The Acer Aspire Switch 10 is a multi-mode Windows tablet which comes with a detachable keyboard docking station that lets you use the system like a laptop. If that sounds a lot like the Asus Transformer Book T100, that’s because the Aspire Switch 10 is a lot like the Asus 2-in-1.

But Acer calls its Switch 10 a 4-in-1 device, because you can flip the display around backward for display mode or prop up the system in tent mode. Add tablet and notebook modes, and you’ve got 4.

That might not sound like a big difference, but Acer is betting on the magnetic hinge system in its new tablet to help set it apart… and it’s not a bad bet. The hinge is actually pretty nice. So’s the price: The Acer Switch 10 is expected to hit the streets in late May for around $380 and up.

acer aspire switch 10_05

So about that hinge: there are two powerful magnets on the keyboard dock which hold the tablet in place. Give the tablet a hard tug and it’ll pop right out, but the magnets are strong enough to secure the tablet even if you hold the system upside down and give it a little shake.

Between the magnets is the docking port which connects the keyboard to the tablet, and it’s reversible. This lets you snap out the tablet, flip it 180 degrees and pop it back down backward so the screen is facing away from the keyboard.

The keyboard itself is decent… but small. It’s the size of a typical netbook keyboard, so it might take some getting used to if you have large hands (or are used to larger laptops). But for most people it’ll probably only take a few minutes to get up to speed.

The Aspire Switch 10 is powered by an Intel Atom Z3745 Bay Trail quad-core processor and features a 1366 x 768 pixel display with wide viewing angles, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB to 64GB of flash storage. Acer says you should be able to get up to 8 hours of battery life from the built-in battery.

While there’s no extra battery in the keyboard, you do get access to a full-sized USB port when the dock is connected. Acer will also offer an option to pick up a keyboard dock that has a 500GB hard drive built-in for folks that need extra storage.

The tablet has a 2MP front-facing camera, but no rear camera. That makes sense if you think of the Switch 10 more like a notebook than a tablet or a smartphone: You’re more likely to use the camera for video chats than for snapping photos.

The tablet measures about 0.35 inches thick and weighs 1.3 pounds. The dock is about 0.44 inches and 2.6 pounds, while the version with the hard drive is a bit thicker and heavier.

Acer plans to launch the Aspire Switch 10 in America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in late May for around $380 or $350 Euros, depending on the market. That will put this multi-mode tablet squarely into the same category as the popular Asus Transformer Book T100, and while I haven’t spent as much time with the Switch as I have with the Transformer T100, it looks like both devices are pretty great tablet/notebook hybrids for the price,

 

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8 replies on “Hands-on with the Acer Aspire Switch 10 multi-mode tablet”

  1. finally, a T100 competitor with dedicated “Page Up” & “Page Down” buttons 🙂

  2. Nice inexpensive tablet. If you need 4GB and Acer will not extend the product line with an Z3795, just try the HP Elitepad 1000 G2. It offers a lot of more features with additional Jackets und will also have a Z3795 with a FullHD 10,1″ display.

  3. No chance of a 4 GB option? I also would like to dual boot Linux and Windows 8.

  4. That $380 includes the keyboard right? Have a slightly more expensive 4 GB RAM and 64-bit Windows (plus a UEFI that can boot Linux) with Connected Standby/InstantGo support then I’ll buy it over the ThinkPad 10.

    I would opt for a more expensive ThinkPad 10 had it had a keyboard dock with an adjustable angle and trackpoint and built-in stylus holder in the tablet. Without those I wouldn’t want a the dock and an active digitizer.

    Also, what’re the physical dimensions of this? The bezels look pretty big.

    1. Same here. Since the ThinkPad 10 keyboard dock seemed to have been downgraded from the TPT2 and there’s no stylus holder in the tablet making me not want the active digitizer, this Acer Aspire Switch seems very competitive IF it has a 4 GB RAM option.

      1. The TPT2 didn’t really have a trackpoint but rather a optical sensor that just looked like a trackpoint… Problems with it was it didn’t work very well and you were much better off just using the touch screen or pen…

        The main issue with the new model is the lack of the Pen Silo but the Keyboard dock is suppose to have it instead but means you have to carry the keyboard with you just for the pen…

        Mind, it does mean they give you a larger pen and the problem with the smaller one was lack of pressure sensitivity and being too thin can be hard on your hands with prolonged use… So it’s one of those have to deal with some compromise no matter what they do deals…

        Though, considering Samsung has done pretty well in their usage of WACOM digitizer shows they still could have done better… Samsung Note Pro even lets you reach the edge of the screen with the pen, not something most PC’s with the digitizer can do…

        While, an alternative to the Lenovo keyboard dock is a cover with wireless keyboard and that gives you more freedom of angles to set the tablet at, as well as better protect it on the go… So at least there’s more than one option but of course many would prefer something more like the Asus Transformer Keyboard dock…

        Anyway, I doubt Acer will offer 4GB RAM… This is a budget model like the Asus T100 and 4GB isn’t yet a budget option in the mobile market…

        Though, since Asus is planning on doing a update to the T100 with a Z3775 then we may yet see something offered a bit later but not quite yet…

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