ACI Emerald Pro

Weighing a hefty 3.3kg, ACI's Emerald Pro is more of a desktop replacement system than a portable notebook. Inside you get a 2.8GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor, 512MB of system memory and a 40GB hard disk.

It performed very well in Sysmark with a score of 233. With a Sis M650 graphics chip on the motherboard using up 32MB of system memory, graphics performance was less impressive.

The Emerald Pro clocked up 1,484 in 3Dmark 2001 and 14.4 frames per second in Unreal Tournament.

Given its size, you'd expect myriad features inside that two-tone metallic grey casing, and the Emerald Pro doesn't disappoint.

There is an infrared sensor at the front in addition to an integrated Bluetooth module so you can hook up to a PDA or mobile phone, as well as internal wireless local area network.

Mounted above the 15.1in LCD screen on the upper bezel is a web camera capable of capturing both still and moving images. The screen itself gives good image quality with a decent viewing angle.

At the front of the unit there is a mini-FireWire port along with handy headphone and mic jack sockets and a built-in speaker in each corner.

On the left-hand side there is a CD-RW/DVD combo drive, PC Card Type II slot and floppy drive, while at the rear you will find the kind of sockets and ports you would expect to see at the rear of a PC system tower.

Like the rest of the unit, the keyboard is solidly built and the touchpad is responsive, along with its beefy components this is a good workhorse.

Contact: ACI 020 8830 1958
www.aciplc.com

Specifications:

• Windows XP Pro
• 2.8GHz Pentium 4 processor
• 512MB of Ram
• 40GB hard disk
• CD-RW/DVD-Rom combo
• Sis M650 graphics chip, 32MB system memory
• 15.1in TFT LCD
• 3.3kg
• 329 x 36.5 x 275mm (w x d x h)
• 1yr C&R (parts only) warranty