Even though the PC market is in a bit of decline as far as shipments are concerned, manufacturers don’t appear to be packing up shop and closing business any time soon. There are several different factors that are chipping away at the once dominant PC market, but OEMs are looking to combat them with possibly the most versatile PC offerings to date.
Among these reinvigorated PC makers is Acer, who today announced a new PC lineup for the summer and fall.
Acer’s lineup includes a variety of colors, two-in-ones, and several price points that should make this back-to-school shopping season a bit more enjoyable than past.
Starting off is Acer’s traditional clamshell laptop focused on the general work & play of students.
Aspire V 15, Aspire E-Series, and all-new Aspire ES Series notebooks
The Aspire V 15 is adorned with an aluminum top cover imprinted using Acer’s advanced nano-imprint technology to provide a luxurious and uniquely textured metallic finish. It has a backlit keyboard that not only adds a modern touch to its appearance, but is also practical for use in dimly lit environments. Built with 5th generation Intel® Core™ processors and the latest NVIDIA® GeForce® 940M series graphics chips, the Aspire V 15 provides high-powered processing and incredible onscreen performance. The Acer Aspire V 15 will be available in North America in August with prices starting at US$599, in EMEA in July with prices starting at €699, and in China in June with prices starting at ¥4,699.
Next up is the “E” Series that are designed for students that want to stand out from the grey aluminum sea of PC’s. At 14, 15.6, and 17.3 inches this offering may prioritize media consumption over portability.
Aspire E-Series – attractive design with appealing features
The new Aspire E Series notebooks come in a variety of color options in 14-inch, 15.6-inch, and 17.3-inch displays. They feature a textile pattern on the cover and underside which has been manufactured by a brand new process, involving 3D scanning of fabric samples, which are then replicated into molds with 3D printing technology and finished with a laser engraving process. The Acer Aspire E-Series will be available in North America in July with prices starting at US$379 for 14-inch models, in EMEA in May with prices starting at €349 for 14-inch models, and in China in April with prices starting at ¥4,199 for 14-inch models.
Another all-around PC offering is the ES series. This may be Acer’s most versatile offering yet. With models ranging from 11.6 to 17.3 inches, and prices starting at US$299, most students should be able to find the model that suits them.
Aspire ES Series – essential needs covered for work and play
The newly launched Aspire ES Series provides everything users need for work and play, balancing productivity, portability, and their checkbook at the same time. Featuring the Acer FlowCurve design and five screen size options ranging in size from 11.6-inch to 17.3-inches, the versatile and ultra-affordable Aspire ES Series has all the features needed for everyday tasks. The Acer Aspire ES Series will be available in North America in July with prices starting at US$229 for 11-inch models, in EMEA in June with prices starting at €249 for 11-inch models, and in China in April with prices starting at ¥2,299 for 11-inch models. These new notebooks ship with Windows 8.1 and are supported by Acer for the free Windows 10 upgrade.
Acer will also continue to support Windows pitch for the future with their convertible offerings.
The new Aspire Switch 10 E (SW3-013) and Switch 10 (SW5-015) – Acer has expanded its award-winning Switch 10 series 2-in-1 notebook line with two new 10.1-inch models featuring Intel® Atom quad-core processors in a fashionable and flexible design for ideal for students, frequent travelers and families wanting a thin and light device for enjoying productivity apps and entertainment on the go.
Aspire Switch 10 E (SW3-013)
The Aspire Switch 10 E features a thin lightweight design, six eye-catching color options, advanced ergonomics, and with its 30Wh battery it can provide up to 12 hours of battery life on just one charge. The Switch 10 E measures 10.31 (W) x 7.09 (H) x .43 (D) inches and weighs only 1.39 pounds in tablet mode. The Acer Aspire Switch 10 E (SW3-013) will be available in North America in July with prices starting at US$279 in EMEA in May with prices starting at €299, and in China in April with prices starting at ¥2,499.
For those who aren’t ready to ditch the keyboard, Acer’s offering fold-up convertibles as well.
Switch 10 (SW5-015)
The stylish Switch 10 (SW5-015) features an FHD 1920 x 1200 resolution screen with Zero Air Gap Technology that displays sharp text and exceptionally crisp visuals, making photos, games and movies incredibly lifelike. It is reinforced with an elegant white Gorilla® Glass® three back cover, the tablet is resilient and the silver gray keyboard dock is an esthetically appealing match. As a tablet, it measures 10.29 (W) x 6.97 (H) x .35 (D) inches and weighs just 1.31 pounds. The Acer Aspire Switch 10 (SW5-015) will be available in North America in August with prices starting at US$399 and in EMEA in June with prices starting at €449.
Acer has also announced that it will be refreshing its Switch 11 series with a new 11.6-inch model leveraging a new hinge design, improved ergonomics, and more processing power. The Switch 10 and Switch 11 notebooks are supported by Acer for the free Windows 10 upgrade. Details and pricing on the new Switch 11 V will be available later this quarter.
Lastly is the Lenovo Yoga inspired fold-back offering of the Aspire R 11. Possibly the best blend of tablet and laptop transition excluding the Surface line.
The Aspire R 11, an 11.6-inch convertible notebook, features a fabric-textured cover and underside created with a laser etching process for a visually appealing and functional exterior that’s scratch resistant and provides a firm grip.
It is available in sky blue or cloud white, with a crisp and clear 11.6-inch HD touch screen featuring Zero Air Gap Technology and durable Corning® Gorilla® Glass. The Aspire R 11 ships with Windows 8.1 and is supported by Acer for the free Windows 10 upgrade. The Acer Aspire R 11 will be available in North America in July with prices starting at US$249, in EMEA in June with prices starting at €349, and in China in June with prices starting at ¥2,799.
Acer will be updating their site to reflect these offerings as they become available.
