Acer is updating its Concept D series, bringing stereoscopic 3D to the display
Acer is modernizing its notebooks for creative professionals to the latest specs. The Concept-D 5 is the first device in the series to have a 16-inch display in 16:10 format. Acer also shows stereoscopic 3D.
Acer is renovating the Concept-D series notebooks. All devices receive Intel Core H processors of the eleventh generation. Various Nvidia options, including the GeForce RTX 30 series and RTX graphics units of the A series, take care of the graphics. As a result, the notebooks should be many times more powerful than before, while at the same time remaining compact.
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Concept-D 5: The only device in the series without a convertible
A Concept-D 5 is equipped with a maximum of 64 gigabytes of DDR4-3200Hz RAM and an M.2 SSD with a capacity of up to two terabytes. With their comparatively strong performance data, the Concept-D 5 should be particularly suitable for 2D and 3D design workflows and the processing of 4K video material.
As before, Acer uses its Vortex Flow technology with three fan units. This should ensure sufficient cooling of the components at low noise levels.
The Concept-D 5 are equipped with a 16-inch display with QHD resolution (3,072 x 1,920). The screen should cover 100 percent of the DCI-P3 color space and is Pantone certified. The new 16:10 format not only allows more viewing area, but also a narrower frame. The notebook has a screen-to-body ratio of 87 percent.
The device searches for peripheral connections via two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, HDMI 2.1 and an SD card reader. Acer promises particularly quiet input devices. Both the keyboard and the 6-inch wide touchpad made of gorilla glass should be designed for low-noise use. A fingerprint scanner is integrated.
The Concept-D 5 will also be available as a Pro version. The difference is in the GPU. This can either consist of the RTX-A5000 or the RTX-A3000 from Nvidia.
The new Acer Concept-D 5 is expected to be available from the end of the third quarter for a recommended retail price of 2,999 euros. Acer has not yet communicated when the Pro version will be available and at what price.
ConceptD 7 Ezel: Acer’s flagship convertible
The flagship convertible Concept-D 7 Ezel is also brought up to the state of the art. Here, however, the maximum amount of memory that can be installed is 32 gigabytes of RAM. Otherwise, the previously mentioned specs are available to the Ezel.
The Concept-D 7 Ezel is all about the eponymous screen with its Ezel hinge. This gives the device the flexibility it needs so that users can use the display in float mode for the combined input of touch and keyboard commands, rotate it 180 degrees in share mode to share content, in stand mode Draw on the angled display or simply use the convertible more conventionally in tablet or notebook mode. In float mode, the Ezel looks like an iPad with a Magic Keyboard. That is unusual for a notebook.
For the display, Acer relies on a 15.6-inch 4K panel with Pantone validation, which should cover the full Adobe RGB color space. A Wacom EMR stylus is included. The angle of the display can be adjusted almost continuously for better drawing.
Two Thunderbolt 4 ports with a bidirectional bandwidth of 40 gigabits per second should allow the additional connection of up to five additional Thunderbolt devices.
The Acer Concept-D 7 Ezel should be available from September for a recommended retail price from 3,499 euros. In the Pro version, the Concept-D 7 Ezel is equipped with an Intel Xeon W-11955M processor and an RTX-A5000 or RTX-A3000 from Nvidia. Acer has not commented on the price or release date of the Pro version.
News from Concept-D 3 Ezel and Concept-D 3
The Concept-D-3 series will also be powered by Intel’s Tiger Lake-H in the future. In this segment, Acer offers a wide range of different graphics options. After all, the manufacturer positions the 3 series models in both the consumer and business sectors. Acer also uses Thunderbolt 4 and PCIe SSD in the Concept-D 3.
All models in the Concept D 3 series are equipped with a 14-inch full HD display with Pantone certification and cover 100 percent of the sRGB color space. The convertible version of the series comes with the Ezel hinge described above and thus allows particularly flexible use scenarios. The Ezel version also comes with a Wacom AES pen.
The Concept-D 3 Ezel is expected to be available from September / October at recommended retail prices from 1,999 euros, while the clamshell version will cost from 1,599 euros.
The Pro models in the series come with an 11th generation Intel Core i7 processor and an Nvidia T1200 graphics unit. Acer has not yet communicated prices and availability.
Acer has not yet been able to provide data sheets for any of the devices mentioned. Therefore the specs are incomplete in many places.
The future: stereoscopic 3D
Acer has introduced a technology that is still experimental under the name Spatial-Labs. This is to be used in the future to help the devices of the Concept D series to have a stereoscopic 3D display. The special thing about it – it will work without additional glasses.
Instead, a liquid crystal lenticular lens that can switch between 2D and 3D mode is attached to a conventional UHD 2D display. The technology can thus display a different image to each eye of the beholder, creating the illusion that the content is floating in front of the screen. At the top of the display there are three stereo cameras that track the head and eye movements of the user and thus make it possible to interact with the models displayed.
In the Spatial Labs Model Viewer, developers can interact with the spatially displayed 3D models using real-time rendering. As part of the Spatial Labs Developer Program, Acer is offering developers the opportunity to provide them with a Concept D prototype free of charge for three months. They should use it to implement projects based on the Unreal Engine. Acer intends to use the knowledge gained from this in further product development.
