The best tablets of CES 2014 – The Verge

The Transformer Book Duet combines Windows with Android, tablet with laptop

2014-01-06T17:10:52-05:00

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On stage at CES today, Jonney Shih proclaimed his company's new Transformer the world's first 4-in-1 device. By that he meant that it's a Windows laptop and tablet as well as an Android laptop and tablet. This new 13.3-inch slate transforms both physically and virtually thanks to the company's new dual-OS setup. A quick switch of three or four seconds is all that's required to morph you from the Windows 8 environment into the familiar Android UI and vice versa.

The Transformer Book Duet is powered by Intel's Haswell CPU, up to the Core i7 models, and comes with storage starting at 64GB, but extending beyond a terabyte if you're willing to p …

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The Asus Transformer Book Duet hybrid can instantly switch between Windows and Android

2014-01-06T15:10:39-05:00

Asus Transformer Book Duet

Back at Computex in June, Asus introduced its Transformer Book Trio - a computer that could function as both a laptop and tablet and dual-booted between Windows 8 and Android. Now, the company's announcing a new version with a similar mission: the Transformer Book Duet TD300 is a convertible laptop / tablet hybrid that can dual boot between Windows 8.1 and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Beyond Asus' earlier effort, Samsung tried this dual-boot trick last year with its Ativ Q, though the new Asus model looks more like a traditional ultrabook at first glance. It has the standard folding form factor rather than the sliding keyboard that Samsung used …

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Nvidia’s Tegra K1 tablet shows a beautiful future for Android gaming

2014-01-06T01:57:43-05:00

Nvidia Tegra K1

Nvidia's big announcement for CES 2014 was, as expected, the fifth generation of its Tegra mobile processor. It's such a momentous step forward for the company, however, that it's getting a whole new designation in being called the Tegra K1. That's because it implements the Kepler architecture, which underpins Nvidia's desktop graphics card lineup, meaning you're literally getting desktop-class graphics technology in your mobile processor.

To demonstrate the prowess of the new K1, Nvidia has set up a number of customized Tegra Note 7 prototypes around the periphery of its press event. They include demos of the custom build of Trine 2, the h …

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Lenovo’s latest Miix 2 tablets use magnets to convert into a laptop

2014-01-05T19:00:03-05:00

Lenovo Miix 2 laptop / tablet

Lenovo has used the Consumer Electronics Show to showcase its latest Windows 8-inspired designs previously, and this year is no different. The top PC maker is refining its Yoga range, but it's also taking a slightly different approach to detachable laptops. Lenovo is launching its new Miix 2 range with lots of magnets and modes designed to compliment the mixed PC and tablet experience of Windows 8.1. There's a choice between 10.1-inch and 11.6-inch models, and both work as a tablet that attaches to a keyboard dock. It might sound like the usual type of Windows 8 hybrid, but Lenovo is using magnets to attach the tablet to the dock instead of c …

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Lenovo’s new ThinkPad 8 is the best Windows alternative to the iPad mini Retina

2014-01-05T19:00:03-05:00

Lenovo ThinkPad 8

Lenovo's second 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet might just be the best one yet. While Lenovo only unveiled its 8-inch Miix 2 tablet back in October, the company is launching the 8.3-inch ThinkPad 8 today with a focus on power. Alongside the slight increase to the tablet's display size, Lenovo has opted for a 1920 x 1080 resolution. That makes it the first 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet with a higher resolution than the standard 1280 x 800 that most OEMs, including Lenovo, originally opted for. It doesn't come close to the iPad mini Retina display resolution, but the ThinkPad 8 still has great viewing angles and good color reproduction.

Levono's intended …

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Intel plans a CES coup: Android and Windows in the same computer

2014-01-03T13:00:02-05:00

Asus Transformer Book Trio live blog

The PC industry isn't doing so well. Sales have dramatically slumped, despite the industry's efforts to tempt consumers with Windows 8 tablets and transforming touchscreen laptops. But next week, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas may be the launching pad for a new push - a new brand of computer that runs both Windows and Android.

Sources close to the matter tell The Verge that Intel is behind the idea, and that the chipmaker is working with PC manufacturers on a number of new devices that could be announced at the show. Internally known as "Dual OS," Intel's idea is that Android would run inside of Windows using virtualization tech …

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