Acer in spades
Acer Aspire 5738DG and 5738PG

Words Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

While the technology for creating 3D films has been around for a long time (the world's first 3D feature film is The Power of Love, which was released way back in 1922), the technology for viewing these moving pictures is a different story altogether. 3D was a hit with moviegoers in the 1950s, which many consider its golden age. As widescreen 2D cinema became more popular, 3D went away quietly, resurfacing only briefly every few years or so. Recently, however, 3D has experienced a huge resurgence as filmmakers have combined 3D with the giant-screen IMAX format. At this year's Consumer Electronics Show alone, nearly if not all manufacturers of televisions showcased products-prototypes and actual 3D TVs alike.

Not surprisingly, the technology has also been making inroads to other visual media, this time on PCs and notebooks.

Multi-touch, on the other hand, is a more recent development that's also gained attention. It is said that the technology dates back to 1982 when Nimish Mehta, a researcher from the University of Toronto, developed the first finger-pressure multi-touch system, which used a frosted glass panel with a camera placed behind the glass. Today, the use of fingers, gestures, and swipes on a surface or screen has quickly become the best way to interact with our technology.

This month's Pole Position is shared by Acer's Aspire 5738DG and 5738PG notebooks. The former is a 3D-enabled notebook and the latter integrates multi-touch on the screen. These two machines are boldly going in new directions and are likely the first of their kind to explore 3D and multi-touch at a high level.

Acer Aspire 5738DG

Featuring advanced display capabilities, high-definition graphics engine, premium Intel Core 2 Duo processor and Dolby surround sound, the Aspire 5738DG delivers cinematic images that literally pop from the screen, while maintaining the performance and productivity features of a desktop replacement notebook. Shipping with Windows 7 Home Premium OS, the Aspire 5738DG is an all-around performer with a 15.6-inch screen, an ATI Radeon HD 4570 card, as well as an option for a Blu-ray player for maximum resolution. This is pretty much as portable as home theater gets.

The 3D aspect requires users to don 3D polarizer glasses, which are included in the package. Not only does it handle 3D content with ease, the Aspire 5738DG also takes 2D content and replicates a vivid 3D experience. It allows users to easily switch from standard viewing applications like spreadsheets, documents, and email to 3D enjoyment with a simple click of the mouse. The TriDef solution includes a simple and intuitive interface, allowing you to view 3D multimedia without the need for a special graphics card.

The Aspire 5738DG notebook's integrated 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N wireless technology and Gigabit Ethernet facilitate smooth and trouble-free emailing and Web browsing, while the Acer Crystal Eye webcam enables high-quality video chats and VoIP with friends, family, and work associates. The notebook also utilizes a Multi-Gesture Touchpad that lets customers pinch, flick, and swirl their finger for a more intuitive navigation.

Aside from 3D movies, there is a good chance that some 3D PC games will make it to the market this year-and the Acer Aspire 5738DG will certainly get a leg up on the competition in this new genre.

Acer Aspire 5738PG

The Aspire 5738PG is another 15.6-inch notebook that packs Windows 7 64-bit, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor running 2.2GHz as well as 4GB of RAM and a large 320GB SATA hard drive. These are prosumer specs on a notebook that can manage serious multimedia demands as well as handle any office requirements on the go.

What sets the Aspire 5738PG apart is its screen, which uses the built-in touch capabilities of Windows 7: the display allows you to effortlessly browse, rotate, and magnify what you see on screen with the use of your digits.

You can experience faster, more intuitive navigation with this Aspire's responsive touch-screen. It's perfect for impromptu demos, slideshows, and for quick deployment of applications and checking out mapping applications.

Acer provides functionality via the Acer TouchPortal. This easy-to-use gateway converges your multimedia and provides touch-enhanced access. The Acer TouchPortal includes My Favorites, My Gadgets, My Devices, and a handy media player right at your fingertips.

Right now, it's a bit hard to tell where all of this is going and whether 3D or multi-touch will be widely accepted and developed further. What's certain is that Acer has definitely started something with these two innovative notebooks, and which is why they equally deserve their spot in our Pole Position.