As Michael Gorman over at engadget.com recently noted, the North American versions – which are named the AS5951G and the AS8951G – come with exactly the same 15.6-inch and 18.4-inch displays, USB 3.0 ports and detachable touch pads that also serve as a remote control as their UK counterparts.

The laptops come equipped with either a DVD optical drive or a Blu-ray drive, so users can enjoy watching their favorite movies on the scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass display. The viewing experience can also be extended to a big screen television via the laptop’s HDMI port.

The AS8951G will provide users with the ultimate music and movie enjoyment, thanks to the Acer CineSurround with 5 Dolby-tuned built-in speakers and an Acer Tuba CineBass subwoofer. Meanwhile, the AS5951G boasts True 5.1 channel surround sound, 2 built-in stereo speakers and the Acer Tuba CineBass booster.

As for pricing and availability: the Acer Aspire Ethos AS5951G model has a US MSRP starting from $1,399.99, and a Canadian starting price of $1,199 CAD. Meanwhile, the Aspire Ethos AS8951G has a US starting price of $1,599.99 and a Canadian MSRP starting from $1,499 CAD. All models will be available this week.

Are you thinking about upgrading your current laptop or notebook?

According to a recent techradar.com article by Kate Solomon, the Aspire Ethos laptop – which Acer describes as a multimedia experience – comes with a frameless 15-inch or 18-inch full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1980, and a detachable touchpad that can be used as a remote control.

The Aspire Ethos is powered by a second generation Intel Core processor, which can either be i3, i5 or i7 depending on your budget. Consumers also have a choice of NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards (the GT555M or GT540M), as well as up to 4GB of RAM and the option of a Blu-ray drive.

It also comes with a choice of either one or two 500GB, 640GB or 750GB hard drives, and runs on Windows 7. In terms of connectivity, the Aspire Ethos includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, a card reader, a HDMI port and a combination of both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports.

The Acer Aspire Ethos laptop should be arriving in the UK mid-June, and prices will start from £999. Do you like the sound of this laptop?