Acer Inc (宏碁), one of the world’s leading personal computer vendors, unveiled a series of new gadgets, including the Acer Aspire R7, a multi-function laptop, desktop and tablet computer device, in New York on Friday as part of its latest efforts to boost shipments and strengthen its bottom line.
Acer chairman Wang Jeng-tang (王振堂) presided over the event, which had the theme: “Redefining the Computing Experiences,” to introduce the company’s latest products to consumers.
In addition to the multi-function 15.6-inch Acer Aspire R7, Wang also introduced the 11.6-inch Acer Aspire P3 Ultrabook, the 7.9-inch Iconia A1 tablet computers and the Aspire V series of touch notebook computers.
The products are scheduled to hit stores this month, Acer said.
The PC vendor said the Acer Aspire R7 has won recognition this year from Germany’s Red Dot Design Award, as well as an innovation award from the Computex Taipei, Taiwan’s and Asia’s largest computer trade show.
Sporting an aluminum unibody structure, the Acer Aspire R7 can be folded just like a notebook computer. With a hinge device that Acer calls the “Ezel,” the device can easily be transformed into a desktop computer.
As the Acer Aspire R7 runs Microsoft Inc’s Windows 8 operating system, it provides users with a touchscreen and works in a tablet PC mode.
Acer marketing chief Michael Birkin said the development of the Acer Aspire R7, which embraces both touch and type functions, showed the PC vendor’s ambitions to “explore beyond limits.”
The Acer Aspire R7 is equipped with the Dolby Home Theater audio system, two microphones and four speakers, which enable users to use the computer with their friends.
Wang said the Acer Aspire R7 is evidence of Acer’s innovation and design capability, which will give its users more convenience and flexibility in usage.
With an attachable keyboard, the Windows 8-based Acer Aspire P3 can also be transformed into a tablet. The device is powered by Intel Core i5 processors that are able to deliver a responsive and fast performance.
Acer said the Iconia A1 tablet uses quad-core processors and Google Inc’s Android 4.2 operating system with a weight of 410g for the Wi-Fi version and 430g for the 3G version.
Acer said it is working with Paramount Pictures to promote its new mobile computing devices through the studio’s new movie, Star Trek Into Darkness, which debuts later this month.
Wang said Acer wants to use the new product mix, which provides consumers with more choices, to grab a bigger share of the global computer market.
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