Skip to main content

Rumor: Acer to build a 15-inch Ultrabook with $699 price tag

Despite talk from Acer earlier this month saying it would be focusing less on low-end products and more on high-end super-thin Ultrabooks in 2012, a report from DigiTimes on Wednesday suggested the company is set to launch a dirt cheap 15-inch Ultrabook.

DigiTimes says that according to sources in the Taiwan-based supply chain, Acer will sell the new product for just $699, though specifications were unavailable. Indeed, Acer itself has thus far made no mention of such a machine.

If it does come to fruition, however, it will certainly appeal to anyone on the hunt for a portable computer with a larger screen size, as the vast majority of Ultrabooks currently on the market sport smaller 13.3-inch displays.

The only Ultrabook with a larger display is the Samsung Series 5 14-inch model, though it hasn’t yet been launched outside of South Korea. If its Korean price tag is anything to go by, when it does turn up on US shelves expect to pay around $1300. With this in mind, the rumored 15-inch Acer begins to sound rather appealing.

Acer CEO J.T. Wang said in a recent interview with Dow Jones that his company will be concentrating more on Ultrabooks in 2012, with the intention of taking on Apple’s ultra-thin $999 MacBook Air laptop.

“Ultrabooks will become our key growth driver next year as customers want a lighter, thinner notebook with longer battery life. Selling more Ultrabooks will also help improve our profit margins as they command higher prices,” Wang said in the interview.

If Acer does launch a solidly built $699 Ultrabook with a larger screen, it could well turn some heads in a market that’s expected to see a slew of new models hit the stores in 2012.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next month computer manufacturers are expected to kick the year off with the launch of around 50 new Ultrabook models.

Editors' Recommendations

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Does the Moto G Stylus have NFC?
Moto G Stylus 5G 2023 leaning

The Motorola Moto G Stylus is a line of midrange Android smartphones, each of which comes packing a stylus — as the name ,akes clear. The two latest models are the Moto G Stylus (2023) and the Moto G Stylus 5G (2023). Although these models are similar, they have some noticeable differences, including their support for near-field communication (NFC) technology. This article will examine which Moto G Stylus models come with NFC and which do not.
What is NFC?

Near-field communication (NFC) is a technology that lets two gadgets communicate with each other when they are within a few centimeters of each other. It is useful for touch payments, e-tickets, data sharing, and effortlessly linking devices via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Read more
Galaxy AI is now available for these other Samsung phones
A white Samsung Galaxy S23 next to a pink Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus.

In January, Samsung introduced its Galaxy AI features alongside its Galaxy S24 series of smartphones. Since then, if you've wanted to use Galaxy AI, you've needed a Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, or Galaxy S24 Ultra. That's about to change.

Samsung just announced that it's about to bring those Galaxy AI features to a lot more devices, meaning you'll soon be able to use Galaxy AI even if you don't have a Galaxy S24.

Read more
Visible just made its unlimited 5G plan better than ever
Visible wireless phones and plans featured

Digital wireless service provider Visible has announced upgrades to its premium Visible+ phone plan. The highlight is a new Global Pass feature that allows Visible customers to use their phones in 140 countries worldwide.

The Visible Global Pass offers unlimited talk and text services, along with 2GB of high-speed data, for a flat rate of $10 per day. Visible+ members can also enjoy a free Global Pass usage day every month. The activation process can be done through the Visible app.

Read more