During a press conference in Taipei last Oct.12, Acer showcased two new computers that work on Windows 10: the Aspire Z3-700 all-in-one portable PC and the Aspire R 14 convertible notebook.
"We worked closely with Acer to help ensure their devices would make the most of Windows 10,"executive vice president of Microsoft's Windows and Devices group, Terry Myerson declared.
Due to the intense cooperation between the American and Taiwanese companies, both systems fully support the latest OS features from Microsoft: Cortana, the virtual assistant and Continuum, which lets Windows phones get used as PC's when plugged into a display. Last, but not the least, Windows 10 brings the improved Internet browser, Edge.
The Asian tech company did some fine tuning to the hardware, so the voice commands and video output are sharp and clear. Speech accuracy was polished and the background noise reduced thanks to the digital signal processing of the dual microphones. Visual improved thanks to the reducing of blue light emissions.
Last week, the American tech leviathan released the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book PCs, and Acer follows by presenting systems that work flawlessly with Windows 10.
The hairline-brush metallic finish and diamond-cut edge design reveal that the Acer Aspire R14 notebook was a strong focus for designers. The notebook shines in versatility, as well.
Its 14-inch screen makes great use of a 360-degree dual torque hinge that enables buyers to use the device in four modes: tablet, tent, display and laptop. For the display mode, a Windows phone sporting Continuum should be connected to Aspire R14.
The notebook weighs 4.18 pounds - just a bit more than the MacBook Pro 2015 model, pulling 3.48 pounds and a 13-inch screen.
Acer Aspire R14 has a potent configuration: the Intel Core Processor is of the 6th-generation, system memory can be maxed up to 8GB DDR3L.Storage can be SSD is users choose so.
Fans from Europe can buy the notebook starting at €799, while the price for North America is $699.
In comparison, the Acer Aspire Z3 700 all-in-one PC will be released in Europe by the year's end, beginning at €599, which makes it about $680 in U.S. currency. The slate's 17.3-inch display will eat up the battery in around 5 hours. For users who want to use it in a more conventional, notebook-style, kickstands are available. The 4.4 pounds of the hefty tablet take it slightly over the notebook in terms of weight.
The Aspire Z3 features processors from Intel Pentium and Celeron, and will have a memory cap of 8GB of RAM, with both HDD and SSD storage variants in store. The full-HD screen sports a 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution. The 10-point capacitive touchscreen supports input via a dedicated stylus, resembling those from the Surface Pro line.
Acer used the occasion to also present its new Liquid Jade Primo smartphone. Powered by the mobile Windows 10 version, the Taiwanese handset has a 5.5-inch display.
Acer's corporate president and chief executive officer, Jason Chen, pointed out that Windows 10 allows his company to offer unique and consistent experiences on all devices, regardless if they are desktops, notebooks, smartphones or tablets.
