After months of curiosity, speculation and spec leaks, the first honest-to-goodness Windows 8 devices have finally been announced. At the Computex trade show in Taipei Monday, Acer and Asus introduced a large suite of Windows 8 tablets, all-in-one PCs, and hybrid ultrabooks.
The announcements follow last week's Microsoft release of the final beta version of the Windows 8 operating system, aptly named Windows 8 Release Preview. The complete, shipping version of Windows 8 should be available around October.
As for the Windows 8 hardware announced at Computex, some pieces will launch this fall, others will arrive in 2013. Details are still scant, but we should learn more about specs and features closer to each device's launch.
Asus Taichi
Apparently you need two displays on a single device to achieve tablet and notebook zen. The Taichi line of convertible notebooks, available in 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch models (one's pictured above), remain as light as Asus Zenbooks, but sport a double display: One faces the QWERTY keyboard for notebook use, and one sits on the top of the lid for when you just want a tablet experience.
Each FHD/Super IPS+ display is 1920x1080 pixels in resolution, and there's also a camera paired with each screen as well. Inside, you've got Intel Ivy Bridge Core i7 processors, 4GB of RAM, and SSD storage.
One of the benefits of merging a tablet and notebook is that you don't lose out on peripheral connectivity. The Taichi has ports for mini VGA, micro DVI, and USB 3.0, as well as staples like a headphone jack and power port.
Asus Tablet 600 and 810
The Asus Tablet 600 is a 10.1-inch hybrid laptop-notebook running Windows RT (the Windows 8 version for devices running ARM processors). It's got a 1366x768 resolution display, and inside you'll find an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. It also has a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera with an LED flash, 32GB of storage, and NFC support. The 600 should land in early 2013.
The 810 is the 11.6-inch version of the 600, but comes with an Intel Medfield processor for full-fledged Windows goodness (and likely reduced battery life). The 810 has an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and 2-megapixel front camera, and increases storage from 32GB to 64GB.
Asus Transformer Book
For those looking for a bit more power than what the Tablet 600 and 810 can provide, the Intel Ivy Bridge-powered Asus Transformer Book line could be the answer. The Transformer Books are Windows 8 tablets in 11.6-, 13-, and 14-inch flavors with 1080p displays. They've got 4GB of RAM and are available with either an SSD and HDD. There's an HD webcam on the front for video chatting, and 5-megapixel shooter on back.
Asus Transformer AiO
The Asus Transformer AiO is a curious beast. First of all, the monitor of this all-in-one PC comprises an 18.4-inch detachable tablet, making it the largest Windows 8 slate around. But that's not all -- it also dual-boots Android 4.0. Other details are pretty scant. The display supports 10-point multitouch, but resolution and innards are still under wraps.
Acer Aspire S7 Series
The S7 Series of touchscreen ultrabooks will be available in 13.3- inch and 11.6-inch models. Both include an aluminum unibody design familiar to MacBook Air users, and a light-sensing keyboard whose backlighting adjusts depending on ambient light levels. The 13-inch model offers 12 hours of battery life, while the 11-incher offers up to 9 hours.
Acer Aspire AiO U Series
The Aspire 7600U is a 27-inch all-in-one PC, and the 5600U is its smaller 23-inch counterpart. The 7600U allows for up to 64-point multitouch and 0 to 90 degree viewing. It's a scant 35 mm thick. The 5600U has a smaller range of tilt, from 30 to 85 degrees. Both all-in-ones feature a full HD display and Dolby Home Theater surround sound.
Acer Iconia W700 and W510
For a Windows 8 tablet with a pop-out keyboard, you'll want to turn to members of Acer's Iconia tablet line. The W700 is a full Windows 8 tablet that features an 11.6-inch, 1080p HD touchscreen display that can be tilted up to 70 degrees. It packs three USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port and a Thunderbolt jack. Camera-wise, it's got a a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and a front-facing camera for video chats, and Dolby Home Theater audio.
The W510 has a 10.1-inch display and a detachable keyboard dock that can extend the tablet's battery life by 18 hours, and rotate up to 295 degrees. It's got micro USB and HDMI ports, as well as slots for SIM and microSD.
MSI Slider S20
The Slider S20 is a hybrid tablet PC with a useful tilting and locking mechanism that holds the display at angle, transforming it from tablet to notebook in a snap. It will feature an Ivy Bridge chipset and 4GB of RAM, and HDMI and USBB 3.0 ports. It's expected to land in Europe in September with pricing starting at around $1,000 US.
