A closer look at the Acer Iconia W510 and W700 (hands-on)

The Acer Iconia W510 has a detachable keyboard dock.

(Credit: Aloysius Low/CNET Asia)

Less than a week after Microsoft dropped its Windows 8 Release Preview, Acer used Computex in Taipei, Taiwan, to unveil a gallery of ultrabooks, desktops, and tablets running the new operating system.

Given that Windows 8 was designed for tablets from the ground up, any supported devices will be closely watched. And with its new Iconia Tab W510 and W700, it's clear that Acer is branching away from Android and back into the fold of Microsoft.

The 10-1-inch Iconia W510 is tri-mode, which gives it the ability to shift between a standard tablet mode where you're touching the screen, a type mode where it functions as a notebook, and a view mode where it mimics a presentation device. In other words, think of it as bridging the gap between a tablet and a notebook.

One of its more interesting features is the detachable keyboard dock that will rotate 295 degrees and extend the battery life up to 18 hours. It also comes with Acer's Always On, Always Connect technology.

Not to be left out, the Iconia W700 also has a multipurpose cradle that can tilt up to 70 degrees or position the tablet in portrait mode for more comfortable Web browsing and reading. Unlike the Iconia W510, however, its cradle doesn't come with an extra battery so you'll be limited to the promised eight hours of use.

Otherwise, you'll find three USB 3.0 ports, a 11.6-inch Full HD touchscreen, and Dolby Home Theater. And on the outside, it sports a sharp aluminum frame.