When we measured the display brightness using our light meter, the Aspire E1 averaged 189 lux. We had no trouble executing gestures like edge-swiping and one-finger scrolling, for instance, but the animation looked choppy. (Neither the Lenovo Ideapad S405 nor the ASUS X550CA-DB31 offer touch screens.) The 10-point touch screen performed reliably, though the notebook's sluggish Core i3 processor hamstrung its speed.

More impressively, the notebook's display is touch sensitive, a rarity for budget notebooks. When we streamed a 1080p trailer for 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier,' the hero's iconic red-white-and-blue shield contrasted nicely with his dark-hued uniform, and we could move about a foot to either side of the screen before the colors started to wash out. Click to EnlargeThe Aspire E1-470P's 14-inch 1366 x 768 display isn't particularly crisp, but it boasts lush colors and viewing angles wide enough to accommodate a few friends.