Acer expands its antimicrobial PC offerings – with caveat they may not offer any protection
- Reference: 1634194685
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/10/14/acer_antimicrobial_cps/
- Source link:
So what does Acer have to offer to separate itself from the socially distanced pack? In a sign of the times, the Taiwanese giant has applied antimicrobial coatings to more of its range.
Devices with antimicrobial coatings are usually directed to the healthcare market, where a little extra protection from gadget-borne ick is welcome. Because computers can often be used by many staffers in a shift, it would be unhelpful if a keyboard or mouse were to become a transmission vector for something nasty.
[1]
Acer has decided to bring that thinking to gear aimed at mainstream businesses and consumers, by applying a "a silver ion antimicrobial agent" to the high-touch surfaces of its new goodies. Silver ions, Acer advises, "dramatically reduce the growth rate of microbes upon contact".
[2]
Irritate microbes anywhere with the
Enduro N3 rugged laptop.
Click to enlarge
Acer hasn't said why in particular it slapped antimicrobial stuff on more devices. The Register fancies it might have something to do with a certain virus that's proven troublesome in recent times.
The Taiwanese PC titan has, however, warned that its efforts might not protect against that one or … well … any microbes. One caveat on the company's announcement of the new hardware points out that the antimicrobial agents used "do not claim to protect users or provide any direct or implied health-benefit". Another warns would-be buyers "The amount of silver ions may be affected by humidity and temperature". So don't lick them, OK?
[3]
[4]
If you still fancy an antimicrobial device, Acer's range includes the TravelMate Spin P4, a convertible lappie that packs an 11th-gen Corei7 and up to 1.2TB of SSD.
The Enduro Urban N3 is a ruggedized portable workstation that also packs a new Corei7. Those willing to tolerate Windows in tablet mode can avail themselves of the Enduro Urban T3 10-inch tablet.
[5]Is that a meteor crashing to Earth? No, it's Chromebook makers coming back to reality
[6]The world has a plastics shortage, and PC makers may be responding with a little greenwashing
[7]Your 60-second guide to what Intel announced at CES. Or in 5 seconds: New laptop chips
Acer has also created a microbe-disrupting monitor, the 23.6-inch VE246Q, plus keyboards and mice with the same powers (disclaimer notwithstanding).
All of the above goes on sale in early 2022, by which time COVID-19 vaccination rates will have hopefully improved around the world, the pandemic Weill cease and Acer can claim credit. Genius.
[8]
Also new to Acer’s linuep are more laptops that use [9]recycled plastics ; larger Chromebooks — some with 11th-gen Intel silicon; and a refreshed range of ConceptD laptops that cater to content creators by including the GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU, screens starting at 15.6 inches, and software called "Acer SpatialLabs" that can "deliver a glasses-free stereoscopic 3D experience" and render it in real time.
The company's also made a jacket. The "Acer Eco-Shell Protective Jacket" boasts a transparent cover for its hood that "helps prevent aerosol droplets from coming in contact with the wearer's face". Fully 26 per cent of the jacket's fabric is made from recycled coffee grounds, contributing to its cost of US$169.99. ®
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[1] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YWf-7F5EpbvJM5gHrMdpvwAAAME&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[2] https://regmedia.co.uk/2021/10/14/supplied_acer_enduro_n3.jpg
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YWf-7F5EpbvJM5gHrMdpvwAAAME&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YWf-7F5EpbvJM5gHrMdpvwAAAME&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2021/10/13/chroembook_sales_crash/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/28/recycled_plastics_in_tech/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2021/01/12/intel_processor_vpro/
[8] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YWf-7F5EpbvJM5gHrMdpvwAAAME&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/28/recycled_plastics_in_tech/
[10] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Only the strong survive
One problem is that this coating is not 100% effective. It was written [1]elsewhere that it "only" kills 99.9% of microbes.
We have to assume, therefore, that the 0.1% that survive will be the strongest, most potent and therefore most dangerous ones.
While the wimpiest ones might give people an easily fought-off dose of whatever (thereby priming their immune system), leaving behind only the "schwarzenegger" variants, anything that a person does catch from an unhygienic keyboard (or telephone handset) will be worse for them.
[1] https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/21/10/14/070200/acer-launches-bacteria-resistant-pcs
Re: Only the strong survive
I used to use a "keyboard condom" to keep my work keyboard somewhat cleaner than the others around me, but then I noticed that one of the coworkers on a different shift kept removing it "to make typing easier". I took to bringing in a personal keyboard, swapping out the work one during my shift, & taking mine home with me at shift change.
Now that I don't have to share my stuff with anyone anymore, I still use a "keyboard condom" of sorts -- I've slipped it inside a bread loaf bag & folded the open end under so the weight of the keyboard keeps it closed. I don't worry about crumbs nor drinks getting into the keys, only that I have to go find a new bag every month or so.
If you could find a clear sheet of contact cling film & cut it to fit, couldn't you create something for laptops that kept it as crumbs-free & spill-resistant as possible without causing it to retain so much heat that it essentially toasted itself into an early grave?
I don't imagine it would work for touch screen smartphones/tablets, the film might be too thick to transmit the touch, but would sticking it in a ZipLock baggie work?
Then they would be much easier to clean/disinfect/sterilize...
Re: Only the strong survive
Et voila, one [1]laptop keyboard condom!
Tho unwrapping it from the foil each morning and applying it slowly and sensually by mouth is going to become a bit tiresome, not to mention look weird in front of your work colleagues.
[1] https://www.google.com/search?q=keyboard+condom&rlz=1C1GCEA_enGB859GB859&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=S6RdqSH2Qyl10M%252COErPjAecKxraQM%252C_%253BlNO1GSxMQHpM_M%252CCciY58tjXyoEZM%252C_%253BQZ2qoWGUxkBN6M%252C50KYx3dR3MTVEM%252C_%253BUlPDfOXOpKrRSM%252CjkeBx-PeZ2yKMM%252C_%253B5hYWfmTYMl2n7M%252CqV8JJCENqEEoNM%252C_%253BBgIkDYbQ_aBYfM%252CyhtsWco5TIEh-M%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQqV6N0CDp7s0n1_-LQqcVBVoGdlg&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwiN2_zavsnzAhWoTTABHfc2B5cQ_B16BAgvEAE#imgrc=S6RdqSH2Qyl10M
But...
Silver kills a microbe, but does it do anything to a virus?
Use copper
Copper has proven [1]anti-bacterial properties , does not need to be reapplied and would make for a killer keyboard+mouse combo.
Now that I've thought of that, I want it !
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimicrobial_properties_of_copper
Windows - 11
This will not help reduce bugs brought in to the PC by that vector.
I don't think this product is targeted at people like me
My keyboard looks like this -------------------------->
and my mouse could do with a good wipe too. Meh - Maybe tomorrow.