A model displays the Aspire R14 laptop and the Aspire Z3-700 PC. Both devices run on the latest Microsoft Windows 10 operating system. (Photo : CNA)
Taiwanese PC giant Acer unveiled a new line of laptops and portable devices on Monday, including a convertible laptop and an all-in-one portable PC, to expand its offering of computers running the latest Windows 10 OS.
In an event held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taipei, Acer showcased its Aspire R14 convertible notebook, which has an ultrathin 360-degree hinge that allows it to transform into a tablet computer, and the Aspire Z3-700 all-in-one PC with a built-in battery that the company claims to last up to 5 hours.
Both devices feature top-of-the-line audio, Acer's BluelightShield technology, and exclusive Windows 10 applications including Cortana, Continuum, Microsoft Edge and the Xbox app.
The company also showed off its Liquid Jade Primo smartphone, which can link to a monitor for a PC-like experience.
"Acer has a heritage of delivering the best user experience through innovation in technology and design," said Jason Chen, corporate president and CEO of Acer.
"With Windows 10, we can now deliver a unique and consistent experience across our comprehensive product portfolio, be it notebooks, desktops, tablets or smartphones, and empower users to do great things with more personal and human technology," he added.
The Aspire R14 will be available in stores in North America in late October with a starting price of $699, and in Europe, the Middle East and Africa at prices starting at $900.
The Aspire Z3-700 will be available in Europe, the Middle East and Africa by the end of the year, with prices starting at $680, according to the company.
Tiffany Huang, president of Acer's corporate business planning and operations, said at the press event that products running on the legacy Windows 8 OS still account for roughly 80 percent of Acer's shipments to distributors in the current quarter.
However, Huang expects Acer's Windows 10 PC shipments will surpass those of Windows 8 PCs during the first quarter of 2016, due in part by the company's expanded lineup of Windows 10 products.
