AI-enabled Gaming Laptop Launched to Address Computer Market Recovery

In 2024, people will start looking for new laptops to replace devices purchased during the pandemic.

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A journalist took a photo of one of the laptops displayed during the launch event of the Acer Predator Triton Neo 16 gaming laptop held on Friday (3/5/2024) evening in Jakarta.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The presence of new technology such as artificial intelligence or AI is believed to be able to increase market interest in laptops. Some people predict that the global laptop market will grow positively during 2024 after declining for two consecutive years after the pandemic.

Acer Indonesia showed optimism by launching the newest gaming laptop, Acer Predator Triton Neo 16, Friday (3/5/2024) evening, in Jakarta. Acer Indonesia believes that the prospects for gaming laptops will continue to grow in an uncertain situation. Gaming Product Manager Acer Indonesia Andreas Lesmana said that a number of factors such as the weakening of the rupiah against the US dollar and tightening regulations on imports of electronic goods have not changed his optimism.

"Since the beginning of the year until now, our trend has been quite positive. From May onwards, we will continue to maintain a positive attitude, believing that we can overcome everything. Regarding the current situation, including the exchange rate (US dollar) that has surpassed Rp 16,000, as well as the new regulations from the government, we at Acer are approaching it positively," said Andreas during the launch of Acer Predator Triton Neo 16.

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Acer Indonesia's Gaming Product Manager Andreas Lesmana (left), Marketing Communication Manager Renaldy Felani (center), and the CEO of perfume company HMNS (Humans) Rizky Arief Dwi Prakoso at the launch event of Acer's gaming laptop Predator Triton Neo 16 on Friday (3/5/2024) evening in Jakarta.

Also read: Domestic Entrepreneurs Support Tightening Imports of Electronic Goods

Acer Indonesia's Marketing Communication Manager, Renaldy Felani, stated that Acer Indonesia is prepared for the regulation tightening the import of electronic products, including laptops. The government, through the Minister of Industry Regulation No. 6 of 2024 concerning Procedures for the Issuance of Technical Consideration for Importing Electronic Products, limits the import of 78 categories of electronic goods.

"We are ready with TKDN (domestic component level) (regulations). "Because we have Acer Manufacturing Indonesia, it makes us a brand that is ready for local production," said Renaldy.

”Rebound” in 2024

The years 2024 and 2025, according to the German market research firm, GfK, will be the momentum for a rebound or recovery for the world laptop market following the decline in consumer interest after the pandemic.

Regarding the current situation, including the exchange rate (US dollar) which has surpassed Rp 16,000 and the presence of new regulations from the government, we at Acer are taking a positive approach to it.

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The latest gaming laptop display from Acer, Predator Triton Neo 16, was showcased at the laptop's launch event on Friday (3/5/2024) evening in Jakarta.

GfK Global Strategic Insights Associate Director Sohjin Baek said the replacement cycle or frequency of consumers buying new computer equipment is 4-5 years. This means that 2024 and 2025 are the years when consumers will start looking for computers to replace devices purchased during the pandemic.

"This means that in 2024 and 2025, many consumers who bought laptops in 2020 and 2021 will be looking to replace and upgrade their current models. Rapid technological advancements mean that many consumers will be seeking the latest features and performance improvements from their laptops and tablets," wrote Sohjin.

During the pandemic, the emergence of trends and the need to work remotely has drastically increased the demand for computer equipment. However, this surge did not last long.

Market research firm IDC notes that in 2022, the growth of the computer market will decrease by as much as 28.1 percent compared to 2021. Then, in 2023, the decline in the computer market will become even deeper. The Asia Pacific market, for example, experienced a decline of 16.1 percent compared to the previous year, which was also negative. IDC also believes that 2024 will be the year of recovery for the computer and laptop market.

KOMPAS/SATRIO PANGARSO WISANGGENI

Journalists photographed the first appearance of the Acer Predator Triton Neo 16 gaming laptop which was launched on Friday (3/5/2024) evening in Jakarta.

The presence of new features and technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) or artificial intelligence on computers is considered by IDC Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers Research Manager Jitesh Ubrani as an additional stimulant that can restore the laptop market.

"Recovery is expected to continue in 2024, along with the arrival of new AI computers on the market later this year and when commercial buyers begin to update the PCs they purchased during the pandemic," said Jitesh Ubrani.

Gaming laptops use AI

As stated by IDC, laptops with special AI features will be introduced in 2024, including Acer's latest product, the Predator Triton Neo 16.

Andreas said that this laptop has two processor options, namely Intel Core Ultra 7 and Core Ultra 9. Both of these chips already have a special AI processor which is usually called a neural processing unit (NPU). The existence of the NPU allows workloads that use AI to be carried out by the NPU, rather than burdening the work of the central processing unit (CPU).

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Label on Acer's newest gaming laptop, Acer Predator Triton Neo 16, which was launched on Friday (3/5/2024) evening in Jakarta.

The Intel document mentioned that the existence of the NPU accelerates the process of AI-based work. In the creation of AI-generated images such as through Stable Diffusion, the presence of the NPU enables the process to occur 1.7 times faster.

The NPU also allows video calling applications, such as Zoom, to consume less energy, up to 38 percent. "This NPU is a core that is specifically for AI work," said Andreas.

On the graphic processing unit (GPU) or graphics card side, the Acer Predator Triton Neo 16 is equipped with one of the graphics cards from the latest series from Nvidia, namely the RTX 4060. This graphics card also has AI features such as Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS). The way DLSS works is basically upscaling.

KOMPAS/SATRIO PANGARSO WISANGGENI

The label on the Acer Predator laptop indicates that it is powered by an Intel Core i7 CPU and Nvidia RTX GPU, as seen at the launch event of the Acer Predator Triton Neo 16 gaming laptop on Friday (3/5/2024) afternoon in Jakarta.

For example, in the past, if a low-resolution digital image was enlarged, the result would be a pixelated image. However, with AI, a small image can be enlarged without pixelation. This is because AI fills in the missing details on its own.

DLSS works similarly, but for video games. If a heavy game can only be played at a resolution of 720p (1,280 x 720 pixels) initially, DLSS can make it HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) or even 4K resolution (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) without adding any extra burden to the GPU.

DLSS also allows games to be played at faster frames per second (fps) rates. Movies in cinemas move at 24 frames per second. On conventional computers, this is usually 60 frames per second. The faster the fps number, the smoother the movements displayed on the screen. DLSS allows games that are usually only playable at low fps to be played at higher fps.

"With DLSS, it provides higher and more stable fps, giving a faster and smoother gaming experience," said Andreas.

KOMPAS/SATRIO PANGARSO WISANGGENI

Display of Acer's newest gaming laptop, the Predator Triton Neo 16 at its launch event on Friday (3/5/2024) evening in Jakarta. For a gaming laptop, the Triton Neo has a relatively thin body. This is because this laptop, apart from being marketed to the gamer community, is also aimed at the content creator group.

Also for content creators

The shape of the Acer Predator Triton Neo 16 is not very gamer-style. The body is thinner than conventional gaming laptops. In addition, there are features that are not usually of particular concern to the gamer community, such as displays with color accuracy and high resolution.

This laptop screen has the capability to display 100 percent of the DCI-P3 color spectrum. DCI-P3 is the color standard used by the film industry. This means that a film created on a DCI-P3 certified screen will look the same when projected on a cinema screen. The ability to display 100 percent of DCI-P3 on the Triton Neo 16 is certified by Calman, a software company that can measure color accuracy of a computer screen.

KOMPAS/SATRIO PANGARSO WISANGGENI

A journalist took a photo of one of the laptops displayed during the launch event of the Acer Predator Triton Neo 16 gaming laptop held on Friday (3/5/2024) evening in Jakarta.

Also read: Not all technology is needed

The screen on the Triton Neo 16 also has specifications of 3,200 x 2,000 pixels with a length to width ratio of 16:10. "This means, apart from gamers, this can also be used by content creators," said Andreas.

The Acer Predator Triton Neo 16 will be available for sale on May 3, 2024, at a price of IDR 31,999,000. Until May 31st, every purchase of this device will come with a bonus perfume from local perfume company HMNS, specially made for the launch of the Triton Neo 16.