From Engadget · Husain Parvez · · 1m 30s
Packard Bell is back, minus the beige
Acer has revived the '90s PC brand with colorful gear and a fair-price pitch, but Americans are not invited.
In brief
Acer has revived the '90s PC brand with colorful gear and a fair-price pitch, but Americans are not invited. The Packard Bell name is back on cheap, cheerful consumer tech, yet the relaunch skips the market that made it famous. Originally reported by Engadget.
The beige is gone
Acer relaunched Packard Bell at IFA 2026 with orange, purple, green and yellow products. Nothing about it looks like the CRT-and-floppy era the name conjures.
“Don't let the name fool you: the beige is gone.”
Tech it easy
Acer is aiming the brand at affordable consumer gear that just works. EMEA vice president Valerie Piau says the goal is simple everyday technology at a fair price.
“all at a fair price”
Europe only, sorry
The new range goes to Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Nostalgic American shoppers get nothing, and Acer has not said whether that changes.
Meet the DotBook
A 14.5-inch laptop with a 1,920 x 1,200 IPS screen, Intel Core 3 N355, up to 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, under 2.9 pounds, seven hours of battery. From 499 euros, about 580 dollars.
Turntables and steamers
The first collection goes well past PCs: a DotLoop suitcase turntable, a DotLine 4G feature phone, DotLook audio glasses, a ring light, and a connected mini-steamer.
“because apparently a revived '90s PC brand also needs to cater for people's stomachs”
It was huge here once
Packard Bell sold at Sears, Walmart, Best Buy and Circuit City, and by 1994 it passed IBM as America's third-largest PC maker with 11.5 percent share. That is what makes the snub odd.
“You brought it home, cleared a corner of the house and hoped nobody needed the phone while you were online.”
What to remember
The Packard Bell name is back on cheap, cheerful consumer tech, yet the relaunch skips the market that made it famous.
