After Microsoft’s excellent event last week, it’s now Acer’s turn to show off what it has in store for Windows 10. And that includes the Aspire Z3 – an all-in-one PC with a built-in battery that will last 5-hours.
Now, a desktop PC with a battery sounds a bit odd, but Acer says it will give users more freedom. There’s a dual kickstand on the back so you could use it as a really big tablet. A tablet with a 17.3-inch, IPS 1080p multi-touch display.
Aside from the battery, the rest of the device is pretty much what you’d expect. There’s a choice of Intel processors, 8GB of DDR3L RAM and you can pick between an SSD or an HDD.
The next device is a little bit more conventional, a new addition to the Aspire R line. The 2015 Aspire R 14 has a 360-degree ‘dual-torque’ hinge, so you can switch it between four modes – tent, display, tablet and laptop. This isn’t anything new, but it works a whole lot better now thanks to Continuum in Windows 10. When you switch it into tablet mode, it’ll automatically alter the interface and make everything much more touch friendly.
It’s a sleek looking device, at just 18.5mm thick and weighing in at 1.9 kg. The edges are diamond cut, there’s a hit of metal on the lid and no gap between the display and keyboard when you’ve got it in tablet mode. As the name suggests, it boasts a 14-inch display with a 1080p resolution. No 4K option here.
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In terms of power you can choose between an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, 8GB RAM and there are multiple SSD options available. Acer says you should get around 9-hours of battery life, which sounds about right for a device like this.
USB-C comes as standard – always a nice touch – though unlike Apple’s MacBook, it’s joined by a full-size USB 3.1 port.
Both the Z3 and Aspire R14 have another couple of other nifty tricks. Like dual-digital microphones with enhanced digital signal processing. This helps cancel out background noise and should make Cortana much more accurate.
They also come with Bluelight shield tech, this lets you tune the screen and Acer says it can help reduce eye-strain.
The Z3 will be available by the end of the year with prices starting from €599, while the Aspire R 14 will hit shelves later October €799.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.