Acer Starts Iconia W510 Windows 8 Tablet PC at $499.99

The line will come in various configurations, starting November 9 By Rachel Cericola

October 26, 2012

Companies are frothing over the upcoming release of Windows 8. You can add Acer into that mix. The company just announced yet another Windows 8 device, the Iconia W510 tablet PC.

Now, this isn’t just another laptop. OK, it is—but it does give you three different ways to use it.

The tablet PC mode allows users to surf the web, play games or watch video using multi-touch navigation and a 10.1-inch HD LED-backlit screen. Also, if you are worried about touching that screen a little too hard, it has Gorilla Glass 2. Strong and scratch-resistant, this little perk can certainly stand up to anything you’re dishing out on a daily basis.

Other features include an Intel Atom Z2760 mobile-optimized processor and up to 9 hours of battery life for video or WiFi use.

In the productivity mode, the keyboard dock connects to the W510, making it a full-blown netbook. Users can create and edit documents, spreadsheets, multimedia, and more. That keyboard dock can also house an extra battery, for up to 18 hours of use.

Last, but certainly not least, you can rotate the keyboard, use it as a stand, and call that the presentation mode. This allows users to display video, photos or presentations via the 1366x768 resolution Gorilla Glass 2 HD display. Presentation users will also appreciate the HD audio support and two built-in stereo speakers.

The tablet PCs come with either a 64GB or 32GB SSD, as well as a microSD card reader, a micro-USB port, and a micro-HDMI port. There’s also a front-facing 2-megapixel HD 1080p camera for 1920x1080 video and an 8-megapixel HD rear camera, which promises a 3264x2448 resolution, auto focus and an LED flash.

Weighing in at 1.27 pounds with a 0.35-inch-thin build (without the keyboard), the Iconia W510 has 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, Acer Always On and Acer Always Connect technologies, and an integrated G-Sensor, E-Compass and Gyro-Meter.

Acer will start selling the Iconia W510 tablet PC on November 9 in a variety of configurations. The budget-friendly Iconia W510-1674 comes with a 32GB SSD and a $499.99 MSRP. The W510-1422 has a 64GB SSD and the keyboard dock with the extra battery, which bumps the price to $749.99. Corporate customers can also get the Acer Iconia W510P with Windows 8 Pro and an extended 2-year warranty for $799.99.