Acer Aspire R7 review: a flexible form factor at a reasonable price

If you told us Acer was coming out with an innovative new take on the Windows 8 convertible, we'd probably laugh in your face. After so many months of evaluating slidable, twistable, bendable and detachable machines, we'd (hopefully) be forgiven for believing we'd seen every possible form factor. The Aspire R7 proves that we were wrong, and we're actually kind of glad. With a 15.6-inch display sitting in a unique, flexible "Ezel" hinge, this device lets you switch between four modes, and the panel can even lie nearly flat above the keyboard like an all-in-one desktop. Oh, and Acer switched the positions of the keyboard and touchpad, a setup that definitely takes some getting used to.

Though the R7's form factor sets it apart, it offers the same specs as many Windows 8 convertibles: you get a 1080p screen, a Core i5 processor and 6GB of RAM for $1,000. So does the R7's appeal hinge on its distinctive design? Follow us past the break to find out -- we promise the bad jokes stop here.