Acer targets SMBs with Ivy Bridge TravelMate laptops

TravelMate P243 features latest Core i5 chips, Nvidia graphics and management tools

Acer has unveiled the TravelMate P243 series of laptops aimed at small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), featuring Intel's latest Core processors plus Nvidia discrete graphics.

Although announced today, the TravelMate P243 series is not yet available for sale in the UK, and Acer said it was unable to offer a release date at the time of writing.

All of the TravelMate P243 models appear to be based on Intel Core i5 processors, including the latest third-generation Ivy Bridge chips officially launched last month.

Although the Ivy Bridge platform includes improved graphics, Acer has included a discrete Nvidia GeForce GT 630M graphics adapter to drive the TravelMate's 14in 1366x768 display and boost graphics and multimedia performance.

Other specifications include memory up to 8GB and hard drive options up to 750GB, with 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, gigabit Ethernet and Bluetooth 4.0 with high-speed (HS) connectivity.

Acer said that the TravelMate ships with its Acer ProShield Security suite, which includes pre-boot authentication and allows users to create an encrypted Personal Secure Drive (PSD) to store critical files.

Also included is Acer Backup/eRecovery Manager and Acer Office Manager (AOM), a management tool designed to help SMBs deploy security policies, monitor IT assets and schedule maintenance tasks.

Pricing for the TravelMate P243 series will start from £339.