Netbook with touchscreen: How Win 8 is creating a new type of device

Software makes hardware: Windows 8 is suitable for new device classes. Microsoft and chip manufacturer Intel trust in their marketability - and want to revive the dying netbook patient. The mini-notebooks once shone withit four-digit sales growth, but Touchscreen devices are replacing them. Win 8 allows tablets and netbooks to merge. A tablet netbook from Asus could herald a turnaround.

Hybrid devices with touchscreen and keyboard

The idea is that the hybrid devices will combine elements of mini-notebooks and tablets. The new Windows 8 netbooks will be launched on the market with a tablet-style touchscreen that is tailored to the new Windows 8 tile interface. At the same time, the devices will have a keyboard that can be permanently or optionally connected. And the new generation of netbooks will be visually modernized and boot up extremely quickly. As we know it from current ultrabooks. But will netbooks remain attractively priced in the future?

Asus launches first model on the market

So much for the declarations of intent. However, there is still a lack of concrete announcements from hardware manufacturers. Only netbook pioneer Asus, which got the ball rolling with the Eee PC 701, has dared to come out of the woodwork and announced the F201E, the first Windows 8 netbook - albeit without a touchscreen. The F201E has an 11.6-inch display (29.5 centimeters) with a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels. It is powered by an Intel Celeron 847 processor. The chip is still based on Intel's older Sandy Bridge architecture and clocks at 1.1 gigahertz. In terms of connections, the ASUS F201E offers an HDMI output, two USB ports - one of which offers the current 3.0 standard - and a network connection. The battery life is said to be five hours.

The F201E is available in three versions, two of which run Windows 8. The cheaper of the two offers 2 gigabytes (GB) of RAM and a 320 GB hard disk for around 330 euros. Asus charges just under 360 euros for 4 GB of RAM and 500 GB on the hard disk. For lovers of the open Linux operating system, the model comes with pre-installed Linux Ubuntu. The technical features of the Linux version are similar to the larger Windows model. The design is based on ASUS' own Zenbook Ultrabook series and features a large touchpad in combination with a matt black display frame. All three devices are available in white, red and black.

If you are interested in further netbook news and tests - go to NetbookTest.net you will find all information.

Article image comes from estima (Fotolia)