IFA 2012: convertibles and other experiments with Windows 8

With tablets and hybrids, the companies present this year at the IFA fair have shown all kinds of proposals, but, far from staying there, they have taken advantage of the possibilities of Windows 8 to unleash the imagination of their engineers and have filled Berlin with all kinds of convertibles, prototypes and various experiments. If there is a market for such a variety it is difficult to know, but they cannot be denied having tried. Allow me to be your guide in this little chaos that they have prepared for us.

Sony Vaio Duo 11: the Vaio family grows and diversifies

For those of Sony Windows 8 is not for tablets and hybrids, but for desktops and laptops. Proof of this is that its proposal in the field of mobility for the Microsoft system belongs to its Vaio family and not to Xperia. Your Sony Vaio Duo 11 is the perfect example of a convertible, with touch screen that slides out to reveal a full keyboard with which to work in classic laptop style .

The screen is 11.6 inches with FullHD resolution and can be used with an included stylus To move Windows 8 the Duo 11 will be governed by third-generation Intel Ivy Bridge processors, will have between 4 and 8 GB of RAM and an SSD of up to 256 GB. With a thickness of 17.85 mm and a weight of 1.3 kg, it moves more in ultraportable figures, but as if it were a tablet, it has all kinds of sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, digital compass and NFC; in addition to two cameras, front and rear.Nothing is known about the departure date and price

Toshiba U925t: the tiltable convertible

Like other companies, the people of Toshiba have opted to receive Windows 8 with devices closer to the classic laptop than to the new tablets. In a kind of middle way is where the Toshiba U925t is located, becoming a tablet or laptop by sliding Compared to other proposals highlights in the possibility of tilting the screen once converted into a laptop without having a fixed angle.

12.5-inch IPS display, 1366x768 resolution, with Gorilla Glass protection and full keyboard, all in a convertible just under 2 cm thick and 1.5 kg in weight. Inside, an Intel Core i5 processor is responsible for moving Windows 8, with 128 GB of storage on an SSD drive, card reader, HDMI output and two USB 3.0. All ready to go on sale on 26 October, together with the Microsoft system, and with a price at around 1,000 euros

Dell XPS Duo 12: Back to Rotating Screen

Some time ago Dell had already presented its idea of ​​a convertible with the XPS Duo, laptops that could be used as tablets through a rotating screen With the XPS Duo 12 they continue on the road improving specifications and now counting on the invaluable help of Windows 8 and its touch capabilities Although for now Dell maintains some secrecy on your creature.

It is known that this model has a 12.5-inch screen and FullHD 1080p resolution, being also protected by Gorilla Glass The exterior finish is aluminum and carbon fiber ensuring the best protection for the Intel Core i7 processor that beats inside.For the rest little else is known, much less its availability or price.

Lenovo Ideapad Yoga: close to the classics

And if Lenovo is not directly a Tablet PC of the ancients, may God come and see it. Basically with the Ideapad Yoga, which we already knew from CES 2012, we are looking at a laptop with a screen whose hinges allow it to be tilted 360º to be able to be used by touch in all its glory. The system leaves the keyboard on the back locking to prevent us from pressing keys accidentally.

But be careful, because at just 16.9 mm thick and 1.47 kg in weight, Lenovo has a little beast with a 13.3-inch screen and 1600x900 resolution, being able to carry up to an Ivy Bridge Intel Core i7 processor, 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB SSD, all kinds of connections : USB 2.0 and 3.0, HDMI, SD card slot; and a battery that promises up to 8 hours of autonomy. It would be available at the end of the year at a price of around 1,200 euros

Samsung Dual-Display and Korean prototypes

After presenting its ATIV family to receive Windows 8, the people of Samsung had a whole series of prototypes on display at the fair, exploring different types of devices with which to exploit the possibilities of the new operating system. Among them we find options with sliding keyboard, with display and separate keyboards that are joined by a mechanism reminiscent of classic typewriters, or prototypes intended to be used with the company's S-Pen.

But the option that has attracted the most attention is the Samsung Dual-Display At first glance this is a normal laptop, but when we close it, a second screen is revealed located on the back with touch capabilities that make it a kind of large tablet to work with.The truth is that the idea is not new and we could already see something similar with the Asus Taichi. If any of Samsung's prototypes will ever hit the market we don't know yet

Tablets, hybrids, convertibles, all-in-ones, as well as classic laptops and desktops. Months full of news and innovations in hardware await us with the arrival of Windows 8.

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