This is an initial review of this product. The features that attracted me to it are 4GB RAM, a 320GB HDD, its lightweight (5.3 lb), and a 15.6 in. screen. The external brushed aluminum finish on this machine gives it a classy, upscale look. I was somewhat leery about the glossy screen but after using it I found its level of reflectivity to be acceptable...of course that could be different for other users. I believe what helps with this Acer unit is that the screen's bezel is matte finished which tones down the overall mirror effect. In addition the brushed aluminum finish of the keyboard surround also helps. While on the subject of the keyboard I have two negatives: the keys are glossy and very "slippery" and they are very flat. These two attributes make typing a bit difficult. After several hours, however, I had less difficulty with it and mistyping. If the keys were "cupped" I think that their "slipperiness" would be less noticeable.
The LED backlit LCD screen is very crisp and bright which gives it a visual "snappiness" that I like. Even with the power-saving features enabled the screen clarity is excellent. My unit arrived with no dead pixels.
I'm not much of a touch pad fan but I found this one to be an improvement over others I've used. It requires a very light touch and the multi-gesture feature seems to work reasonably well. (I still prefer using a mouse.)
Several CD's were played to test the speakers. While they weren't of "boom box" quality they did provide a sense of surround sound. Given their physical size, I felt their output was of acceptable quality. I've read reviews which criticized the low volume produced even when controls were set at 100%. Granted, you won't get rock concert volume, but the sound was pleasant.
Overall, at this point, I'm pleased with my purchase. As time permits, I'll update this review.