Quick overview:
Just three years ago, software giant Microsoft released Windows 7, a PC operating system that was praised everywhere. However, falling PC sales and simultaneously soaring sales of mobile devices such as tablets and ultrabooks did not let Microsoft rest. The result is unsurprisingly called Windows 8 - an operating system for both home PCs and trendy portable devices, as it accepts normal control commands as well as touch operation. The first ultrabooks with the new operating system will also be available at the Windows market launch. We present the most interesting ones.
Asus Zenbook Touch UX21
With the Zenbook Touch UX21, Asus presents its first ultrabook with a touch-sensitive screen - perfect for Windows 8 and its new tile interface. The slim mobile computer also features an Ivy Bridge processor from Intel (1.9 GHz), a 256 gigabyte (GB) SSD memory and a 10-point multi-touch display with Full HD resolution (11.6 inch). The USB 3.0 interface installed here - as in all the other models presented here - transfers data up to ten times faster than the predecessor USB 2.0. The battery life is up to nine hours in operation and the price is a hefty 1200 euros.
Acer Aspire S7
Weighing just 1.3 kilograms and only 12 millimetres thick, the Aspire 7 feels good in the hand. The casing with its aluminum and Gorilla glass components is also scratch-resistant and sturdy. Here too, a Full HD multi-touch display makes it easier to use Windows 8 applications. The display can even be opened up to 180 degrees - so the back lies flat on the surface. The screen content can also be rotated at the touch of a button so that it can be shown to a person sitting opposite. The 1.9 GHz Intel Core i7 chip ensures solid computing power, supported by the 4 GB RAM. The built-in SSD memory offers 256 GB of space. Around four hours of battery life is not exactly record-breaking. The Aspire S7 is expected to cost around 1600 euros.
Dell XPS 12
The most striking feature of the XPS12 is its display: the 12.5-inch screen - with Full HD resolution - can be rotated during operation thanks to hinges embedded in the frame, so that it is then aligned with the outside of the device. If you then fold the device up, you have a tablet at hand, which can of course also be operated like one thanks to the touchscreen. The RAM is between 4 and 8 GB, the SSD memory between 128 and 256 GB. On the processor side, there is a choice of i5 or i7 chips - clocked at 1.7 or 1.9 gigahertz. Prices for the XPS 12 start at 1200 euros.
Lenovo ThinkPad Twist
The screen of Lenovo's Windows 8 model ThinkPad Twist also catches the eye first: a hinge connects it to the center of the chassis and ensures that the display can be rotated around its own axis and folded down. After a 180-degree rotation and when folded, the ThinkPad Twist looks like a tablet PC. The approximately 20 millimeter thick model is powered by Intel Core processors ranging from Core i5 (1.7 GHz) to Core i7 (1.9 GHz). The multi-touch-capable 12.5-inch screen has a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels and is protected from scratches and knocks by Gorilla glass. The RAM is either 4 or 8 GB, with a choice of 128 GB SSD or a 320 GB hard disk. Lenovo does not provide any information on the battery life, the cheapest version costs around 960 euros.
Toshiba Satellite U920t
Toshiba is also making its mark with its new Satellite U920t on the fine line between ultrabook and tablet PCSimilar to smartphones with a slide-out keyboard, the display can be moved back and forth via a slider mechanism to switch between use as a tablet and a notebook. The backlit touchscreen has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. It can be operated with up to five fingers simultaneously in tablet mode and is protected by a pane of scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass. The first two models available, the 100 (approx. 1250 euros) and 109 (approx. 1100 euros), differ in their built-in processors with a clock speed of 1.8 and 1.7 gigahertz respectively. Both have 4 GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD for data storage in common. Toshiba promises a battery life of seven hours.
Photo source: Asus
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