Notebooks & Netbooks

[jra166]

My guess is they are waiting for Windows 9.   Much like Windows 8, the R7, was an experiment into the future.  now we will see a perfected R7 and a perfected Windows operating system...  im excited!

[KewlToyZ]

True, the preview is the end of the month. I just hope the Preview runs as Pro for testing in a production environment.

[jra166]

Acer has announced the R13 and R14, 13 inch and 14 inch respectively.  Both lack the hinge of the R7, so neither one is a true next generation R7. 

With these new releases, the absence of a a 15 inch machine is clearly evident.  Will the R7 Hinge be replaced by the R13 and R14 design, or will we still see a 15 inch next generation R7?

It all comes down to the hinge.  Has the R7 Hinge been discontinued in favor a cheaper hybrid method, or will we still see a true Next Generation R7?

[scrambler]

this may definitely be the R7 replacement

http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/03/acer-aspire-r13-r14-switch-11/

[KewlToyZ]

I preferred the R7. Better construction for my needs.

[KewlToyZ]

I prefer the touchpad above too. The only way to improve the R7 was a num pad.

[PenguinJim]

I hope they release another Ezel-hinge model. I really don't think I could go back.

Hmmm... actually, that Yogalike setup would meet my needs, if it had the trackpad at the back.

WHO USES A TRACKPAD?!

Acer even bundles a mouse with the R7!

[MDacerGuy]

no 15" ?

no Ezel hinge?

THIS IS BAD

very bad

smh

I dont want ANY laptop that doesnt have the ezel hinge and the mouse pad above the keyboard

#AcerFail

[twospirits]

Yeah, I too was hoping for an updated R7 at yesterdays IFA event, but nope.

Totally disappointed in this new direction.

Come on Acer, why did you have to give in to the crap that the media was hyping about. Just because most of the media didn't like the touchpad at the rear of the keyboard doesn't mean that actual users and potential buyers didn't. These new R series laptops with that new hinge are not as functional as the R7 was. For starters...

1-This hinge looks like its missing the upper part. At least the Dell XPS laptop when put in tablet mode looks better since the hinge wraps around the display. The hinge on the new R13 does not.

2-Putting the display in close up mode puts the keyboard behind the display, thereby rendering the keyboard useless. On the R7 at least the keyboard was still accessible. I can see not using a touchpad on a touch screen laptop, but not using a keyboard in that mode is a total fail.

3-Putting the display in suspended (star trek) hover mode on the R7 allowed the user to type while standing since the keyboard was closer. with the new models, the touchpad is out front (again useless on a touch screen display) while having the keyboard further back making it harder to type.

That article by Engadget is so typical of the media with their bashing of the original R7 touchpad at the rear concept. Most users prefer the touchpad either disabled, out of the way (like the R7) or use an external mouse. 

I'm still shaking my head.

All the naysayers could have been appeased if Acer would have updated the next gerneration of the R7 by either..

A: Providing a pointer in the keyboard like in some previous Acer laptops eliminating the touchpad altogether or

B: Provide a slide out touchpad like in some Motorola Keyboards. (but I like the pointer solution better).

C: Keep the unique hinge design but with less of a curve to allow for a more flatter tablet mode.

D: Resize the keyboard a tiny bit and shift it a bit to the left thereby providing space on the right for a numerical keypad.

E: Include a ethernet port

F: Include a stylus port (as well as provide the darn stylus when selling the unit).

G: Better configurations (15, 17 etc)

H: and certainly do not limit the sale of the itme to only one retailer (Best Buy) which didn't do Acer any favors by downplaying the device and not selling them as well as they should have since they too, like the media, hated the rear touchpad.

If it seems that I am upset, disappointed, you darn right I am. We could have gotten a much better R7 replacement and instead get a the "I want to be like everyone else" R13, R14. 

Maybe there is hope for a R15 but seeing how Acer caved in, I doubt it.

TS

[KewlToyZ]

I agree, the R7 was a brilliant implementation. I'm buying them from Ebay for my users now as refurbs now.

The R7 Kicks the crap out of HP, Dell, & Lenovo's units in price, utility, and construction.

With SSD's getting so cheap now, they should be standard equipment on the next iteration when you bring back the R7.

Putting the touchpad above the keyboard was the best idea for a terrific road warrior appliance.

After all, the screen is touch!