Meet the Windows 8 tablet-laptop hybrids of IFA 2012

With IFA 2012 taking place just two months before the launch of Windows 8, it was all but guaranteed that major PC players would have next-generation hardware on display. They did, and this year there’s one particular form factor that stole the show: convertibles, or hybrids whichever label you prefer to slap on the laptop-tablet remixes. Asus, Dell, HP, Samsung, Sony, and Toshiba all had models on display.

Asus is offering up a pair of Vivo Tab models, one running Windows 8 atop a dual-core Intel Atom processor and the other pairing Windows RT with a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 chip. Asus hasn’t stopped with a detachable keyboard dock this time around, however — a pressure-sensitive stylus is included, too, and it’s perfect for note-taking and sketching. The Vivo Tab offers an 11.6-inch display while the Vivo Tab RT measures 10.1 inches. It’s also the thinnest and lightest of the bunch, measuring just 8.3mm thin and weighing 520g.

You may already have seen Dell’s offerings, the XPS Duo 12 and XPS 10 (pictured). Once again, it’s the smaller of the two models (the XPS 10) that will run an ARM SoC and Windows RT. The XPS Duo 12 (which actually measures 12.5 inches on its display’s diagonal) will run Windows 8 and an unspecified Intel chip.

HP’s first Windows 8 hybrid has already made an appearance on Geek.com, too. The Envy X2 is an Atom-powered, 11.6-inch machine with 64GB of internal storage, microSD expansion, NFC support, and, of course, integrated Beats Audio. Its detachable keyboard also incorporates a giant powerpack, and it should comfortably provide all-day battery life. HP has also made sure that the dock won’t accidentally dislodge by building in a mechanical latch to supplement a pair of strong magnets.

Samsung’s offering up the ATIV Smart PC and Smart PC Pro and ATIV S. The Smart PCs will ship with an Intel chip and Windows 8. Two variants of the Pro model will be offered: one features an 11.6-inch 1080P display, an Intel Core i5 processor, and 4GB of RAM. The other will pack a Core i3 processor and 2GB of RAM. Both will offer LTE connectivity. Next up is the ATIV Smart PC, which is powered by an Atom chip and features a more standard-issue 1366×768 panel.  The ATIV S switches things up with Windows RT and a 10.1-inch display. All models will include a removable clamshell keyboard, but  only the Smart PC Pro will ship with Samsung’s S Pen and the accompanying suite of software.

As Dell already showed, not everyone is down with detachable keyboards. Sony, too, has gone a different route. You can slide back the display on the Vaio Duo 11, angle it up, and lock it in place to make use of the hidden keys. Sony’s arming this one to the teeth, with processor options ranging from a Core i3 all the way up to an i7, up to 256GB of SSD storage, 1080P displays, NFC, GPS, HD-ready cameras, and stylus input.

Toshiba’s taking a similar approaching with the Satellite U920T slider (top). It’s matching the XPS Duo with a 12.5-inch screen, and options will include Core i3 or i5 processors and SSD storage up to 256GB. You’ll also get an HDMI port and SD card expansion with the U920T.

So how much are these convertibles going to cost? Most companies haven’t said yet, but Toshiba was kind enough to provide some insight: the U920T is expected to sell for around $1200 when it lands in late October.

Source : geek.com