Acer has announced two new notebooks and updated several existing models as it prepares for the retail debut of Windows 7 next week. Among them are the company's first notebook with a multi-touch screen, the 15.6-inch Aspire 5738PG, and a new 11.6-inch Timeline model weighing just over three pounds.


The Aspire's 15.6" LED-backlit screen features a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1366 by 768. Besides supporting new touch features in Windows, the AS5738PG will be powered by a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of DDR2 RAM and ATI Radeon HD 4570 graphics with 512MB of video memory. A 320GB hard drive is included, along with an HDMI port, webcam, four USB ports, 8x DVD drive and a 6-cell battery.

The company also refreshed its Timeline series with dual-core CULV processors, Windows 7, and the new 11.6-inch AS1810. Joining 13.3", 14" and 15.6" models, the new Timeline will ship with a 1.3GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU and Intel's 4500MHD integrated graphics. It also has 4GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive, as well as a webcam, multi-gesture touchpad, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, three USB ports, and a 6-cell battery good for up to eight hours of use.

Both systems will be available starting with the October 22 release of Windows 7, with the Aspire multi-touch screen notebook starting at $800 and the Timeline ultraportable featuring a base price of just $600.