SLICK, COMPACT, BASIC BLACK
For a simple home desktop, the Acer Aspire has a sleek
style. It’s just a notch above being completely plain, and
I think the angular front panel design and black plastic
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favor the look of the HP Envy Desktop with its ribbed
front design, but both are among the nicer-looking
budget desktops.
In terms of size, the Aspire is fairly compact. There’s no
reason for desktops in this price tier to be especially big,
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for extensive upgrades. As such, the Acer measures a
mere 13.4 by 6.4 by 13. 8 inches (HWD), taking up very
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compartment in a desk cutout should you wish. The
comparable HP Envy is a similar size at 13.3 by 6.1 by
11.9 inches; the Lenovo IdeaCentre 510A is taller but
trimmer at 14.4 by 5.7 by 11.2 inches.
Interior access is straightforward but does require a
screwdriver. Two screws on the rear of the tower hold
the left-side panel in place, and removing them lets you
pull the door free. A very tame internal compartment
greets you, about as bare as can be.
Acer Aspire
TC-885-UA92
PROS Great value.
Best current
performance for the
category. Slick design
with a small footprint.
Optical drive, Wi-Fi,
and Bluetooth
included. USB-C port.
CONS Integrated
graphics make gaming
and 3D apps
nonstarters.
Somewhat cramped
interior.
BOTTOM LINE The
Acer Aspire TC-885-
UA92 is our top pick
among budget
desktops for its
excellent value,
delivering speedy
performance and a
solid feature set at a
very reasonable price.