Asus TaiChi (or similar ultrabook options)

[cral12]

Has anyone purchased this one? I'm exploring ultrabook options. I chatted with a guy today at a conference who has this one and really likes it. The reviews are mixed and he acknowledged this, but he's quite pleased with.

I was leaning towards finally going Mac (Airbook), but like the idea of flexibility of a convertible type laptop (touchscreen), although don't necessariily trust some of the models where you have to twist the screen around. Also kind of liking Windows 8 after playing around with it.

I know lots of issues here.

Any opinions appreciated.

Dazed & confused and caught in PC/Mac "purgatory"...

[topfiverecords]

I've been watching the news on the release of the Asus Transformer Book. Appears to be the first fully detachable tablet/laptop. Finally just reached the US yesterday but not sure when it's coming to Canada. Looks really interesting but seems to have a few shortfalls which will keep me waiting a little longer.
Also the new Intel Haswell chip is due to release June 3 and Computex June 6 should show us what new stuff is in the pipeline for this year. The Haswell chip is expected to double battery life of tablets/laptops and not require fans in the units for cooling.

[sclitheroe]

If Haswell lives up to its promise, you'll regret buying something now - everyone talks about how much additional battery life Haswell will bring, but the intriguing thing to me is how much smaller/lighter we could potentially make things if we stuck with the same battery life as we have now - realistically, most people do not need a laptop that runs all day on battery, but a laptop that eschews a ton of weight or thickness for the same run time is awfully appealing.

[topfiverecords]

Getting the weight down to 1.5lbs for each of the tablet and keyboard will be essential. Haswell should help get there. The Surface RT is .5lb lighter than the Surface Pro, partly by being able to remove the fan system the Atom chip doesn't need. It's also .16" thinner.

The weight of the keyboard/dock of the Asus TB is speculated to only weigh more than the tablet to keep it balanced. Bring the weight of the tablet down and the weight of the keyboard/dock can go with it.

[sa226]

Yeah, if Haswell is as big of a jump as it is claiming to be, right now is pretty much the worst time to buy a new Laptop\Ultrabook.

What I am wondering is if the price will be directly proportional to the increase in performance, because it is a big jump.

People still buy at price points. For me I am very interested in a tablet in the 400-600 price point, or an ultrabook in the 700-900 price point. But it makes me wonder if these new chips will throw the pricing all out of wack.

To the OP's question. If it were up to me to choose between the Hybrid Ultrabooks\Tablets (Taichi vs Yoga 13) I would take the Lenovo Yoga 13.

[topfiverecords]

Expect the price point to be out of wack for a bit. The Asus TB with the current SandyBridge processor is about $1500 right now without anything completely equal on the market. Once stuff rolls out with Haswell it will probably be in that price range for units with an extra battery and hard drive in the dock. I'm sure we'll see some top end units in the $900-$1000 price range as the Surface Pro 2 should be about the same price as the first.

[Russic]

Funny enough my buddy who was Windows/Linux all his life switched to a Macbook Air (sidenote: he's happy), and he is physically unable to refer to it as anything else but an "airbook". We're coming up on the 1 year anniversary of me angrily correcting him.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

If Haswell lives up to its promise, you'll regret buying something now - everyone talks about how much additional battery life Haswell will bring, but the intriguing thing to me is how much smaller/lighter we could potentially make things if we stuck with the same battery life as we have now - realistically, most people do not need a laptop that runs all day on battery, but a laptop that eschews a ton of weight or thickness for the same run time is awfully appealing.

So glad I posed this question here - will definitely be hold off for now.

Cheers

[cral12]

Originally Posted by Russic

Funny enough my buddy who was Windows/Linux all his life switched to a Macbook Air (sidenote: he's happy), and he is physically unable to refer to it as anything else but an "airbook". We're coming up on the 1 year anniversary of me angrily correcting him.

lol...big hint that I'm not an Apple guy, I guess.

[cral12]

re: new Intel Haswell chip is due to release June 3

*When should we expect to see new laptops with this hit the market?

[cral12]

Any highlights from Computex (June 6) that anyone has seen?

[topfiverecords]

Here's a rundown on what was released at Computex. Soonest release looks like Acer ultrabooks refreshed with Haswell chips and the Sony Vaio Duo 13. Still old designs with slight updates.
http://www.engadget.com/tag/Computex2013,haswell/

The best is the 2nd version of the Asus Transformer Book, the T300 but no release date yet. By the time that comes out there will probably be a lot of other units with tablet/laptop hybrid functionality.
http://www.ultrabookreview.com/2928-...-books-haswel/

The Asus Trio looks interesting as well but the 11" screen will be too small for my needs so I'll keep waiting for maybe the T300.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/techno...1-1074328.aspx