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Last week Thursday, along with eating insane amounts of turkey and visiting with family and friends, I was able to see a family member’s brand-new ASUS VivoBook. This particular VivoBook was the X202E-DH31T model, which means that it has an Intel Core i3 processor clocked at 1.8GHz, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB 5,400RPM hard drive.
After using it for a while, I understand how Microsoft thinks that this can compete with the iPad: this particular VivoBook is a traditional laptop, complete with the ability to run traditional Windows software, just with a touchscreen that turns the laptop into a tablet when you are done with work that requires a keyboard and mouse versus just your fingers.
Everything was very smooth, even with the spinning platter storage and less-than-stellar processor. Apps opened up quickly and animations and transitions were as smooth on the ASUS as they are on my Intel Core i7 3770k- and 7970GHz Edition-powered gaming rig.
When I was finished fiddling around with the laptop, I went back to my iPad and realized that, while it’s a fantastic device, Windows 8 devices are just a bit better. Instead of lugging around my MacBook and a tablet, I could just bring my VivoBook (or other Windows 8 convertible) along with me and save on weight and forego the uneasiness that comes with bringing a lot of expensive tech along to wherever I need to go – while still being able to do the work that I do which requires a full desktop experience.
At this point, I don’t think I’m ready to entirely give up a laptop/tablet combination, but I’m starting to consider it. I always knew that the Windows 8 convertibles and hybrids that were introduced earlier this year would be competition for Apple, but I just didn’t realize just how fantastic they would turn out to be – and how worried the Cupertino-based company should be, too.
I think I’d personally like something with even more power than this particular VivoBook, but the point still stands: Windows 8 convertibles and hybrids are, in my opinion, the true iPad and Android tablet killers.
But that’s just one man, one editor’s experience. Have you used a Windows 8 hybrid or convertible? And if so, did you like it – or even feel that you wanted to replace your current mobile setup with one? Let’s chat in the comments below!
Honestly, I’m very happily chugging along with my Chromebook as my main desktop computing environment, and my Nexus 7 as my tablet. I think I like the small 7-inch form factor better as a tablet – it’s more portable, easier to hold when reading, etc. – and most of the Windows convertibles are 10-13 inches. And so far, I don’t miss Windows much at all – I’m really surprised at how productive I can be in Chrome OS. So for now, I’m not buying a convertible… but that’s just me, and I know I’m weird.
I would hardly say chugging lol. This Chromebook is light enough to secure with three fingers… It just gets the job done, forger all the bells and whistles.
I think convertibles have to be a bit more convertible ala Lenovo Yoga 13, but the software is there. It’s simply the manufacturer’s job to provide the hardware.
That’s what I thought, too, but I’m always propping my iPad on something to use it comfortably. A traditional laptop – albeit with a touchscreen – is essentially what I set my iPad up like already, so something like this VivoBook is exactly what I’d want.
I managed to pick up the Cyber Monday-only Acer W510 for $400 (plus tax) today. At that price, having a completely silent and lightweight x86 tablet that can run legacy apps is worth the risk of V1 devices. Even though it’s an Atom-powered device, I still think it’ll be worth it. They’ve come a long way from the Diamondville days.
I just hope I can get that keyboard dock separately. The good news is that even if the keyboard costs $200, I’ll have come out ahead (didn’t need the 64 GB SSD); I’ve got plenty of microSDHC/XC cards I can use.
I’ll have a tough decision when they make a powerful enough 7″ 86 version tablet. I don’t see that being any time soon though. From the rumors the first 7″ will be an RT model and I’m not interested in that at all. A full windows that I can carry around with mobile connections. That would be hard for anyone to beat.
At the moment, I’m not interested in Windows RT, either. If I’m going to replace my laptop and tablet combination, then I need to be able to use all of my old applications, too. At the same time, if Microsoft can get the Windows Store full of the apps I use daily, then WinRT is a serious contender for my next operating system – provided that ARM processors become even more powerful.
Nice article Caleb! I picked up a Yoga 13 last week and it really is the epitome of what you described: a very capable laptop that becomes a very capable tablet with the simple flip of the screen.
However, I have a very difficult time adjusting to Windows 8 when I am in ‘laptop’ mode, it just seems very cumbersome compared to Windows 7.
Likewise, when using the Yoga 13 in ‘tablet’ mode with Windows 8 I find myself missing many of the iPad apps out there.
The apps will likely catch up very quickly though. Developers aren’t going to ignore windows, especially with the write once, run everywhere attitude that windows 8 has
Hi hisuwh, I think you are right!
I hope it happens quickly though, because as it is I was shocked that even something like Pandora is not available as a ‘Metro’ new UI style app, nor is Chrome. I realize one can just load Pandora in a browser, or Chrome in ‘desktop’ mode but that somewhat negates the point of having an app store in the first place and a ‘tablet’ with touch features.
Also, I worry a bit that Windows 8 tablet app development will suffer (somewhat like Android) when there are so many different form factors/screen sizes/hardware-features/resolution.
I do not mean to be a naysayer, as I am not an Apple lover (far from it), it is just that Apple has an easier go of it with their total control of hardware (i.e. you can get an iPad 1,2,3,4 or iPad mini and that’s it) whereas Google and MS have to deal with dozens if not hundreds of devices.
With all that said, I have do high hopes for Windows 8 as well as continued improvement of Android on tablets
Thanks!
And I agree with hisuwh: the apps will come, we just have to give it time. I think Microsoft has done a fantastic job of expanding the Windows Phone app selection, and hopefully it can do the same with the Windows Store.
When they bring out a 6″ – 7″ convertible, preferably with an S-Pen, then it will be the take evrywhere device.
I like what they are doing a lot and I would definitely buy a Windows 8 hybrid now for the larger size rather than an IPad or Nexus 10 or anyother larger device. However I believe that a true UMPC is round the corner. When they bring our the 7″ size one then I won’t see the need for a Fire or Nexus 7. Just let it have GPS built in and 3/4G and you will have the true convergence device – give it a dock for connecting to peripherals i.e. Monitor, larger keyboard, extra hard drives etc and you can move between home and work and play.
Give it a couple more years and then they could do the Padfone concept properly / closer to the original.
I completely agree with you, Calob. I have quickly fallen in love with Windows 8′s blending of the laptop and tablet experiences. You really haven’t tried Windows 8 until you’ve experienced it with this type of form-factor.
While not a laptop per se, I’m personally looking forward to the Surface Pro with full blown Windows 8 Pro on a tablet. It is the same thing mentioned here — laptop moving to tablet — just backwards — tablet to laptop. I saw Surfaces on display at the Times Square Microsoft store and the keyboards are pretty great for mobility, and if propped up at a desk, there’s the USB port to put a traditional keyboard in. I think the Pro might be an even stronger game changer as you can run any Windows app on it. I’m imagining though that price will be through the roof.