Samsung Series 5 Windows 8 ultrabook has a touch screen that can be flipped to make it more usable in tablet mode.
(Credit: CNET Asia)
Device makers continue to concoct novel designs to take advantage of Windows 8 Metro interface.
On Tuesday at Computex in Taipei, Samsung showed a Series 5 ultrabook running Windows 8 with a 13.3-inch touch display.
Touch screens are pretty much de rigueur for future ultrabooks. Why? Aside from the fact that the Windows 8 Metro interface is all about touch, Intel marketing chief Tom Kilroy told CNET on Monday that the chipmaker is making a substantial investment in touch display manufacturers to ensure that a healthy supply of the screens are available in the coming months and years.
That means Intel and its device partners see touch as a standard feature for many, if not most, future ultrabooks.
Side view of the Series 5 Window 8 ultrabook.
(Credit: CNET Asia)
Next up, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon tablet running Windows RT (below) on top of a dual-core Snapdragon S4 chip rated at 1.5GHz. Basically, Qualcomm has taken development vehicle aimed originally at Android and slapped Windows RT on it.
When doing a hands-on first-look, CNET Asia said they hit a “snag” when the tablet was playing back a 1080p video. “Halfway into the clip, the reference unit suffered from a massive drop in frame rate, resulting in a stuttering video,” CNET’s Aloysius Low wrote.
That raises questions about Qualcomm’s progress with Windows RT. At this point, we should be seeing an RT device from the likes of Hewlett-Packard that is close to commercialization. Maybe HP simply doesn’t want to show its hand. But you have to wonder.
Qualcomm is still showing a reference design tablet for Windows RT. How far along are Qualcomm partners in device development?
(Credit: CNET Asia)
Next, the Gigabyte X11 ultrabook. Though not at Windows 8 device (at least not yet), at 2.1 pounds, the X11 is a novelty because it’s about as close as an ultrabook can get to breaking into sub-2-pound tablet territory.
The 11.6er has a carbon-fiber chassis, another feature that relatively few ultrabooks have. Carbon fiber is very light but durable.
Other notable specs include Intel “Ivy Bridge” Core i5-3317U or i7-3517U processors, a 128GB SSD, a 1,366×768 display (non-touch), a mini-DisplayPort, a microSD slot, and two USB ports.
The 2.1-pound Gigabyte X11 ultrabook is lighter than the 2.38 pound 11-inch MacBook Air.
(Credit: Gigabyte)
Toshiba is cautiously showing off Windows 8 stuff (below) at Computex, i.e., revealing no detailed specs. Those designs include a Windows 8 “ultrabook convertible” designed in partnership with Intel, a touch screen Windows RT clamshell PC designed in partnership with Texas Instruments, and a Windows RT tablet with keyboard dock designed in partnership with TI.
Toshiba’s Windows hybrid.
(Credit: CNET)
Related stories
- Dual-screen Taichi leads lineup of unique Asus Windows 8 PCs
- Computex 2012: Acer Aspire S7 Ultrabook hands-on
- CNET Asia covers Computex
- Samsung Series 5 Ultra Convertible
- Computex 2012: Qualcomm S4 tablet
Related Links:
Computex: Roundup of hottest Windows 8 devices
Intel invests in ultrabook touch displays
Dual-screen Taichi leads lineup of unique Asus Windows 8 PCs
Asus, Acer, Toshiba to unveil Windows 8, RT tablets
Acer unveils bevy of Window 8 devices at Computex
via CNET Latest News http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57447833-92/computex-roundup-of-hottest-windows-8-devices-day-2/?part=rss&subj=latest-news2&tag=title
