Computer maker Acer wants to take consumers for a Spin. Or, more precisely, it wants consumers to take one. The company debuted some of its new Spin series of convertible notebooks at the IFA conference on consumer electronics set to start Friday in Berlin, Germany.
The notebooks run on Windows 10 and incorporate a 360-degree hinge that allows them to be used in a variety of ways. The company is targeting the professional and student markets with the new line, describing the Spin as “ideal for work and play” and highlighting the portability and versatility of the notebooks.
From Entry-Level to High-End
The new line consists of four models: the Spin 1, 3, 5, and 7, with performance and prices ascending accordingly. “With our new Spin series, Acer has a wide range of convertible notebooks for each and every need,” said James Lin, general manager, commercial & detachable notebooks, IT Products Business, Acer Inc.
Acer is pitching the entry-level Spin 1 model as a device for the classroom or as a secondary computer. The model comes with a 13-inch or 11.6-inch Full HD IPS display, and is powered by an Intel Pentium or Celeron processor. It also includes some very classroom-friendly features, such as stylus support and a Gorilla Glass display.
The Spin 3, meanwhile, is being billed as a work or play device, with a 15.6-inch HD or Full HD IPS display, up to 12 GB of memory, and both a solid state drive of up to 256 GB and a traditional hard disk of up to a full terabyte of storage.
The Spin 5 is powered by up to 7th Generation Intel Core processors, up to 16 GB of DDR4 memory, and up to 512 GB of SSD storage. It also sports a 13.3-inch Full HD IPS touchscreen display can be used with an optional Acer Active Pen with Windows Ink. In some ways, the Spin 5 appears to be the flagship model.
A Spin Too Far?
However, it’s the Spin 7 (pictured above) that is designed to be the series’ top-of-the-line model, sporting a svelte 0.43-inch profile and a very portable 2.6 pounds. In addition to a 14-inch Full HD IPS Gorilla Glass touchscreen, it also features an all-aluminum unibody, which should help with durability.
Although the Spin 7 includes a seventh Generation Intel i7 processor, it tops out at less memory than the Spin 5 (8 GB) and has less storage space (256 GB SSD). It also takes a hit in battery life compared to the other models. While the Spin 5 offers 10 hours of battery life, the Spin 7 only offers eight. Although the Spin 7 has the bigger display and more portability, it may be hard to see a strong case for it over the Spin 5.
The Spin 3, 5, and 7 will launch in North America in October, with prices starting at $499, $599, and $1,199, respectively. The Spin 1, meanwhile, is set to debut in the North American market in December, with prices starting at $249, the company said.
