Acer Announces Aspire Switch 10
by Brett Howse on April 29, 2014 7:00 PM EST
Acer took the wraps off of a new product today – the Acer Aspire Switch 10. This is a new take on the two in one for Acer, offering a Bay Trail-T equipped 10.1” tablet with a magnetic detachable keyboard design. The keyboard offers two hooks to connect the tablet to the keyboard without requiring a latching mechanism, but more secure than a comparable Surface keyboard.
Acer claims four modes for the tablet. First, there is Notebook mode, where the keyboard is attached the normal way, and Pad mode, which is just the tablet. That’s all fairly standard in a two in one Windows tablet. The other two modes are based on the fact that the magnetic latching system on the keyboard is actually reversible – there is a Display mode where the display is simply turned around, and a tent mode where the display is turned around and the keyboard slightly folded up to give the same effect as a Surface with kickstand.
None of this is new to the Windows tablet scene of course– the Asus Transformer Book T100 offers a detachable keyboard, and Lenovo has several devices such as the Yoga and Flex lines which offer the four device modes, but Acer has done a unique take on it with the combination of reversible and detachable keyboard.
Specification wise, it’s a pretty standard tablet. The device has a Bay Trail-T quad core processor (actual model number not disclosed), 2 GB of RAM, up to 64 GB of storage, and a 1366x768 10.1” IPS touch display. Where Acer seems to have focused their efforts was in dimensions and mass, where they are claiming a 8.9 mm thick chassis (20.2 mm with keyboard) and 0.59 kg (1.29 lb) weight for the tablet alone, and 1.17 kg (2.58 lb) for the combination.
| Two in One Computers | ||||||
| Acer Aspire Switch 10 | Asus Transformer Book T100 | Microsoft Surface 2 | ||||
| Dimensions |
H: 0.35" (8.9mm) W: N/A D: N/A |
H: 0.41" (10.5mm) W: 10.35" (263mm) D: 6.73" (171mm) |
H: 0.35" (8.9mm) W: 10.81" (274mm) D: 6.79" (172mm) |
|||
| Weight | 1.29lbs (590g) | 1.21lbs (550g) | 1.49lbs (676g) | |||
| CPU | Intel Bay Trail-T | Intel Bay Trail-T Z3740 | NVIDIA Tegra 4 T40 | |||
| GPU | Intel HD Graphics | Intel HD Graphics | NVIDIA Tegra 4 T40 | |||
| RAM | 2 GB LPDDR3 | 2 GB LPDDR3 | 2 GB LPDDR3 | |||
| Storage | 32-64 GB | 32-64 GB | 32-64 GB | |||
| Display Size and Resolution | 10.1" 1366x768 | 10.1" 1366x768 | 10.6" 1920x1080 | |||
| Battery | N/A | 31 Wh | 31.5 Wh | |||
| Price | $379 with keyboard | $349 with keyboard | $449 without keyboard | |||
Other notable features are a zero air gap (direct bonded) display, which should help dealing with external light sources, and an auto brightness feature they are calling LumiFlex which they claim will help with colors when using the device under varying lighting sources. As to what this will actually do, we’ll have to wait for a review sample to see. Acer is also supporting Windows 8.1 InstantGo which is the new term for Connected Standby and Bitlocker enabled storage.
Also, there's an optional keyboard dock with 500 GB of internal storage - no other specs of this accessory were announced.
Overall, the Aspire Switch 10 looks like a nice two in one, with an aluminum rear cover with a cross brush pattern. Prices start at US $379 with availability in late May.
Source: Acer
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xaueious - Tuesday, April 29, 2014 - link
When Acer ships Haswell Chromebooks at the same price point as these, who in the right mind is going to go Bay Trail?frostyfiredude - Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - link
You mean the C720? I'd happily take a minor hit from the Celeron Haswell to a Z3770 or Z3740 Bay Trail if it means getting Windows, IPS touchscreen, better build, nicer form factor, probably better battery life and more storage.asmart2012 - Saturday, May 3, 2014 - link
Conversely, I wonder why anyone would buy a Chromebook if they could get a Switch 10 for the same price.SetiroN - Tuesday, April 29, 2014 - link
Yay, more bullshit windows tablets with 1366 pixel displays and 2GB of ram.rituraj - Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - link
The reversible tablet mode was already there in the thinkpad helix. They called it 'tablet plus mode'.KermitAMendoza - Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - link
This is going to be one machine I keep my eye on. We'll have to wait for the actual release to see the quality of the connection/hinge, and the keyboard/trackpad, and everything else, but it does look interesting. http://sn.im/28v3ntgfrozentundra123456 - Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - link
Definitely something I would consider. I dont think 1080p is really necessary on a cheap device like this, but 900p would definitely be nice. 10 inches seems like about the ideal size for a detachable as well. I love the idea of a detachable tablet, but unfortunately one has to make compromises in size either way. If the detachable part is small enough to handle easily as a tablet, it makes the "notebook" configuration kind of small. In any case though, my next computer purchase for myself will probably be some device like this. I dont really need a powerful/expensive ultrabook, but something in this price range to take on trips and so forth for e-mail, surfing, reading books/watching movies would be very nice, along with the ability to use the occasional windows app.Valis - Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - link
Don't forget there is a T100 coming out now with the newer Z3775 and 500 GB HDD as an option.asmart2012 - Saturday, May 3, 2014 - link
Yes hope the combine the 64GB with the 500 GB HD. Wonder how that affects battery life?rocktober13 - Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - link
This really intrigues me. If AMD's new Mullins has respectable battery life, I would like to see Acer swap out the Bay Trail processor for a Mullins and upgrade to a 1080p display. They could possibly do it at the same price point.