You do not need new expensive hardware to start a successful blog. In fact, up until last March, I was still using a 10-years-old laptop to create and publish all of my blog content. However, if you are looking for an upgrade, I recommend the affordable Acer Aspire Slim 5.
This model is an excellent choice if you want a dedicated laptop for daily blogging that won't hurt your pocket. Professional bloggers with limited budgets should consider getting an Acer Aspire 5 because it offers the best value for money.
I'd like to mention that my opinion about this laptop is strictly based on my perspective as a blogger. I am not a tech-savvy computer nerd that knows much about hardware. I am just a satisfied customer with no expertise commenting on a product. So, your mileage toward Aspire 5 may vary.
I would also like to note that dozens of Aspire Slim 5 variants are available from the manufacturer with varying specs. My laptop, discussed in this article, is the Acer Aspire 5 Slim the A514-54-3291 variant.
But, before I disclose my full opinion on Aspire 5, I'd like to tell you a little story about my old laptop.
My Old Laptop
For a decade, I relied on Asus A43SD to write and edit hundreds if not thousands of blog articles. I received it from my parents as a present for being accepted into the university in 2012. In fact, this blog, SofanMax, was started on that old laptop.
For your information, SofanMax was created in 2014, but I started blogging when I got the old Asus.
It was a powerful device that faithfully accompanied my blogging journey, from an amateur to a professional! The crimson-colored Asus will always have a special place in my heart.
The laptop has a Core i3-2330M, an excellent second-generation Intel processor at the time. It also comes with an NVIDIA GeForce 610M, complementing the laptop's graphic processing performance. It has a 500 GB hard disk and 2 GB RAM, which I upgraded to 4 GB.
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| My busted old Asus. Good night sweet prince. |
I remembered that it cost about IDR 5,500,000 or about $600 in 2012 money.
That machine was something else. I spent countless hours playing Skyrim, Company of Heroes, and Age of Empires III on the laptop. The GeForce 610M and the excellent cooling system did allow some intense gaming sessions in a medium to high setting!
And, of course, as I've mentioned before, I started my blogging journey on that laptop.
Unfortunately, in February this year, my Asus died for good. The misfortune didn't come as a surprise because the 10-years-old laptop was already falling apart. The LCD and other components were deteriorating.
So, I thought it was an appropriate time to finally find a replacement instead of fixing it. But since my budget was limited (my hard-earned income from blogging!), I needed to find one with a good value. And thus, I chose the Acer Aspire 5.
My Opinion on Acer Aspire Slim 5 with Gen 11th Intel Core i3
You can blog on practically any type of laptop if you want to. As long as it can connect to the internet, you are good to go. However, if you are serious about blogging, you will need comfortable hardware with good performance.
A good laptop will allow you to pump out content more efficiently, and you won't get tired quickly. It's all about productivity, and I believe that Acer Aspire 5 has what it takes to fulfill every blogger's needs.
In early March, I bought Aspire 5 Slim (A514-54-3291) for IDR 7,199,000. That's equal to about $495 in 2022 money. It seems to be more expensive than my old Asus laptop when I use local currency. But, it actually has a lower value in USD.
The Aspire A514-54-3291 version offers 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4, 4 GB RAM, and 512 GB SSD storage. It also comes with Intel UHD and a super lovely 1080p Full HD IPS monitor. You can check the full specification here.
All that for less than $500.
So far, the 11th Gen Intel Core i3 has provided me with satisfactory performance. I could process dozens of Google sheets filled with keywords quickly.
It also allows me to edit articles directly on WordPress with the Grammarly and Yoast SEO plug-in without lag (my previous laptop would lag hard doing those tasks). Opening a browser, I use Edge nowadays, takes almost no time.
Aspire 5 comes with Windows 11, and the newer Intel Core i3-1115G4 can handle the OS just fine. The 512 GB SSD also helps to make things run smoother.
Light multi-tasking is also not a problem. I can listen to some music while editing, copying files, checking the news on the widgets, and opening a few other programs simultaneously.
The 1920 x 1080 IPS display offers a crystal clear view that allows bloggers to clearly write, edit, and read articles. I can stare at Aspire 5's monitor for hours without tiring my eyes out. It produces sharp images with well-balanced contrast and brightness. Compared to my old Asus, the 1080p monitor is a game changer!
Even though it is only 14 inches, the thin bezel and the quality of the monitor will allow bloggers to stay focused on their tasks at hand. It looks more spacious too.
Please be advised that Aspire 5 with Intel Core i3 Gen 11th comes in several versions. The one I have right now, the A514-54-3291 version, comes with a 1080p Full HD monitor. Meanwhile, the other version is the cheaper A514-54-32XQ. The second one only offers 1366 x 768 HD resolution.
Both versions offer the same specs other than the display resolution. The price difference is only IDR 200,000 or about $14. So, I strongly recommend bloggers get the slightly more expensive A514-54-3291 with the FHD monitor. After all, you do not want to read and write articles on a crappier resolution.
There is also A514-54-33AP, which has the exact specification as A514-54-3291. The only difference is that the former is black while the latter is full silver.
In any case, this laptop offers more features that can support bloggers with high mobility. If you need to blog on the go, just bring the lightweight Aspire Slim 5! It is only 1.45 kilograms, and the battery will last up to 10 hours. It'll run out in 3 to 5 hours if you use it intensively.
Aspire Slim 5 also provides a very responsive touchpad. I've used various laptops from different brands before, but I think this one takes the cake. The touchpad area is large and offers some precise control.
I absolutely adore the Aspire Slim 5 design. It looks minimalistic yet exquisite, especially the silver-colored one. The lid is easy to open up, even with just one hand.
Because of its thin design, I think Aspire Slim 5 looks fragile, but I don't think that's the case. The lid cover seems to be manufactured from aluminum to provide sturdiness. Though most of the body still only uses some kind of plasticky composite material.
Some Acer Aspire 5 Downside
The Acer Slim 5 offers 4 GB DDR4 RAM. It is a little bit too small for me. That much memory won't allow me to open hundreds of tabs simultaneously. Opening multiple tabs is an essential capability for a blogging laptop. However, considering the price, I guess it was fair enough. Plus, it encouraged me to be more efficient with my tabs.
Fortunately, Aspire 5 allows you to up upgrade the RAM. I plan to increase mine when I have some disposable budget in the future. I think an 8 GB would be a minimum if you want a faster blogging laptop. I think you can even upgrade it to 16 GB for less than $100.
Another Aspire 5's downside is its lack of dedicated GPU. Without it, you won't be able to play fancy games or do heavy video editing. But, since we are talking about a blogging laptop, the lack of GPU is not a big deal. You can still play some games if you lower the settings and add more RAM.
Though if you insist on gaming, I think there is some Aspire 5s that pairs Gen 11th Intel Core i3 with a dedicated Nvidia GPU. But, the price would be over $500.
Of course, the keyboard is also a key factor when you want to find a new blogging laptop. Acer Slim 5 offers an okay quality keyboard that will let you type with adequate precision. It does not have a backlight, but it is not a significant problem. Who wants to write a blog in a dark room anyway?!
I have a little complaint about the power button being too close to the backspace. Yes, the Slim 5 incorporate the ON/OFF button with the keyboard. Sometimes, I might accidentally turn off the monitor when I need to erase some sentences because I miss pressed the button.
But again, it is not a significant problem because you can instantly turn the monitor back on by pressing the power button again. The way it works reminds me a bit of a smartphone display.
The arrow keys on Slim 5's keyboard are also too small. Still, I think this one comes down to a personal preference, not necessarily a weakness.
But overall, the keyboard is not fancy but comfy enough and functional. Bloggers would be able to comfortably write articles on it.
The Reason Why I Choose Acer Aspire Slim 5 Over Other Brands
Acer was actually my third choice. Initially, I wanted another Asus or HP as an alternative. However, after making some comparisons, Acer came out on top, considering my needs as a blogger.
My budget was only $500, and Acer was the one that offered the best value for that much money!
Here are my reasonings.
I wanted a laptop with the latest Intel Core i3 processor. I know that this processor is good for blogging, as proven by my 10-years-old Asus anecdote. Moreover, because Microsoft has launched the Windows 11, having the latest gen processor is essential.
So I was looking for a laptop with an 11th generation Intel Core i3 (of course, there is 12th gen now, but it's not widely available yet). Why not go for Ryzen, you might ask. Well, I guess I am one of those loyal customers of the brand. Ryzen could be better, but I am more familiar with Intel, and I know that it would be good enough for me.
There is actually Asus A416 that uses the 11th gen Intel Core i3 configuration. However, I could not find it because it either ran out or hasn't been released in my town. Instead, they offer a laptop with a 10th gen version at a similar price range. Obviously, I do not want a computer with an older CPU.
As a side note, Asus would be a good alternative if you are okay with Ryzen. A blogger who loves gaming would appreciate Asus more because the brand also offers some versions with dedicated GPU.
I would say that HP was the closest alternative to Acer. Hp offers a lot of variants that seem to be similar to Aspire 5. But in the end, Acer still provides more value with the same budget. I looked at some HP models, but they only have lower HD monitors and less SSD storage at a similar price range.
Conclusion
Indeed, blogging doesn't require a pricy laptop with fancy specs. This is why I strongly recommend people to start their own website regardless of their hardware. Blogging does not require complicated skills, and you can do it on a limited budget and time. Yet, you get to give birth to something that has value!
So, if you are thinking about starting a blog, get down right to it right away, even if you have limited resources. The best time for blogging is now! You can create a website with your current laptop.
However, the budget-friendly Acer Aspire 5, especially the A514-54-3291 variant, should definitely be on top of the list if you are looking for a dedicated blogging laptop. This laptop offers everything a blogger needs and more!
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