As a student or researcher in the social or physical sciences, this device provides a good balance of portability (with it's 17.3 inches screen size) and performance so that you're free to roam the labs or libraries with a machine that can competently multi-task your data crunching, "multi-tabbed browsing" and the production of academic content.

The 17.3 inches screen gives you enough screen-space to wade through columns and rows

Excel, Quicken etc, don't need much power so this option won't up the requirements on processor. 

Your Asus 's 8 GB RAM will ensure large sheets and accounts wont undermine performance

The numeric keypad keyboard really takes the strain out when entering data.

Facebook, twitter etc require little processing power or screen specification so the X751NA-DS21Q will do just fine.

Facebook, twitter etc require little processing power or screen specification so the E1-731-4699 will do just fine.

All components of your Asus will easily handle the web as surfing requires minimal resources

All components of your Acer will easily handle the web as surfing requires minimal resources

Presentations, spreadsheets and documents, don't need much, but your Intel Pentium N4200 processor and 8 GB RAM ensures even image laden files won't leave you watching the 'spinning wheel'!

Presentations, spreadsheets and documents, don't need much, but your Intel Pentium 2020M processor and 4 GB RAM ensures even image laden files won't leave you watching the 'spinning wheel'!

Email demands very little from a laptop. We've taken this into account.

Email demands very little from a laptop. We've taken this into account.

The 6 hours battery life in the X751NA-DS21Q is sufficient for short sessions of use in coffee shops, parks etc.

The 6 hours battery life in the X751NA-DS21Q has got enough juice to help you work while on the move during quick trips around the city.

The 3 hours battery life in the E1-731-4699 has got enough juice to help you work while on the move during quick trips around the city.

The 6 hours battery life in the X751NA-DS21Q can keep you going while moving from one meeting space to another.

As you'll be needing to move about now and then, it's 6.2 lbs weight should suit your needs just fine.

Working with numbers is important to you, so we've made sure this laptop comes a full featured keyboard. 

Working with numbers is important to you, so we've made sure this laptop comes a full featured keyboard. 

It looks simple, capable and doesn't stand out in any particular way.

It looks simple, capable and doesn't stand out in any particular way.

It's got the traditional corporate look and will definitely blend in within the enterprise environment.