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May 15, 2008 2:59 PM PDT

Acer's ships new Gemstone Blue laptops

by Matthew Elliott

The Aspire 8920 features Acer's new Gemstone Blue design and an 18-inch screen.

(Credit: Acer)

Your desktop replacement options expanded today, with Acer announcing its 16- and 18-inch Aspire Gemstone Blue notebooks are now available. The 16-inch Aspire 6920 starts at $849, and the 18.4-inch Aspire 8920 starts at $1,299. Both models have an Intel Core 2 Duo chip, Nvidia GeForce graphics, and a display with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a 1920x1080-pixel screen resolution for full HD goodness. The 18-inch model finds room for 5.1 speakers; the 16-inch model serves up 2.1 sound. Blu-ray is an option on higher-end configurations.

The Gemstone Blue design is a new look, which Acer unveiled earlier this year at a media event in New York. Though it may be overstating it a bit, according to Acer, "the unique style of the Gemstone Blue is expressed through a distinctive color, one that reflects the power, performance and control the Aspire 8920 gives to everyone who uses it." Aside from new color scheme, the Gemstone models introduce a touch-sensitive media control called CineDash.

The touch-sensitive CineDash Media Console

(Credit: Acer)

Dan Ackerman has been tracking these two models and is currently at work on the Aspire 8920 review. Check back next week for his full review. In the meantime, you can get more information from Acer's news release here, and visit the product pages on Acer's site for the 6920 and the 8920.

Matt Elliott, a CNET editor since 2000, heads up coverage of computer hardware, from desktops and laptops to their assorted components and peripherals. Prior to joining CNET, he worked for PC Magazine. When not writing about computers and wrestling with their shipping boxes, he likes shooting with his Nikon D50 camera. Matt is also skilled with a tape gun. E-mail Matt.
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by kingrah1 May 15, 2008 8:06 PM PDT
I saw this in the store, it looks amazing, its a little bulky and the touch is not as responsive as you would want it to be.

What I just noticed though from the picture is that it has an HDMI slot-awesome
this laptop is more than what you would expect from an acer, it still seems to have that "cheap plastic" feel though
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by puparm May 16, 2008 3:54 AM PDT
Do you know where this can be purchased within the US?
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by robertorosco May 16, 2008 7:18 AM PDT
Wow! That thing looks AWESOME!!! Such a beauty.
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by kats521 May 19, 2008 6:13 PM PDT
I purchased the Acer 6920 on sale at Circuit City. I love it. While a little bulky, it does everything I wanted it to. Haven't had a chance to try all the features yet.
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