Are Windows 8 convertibles and hybrids really worth the money?
With Microsoft's new operating system being optimised for touch, these devices try and bring the touchscreen closer to the user.
We now have a new breed of devices to choose from, the Windows 8 convertibles and hybrids. With Microsoft's new operating system being optimised for touch, these devices try and bring the touchscreen closer to the user. So there are hybrids, which are essentially tablets that have extra keyboards, or convertibles that can transform themselves from Ultrabooks to tablets.
With pricing being what it is, most of these devices will continue to be niche products for some months to come. The hybrids are cheaper, but they are also Intel Atom-based devices which might not be able to perform many high-end tasks. However, these are more portable and handy, making them the ideal device for those who will need a tablet that can do a bit more.
The Ultrabook convertibles, on the other hand, will be able to do most tasks that you assign to it. But they are costly and a bit too heavy and large to use as proper tablets. They should be preferred by people who essentially need an Ultrabook, but would like to have the ease-of-use of a tablet when required.
However, in the New Year you will see a lot of conversation revolving around the convertible and hybrids, which will be the showcase devices for Windows 8. At least for now, this form factor is also unique to this OS as you don't have hybrids and convertibles in OS X or Android, except for maybe the Asus Transformer series.
But this is just the beginning, even as you see touch becoming an essential feature in computers in coming months you will also see these convertibles and hybrids evolving in design, and, hopefully, becoming cheaper. They are being projected as the ideal solution for individuals who are now dependant on two or more devices for their daily fix. So, the suggestion is to choose a convertible or hybrid over carting around both a laptop and tablet. No doubt, there will be takers for this concept.
We can see a lot of design innovation taking place in the segment - there are said to be around a hundred new designs in various stages of production. There are also attempts to bring the prices down by making touchscreens cheaper. Intel, meanwhile, is promising all-day power with its new fourth generation Core processors. They are also expected to make the hybrids more enterprisefriendly with added power and laptop-like security features.
The advent of the convertibles don't mean the traditional tablet or laptop is dead on the Windows platform. In fact, the traditional devices will continue to be made and sold. They will co-exist with the new premium segment for some time. The older devices will need to bring in touch into their devices though. Thankfully, touchscreens have already become affordable with devices like the Asus Vivobook F202E. For the budget conscious, you will see trackpads and mouse becoming touch enabled so that Windows 8 commands can be executed even if you don't have a touchscreen. This will be crucial, for using Windows 8 without any form of touch to exploit the full potential of the OS could be quite frustrating.
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With pricing being what it is, most of these devices will continue to be niche products for some months to come. The hybrids are cheaper, but they are also Intel Atom-based devices which might not be able to perform many high-end tasks. However, these are more portable and handy, making them the ideal device for those who will need a tablet that can do a bit more.
The Ultrabook convertibles, on the other hand, will be able to do most tasks that you assign to it. But they are costly and a bit too heavy and large to use as proper tablets. They should be preferred by people who essentially need an Ultrabook, but would like to have the ease-of-use of a tablet when required.
However, in the New Year you will see a lot of conversation revolving around the convertible and hybrids, which will be the showcase devices for Windows 8. At least for now, this form factor is also unique to this OS as you don't have hybrids and convertibles in OS X or Android, except for maybe the Asus Transformer series.
But this is just the beginning, even as you see touch becoming an essential feature in computers in coming months you will also see these convertibles and hybrids evolving in design, and, hopefully, becoming cheaper. They are being projected as the ideal solution for individuals who are now dependant on two or more devices for their daily fix. So, the suggestion is to choose a convertible or hybrid over carting around both a laptop and tablet. No doubt, there will be takers for this concept.
We can see a lot of design innovation taking place in the segment - there are said to be around a hundred new designs in various stages of production. There are also attempts to bring the prices down by making touchscreens cheaper. Intel, meanwhile, is promising all-day power with its new fourth generation Core processors. They are also expected to make the hybrids more enterprisefriendly with added power and laptop-like security features.
The advent of the convertibles don't mean the traditional tablet or laptop is dead on the Windows platform. In fact, the traditional devices will continue to be made and sold. They will co-exist with the new premium segment for some time. The older devices will need to bring in touch into their devices though. Thankfully, touchscreens have already become affordable with devices like the Asus Vivobook F202E. For the budget conscious, you will see trackpads and mouse becoming touch enabled so that Windows 8 commands can be executed even if you don't have a touchscreen. This will be crucial, for using Windows 8 without any form of touch to exploit the full potential of the OS could be quite frustrating.
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