The EasyNote notebooks from Packard Bell are known for being all-rounders with a conspicuous design. Its predecessor, the EasyNote TS11 HR-040UK, already came equipped with an Intel i5 processor. The manufacturer isn't stingy when it comes to the components of the EasyNote TS13-HR-197GE either: At the heart of the notebook is an Intel Core i5 2450M, which has a base clock speed of 2.5 GHz, but can be overclocked to up to 2.8 GHz with Turbo-Boost.( Acer 934T2039F battery,charger )

For simple applications the Intel HD Graphics 3000 graphics unit integrated into the processor is used, something that makes itself noticeable with a relatively long battery life. For games and other demanding applications, the dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 630M graphics card with 2 GBytes of memory is available. Even the 4 GBytes of RAM should still be enough for demanding users these days.( Acer UM09E31 battery,charger )

Acer has included the same processor and dedicated graphics card in the TravelMate 5760G-2454G50Mnsk, which we also reviewed recently. Due to this, we aren't only interested in finding out how the EasyNote TS13 compares to its predecessor, but also to what extent it is better than its direct competitor.( Acer UM09E36 battery,charger )

At first glance the bright red design of the EasyNote stands out: The palm resting area, as well as the shiny display lid, are covered in red with a decent pattern. As its predecessor, the EasyNote TS11-HR-158GE, the TS13 is housed in the same case as the Acer Aspire 5741G-334G50Mn. The main difference is the shiny lid material, which is unfortunately susceptible to smudges and fingerprints.( Acer UM09E70 battery,charger )

As with the Acer, the lower edges of the display lid are missing the rubber dampers for which sockets are available. The missing dampers don't lead to any scratching though, contrary to the results determined during the Acer test. The Packard Bell model is fitted with four rubber dampers at the top of the display, one on either side, and two at the bottom, all of which should protect the screen sufficiently when closing it.( Acer UM09E71 battery,charger )

With the exception of the silver logo, the whole notebook is constructed of plastic materials, which have generally been well manufactured, and also make a relatively stable impression. Thus, the base unit hardly warps with pressure applied, and the internal parts are therefore sufficiently protected - not least because of the stable base plate. The display hinges hold the display firmly in all positions, and allow it to be opened to up to about 160 degrees. In addition, we were also not able to find any partially loose components.( Acer CGR-B/350CW battery,charger )

Underneath a screwed down panel on the bottom surface, is the internal hard drive, as well as the RAM and the WLAN module. ( Acer 3UR18650Y-2-QC261 battery,charger ) Along with a precision screwdriver, you will also need a bit of skill to open the panel without damaging it: This is due to the panel being relatively firmly attached by a series of hooks on its sides. If wanting to remove the battery, a little help will also be required in this case - a sharp utensil is needed for pushing it out. With frequent use this is likely to lead to signs of wear. The fact that this can also be possible without a screwdriver, was proved by us during the review of the HP Probook 4535s. The battery and maintenance panel on the bottom could be removed with only two sliders and without any tools, and nevertheless it sits firmly in the chassis.( Acer GRAPE32 battery,charger )

The interfaces are the same as those available on the predecessor EasyNote TS11-HR-040UK. On the left side are the two audio mini-jack sockets as well as a USB 2.0 port, ( Acer LC.BTP00.005 battery,charger ) and the HDMI and VGA ports provide options for connecting external monitors or a projector with Full-HD resolution. Next to the air vent are also the Gigabit Ethernet port, and the power input. On the right side, the Kensington Lock slot, as well as the DVD burner, and another two USB 2.0 ports can be found. The latter of these are relatively close together, which is why it could lead to difficulties attaching two USB connectors at the same time if these are a bit wider than usual. Another shortcoming is the missing USB 3.0 port, which is quite common in the mean time, and is even included in some more affordable models.( Acer LC.BTP00.011 battery,charger )

Packard Bell has been stingy when it comes to the (hardware) accessories. Along with the obligatory AC adapter and the battery,( Acer TM00741 battery,charger ) there is merely a printed product manual, which is also available as a PDF version by pressing the F1 button, included in the delivery. This shouldn't be satisfactory for anyone other than notebook beginners. What is abundant in contrast, is the software included by Packard Bell for the EasyNote TS13. The highlight is the pre-installed full version of Adobe Photoshop Elements 9. Software, that should more than suffice for image editing by a home user - even if the current version of the program is version 10. With Nero Suite, there is also a burning program available, and Microsoft Office Starter provides free, although with advertising banners, basic text processing and spreadsheet applications. An all-round and free solution without advertising could also be provided by Office Suite or LibreOffice, which could be installed retrospectively if necessary.( Acer 3UR18650F-3-QC228 battery,charger )

The obligatory 1.3 Megapixel webcam is also integrated into the display frame. In this case an LED is missing for indicating whether the webcam is active. On the software side, there is also no function such as a tray icon available, which signals the activity, or with which the module can be deactivated. For example when using Skype, we would recommend deactivating the automatic transmission of the video images in the settings, in order to prevent accidental surprises.( Acer BT.00903.005 battery,charger )

Except for hard wired Gigabit Ethernet, there is also a WLAN module available, which supports the current standards 802.11b/g/n, and should thus at least theoretically provide a bandwidth of up to 600 Mbit/s wirelessly. There may be enough space for a UMTS module in the case, but there is unfortunately no socket available, something that is nevertheless not uncommon with notebooks in this class. What would be common is Bluetooth, something that we are missing with the EasyNote TS13. In this case an external solution via USB would also be an option.( Acer LC.BTP01.015 battery,charger )

Packard Bell provides a standard 12 months warranty with mail-in or carry-in service, which means, ( Acer LC.BTP01.016 battery,charger ) that customers have to return the device or take it to a licensed retailer in case of a problem. This constitutes the absolute minimum as far as notebook warranties go - other manufacturers often provide a 24 months warranty with pickup & return service for notebooks in this class, in which case the notebook is collected and returned. At least Packard Bell provides a warranty extension of up to 3 years with pickup & return service for 69 Euros, which also includes all hardware faults.( Acer 3UR18650Y-3-QC262 battery,charger )

As with its predecessor, the EasyNote TS11-HR040UK, the TS13 also comes with a keyboard using a chiclet design. With the exception of the top and bottom rows, the keys have the usual 15 x 15 millimeter dimensions, and a pleasant 3 millimeter gap between each other, which combine to allow for fast typing. The keys in the bottom row are about 18 millimeters high, while the function keys on the top row are only about 9 millimeters high, something that doesn't lead to a compromised typing feeling though.( Acer CGR-B/6H5 battery,charger )

Users that are not used to key combinations with the function keys, ( Acer LC.BTP00.001 battery,charger ) will be much more annoyed by the hotkey functions that are active as standard, whereby F1 to F12 have to be used together with the Fn key. In the BIOS you can restore the usual functionality by changing its settings. Along with the usual hotkey functions, such as switching between monitors, or switching the WLAN on or off, there are also some exotic options available: Using the F1 key for example, the product manual can be opened as a PDF - reserving a single key for this seems a little exaggerated in this case; a simple shortcut on the desktop would also have sufficed.( Acer LC.BTP00.002 battery,charger )

At the top right of the notebook is the so called Social-Media button, which opens a Facebook messenger that initially reminds of ICQ, and also provides access to YouTube, Flickr, and Twitter. Also above the numeric keypad are the buttons for the volume control, which are easy to operate, and provide a useful addition to the hotkey portfolio. More or less all the hotkeys provide an indication on the display when used, just unfortunately not the one for setting the brightness of the display. In this case this means that users will have to orientate themselves by the highest or lowest setting.( Acer LIP6220QUPC SY6 battery,charger )