Taiwanese hardware maker Acer unveiled the Acer Aspire Switch 10 E, an upgraded version of the 2-in-1 that boasts an upgraded design, enhanced performance and a 12-hour battery life.
Acer is expanding its Aspire Switch 10 series with two new models. The company just rolled out two 10.1-inch machines that sport Intel Atom quad core processors and 2GB DDR3L memory. At no additional cost, they also come with Office 365 pre-installed.
According to TopTechNews, Acer is targeting business users, students, and families who want lightweight computing devices.
Besides the Acer Switch 10, the company is also refreshing its Aspire Switch 11 series by adding an 11.6-inch model to the mix. The 11.6-inch model will sport a hinge design that assures better ergonomics as well as more processing power.
But that's not all. Buyers of any of the new models also get a free Windows 10 upgrade.
In the wake of an expected heavyweight battle between Windows 10 laptops and Chromebooks later this year, Acer has apparently decided to play both sides with low-priced laptops and laptop tablet hybrids it announced on Thursday, April 23, PCWorld noted.
The Switch 10 E
Sporting a latch-free docking, the Switch 10 E 2-in-1 is based on Microsoft Windows 8.1 and it offers four modes:
- A Notebook for productivity applications
- A Tablet for surfing the web, watching digital content, playing games
- A display for presentations or engaging in video conference
- A tent for maximizing space in small areas, like when you're traveling.
The Switch 10 E features the Acer Snap Hinge 2 that facilitates smooth switching between the four modes. Users can elevate the keyboard dock up to five degrees in order to find their typing comfort zone. According to Acer, the Switch 10 E comes with a 30Wh battery that offers up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge.
The Switch 10 E boasts two 2MP cameras, one at the front and one in the back. At 10.31 inches x 7.09 inches x 43 inches (262- x 180- x 10.95 millimeters), weighing at 1.39 pounds (630 grams) in tablet mode, the Switch 10 E is very thin and light. When attached to the accompanying keyboard with an optional hard drive, it measures 10.31- x 7.09- x 1.01-inches (262 x 180 x 25.75 millimeters) and weighs only 2.82 pounds (1.28 kilograms), which is still lighter than most laptops.
The Switch 10 E offers an HD 1280 x 800 resolution and supports 10-finger multi-touch. In addition, the Acer VisionCare Suite comes standard and includes Acer BlueLightShield. That technology decreases blue light emissions to reduce eye strain. Acer LumiFlex enables reading the screen even in bright sunlight. Users can opt for Acer's built-in HDD protection, Switch Lock that keeps their data safe in case the machine is stolen or lost.
The Switch 10 features a 1920 x 1200 resolution screen and offers a 2MP front camera and 1080p video recording. It draws its juice from a 22Whr battery that offers up to seven hours of video playback, according to Acer.
Measuring 10.29- x 6.97- x .35-inches (261.6- x 177.1- x 8.9- millimeters), it is slightly smaller than the 10 E. It weighs 1.31 pounds (0.6 kilograms). In notebook mode, it measures 10.29- x 6.97- x .93-inches (261.6- x 177.1 x 23.8 millimeters) and weighs 2.64 pounds (1.21 kilograms) with the keyboard dock and optional hard drive.
The Acer Aspire Switch 10 E is slated to hit the market in mid-July and will reportedly come with a price tag starting at $279. The Switch 10 will start at $399.
