A snappy double-duty beauty from Acer

THE BIG “switch” in the Switch Alpha 12 from Acer is its ability to jump from being a tablet computer to a notebook with the quick attachment of a magnetic snap-on keyboard.
Apart from portability, the Alpha 12 is also powerful. The one I tested, an SA5-271-53ZX, packed a fast sixth-generation Intel Core i5-6200U processor running at 2.3GHz.
You have eight gigabytes of working memory (RAM) and 256GB of fast SSD (Solid State Drive) storage behind a sharp 12-inch IPS touch screen with 2,160x1,440-pixel resolution.
The Windows 10 Home 64-bit operating system adds to the power and has an easy-to-use interface.
Also on board are a five-megapixel rear camera and a 2MP front camera that can double as a Full HD webcam for good-quality video chats.
You get all the necessary ports – a microSD card slot, a full-size USB 3.0 port and a USB Type-C port for USB 3.1 Gen 1 protocol with up to 5.1Gbps of data transfer rate.
The package also comes with Type-C USB to HDMI cable so that you can make use of the powerful CPU of Switch Alpha 12 to stream 4K video clips to a large 4K-read LED TV or 4K display.
Fans of tablet computers will love the inclusion of an active stylus pen for drawing or jotting down notes on the touch screen.
Meanwhile, when not in use, the handy snap-on keyboard can double as a screen cover. Once snapped in place via a magnetic latch, the display can be propped up on adjustable kickstand built into the back of the tablet. The kickstand, held fast to surfaces with a rubber anti-slip strip, will swing the screen 165 degrees, so you always get your preferred angle.
The Core i5 processor is a mighty CPU, but Acer has made it very quiet with a fan-less LiquidLoop cooling unit, so you get the power without the constant whine.
The Switch Alpha 12 contains an Intel dual-band AC 2.2 MU-MIMO wireless adapter for fast wireless LAN connections. I hooked it up to my Linksys WRT1200AC without any trouble and got a very fast Internet connection on my home network.
Applications ran fast, including Adobe Photoshop CC 2015 and other business programs. I could watch Full HD video clips without a glitch. The keyboard was responsive and easy to type on. And the computer started up and shut down speedily.
As a tablet the Switch Alpha 12 feels a bit lightweight, but as a notebook it’s just fine.
The suggested retail price is Bt35,990.

Key Specs
- Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64-bit
- CPU: Sixth-generation Intel Core i5-6200U 2.3GHz processor
- Memory: 8GB DDR3 SDRAM
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Display: 12-inch IPS QHD touch screen with 2160x1440 pixels
- Cameras: 5MP rear, 2 MP front with 1080p webcam functionality
- Ports: microSD card slot, USB Type-C for USB 3.1, 3.0,
- Accessories: EN/TH keyboard, Active Stylus Pen, Type-C USB to HDMI cable, protective film and sleeve case
- Pad dimensions: 292.1x201.4x9.5mm
- Pad plus dock dimensions: 292.1x201.4x15.85mm
- Pad weight: 0.9kg with two-cell battery pack
- Pad plus dock weight: 1.25 kg with two-cell battery