Instead of including a bunch of dedicated media buttons--which are ugly and underused, anyway--Acer lets an F-key modifier pause and otherwise control media applications. The Aspire has one dedicated launch button that you can configure to open an application. An instant-backup button automatically runs the included backup utility, but you'll probably want to have that on an automatic schedule. A few other thoughtful buttons, including volume controls, complete the extra keys.

Audio and video quality matches this Apire's price level. We could clearly read text and watch bold-looking movies through the slightly glossy screen. The speakers retain about the same quality at all volumes, lacking distortion when you crank them up. But the audio is midtone-heavy; we could hear only a little bass and treble. The laptop plays only a narrow range of sound.

The Aspire also includes nearly every port you could want. Peripherals are covered with four USB 2.0 ports and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR. It includes microphone and line-in audio inputs plus a combination headphone/SPDIF audio output. Networking is handled through gigabit ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and a modem (if you find yourself lost in 1996). You can connect to an external display--or a TV--through VGA or HDMI. A DVD burner masters discs anywhere. There's even a memory card slot that'll take the various flavors of SD, Memory Stick, and xD. But you might feel slighted when connecting an external disk; there's no eSATA.

A 2-megapixel Webcam captures clear stills and videos when there's enough light. A built-in microphone fills in the audio. But we mostly ignored the few software extras, including a media player; there's nothing valuable enough to sway your laptop purchase in either direction. The battery life was somewhat short of our demands: We benchmarked it at 3 hours, 18 minutes. After coasting through a movie on a cross-country flight, you'll have little time left to take care of any work.

All together, the Acer Aspire 5740-6378 turns in sufficient scores and performance for a midrange audience. It easily multitasks across general Office, e-mail, and Web applications. And it matches the lightweight needs of its target audience. But it never pleasantly surprises or supplies compelling extras. Its video, audio, and battery performance are only adequate for a forgiving audience. Budget shoppers might get just what they need, but we think this laptop aims for a narrow market. At least it hits its target.