Acer introduced three new ultrabooks at its CES press conference today (two sizes of the Timeline Ultra and the "world's thinnest ultrabook," the S5), and chairman and CEO J.T. Wong made it clear that the company has no intentions of slowing down. According to Wong, Acer is expected to introduce many more ultrabooks over the next two years with a goal of 25 to 35 percent of its laptop lineup being of the thin and light variety.
Tell us — are you into the ultrabook trend?
Acer kicked off CES 2012 today with the introduction of the Aspire S5, billed as the world's thinnest ultrabook. With a 13.3-inch LCD display, the computer measures 15 mm at its biggest point and weighs less than 3 lbs.
Using the same Instant On technology as the Timeline, the S5 boots to full functionality in 1.5 seconds and boasts a battery life of "several weeks," according to a statement by Acer. The included Always Connect feature wakes the S5 from sleep mode via a separate device like a tablet or smartphone. AcerCloud, Acer's multiplatform compatible response to customer cloud storage, will come pre-installed on the S5.
Despite its size, the S5 does include external ports, hidden within what Acer calls a MagicFlip I/o port panel. A touch of the MagicFlip key reveals an HDMI, USB 3.0, and 20 Gbps Thunderbolt port. You heard it — Thunderbolt. The brushed black metallic cover is made of magnesium-aluminum alloy. An Intel CoreTM processor, SSD storage, and Dolby Home Theater v4 round out the S5's inner specs.
Look for the S5 to ship in the second quarter of 2012, when pricing will also be announced. Check out a first look at the new ultrabook in the gallery!
Acer introduced a new lineup of ultrabooks to the world today, including the 14- and 15-inch Timeline Ultra. This slim and sleek laptop is just 20mm thick with a battery that keeps on chugging for up to eight hours. Instant-On technology helps you boot up in the blink of an eye, while Acer's signature AcerCloud cloud storage keeps your documents, music, and photos within reach on your PCs, laptops, and mobile devices wherever you are. A dedicated graphics card will allow you to game in 3D, and if you're still toting DVDs, the Timeline Ultra even comes with a DVD-Super Multi optical drive.
Other specs include the latest Intel Core i processors, SSD/HDD storage options, Dolby surround sound, HDMI, and USB 3.0 ports. No pricing has been made available just yet, but you can expect both 14- and 15-inch versions in Q2 of this year.
Get a better look at the Timeline Ultra in the gallery.
Cloud storage comes in handy when you want to access photos, video, and documents away from home. While there are lots of options when it comes to storing your goods in the cloud, Acer is planning to take on the iClouds and Google Docs of the world with its new cloud storage platform called AcerCloud.
Providing a secure and personal connection, AcerCloud connects all of your devices — from mobile phones to desktop PCs — allowing you to see your pics, vids, and Office documents (including PowerPoint, Word, and Excel) from anywhere. This free service works with Windows PCs and Android devices starting in Q2 of this year (Windows Mobile compatibility expected in Q4).
In order to access documents and media on the go, you'll first need to download the three AcerCloud apps — Clear.fi Photo, Clear.fi Media, and AcerCloud Docs — on your Android device. From there, you'll have a secure connection between your mobile device and your home PCs or laptops, even if your home computer is asleep or turned off. AcerCloud cashes your media and documents, so you'll always have access. Bonus: if you make changes to any docs from one device, the results are almost immediately available to view on your other devices. Snap a pic from your phone, and you'll instantly see it on your home computer; sorta like Eye-Fi, but with a longer leash.
AcerCloud is free for all Acer customers and is expected to go live in North America and China in Q2, with worldwide availability in Q4.
