Acer will launch a laptop computer with HD-DVD drive later this month, it said Tuesday at the Computex trade show in Taiwan.HD-DVD is one of two new optical-disc formats vying to replace DVD for high-definition content. The discs are the same size as current DVDs but hold several times more information, so they can accommodate the larger high-definition files.The laptop will be a new model in Acer’s high-end Aspire 9800 range and will feature an impressive 20.1-inch liquid crystal display screen. The screen is a monitor-class panel of a type not usually found on laptops, so it delivers an image equivalent to a desktop monitor, said Trisha Pan, a product marketing director at Acer.The downside to using such a large panel is the computer’s overall weight. It’s close to 8 kilograms, which is several times that of a standard laptop. It additionally pushes up the size: The machine measures 48 by 35 by 6 centimeters. “It’s definitely not for portable use,” said Pan.The computer also features twin 120GB hard-disk drives, NVidia GeForce 7600 graphics, a TV tuner and support for various audio technologies including Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect. A version of the Aspire 9800 without HD-DVD support has already gone on sale and costs around US$2,700, said Pan. Adding HD-DVD support will increase the price by between $200 and $300, she said.To date, only a handful of laptop makers have announced models with HD-DVD. One of the first was Toshiba, which is a major backer of the format. Its machine went on sale in Japan in May. Fujitsu is planning to begin selling an HD-DVD laptop soon.Acer said its support for the HD-DVD format isn’t exclusive. The company is planning to launch a laptop with a Blu-ray Disc drive but hasn’t yet decided on timing for the machine.-Martyn Williams, IDG News ServiceRelated Stories: Acer Revs Up Dual-Core Ferrari Laptops Toshiba Claims Highest Density HDD Drive Toshiba Picks HD-DVD for LaptopCheck out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content brandpost Sponsored by SAP When natural disasters strike Japan, Ōita University’s EDiSON is ready to act With the technology and assistance of SAP and Zynas Corporation, Ōita University built an emergency-response collaboration tool named EDiSON that helps the Japanese island of Kyushu detect and mitigate natural disasters. By Michael Kure, SAP Contributor Dec 07, 2023 5 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by BMC BMC on BMC: How the company enables IT observability with BMC Helix and AIOps The goals: transform an ocean of data and ultimately provide a stellar user experience and maximum value. By Jeff Miller Dec 07, 2023 3 mins IT Leadership brandpost Sponsored by BMC The data deluge: The need for IT Operations observability and strategies for achieving it BMC Helix brings thousands of data points together to create a holistic view of the health of a service. By Jeff Miller Dec 07, 2023 4 mins IT Leadership how-to How to create an effective business continuity plan A business continuity plan outlines procedures and instructions an organization must follow in the face of disaster, whether fire, flood, or cyberattack. Here’s how to create a plan that gives your business the best chance of surviving such an By Mary K. Pratt, Ed Tittel, Kim Lindros Dec 07, 2023 11 mins Small and Medium Business IT Skills Backup and Recovery Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe