Acer has seen some nail-biting results over the past few years, with 2011 not being one the company is keen to remember. But since 2012, the company has gone from strength to strength. Its latest tablets - the Iconia W510 and Iconia W700 - are sassy Windows 8 hybrid devices with a lot to offer.
"Acer has brought in a new CEO, made changes to their processes and planning, and worked towards a cohesive channel strategy for South Africa," says Drikus van der Walt, Acer business unit manager at Tarsus Technologies. "The company has been quoted as saying they have an approximate 23% market share for mobility in the South African market, and their latest devices - the Iconia W510, W511 and Iconia W700/W701 - are a step in the right direction for this determined company."
The Iconia W700 is an interesting device. This tablet boasts an 11-inch screen with excellent connectivity - USB 3.0, micro-HDMI, headphone jack - and an Intel Core i5 processor. Users are also given a docking station with a detachable kickstand and a Bluetooth keyboard, transforming the tablet into a sleek, ultraportable notebook with a few clicks and tweaks. The W701P also includes 3G capabilities.
The dock can be used to place the W700 both horizontally and vertically, and the kickstand can be removed to support the tablet in the same way, but with less bulk. The tablet has also outperformed many competitors in benchmarking and battery tests, and delivers an impressive seven-hour battery life. This is particularly good when you consider how zippy the Iconia W700 is, and what it can be asked to do.
The Iconia W510/511P has the Windows 8 Pro operating system, 1.5GHz Atom CPU and 10.1 inches of HD display. The W511P includes 3G capabilities and it has received some sterling reviews for its robust design, speedy performance and, of course, the optional keyboard.
"Acer has invested heavily in the tablet arena and you can see how much thought has gone into both their strategy and the products they are bringing into the market today," adds Van der Walt. "Devices that can successfully drive Windows 8 and that can adapt to the changing demands of the market are the ones that will succeed, and the Iconia W510 and W700 are two that tick those boxes perfectly."
While tablets remain a growing sell for the channel, it is essential that they evolve beyond the touch-screen stabbing of the originals. For these to become devices that supersede the PC or the laptop, they have to bring power, portability and accessibility to the fore.
"Acer's latest tablets have cleverly slipped into that space between tablet and Ultrabook," concludes Van der Walt. "With the W700 you have the accessibility, the portability and the robust design, but you can also create content, work on large files, stay completely connected, and enjoy games and movies, without a loss in performance."
While not a device that can pick up the high-spec videogames on the shelves today, the Iconia W700, and its smaller sister, the W510, can provide the channel with a ubiquitous solution to a growing demand.
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