ASUS has released four new PCs featuring Intel’s ‘Haswell’ chips- the latest fourth-generation core processors – even as industry insiders have been pessimistic on the future of PCs given the surge in demand for tablets in recent years.
The Taiwanese manufacturer announced the release of two floor-standing PCs – G10 and M51 – as well as two slimline all-in-one PCs ET2311 and ET2702, which feature 23-inch and 27-inch widescreen displays respectively.
As ASUS manufactures a variety of products, it is of little surprise that the company has packed its PCs with a load of features from its line-up. All four PCs feature USB ports with ASUS Ai Charger technology to charge smartphones and tablets rapidly, and also have audio capabilities from ASUS SonicMaster technology. They also come with ASUS applications, including those to launch frequently-used apps faster, to compose music and to edit videos. The company has even thrown in 32GB of ASUS WebStorage free for three years, which would allow users to store and share files on the cloud.
The G10 and M51 also have the ASUS Smart Cooling System built into them, which is aimed at optimum cooling and reduced noise, as well as the ASUS Power Pack – a removable UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) that doubles up as a portable battery pack for charging smartphones and tablets.
The ET2702 and ET2311 are skewed toward entertainment needs, with the former featuring a 27-inch widescreen display with an ultra-high 2560 x 1440 resolution that boasts almost twice the pixel density of a same-size full HD display, while the latter has a 23-inch widescreen display with a full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. ASUS has also made both PCs with IPS display technology for more vibrant images and accurate color and added in 178-degree wide viewing angles.
In April this year, it was revealed by IDC that PC shipments have hit a new low, posting the steepest decline ever seen to date. Worldwide, a total of 76.3 million PC units shipped in the first quarter of 2013, down 13.9 percent compared to the same quarter in 2012 – not only did this past quarter mark the fourth consecutive quarter of year-on-year shipment declines, but the year-over-year contraction was the worst quarter since IDC began tracking the PC market quarterly in 1994.
Mary Meeker also recently released her 2013 Trends Report, which says tablet shipments have surpassed desktops and laptops in just three years.
Headline Image Credit: Mandy Cheng via AFP/Getty Images, PC Images via ASUS
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