Acer Gemstone Teaser

Acer will herald the launch of new processors from AMD and Intel with a completely new notebook design, the company revealed this week through a teaser page this week. Dubbed the Gemstone, the core design was developed with help from automaker BMW and replaces the old Aspire models. The shape, hinted at in the teaser, is intentionally curvy like sports cars and is dominated by the black shell that inspires its name. Although meant to suggest premium PCs, the shell means buyers "won't see a difference in price," according to Acer CEO J. T. Wang,

Accordingly, the Gemstone will serve as the basis for both high-end and low-end models. Specific versions will have either AMD or Intel CPUs, including the latter's faster Santa Rosa platform; 17-inch desktop replacement versions will also come with Dolby surround, HD DVD drives, and HDMI output. System prices and specs were to remain secret in the pre-launch period, though the company promises more news on May 4th and will ship its systems in June.

Pro users will also have the option of a very different system line known as the ProFile TravelMate, Acer adds. This Intel-only line will use Santa Rosa-based CPUs and should use a stronger magnesium case to resist drops and scratches. Voice over Internet will be one of their signature design twists, according to the company. A new Xpress VoIP handset will slot into the notebook body when not in use and will serve as a Bluetooth phone for placing Internet calls wherever the notebook might go. The ProFile update didn't receive a separate launch schedule and is likely to follow the Gemstone's release closely. [via Computerworld]

By Electronista Staff