The Transformer AiO PC runs on Windows 8 and has an integral Android tablet that can be detached, while the Qube Google TV media streamer is an entertainment device with voice search and motion control.
Also unveiled were two premium monitors and a pocket router.
ASUS has unveiled a number of new innovative products during CES 2013.
The Transformer AiO has an 18.4-inch display that doubles as a standalone tablet.
Asus is also showcasing for CES 2013 its other recently launched products.
ASUS Transformer Book
ASUS Taichi
ASUS Zenbook Touch
ASUS VivoBook
The two monitors are the PA249Q ProArt and VG248QE Fast Gaming monitors, while the WL-330NUL Pocket Router is the world’s smallest router that gives easy wireless connectivity to travelers.
In fact, the pocket router would have been exactly what I needed during my recent trip to Japan because the super-thin Ultrabook that I’d brought along didn’t have an Ethernet port and some hotel rooms had wired Internet access but no Wi-Fi.
HP will be at SITEX 2012 at Hall 6 Booths 6B01 and 6E10 in the Singapore EXPO.
Click to view or download SITEX 2012 promotions for HP desktops, All-in-One computers, notebooks, tablets, and notebook-tablet transformers. (Caution: Large 2MB PDF file)
The much anticipated HP ENVY X2 is now available at a special pre-order price of $1,099 (U.P $1,199)
Other HP computers to check out include the HP ENVY 4 TouchSmart Ultrabook, HP Pavilion Sleekbook, as well as the HP ENVY 23” and 20” AiO PCs.
Click to view or download SITEX 2012 promotions for HP printers. (Caution: Large 2MB PDF file)
Also check out HP’s printers, such as the HP LaserJet Pro 200 M276nw Color MFP and the HP Officejet 6700 Premium e-All-in-One printer.
Click to view or download SITEX 2012 promotions for HP printer supplies, including ink, toner and paper.
My favourite is the HP Photosmart 7520 e-All-in-One printer, which is equipped with HP’s wireless direct printing featureand allows users to print from any Wi-Fi-enabled mobile device, such as smartphones, tablets and laptop computers without the need for network or internet connections.
Click to view or download SITEX 2012 promotions for HP accessories including mouse, keyboards, headsets, speakers, bags and webcams; as well as software.
Lenovo will be at SITEX 2012 at Hall 5 Booth 5C40 (Courts), and Hall 6 Booths 6C30 (Harvey Norman) and 6D30 & 6F18 (Newstead) in the Singapore EXPO.
Click to view or download Lenovo promotions for SITEX 2012. (Caution: Large 7MB PDF file with 6 pages)
Check out Lenovo’s promotional offers for tablets, notebooks, ultrabooks, convertibles, AIOs, desktops, and accessories.
Windows 8 Lenovo Ideapad Yoga Ultrabook-tablet convertible
These include the IdeaPad G480 laptop and the recently launched Windows 8 Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 Ultrabook-tablet convertible, and ThinkPad Twist S230u convertible.
My favourite is the Yoga.
Accessories include wireless mouse, speakers, headphones/headsets, USB hubs, and accessories for ThinkPads and IdeaPads.
ASUS will be at SITEX 2012 at Hall 5 (Booths 5A18, 5B10 & 5B40) and Hall 6 (Booths 6C01, 6C10, 6D30 & 6E30) in the Singapore EXPO.
Click to view or download ASUS promotions for SITEX 2012. (Caution: Large 13MB PDF file with 20 pages)
Check out ASUS’ promotional offers for tablets, notebooks, ultrabooks, convertibles, AIOs, desktops, Alienware gaming machines, and monitors.
ASUS ROG – built for gamers.
These include the slew of recently-launched Windows 8 computers such as the ASUS TAICHI Ultrabook-tablet convertible, Transformer Book, ZENBOOK, VivoBook, VivoTab, All-in-One PCs.
My favourite is the ASUS ROG (Republic of Gamers) gaming desktop PCs which are debuting in Singapore during SITEX 2012.
There’s also the innovative PadFone 2 smartphone-tablet hybrid.
Microsoft launched Windows 8 worldwide today and held launches in 15 cities around the world. From tomorrow – Friday, 26 October – the new operating system will be available to consumers and businesses in 140 countries and 37 languages.
Windows 8 has been launched today and will be available from tomorrow onwards.
Windows 8 will be available in two versions at retail, Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro.
“With the launch of Windows 8, Microsoft is unveiling a reimagined Windows to the world,” said Tracey Fellows, President of Microsoft Asia Pacific.
For business customers, Windows 8 Enterprise offers mobile productivity features such as Windows To Go, DirectAccess, and BranchCache; as well as enhanced end-to-end security with features including BitLocker and AppLocker.
Launching at the same time is a new member of the Windows family designed for ARM-based tablets – Windows RT – which will only be available pre-installed on new devices and comes preinstalled with Microsoft Office.
The Start screen is the launch pad for Windows 8.
All the different versions feature a new fast and fluid Start screen that gives users one-click access to the apps and content they care most about, the new Internet Explorer 10 that is tuned for touch, and built-in cloud capabilities with SkyDrive.
How to get Windows 8 and the prices
In addition to getting the new operating systems pre-installed on new devices, consumers can also upgrade their existing PCs.
Through the end of January, consumers currently running PCs with Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7, are qualified to download Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of US$39.99 from here (for a limited time).
Eligible Windows 7 PCs purchased between 2 June, 2012, and 31 January, 2013 can download Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of US$14.99 with the Windows Upgrade Offer, available at www.windowsupgradeoffer.com.
In Singapore, new Windows 8 licenses can be bought at all leading IT retail stores for S$89.99 with free PIXMA printer while stocks last.
Windows 8 comes pre-installed with apps that include Mail, People, Calendar, Photos, Weather, Xbox Music and SkyDrive.
“Windows 8 delivers a no-compromise computing experience to individuals, families and businesses, where they no longer need to choose between the fun and convenience of a tablet and the power and productivity of a PC,” said Helene Auriol, Managing Director, Microsoft Singapore.
Additional apps can be downloaded from the cloud-connected Windows Store.
The online store can be accessed via the Windows Store App on the Windows 8 Start Screen and is a central place for users to manage their downloaded apps across multiple Windows 8 devices.
Microsoft has officially opened its Windows Store for Singapore as part of Windows 8 launch today.
Singapore and Asia Pacific launch
For Singapore and the Asia Pacific, the launch was held at the roof terrace at the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, with a showcase of new Windows 8 PCs, notebooks and tablets from the main computer makers.
More than 600 Windows enthusiasts, partners and enterprise customers attended this Windows 8 Singapore launch event.
At launch, Windows 8 users can immediately download apps from the Windows Store.
Local apps available include iProperty, SingTel, StarHub, The Straits Times, Channel NewsAsia, SG Cab from Singapore; and The New Zealand Herald (New Zealand), Fruit Ninja (Australia), SM Cinema (Philippines), My Baby Piano (Korea), Bangkok Bank (Thailand), and iProperty (Malaysia) from the Asia Pacific.
Windows 8 devices
There are more than 1,000 Windows 8 certified PCs and tablets.
In Singapore, there are more than 50 Windows 8 devices from a wide range of manufacturers including Asus, Acer, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, LG, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba.
These will be available at more than 120 IT retail stores across Singapore, including Challenger, Courts, Harvey Norman and Newstead.
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.
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.
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.
Apple introduces iPad mini (S$448 – S$878), Fourth Generation iPad (S$658 – S$1,088), iMac and Mac mini (S$1,088 – S$2,788), as well as 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display (S$2,388 – S$2,788) at San Jose, California. All prices include GST.
Philip Schiller introduces the iPad mini in San Jose, California. Schiller is Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing.
As rumoured, Apple has introduced the iPad mini, with a 7.9-inch (1024 x 768 pixels) non-Retina display and 7.2mm thick.
The new iPad mini with its bigger brother, the Fourth Generation iPad.
It is a quarter thinner than the Fourth Generation iPad and thinner than a pencil, according to Apple CEO, Tim Cook.
The Fourth Generation iPad is an update that includes a new A6X CPU, a 720p FaceTime HD camera, additional LTE carrier support and faster Wi-Fi.
Externally, the only difference is the 9-pin Lightning connector which replaces the old 30-pin jack.
The Wi-Fi only version of the two tablets will be available in 34 countries from 2 November and can be pre-ordered in 26 countries from 26 October. Singapore is in both lists.
The Wi-Fi + Cellular versions will only start shipping “a couple of weeks after the Wi-Fi models”, according to Apple.
Many expected the iPad mini to be priced to compete with 7-inch tablets such as Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD and Google’s Nexus 7, both of which start at US$199.
Apple’s new iMac is super thin at the edges – only 5mm on all edges.
However, the iPad mini will start at US$329 instead.
Apple has also updated its Mac mini and iMacs (21.5 and 27-inch).
The later is particularly stunning with its razor-thin all-in-one form factor that has excited the tech community.
It comes with a new storage option called Fusion Drive – which combines 128GB of flash with a standard 1TB or 3TB hard drive.
The Mac mini is available today, while the 21.5-inch iMac and 27-inch iMac will be available in November and December respectively through the Apple Online Store.
Philip Schiller – Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing – also unveiled a new 13-inch MacBook Pro that is 20 percent thinner than its predecessor and weighs nearly half a kilogram lighter.
New 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display.
Starting at S$2,388, the new notebook has a 2.5GHz Intel processor, a high-resolution Retina display with more than 4 million pixels, and a solid-state flash drive instead of a spinning hard disk.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available from today through the Apple Online Store.
In the other big tech event for this week, Microsoft is releasing its Windows 8 cross-platform operating system for General Availability this Friday on 26 October.
With the release of Microsoft Windows 8, HP has lined up a range of computers running the new operating system – from All-in-One desktops to notebooks – and two tablets!
HP has lined up a wide range of Windows 8 computers – from desktop AiOs and notebooks to its two new tablets.
Following its aborted foray into tablets last year (with the webOS-based TouchPad), HP will be launching not one but two tablets, based on Windows 8 – the HP ENVY x2 and the HP ElitePad 900.
Both will be available later this year and in January 2013 respectively. Below are some of the computers showcased during the HP’s “A Life Connected” event.
HP ENVY x2
Powerful and ultrathin hybrid notebook PC, with a detachable screen that becomes a full tablet when separated from the keyboard.
Ultra slim and lightweight, the docking mechanism has a seamless magnetic latch that smoothly guides the tablet into place.
Comes with Beats Audio for a rich, audio experience.
Available in late 2012. Price S$1,099.
HP ElitePad 900
The HP ElitePad 900 is HP’s premium thin and light Windows 8 tablet, designed for business.
Consumer-inspired design, and precision-crafted with quality materials like Corning Gorilla Glass 2 and sleek contoured edges.
Unique, productivity-enhancing ecosystem of elegantly designed Smart Jackets and other accessories.
Available in late January 2013. Price TBA.
Update (3 May 2013): The HP ElitePad 900 is now available in Singapore for S$1,099 (32GB SSD) and S$1,299 (64GB SSD).
HP ENVY TouchSmart Ultrabook 4
The HP ENVY TouchSmart Ultrabook 4 brings the intuitive power of touch to a 14-inch Ultrabook format with up to 8 hours of battery life.
Powerful performance and modern, metallic good looks. Comes with Beats Audio and a booming subwoofer.
Available in late 2012 for S$1,399.
HP Pavilion Sleekbook 14 & Sleekbook 15
The HP Pavilion Sleekbook PCs provide the performance and easy applications that consumers need every day, in ultrathin 14-inch and 15.6-inch packages.
Available on October 26:
Sleekbook14 (AMD): S$699
Sleekbook14 (Intel i5): S$999
Sleekbook15: S$1,049
HP ENVY 23 & ENVY 20 TouchSmart AiO PC
The HP ENVY 23-inch and 20-inch consumer AiO PCs are the newest in the ENVY line and feature the latest touch technology in a one-cord solution with space-saving small footprint.
It is capable of sensing up to 10 fingers on the screen, so you can use both hands to play games, type or touch the screen.
Available in October:
HP ENVY 23: S$1,599
HP ENVY 20: S$1,199
HP Pavilion 20 AiO PC
The new HP Pavilion 20 is a powerful 20-inch non-touch AiO PC built for value-conscious consumers.
With the impending General Availability of Windows 8 on October 26, HP has showcased its range of All-in-One desktops, notebooks and tablets; and enunciated its vision of integrating these with smartphone usage and its printer product line – to enable a connected life.
HP showcases its extensive range of PCs and printers – and how they can be integrated to give users “A Life Connected”. Pictured here is the Officejet Pro 6700 Premium eAiO (left) and the ENVY x2 (right). Not shown to scale.
HP wants to help us integrate the disparate electronic gadgets in our digital lives seamlessly into “A Life Connected” – the theme for the showcase event.
HP is introducing two new tablets based on Windows 8. Pictured here is the ElitePad 900.
HP Singapore roped in local celebrity, Irene Ang, to demonstrate how an user could leverage the wide range of HP products for work and play, and move content and media easily between different devices.
Irene went on a fictitious holiday to Morocco, armed with HP’s recently unveiled HP Envy x2 hybrid notebook, that comes with a detachable keyboard, which she’d used to book her holiday and hotel.
Irene arrived at a Moroccan hotel where the staff used an HP EllitePad 900 tablet to check her in, printing out her check-in paperwork wirelessly using an HP printer.
The EllitePad 900 comes with a jacket that doubles battery life and provides additional expansion ports.
HP Photosmart 7520 eAiO
During her vacation in exotic Morocco, Irene snapped photos using her smartphone and used an HP app to upload and edit her photos online at Snapfish.
These photos are automatically synched with her tablet and AIO computer at home.
Along the way, she had time to do an “OppaN Irene Ang style” number to music streamed from her tablet.
And below is Oppan Irene Ang Style…
Here are some of the computers showcased during the entertaining event.
Follow this link to check out the new AiO inkjet printers with wireless direct printing technology.
Local apps available include iProperty, SingTel, StarHub, The Straits Times, Channel NewsAsia, SG Cab from Singapore; and The New Zealand Herald (New Zealand), Fruit Ninja (Australia), SM Cinema (Philippines), My Baby Piano (Korea), Bangkok Bank (Thailand), and iProperty (Malaysia) from the Asia Pacific.
