Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 Packs Discrete GPU Into Ultrabook

Acer has revealed its latest ultrabook, the Aspire Timeline Ultra M3, building on the Timeline Ultras of CES with dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GT640M graphics driving a 15-inch display. A choice of SSD-only or SSD/HDD hybrid – using the solid-state drive for speedier boot and resume times – storage is on offer, along with Intel Core processors and an integrated DVD drive.

Battery life is up to eight hours, Acer says, though you also get a 1.5s resume from sleep and the promise of internet-connectivity within 2.5s. The chiclet keyboard is full-sized and even has space for a numeric keypad, while the ultrabook as a whole is clad in aluminum alloy.

Whether consumers really need a DVD burner in their ultraportable notebook is still questionable, though being 20mm thick and still achieving that is admirable. Those without discrete graphics needs can pick from the Timeline Ultra 15- and 14-inch models revealed back in January, meanwhile.

The Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 will be available worldwide by March 2012, Acer tells us. Pricing is yet to be confirmed at this stage