(Credit:
CNET
)
Coming soon, a
veritable evolutionary explosion of Windows 8 devices
will be bearing down on you. Big small, tablety, non-tablety, full of
touch and ready to fold into strange shapes for your general amusement.
Welcome to the Windows 8 Field Guide, an Audubon's Birds-style
attempt to help you identify the classifications and sub-phyla of this
odd new computing world. It's not as hard as you think, once you break
down the various common types. Be forewarned: this classifications are
works in progress, and there could very well be more evolutionary
variants coming soon. But, hopefully, this should help classify some of
the multi-purpose strangeness you're already
starting to see on pre-order pages.
Of course, you still have laptops, desktops, and
tablets. Some of these tablets will have one of two operating systems: Windows 8, or Windows RT.
After that, the classifications get a little more diffuse.
The Hybrid
Prime examples:
HP Envy X2 (pictured),
Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2,
Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx,
Asus Vivo Tab
(Credit:
HP
)
What is it? A tablet that turns into a laptop,
or a laptop that breaks apart into a tablet. The idea is simple: if
there are two pieces that split apart, it's a hybrid. The keyboard base
generally has extra ports and connections like USB, as well as an extra
battery. The top part's a tablet that's also the screen. Some of these
hybrids run Windows 8, while others use the very different and more
limited Windows RT. The processors inside can also be vastly different:
fast ultrabook-level Intel Core i-series, Intel Atom-based, or Nvidia
Tegra.
The Hybrid Lite
Prime example:
Microsoft Surface (pictured)
(Credit:
Microsoft
)
What is it? Exactly as the name implies, a
tablet with a keyboard that may be included with the system, and was
specifically designed for it, but isn't a key piece to the system's
function. This is different than a hybrid because, in this instance, the
keyboard's not an integral part of the system, and doesn't hold extra
ports or batteries.
The Convertible
Prime examples:
Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga (pictured),
Asus Taichi,
Dell XPS Duo 12
(Credit:
Lenovo
)
What is it? If it looks like a laptop, and then
you can swivel something around and make it more like a tablet, it's a
convertible. The key difference between this and a hybrid is the parts
stay together. Convertible laptop/tablets have been around for years,
but Windows 8 has given the form new life. These laptops have
touch-screens, and hinged top lids or screens that can flip or swivel.
The Slider
Prime examples:
Sony Vaio Duo 11 (pictured),
Toshiba Satellite U925t
Slider: Sony Vaio Duo 11.
(Credit:
Sarah Tew/CNET
)
What is it? This special-case version of the
convertible doesn't open up like a regular laptop; instead, its keyboard
slides out and the top screen angles up, almost like a giant
smartphone, to become a laptop-like device that feels more like a tablet
with a permanently docked keyboard. The advantage: easier to open and
shut in tight quarters. Disadvantage: it's less flexible than other
types of convertibles. Also, some shrink their keyboards down or
eliminate trackpads to save space.
The Touch-screen laptop
Prime examples:
Acer Aspire S7 (pictured),
Sony Vaio T13 Touch
(Credit:
CNET
)
What is it? A laptop with a touch-screen. This
is easy to understand. A lot of existing laptops are being upgraded into
Windows 8 versions by adding an extra capacitive touch layer to the
screen. The screen works just like a tablet, but is often a bit thicker.
The Touch-screen all-in-one
Prime example:
Acer Aspire 7600U (pictured)
(Credit:
CNET
)
What is it? The world of big, all-in-one
desktops with their innards housed in the monitor have been gradually
adding touch for years. Many of the remaining all-in-ones that didn't
have touch are getting it now in time for Windows 8. It's nearly
becoming standard.
Special case: The Very Large Tablet (that's also an all-in-one)
Prime example:
Sony Vaio Tap 20 (pictured)
(Credit:
CNET
)
What is it? This category unto itself is new,
and doesn't have many representatives. Imagine a full-sized touch-screen
desktop system that you could easily take with you and use with an
attached battery. It would be a giant tablet of sorts that could run
Windows 8. It could be a versatile kitchen/living room computer, or even
a sharable PC in a living room.
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