Event: ASUS showcases new Windows 8 desktops, notebooks and tablets

Two days before General Availability of Microsoft Windows 8, ASUS unveils its lineup of new Windows 8 touch-enabled devices, which includes full gaming desktops, All-in-Ones, notebooks, tablets – as well as notebook/tablet convertibles/transformers. Prices within.

Update (17 January, 2013):

The ASUS VivoTab Smart detachable tablet will be available in Singapore from 18 January onwards at S$699 for the WiFi model.

Update (9 January, 2013):

The ASUS VivoTab RT 3G is now available in Singapore from 9 January for S$1,049.

ASUS has unveiled a comprehensive lineup of Windows 8 computers ranging from powerful gaming desktops, All-in-One desktops, notebooks, tablets, as well as convertible and transformer notebook/tablethybrids.

Among the major computer manufacturers, I consider Asus as one of the most innovative.

Innovative pioneers

The Taiwanese company created the Netbook genre with its Eee PCs back in 2007.

The Transformer Book continues the line of transformer notebook/tablet hybrids popularised by ASUS.

ASUS Transformer Book

Asus also the pioneered the tablet/notebook hybrid with the Asus Transformer TF101 – offering a hardware keyboard that the Android tablet could be docked into for serious work that involves typing – plus added battery life and connectors.

Now every other major computer maker offers notebook/tablet hybrids in their lineup.

Either as a “Transformer” hybrid where the keyboard can be totally detached.

Or in a “Convertible” format where the keyboard cannot be detached but can be manipulated such that the machine can be held as a tablet or used like a traditional laptop.

Asus has continued its innovation with products such as the Transformer Padfone and now the Taichi – a convertible with dual screens.

Below is a summary of the new Windows 8 lineup unveiled by ASUS.

ASUS TAICHI
This convertible Ultrabook has two 11.6-inch screens!Both are Full HD IPS displays and they are back-to-back with each other. One is a non-touch screen that faces the keyboard, while the other is a touch screen that faces “outwards”. When the duo-screen lid is open, you can give presentations so that you control the slides and notes while viewing the inward-facing screens, whereas the audience view the outward-facing screen. The lid can be folded in so that the touch-screen faces outwards and the whole TAICHI becomes a flat tablet. Intel Core i7 CPU, 11.6″ displays, 4GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 1.25kg. Availability date TBA. Price S$2,698.
ASUS Transformer Book
This transformer Ultrabook has a 13.3-inch Full HD touchscreen and an Intel Core i7 CPU. Use it as a powerful Ultrabook or detach the keyboard for use as a huge 13.3″ tablet! (The 11.6″ and 14″ versions are not available in Singapore). The tablet has a battery life of 5 hours, while the keyboard dock adds another 3 hours for a total of 8 hours.Tablet component: Intel Core i7 CPU, 13.3″ display, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD, 950g.Keyboard: 500GB HDD, 900g. Availability & Price TBA. (Amazon price: 1,499 Euros.)
ASUS ZENBOOK Series
The ZENBOOK Ultrabooks are extremely slim with multi-touch screens.Intel Core i5 or i7 CPU, 13.3″ display, 4GB RAM, up to 256GB SSD or 500GB HDD, 1.3-1.45kg. Availability TBA with prices below: ZENBOOK TOUCH UX31Al: S$2,498 ZENBOOK UX31A: TBA ZENBOOK UX32VD: TBA
ASUS VivoBook Series
ASUS touchscreen VivoBooks integrate ASUS SonicMaster audio and 2-second instant on, as well as 32GB WebStorage cloud space for three years. Between 24 October and 4 November 2012, get a free Canon inkjet printer (worth S$79) when purchasing a VivoBook S400. You can also get a VivoBook S400 free when signing up for selected StarHub home broadband plans. Available on October 26: VivoBook X202: S$799; Intel Core i3 CPU, 11.6″ display, up to 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 1.3kg. VivoBook S400 Ultrabook: S$1,098; Intel Core i5 CPU, 14″ display, up to 8GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 1.8kg.
ASUS VivoTab Series
The ASUS VivoTab transformer tablets comprises the 11.6-inch VivoTab (S$1,399) with Windows 8 Professional and 10.1-inch VivoTab RT (Wi-Fi: S$1,049) running Windows RT. Both have Super IPS+ displays and optional keyboard docks.The VivoTab Smart ME400 (S$699) is the thinnest and lightest (580g) tablet with full Windows 8 experience (running on an Intel Atom) and comes in black or white, as well as an optional smart keyboard cover. It has 10.1-inch display, 64GB SSD and 2GB RAM. Availability TBA except for the VivoTab RT (Wi-Fi version) which will be available from 26 October at a special launch price of S$949. The VivoTab RT has NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core CPU, 10.1″ display, 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, 525g. It has a 8MP rear camera and 2MP front camera and comes with Office Home & Student 2013.
ASUS All-in-One PCs
Three ASUS All-in-One PCs provide space-saving desktops in various screen sizes and performance levels. ET2701 (S$2,459): Intel Core i7, 27″ LED-backlit LCD, 8GB RAM, 2TB HDD. ET2220 (S$1,339): Intel Core i5 CPU, 21.5″ LED-backlit LCD, 4GB RAM, 1TB HDD. Both will be available during SITEX 2012 in November. The price and availability of the 23-inch ET2300 in Singapore is yet to be announced.
ASUS ROG Gaming Desktop PCs
ASUS launched two ROG (Republic of Gamers) desktop PCs specially spec’ed for gamers. ROG TYTAN CG8480 (S$2,250): Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 2TB HDD. ROG TYTAN CG8890 (S$5,900): Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, 3TB HDD, 128GB SSD. Both will be available during SITEX 2012 in November.