Acer Files Tablet PC Patent

Posted by | 01/25/2009 | 4 Comments

picture-31Looks like Acer may be coming up with an answer to the upcoming Asus T101H and T91 Tablet PCs.   Electronic Pulp has gotten their hands on a recent Acer patent showing a “portable electronic device” that resembles a netbook/MID.   Little information is known although there is a slide up QWERTY keyboard underneath the screen, it has 3 USB ports, 1 FireWire, Optical Disk Drive, ExpressCard slot, d-pad, Touchpad with left and right buttons, and possible infrared.   Guaging from the specs, this most likely doesn’t fit the traditional netbook model we’ve come to know and love.   Check out seven patent photos here.

Via Electronic Pulp.

Category: Mobile

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As an educator and school counselor, Matthew is an advocate for using technology in the classroom and passionate about exposing students to technologies that will empower them in their future careers. Follow Matthew on Twitter.
  • AmbiDextrose

    Hmmm- this is interesting. Looking at the illustration of the “device” on it’s side, I took the ratio between the width of the CD-ROM bay door and the width of the device itself and compared that to the ratio I got from my Thinkpad T61. The ratios almost match (i.e., 0.5368 to 0.5359).

    If Acer stays true to the illustrations, I think the screen will be in the 12.1in to 13.3in range. And, hopefully, a sufficiently powerful CPU (i.e., non Atom or some such) and GPU (i.e., at least a 9400M) coupled with an active digitizer (which may be the reason for the 5-way D-pad and the pen bay).

    Again, this is all hinged on the assumption that Acer will stay true to the design illustrations.

  • Frank

    my opinion: it’s something around a 10″ tablet PC for something around 800-1200USD (no netbook has a firewire port, and if it really has a firewire port, then it starts at something around 1000USD or more) but it’s too fat, the hinge mechanism just looks like it will break very fast, the fan is already wrong placed (exactly where the buttons and d-pad are), the battery looks very small and not upgradeable to a higher capacity. It does not look interesting for me, more like just another Acer failure :D

  • http://www.flashgordonphotography.com.au Gordon Cahill

    If this is anything like the size of my old C111 then I’m going to take a very serious look at it. It was the best form factor I’ve ever used in a Tablet and I’d love to have a 21st century version.

    Gordon

  • SAM

    Goody, a pre-scratched screen…LOL
    Too bad it is a slider. good way to have a really scratched screen

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