When Intel unveiled its first 5th-gen Core “Broadwell” processor in September, a number of laptop and tablet makers took the opportunity to unveil some of the first computers that would use the chip.
Among them was the Acer Aspire Switch 12, but Acer didn’t provide many details about the 2-in-1 tablet at the time.
Now more information is available thanks to product listings at a few European retail sites.
The Acer Aspire Switch 12 features a 12.5 inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel display, an Intel Core M-FY10a processor, 4GB of RAM, and 60GB to 128GB of solid state storage.
The tablet has Intel HD 5300 graphics, stereo speakers, a 2MP camera, HDMI, microSD card, micro USB, and headset ports, 802.11n WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.0.
It also has an unusual design that lets you use the system as a notebook, a tablet, or… something else. Like many 2-in-1 tablets, the Acer Aspire Switch 12 has a detachable keyboard. But the keyboard doesn’t snap off at the hinge.
Instead the hinge and a piece of the base stays connected to the tablet. You can use this as a kickstand to prop up at the tablet at a variety of angles. This lets you use it in presentation or kiosk modes for watching videos or displaying other content. You can also place the keyboard in front of the system and use it as a wireless keyboard.
Interestingly there’s no touchpad on the keyboard, but there is a pointing stick in the center and left and right buttons below the space bar.
via Mobile Geeks and TabletGuide
This design doesn’t seem too practical… It leaves too much bulk even after detaching the keyboard to make this a heavy tablet, and the benefit of a stand is questionable at best, since it they wanted, they could have solved that with a simple stick in the middle. On the other hand there is nothing to protect the screen even when it’s all closed and packed, I’m a bit skeptical about the device’s stability when used in the lap and it’s much too small to consider it a desktop replacement unit. This design starts to make sense in a 15″ or a 17″ machine.
Agreed. Plus lack of touchpad is going to impede functionality. Will be interesting to see how all these design features affect productivity.
The price seems right though! 224900 huf (Hungarian Forints), which is €734 or $928
As a comparison the 128GB 13″ MacBook Air is 319990 huf, which is €1045 or $1321. In the US that same MacBook is $999, or 24% cheaper. Applying the same math on the Switch 12 price it would land at $702 in the US
I doubt it would be $700 in the US….. Aspire Switch 11 FHD is $649. Only a $50 bump to this? Will likely be $799.
Its certainly an interesting design but I can’t get past that Acer logo. Never been a fan