Just three years ago, software giant Microsoft released Windows 7, a PC operating system that was praised everywhere. However, falling PC sales and simultaneously soaring sales of mobile devices such as tablets and ultrabooks did not let Microsoft rest. The result is unsurprisingly called Windows 8 - an operating system for both home PCs and trendy portable devices, as it accepts normal control commands as well as touch operation. The first ultrabooks with the new operating system will also be available at the Windows market launch. We present the most interesting ones.
Asus Zenbook Touch UX21
Asus präsentiert mit dem Zenbook Touch UX21 sein erstes Ultrabook mit berührungsempfindlichen Bildschirm – wie gemacht für Windows 8 und dessen neuer Kachel-Oberfläche. Weiter stecken im schlanken Mobilrechner unter anderem ein Ivy-Bridge-Prozessor von Intel (1,9 Gigahertz), ein 256 Gigabyte (GB) großer SSD-Speicher und ein 10-Punkt-Multitouch-Display mit Full-HD-Auflösung (11,6 Zoll). Die hier – wie übrigens auch in allen anderen hier vorgestellten Modellen – eingebaute USB 3.0-Schnittstelle überträgt Daten bis zu zehnmal schneller als der Vorläufer USB 2.0. Die Akku-Laufzeit beträgt bis zu neun Stunden im Betrieb, der Preis liegt bei saftigen 1200 Euro.
Acer Aspire S7
Weighing just 1.3 kilograms and only 12 millimetres thick, the Aspire 7 feels good in the hand. The casing with its aluminum and Gorilla glass components is also scratch-resistant and sturdy. Here too, a Full HD multi-touch display makes it easier to use Windows 8 applications. The display can even be opened up to 180 degrees - so the back lies flat on the surface. The screen content can also be rotated at the touch of a button so that it can be shown to a person sitting opposite. The 1.9 GHz Intel Core i7 chip ensures solid computing power, supported by the 4 GB RAM. The built-in SSD memory offers 256 GB of space. Around four hours of battery life is not exactly record-breaking. The Aspire S7 is expected to cost around 1600 euros.
Dell XPS 12
Die hervorstechendste Eigenschaft des XPS12 ist sein Display: Der 12,5-Zoll-Bildschirm – mit Full-HD-Auflösung – lässt sich nämlich dank im Rahmen eingelassener Scharniere im Betrieb drehen, so dass er anschließend zur Außenseite des Geräts ausgerichtet ist. Klappt man das Gerät dann zusammen, hat man ein Tablet zur Hand, das dank Touchscreen natürlich auch wie eines bedient werden kann. Der Arbeitsspeicher liegt zwischen 4 und 8 GB, der SSD-Festspeicher zwischen 128 und 256 GB. Prozessor-seitig stehen i5 oder i7-Chips zur Auswahl – getaktet mit 1,7 beziehungsweise 1,9 Gigahertz. Preise für das XPS 12 gehen bei 1200 Euro los.
Lenovo ThinkPad Twist
The screen of Lenovo's Windows 8 model ThinkPad Twist also catches the eye first: a hinge connects it to the center of the chassis and ensures that the display can be rotated around its own axis and folded down. After a 180-degree rotation and when folded, the ThinkPad Twist looks like a tablet PC. The approximately 20 millimeter thick model is powered by Intel Core processors ranging from Core i5 (1.7 GHz) to Core i7 (1.9 GHz). The multi-touch-capable 12.5-inch screen has a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels and is protected from scratches and knocks by Gorilla glass. The RAM is either 4 or 8 GB, with a choice of 128 GB SSD or a 320 GB hard disk. Lenovo does not provide any information on the battery life, the cheapest version costs around 960 euros.
Toshiba Satellite U920t
Toshiba is also making its mark with its new Satellite U920t on the fine line between ultrabook and tablet PCSimilar to smartphones with a slide-out keyboard, the display can be moved back and forth via a slider mechanism to switch between use as a tablet and a notebook. The backlit touchscreen has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. It can be operated with up to five fingers simultaneously in tablet mode and is protected by a pane of scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass. The first two models available, the 100 (approx. 1250 euros) and 109 (approx. 1100 euros), differ in their built-in processors with a clock speed of 1.8 and 1.7 gigahertz respectively. Both have 4 GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD for data storage in common. Toshiba promises a battery life of seven hours.
Photo source: Asus