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Lenovo retakes the top spot in PC shipments
Happy days are here again for Lenovo, though not for most of the PC industry. The Chinese tech firm has reclaimed the top spot for PC shipments in both Gartner and IDC market share estimates for the third quarter of the year, pushing past HP to scoop up roughly 24 percent of the market. The analyst groups chalked up the growth to both the addition of Fujitsu, better business PC sales and a smarter North American strategy. For most others, though, the season was a mixed bag.
The world's lightest 15-inch laptop can't help but be fragile
Acer 15-inch Switch 5, the lightest laptop of its size in the world, isn't an entirely new product. At an event in May, Acer told us it was coming, but all the company had to show was a nonfunctional mockup of the product -- an idea of what the final hardware would look like. But picking up the finished article today, it still feels very much like a dummy model. It's so light, at just under 2.2 pounds (990g), you'd think it was nothing but a plastic case and a sticker for a screen.
Acer's Triton 900 gaming laptop has a truly unique convertible hinge
A few years ago, Acer gave us an intriguing twist on the convertible PC, the Aspire R14, which featured an easel-like hinge that rotated the screen. Now it's bringing that feature, which Acer calls the Ezel hinge, to a gaming laptop: Say hello to the Predator Triton 900. The company only gave us a brief glimpse at the device (it was protected by a glass case), but it looks like the screen will rotate just like the Aspire R14. You'll be able to twist it all the way around for a tent-like formation or lay it flat. The Triton 900 will also feature the latest version of the company's Aeroblade cooling technology. It looks like having a bit of space underneath the monitor will help with cooling too.
Watch Acer's IFA 2018 event in 9 minutes
Acer often has a lot to show at its events, and its IFA 2018 presentation was no exception. The tech giant unveiled a bevy of laptops, including the world's lightest 15-inch laptop and a metal-clad budget Chromebook. However, that was really just the start. It also launched a uniquely detachable mixed reality headset, and even a gaming cockpit that's practically a throne. It's a lot to take in, but don't worry -- we've condensed Acer's announcements into a nine-minute video that covers all the bases.
Acer's latest Swift laptops are thinner and lighter than ever
Acer prides itself on making some of the most portable laptops around, and new hardware the company brought to IFA today is no different. Acer already had an extremely lightweight notebook in the existing Swift 5, but a larger screen on the latest model means it now lays claim to the title of the world's lightest 15-inch laptop. Technically the 1080p touchscreen is a little bigger, measuring 15.6-inches in total, but narrow bezels and a body blended from magnesium, lithium and aluminum keeps the weight under 2.2 pounds (990g).
Acer's new Windows Mixed Reality headset has detachable parts
Acer has launched a new Windows 10 Mixed Reality headset at IFA 2018, and the manufacturer says it has a unique detachable design that's a first in the category. Called the OJO 500, the model features detachable components: To be precise, its lens and head strap are removable for easy cleaning and storage. Acer created it that way for those planning to share a headset with friends and people who run establishments or theme parks that offer VR experiences.
Acer's Chromebook 514 touts metal-and-glass design for $350
If you want a Chromebook made with premium materials and design instead of creaky plastic, that usually means spending extra on performance you don't necessarily need. Acer, at least, is trying to offer better quality without inflating the cost. Its new Chromebook 514 melds an aluminum chassis, a Gorilla Glass-covered trackpad and a thin-bezel (on the sides) 14-inch 1080p display for a $350 (€349) starting price. Acer is coy about the processor inside, but it is promising a healthy 12-hour battery, USB-C ports, an "HDR" webcam and an optional touchscreen.
Acer's Predator Thronos is a cockpit masquerading as gaming chair
Who needs a desk when you can just sit back in a recliner and surround yourself with monitors? That's the basic idea behind Acer's Predator Thronos gaming chair. It looks less like a piece of furniture and more like something you'd find in an arcade. The chair measures 1.5 meters tall, has an ergonomic seat that reclines to 140 degrees, and of course, there's built-in rumbling. You can also fit three 27-inch monitors around you, which makes the Thronos an ideal setup for flight sims, as well as a Predator gaming desktop.
What to expect at IFA 2018
Of all the annual meetings of tech-obsessed minds, IFA is perhaps the most unpredictable. You know everyone and their mother is going to CES to set the tone for the year, and MWC is all things mobile. At IFA, though, you never quite know what surprises lurk behind the floor-to-ceiling displays of kitchen appliances that dominate the halls of the sprawling Messe Berlin conference center. History and rumors give us some idea, however. Naturally, we'll be on the ground to bring you all the important news, but these are some of things we expect to see announced at this year's show.
Ask Engadget: Do I buy, build... or both?
The support shared among readers in the comments section is one of the things we love most about the Engadget community. Over the years, we've known you to offer sage advice on everything from Chromecasts and cameras to drones and smartphones. In fact, our community's knowledge and insights are a reason why many of you participate in the comments. We truly value the time and detail you all spend in responding to questions from your fellow tech-obsessed commenters, which is why we've decided to bring back the much-missed "Ask Engadget" column. This week's question comes to us from a high school senior with a dead laptop and a need for a solid school laptop and a gaming machine. Weigh in with your advice in the comments -- and feel free to send your own questions along to ask@engadget.com! Would it be worth the money to build myself a PC (for gaming and other activities such as basic coding), and get myself a notebook to take to school? Note that I am going to be a high school senior this upcoming school year, and am deciding on either going to a nearby university or community college or a nearby trade school. My current laptop is pretty much dead. Please help!
Acer's business-focused Chromebooks arrive in September
Acer's entry into the premium Chromebook space is nearly here. The company has announced that both the conventional Chromebook 13 and convertible Chromebook Spin 13 (above) will come to North America in September at respective starting prices of $650 and $750. Splurge on these laptops and you'll get both a higher-quality aluminum chassis, a tall 3:2 ratio 2,256 x 1,504 screen (plus a Wacom stylus with the Spin) as well as the performance you don't always get with Chrome OS machines.
Chrome OS on a tablet doesn't make a lot of sense
Google and a wide variety of hardware makers tried for years to get Android tablets to catch on, but they were never able to match the success Apple found with the iPad. At the same time, though, Google's Chrome OS was gaining new features and finding traction with both individuals and in the education market. The latter has been particularly important -- and with Apple and Microsoft both pushing tablets for education, Google has decided it's time for Chrome OS to arrive on tablets as well. Enter Acer's awkwardly named Chromebook Tab 10, the first tablet to run Chrome OS. It costs $330 and is focused squarely on the education market. Acer built the device specifically for classrooms; the company has stressed that this isn't a tablet meant for the average consumer. As such, this device doesn't come close to matching the fit and finish you'll find on an iPad or Microsoft's new Surface Go. Still, it's the only Chrome tablet out there, so it's the only way right now to see if Google's OS works as well on a keyboard-less machine as it does on a laptop.
Business and gaming boost PC shipments for the first time since 2012
Supposing you've followed the PC's steady downward spiral over the last few years, the following news might surprise you: Between April and June worldwide PC shipments marked a 1.4 percent increase compared to the same timeframe last year. Market analysis firms Gartner and IDC agree that it's largely due to business customers upgrading to Windows 10 laptops, desktops and workstations. But the latter asserts that shipments totaled 62.3 million units (representing a 2.7 increase) while the former reports shipments jumped by 62.1 million units (a 1.4 percent increase). The biggest areas of growth? Premium models and entry-level machines.
Acer adds a free Echo Dot to its Alexa-equipped laptops
If you've been eyeing Acer's Alexa-enabled laptops, you may want to check out the company's deals on Amazon for Prime subscribers. The manufacturer has slashed $50 off all available models' prices, which really isn't that much -- good thing Acer is also giving out a free Echo Dot speaker with every purchase. These laptops come built-in with Amazon's voice assistant, and you can ask it questions and access skills like you would on one of the tech giant's Echo speakers.
Acer’s ProDesigner BM270 HDR display dials up the brightness
Acer's newest monitor is the ProDesigner BM270, a 27-inch 4K UHD beast that has a rare blend of extreme color accuracy and eye-scorching brightness. The panel might be smaller than the Acer's 32-inch BM320, but the BM270 offers increased brightness levels up to an impressive 1,000 nits in HDR mode, faster response time, higher color saturation, and adjustable monitor hoods. The price tag is a wee bit heftier though -- you'll need to fork out $1,700. That's the going rate for monitors aimed at photo and video pros, though, and not quite as pricey as Acer's equally bright, gaming-oriented Predator X27.
New Google Classroom features make it harder to cheat
Today, Google announced new features aimed at educators using Google Classroom. These include the ability to assign quizzes through Google Forms and "lock" them, so that students cannot navigate away from the page while the quiz is underway (potentially cutting down on cheating), as well as parental controls to set "off hours" on school-issued devices. The lock mode only applies to "managed" Chromebooks -- devices that the school has full control over.
What to expect at Computex 2018
Computex marks the midpoint of the technology calendar, an oasis of new hardware in an otherwise barren summer. In the first week of June, Taipei plays host to PC makers and startups showing off what they think is the next big thing. Just before team Engadget sets off to sample everything the show has to offer, here's what we're expecting to see.
Hands on with Acer's premium Chromebooks and Helios 500
If you've been turned off by the limited horsepower in Chromebooks so far, Acer's new Spin 13 might be for you. It sports either an Intel Core i3 or Core i5 CPU, something we've only seen in Google's pricey Pixelbook. In a brief hands-on session at Acer's launch event today, the Chromebook Spin 13 definitely felt a cut above the Chrome OS competition. Its metallic case is sturdy and smooth, and since it's a "Spin" model from Acer, you can also twist the screen all the way around to use it as a tablet. It's not exactly exciting, but it shows there's more for the Chromebook market beyond sluggish education-focused machines.
Acer's Predator Helios 500 gaming laptop is a Core i9 powerhouse
It wouldn't be an Acer launch event without high-powered gaming PCs in the mix, and this year is no exception. The company is kicking things off with the Predator Helios 500, a 17.3-inch brute of a laptop with up to an overclockable Core i9 chip (with or without speedy Optane memory), overclockable GeForce GTX 1070 graphics and either a 1080p 144Hz screen or a 4K panel. You can load up to 64GB of RAM and either 1TB of SSD storage or a 2TB spinning drive. As always, this kind of portable speed won't come cheap: the Helios 500 shows up in June starting at $1,999.
Acer's first high-end Chromebooks are built for business
Acer's Chromebooks to date have been entry-level models that you're more likely to find in grade school than the office, but the company is about to change its reputation. It's launching a slew of devices headlined by the Chromebook Spin 13 convertible and the regular Chromebook 13. Gone are the small screens, pokey performance and frugal builds associated with prior models -- the systems tout 3:2 ratio 13-inch screens, 8th-generation Intel Core processor choices, up to 16GB of RAM, all-metal shells and trackpads covered in Gorilla Glass. Like Google's own Pixelbook, these are for people who can use Chrome OS for heavy-duty tasks and are willing to pay for the privilege.
