Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel Pro

It ain’t cheap, but it is intriguing…

- JEREMY LAIRD

IT’S ALL TOO EASY in this job to become blasé, to think you’ve seen it all before. So, in that sense, the Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel Pro is thoroughly refreshing. It’s not truly unique, nor is it entirely issue-free. But it is unusual and it does some things so well that it makes conventional clamshell laptops seem clunky.

The showbiz bit involves the clever dual-hinged display. It’s an ergonomic design that unlocks an entire universe of input options you didn’t even know existed. Combined with the bundled Wacom EMR input pen, which slots neatly into the side of the screen, the result is a rather remarkable productivity tool for digital artists and other content creators.

The not-quite-unique bit involves the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, which offers a similar—but not quite identical— dual-hinged display. Acer’s version of the dual-hinge offers an impressive six different modes or positions. First up, you can use it as a conventional clamshell laptop or fold the display flat and create an admittedly chunky tablet.