Acer Revo RL80-UR318 Desktop (The Smart PC)

• Intel Core i3-2377M Processor (1.5GHz, 3MB L3 Cache)
• 4GB DDR3
• 500 GB SATA Hard Drive
• Intel HD Graphics
• Windows 8

I have tried other small form factor PCs for use with my home theater, and returned every one of them because they could not stream high quality video at 1080p. This one can, and does it like a champ. The unit comes with a bluetooth keyboard, a bluetooth mouse, and an infrared remote control. The documentation is poor (still have no idea what 2 of the buttons on the remote do,) but the product is superb. Note that the optical drive is DVD, not Bluray, so if you need the latter this is not the gadget for you. This Revo comes with Windows 8, which I have found to be mildly annoying because of the changes to the layout from previous versions, but no big deal.

Buy Acer Revo RL80-UR318 Desktop (The Smart PC) Now

I have liked Acer products for years and chose one of the first small form factor PC's for my business. I don't use the RL80 as a media center but as a desktop PC and, as such, it's a fabulous machine. Speedy and great graphics but Windows 8, or rather Metro, sucks on a desktop. If you liked games like Internet Backgammon, say adios. Microsoft is force training it's users into cloud computing which I don't appreciate. Source Forge has open source software that will give you back your Start button and boot into the desktop. Metro doesn't have multiple windows displayed concurrently so the "windows" desktop has been reduced to the tablet or smart phone limitation. Finally, don't even think about installing ANY other operating system instead of Windows 8. There are no drivers available. Don't believe me? Google to see the many people who tried.

Read Best Reviews of Acer Revo RL80-UR318 Desktop (The Smart PC) Here

If you know what a HTPC is and have been holding off on Windows 8 look no further. There is a bit of a learning curve but with perseverance and looking up things on the internet when you get stuck, you'll end up loving this little machine. As far as form factor, and included specifications its harder to do better if you're looking for a HTPC.

Want Acer Revo RL80-UR318 Desktop (The Smart PC) Discount?

I bought this for my living room to stream movies, play DVD's and surf the internet all of which it does easily.

I had concerns with streaming video to a nettop but this unit handles streaming seamlessly. The product itself is excellent, great build quality comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse. Plugged in a webcam and can now skype from the living room. Plays DVD's and with a region free player it can play my UK as well as US DVD's.

The only reason this unit did not get 5 stars is purely down to Windows 8 and Microsoft not ironing out all the bugs in a new operating system. I have no doubts that the early bugs will be patched quickly but some applications do not work at present unit they are updated. I had to use the accessibility mode in the operating system as the fonts are quite small when viewed on a 60" TV from 15' away.

5 Stars when Microsoft sort out Windows 8.

Here is how I actually rate this product:

3 Stars As a low-end Windows machine for Home Theater purposes, but there are better machines out there.

2 Stars As an Acer product that one would want to upgrade/customize.

Normally, Acer has been really good at creating products that are upgradeable. This device fell far short of my expectations.

1) It only comes with 4 GB of RAM (with integrated graphics, you're actually getting less). It's supports up to 8 GB of RAM. When I tried opening the box to add more memory, one of the 4 screws holding the top on broke and now it can't be removed at all. Acer's support has gone so far down hill that they can't seem to help. They don't offer replacements or advice other than "take it to one of our repair centers that are 1000+ miles away from you"

2) I wanted to see how well Ubuntu or Fedora ran on it. It would not let me boot from the DVD drive. I had to create a USB boot drive and it would only boot from it half the time. When it finally did boot. It kept beeping and the screen flashed every color in the visible spectrum.

If you have a problem with this product, good luck getting help from Acer. I've never had problems with them before, but the support they offered me on the 3 occasions that I contacted them was pathetic.