Surface Touch Cover Detailed: An Ultra-Thin Touch Keyboard As Efficient As A Laptop’s

Screen Shot 2012-10-23 at 3.40.55 PM

With all the hullaballoo surrounding the new iPad Mini, it’s worth remembering that some actual Windows-flavored competition is ready to roll. We learned last week that Microsoft spent quite some time in a self-described Willy Wonka type studio, carefully crafting the clicky, compact Windows 8 tablet. And one of its most special, and most important, features is the Touch Cover, which doubles as a tablet cover and a keyboard all in one 3mm package.

Microsoft today released a video that goes into more detail about the Touch Cover’s creation. As you may remember from the original tour through Studio B, a lot of attention went into the noises of the tablet, namely the soft clicking sound when the touch cover attaches.

Microsoft also showed off the Type Cover, which is essentially a 6mm cover with a scissor key keyboard. It has all the same “smart” functionality as the Touch Cover, but with a bit more familiarity when typing.

However, an engineer in the video explains that, with the Touch Cover, “there isn’t a huge learning curve with respect to muscle memory of where your fingers are striking the keys.” We’ll have to wait until full reviews are released to find out.

Microsoft Surface RT is already available for pre-order and becomes available on October 26.


ASUS Windows 8 rush of PCs, tablets, and convertibles let loose

Today may have been all about Apple, but ASUS is here to remind us that Windows 8 is right around the corner. Today it announced a slew of new devices and gave pricing and release information for the ASUS TAICHI, one of the most interesting machines we’ve seen all year. Make no mistake, ASUS is planning to hit the Windows 8 scene hard.


The first device ASUS announced today is the ET2300, which is a new all-in-one PC that has an 1080p IPS display capable of lying flat. It’s powered by either an Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 depending on your preference, and if you don’t want to roll with the integrated Intel graphics that come standard, you can opt for a NIVIDA GT 630M instead. It also comes with optional Thunderbolt connectivity, and when you go to purchase one, you can nab up to 8GB of RAM and up to 2TB of internal storage. Not too bad, but sadly, pricing and release information for the ET2300 isn’t available quite yet.

If you’re more of a laptop person, then you’ll be pleased to know that ASUS also announced a trio of new touch screen VivoBooks today. The VivoBook Q200 comes with an 11.6-inch display and can be yours for $499, which is significantly lower than a number of ultrabooks currently on the market. The VivoBook S400 brings the display size up to 14-inches, but also comes with a boost in price – this one comes in at $599. Finally, we have the 15-inch VivoBook S500 for $649, though it’s worth pointing out that you’ll be able to customize the innards of each VivoBook when it comes time to check out, meaning that you could end up paying more if you don’t want the Core i3 that comes standard in each.

Finally, we come to the pricing and release information for the TAICHI, the wild convertible that features a double-sided screen. The 11-inch TAICHI model, which comes equipped with a Core i5 and Intel integrated graphics, will begin shipping next month for $1,299, $1,499 (bumping the 128GB SSD up to 256GB), and $1,599, with that hefty price tag fetching a Core i7 instead of an i5. Those prices are a little high, but then again, what did you expect to pay for a laptop with two screens?

More information will undoubtedly be made available after the launch of Windows 8, and we’ll be waiting with bated breath so you don’t have to! Keep it tuned here to SlashGear for more details on these varied ASUS machines.


ASUS Windows 8 rush of PCs, tablets, and convertibles let loose is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


ASUS VivoTab RT tablet arrives October 26th, starting at $599 for the 32GB model; keyboard dock included (update: eyes-on!)

ASUS VivoTab RT tablet arrives October 26th, starting at $599 for the 32GB model keyboard dock included

In case you haven’t heard, a lot — and we mean a lot — of Windows devices are going on sale this week. Today it’s ASUS’ turn to give its lineup a formal coming-out party: the company is hosting a press event here in New York City, where it just announced the dockable VivoTab RT will be available on October 26th, starting at $599 for the 32GB model, keyboard included. Alternatively, you can buy the 64GB tablet and docking station for $699. As we previously reported, an LTE version is coming to AT&T. Finally, ASUS says it will also sell the tablet and dock individually, but we haven’t yet learned final pricing for those items. We’ll update this post when we do.

If this is your first introduction to the VivoTab RT, here’s a quick recap: it basically offers everything people loved about ASUS’ Android-based Transformer tablets, except it runs Windows RT instead. Like the Infinity and other recent ASUS tablets, it has a 600-nit Super IPS+ display, offering 178-degree viewing angles and Gorilla Glass protection. Other specs include a quad-core Tegra 3 chip (the new T30, to be exact), 2GB of RAM, NFC and an 8-megapixel rear camera with an auto-focusing f/2.2 lens. Then there’s that keyboard dock, which has a USB 2.0 port and built-in battery rated for seven hours. (The tablet itself is said to last up to nine hours.) Finally, of course, as a Windows RT device it comes loaded with all of the same stock applications you’ll find in full Windows 8 (Mail, IE 10, etc.), along with Office 2013 Home & Student. The main difference: you won’t be able to install legacy Windows programs.

The VivoTab RT arrives the same day as the Surface for Windows RT and indeed, we’ll be eager to compare the two, especially since pricing for the keyboard-tablet bundles is identical. In fact, ASUS sent us one to test, and you can expect a review any day now. Until then, we’ve embedded some press photos below, in case you’re just getting your first look.

Continue reading ASUS VivoTab RT tablet arrives October 26th, starting at $599 for the 32GB model; keyboard dock included (update: eyes-on!)

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ASUS VivoTab RT tablet arrives October 26th, starting at $599 for the 32GB model; keyboard dock included (update: eyes-on!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Asus Vivo Tab RT Review: A Windows 8 Tablet Is Here, But What Do We Do With It?

When Microsoft first announced its plans to make Windows 8 an operating system that would work on tablets and traditional PCs alike, many considered the plan ambitious. Now that the OS is here, the Vivo Touch RT is the first third party, ARM-based tablet to take the software for a spin. And while it’s a fully functional product that works, it’s still not ready to sway the naysayers. More »

ASUS outs ET2300 all-in-one desktop with articulating, 23-inch touchscreen, optional Thunderbolt (update: eyes-on!)

ASUS outs ET2300 all-in-one desktop with articulating, 23-inch touchscreen, optional Thunderbolt

If you’re a PC maker launching a new lineup of Windows 8 devices, you’re going to look awfully square if you don’t have at least one touch-enabled all-in-one to show off. Clearly, ASUS got the memo. Here at a press event in New York City, the company announced the ET2300, a 23-inch desktop whose display can be pushed down to lie basically flat — a pretty ubiquitous form factor these days. Starting with that IPS screen, it has 1080p resolution and promises horizontal viewing angles of 178 degrees. Under the hood, it runs your choice of Core i3, i5 or i7 processor, with either integrated Intel graphics or NVIDIA’s GT 630M GPU. (Even then, you can choose between one and two gigs of dedicated video memory.) Other specs include up to 8GB of RAM, up to 2TB in HDD storage, a slot-loading DVD drive, Intel Wireless Display and optional Thunderbolt connectivity. Additionally, like ASUS’ other products (even its tablets and phones), it makes use of SonicMaster’s audio technology. We haven’t heard anything regarding pricing or availability just yet, but we’ll update this post if we do.

Mat Smith contributed to this report.

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ASUS outs ET2300 all-in-one desktop with articulating, 23-inch touchscreen, optional Thunderbolt (update: eyes-on!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS TAICHI dual-screen Ultrabook coming in November for $1,300, 13-inch version to follow a month later

ASUS TAICHI dual-screen Ultrabook coming in November for $1,300, 13-inch version to follow a month later

Although we’ve now seen many dozens of Windows 8 devices, the ASUS TAICHI remains one of the most memorable — it’s unusual, after all, for a PC maker to make a laptop with displays on both sides of the lid. Even when it was announced, ASUS shared some high-level specs, but now we also know how much it’ll cost, and when it will be available. As leaked the 11-inch version (aka the TAICHI 21) will go on sale next month, starting at $1,299. A lofty price, to be sure, but no one ever said dual 1080p IPS displays would come cheap. At the entry level, you get a Core i5-3317U processor, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. For $1,499, it comes with 256GB of storage. Finally, there will be a $1,599 configuration with a 256GB drive and a Core i7 processor. And what of the 13-inch version ASUS showed off earlier this year? An ASUS rep says the TAICHI 31 won’t ship until December.

Across the board, the TAICHI comes with Intel HD 4000 graphics, two USB 3.0 ports, a 5-megapixel rear camera, a 720p webcam up front, Bluetooth 4.0 and Intel’s Wireless Display technology. Again, the smaller, 11-inch version will ship in November with the 13-inch model following a month later. In the meantime, we’ll direct you to our hands-on from June if you’re hankering for hands-on photos and video.

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ASUS TAICHI dual-screen Ultrabook coming in November for $1,300, 13-inch version to follow a month later originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell’s Latitude 10 tablet, OptiPlex 9010 all-in-one and Latitude 6430u Ultrabook all available now

Remember last month when Dell announced an all-in-one, Ultrabook and dockable 10-inch tablet, all aimed at enterprise users? Well, they’ve finally gotten some proper prices, and are now up for sale on Dell’s site. Starting with the Latitude 10 Windows 8 tablet, it starts at $650 — about right for a 10-inch, Atom-powered slate with an IPS display and 1,366 x 768 resolution. Other specs include two gigs of RAM, up to 128GB of eMMC NAND storage and, most notably, a swappable 60Wh battery. On the tablet itself, you’ve got a USB 2.0 port, a micro-USB socket for charging, mini-HDMI, a headphone port, micro-SIM slot and a full-size SD reader. The dock adds four USB 2.0 connections, along with Ethernet, HDMI and audio output.

Moving on, the Latitude 6430u Ultrabook has a 14-inch matte display with 1,366 x 768 resolution. As it happens, it’s one of those 14-inch displays crammed into a 13-inch chassis, so the bezels should be pretty narrow. Configuration options include your usual array of Core i3, i5 and i7 processors (vPro optional), with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of solid-state storage. Prices start at $900. Lastly, in case you missed it last month, the OptiPlex 9010 is a 23-inch all-in-one desktop with 1080p resolution and vPro-equipped processors. Design-wise, it’s identical to a model Dell announced earlier this year, only now it runs Windows 8, not 7. That starts at $1,200.

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Dell’s Latitude 10 tablet, OptiPlex 9010 all-in-one and Latitude 6430u Ultrabook all available now originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell announces its first multi-touch monitor, the S2340T, and a wireless trackpad for Windows 8

Dell announces its first multi-touch monitor, the S2340T, and a wireless trackpad for Windows 8

In addition to trotting out a new Windows 8 Ultrabook and putting its Windows RT tablet up for pre-order, Dell just announced its first multi-touch display along with a wireless trackpad optimized for Win 8. Starting with the 23-inch S2340T, it has 1080p resolution and a 90-degree articulating stand that allows the display to lie nearly face-up. At the base, you’ll find various inputs, including USB 3.0, HDMI, DisplayPort and Ethernet. There’s also a webcam up top for those of you who plan on giving the new version of Skype a try. Meanwhile, the TP713 (pictured) is a Magic Trackpad-style touchpad designed to support Windows 8 gestures, such as swiping in from the left to toggle through applications. Both are up on Dell’s site now, with the monitor priced at $650 and the trackpad going for $70. Both are expected to begin shipping this week.

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Dell announces its first multi-touch monitor, the S2340T, and a wireless trackpad for Windows 8 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell unveils Inspiron 15z Ultrabook with optional touchscreen, prices start at $750

Dell unveils Inspiron 15z Ultrabook with optional touchscreen, prices start at $750

In case Dell’s convertible XPS 12 is too expensive (or weird-looking) for your tastes, the company’s got a more traditional sort of Ultrabook on tap. The company just announced the Inspiron 15z, a 15-inch notebook with an optional touchscreen. As you can see in our hands-on shots below, it’s essentially the same plastic-and-metal design as earlier Inspiron Ultrabooks, though that touchscreen is of course new. At “less than an inch thick” it’s still chunkier than your typical ultraportable, but if you insist on having a DVD burner, this could be a tempting choice. Plus, at 4.12 pounds, it’s reasonably light for a machine with this large a footprint.

It’s already up for sale on Dell’s site, starting at $750 with a Core i3 processor, 6GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive paired with a 32GB SSD. Touch-enabled versions start at $900. So far as we can tell, the memory and hard drive stay pretty consistent as you move up in configurations, though you can opt for a Core i5 or i7 CPU. The highest-end confg also steps up from integrated graphics to a 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GT630M GPU. Curious? We’ve got hands-on pics below, with more details at the source link.

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Dell unveils Inspiron 15z Ultrabook with optional touchscreen, prices start at $750 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell opens Windows 8 device floodgates with pricing galore

This week Dell has begun the final announcements of their Windows 8 devices in full, with no less than 10 machines ready for action this Fall. These devices aren’t all computers, of course, with a wireless touchpad and a monitor in there as well, but they’re all aiming in the same direction nonetheless. This update includes such gems as the XPS 10 tablet, Inspiron 15z, and the OptiPlex 9010 All-in-One with touch.

Dell will be attacking the PC world with a selection of products running Windows 8 at launch or fully prepared to work with Windows 8 with attachments. These include tablets, notebooks, and flip convertibles as well as accessories. Available for purchase starting this week – with delivery starting this week as well – are the following:

XPS One 27 with touch – starting at $1599.99
XPS13 – starting at $999.99
• S2340T multi-touch monitor – starting at $699.99
• TP713 wireless touchpad – starting at $69.99

This update also covers the entirety of Dell’s PCs and Precision workstations which has Windows 8 for pre-order available on the Dell online store. With Windows 8′s formal unveiling happening this week, we’re expecting orders to be shipped sooner than later. The rest of the items being priced today are available for purchase today online but will be delivered at a later date – not too long though, with Dell saying “in the coming days and weeks” as an estimated delivery window.

XPS 12 – starting at $1,199.99
XPS 10 tablet – starting at $499
Latitude 10 tablet – starting at $649
• Latitude 6430u – starting at $899
• OptiPlex 9010 All-in-One with touch – starting at $1199
• Inspiron 15z – starting at $749.99 ($899.99 with touch)

Have a peek at the links embedded in the names of these units to see more information about each of them. The S2340T is a new unit which is indeed Dell’s first multi-touch monitor, it working with a 90-degree articulating stand and full Windows 8 functionality. The TP713 touchpad offers up more Windows 8 gesture and touch functionality with a full-touch surface.

The Latitude 643u is Dell’s first business Ultrabook. This unit works with lovely aesthetics on the outside and a highly manageable notebook on the inside, with durable features top to bottom. This unit works with wireless docking using WiGig technology, has all-day battery life, and is made to be hardcore, “having undergone a broader set of United States’ Military’s MIL-STD 810G standard tests than any other system in its class.” The Opti-Plex 9010 All-in-One is made for those with small desks and big business needs. You’ve got a multipoint touchscreen, fixed or rotating camera, and articulating stand – this unit is also optimized for Microsoft Lync.

The Inspiron 15z Ultrabook is being revealed with an optional touchscreen interface and a giant display. This unit measures in at less than 1 inch thick and has a shiny aluminum finish, made for those that want both a giant amount of space to work and a thin unit to do it in. Expect these devices to be hitting shelves immediately if not soon!


Dell opens Windows 8 device floodgates with pricing galore is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.