The number of tablets designed to run Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 8 operating system increased today with Acer’s announcement of the Iconia W510 tablet, sporting a 10.1-inch high-definition Gorilla Glass 2 display with 10-point touch and a wide viewing angle, up to 18 hours of battery life when connected to the keyboard dock housing an extra battery, and an ultra-thin design measuring just 0.35-inches thick.
The W510-1422 with a 64GB solid-state drive (SSD) and the keyboard dock will retail for $749.99, while the Iconia W510-1674 comes with a 32GB SSD and goes for $499.99.
Available in the U.S. Nov. 9, the 1.27-pound tablet can be used in three different modes, including traditional tablet mode, productivity mode, where a keyboard dock connects to the tablet, transforming it into a notebook, while rotating the keyboard back 295 degrees allows it to be used as a stand for presentation mode. This hands-free usage mode is aimed at showing off videos, photos, slideshows or presentations.
The tablets come with either a 64GB or 32GB SSD to power on the device and feature Intel Atom Z2760 mobile-optimized processors. Connectivity and storage options include a microSD card reader, a micro-USB port on the tablet and full-sized USB on the keyboard dock, as well as a Micro High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) port and dual independent display support for sharing content onto external displays. Wireless connectivity is facilitated by 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi technology, and the tablet can also take advantage of location-based and travel applications with its integrated G-Sensor, E-Compass and Gyro-Meter.
For video conferencing, the tablet offers dual Acer Crystal Eye Webcams for customers to capture images and video. The front-facing 2-megapixel HD 1080p camera captures video in 1920×1080 resolution, while the 8MP HD rear camera also captures full HD 1080p video in 3264×2448 resolution with auto focus and LED flash support. On the audio side, Dolby Home Theater v4 boosts sound for headphones as well as two built-in speakers, with support for HD audio and a built-in digital microphone to help ensure crisp and clear audio.
Rounding out the package is Acer’s Always On and Always Connect technologies, which enable data upload and retrieval any time, any place, and deliver power-saving features, rapid boot-up times the company claims are similar to that of a phone or television, and instant-resume functionality in 1.5 seconds. Always Connect features remote wakeup for AcerCloud applications, which makes it possible to access and share digital content between their Iconia W510 and other PCs, as well as technology that lets users connect to previously used hotspots in just 2.5 seconds.
Acer is also reaching out to corporate customers in the U.S. with the offering of the Iconia W510P with Windows 8 Pro, which Acer assures will support legacy enterprise Windows programs as well as security and authentication requirements through the option of Trusted Platform Module (TPM). The Iconia W510P is also backed by an extended two-year warranty and is priced at $799.99.
“Customers will enjoy optimized experiences for touch, typing and viewing on the Iconia W510 tablet PC,” Sumit Agnihotry, Acer’s vice president of product marketing, said in a statement. “The versatility of the new tablet PC and durability of the Gorilla Glass 2 display pairs beautifully with the responsive performance to take advantage of the capabilities of Windows 8 for a first-rate tablet PC experience.”