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Looking to become more competitive in the 2-in-1 notebook PC market, Acer this week unveiled the Switch Alpha 12. Instead of using fans to cool its system, the 2-in-1 notebook makes use of a unique cooling system that relies on the heat generated by the device to push liquid around the system, preventing components from overheating.
The Switch Alpha 12 uses a 6th Generation Intel Core processor, is powered by Windows 10, and is priced starting at $599. Acer CEO Jason Chen says the Switch Alpha 12 measures 11.5 x 7.93 by 0.62 inches and weighs only 2.76 pounds when both the tablet and the keyboard are connected.
The Switch Alpha 12 comes with either 4GB or 8GB of LPDDR3 SDRAM and can be configured with either 128GB, 256GB or 512GB solid-state drives (SSDs). Acer claims the system itself provides up to eight hours of battery life.
While stepping up its presence in the convertible notebook space, Acer this week also added an Aspire S 13 model to its lineup. The Aspire S 13, based on 6th Generation Intel Core processors, provides up to 13 hours of battery life in a system starting at $699. It also includes refreshes to its Travelmate and Veriton series of commercial notebook and desktop systems.
Finally, Acer unveiled an Acer Chromebook 14 for Work, a rugged offering that makes use of Vibrant Corning Gorilla Glass. Configured with a 14-in screen, Acer Chromebook 14 for Work is designed to meet the needs of an education market, where Chromebooks are increasingly popular. It has a military-spec rating and is priced starting at $349.
While the PC market overall might be depressed, Chen notes, demand remains strong in segments such as 2-in-1 notebooks. Acer is looking to be more competitive in those categories by using systems that not only weigh less and run cooler, but remain aggressively priced.
