The Acer Aspire 5 is what you get if you show up at Jo-Anne Fabrics and order a 14-inch of laptop. They will roll it out, cut it, roll it, and hand it to you in a tall paper bag. When you get home, it’s up to you to iron out the wrinkles. Any glamour this laptop lacks can be excused by its solid and sturdy feel. I’ll even admit that this laptop has something in common with the suitors in “The Bachelorette”: it’s generic, yes, but certainly handsome. The silver and black trim is businesslike, and the black keycap looks attractive. The silver-gray case is composed of metal (lid) and plastic elements (base unit); Acer insists on a matte, smooth surface. Both the base unit and lid can twist a bit, but the finish is nowhere near as bad as it could be. The bottom case can be removed to access the battery (held in place with screws, not glue) and other internal components. The built-in webcam (0.9 MP, up to 1280 x 720 pixels) has no mechanical cover. Three USB-A ports (1 x USB 2.0, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1) and one USB-C slot (USB 3.2 Gen 1) are provided. The latter supports neither Power Delivery via USB-C nor DisplayPort. This means that only one HDMI connection is available for video output. It also does not have a memory card reader. However, the basics are solid and should be able to handle some bumps and shocks when placed in a backpack or bag while traveling. Although not an ultrabook, the Aspire 5 weighs only 1.7 kg and is 18 mm thick, making it perfectly portable when needed. The keyboard feels solid and easy to type on, and the trackpad has a fingerprint sensor for security. The only weakness is the thin, L-shaped power connector protruding from the side of the laptop, which makes it look a bit vulnerable.
