Touchscreens are spurring wild new designs in a category called convertibles
Your next laptop is probably going to be a lot more than just a laptop. Touchscreens are spurring wild new designs in a category called convertibles. So will your next notebook flip, rip, double or roll? Let us think of this historically; your old laptop opens and closes. Or maybe you have a tablet with a single, standard touchscreen. But the introduction of touch screen recognition in the Windows 8 operating system has computer manufacturers trying to combine those devices in inventive new ways.
Lenovo Helix: It flips over the Yoga, and has the option to rip the screen out into a stand-alone tablet. It is fully touch capable and has a built in Wacom stylus. Lenovo says it will run for five hours in stand-alone tablet mode or 10 hours if docked. It will be available in February at USD 1,499.
Lenovo Yoga 11S: An 11-inch laptop running a full version of Windows 8, but its double-jointed hinge opens it all the way up and you can flip it over into a tablet at USD 799. The Yoga 11S is also one of the first device to be powered by Intel’s enhanced ultra-low-voltage processors.
MSI Slider: This runs a full version of Windows 8 on an Intel Core i5 processor, but it seems like it is primarily designed to be used as a touch tablet. When you want a keyboard, you slide the screen back and up. The keyboard is at the front of the underlying dock, so there’s no place to rest your palms and wrists, but if you only want a keyboard occasionally, this might be the design choice which will be available by March, 2013; at USD 1,099.
ASUS Transformer All-In-One: ASUS is going in a totally different direction with one of its convertibles. The Transformer All-In-One looks like a desktop PC running Windows 8. But the 18-inch screen can be pulled from its stand to function as a massive Android tablet. Imagine putting it on your lap to play Plants vs Zombies or stream a movie and its battery will last four to five hours.
Lenovo Horizon 27: Another big statement in convertibles is the Lenovo Horizon 27. This 27-nch touch screen tablet runs Windows 8 with a wireless keyboard and mouse. You can prop it up on your desk for a display or put it on a rolling stand so it lays flat. But the more practical idea is for meeting where people could stand around the tablet and collaborate. Available at USD 1,699.
ASUS Taichi: ASUS announced the Taichi hybrid earlier. It is a dual screen notebook. So you can use it as a notebook when open, a touch tablet when closed, or two people could use it at the same time when open, one on the notebook side and one on the tablet side.
Intel Haswell Chips: One development for convertibles and ultrabooks alike is the chips from Intel. Codenamed Haswell, these new fourth generation Intel Core processors are all about reducing power consumption to improve battery life. Their aim is to double existing battery life up to 13 hours in some devices.
Android Devices and Tablets: Finally, this year will provide a boom in Android tablets. NVIDIA shook things up early when they announced their entry into gaming devices, called Project Shield, which plays Android games. It has a console-quality controller complete with D-pad, face buttons, and can stream video over Wi-Fi. Appliance maker Dacor has a USD 7,500 oven that has an Android tablet ‘baked in.’ On the other end of the spectrum, the Coby has a USD 149 Android tablet. Alcatel has two Android tablets for less than USD 200. And Acer has confirmed a USD 99 Android tablet called the Iconia B1 that’s aimed pretty squarely at newbies and kids. Polaroid has gone whole hog for the under 12 set, releasing a USD 149 ‘Kid Tablet’ loaded with goodies for the aspiring digital photographer or videographer. — Agencies
