Editorials
Ultrabook Convertible: 10 Transforming Laptops with Intel Inside
The new touch-friendly Windows 8 makes it possible for manufacturers to introduce new form factors and designs for notebooks and tablets, most of which fall into the Ultrabook Convertible category.
Some Windows 8 notebooks feature touchscreens, but look just like a regular notebook, but others are bringing out new form factors that function as tablets and notebooks.
This is a collection of 10 Ultrabook Convertibles, devices that convert from one form factor to another, either from an Ultrabook into a tablet or the reverse.
Ultrabook Convertibles allow users to carry one device that acts as a tablet and as a notebook. Finding the right Ultrabook Convertible can be a challenge, but shoppers should decide what they want the Ultrabook Convertible to be better at, being a notebook or being a tablet. The devices below include Ultrabook Cnvertible devices that fit both categories.
Acer Aspire S7
The Acer Aspire S7 is a bit different from the other Ultrabooks on this list in that it doesn’t fully transform into a tablet, but its keyboard does lay flat to make sharing the screen easier. The big draw of the S7 lineup is the lineup’s simplicity. The S7 comes in 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch models starting at $1199.99 and $1399.99. Amazingly, the 11.6-inch model holds a multitouch 1080p display and 128GB of storage for a price that’s about equal to a MacBook Air.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe_srDOCOG0
HP ENVY x2
The HP ENVY x2 is, in many ways, the natural evolution of the netbook. It’s powered by the latest dual-core Intel Atom Z2760 CPU, and only supports up to 64GB of storage space. It is, however, very portable. The ENVY x2 weighs 3.11 pounds with the keyboard dock, but is lighter as just a tablet. It’s a tablet that runs full Windows 8 and gains a longer battery life when docked into a keyboard.
The HP ENVY x@ will arrive in stores in December and has no announced price.
Asus Transformer Book
The Asus Transformer Book takes Asus’ expertise in Android tablets with docks and applies it to Windows 8. The Transformer Book has a 13.3-inch 1080p display and can choose either the Intel Core i5 or i7 CPU. The tablet holds 128GB of storage space for essential apps and files. The keyboard dock adds a number of ports to the tablet including 2 USB 3.0 ports, an SD card reader, ethernet, as well as an additional 500GB of HDD storage. It’s the only convertible so far with a keyboard dock that adds extra storage space.
Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro
The Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro is a powerful Windows 8 tablet that also docks into a keyboard dock. The ATIV Smart PC Pro uses the latest Intel Core i5 CPU and has an 11.6-inch 1080p display like the Acer Aspire S7. It’s the only tablet in the list to feature pen input. Samsung includes an S Pen with the Smart PC Pro along with S Note for easy note taking and sketching.
The Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro is available now starting at $1,119.99.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GETUrf_ylPg
Lenovo ThinkPad Twist
The Lenovo ThinkPad Twist is the a more traditional convertible Windows 8 laptop. It’s screen twists around and lay on top of the keyboard to create a tablet.It has all the flexibility of the Yoga 13 but with a different design for much less money. The Lenovo Twist has a 12.1-inch display, uses the latest Intel Core CPUs, and can hold up to 128GB of SSD storage or 500GB of HDD storage.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Twist is available now starting at $829 when not on sale.
Asus TAICHI
The Asus TAICHI is perhaps the most different device in the category because it uses two screens instead of one. Whereas other convertibles have flipping or rotating displays, the TAICHI simply has a second touchscreen on the back of the lid. Users can choose to use just one screen at a time or both screens in mirroring and presentation modes.
The Asus TAICHI is not yet available, it will come in both 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch varieties when it does come to market.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd7F4ZDdbjk
The Toshiba Satellite U925t looks somewhat like a standard laptop with a somewhat small trackpad and a lot of extra plastic behind where the keyboard rests on the screen. That’s because the U925t’s special feature is the screen slides on top of the keyboard to form a tablet. The Satellite U925t uses and Intel Core i5 CPU, and comes with 128GB of SSD storage.
The Toshiba Satellite U925t is available now starting at $1149.99.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HllydOx71k
Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13
The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 was one of the first Windows 8 convertible announced early this year. It features a screen that rotates 360 degrees to rest beneath the keyboard in tablet form. Lenovo is happy to point out the Yoga 13 can rest in myriad other positions including the “stand” and “tent” modes.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 is available now starting at $999.99.
Dell XPS 12 Convertible Ultrabook
The Dell XPS 12 Convertible Ultrabook looks like a typical Dell XPS laptop, but has a special rotating hinge to turn it into a tablet. The XPS 12’s screen can rotate to rest on top of the keyboard in tablet mode, or close as a typical laptop. It uses the latest Intel Core i CPUs and has a 1080p resolution on its 12-inch display.
The Dell XPS 12 Convertible Ultrabook is available now and starts at $1199.99.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu-WjxOWRIQ
Sony VAIO Duo 11
The Sony VAIO Duo 11 is a strange device in that it lacks a touchpad of any sort. The screen on the VAIO Duo 11 slides and tilts up just enough to reveal a keyboard and nothing else. There is a small trackpoint in the middle of the keyboard and button below the space bar, but users will likely want to stick with gestures on the touchscreen instead. The VAIO Duo 11 uses the latest Intel Core CPUs and has a 1080p resolution.
The Sony VAIO Duo 11 is available now starting at $1099.99.
Mark Horgan
11/26/2012 at 3:41 am
This is the form factor where Windows 8 makes sense. For me the Toshiba and Dell versions look like the most promising. I prefer having less pieces when mobile so I’m less of a fan of the one’s where the tablet detaches from the keyboard.
It will be interesting to see if this form factor will become more mainstream. It would be nice to see more use of pen input – an input method more useful in “work” computers which the ultrabook is. Some have the keyboard face down on the bottom when in tablet mode – would the keyboard end up picking up dust?
Luis Miguel Astudillo
12/05/2012 at 6:20 am
Lenovo Twist looks nice on the website and on YouTube but the company doesn’t deliver the goods. Shipping dates have changed 3 times and now they are for end of January 2013 when order placed in mid-November. So to me Lenovo = vaporware and have cancelled my order altogether.
Had the chance to play with the HP Envy X2 a few weeks ago but didn’t have the final specs nor pricing. At 64Gb max of HDD it is comparable to the Surface RT and will be short on space pretty fast once you start installing your x86 apps, so it’s a no buy for the price.
Will order the Dell XPS12 convertible even if it is twice the price of the Lenovo and more once you had the extra warranties and such.
For me, Lenovo is done and won’t recommend the brand to my corporate or government clients.
Kathy Kinsey
01/03/2013 at 7:16 pm
I’ve been researching the convertibles and also like the Twist… except it’s made by Lenovo. I’ve had far too many problems getting tech support from them on my previous laptop and don’t care to go through that again!
I do prefer not to have to disconnect the keyboard in order to use the device as a tablet and may wait until the prices go down and go with something like the Asus TAICHI. I love the idea of having two screens.
Trung tâm thương mại
09/21/2013 at 8:30 pm
Great collection. I am using Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13, and I need a convertible program to convert any factor. thanks for your sharing!
Đồ gia dụng giá rẻ
10/12/2013 at 7:17 am
They look great!! Thanks for sharing that info.
do gia dung gia re
10/14/2013 at 8:44 pm
great
Mayhanbangan
01/20/2014 at 7:09 am
They look so amazing. I like the last one most :)