Acer launches Windows 8-based touch-screen products

The launch of the latest products was made on October 26 along with the launch of Microsoft Windows 8 operating system.

Acer said the new products come with an elegant design and functions that meet the needs of a new generation of people both at work and for play.

Nitipat Praweenwongwuthi, Senior Marketing Manager, Head of Marketing Division, Acer Computer Co, Ltd, said the new products were developed on the concept that consumers now determine the capabilities of their IT equipment.

He said software and hardware developers as well as content developers now have to play close attention to the needs of consumers.

“As for Acer, we pay attention to all requirements and develop products that fulfill and meet the needs of every consumer lifestyle, whether it is in terms of innovation in design, technology, function or services,” Nitipat said.

“Acer is proud that these new products come with Windows 8, the operating system which is now seeing the biggest demand among users worldwide. It is certain that it will shake up the IT market, making it dynamic, and we are confident that Acer will create another sensation among Thai IT users and in the IT marketplace here,” Nitipat said.

He said Acer is offering a complete range of models in all product lines, including Aspire S7 Touch Ultrabook, the Touch Timeline U, Touch Slimnote V5, ICONIA W700 and ICONIA W510 Tablet.

He said customers who seek luxury at home, the smooth-yet-powerful Acer Touch All-in-One that comes with a touch-screen allowing you to enjoy entertainment over the Internet or on television.

Boonchai Ngouvisitkul, Associate Director, Mobility Business Division, Acer Computer Co, Ltd, said that all of the new products represented a new trend and displayed leading edge of innovation from Acer.

For example, he claimed that the Aspire S7 Touch Ultrabook is the world’s first ultrabook with a white cover made of scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass that comes with a full HD touch-screen display with a 10-point multi-touch display.

The screen can be viewed from a 178-degree angle with IPS technology and has special strong hinges that can be opened up to 180 degrees so that users can share experiences more easily while the unit is a mere 11.9 millimeters thin and is easily carried around, being lightweight, he said.

The Aspire S7 Touch Ultrabook has a special key that enables users to vary the brightness which automatically adjusts to account for ambient light while its CPU is an Intel 3rd Generation processor, he said, noting that there are two models, a 13.3-inch model (with the Gorilla Glass 2 lid and hinges that open up to 180 degrees) and an 11.6-inch model. Both come with Twin-Air cooling system technology that helps dissipate heat. Supporting the Windows 8 operating system, prices begin at Bt45,900 (including 7% VAT), Boonchai added.

Acer is also introducing models in the Aspire V5 Touch Series that take advantage of the technology incorporated in Microsoft Windows 8 and these are typically 30 per cent thinner and 10 per cent lighter than regular notebooks, he said. Acer offers two models, with either a 15.6-inch or a 14-inch screen, and both are ultra-thin and come with a 10-point touch display along with a modern trackpad that helps users to control the unit using multi-touch commands more easily, he added.

The Aspire V series are powered an Intel 3rd Generation CPU and a NVIDIA GeForce GT620 graphics card that supports multi-tasking while Acer’s Ergonomic Thermal Comfort cooling system helps to keep the keypad and touchpad cool and the Acer Instant Connect system enables Internet connections to be made up to four times faster than with a standard notebook or in just 2.5 seconds, the Boonchai said.

Acer also launched Acer ICONIA W700, which has an 11.6-inch Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel screen supporting 10-point multi-touch input while taking advantage of Intel Core i3 and i5 ultra-low-voltage processors.

The W700 also features the Dolby Home Theatre system with Thunderbolt and HDMI ports and comes with a Bluetooth keyboard and a cradle capable of holding the tablet in both vertical or horizontal positions, either at a 70-degree angle (reading mode) or at 15 degrees (touch mode), Boonchai said.

The ICONIA W510 has a 10.1-inch IPS 1366 x 768 pixel screen and when a docking keyboard is attached the screen can be rotated through 295 degrees. Using Intel Atom Z2760 processor technology and with two stereo speakers it has MicroSD, Micro USB, Micro HDMI ports while the unit is just 8.89 mm thin and weighs only 576 grams, Boonchai said. With the docking keyboard attached, its weight is just 630 grams, he explained.

As for the All-in-One desktops, Acer launched the Aspire 7600U and Aspire 5600U to support all multimedia applications. The Aspire 7600U has a 27-inch screen and the Aspire 5600U has a 23-inch screen with Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and a new, elegant design being only 35 mm thin and guaranteed by having won a CES Award 2012, Boonchai said.

The 10-point touch-screen display can be adjusted from 30 to 80 degrees and has special PointGrab technology that makes it possible to work using motion sensors and a webcam. All forms of entertainment are supported by both models which have a Blu-ray player, HDMI in-out, an SDCX multi-in-1 card reader and a TV Tuner and these will be available with Windows 8 installed in November with prices starting at Bt39,900 (including 7% VAT), he said.