Acer is proudly showing off its new Aspire S5 ultrabook at CES, touted as the world’s thinnest notebook, and one of the first to sport Intel’s new Ivy Bridge processors.

Acer claims Ivy Bridge should end up about 20 percent faster than Sandy Bridge processors, and graphics performance is about 30 percent better, with superior battery life to boot. The S5 measures just 0.6 inches at the waistline and it features the latest tech money can buy, including Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 connectivity. There is no word on pricing or launch schedules, but don’t expect the S5 to show up anytime soon, or come cheap for that matter.

In addition, Acer is showcasing revamped Timeline models. Dubbed Timeline Ultra, the 14- and 15-inch notebooks measure less than 0.8 inches thick and they are said to deliver more than 8 hours of battery life. Even ultraslim optical drives are on board.



The ultras should appear by the end of Q1 and we reckon they will be an interesting alternative to proper ultrabooks, as they will deliver larger screens at lower prices, while still remaining relatively thin and light.

More here.