Out in Taipei this morning, Acer has announced its latest new products to join the ever growing Windows 10 ecosystem. One of them is this, the Aspire R 14, a new convertible that'll cost a reasonable $699 when it goes on sale sometime later this month.
The other is a new all-in-one PC that believe it or not features a built in battery.
Hardware wise, the Aspire R 14 is packing the latest 6th generation Skylake Intel Core i CPUs, 8GB of RAM, SSD storage and a form factor boasting 18mm of thickness and a 1.9kg weight. As the convertible nature implies the display is touch and besides using it like a regular notebook there are also the tent mode and the full on, fold it all the way around tablet mode making use of Continuum
Pricing outside the U.S. is set to be €799.
The Z3-700 all-in-one looks a lot more like a giant tablet with feet than many other products in this category and that's not a million miles from the truth. The built in battery means you can actually move this away from the desk and take it to other rooms in the house.
It's also a more budget conscious offering for someone looking for an all-in-one PC but without shelling out mega bucks to get one. It'll start at just €599 sometime later this year. It's 'portable' nature does mean you're trading off on the size a little, though. The display is 17.5-inches at 1080p with touch, and with the price point in mind inside it's using Intel Pentium or Celeron CPUs with options for 8GB of RAM, SSD or HDD storage and support for input by a dedicated stylus. And, along with the R14, it'll have support for Dolby Audio.
There's still details to fill in on both of these, but for now check out the full press release below.
Acer Showcases New Windows 10 Devices
New Portfolio will Help Empower People to Connect and Interact in Whole New Ways
TAIPEI, TAIWAN (October 12, 2015) Acer today announced two new Windows 10 devices, the Aspire R 14 convertible notebook, and the Aspire Z3-700 portable all-in-one PC. Joining Acer's extensive Windows 10 device portfolio, both of the new innovative Windows 10 devices will change how people interact and connect with what's important in their world.
"Acer has a heritage of delivering the best user experience through innovation in technology and design," said Jason Chen, Corporate President and CEO, Acer. "With Windows 10, we can now deliver a unique and consistent experience across our comprehensive product portfolio, be it notebooks, desktops, tablets or smartphones, and empower users to do great things with more personal and human technology."
"We worked closely with Acer to help ensure their devices would make the most of Windows 10," said Terry Myerson, Executive Vice President of the Windows and Devices Group, Microsoft. "With Cortana, the personal assistant that helps you get things done, Continuum, which enables Windows Phones to act like a PC when paired with a larger display, great gaming with Xbox, and our new browser Microsoft Edge, we are excited to welcome these Acer devices to the Windows 10 family."
Optimized for Windows 10
Acer today announced two new devices that bring Windows 10 to life, namely the Aspire R 14 (R5-431T/471T) convertible notebook, and the Aspire Z3-700 portable all-in-one PC. Both devices with dual-digital microphones feature Acer Purified.Voice with enhanced digital signal processing (DSP) that cancel background noise and improve speech accuracy, allowing people to have an optimized Cortana experience.
For a better Windows 10 audio and visual experience, the Aspire R 14 and Aspire Z3-700 feature Acer TrueHarmony Plus technology with Dolby® Audio™, providing powerful audio with immersive surround. Both devices also ship with Acer BluelightShield™, with four professionally tuned modes to choose from, which can effectively reduce eye strain by reducing blue light emission from the screen. In addition, Acer demonstrated the Liquid Jade Primo smartphone, since revealing it by showcasing Continuum on Windows 10 at IFA 2015. The 5.5-inch smartphone with Windows 10 mobile provides ultimate productivity for professionals through Continuum, allowing Windows 10 universal apps to provide a PC-like experience when the device is connected with a secondary display.
Ultimate Flexibility with the Aspire R 14
The Aspire R 14 has evolved with a new hairline-brush metallic finish, diamond-cut edge design, and a thinner 360-degree dual torque hinge for incredible flexibility between four usage modes. When paired with Continuum, this helps people switch easily between PC and tablet mode. People can maximize productivity with the most efficient method of keyboard input in classic Laptop mode, and switch to Display mode by hiding the keyboard at the back or laying 180 degrees flat, ideal for collaborating, sharing and entertainment. Converting to Tent mode gives users the option to use in a confined space, while a masterfully-crafted magnet design allows the device to be fully converted into Tablet mode – without any gaps whatsoever.
"The new lineup of Acer Aspire devices show the versatility of the latest Intel processors," said Kirk Skaugen, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Client Computing Group, Intel. "Leveraging the power of Intel technology, these new devices are thin, light, fast and perfectly suited for productivity and entertainment at home or on the go."
At only 18.5mm thin and weighing in at just 1.9kg, the Aspire R 14 incorporates 6th Gen Intel® Core™ processors, up to 8GB DDR3L system memory, and SSD storage for powerful performance both at home or on the go. For faster connection speeds, the new Aspire R 14 includes MU-MIMO wireless technology, allowing up to three times faster downloads compared to other 802.11ac products, especially in crowded networks.
An All-in-One Made to Move, the Aspire Z3-700
The new Aspire Z3-700 all-in-one PC features a built-in battery that will last for 5 hours, allowing consumers to perform desktop productivity or entertainment tasks anywhere around the house. The 17.3-inch Aspire Z3-700 has a chassis of just 15.6 mm slim and 2 kg light, while two kick stands allow it to stand or lay flat like a jumbo tablet.
Powered by Intel® Pentium® or Celeron® processors, up to 8GB of DDR3L system memory, and SSD or HDD storage options , the Aspire Z3-700 provides ample performance for infotainment tasks. It features a Full HD (1920 x 1080) 10-point capacitive multi-touch screen, which also supports input via a dedicated stylus for even more precise control.
Pricing and Availability
The Acer Aspire R 14 will be available in North America in late October with prices starting at US$699, in EMEA in late October with prices starting at €799.
The Acer Aspire Z3-700 will be available in EMEA by the end of the year with prices starting at €599.
