aspire One 721 and the characteristics of an Aspire One 533, then you should really get the Aspire One 521.
Acer Aspire One 521 (AO521) Antique Brass Netbook
Why Choose the Aspire One 521?
Given a choice among all Aspire One netbooks, why should you choose the AO521?
You love streaming videos – especially HD videos
Enjoy watching HD videos with the 10.1-inch AO521. The Aspire One 521 has all the HD video viewing advantages of the Aspire One 721.
First, it has the ATI Radeon HD 4225 graphics chip (with 384 MB of dedicated system memory). Just like the AO721, the Aspire One 521 is capable of smooth HD Video streaming.
Not only that, the Aspire One 521 also has an HDMI port for outputting HD videos to external displays. If you find the 10.1-inch screen too small, simply connect your netbook to your HDTV with an HDMI cable. Now you can watch your HD video on a larger screen without any loss in video quality.
You can also share your HD videos with others. Watch the video on your netbook and let others watch the same video on your HDTV or on a projector screen with AO521’s dual/simultaneous display capability.
You often keep multiple applications and windows open
The Aspire One 521 is also a good option if you love to multi-task. The AMD platform and the ATI Radeon 4225 graphics chip ensures that you can stream videos and use other visually intense applications without suffering from system freeze-ups or slow-downs.
Just like the AO721 and the AO533, moreover, the AO521 also uses the latest SDRAM technology – DDR3, which has twice the data transfer rate of DDR2. This makes the Aspire One 521 really fast and responsive.
You are used to Bluetooth file sharing
If you have many devices that you connect to your netbook through Bluetooth, you’ll love the AO521.
Like the Aspire One 533, the Aspire One 521 has the latest in Bluetooth technology – Bluetooth 3.0 or Bluetooth High Speed Technology. This makes bulk file sharing between your netbook and another Bluetooth-capable device fast and easy.
You bring your netbook everywhere
If you’re used to bringing your mobile computer with you everywhere, then the Aspire One 521 is a great option. Like the AO533, it comes with Acer’s MiniGo AC Adapter which weighs 34% lighter than standard AC adapters. It also has more or less the same dimensions as the AO533, so it should be easy to lug around.
Notes: There are Acer Aspire One 521 versions that are capable of 3G connectivity. However, the AO521 versions currently available in the US don’t have this capability. Furthermore, the AO521 versions in the US come with a battery life of 5.5 hours, but as per Acer’s support website, 7.5 hours of battery life is possible with the AO521’s high-capacity, 6-cell, 5600 mAh battery. Finally, according to the specs on the Acer support website, the AO521 netbook has 160GB versions. In the US, however, only AO521 with the 250GB hard drive is available.
The Aspire One 521 Netbooks Guide and Comparison Chart
On using this guide:
- Use Section I to familiarize yourself with the different AO521 versions.
- Use Section II to evaluate whether or not the AO521 has all the specifications you want in a netbook.
- Use Section III to learn the differences among the available AO521 versions.
- Use Section IV to choose the perfect AO521 version for you.
I. The Different Acer Aspire One 521 Netbook Versions
There are currently only two versions of the Aspire One 521 in the US. They are:
- Aspire One 521-3530
- Aspire One 521-3782
II. Summary of Similarities among Acer Aspire One 521 Netbook Versions
The following are the specifications that both Acer Aspire One 521 versions have in common:
Display: 10.1-inch (1024 x 600) 200-nitere TFT LCD
Processor: AMD Athlon II Neo Processor K125 (1MB L2 cache 1.70GHz)
Operating System: Windows 7 Starter
Chipset: AMD M880G
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 4225 graphics with 384MB dedicated system memory
RAM: 1GB DDR3 SDRAM
Storage: 250GB
WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n
LAN: Gigabit
Bluetooth: Bluetooth v3.0 High Speed
Webcam: 1.3 MP
Features: HD audio support, BIOS password, dual display support, MiniGo AC Adapter, integrated stereo speakers, integrated digital mic, multi-gesture touchpad, Energy Star certification
USB Ports: 3 USB 2.0 ports
Card Reader: 5-in-1 card reader
Other Jacks / Ports: HDMI port, VGA port, headphone/speaker/line-out jack, microphone jack, Ethernet LAN port, Kensington lock slot
Battery: 6-cell Li-ion battery (4400 mAH) with up to 5.5 hours of battery life
Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.5 x 0.9/1.1 inches, 2.76 lb
Acer warranty: 1-year limited warranty
III. Summary of Differences among Acer Aspire One 521 Netbook Versions
The two versions of the AO521 vary only on one thing: color.
Color: An Acer AO521 netbook can be Onyx Black or Antique Brass.
IV. Acer Aspire One 521 Netbooks Comparison Chart
Since there are only two versions and since these versions vary only by color, we have a fairly simple netbook comparison chart. All you need to do at this point is choose whether you want the black AO521 or the brass AO521.
Note: The prices here are the list prices at the time of writing. Please follow the link to the Amazon product page to check the most current price for the AO521 netbook.
| AO521 Versions | Color | Price | Where to Buy |
| AO521-3530 | Onyx Black | $349.99 | Amazon |
| AO521-3782 | Antique Brass | $349.99 | Amazon |
Related posts:
- Acer Aspire One 533 10.1-Inch Netbooks Comparison and Guide
- Acer Aspire One 721 11.6-Inch Netbooks Comparison and Guide
- Acer Aspire One D150 10.1-Inch Netbooks Comparison and Guide
- Acer Aspire One 531h 10.1-Inch Netbooks Comparison and Guide
- Acer Aspire One A110 8.9-Inch Netbooks Comparison and Guide
Filed under: Acer Aspire One Netbooks, Netbooks Comparison
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