Dell gave us a heads up back at IFA that it was planning on offering its high-end XPS 27 all-in-one with an optional touchscreen. Well, that day has come: the company just announced that it will begin accepting pre-orders today, with the touch-enabled models starting at $1,600. As a quick refresher, that 27-inch screen tops out a whopping 2,560 x 1,440 pixels, while the stand tilts to a near-flat angle of 60 degrees. If sixteen hundred bucks is more money than you were planning on spending, Dell will also offer the Inspiron One 23 with an optional touchscreen. At a fraction of the cost ($780 and up) it makes do with lesser specs (a 1080p, not quad HD, display, for instance), but it has been refreshed with Ivy Bridge, so you should at least be future-proofed on the CPU front. Again, you can order these starting today, but don’t expect them to ship until after October 26th.
Well, that’s a form factor you don’t see that often. Of all the Windows 8 PCs we’ve seen so far, the Dell XPS 12 is tough to forget, if only because it’s the only one whose screen flips inside the hinge like an easel. We already got hands-on at IFA last month, but now we’re learning some key details — you know, like pricing and availability. Dell just announced that it will go up for pre-order today, starting at $1,199. (It will ship October 26th, the day Windows 8 launches.) That’s a princely sum indeed compared to some of the other Windows 8 ultraportables we’ve seen, but it’s important to remember that this runs not on an Atom processor, but an Ultrabook-grade CPU. And while you might assume that 12.5-inch display makes do with 1,366 x 768 resolution, it’s actually a dense 1080p panel. Hopefully we’ll get to review a final unit soon, but in the meantime feast yourself on a fresh round of hands-on shots below.
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.
Windows 8 launches on October 26. It’s been said to be Microsoft’s most important product launch to date. And Redmond is reportedly prepped to properly support the product with a massive marketing campaign. Forbes reports the campaign costs between $1.5-$1.8 billion, making it the largest product launch in the history of the industry.
Microsoft has strangely been relatively quiet about Windows 8 so far. On the eve of its release, the company seems to be instead focusing on Bing and Internet Explorer 9 marketing. But that should change in the coming days. Windows 8 launches in two weeks. And thanks to its differences, unlike previous Windows versions, Microsoft has to sell the OS to the average consumer, the enthusiast and corporate IT manager.
Windows 8 is different and not different in a good way demonstrated by Windows Phone 8. Microsoft’s upcoming mobile OS is unlike iOS and Android. Everything from the notifications to apps to workflow is different but also refreshing. The smartphone market has doubled in size nearly every year for the last five years. Most consumers have not been on a particular mobile platform long enough to have the workflow utterly ingrained within their DNA. At this point, a change to something else could be welcomed, even celebrated. But that’s not the case for Windows 8.
Windows has featured the same flow for 17 years. As the dominant desktop OS in the world, there is a large chunk of the world’s populace who have only used Windows. I’m a big fan of it on a mobile device, but not a desktop computer. Microsoft wisely knew that it was going to have to spend big money to convince users that different is good, and that Windows 8 is worth the trouble to learn a new workpath.
Making Windows 8 dramatically cheaper than previous versions should help as well. Microsoft is pricing the upgrade versions of Windows 8 to move. It’s only $40 to upgrade from Windows XP, Vista or 7.
The vast majority of this huge marketing campaign no doubt targets new computer buyers. The Windows 8 marketing blitz is likely designed to get people into Best Buy to purchase a new computer. For the first time in a generation, Microsoft can honestly advertise that Windows offers something different. Replace that aging, malware-infested Pentium 4 desktop with a new, touch-enabled all-in-one. This is where Microsoft will win.
Details are still light on Microsoft’s Windows 8 marketing campaign, but expect to see the new Windows flag and the Metro interface everywhere over the holiday season. Microsoft wants Windows 8 to be the Furby of 2012. Windows Phone 8 launches shortly after the desktop operating system. The Microsoft Surface should drop in the near future as well. Microsoft wants to draw all the attention their way this holiday season, and with the big money reportedly being spent on marketing, it’s certainly putting its pocketbook behind that goal.
Lenovo is back with its latest creation in the form of the IdeaTab Lynx. Powered by the Microsoft Windows 8 operating system, the Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx is actually a combination of both laptop and tablet. The Lynx features a 11.6-inch display with 1366 x 768 pixel resolution, an Intel Atom Z2760 Clover Trail processor, a 2GB of RAM, and a 32GB to 64GB of flash storage. Other important specs include a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, a microUSB port, a microSD card slot, a micro HDMI, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 and dual stereo speakers. The Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx retails for $599, while its keyboard dock is priced at $150. [PCLaunches]
Samsung has just days to go before the Series 5 Slate (and ATIV Smart PC) arrives hand-in-hand with the official launch of Windows 8, so we’re surprised that it’s been waiting so long to clear the usual regulatory hurdles in the US. Just in the nick of time, though, the 11-inch tablet has passed by the FCC for approval. There’s no hidden surprises to go with the testing — this is the regular Series 5 with Bluetooth and dual-band WiFi, but no visible NFC or the AT&T model’s LTE. As such, we’re more curious about when Samsung’s Series 7 Slate and Series 5 Ultra Touch reach the FCC’s doors. They’ll likely arrive soon, but any significant delay could put them on the sidelines for Microsoft’s big moment.
Today Sony outs in the US its latest Vaio line-up and introduces some already well known devices including the stunning Vaio Duo, and the Vaio Tap 20 alongside the new Vaio T Series, E Series and S Series T Series The top-selling stylish T Series Ultrabook made with an ultra-smooth brushed aluminum shell now comes with a touch display on the new T13 Ultrabook to allow consumers to experience Windows 8-based touch in a clamshell form factor with optional touchscreen. Sony is also introducing …
If you are looking for a new all-in-one PC for your home or office, then check out the ASUS ET2701. It is a Windows 8-ready all-in-one PC that features a 27-inch frameless, 10-point capacitive touchscreen LED backlit display with a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution and a wide viewing angle of 178 degrees in both horizontal and vertical directions. The ASUS ET2701 is available in various configurations, depending on your budget. The company will include the Intel Core i7-3770S (8 MB Cache, 3.10 GHz, TBD: Turbo Boost up to 3.9 GHz), the Core i5-3450 (6 MB Cache, 3.10 GHz, TBD: Turbo Boost up to 3.5 GHz), the Core i5-3330, or the Core i3-3220 processor. Other specs include up to 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, up to 2 TB of storage capacity (SATA HDD), a tray-in Blu-ray writer, a 3-in-1 SD card reader, USB 3.0 and an e-SATA/USB 2.0 combo port. [ASUS]
Sony has introduced its first tabletop PC in the US market, the VAIO Tap 20, a massive 20-inch tablet computer, as well as the smaller VAIO Duo 11 “hybrid slider” PC, which we reviewed back in August. In addition to the Tap 20 and the Duo 11, Sony has also released touch-enabled ultrabooks, including a refresh of the T13 and the E series 14P models. This line of touch-enabled PCs runs Windows 8.
We got our hands on the Tap 20 back in August, and yes, it is as massive as you think it is. This 20-inch tablet is a full PC, and offers a 10-multitouch touchscreen at 1600×900 resolution, a front webcam, USB ports, audio in and out ports, an adjustable metal stand, and a battery. Watch us playing Fruit Ninja on Tap 20 in the video below. The VAIO Tap 20 is priced at $879.99, and will be available in white and black.
Meanwhile, the smaller “hybrid slider” VAIO Duo 11 PC is a smaller, portable tablet/laptop hybrid, with a built-in keyboard that slides under the display when you want to use it as a tablet, and slides out when you want to use it as a touch-enabled laptop. The Duo 11 has a full HD display, a pressure-sensitive stylus with swappable pen tips, a backlit keyboard, Active Clip, Sony original app for photo cropping, and the Note Anytime note taking application. It weighs in at 2.84lbs. The VAIO Duo 11 is priced at $1099.99, and will only be available in black.
As a bonus – especially for artists and graphic designers – Sony partnered with ArtRage, and will provide a copy of ArtRage Studio on all five of these new touch-enabled devices. In addition to ArtRage, the VAIO Tap 20 will include the FingerTapps Organizer, a calendar/organizer app designed to allow families to easily share notes and events with each other, perhaps an indication of who Sony’s primary intended market is. In line with the family-oriented apps, the VAIO Tap 20 will also include My Daily Clip, an app developed in partnership with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment that allows individuals to sit around the tablet and play a movie trivia game.
As for the other three models, the VAIO T13 ($669.99) is a refresh model, with an added touchscreen display running Windows 8. The E series 14P ($689.99) is also a refresh model, with an added touchscreen running Windows 8. The E Series is price as follows: models 11, 14, and 15 at $449.99, and model 17 at $729.99. Both T Series models are priced at $669.99. The S Series 13 has a starting price of $799.99, while the premium S series 13 starts at $1199.99. The S series 15 model starts at $849.99, and the L Series 15 starts at $1199.99.
All five of these devices will be available at the end of the month. Whether the Tap 20 and Duo 11 are the future of PCs as traditional PC sales slip and Microsoft pushes its touch-friendly Windows 8 is yet to be seen. For now, however, it looks like things are getting interesting.
Here’s something that’s causing a bit of controversy with the gamers of the world: apparently, Microsoft isn’t interested in allowing PEGI 18-rated games on the Windows 8 App Store. In Microsoft’s list of Windows 8 Marketplace certification requirements, the company says, “Apps with a rating over PEGI 16, ESRB MATURE, or that contain content that would warrant such a rating, are not allowed.” This is part of the requirement that Windows Marketplace apps must be “appropriate for a global audience.”
Earlier in the day, that caused a bit of confusion among some people. At first, it may sound like Microsoft doesn’t want M-rated games on the Windows 8 Store, but in a statement to Forbes, the ESRB says that Microsoft will actually allow M-rated games on the app store – it’s Adults Only-rated games it doesn’t want popping up on there. That’s understandable, considering that most retailers won’t even carry AO-rated games, and Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo don’t want AO games made for their consoles.
So why then is Microsoft saying that PEGI 18 games aren’t allowed on the Windows 8 Marketplace? The PEGI 18 rating is essentially Europe’s equivalent of the ESRB’s M-rating, so it’s a bit odd that Microsoft doesn’t want PEGI 18 games on the Windows Store but it’s okay with M-rated games being sold through it. With this rule, PEGI 18-rated games like Mass Effect 3, Skyrim, and Modern Warfare 3 won’t be allowed on the Windows 8 Marketplace, but their M-rated US counterparts would be.
At least, that’s the assumption from a literal reading of the rule. It’s important to point out that Microsoft isn’t banning PEGI 18-rated games from Windows 8 machines, just the Windows 8 Marketplace, so players would still be able to purchase and install them from places like Steam and GamersGate. Keep it tuned to SlashGear, as we’ll update you if Microsoft offers some kind of clarification to this rather confusing certification requirement.
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