In-Depth
Windows 8 Ultrabooks Gallery, Part 2: Convertibles and More
RCP shines the spotlight on five more early Ultrabook models from Lenovo, Dell and others that are looking to take advantage of Microsoft's touch focus in Windows 8.
- By Scott Bekker
- November 01, 2012
- Check out Part 1 of our Windows 8 Ultrabooks Gallery here.
Lenovo ThinkPad Twist
One of the most affordable touch-based Ultrabooks so far is the Lenovo ThinkPad Twist, which became available Oct. 26 for $849. Designed to work as a regular laptop, with the classic black ThinkPad keyboard, a hinge in the center allows the 12.5-inch screen to twist into a "Stand" mode, be flipped up into a "Tent" mode (see the
Lenovo Yoga) or bent down into a tablet mode. While the base price is low, upgrade options allow up to 128GB Solid State Drive, up to Intel Core i7 processors and Windows 8 Professional, while 3G is also available.
Dell XPS 12
The only convertible Ultrabook on the market so far to look like an artist's easel, the Dell XPS 12 12.5-inch touchscreen swings around inside its hinged frame to go from a tablet to a laptop. The base model retails for $1,199 and includes an Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 128GB Solid State Drive and weighs 3.35 pounds.
IdeaPad Yoga 13
A hotly anticipated new form factor is the Lenovo Yoga 13 -- a full-featured laptop that converts into a tablet. Because of the 360-degree hinge, the Yoga can be used in what Lenovo calls a "Stand" mode, when the keyboard is flipped upside down behind the screen to hold up the device, or a "Tent" mode (pictured), in which the keyboard and screen are bent upright. Other features include a 13.3-inch high-definition, multi-touch display, a 16.9 mm frame and battery life advertised at eight hours. Moving faster than Intel's base capabilities, Lenovo also built in motion-control technology to allow gestures for flipping through photos and other content. The system became available with Windows 8 on Oct. 26 for $1,099.
Sony VAIO T Series 14
Coming in at the low end of the Ultrabook price range, the non-touch Sony VAIO T Series 14 starts at $669. VAIO does offer a touch-enabled Ultrabook in the T Series 13, which starts at $899. Back to the Series 14, the system includes a 14-inch screen, 4GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive with a 32GB MLC hybrid hard drive in the base option.
Dell Latitude 6430u Ultrabook
For those who will want to use Windows 8 with a keyboard and mouse, the Dell Latitude 6430u is among the options. It has a 14-inch screen, but is 33 percent slimmer and 16 percent lighter than the previous 14-inch Latitude, according to Dell Inc. Though thin and light, it's also sturdy. Dell designed the system to meet the MIL-STD-810G testing standard from the U.S. military. Announced in mid-September, pricing wasn't available at press time.
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About the Author
Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.