Acer Announces First Windows 8 Mini-Tablet

Now it’s official. At the Computex trade show in Taipei today, Acer announced the first Windows 8-based mini-tablet, the Iconia W3. But rather than wait for Windows 8.1, which will improve the experience on smaller devices, the W3 is shipping this month.

Amazon accidently posted information about the Acer Iconia W3 about a month ago.

Acer says the device will cost $380 for a version with 32 GB of internal storage. (A 64 GB version will also be offered.) An optional keyboard, which is notably wider than the tablet, will cost $80. And a case will set you back $35.

According to Acer, the W3 is powered by a current-generation Atom Z2760 processor that delivers 8 hours of battery life and 2 GB of RAM. It weighs just 1.19 pounds and is .45 inches thin. It can (sort of) be used with a single hand, little a (very) large smart phone. The device includes a 1280 x 800 LED display, 802.11 b/g/n wireless and Bluetooth 4.0 networking, front and rear facing 2 megapixel webcams, and micro-HDMI and micro-USB ports.

While the Acer Iconia W3 is the first Windows 8 mini-tablet, it won’t be the last: Several other similar devices will appear in 2013, including an 8-inch Microsoft Surface design.