Computer maker Acer is jumping into the Android and Windows tablet market with both feet, but at a press event in New York the company also took the wraps off the Acer Iconia, a futuristic new notebook computer design that opens like a traditional notebook to feature two 14-inch multi-touch displays…and no keyboard. The design enables users to spread their content across two displays and bring up a virtual keyboard when needed, in theory offering mainstream productivity with a ton of screen real estate for enjoying photos, video, and other media.
The Iconia will features two 1,366 by 768-pixel displays protected by ultra-durable Gorilla Glass—and both screens are “all-point” multitouch surfaces, enabling ten points of contact per display. The system is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor, and users can choose to either split tasks across screens—with, say, one application on one and another application on the other—or spread a window across both screens. The Iconic features HDMI output for connecting to an HDTV, and Acer says the Iconia will also be available with 3G mobile broadband options.
Acer is also developing software to support touch-based interactions with applications: a five-finger grab summons the Acer Ring, which enables users to launch applications by quickly flipping through App cards, as well as a virtual keyboard (enabling iPad-like typing), a Gesture Editor, a Window Manager, and a Device Control Console. Users can also summon the keyboard by placing both palms on the lower display, offering a full-size QWERTY layout with international keyboards. numeric keypad, a touchpad, and predictive text input. Acer also offers touch-based access to photos, music, and video, as well as a new SocialJogger (for checking Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr in the same place), MyJournal (for collecting clippings from Web sites), and a Scrapbook for screenshots, notes, photo collections, and more.
Acer hasn’t announced release dates or pricing for the Iconia, and so far response to the design seems mixed: although some applaud Acer for taking a bold direction with traditional notebook design—rather like the smaller Toshiba Libretto—others question how productive the virtual keyboard and touch interface can really be with mainstream applications.
i had couple of acer computers and on the bigger screens like on the 17", The motheboard heats very quick. i had to send it back couple of times cause the heat. hopefully they set up a better air flow on this equip.
^^^This looks awesome, but Apple will have something new to make this look like crap by the time it releases. Apple makes the hardware first, and anyone that hates Apple will complain until another company tries to emulate it way after the innovation has been made.
Don't get me wrong, this dual-screened beast looks amazing, and will be at a price sweetspot knowing Acer. I'm just curious on battery life because one screen sucks up a lot of juice. This will kill Qtip and rubbing alcohol sales immensely.
May I know how much it will be? I CANNOT to have one!!!!!!
competition is what will kill apple. they might have ipod to fall back on but if you look at sales of portable media players you'll notice a serious trend that apple is trying to hide and keep out of public.. a HUGE dropoff in sales.
Don't believe me? Just go look for yourself at the sales data for last year and you'll be shocked..
end of apple… mark my words..
Been looking at tablets – gonna wait for this one
It can be as productive as you can make it; "others question how productive the virtual keyboard and touch interface can really be with mainstream applications". Danny is right….seeing video concept of the courier then realizing it was all just a dream. Finally someone woke-up! NEED SOME ANDROID ON IT TO.
I CANNOT WAIT… I have been waiting for a WHILE for something like this – Namely after the wake of courier becoming never-produced…. Thank you ACER!