Tag Archives: Windows8Pro

tablets

Acer’s New 8.1-Inch Iconia W3 Tablet Shows Up Online, Has Windows 8 Pro Onboard (Now Official)

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Acer seems to be very active within the mid-range tablet market lately, with most of the attention given to its Android-powered lineup. That, apparently, is about to change in the upcoming months, though, as the Taiwanese corp has quietly launched an 8-inch WXGA slate with Windows 8 as the main OS platform. You got that right, ladies and gents, a mid-range device running Microsoft’s latest Windows 8 Pro onboard. Sheesh, that sounds awesome. But more importantly, it looks so great. And by “it,” we refer of course to the new Iconia W3 slate, which has just been introduced online on the company’s Finnish website. In terms of its technological specs the W3 is nothing out of the ordinary with an Intel Atom Z2760 chip running under the hood, as well as 2GB of RAM, a 1,280 x 768 display, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless connectivity. Other than that, it sports a 2-megapixel front-facing cam, a microHDMI output, USB 2.0 hub, and up to 64GB of internal storage. The battery pack, if you wondered, is rated to provide up to 8 hours of battery life, and the picture in the info source link also indicates a bunch of accessories like a portable keyboard dock and a cover case that doubles as a stand.

Update: At Computex 2013, Acer has just made the 8.1-inch Iconia W3 official, and boy does it look great. Anyway, as promised the little mid-range slate runs a full Windows 8 version under the hood, tucked with a 1,280 x 800 display, and a dual-core 1.8GHz Atom Z2760 processor. Acer claims the battery life for the W3 to be around 8 hours, and you can choose between either 32 or 64GB storage options, plus an extra 32GB maximum via microSD. As for ports, we’re looking at a micro-USB, and an integrated micro-HDMI slot. But you can also find a pair of speaker grills at the bottom of this slab, a volume rocker to the left, and two front/rear-facing cameras, at 2MP each. In addition, the 540 grams device supports WiFi 802.11b/g/n, and boasts a Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity so you can wirelessly connect to compatible external devices. The new tablet is apparently due out sometime before the end of June (at 329 euros / 379 euros, respectively, and $379 in the US), while pre-orders for the slate will start from tomorrow, it will be made available through all of Microsoft’s retail stores, as well as Amazon, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Staples and Walmart.

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Acer Debuts Industry’s First 8-Inch Windows 8 Tablet

Pre-installed with Microsoft Office, the Acer Iconia W3 is the only tablet that can put the desktop into a single hand

Taipei (June 3, 2012) Acer today unveiled the Acer Iconia W3, the industry’s first full-featured 8.1-inch tablet running Windows 8, bringing entertainment and full PC capabilities into a single hand. Further solidifying its spot as the ultimate mobile companion, the Acer Iconia W3 comes pre-installed with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013, a €139 ¹value, at no additional expense.

The Iconia W3 carefully considers the human element with a design that is compact enough to use comfortably in one hand for reading and web browsing, yet sports a screen large enough for both productivity and entertainment. As a result, it’s ideal for business people, students and families who already use programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote for school and work.

The Acer Iconia W3 was introduced today at a press event at Computex along with other new products, including the Acer Aspire S7 and S3 Ultrabooks as well as the Liquid S1 phablet. The new line of Acer mobile products highlights the company’s focus on redefining the computing experience through progressive design. #AcerTouch.

“With the Iconia W3, Acer is giving the millions of students, consumers and professionals who create, read, work and play in the Windows environment a single-handed device that does it all,” said Luca Rossi, vice president, consumer business unit, Acer Europe. “These adventurous will enjoy the industry-leading combination of a Windows 8 tablet in a sleek and lightweight 8-inch design, giving them a new and more effective way to take their fun and productivity on the go.”

Productivity Boosting Office Suite and Design
Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013 comes pre-installed with the new Iconia W3, so customers can begin using it for school and work right away. A €139¹ value, Microsoft Office Home & Student Edition includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, giving customers the applications they need right at their fingertips.

The Iconia W3’s design makes it incredibly useful for productivity in several different ways. The slim and sleek device weighs only 540 grams and measures only 11.35 mm thin, so it’s easy to take anywhere. The device pairs with an optional full-size Bluetooth keyboard that holds the tablet upright for typing and then conveniently docks to the tablet to lay flat for easy transportation while protecting the screen. The keyboard mirrors the size of those found on larger 13.3-inch notebooks, so it is comfortable to use and makes working on documents and presentations even more convenient. Further boosting productivity, the Acer Iconia W3 was designed with a virtual keypad that is the ideal size for thumb typing, a common way for savvy mobile customers to connect in messaging and social platforms.

Windows 8 Companion Brings PC Capabilities Anywhere

Since the Acer Iconia W3 runs Windows 8, it keeps files, photos, and contacts synced across other Windows 8 devices, so customers can work on documents and programs on the go and then conveniently access the most current version from another device. Plus, because it runs full Windows 8, the Acer Iconia W3 is compatible with x86 legacy Windows programs. Consumers can customize Windows 8 by utilizing Live Tiles right on the start page to keep updated on the topics, news, weather and other events that they care about most.

The range of capabilities paired with the slim size makes the Iconia W3 great for sharing at school, work and home. Windows 8 supports multiple user IDs, so customers will have access to their email, Live Tiles and other apps. The device keeps content secure and safe with multiple layers of security and parental controls, even with multiple people using it.

On the Go Performance for Productivity and Entertainment

The new tablet is powered by an Intel Atom Z2760 mobile-optimized processor to smoothly handle a range of apps, including web browsing and enjoying digital media. Plus, the Acer Iconia W3 provides up to 8 hours of battery life(2) to boost all-day productivity in classes, while traveling, or simply for staying in touch throughout the day. Connected Standby helps extend battery life by turning the display off while the device remains powered on to handle background tasks. The Acer Iconia W3 keeps consumers connected to Wi-Fi networks and hotspots with 802.11b/g/nwireless technology.

The crisp 8.1-inch LED-backlit display brings 720p video to life with incredible detail and brightness. The 1280 x 800 resolution makes photos and multimedia as well as text and graphics, appear crisp and clear. The tablet’s front- and rear-facing 2MP webcams ensure that customers can capture images and video for social networking, video conferencing and sharing.

The Iconia W3 was designed to enable quick sharing of data between devices to bring full PC productivity to a tablet form factor. It has a micro-HDMI port for connecting to a TV or external display for sharing presentations, photos and video. The micro-USB port allows easy sharing of data and a connection to devices like phones, MP3 players, USB drives, or a mouse. The new tablet is available with either 32GB(3) or 64GB(3) of internal storage, and customers can add an additional 32GB(3) via microSD for extra storage and convenient transfer of photos and video between devices.

Pricing and Availability

The Iconia W3 with 32GB and 64GB capacities will be available in June from retailers starting at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of €329.- and €379.-.(4) The optional keyboard will be available for a price of €69.- and the case will be available for €24.90.- (grey) and €27.90 (white).

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tablets

Microsoft Surface with Windows 8 Pro Finally Gets Official, Ships In January

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The world has been waiting for this day to come for couple of months now (since Microsoft has launched the Surface RT tablet), and today, ladies and gents, it finally arrived, as the Redmond-based company officially announces a full-fledged Windows 8 Pro Surface for the masses. The new device, which claims to be a substantial upgrade to the ordinary Surface RT, starts at $899 for the “basic” 64GB version, and will go all the way up to $999 for the 128GB flavor. In addition, you’ll have to spend about a hundred bucks more if you want to have one of Microsoft’s latest and greatest add-ons, the Touch or Type Cover. Regretfully, they are not included in the bundle. Note, however, that the stylus pen does.

And while the overall design is similar to Redmond’s regular RT device, in many respects (same beautiful VaporMG casing and equivalent 10.6-inch display), some changes have been made inside. In that regard, we’re looking at a full 1920 x 1080 screen resolution instead of 1366 x 768, with the CPU power climbing up to a third-gen Core i5 processor, and the GPU is the Intel HD Graphics 4000, with 4 gigs of RAM. Good news in the battery department as well, according to Microsoft it will be strong enough to deliver “approximately half the battery life of Surface with Windows RT” (roughly 4.5 hours). In addition, you’ll find a Mini DisplayPort, capable upscaling your slate to 2560 x 1440 resolution, and a full-size USB 3.0 interface that is huge for data transfer speeds.

The Pro edition will be available sometime in January 2013, and is sure to be in popular demand.

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tablets

Microsoft Unveils The Surface, a 10.6-inch Windows 8 Tablet

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Microsoft has just unveiled a Windows 8 tablet, called Surface. In a late night press conference from Los Angeles, CEO Steve Ballmer stunned the world when he officially announced that his company is making a brand new slate running an Intel i5 CPU on board and powered by the all-mighty NVIDIA ARM processor. The 9.3mm thick device that will come out sometime before the end of 2012, is said to include a 10.6-inch Gorilla Glass 2 HD display on top, along with two 2×2 MIMO antennas for better WiFi connectivity, 32GB or 64GB of storage at your choice, and a slew of common ports such as micro HDMI, microSD and USB 2.0. The surface is made from high-quality elements and coated with VaporMg magnesium materials. Such process and specs require great efforts to adapt, but nonetheless, the retail cost will continue to remain very attractive, says Ballmer, very similar to those other ARM tablet machines available in the market.

But that’s not all, ladies and gents… Let me direct your attention to additional stuff the Redmond team has recently introduced. Yes, there’s another tablet configuration out there, and if the first model was built to be compatible with the very basic Windows RT OS version, the latter – A Premium Device – is said to be strong enough to support Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 8 Pro. So what does it pack inside? First and foremost, an Ivy Bridge Core i5 processor, that is tucked with a bigger 42 W-h battery, either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, a similar batch of micro SD, micro HDMI and Mimo WiFi installations, and last but not least, the latest USB 3.0 ports. The 10.6-inch ClearType touchscreen is claimed to feature a higher 1080p resolution and the tablet itself will boast a dedicated pen with a special “Palm Block.” No word on price or availability yet, but we’ll keep you posted. In any case, they’ll be “on par with Ultrabook-class PCs” and out roughly 3 months after the Windows 8 official release.

Accessories wise, Microsoft has partnered with a group of aftermarket suppliers to develop both cover and keyboard accessories to the Surface line of tablets. Yesterday, the company has officially introduced two of those futuristic peripherals, Touch Cover and Type Cover. The first, is a 3mm thick cover made of Polartec materials, which hooks to the Surface with those Smart Cover-like magnetic attachments. No, that ain’t original but if it works, it works, right? Well, that’s your decision. Anyway, the Type Cover is the kind of things we’re used to seeing over the last couple of years. In general, we’re looking at a 5mm-thick keyboard docking station product that turns your tablet into a hybrid netbook/tablet machine. As simple as it seems.

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Microsoft Announces Surface: New Family of PCs for Windows

Microsoft-made hardware to be available starting with release of Windows 8 and Windows RT.

LOS ANGELES – June 18, 2012 – Today at an event in Hollywood, Microsoft unveiled Surface: PCs built to be the ultimate stage for Windows. Company executives showed two Windows tablets and accessories that feature significant advances in industrial design and attention to detail. Surface is designed to seamlessly transition between consumption and creation, without compromise. It delivers the power of amazing software with Windows and the feel of premium hardware in one exciting experience.

Advances in Industrial Design

Conceived, designed and engineered entirely by Microsoft employees, and building on the company’s 30-year history manufacturing hardware, Surface represents a unique vision for the seamless expression of entertainment and creativity. Extensive investment in industrial design and real user experience includes the following highlights:

Software takes center stage: Surface sports a full-sized USB port and a 16:9 aspect ratio – the industry standard for HD. It has edges angled at 22 degrees, a natural position for the PC at rest or in active use, letting the hardware fade into the background and the software stand out.

VaporMg: The casing of Surface is created using a unique approach called VaporMg (pronounced Vapor-Mag), a combination of material selection and process to mold metal and deposit particles that creates a finish akin to a luxury watch. Starting with magnesium, parts can be molded as thin as .65 mm, thinner than the typical credit card, to create a product that is thin, light and rigid/strong.

Integrated Kickstand: The unique VaporMg approach also enables a built-in kickstand that lets you transition Surface from active use to passive consumption – watching a movie or even using the HD front- or rear-facing video cameras. The kickstand is there when needed, and disappears when not in use, with no extra weight or thickness.

Touch Cover: The 3 mm Touch Cover represents a step forward in human-computer interface. Using a unique pressure-sensitive technology, Touch Cover senses keystrokes as gestures, enabling you to touch type significantly faster than with an on-screen keyboard. It will be available in a selection of vibrant colors. Touch Cover clicks into Surface via a built-in magnetic connector, forming a natural spine like you find on a book, and works as a protective cover. You can also click in a 5 mm-thin Type Cover that adds moving keys for a more traditional typing feel.

An Amazing Windows Experience

Two models of Surface will be available: one running an ARM processor featuring Windows RT, and one with a third-generation Intel Core processor featuring Windows 8 Pro. From the fast and fluid interface, to the ease of connecting you to the people, information and apps that users care about most, Surface will be a premium way to experience all that Windows has to offer. Surface for Windows RT will release with the general availability of Windows 8, and the Windows 8 Pro model will be available about 90 days later. Both will be sold in the Microsoft Store locations in the U.S. and available through select online Microsoft Stores.

Contributing to an Expanded Ecosystem

One of the strengths of Windows is its extensive ecosystem of software and hardware partners, delivering selection and choice that makes a customer’s Windows experience uniquely their own. This continues with Surface. Microsoft is delivering a unique contribution to an already strong and growing ecosystem of functional and stylish devices delivered by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to bring the experience of Windows to consumers and businesses around the globe.

Additional Product Information

Surface for Windows RT

OS: Windows RT

Light(1): 676 g

Thin(2): 9.3 mm

Clear: 10.6″ ClearType HD Display

Energized: 31.5 W-h

Connected: microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae

Productive: Office ’15’ Apps, Touch Cover, Type Cover

Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand

Configurable: 32 GB, 64 GB

Surface for Windows 8 Pro

OS: Windows 8 Pro

Light(1): 903 g

Thin(2): 13.5 mm

Clear: 10.6″ ClearType Full HD Display

Energized: 42 W-h

Connected: microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae

Productive: Touch Cover, Type Cover, Pen with Palm Block

Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand

Configurable: 64 GB, 128 GB

(1), (2). Actual size and weight of the device may vary due to configuration and manufacturing process.

Suggested retail pricing will be announced closer to availability and is expected to be competitive with a comparable ARM tablet or Intel Ultrabook-class PC. OEMs will have cost and feature parity on Windows 8 and Windows RT.

For more information about Surface, visit http://www.surface.com.