Microsoft is not the only company officially unleashing its new products. Several hardware vendors have chosen the launch timeframe of Windows 8.1 to release their new devices powered by the new operating system.
Acer was the first one of the blocks with an 8-inch Windows 8 tablet when it released the Iconia W3 tablet back in June. The reviews of the device were, shall we say, plain negative.
Most of the criticism centered on the lackluster screen of the slate. The company was quick to take note, and soon enough there were rumors that it was planning an improved version of the W3. In fact, the refreshed slate, known as the Iconia W4, was recently spotted at an Intel event.
And now the company has made the W4 official, confirming that it would start shipping it in the US and Taiwan in October. Japan will get the device in November.
Similar to the W3, this new slate features an 8-inch screen, but this time it makes use of a much improved IPS display. A 1.8GHz Intel Atom Bay Trail processor beats inside the heart of the device, and powers the 1280 by 800 pixels resolution.
The W4 will come with two cameras — a 5 megapixel rear and 2 megapixel front camera.
In terms of memory and storage, users have the choice of either 32GB or 64GB of onboard storage, while RAM comes standard at 2GB. Battery life is reportedly up to eight hours of usage, and the device weighs in at 0.91 pounds (0.41 kg).
Acer has also introduced a few neat optional accessories for the Iconia W4 including a Crunch Keyboard that is a full keyboard in a leather cover with folds into a tablet stand.
The 32GB flavor of the Acer Iconia W4 starts at $329.99, while the 64GB takes flight at $379.99.
