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Computex Heavy On PCs As Tablets Lose Fizz

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – All-in-one (AIO) PCs and two-in-one tablet/laptops dominated the product introductions at the recent Computex trade show, where a handful of tablet introductions underscored tablets’ lost fizz.Tablets are evolving into large-screen smartphones and two-in-one laptops with detachable keyboards, said Acer’s S.T. Liew, who oversees smartphones and tablets for the company.

At the event, Asus unveiled what it called the industry’s first tablet with 4GB RAM, a selfie-optimized smartphone with 64-bit octa-core processor, and a tablet said to be the world’s first with interchangeable covers that add extra features. Asus also showed the industry’s first AIO PCs with USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports. Acer, meanwhile, came with three new all-in-one PCs, two new Android tablets, a new two-in-one notebook and a new Chrome-based desktop. For its part, Dell came to the show with an array of new Inspiron products, including a micro desktop measuring 5.2 by 5.2 inches.

Acer

The two new Android tablets in the Iconia One series feature 8- and 7-inch HD IPS screens and Android 5.1 Lollipop.

The Iconia One 8 (B1-830) comes with MediaTek octa-core processor to optimize web browsing, gaming and video playing. The Iconia One 7 (B1-760HD) features Acer Precision Plus technology, which supports control and writing with writing instruments that the company said could be as fine as a pencil. Exact specifications, prices and availability will vary by region.

In two-in-ones, the Aspire Switch 11 V features Intel Core M processors, aluminum cover, up to eight hours of battery life, and a “latch-less” magnetic hinge to switch to among notebook, pad, tent and display modes.

In AIO PCs, the company is refreshing its Aspire Z Series with the 23.8-inch Aspire Z3-710 and the 19.5- inch ZC-700, both sporting a Full HD LED backlit display, Windows 8.1, and upgradability to Windows 10. They will ship in the third quarter.

Also new: the successor to the Chromebox CXI2 Chrome OS desktop. It gets Intel Core i3 and Celeron processor options, Intel HD Graphics,16GB SSD, a maximum of 8GB RAM and Gigabit Ethernet.

Asus

Of two new 8-inch ZenPad Android tablets, the premium ZenPad S 8.0 features 4GB RAM. The 6.6mm-thick tablet is powered by a 64-bit Intel Atom Z3580 processor and sports a metallic finish with hairline pattern and diamond-cut edges. It’s equipped with 2K QXGA IPS display with 178-degree viewing, and it can be used with an optional Z Stylus that supports up to 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity and a 1.2mm writing tip.

The second 8-inch tablet, the ZenPad 8.0, is promoted as the world’s first tablet with interchangeable covers that add extra features, such as 5.1-channel surround sound or an extension of battery life to 15 hours of use.

The two models are due in the U.S. in the third quarter. Pricing wasn’t announced.

In smartphones, the ZenFone Selfie features front and rear 13-megapixel cameras with dual-color flash for more natural lighting. The rear camera adds f/2.0 aperture lens and laser auto-focus technology for fast focusing. The phone also features a Selfie Panorama mode, which uses the selfie camera’s f/2.2-aperture front lens and 88-degree field of view to capture panoramic selfies up to 140 degrees. It comes with a 5.5-inch FullHD IPS display and 64-bit octa-core processor.

Dell

In its series of Inspiron 5000 notebooks, Dell is offering a broader array of processor options from Intel and AMD. It’s also offering an optional touch display in 1080p on the 15- and 17-inch models and in 720p on the 14- and 15-inch models. They’re available starting at $599 for the 14-inch model, $449 for the 15-inch and $699 for the 17-inch.

In two-in-ones, the Inspiron 15 7000 series features 15.6-inch display, forged aluminum chassis, battery life of almost nine hours, and ability to fold into tablet, laptop, tent and stand configurations. It will be available June 23 in the U.S. at Dell.com starting at $549.

In AIOs, the Inspiron 3000 series 20 features a 19.5-inch HD+ display with Intel Braswell processors, while the Inspiron 24 comes with a 23.8- inch 1080p display with IPS technology and AMD or Braswell processors. The 24 became available June 2 starting at $479. The Inspiron 20 will be available here in October starting at $329.

In desktops, three new models include the Inspiron Desktop and Inspiron Small Desktop starting at $279 each and due here in September. An even smaller desktop is the Inspiron Micro Desktop, which measures 5.2 by 5.2 inches and fits in one hand. It features solid-state drive, dual-core Intel Celeron or quad-core Intel Pentium processors, and HDMI to connect to any HD display or TV. HDMI and DisplayPort enable connections to multiple displays at one time. It’s available starting at $179.

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