As you might expect, gaming is not the C14s strong suit. Intels HD 4000 integrated graphics is improved over past Intel efforts, but that still translates to subpar scores in most demanding 3D titles. We saw playable frame rates at only the lowest detail levels, and at 800-by-600-pixel resolution.

In the end, the C14-A2 maintains parity with the more expensive Aspire. While it costs more than equivalent Core i5-equipped Ultrabooks like the , the Core i7 CPU combined with the 256GB SSD makes for a speedy user experience. Note that lower-cost models of the C14 are available with smaller SSDs and lower speed processors. As with many extremely thin and light systems, tested battery life is less robust, at 5 hours, 17 minutes. While this is close to the Acers 5 hours, 28 minutes, its below the average of 6-plus hours for other Ultrabooks.

Having only two USB 3.0 ports, no physical ethernet connection, and just one output port puts the C14 squarely in Macbook Air territory. Apple at least includes a flash memory card reader for the Air, something the C14 lacks. However, the C14 is Bluetooth capable, so you can use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse if you want external input capability without consuming a USB port. Dual-band 802.11n support is included, a welcome addition. If a system is going to rely only on Wi-Fi connectivity, dual-band is a must for best throughput.

The lone HDMI-output port supports HDMI 1.4a, so it can handle even high-bandwidth devices. A dual-purpose headphone/microphone port is built into the left side. The headphone amp tends to distort a bit at high volumes, even with very good headphones. The built-in speakers are the weak point, sounding a little thin and inaccurate. Vizio includes SRS Premium Sound, but the equalizer settings seem a little off. In a switch from my normal preferences, I liked the sound from the built-in speakers better with SRS off, though audio through my Sennheiser HD 580 headphones sounded better with SRS enabled.