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Acer is adding to its line of Veriton nettops and has updated its professional all-in-one (AIO) desktop line for the U.S. market, with the new devices arriving in stores this month.
Kicking off with the AIOs, there’s the high-definition Z410G, featuring a 21.5-inch display, and the more “value-focused” Z290G, with its 18.5-inch display. Thin and black, each runs Microsoft Windows 7 Professional, and the two start at $599 and $719, respectively.
The Veriton Z410, which measures 21.6 by 19.6 by 5.1 inches, offers a resolution of 920 by 1,080. The processor is a 3GHz Intel Pentium with 2MB of cache and dual-core technology, paired with an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500. There are eight USB 2.0 ports, an external serial ATA (eSATA) port for transferring data to an external hard drive, and digital video interface (DVI) and VGA ports for the option to connect to a second display. The warranty is a notable three years.
The systems were announced Oct. 6.
The Veriton Z290G is 19 by 15 by 2.1 inches, and unique to this AIO is a resistive touch panel. With the Z290G positioned in a public space, such as a library, classroom or reception area, Acer envisions the ability to streamline tasks by enabling users to interact with the display.
The Z290G runs a 1.80GHz dual-core Intel Atom D525 ultra-low-voltage processor and features fanless operation, four USB 2.0 ports and an EPA Energy Star rating.
Both models come with multi-in-one card readers, 320GB hard drives, Super Multi drives and 2GB of DDR3 (double-data rate) SDRAM that’s upgradable to 4GB. There are headphone and microphone jacks, Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11b/g wireless, and matching keyboards and mice.
“We’re excited to offer a more robust version boasting a 21.5-inch HD display, an excellent fit for small and midsize businesses, health care and government users requiring full desktop power and a bigger screen,” Leila Axelle Robert, Acer’s Commercial Systems business manager, said in a statement. “The addition of an intuitive touch panel to our energy-efficient model makes it ideal for lobbies, libraries and schools, where ease of use and value is paramount.”
While the AIOs show off snazzy physiques, the display-free nettops are all about being incognito, with hardware that easily attaches them to the rear of a display.
The more robust of the two, the Veriton N282G, features a 320GB hard drive, a 1.8GHz Intel Atom dual-core D525 processor, 2GB of DDR3 SDRAM and Nvidia Ion graphics, which Acer says offer “more than 10 times the performance of integrated graphics.” The Ion processor reportedly has enough graphic processing units (GPUs) to enable HD video viewing, as well as editing and video-to-photo conversions.
With the Veriton N281G – designed for uses, says Acer, such as in kiosks, at hotel front desks and in call centers – comes a 1.8GHz Intel Atom D425 processor, 2GB of double data rate 3 synchronous dynamic RAM and an integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150.
While the N282G puts an emphasis on video, the N281G is more geared to word processing, spreadsheets and Web browsing. Both, however, have a mini-PCI Express 1.1 x1 slot, six USB 2.0 ports, high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), VGA and serial ports, wireless keyboard and mice, headphone and microphone jacks, and Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11 b/g/n connectivity. Also preloaded in each nettop’s control center is a suite of apps for tasks such as transferring data, configuring power levels, quickly loading often-used programs and setting password protection.
“Whether they’re placed upright with their retractable stands or attached to the rear of a display, the nettops keep a low profile,” said Robert. “It’s a smart choice for those whose top priorities are performance, space and value.”
Pricing begins at $449 for the VN282G and at $399 for the VN281G.