Being an ardent Microsoft Surface Pro 4 user, my expectations for 2-in-1 laptops can be quite high. It is my main machine when I’m working off-site. I love it for its versatility and performance. When I got my hands on the sleek Acer Switch 7 Black Edition, I was ready to see how it fairs against my old trusty.
When in Doubt, Go for Black
As shallow as it sounds, the Switch 7 Black Edition is aesthetically pleasing. It exudes a certain air of class and style. It is the kind of laptop that you don’t mind whipping out to work on-the-go. If you’re going to be using this to appear professional during a presentation or meeting, you might want to reconsider the tablet mode. As a tablet, however…. it’s quite a sizeable device isn’t it?
More Than Just Looks
Aesthetics aside, the Switch 7 Black Edition is quite the performer. It is souped-up with an Intel Core i7-8550U processor, paired with an NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics card. The device can hold its own when it comes to multi-tasking. Running Adobe Creative Cloud – specifically Adobe Photoshop CC – along with Microsoft Word and multi-tab Chrome didn’t bog down the Switch 7 Black Edition at all. I particularly liked that there is a slot for the stylus – something that my Microsoft Surface was lacking. That said, would you pay the hefty price tag of RM6,999 for a 2-in-1? The following points may be deal-breakers for you.
Short-Lived Battery
One of my gripes with the laptop is its battery life. On a full charge, I can get about 4.5 hours of continuous usage, which isn’t all that great. Imagine being out-and-about without a plug point; your laptop won’t last for the whole day. On a positive note, the charger is quite compact to be placed inside my bag.
Just for Kicks
Similar to my Microsoft Surface, the Switch 7 Black Edition features a kickstand to prop itself up. To deploy the kickstand, you will have to press two buttons located at the bottom edge of the device. This will only work seamlessly if you have a flat and solid surface. I found the “automated” deployment mechanism to be cumbersome.
