Acer has used CES to reveal a new Chromebook; they join Toshiba and Asus who have used the show to promote the Android OS.
The new C720p-2600 Chromebook is powered by an Intel Celeron 2955U processor based on the Haswell micro-architecture, just like previous C720 models, and it will include a 11.6 inch touchscreen HD LED back-lit display. The C720P-2600 has a 2GB RAM and a 32 GB solid-state drive installed as standard and will come in a new colour Acer calls ‘moonstone white’.
Talking to US trade magazine CRN a senior Acer executive said “I think maybe in six to nine months companies might start looking at Chromebooks because they’re cheap and they’re easy to use, and BYOD is taking off. But if that’s where Acer wants to go, then they need to do a better job working at communicating that to us and working with partners.” With Acer’s late efforts to target the education market, this model Chromebook is ideal for those looking for a sub $500 offering.
Acer has also released the Aspire V5 -561P that includes an M-DISC optical disk drive, a big new selling point for this 15 inch laptop. Anything burned to the M-DISC media will stay secure for years, without signs of fading or deteriorating, says Acer.
Tue Taiwanese Company claims that the “M-DISC is the only data storage solution to withstand rigorous testing by the U.S. Department of Defence. Even today’s leading archival optical discs weren’t up to the challenge. M-DISC is resistant to extreme conditions of light, temperature, humidity and more. M-DISC cannot be overwritten, erased or corrupted by natural processes. Best of all, it’s compatible with any DVD drive, so you can access your data anywhere, anytime,” according to the M-DISC website.
In addition to the above Acer boasts of the touch screen which uses ‘Direct Bonding technology’ to increase contrast ratio and enhance the viewing and touch experience. This tech brings the display panel nearer to the screen surface.
Acer Aspire V3 updated with dual-torque hinge
The final Ultrabook update which will be introduced by Acer at CES will be the new Aspire S3. This new model has inherited some of the features of its upmarket cousin – the Aspire S7, though it maintains its more affordable price tag. The new Aspire S3 has a dual-torque hinge design which allows the Full 1080p HD IPS screen to be tilted 180 degrees. The Aspire S3 chassis is also made from aluminium and available with a ‘sparkling white’ mirror finish.
