The Lenovo IdeaPad Twist: one of several Windows 8 convertibles available
Microsoft has fundamentally changed the way Windows works with Windows 8, ensuring it works better with touchscreens and tablets.
But what about Windows 8 laptops, Ultrabooks and convertibles? They're all here, too.
One
thing Windows 8 has in spades is convergence. A Windows 8 Ultrabook
that has a touchscreen? Check. A laptop with a flip-around screen?
Check. Tablet PCs that slide up to reveal a keyboard? Check.
It's
tough differentiating some of these from tablets at times, but the one
stipulation they have to be in this article is that they have a keyboard
and also run x86 Intel or AMD processors. None of the machines in this
article are ARM-based.
That means they don't run Windows RT,
the version of Windows for ARM systems. They do, however, run either
Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro. Check out our article on the different Windows 8 versions to get your head around which version you'd like.
So
here's a rundown of the Windows 8 laptops, notebooks, convertibles and
Ultrabooks we've looked at so far, to help you choose the right machine
for you. And make sure you read our Windows 8 review, too.
Asus VivoBook S200 - £390/US$430/AU$400
Scoring
five stars and an Editor's Choice award in a TechRadar review is pretty
special. The 11.6-inch touchscreen Asus VivoBook S200 achieves this by
offering good locks and hardware, an impressive performance, easy
portability and a great price. The keyboard is faultless, and the
trackpad is responsive and works well with Windows 8 touch gestures. An
Intel Core i3 processor and 4GB of RAM give it the guts to perform
without running the battery down too quickly, though the integrated
graphics aren't cut out for fancy 3D games. It also comes with a 500GB
hard drive, an SD card reader, HDMI port, two USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0
port, VGA and Ethernet connections. A 5MP webcam is handy for video
calls, if you can take your eyes off the brushed metallic finish.
Read our full Asus VivoBook S200 review
HP Pavilion Touchbook Sleekbook - £400/US$650/AU$800
Sporting
an AMD A-Series processor, 6GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, the HP
Pavilion Touchbook Sleekbook is pretty well specced to run full Windows
8. It also boasts a 15.6-inch touchscreen, which is responsive and works
well with the OS, but has a low resolution and dull colours. Its lid is
also sparkly and shiny, and the laptop has HDMI, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0
connections and a webcam. The keyboard doesn't feel that great to use,
but the trackpad is great, with a hatched texture that feels nicely
different.
Read our Hands on: HP Pavilion Touchbook Sleekbook review
Built
with media people in mind, the Toshiba Satellite P845 has a 14-inch
touchscreen that works as a great display for for editing photos and
responds very well to Windows 8 gestures, plus a dedicated Nvidia
GeForce graphics chip. With third-gen Intel core processors, 6GB of RAM,
a 640GB hard drive, three USB 3.0 ports, Harmon Kardon speakers and an
optional Blu-ray player, the laptop may not be dazzling to look at, but
it does pack in some power. There's also a good trackpad, if you'd
prefer to use that.
Read our Hands on: Toshiba Satellite P845 review
Asus VivoBook S400C - £500/US$630/AU$675
A
dual-core Intel Core i3 processor at 1.8GHz powers the Asus VivoBook
S400C, which doesn't sound that impressive but handles every day tasks
well. The 14.1-inch touchscreen has edge-to-edge glass, so works well
with Windows 8 gestures, though it's not a Full HD resolution. 4GB of
RAM and a 500GB hard drive are reasonable, and there's an SD card slot,
two USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0 port, Ethernet, VGA ad HDMI connections.
Brushed aluminium on the lid is beautiful, while the keyboard is quite
good, but the trackpad's gesture support is lacking. Battery is life
isn't great, but sound is better than average, thanks to Asus's
SonicMaster technology.
Read our full Asus VivoBook S400 review
Sliding
the screen backwards and lifting it up to reveal the keyboard
underneath is how the Toshiba Satellite U920T converts from a tablet to a
laptop. The 12.5-inch device runs full Windows 8 with its Intel Core
i3/i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, 128GB/256GB SSD, two USB 3.0 ports, one
HDMI port and one SD card slot. The hybrid device's touchscreen is low
res and dull, and not as responsive as others, but Gorilla Glass
protects its screen, which is always exposed. Its physical keyboard has
short travel on the keys, and the device's general build quality and
appearance is uninspiring, but battery life and usability are great.
Read our full Toshiba Satellite U920T review
Orange
isn't everyone's favourite colour, so the silver version of the Lenovo
Yoga 11S might be more your thing. Colour aside, the 11.6-inch laptop is
a flexible machine that can fold over from a typical laptop stance to a
stand position, to a position with the keyboard behind the screen,
ready for delivering presentations. It comes with HDMI, SD card and USB
ports, and boasts a surprisingly impressive Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB
of RAM and a 256GB SSD for storage. The screen is sharp and bright,
though not Full HD, and works well with Windows 8. It's also nicely
light and small for portability.
Read our Hands on: Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S review
Lenovo IdeaPad U310 - £600/US$650 (around AU$980)
The
13-inch Lenovo IdeaPad U310 comes in a choice of cool metallic finishes
and has an Intel Core i3 processor at 1.8GHz, a 500GB hard drive, 24GB
SSD, 4GB of RAM and full Windows 8. But it's not a touchscreen laptop,
so you'll rely on the spacious trackpad and keyboard for navigation.
This would be fine, but the Windows 8 gesture support on the trackpad is
confusing and takes some getting used to. It comes with two USB 3.0
ports one USB 2.0, an Ethernet port, an SD/MMC card reader, an HDMI
video output and a headphone jack. This Ultrabook looks great, but its
performance is average.
Read our full Lenovo IdeaPad U310 review
The
keyboard dock of the HP Envy x2 offers a great selection of connections
- including an HDMI port for hooking it up to a monitor - and a second
battery, though the tablet on its own doesn't have so much as a single
USB port of its own. The 11.6-inch laptop-tablet convertible runs full
Windows 8, with a Windows Start button on the bottom of the tablet
screen that wakes the whole thing up. As well as a front-facing webcam,
the device features an 8MP rear camera with a flash and Beats Audio for
your music, though the speakers are weak.
Read our full HP Envy X2 review
Microsoft's own full Windows 8 laptop-tablet hybrid, the Surface Pro, has the same look and the same VaporMg coat as the Surface RT,
but has a tweaked kickstand and magnetic connectors for power and the
two tear-off keyboards. It also has a higher resolution 10.6-inch
touchscreen with excellent blacks, a smooth, pressure-sensitive stylus
and an Intel Core i5 processor. It can run any application you throw at
it, and has USB and DisplayPort connections. The clip-on Touch Cover
feels very light, and typing on its flat surface takes some getting used
to, or the more expensive Type Cover feels more like a normal laptop
keyboard, which we prefer.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Pro review
Unlike
traditional clamshell designed laptops, the Lenovo ThinkPad Twist's
screen - as you may have guessed - twists away from its keyboard,
transforming into a tablet. The twisting mechanism is elegant but
sturdy, holding the screen at the angle you want away from the keyboard
and twisting back into laptop position with a nice clunk. It's insides
contain a dual-core Intel Core i5 processor at 1.7GHz, HD 4000
integrated graphics, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive. Gorilla Glass
protects the 12.5-inch touchscreen, which works well with Windows 8 when
you don't fancy using the keyboard, or when you want to use the device
as a tablet.
Read our full Lenovo ThinkPad Twist review
Dell Inspiron 15z - £800/US$900/AU$1,500
Balancing
price, performance and build, the Dell Inspiron 15z is a Windows 8
update to an older model but doesn't come with a touchscreen as
standard, though one can be added. Easily upgradeable, it comes with a
choice of Intel Core i3/i5/i7 processors and the option to add extra RAM
and a dedicated graphics chip. Build quality on the 15.6-inch device is
sturdy, and features a backlit keyboard with good travel and a
responsive trackpad, a DVD drive, four USB ports, an HDMI port, Ethernet
and SD card reader, though the screen isn't Full HD. Battery life isn't
great, but general performance is reasonable, making it a good
all-rounder for the family. We'd splash out on the touchscreen upgrade
though.
Read our full Dell Inspiron 15z review
As
the name suggests, the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga is extremely flexible. Its
special double hinge means its keyboard can flip 360 degrees, so you can
use it in typical laptop position, tablet position, tent position or a
stand position. The keyboard turns off when it's folded into a position
where it won't be needed, so that you can just use the 13-inch screen as
a large tablet without worrying about accidental key presses. The
Windows 8-toting laptop-tablet hybrid also recognises and can be
controlled by hand gestures via the 1MP webcam.
Read our full Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 review
Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro - £950/US$1,100 (around AU$1,560)
Outclassing
its smaller brother, the Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro runs full Windows 8
with a beefy Intel Core i5 processor and a hinged keyboard dock that
turns the tablet element into a device that's almost an Ultrabook. A pen
with a clickable right mouse button works well with the 11.6-inch
touchscreen, which itself is crisp and colourful. The keyboard is
substantial and its hinged lock feels sturdy and more flexible than the Microsoft Surface's kickstand, but the trackpad struggles with gestures.
Read our full Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro review
Lifting
and sliding the Full HD screen back reveals a keyboard on the 11.6-inch
Sony Vaio Duo 11, which is all held together by a weighty hinge, making
the screen/tablet and its keyboard inseparable. The full Windows 8
laptop-tablet hybrid also boasts an Intel Core i5 processor and a
stylus, offering more for creatives and business people. Swipes through
the interface are quick and easy, and the tablet can run full intensity
Windows apps such as Photoshop. The keyboard lacks a trackpad though,
offering just a nub, so you'll rely on the touchscreen or a separate
mouse here. An SD card slot can expand the 128GB SSD storage space, plus
there are USB 3.0, Ethernet, HDMI and VGA ports.
Read our full Sony Vaio Duo 11 review
Essentially
an 18-inch Windows 8 tablet crossed with an all-in-one PC, the Dell XPS
18 has a charging stand and Bluetooth mouse and keyboard that turns it
into a desktop machine, and touchscreen controls and a kickstand that
means it works on its own, though it doesn't offer stylus support. Its
screen is Full HD, and the machine packs an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB
of RAM, a 500GB hard drive and speedy 32GB SSD into a slim 18mm body.
It just offers two USB 3.0 ports, an SD card slot and an audio jack,
with no more connections in the charging dock. The system feels quick,
if not the most powerful around, and the keyboard is comfortable to use,
though trackpads are better than mice when using Windows 8, so we often
tended to navigate with the touchscreen instead of the mouse. Battery
life is a little disappointing, largely due to the beautiful big screen
sucking it all up.
Read our full Dell XPS 18 review
Acer Aspire S7 - £1,000/US$1,400/AU$1,550
Shockingly
thin, the touchscreen Acer Aspire S7's unibody shell is protected by
Gorilla Glass on the back. The 13.3-inch display is Full HD and works
beautifully with Windows 8 gesture control. They keyboard is fairly
small and keys have shallow travel, while the included Bluetooth mouse
is fairly flimsy, but the Intel Core i7 processor at 2.4GHz and 4GB of
RAM ensure that the Ultrabook has power. Connection-wise, there are two
USB 3.0s, a micro HDMI and an SD card port, but not Ethernet or VGA
ports, although given its small size this isn't terribly surprising.
Read our full Acer Aspire S7 Ultrabook review
Taking a leaf out of the Dell Inspiron Duo's
design book, the Dell XPS 12 is a laptop-tablet hybrid with a
swivelling screen that folds back on itself so you can use it like a
tablet. Running Windows 8, the 12.5-inch device has a touchscreen and a
spacious keyboard and trackpad, so you can choose whether to use
on-screen gestures or the trackpad in laptop mode. As a laptop it's
powerful, with a fast processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD drive, but as a
tablet it's heavy, although it does have a Full HD screen. The tablet
functionality is best treated as an added bonus rather than its main
purpose.
Read our full Dell XPS Duo 12 review
Dell XPS 13 - £1,200/US$1,300 (around AU$1,965)
A
Windows 8 upgrade of the laptop of the same name, the 13-inch Dell XPS
13 looks like a MacBook on first glance, though under the lid is a soft
rubber coating and lots of black. An Intel Core i7 processor is top of
the line, able to handle picture and video editing and multitasking with
ease. 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD also ensure performance is quick,
while battery life is seriously impressive. However, the laptop's screen
isn't touch-sensitive, so you can't make the most of Windows 8
gestures, and it's not Full HD resolution either. If you don't mind
ditching a touchscreen, the keyboard and trackpad are comfortable to use
for long periods, and the overall performance is impressive.
Read the full Dell XPS 13 review
Asus Taichi - £1,430/US$1,480/AU$1,500
Uniquely,
the Asus Taichi doesn't just have one screen, but two - one on the
front and one on the lid. The laptop runs full Windows 8 on both
screens, with the lid screen taking over from the main screen when the
device is closed or you manually switch between them with a keyboard
button. You can also choose to run both screens at once, to do two
separate tasks, though this slows the system down. The secondary
screen's coating gives extra depth to colours, showing that it's
designed for more tablet-like uses such as watching TV shows, while the
front laptop screen counters reflections well so you can concentrate on
work documents.
Read our full Asus Taichi review
A touchscreen version of last year's excellent Lenovo ThinkPad Carbon X1,
we had high hopes for the Windows 8-toting Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
Touch. Choose an Intel i5 or i7 processor and 4GB or 8GB of SDRAM for
power, and there's a 128GB SSD for Ultrabook-quick boot times. The
business-focused laptop also has an impressive battery life and 3G
connectivity as well as Wi-Fi, though no Ethernet port. Embracing touch
tech, as well as the responsive touchscreen there's a sensitive touchpad
and a fingerprint scanner. The matt display is a little dull, though it
has strong viewing angles, and there are USB ports and an SD card slot,
but no display ports.
Read the Hands on: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch review
Excellent information about the laptops. Hands down to HP Pavilion! I'm going to buy one hybrid laptop for sure. Thank you for the article. I enjoyed reading the specification of these modern laptops.
Excellent information about the laptops. Hands down to HP Pavilion! I'm going to buy one hybrid laptop for sure. Thank you for the article. I enjoyed reading the specification of these modern laptops.
ReplyDeleteKeep writing such useful article!
Silvester Norman
Change MAC Address
Windows operating systems is one of the best in the world.
ReplyDeletehttps://technofizi.net/gopro-alternative