Hasta La Gadget!

LG has outed a duo of new Windows 8 machines, the H160 sliding-convertible tablet and a 23-inch touchscreen all-in-one, the V325, with the promise of a standalone touchscreen version in the pipeline. The LG H160 has an 11.6-inch touchscreen and runs Windows 8 on a sliding/tilting form-factor, with a QWERTY keyboard revealed when the display is pushed up with LG’s new “Auto-Sliding” mechanism.

The display itself is an LCD IPS panel with 178-degree viewing angles, while connectivity includes USB, an HDMI port, microSD card slot, and the usual wireless options. The whole thing is 15.9mm thick and weighs 1.05kg – somewhat hefty for a tablet, we have to say – but manages to fit a battery good for up to 10hrs use.

There’s also a “Smart” touch pen, though it’s not clear if that’s a simple capacitive stylus of a proper active-digitizer version; we’re hoping the latter.

As for the LG V325, that’s a 23-inch Full HD AIO PC with 10-finger multitouch and a digital TV tuner, allowing for standalone TV viewing without having to boot into Windows 8. It comes with a remote control just to complete the illusion.

When you’re actually doing some work (or gaming), however, there’s an Intel Core i5 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GT640M graphics, and support for 3D, while LG says the V325 can boot up in half the time of its Windows 7 predecessors.

LG says there’ll also be a display-only version of the AIO PC, the LG ET83, launching from October 26, targeting those content with their PC/notebook but wanting touchscreen control. The company will also have new ultrabooks – the LG Z355 and Z460 – and other laptops and desktops running Microsoft’s new OS, again from October 26.

We’ve more on Windows 8, meanwhile,  in our full review.

LG H160 sliding tablet and V325 all-in-one PC pack Windows 8 is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Fujitsu is talking tablets again, and specifically how Windows 8 plays nicely with its touchscreen line-up that now includes the Stylistic Q572. The 10.1-inch Windows 8/Windows 8 Pro slate joins the Stylistic Q702 and Lifebook T902 first announced earlier this year, with an AMD dualcore Z-60 APU processor and 4GB of memory, along with Radeon HD 6250 graphics.

The Stylistic Q572 also has a choice of solid-state drives – from 64GB to 256GB – and digital pen input with a dual-mode finger/stylus touchscreen running at 1366 x 768. Connectivity includes optional 4G LTE, standard WiFi, optional Bluetooth, gigabit ethernet, HDMI and both a USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 port.

There’s also a docking connector, memory card slot, two digital microphones, audio in, audio out, and a pair of webcams: HD resolution up front, and 5-megapixels on the back. The Q572 measures in at 273.5 x 176 x 13.9 mm and weighs 820g.

Meanwhile, the existing Fujitsu tablets each get an upgrade to Windows 8, with the Intel powered Stylistic Q702 – shown above – running the new OS on an 11.6-inch docking hybrid form-factor, complete with a detachable keyboard. Alone, it will run for over 4hrs, but when docked it will last for up to 9.5hrs, Fujitsu claims.

Finally, the Lifebook T902 is a convertible 13.3-inch model with a choice of Core i5/i7 processors, a swiveling 1600 x 900 touchscreen, integrated optical drive, and optional 4G LTE. It’s more powerful than the other models, though the compromise is weight and bulk: at 1.89kg, it’s a hefty notebook to carry around in your arms all day.

Fujitsu’s updated range will go on sale alongside Windows 8, on October 26. Pricing is yet to be confirmed.

Fujitsu gets touchy-feely with Windows 8 tablets is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget inquiry is from Whee!, which we guess probably isn’t their real name, who is looking for a way to ditch their mouse. If you’re looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

“I’m a web developer, and my typical day involves a lot of moving and clicking when testing stuff in the browser. I’ve been thinking about ditching my mouse, because when using it for long hours it gets very uncomfortable. As such, I’m eyeing up a Wacom tablet and using the pen input to mouse around — but do you think it’s a good idea? Thanks in advance!”

Our questioner wants to solve their wrist-pain woes, and it certainly seems like a reasonable enough idea to us. Plenty of tablets come with a mouse mode, so it’s just down to the limits of your budget.

• If you’re just dipping your toes into the water, you can pick up a Genius device for around $60.
• Wacom’s Bamboo tablets occupy the mid-range, setting you back $80 for a 5.8-inch model, all the way up to $200 for the 8.5-incher.
• If you’re serious about making the change, then Wacom’s Intuos5 hardware is a top-range option, with the 6.2-inch version starting at $200, running all the way to $800 for the 18-inch unit, or even spending big on one of the company’s Cintiq units.
• We’ve also been wondering if a touchscreen Ultrabook might be a better idea, letting your fingers do the walking to spare your aching forearms.

That said, perhaps the wider Engadget community has an even better tip, so if you’ve already made that leap, why not share your knowledge in the comments below?

Filed under: Peripherals

Ask Engadget: Should I replace my mouse with a graphics tablet? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Oct 2012 23:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just because ASUS has planned a grand October 23rd event to outline its US Windows 8 lineup doesn’t mean we can’t get an advance peek. Pre-orders have officially kicked off for at least two touchscreen PCs that also give us a very good feeling for the hardware we’ll see at our doors. The dual-screened TAICHI 21 is naturally the star of the show, but it will cost you: a base version of the 11.6-inch hybrid with a 1.7GHz Core i5, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD starts at $1,300, while an uprated model with a 1.9GHz Core i7 and a 256GB SSD will set early adopters back by $1,600. We’d say the VivoBook X202 is more likely to get some purchases sight-unseen at $600 for an entry laptop with an 11.6-inch touchscreen, a 1.8GHz Core i3, 4GB of RAM and a conventional 500GB hard drive. Both of the systems should arrive in tandem with Windows 8’s October 26th launch and compound the traffic jams for couriers and retailers on what could be a very busy day.

[Thanks, Donny]

Update: As Computerworld noticed, Newegg also has a pre-order listing for the VivoTab RT, which costs $599 in its lone 32GB configuration. It ships the same day as its bigger cousins.

Filed under: Laptops, ASUS

ASUS TAICHI 21 and VivoBook X202 go up for US pre-orders, spoil the party a bit early (update: VivoTab RT, too) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It would appear that Dell wants to get in on the party early with three Windows 8 computers it’s putting up for pre-order here this morning for a release date “soon after Windows 8 is officially available on October 26.” With the XPS 12 convertible laptop, the XPS One 27 All-in-one, and the Inspiron One 23 All-in-one ready for action, you’ll not be left wanting for the Windows 8 touch-capable environment in all its glory. This release will be strictly pre-order inside the United States on Friday, the 12th of October (today), with releases of the actual physical devices aimed nearer the end of this month.

This update from Dell has you not just able to pre-order the new machines, but the Windows 8 operating system on a set of other compatible Dell machines on the market right this minute as well. Of course no matter what you pick up, Windows 8 won’t be getting to your door before October 26th – after that though, it’ll be a free-for-all. Over at Dell.com they’ve got your whole Windows 8 collection, everything you could possibly want, up for pre-order and regular order right now.

Dell’s XPS 12 is a strange, flippy beast – have a peek at our hands-on from August of this year to see how it looked when Dell first brought it out for sunlight. It’s got a flip hinge to it so you can use it as a normal laptop or can twist it around and push it down for a massive tablet, too. With a full HD display at 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution and full touch capacity you’ll have a hard time saying no – this attached to a price of $1,199 USD on pre-order from today.

A couple of Dell All-in-one machines are also up for order this morning, the XPS One 27 and the Inspiron One 23. With the XPS One 27 you’ll get a massive quad HD (2560 x 1440) display – the same as it’s had in the past – but this time with touch capabilities so you can make full use of Windows 8 and its full touch user interface. This update also has an articulating stand that’s able to tilt the display to a 60 degree angle – flexibility indeed! This device rings in at $1,599.99 USD. Have a peek at our XPS One 27 hands-on right this minute to see the layback.

The Inspiron One 23 brings on a lovely full HD (1920 x 1080) display and a single-cord setup to match its full touch-sensitive interface with Windows 8, all of it running on Intel’s 3rd Generation Core chipset, with several iterations available for pre-order. This model will run you $779.99 USD for starters.

Also of note is an updated version of the Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook, a device that’s now got Ivy Bridge with full Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics – this update comes in at $999 USD and is up in the Dell store right this minute as well. Have a peek at our original Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook review to see what this device is all about.

In the UK, meanwhile, the XPS 12 convertible running Windows 8 will be starting at £999, the XPS One 27 with touch at £1,779, and the Inspiron One 23 AIO with touch at £879.

Dell hits Windows 8 PC pre-order market with a bang is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.