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 feature Key IT initiatives reshape the CIO agenda While cloud, cybersecurity, and analytics remain top of mind for IT leaders, a shift toward delivering business value is altering how CIOs approach key priorities, pushing transformative projects to the next phase. By Mary Pratt May 30, 2023 10 mins IT Strategy IT Leadership opinion Managing IT right starts with rightsizing IT for value While there are few universals when it comes to saying unambiguously what ‘managing IT right’ looks like, knowing how to navigate the limitless possibilities of IT is surely one. By Thornton May May 30, 2023 6 mins Digital Transformation IT Strategy IT Leadership brandpost Designing the campus of the future starts with high-quality 10Gbps connectivity By Huawei May 30, 2023 4 mins Network Architect Networking Devices Networking feature Red Hat embraces hybrid cloud for internal IT The maker of OpenShift has leveraged its own open container offering to migrate business-critical apps to AWS as part of a strategy to move beyond facilitating hybrid cloud for others and capitalize on the model for itself. By Paula Rooney May 29, 2023 5 mins CIO 100 Technology Industry Hybrid Cloud 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