Acer

Apple will launch a cheaper MacBook Air in the third quarter of 2012 in response to competing ultrabooks.

When I first hauled out the Acer Aspire 8950G from the backpack, I almost dropped it--not because it was that heavy, but because it was lighter than expected. This massive (I hesitate to say "notebook") desktop replacement system sports an 18.4-inch, true 1080p LCD panel. At 8 pounds, 5 ounces without the power brick, it's lighter than some smaller systems that have been through the lab here. Even with the 120-watt power supply, the weight falls just a little short of 10 pounds.

Acer's first tablet based on Google's Android 3.0 OS will ship later this month for US$449, the company said Friday.

So long, netbooks.

Coinciding with the launch of Intel's new 2nd Generation Core processors, AMD's Fusion processors, and the 2011 CES, Acer is unveiling a string of new laptops aimed at enthusiasts and gamers. The Aspire 5750, 5750G, and 7750G are available with Intel's new Core i7 2630QM mobile quad-core processor and plenty of other advanced options. The Aspire 5253, on the other hand, uses AMD's new dual-core E-350 CPU. It's not nearly as fast as Intel's new processors, but it promises longer battery life, better integrated graphics, and lower cost for the budget conscious.

Feeling a bit of MacBook Air envy, Acer, Asus and Lenovo may soon offer alternatives to Apple's ultra-thin computer, according to Digitimes.

Are physical keyboards soon going to be a thing of the past? At a splashy event here in New York City, Acer Tuesday announced its new concept for a laptop: The Acer Iconia. The name's gravitas is appropriate given that it's the first laptop to ditch a physical keyboard in favor of a two touch-screens attached by a hinge, just as with a standard laptop.

Dell Inc. had better take a look over its shoulder since rival Acer Inc. is coming up fast from behind and is on the verge of overtaking Dell as the number two PC maker in the world.

This midrange system does a lot at an affordable price--but it lacks any compelling extras.