Archive for August, 2012
IFA Ultrabook News Roundup
It’s been an exciting few days at IFA where we’ve seen a lot of great activity in the PC sector, mostly focused around Ultrabooks, hybrids, touchscreens, and Windows 8. Nils has been on hand at the event and has kept us thoroughly up to date on developments . If you’re looking for a summary of all of the interesting news from IFA, this is the post for you!
Hands-on with the Fujitsu Stylistic Q702 Windows 8 Hybrid Ultrabook — This One Should Be on Your List
Posted by Ben Lang in New Products on August 31, 2012
Fujitsu is launching a transformer-style hybrid Ultrabook, the Stylistic Q702. The company has experience making tablets and it shows — the Q702 is probably the most well rounded hybrid we’ve seen launched thus far with a very good port set for the size, capacitive and active digitizer screen, and even a built-in stylus. Our man Nils is on the show floor at IFA as we speak and has a look around the upcoming Q702.
Toshiba Announces Budget and Slider Ultrabooks for Windows 8
Posted by Steve Chippy Paine in New Products on August 31, 2012
Toshiba formerly announced two new Ultrabooks this morning, taking their total number of individual designs to 5 – a figure that tells us that manufacturers are totally on board with the Ultrabook idea.
The Toshiba Sattelite U920T (U925T in the USA) is the slider device we previewed a few days ago. It’s going to be available some time in the fourth quarter. The second is the Toshiba Sattelite U940 (again, expect U945 in the USA.) As you’d expect, both are WIndows 8 models.
HP Launches Hybrid Envy X2 PC With Detachable Keyboard
Posted by Ben Lang in New Products on August 30, 2012
A number of companies are now betting on hybrid computers to be the next big thing with Windows 8. We’ve seen the Duo 11 from Sony, the Samsung ATIV, Asus TaiChi and Transformer Book — all hybrids — and now HP is announcing the Envy X2 with Windows 8 and touchscreen. The X2 takes on the familiar ‘transformer’ form-factor which is outwardly a standard laptop form-factor but the screen can be detached and toted around as a tablet. The question remains whether Windows 8 will provide a sufficient touchscreen experience, or if all of these hybrid devices will be used as standard laptops more often than not.
The Verge gets Hands-On with Acer Aspire S7
Posted by Steve Chippy Paine in News on August 30, 2012
If you’re looking for a new 11” Ultrabook, the Acer Aspire S7 is probably on your list, especially if you’re interested in driving Windows 8 with a little bit of touch. We’re expecting the Acer Aspire S7 to be in the premium pricing category (i.e. not at the $799 that the Samsung Series 5 Touch could start at) but it will be much thinner and lighter than that. The Verge have taken it for a spin and are extremely impressed by the build and style. Unanswered questions remain though…
Pricing, battery size and availability are specifications we’re working on adding to the database as soon as possible.
The video (which we couldn’t get to embedd here below) is in the complete article at The Verge.
Via Tweaktown
HP Spectre XT TouchSmart Puts 15.6″ Full HD IPS Touchscreen, Thunderbolt, and Windows 8 In an Ultrabook
Posted by Ben Lang in New Products on August 30, 2012
Today HP is announcing a new variant of their premium Ultrabook, the Spectre XT TouchSmart. With the addition of a Thunderbolt port, a larger 15.6″ full HD IPS touchscreen, and Windows 8, HP is bumping the price up from the $999 Spectre XT to $1,399 for the Spectre XT TouchSmart. The Ultrabooks are nearly identical aside from the additions and change to the price. It would appear as though HP will be selling them concurrently.
Samsung Series 9 to get Windows 8 Updates – No Touch
Posted by Steve Chippy Paine in News on August 29, 2012
Samsung just presented their new range of Windows 8 devices. You’ve already seen the new Series 7 Slate and the Series 5 Touch but Samsung also announced that the Series 9 will get WIndows 8. No surprises there. The disappointing news is that it won’t have a touchscreen.
Samsung also say that the system has been re-optimised, something that you’d expect anyway when a new OS is available.
Samsung Series 7 Slate to Compete with Transformer Book
Posted by Steve Chippy Paine in New Products on August 29, 2012
Update: The Series 7 and Series 5 Slates have been officially launched as the ATIV Smart PC and ATIV Smart PC Pro. [Engadget]
The detachable style ‘Ultraslate’ is going to be popular. The design has already been proven by ASUS with their Transformer range and many of us are already excited about the ASUS Transformer Book. The Samsung options – a Series 7 Slate with dock, is going to go head to head. We just spotted this video on Laptopmag’s YouTube channel and we’re expecting an article and official info to follow soon.
A version with Core i5 will sit alongside a slightly lighter version, the Series 5 slate, with an Atom CPU inside allowing you to choose between power and battery life/weight.
Take note that the keyboard is said to have quite a bit of travel, a result of most of the electronics being behing the screen.
Pricing – $1199. $749 for the Series 5 (Intel Atom) version.
We’re on the lookout for official info.
Via Laptopmag
Samsung’s Series 5 Ultrabook with Touch is Confirmed
Posted by Steve Chippy Paine in News on August 29, 2012
Starting at $799 with a Core i3 Samsung have just set the a very competitive lower benchmark for touchscreen Ultrabooks. Based on the existing industrial design it’s going to be a really solid offering.
Laptopmag don’t have an article about this yet but we’re expecting one soon. We might even hear details in the Samsung event that’s just kicking off in Berlin right now.
Sony Vaio Duo 11 gets hands-on at IFA
Posted by Steve Chippy Paine in News on August 29, 2012
Via Newgadgetsde
Revealing the optical track pointer and a design that’s slimmer than I expected, the port locations, backlight on the keyboard and lots more. As a tablet it’s ‘pretty thin and light’ says Johannes. It still weighs 1.2KG though so as a pure tablet, it’s a complete bloater!
Full specs, price and other info available here.
My thoughts – Why aren’t we seeing news about HSDPA/4G for the Vaio DUO? This is clearly an ultra mobile PC but without 3G, it’s missing something in my opinion. Still, enough people have Android phones that can help out with a little hotspot love. I love the look of that track pointer! Personally, I’m more of a fan of detachable screens which is why I’ve got my eye on the ASUS Transformer Book. I’ll bet it’s going to be cheaper than 1200 Euros for a Core i3 too!
Video below…
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