Acer unveils Gemstone notebook design

As promised, Acer today unveiled its Gemstone design for notebooks. The finished upgrade to the Aspire portable has the rounded, glossy outer shell that inspired its name and is meant to convey added luxury. But a few extra touches on the inside are equally important, according to Acer. A line of light, dubbed the neon media flow, leads out from the power input and circles around to the touchpad as a cosmetic touch; the early details have also confirmed the use of Dolby-certified speakers for some, if not all, of the company's PCs. Room is also given for seven media keys at opposite ends of the keyboard as well as a webcam at the top of the display lid.

Performance for the new Gemstone-based notebooks wasn't revealed as part of the announcement, but is again expected to include newer-generation AMD Turion 64 X2 or Intel Core 2 Duo processors depending on models. Some systems will also have the option of Blu-Ray and HD DVD drives, and the range should consist of 14-, 15.4-, and 17-inch editions.

Simultaneously, Acer has also revealed its ProFile TravelMate design for business notebooks. While not as overt, the smooth magnesium shell is said to have its own appeal: the material is 20 times stronger than plastic and holds up well against shock as well as dust and water. Typing is also easier through a curved keyboard layout.

Both notebook lines are now expected to see full details and worldwide shipment by mid-May.