IFA: Acer unveils new convertibles

A this year’s IFA conference in Berlin, Acer unveiled the R 13 and R 14 line of convertible notebooks. The units feature an Ezel Aero Hinge that allows the display to rotate in six directions and also lets the devices be used as a standard notebook or as a tablet.

Acer has announced the Aspire R 13 and Aspire R 14 Series, two new convertible notebook lines that can transition between various notebook and tablet style modes of operation. The R 13 Series features Acer’s unique Ezel Aero Hinge that allows the display to rotate into six different positions. All models can also be used with the optional Acer Active Pen. The R 14 Series of convertible notebooks features a 360 degree dual-torque hinge that allows it to be used in four usage modes. Both notebooks are designed for those who don’t want to give up a traditional notebook design, but want more options and flexibility.

Acer’s goal is to deliver an experience at all price points,” said Jason Chen, Corporate President and CEO, Acer.

Both the R 13 Series and R 14 Series were unveiled today at Acer’s Global Press Conference at IFA 2014 in Berlin, Germany, where the company announced its entire line of holiday products.

Aspire R 13

Less than 25.4 mm thin and just over 1.5 kg, the lightweight Aspire R 13 Series incorporates the Acer Ezel Aero Hinge that provides both flexibility and stability. The 13.3-inch display is affixed to this special hinge at the sides, which allows the screen to rotate 180-degrees so it can be used in six different ways. This quick and effortless way to transition between various modes gives it the productivity features of a traditional clamshell notebook with the convenience of a tablet. Acer’s patented dual-torque system hinge keeps the display stable and in place when touch navigation is used. It is attached to a forged U frame, which also helps to enhance stiffness while maintaining the notebook’s slim design.

· Notebook mode Рprovides a precise and spacious keyboard for maximum productivity.

· Ezel mode Рbrings the display close for convenient reading and web browsing.

· Stand mode Рmakes it easy to draw a flow chart, take notes, brainstorm with others or edit artwork. The stand is sturdy enough for drawing and other touchscreen interactions.

¬∑ Pad mode – enables the R 13 to be used as a tablet for web browsing, playing games or watching videos. The screen fits perfectly in the chassis frame, so it’s steam-lined and easy to hold.

¬∑ Tent mode – the ideal position when space is limited, such as an airplane’s seatback tray or a small kitchen for easy viewing of online recipes.

· Display mode Рgood for viewing photos and video or playing games with others.

The Aspire R 13 is crafted to last and packed with good features. The touchscreen and outer lid are both encased in a slim, but strong, sheet of Corning Gorilla Glass 3, making them tough yet beautiful.

All R 13 Series models offer premium touch screen displays with super crisp images and fine detail. Available in either super high-resolution (WQHD) (2560 x 1440) or full high-definition (FHD) (1920 x 1080), photos, videos, games and presentations are strikingly vivid and detailed: text is sharp and crystal clear. Both display options include Zero Air Gap Technology, which ensures vivid, lifelike visuals. It reduces reflections, heightens contrast, creates bright and crisp images and improves readability in sunlight. FHD models feature IPS technology, which provides wide viewing angles, making them ideal for sharing movies and photos or for work presentations.

The Acer R13

In addition, anti-fingerprint technology helps eliminate smudges and makes the displays easier to clean, while Corning’s newly developed AR/ETC technology minimizes reflections and improves the display’s contrast. A built-in light sensor automatically adjusts the screen’s brightness to enhance the screen image, making it easier to see and read based on the ambient lighting in the room.

The R 13 Series can also be used with an optional Acer Active Pen for drawing, creating and collaborating. The pen comes with a pressure sensor for professional drawing and a hover sensor for easy access to functions. It also supports palm rejection so users can write on the screen comfortably.

The pen works with Acer’s exclusive pen-enabled software, Acer Hover Access, which is pre-installed on all models, and features applications for work or play that works in 3 easy steps: Hold the Acer Active Pen above the screen and the Acer Hover Access software will automatically detect the pen: click the button on the side of the pen: launch apps to write notes, paint or edit.

The R 13 Series also features the Acer Touch Tools app, which includes:

· Acer Screen Grasp Рallows any image to be easily captured, personalized and shared to social networks or pasted to documents.

· Acer AccuFinger Рhelps accurately place the cursor in text documents and acquire tiny items on the screen when using fingers.

In addition to its innovative features, the R 13 Series includes powerful technologies, making them fast and responsive for a wide variety of work and entertainment uses. For maximum performance, models offer Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, up to 1TB Solid State Drives with RAID-0 support and up to 8GB of memory. Leading audio features include Dolby Digital Plus Home Theatre for cinematic surround sound, and Acer Purified Voice, a combination of hardware (dual-array mic) and software (voice recognition and audio processing). It is also Skype‚Ñ¢ certified, which ensures webcam/video chats, conference calls, VoIP calls and voice commands are always crystal clear. To keep the powerful R 13 running cool and quiet, the Aspire R 13 boasts an advanced dual air-intake design for comfortable and noise-free computing. For all day computing, models with a FHD display deliver up to 8 hours of battery life.

Aspire R 14 Series

Acer’s new R 14 notebook makes it easy to play, share, display or work. Its clean, refined design incorporates a unique 360 degree dual-torque hinge design that allows effortless transformation into four different modes for productivity and entertainment needs — notebook, pad, display or tent.

• Notebook mode Рthe most efficient way for work and productivity: ideal for vast amount of keyboard input.

• Display mode Рbrings the screen closer for watching movies: it can also be used as a large photo frame.

• Tent mode Рperfect for smaller spaces, such as the fold-down tray on an airplane or on a kitchen counter.

• Pad mode Рfor use as a tablet, Internet browsing, playing light games, sharing information.

Acer’s inventive 360 degree dual-torque hinge design delivers the perfect combination of flexibility and strength, making it easy to open with one hand for a wobble-free touch experience. Constructed of strong zinc alloy and soft rubber, it provides durability and the perfect amount of touch resistance. In addition, the hinge design allows the lid to be laid completely flat, without any gap between the chassis and lid, for easy collaboration and sharing. In tablet mode, the display can be flipped over and lays completely flat against the chassis as well, for a clean, streamlined design. When the notebook is used in display mode, the hinge slightly raises the entire system, preventing the keyboard from touching the table or other surface. For convenience, the images and audio on the R 14 automatically reverse channels when the modes are switched, so the visuals and sound are always aimed the right way.

The Acer R14

The R 14 features a 14-inch HD (1366 x 768) display with Zero Air Gap technology, which helps to eliminate reflections in sunlight, resulting in higher contrast and crisper images. It also supports Acer Touch Tools that helps the user capture, collect, write and share screen data effortlessly through touch. Models are available with a range of Intel processors, including Pentium, Core i3, i5 or i7, and can be configured with up to 12GB of memory for powerful performance. Some models offer NVidia GeForce 820M graphics to enrich the overall visuals. Roomy 500GB or 1TB hard drives provide ample storage for files, photos and videos. Skype Certified, the R 14 provides crystal clear communications with uninterrupted audio and visuals free of echos, gaps and lags, making it easy to connect with friends, family or co-workers across the globe.

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