Acer has refreshed its Aspire line-up with the announcement of three new Windows 8-powered ultrabooks.
As part of its Aspire S7 line (the firm's third line of ultrabooks), several features have been optimized for the upcoming Windows 8 operating system including touch screens, true HD (1080p) displays, and super-slim profiles measuring as thin as 0.48in. In fact, Acer brands the new S7 series' systems the "world's thinnest touch ultrabooks".
First up are the Acer Aspire S7-391-6810 and Acer Aspire S7-391-9886, two 13-inch ultrabooks boasting 1,920 x 1,080 displays along with 10-finger touch capabilities. Acer has combined the hinge and lid frame to give both ultrabooks a distinctive look in addition to implementing a white sheet of Gorilla Glass 2 into the lid. The design means the ultrabooks weigh in at an impressive 2.83lb (1.28kg). Both of the ultrabooks are designed for frequent pressure on the screen, with Acer developing a dual torque hinge that tightens once a user opens it. The hinge also allows the user to open the laptop flat for table top use.
Both systems deliver Dolby Home Theater Audio via built-in stereo speakers, as well as two USB 3.0 ports and micro-HDMI output. In order to make up for the lack of VGA and Ethernet ports on both of the laptops, adapters are included in-box. Both keyboards feature automatic backlighting that auto-adjust thanks to an ambient light sensor.
The Acer Aspire S7-391-6810 delivers up to five hours of battery life, while the Acer Aspire S7-391-9886 offers up to six hours. For further battery life, both ultrabooks feature support for an extended battery pack to increase total battery life to 10 and 12 hours, respectively.
Aspire S7-391-6810 ($1,400):
- 13.3-inch 1080p IPS display
- Intel Core i5-3317UB CPU
- 128GB SSD
- 4GB of DDR3 RAM
- 2.86 pounds
- 12.73 x 8.79 x 0.47 inches
Aspire S7-391-9886 ($1,650):
- 13.3-inch 1080p IPS display
- Intel Core i7-3517UB CPU
- 256GB SSD
- 4GB of DDR3 RAM
- 2.86 pounds
- 12.73 x 8.79 x 0.47 inches
Lastly, there's the 11-inch Acer Aspire S7-191-664, which offers many of the same features found in the 13-inch Aspire S7 ultrabook offerings. It boasts an 11.6-inch touch display, 10-finger tracking and a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. The laptop is 0.48in thick, with the combined lid and hinge fashioned out of aluminum (brushed aluminium for the lid, as opposed to the Gorilla Glass that appears on the other two models).
Aspire S7-191-6640 ($1,200):
- 11.6-inch 1080p IPS display
- Intel Core i5-3317UB CPU
- 128GB SSD
- 4GB of DDR3 RAM
- 2.29 pounds
- 11.17 x 7.7 x 0.48 inches
The Aspire S7 series, which was announced following a research firm expressing its worry over ultrabooks' general high prices, will be available for purchase come October 26.
