One of the surprise machines from last year was the Acer R series, a machine that featured the unusual Ezel hinge to make for an all-in-one laptop desktop form-factor. With the end of 2014 in sight, the R series is back, improved and smaller than before.
In the middle of 2013, Acer tried something different.
Rather than just build a machine with the same old perpendicular hinge, the company redesigned the hinge to make something a little more unusual.
Back then, the machine Acer built was called the R7, and it was a 15.6 inch Full HD laptop with a special hinge that could make the computer into your standard perpendicular clamshell laptop, flat like a tablet, angled for drawing and design planning, and with the screen at a different angle for watching.
In essence, it was a machine that could be both laptop and desktop all-in-one, and while it had some flaws like a weak battery life, it was a very interesting concept.
A year on, Acer has a new model for us, and it looks like the company is hoping the 13 inch market will appreciate the design more, with new specs and a new screen for the new machine .
The new edition is the Acer Aspire R 13, and just like before, the Ezel hinge will sport five different modes — Ezel, Stand, Pad, Tent, and Display — with the specs updated to match what people have come to expect from new machines.
As such, you can expect either a Full HD 1920×1080 or WQHD 2560×1440 display depending on how much you’re looking to spend, with both versions activated for touch and the inclusion of Zero Air Gap technology previously seen on the Switch 10 to reduce glare thanks to there being no gap between the glass and the display itself.
Configuration options include Core i5 or Core i7 processors from Intel, with up to 1TB of solid state drives found in a configuration of two 512GB drives, and as much as 8GB memory, with a battery capable of delivering up to eight hours of life.
Also back is the pen which Acer says is now an optional extra and will feature pressure levels for drawing and a hover sensor to make the pen more useful in other apps.
“Acer’s goal is to deliver an experience consistently beyond everyones expectation at all price points,” said Katherine Nguyen, Head of Marketing at Acer Australia and New Zealand.
“This new Aspire convertible is the perfect device to sit in the middle of your mobile world – a device that is both portable and capable of efficient productivity.”
Acer’s 13 inch Aspire R series laptop will be available at Harvey Norman stores across Australia shortly, starting from $1999.
