PC World Philippines » Acer

Acer Shows Off CloudMobile Smartphone Ahead of Mobile World Congress

Fei — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:59:41 +0000

By Sarah Jacobsson Purewal
February 13, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO – Mobile World Congress doesn’t start until the end of February, but it appears some phone makers aren’t very patient. According to phone blog Pocket-lint, Acer has leaked some details on its latest handset, the Acer CloudMobile.

The Acer CloudMobile has just won the iF design award 2012, in recognition of outstanding achievement in design–so it’s no wonder that Acer wanted to share the news weeks before the global mobile event goes down.
Acer hasn’t released any major details, but the CloudMobile will reportedly sport a 4.3-inch HD display, feature Dolby sound, and be less than 10mm thick. It’s also expected to run Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) when it launches, which will be in Q3 of 2012. As you can see from the photo, the CloudMobile lacks physical buttons on the front, which suggests it will indeed be an Ice Cream Sandwich phone.

Acer says that the CloudMobile will be the first smartphone to integrate with AcerCloud technology (hence the name, “CloudMobile”), which is Acer’s new cloud service that offers “unlimited” web-based storage. AcerCloud also integrates with new Acer-branded PCs.

Acer launches Portable Projector

Fei — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:50:27 +0000

February 8, 2012

Acer debuts the Acer K330, its first LED projector with 500 ANSI lumens of brightness for projecting vivid, clear images. The new Acer K330 projector also marries portability with excellent image output. It weighs less than three pounds and provides an HD-ready 1280×800 (WXGA) resolution with enhanced color saturation for brilliant color and clarity.

The Acer K330 ensures image accuracy with improved color saturation (60 to 130 percent NTSC) and a 4000:1 contrast ratio. As a result, the Acer K330 projects high-quality images in a wide range of natural, deep colors, making it the ideal projector for presentations and data, as well as digital entertainment including movies and photos.

Users making customer presentations with the Acer K330 can leave their notebook PC back at the office. Using the Acer K330’s “Presentations to Go” function, customers can use the SD card reader or USB 2.0 port to display high-quality videos, audio as well as standard office files and presentations from an SD card or USB drive, eliminating the need to carry a computer at all times.

The new Acer K330 projector is ideal for consumers as well as businesses and educational institutions that need an advanced projector that can easily be moved around the home or office. It weighs only 2.73 pounds and measures 8.6-inches (W) by 6.6-inches (D) by 1.8-inches (H).

Its native WXGA resolution of 1280×800 and 16:10 aspect ratio can be adjusted to support a maximum 1080p (1920×1080) resolution and changed to either a 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio for video content from Blu-ray Discs™, DVDs and other sources. It provides 24p Film Support and can project an image ranging in size from 30 to 100 inches diagonally from 2.5 to 8.3 feet away, so it’s ideal both for a home environment as well as conference rooms and board rooms. The Acer K330 takes advantage of the latest technologies. When paired with a computer supporting 120Hz output and 3D software along with 3D glasses, the Acer K330 can project 3D content to give entertainment an incredible boost. In addition, presenters may connect the Acer K330 wirelessly to a laptop, tablet or smart phone through an optional USB Wi-Fi dongle.

Acer K330 retails at Php 34,900. Acer is distributed in the Philippines by MSI-ECS. For product information, pricing and availability, please contact Dimple Condes at dcondes@msi-ecs.com.ph or +63 2 6883912.

MSI-ECS’ Win a Laptop Promo Winner

Fei — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:32:50 +0000

February 28, 2011

Photo shows Maricel Almazan (center), winner of a brand new Acer eMachines along with Maurice Altar, AVP-Marketing & Communications, MSI-ECS and Agnes Espino, Marketing Director, Acer Philippines during the awarding last February 24, 2011 at the MSI-ECS Taguig Service Center.

Are Tablets Really Killing Netbooks?

Fei — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 23:00:07 +0000

By Jeff Bertolucci
December 3, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO – For months we’ve been hearing that tablet computers–led by Apple’s iPad–are hurting netbook sales in a big way. But are they really? It depends on whom you ask. For now, touchscreen tablets do appear to be luring consumers away from netbooks. In the long term, however, netbooks will likely hold their own in an increasingly fragmented mobile device market, particularly as computer makers address user complaints by enhancing netbooks with faster processors and new capabilities.

Dueling Data

Tech industry analysts can’t seem to agree on whether tablets are harming netbook sales. Changewave Research in October surveyed more than 3100 consumers and found that only 14 percent of those who planned to purchase a laptop within 90 days would get a netbook–a significant drop from 18 percent at the start of 2010, and 24 percent in June 2009.

But ABI Research says the netbook market will not be “gravely injured” by the iPad and similar tablets, including the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Research In Motion’s BlackBerry PlayBook. “This is a rumor perpetuated by Apple fanatics,” wrote ABI Research mobile device analyst Jeff Orr in an e-mail to PCWorld.

Orr points out that annual netbook shipments continue to grow, and that the top isn’t in sight. Specifically, about 36 million netbooks shipped worldwide in 2009, and an estimated 43 million will ship in 2010. The netbook is the first ultramobile device to reach “mass-market appeal,” which Orr defines as a product that ships 40 to 50 million units annually. He acknowledges, however, that netbook sales are slowing, and says that today’s shipments don’t match the “meteoric growth” of the past two years.

Blame the iPad?

Netbook shipments in the United States fell 34 percent from the third quarter of 2009 to the same period in 2010, according to research firm Gartner. The likely culprit? A certain tablet from Apple comes to mind.

“Yes, there was some displacement of mini-notebooks by the iPad in the U.S., but determining how much is not an exact science,” wrote Gartner client computing research director Angela McIntyre via e-mail. She estimates that Apple’s bestselling tablet “displaced” 10 to 20 percent of netbook shipments in the United States in the third quarter of 2010, which suggests that a sizable number of consumers chose the iPad over a netbook.

Consumers appear not to be as enamored of netbooks as they once were. But tablets aren’t the sole cause.

In fact, netbooks weren’t the only computer devices to suffer from sluggish back-to-school sales in the third quarter of 2010. “Many factors contribute to this, such as the down economy, few new compelling PCs on the market, and a wait-and-see attitude about new PCs and media tablets coming to market next year,” wrote McIntyre.

Twice the Price

“We are seeing a slowdown–a pretty dramatic slowdown–in the netbook market. And a reasonable amount of that is from the iPad,” says IDC computer analyst Bob O’Donnell. Netbooks and touchscreen tablets are both secondary computing devices, and the consumer’s dilemma is deciding which gadget to buy.

However, the disparity in netbook and tablet prices makes the iPad-is-killing-the-netbook argument “a little hard to swallow,” says O’Donnell. For instance, the average selling price for netbooks is under $300, according to IDC. But for the iPad it’s $630–more than twice as much.

“Right there’s a big disconnect between [average selling prices]. That’s why it’s hard to say that there’s a direct, one-for-one knocking off, because of that huge price gap,” adds O’Donnell, who sees a correlation between today’s tablet-versus-netbook battle and the netbook-versus-laptop debate of 2008.

“This is sort of a netbook redux. Two years ago, netbooks were going to cannibalize notebooks,” he says. “There was a period when a whole bunch of people bought netbooks, and it somewhat skewed the view of the notebook market. But at the end of the day, when people needed to upgrade a notebook, they did.”

Even if the iPad-induced sales hit proves to be temporary, the bigger issue is how netbooks will rise to meet the tablet challenge. “Nobody is saying that a netbook or a tablet is a must-have, primary device. That’s where desktops and laptops fall,” says Cindy Ng of Intel’s netbook marketing team. “It’s a similar market because they’re both companion devices and nice to have. But at the same time, I think there are different types of consumers who value different usages.”

Netbook users, for instance, really want a physical keyboard. “For doing Twitter feeds and social networking updates on Facebook, clearly the netbook with a physical keyboard really enables that ease of use much more than a tablet would with a virtual keyboard,” says Ng. And for frantic classroom note-taking, a netbook usually tops a tablet.

Netbooks, Phase II

Intel Atom processors power many netbooks, and the chipmaker predicts that a netbook renaissance will occur in the first half of 2011.

A new crop of netbooks will add wireless syncing capabilities that allow users to sync data easily among multiple devices, such as their smartphone, laptop, and desktop. Intel’s new dual-core Atoms are more powerful and allow netbook makers to build sleeker, slimmer devices that are “potentially as thin or comparable to the new MacBook Air,” says Ng. Another as-yet-unnamed feature would make it easier for netbooks to stream music to a home stereo or speaker system.

AMD’s upcoming Brazos-platform processors will combine low-power dual-core and single-core CPUs together with a DirectX 11-capable GPU on the same chip. If it ends up as good as it looks on paper, it should provide better performance than today’s Atom-powered netbooks do, while still preserving battery life and allowing for small and thin laptops. We should see premium netbooks and inexpensive ultraportable laptops in early 2011 with the new chips.

Acer’s Take

Few computer makers in the United States are more closely associated with the netbook than Acer, which helped define the genre with its Aspire One netbooks in 2008. Not surprisingly, the company believes that the tiny portables will thrive even as tablets take hold.

“While the netbook market has matured and is no longer experiencing the explosive growth we saw initially, it is still a key product category that will generate significant sales for consumers looking for both productivity and entertainment in a mobile device,” wrote an Acer spokesperson in an e-mail to PCWorld.

Acer, which in November announced plans to enter the tablet market, sees a clear distinction between slates and netbooks. “Tablets…represent a different product segment that caters primarily to gaming and content consumption in the $400-$600 range,” the Acer representative wrote.

But netbooks typically sell for less. Most cost between $300 and $350, says Intel’s Ng, though new features and innovations may cause prices to inch closer to $400.

In the coming years, tablets and netbooks will take divergent paths–the former focusing on entertainment, communications, and convenience, and the latter adopting a more work-friendly role. Each will carve out a niche in the personal computing landscape. One will not kill off the other, however. After netbooks succeed in boosting their processing power and adding new capabilities, they’ll appeal to users who want a lighter and smaller version of a full-size laptop.

Win a new laptop from MSI-ECS Taguig Service Center

Fei — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:53:55 +0000

Have you thought about what to get for yourself this Christmas? How about a brand new laptop?

MSI-ECS, the country’s leading IT distributor, is raffling off a brand new Acer e-Machines laptop!

All you have to do to get a raffle entry is have your defective laptops repaired at MSI-ECS’ new service center in Taguig City from October 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011. MSI-ECS offers service for the following brands: HP, Lenovo, Acer, Apple, and Samsung.

MSI-ECS Taguig Service Center is located in Ground Floor, Shop #10, PhilPlans Corporate Center, 1012 North Triangle Drive, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

To know more about this promo, please call MSI-ECS Service at 688-3555-57 / 828-2105 or MSI-ECS MarComm at 688-3180-83.

Intel Atom processor-based netbooks from Acer make RP debut

Fei — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:34:14 +0000

Acer Philippines announced that a new line of netbooks based on Intel’s new mobile dual-core Intel Atom processors has been rolled out across the Philippines and will be available in authorized dealers and resellers. The two new lines of netbooks called the Acer One D255 and the Acer Aspire One Happy offer new designs and specifications that will appeal to a wide range of Filipino netbook users, the company said.

The Acer One D255 features an outstanding design and full-day power and comes in coffee brown, red, black, blue and white. Meanwhile, the Acer Aspire One Happy comes in bright colors such as Hawaii blue, lime green, candy pink and lavender purple, making it the perfect digital accessory for young, fashionable people who are highly mobile and constantly connected with their social network.

The dual-core Intel Atom processor N550 enables new levels of support for applications like games, as well as Adobe Flash technology for access to some of the country’s most visited Web pages including online air ticket booking systems and multimedia sites such as YouTube. With these added functionalities, consumers can enjoy Internet access on the go with a more responsive experience in the same compact form factor, DDR3 memory support and similarly long battery life as the single-core Intel Atom processor N450. Intel shipped about 70 million Intel Atom chips for netbooks since the company launched the category in 2008, signifying that the market for these devices continues to grow worldwide.

Acer Reportedly Developing Dual-Touchscreen Laptop

Fei — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 23:00:01 +0000

By Ian Paul

September 15, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO – Acer is working on a dual-touchscreen multitouch laptop with no physical keyboard or mouse that would be available by fall 2011, according to several reports. Instead of using physical inputs, one touchscreen would function as the display and one would act as the keyboard and trackpad, similar to Toshiba’s Libretto W100. Acer’s device is reportedly sporting two 15-inch touchscreens, runs Windows 7 and has an Intel Core i5 2.67GHz processor under the hood, according to TechReview Source.

No further specs about the device are available, such as RAM, storage capacity, or whether the it will handle pen-based touch inputs as well as Windows 7′s multitouch.

Biggest Dual-Screen Yet

However, Acer’s device could be the largest dual-screen laptop so far. Toshiba’s limited edition Libretto W100 features two 7-inch touchscreens.

Computer manufacturer MSI was showing off a dual-touchscreen laptop with 10-inch screens during the Consumer Electronics Show in January.

Asus has also been discussing a smaller dual-touchscreen device called the Eee Reader since early 2009.

Unannounced CPU, Too?

If you take a quick look at Intel’s current list of Core i5 processors, you’ll notice the only processor that fits TechReviewSource’s specs is the Core i5 750, a desktop chip. It’s not unheard of for a manufacturer to try and cram a desktop processor into a laptop, just look at the Eurocomm D901C Phantom-X, for example. But what’s more likely is that the rumored Acer laptop is sporting the equally rumored Intel Core i5 580M. The 580M reportedly runs at 2.66GHz and could be available before the end of the year. Another possibility is that the rumored device would not run a Core i5 at all, but the Intel Core i7 620M launched in January.

TechReviewSource claims it is trying to get a video of Acer’s dual screen laptop in action, but an anonymous source tells the blog Acer’s prototype is “slow and buggy.” That wouldn’t be surprising considering the device is supposed to be in development and wouldn’t launch until late 2011.

But a 15-inch dual screen laptop is an awfully large and presumably expensive device to produce — especially when it’s not clear if anyone would even want a dual-touchscreen laptop. However, Engadget reported in August that the Libretto W100 sold very quickly during its debut on Amazon.

So, who knows? Maybe double-screened laptops are the future, as electronics makers experiment with virtual keyboards in place of physical keys on more than just mobile devices.

New Dual-Core Intel Atom Processor-Based Netbooks Hit Shelves

Fei — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:01:17 +0000

August 26, 2010

Intel Corporation announced that a dozen of new netbooks based on its new mobile dual-core Intel Atom processors are available in stores today. The netbooks – available now and through the end of the year from manufacturers including Acer, ASUS, Fujitsu, Lenovo, LG, Samsung, MSI, and Toshiba – enable new levels of support for applications like games, as well as Adobe Flash* technology for access to a number of Web pages including online hotel booking systems and multimedia sites such as YouTube* and Hulu*.

“Acer strives to continually improve on our customers’ total mobile experience, whether it is increased responsiveness or extended Internet interactivity through longer battery life,” said David Lee, associate vice president of Acer’s Mobile Computing Business Unit. “We are pleased to select dual-core Intel Atom processors for Acer netbooks, helping to empower netbook users achieve even more – both at work and at leisure.”

With the dual-core Intel Atom processor N550, consumers can enjoy Internet access on the go with a more responsive experience in the same compact form factor, DDR3 memory support and similar great battery life as the single-core Intel Atom processor N450.

“In their short history, the netbook category has experienced impressive growth,” said Erik Reid, director of marketing for mobile platforms at Intel. “Having shipped about 70 million Intel Atom chips for netbooks since our launch of the category in 2008, there is obviously a great market for these devices around the world.”

New netbooks based on dual-core Intel Atom chips arrive in stores today and are available at a variety of consumer-friendly price points. For more information, visit www.intel.com/products/processor/atom/index.htm.

Double Your Netbook Power with New Dual-Core Atoms

Fei — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:00:41 +0000

By Tony Bradley

August 25, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO – Intel has launched the Atom N550 today–its first dual-core Atom processor. The next-generation Atom processor boosts the power and capabilities of smaller mobile computers–providing businesses with even more cost effective options for portable computing.

The Atom N550 processors is available on the shelf as of today in a dozen or so different netbook models. The manufacturers that are already on the dual-core Atom bandwagon include Acer, ASUS, Fujitsu, Lenovo, LG, Samsung, MSI, and Toshiba.

The Atom was designed by Intel to provide a more energy-efficient alternative to the Celeron-M processors that were being used in netbooks at the time. The launch of the Atom made the netbook a more powerful mobile computing platform and basically ignited the explosion of the netbook market.

As the high end of notebooks–the larger and more powerful cousins of the netbook–evolve from dual-core to the more powerful quad-core processors, the Atom N550 moves the diminutive netbook platform into the dual-core era. The Atom N550 processor runs at 1.5GHz, and includes support for DDR3 memory as well.

Netbooks are the first out of the gate with the new Atoms–and the netbook market represents the most obvious benefactor of the transition to dual-core processing–but there are wider applications for the new Intel processors as well. The more powerful processor also opens the possibility of dual-core smartphones and tablets as technology continues to migrate to mobile platforms.

Intel’s work with Nokia to develop the Meego mobile operating system, and its purchase of McAfee to provide better security for connected devices of all shapes and sizes also hint at what may be on the horizon for Intel.

Companies that want to provide employees with portable computers, but don’t need mobile users to have top-end computing power can explore the possibility of deploying dual-core netbooks rather than full-blown notebook PCs. Even single-core netbooks are capable of completing the vast majority of tasks that mobile workers might need to perform.

Netbooks are smaller and lighter than notebooks, making them easier to lug around while on the go. They also have significantly better battery life than typical notebooks–lasting six hours or more on a single charge. And, let’s not forget that netbooks are generally much cheaper than typical notebook PCs.

Smartphones and tablets have pushed netbooks to the back of the mobile computing bus, but those platforms have limitations and sometimes mobile workers need a “real” computer. The Atom N550 processors bring dual-core power to netbooks, and expand the possibilities for computing on the go.

New Dual-Core Intel Atom Processor-Based Netbooks Hit Shelves Today

Fei — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:34:53 +0000

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Sales from Acer, ASUS, Fujitsu, Lenovo, LG, Samsung, MSI, Toshiba and others start today and through end of the year.
Intel has shipped more than 70 million Intel® Atom™ netbook chips since its 2008 launch.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., – Intel Corporation announced today that a dozen of new netbooks based on its new mobile dual-core Intel® Atom™ processors are available in stores today. The netbooks – available now and through the end of the year from manufacturers including Acer, ASUS, Fujitsu, Lenovo, LG, Samsung, MSI, and Toshiba – enable new levels of support for applications like games, as well as Adobe Flash* technology for access to a number of Web pages including online hotel booking systems and multimedia sites such as YouTube* and Hulu*.

With the dual-core Intel® Atom™ processor N550, consumers can enjoy Internet access on the go with a more responsive experience in the same compact form factor, DDR3 memory support and similar great battery life as the single-core Intel® Atom™ processor N450.