Donka's Mobile Rambles

Today’s update on the Acer n311 will focus on build quality. When you have an important device in such a small, pocket able form as the Acer n300 series, you need to know that the device will hold up to daily use. I’m happy to report that the Acer is a very well put together Pocket PC. While the overall fabrication is mostly of plastic, the corner edges are painted to give an impression of brushed aluminium. This almost lends itself to an air of extra confidence so you need to keep in mind that this is still just plastic. The unit feels relatively substantial in hand for its small size and is very well screwed together; there is no give or creaking under moderate stress. The buttons all respond very well to a firm press with the power button on the side the least likely to be inadvertently activated. The hold switch, like the stylus, is easy to grip when required while remaining discreet. The joystick in place of a d-pad feels tight yet easy to manipulate however the small plastic top could use a rubber coating or similar to aid control with the tip of your thumb.
One area where the Acer is a little disappointing is in the loudspeaker. While this is clear enough, it is located on the rear of the device and is not particularly loud on anything apart from its highest setting. While this setting is loud it is not quite up there with the majority of other devices. A front facing speaker would have been an improvement although with such a small front fascia, this would probably be technically impossible.
As with all Pocket PCs, a screen protector is highly advisable and I would certainly recommend the use of a good case to protect that painted plastic. Apart from these aesthetics and the use of a relatively low power processor for a VGA device, I would say the Acer represents great value for money. This is especially true given the feature set and design, wrapped up in a well bolted together product. From a build quality point of view, the n300 series does not disappoint.