Acer America announced on Wednesday, June 20, that its new Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 Series of Ultrabooks will hit the U.S. at the end of the month. The new models are slimmed down, measuring just 0.81 inches in thickness and weighing in at 4.3 pounds, and offer both a stylish, ultra-portable design and powerful features.
"A slim, lightweight design, larger displays, all-day battery life, and powerful Intel and Nvidia technologies" is what the new Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 Series has to offer, according to Acer. The minimalist aluminum-alloy design adds extra points for style, while the battery lasts up to eight hours of use on a single charge, based on testing with the wireless turned on.
The new models are even slimmer and lighter than earlier Timeline Series ultrabooks, while the Intel and Nvidia technologies hide a powerful machine under the minimalist, modern look, making the M5 one of the most versatile ultrabooks on the market.
Design & Options
The aluminum-alloy casing not only makes the Ultra M5 Series look stylish and elegant, but adds to the system's overall robustness. Options include 14-inch or 15.6-inch models, widescreen, with a 1,366 x 768-pixel resolution. Customers can also choose between a 1.5GHz, second-generation Intel Core i3 or 2.6GHz, third-generation Intel core i5 processor. The 14-inch i3 model comes with 6GB of memory and Intel HD graphics, while the Core i5 models include either 4GB or 6GB of memory and Nvidia GeForce graphics. Moreover, the 15.6-inch ultrabooks include a sleek edge-to-edge display, providing a smooth and streamlined LCD experience.
Battery Performance
The PowerSmart battery pack provides up to three times longer battery life cycles than traditional batteries, more specifically 1,000 cycles compared to 300 cycles, allowing the ultrabooks to last of to eight hours of use on a single charge. After the 1,000 cycle count, the batteries maintain 80 percent capacity in order to last longer, thus reducing the need for replacement. Meanwhile, advanced thermal technology ensures the laptop will not heat excessively when placed on a lap.
Instant On & Always Connected
The innovative Acer Green Instant On and Acer Always Connect technologies allow for faster boot up and restoration of previous state when the computer is restarted. Acer Green Instant On resumes takes less than two seconds to resume the laptop's computing session from sleep mode, and as little as six seconds to resume from deep sleep. The 20GB SSD drive will instantly return to the PC's previous state, restoring any Web sites, emails or documents that were left open. Meanwhile, Acer Always Connect enables the Timeline Ultra M5 to remember previously used Wi-Fi spots and connect to the Web in just 2.5 seconds.
New Technologies from Intel & Nvidia
As previously mentioned, the Timeline Ultra Series comes with third-generation Intel Core i3 or Core i5 processors, Nvidia discrete graphics, and 14-inch or 15.6-inch edge-to-edge displays. All models include both a DVD drive and hard drive (2-spindle design), while a 500GB HDD provides plenty of space for storing large files. Users can charge external devices via the two USB 3.0 ports even when the Timeline Ultra is in sleep mode, hibernation, or turned off. In addition, USB 3.0 provides transfer speeds of up to 10 times faster than older generations of USB.
Entertainment Features
Acer's new Timeline Ultra M5 Series includes models with high-end entertainment enhancements. Nvidia GeForce GT 640M dedicated graphics allows for gaming or video editing, powering even the latest games with excellent special effects and stunning detail. GPU-accelerated software and popular photo apps allow users to quickly create HD video and photos, while Nvidia Optimus technology provides dedicated graphics performance when necessary and conserves battery life when not in use.
The Ultra M5 Series also features backlit keyboards, making it easy to type or game even in low light conditions. Meanwhile, Dolby Home Theater v4 and premium speakers provide high volume, crisp sound effects and clear dialogue for games, movies, and music. The built-in optical drive allows for convenience and practicality, but does not affect the ultrabooks' thin and light design. Meanwhile, an HDMI port allows users to easily connect the device to a big screen TV or monitor. Acer clear.fi allows for easy management, storing, sharing, and media applications among any clear.fi-enabled devices. When it comes to video chats, the 1.3-megapixel webcam allows for crystal-clear video, captures still pictures in HD, and provides a video image quality with high pixel density at 24 frames per second (fps).
Anti-Theft Technology
The Timeline Ultra M5 includes Intel Anti-Theft Technology (Intel® AT), which means owners can quickly and easily disable the Ultrabook remotely from anywhere in the world, in case it is stolen or lost. Once disabled, the computer will be useless to anyone else. The technology is built into the BIOS, making it active as soon as the device is turned on, even before startup. The technology works without Internet access and if the Ultra M5 is lost or stolen, owners can activate a "poison pill" that makes the ultrabook completely inoperable. Once recovered, the ultrabook can be easily reactivated and the data or digital content will be unharmed. The Anti-Theft feature is available on all Timeline Ultra M5 models, and works with a service subscription from an Intel AT-enabled service provider. Also, all models include Acer AntiTheft. When this feature is enabled, the Ultrabook will determine the distance from a designated Wi-Fi signal source and trigger a loud siren if the system moves beyond 10 feet of the signal. Users can easily enable or disable the feature.
Price & Availability
Acer's new Aspire Timeline M5 Series of Ultrabooks will be available at Acer and leading retailers across the U.S. from the end of June, with prices ranging between $679.99 and $829.99. Acer ultrabooks come pre-loaded with Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate, and customers will be eligible to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for only $14.99 once it is released this fall. The offer is available until January 31, 2013.
