AOC, the in-house brand of global monitor manufacturing behemoth TPV, will be releasing some new monitor products around Christmas time, with hopes of resurrecting interest in the desktop pc market.
For some users, such as gamers, professionals, and PC enthusiasts, the desktop PC never fell out of favour. AOC will still very much cater to these users with new high-resolution panels (the 70S Series Monitor), as well as high-speed gaming panels (the G2460PQU), but it’s also hoping to attract the crowd that has grown up primarily with touchscreen devices rather than full blown desktop computers.
A touch panel for desktops
To this end, the company will be releasing touchscreen monitors that can be used to add 10-point multi-touch capabilities to any Windows 7 and Windows 8 computers. The two new models (called 72ID Touch Series) will be available in 21.5in and 23.6in sizes. They feature IPS LCD technology, and both have a 1920x1080-pixel resolution, two HDMI ports, and a VGA port. Other features include built-in speakers, a webcam, a microphone and three USB ports. An adjustable stand gives the monitors a tilt range from 12-55 degrees, allowing for more comfortable usage when playing games, or when using drawing or music applications.
Pricing for these monitors will be $429 for the 21.5in model (I2272PWHUT) and $499 for the 23.6in model (I2472PWHUT), and availability is said to be around January 2014.
An all-in-one PC running Android
In addition to stand-alone touch displays, AOC will be reaching for a younger market with a touchscreen desktop PC that runs on Android. The 72P Smart All-in-One Series computers will be available in 21.5in and 23.6in sizes, and, in addition to being Android PCs, these models will be able to double as conventional desktop PC monitors. These models feature a dual-core processor, integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi (single-band), Ethernet, an SDHC card reader, webcam and microphone, HDMI, VGA, USB, and two-point multi-touch input. The native resolution is 1920x1080, and the LCD technology is IPS.
Look for these around December: the 21.5in model (A2272PWHT) will cost $449, while the 23.6in model (A2472PW4T) will cost $549.
A super-wide monitor
Another area that AOC is exploring is super-widescreen monitors. The company said its Q2963PM Cinema Monitor is designed to appeal to users who want a better overall movie watching experience, and also to users who want to improve their productivity. It’s a 29in monitor with a screen ratio of 21:9 and a resolution of 2560x1080, the LCD technology is AH-IPS, and it’s capable of displaying CinemaScope movies without black bars appearing above and below the picture. Furthermore, AOC ships the monitor with software called Screen+, which splits the screen into four panes that allow it to display an application in each separate pane, and it can also do picture-in-picture.
This monitor is available now for $599.
Add a USB 3.0 monitor to your computer
For users who want to add more displays to their desktop or notebook computer, AOC will be releasing its 59F USB Monitor Series in December. This monitor works simply by plugging in to a powered USB 3.0 port on your computer (a power cord isn’t required), and AOC said that up to six of them can be installed on the same computer, as long as there are enough powered USB 3.0 ports. The 59F features a picture frame-type stand at the back, which AOC calls a ‘Flexi-Stand’, mainly because it not only allows for tilting (15-30 degrees), but also for pivoting. It ships with a protective carry case for times when you want to transport it with your laptop.
It costs $149 and will be available to purchase in December.
