2-in-1
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Microsoft’s well-designed 2-in-1 Surface Pro X is up to $200 off
Microsoft's Surface Pro X is just a few months old, and it's already on sale. When it arrived in November, we scored it relatively high (73). We were pleased with its elegant, modern design and called it the best Snapdragon-powered PC around. One of the drawbacks was the high price, but now, Microsoft is discounting the Pro X by up to $200, so that's less of a factor.
Lenovo’s updated ThinkPad X1 laptops include optional privacy screens
Ahead of CES, Lenovo is refreshing its flagship X1 laptop lineup. The company last updated the ThinkPad X1 Carbon and X1 Yoga this past August, so there aren't any drastic redesigns this time around. Like the previous generation models, the updated laptops feature Intel's latest 10th-generation "Ice Lake" processors and up to 16GB of RAM. One new addition is that you can now configure both laptops with as much as 2TB of internal storage, up from the 1TB max in last year's models. Lenovo has also tweaked their keyboards to add function keys that allow you to quickly start and end a voice-over-IP call.
Save up to $200 on a Surface Pro 7 or Surface Laptop 3 at Amazon
If you missed the chance to pick up a discounted laptop or 2-in-1 during Black Friday, you now have another chance to do so. Amazon continues to offer steep price cuts on Microsoft's Surface Pro 7 and Surface Laptop 3, matching or exceeding its all-time low prices for both models.
Surface Pro X review: Gorgeous hardware marred by buggy software
For years now, the Surface Pro has been the best Windows 2-in-1. It delivers a useful, familiar desktop environment for multitasking in a lightweight tablet body. But the line hasn't changed much physically since the Pro 4. A serious redesign is beyond overdue, and thankfully Microsoft is ready to show us something new.
Dell's XPS 13 now comes with the latest Intel 10th-gen processors
Intel has unveiled its 10th-gen Core processors for ultraportable laptops, so naturally, there are some new laptop announcements, too. Probably the best known ultraportable is Dell's XPS 13, and that model can now be purchased with Intel's 10th-generation, six-core U-series Core i7 CPUs, Dell announced. While these aren't the 10-nanometer chips you might have been waiting for, Intel has promised overall speed gains in the realm of 16 percent compared to 9th-gen CPUs.
The best 2-in-1 tablets for 2019
Two-in-1 tablets are far from perfect. But just because there isn't a flawless laptop replacement today doesn't mean you can't get a tablet that's good enough to get some work done on the road. Tech's biggest players are falling over themselves to push out these devices, giving the premium-tablet category new life. It's easy to see why people would want these hybrids: They offer the power and productivity of a notebook in the thin and light body of a tablet. But there isn't an operating system yet that's versatile enough to work as well as a tablet as it does as a desktop (or vice versa). So as you approach this decision, it's worth thinking about which mode is more important to you.
Samsung's Notebook 9 goes on sale March 17th
Samsung has revealed its Notebook 9 Pen and Notebook 9 Pro will go on sale this Sunday, March 17th. The 2-in-1 Pen, as the name suggests, comes with an S Pen and has an aluminum body that's just under 1.5 centimeters thick on the 13.3" model. There are also versions with a 15-inch screen. The 13.3-inch model weighs 2.47 pounds and the larger versions start at 3.28 pounds. Samsung claims the device offers up to 15 hours of use on a single charge.
Google and Samsung on the perfect 2-in-1 tablet
2018 was the year every major tech company tried to create a tablet that can double as a laptop. We saw Google's Pixel Slate, Samsung's Galaxy Tab S4 and Galaxy Book 2 each attempt to be the best lightweight entertainment device that is powerful enough to let you get work done. Microsoft continued to dominate the space with the new Surface Pro 6, while Apple hyped up its marketing for the iPad Pro as "like a computer" but also "more powerful than most PC laptops." There are many components to get right -- a good display, a comfortable keyboard, powerful performance and versatile software are key. But there are challenges the industry needs to tackle. We talked to Google's Ben Janofsky and Samsung's Elina Vives at CES to find out what the ideal 2-in-1 should look like and how they'll improve in 2019.
Chrome OS may be the 2-in-1 solution we've been waiting for
Tech's biggest companies are all about the 2-in-1. Google's latest effort is the Pixel Slate -- a tablet that becomes a sort-of laptop when you snap on its keyboard folio. This is a formula we've seen rise in popularity since the first Surface tablet. Think of the iPad Pro, Samsung's Galaxy Tab S4, HP's Envy x2 detachables and more. These devices are doing so well they're apparently all people want to buy anymore. According to IDC data, 2-in-1 shipments will grow by almost 10 percent this year while traditional PCs are expected to decline.
Pixel Slate hands-on: Google’s 2-in-1 takes on the Surface
Google is cooking up a new formula for detachables, and it has an intriguing recipe with the new Pixel Slate. Though Microsoft has a solid desktop environment in Windows that makes its Surfaces excellent productivity tablets, it doesn't have the same library of touch-friendly apps that Android and iOS offer. The iPad Pro, on the other hand, is swimming in apps but just doesn't have the multitasking chops of a full desktop OS. Chrome OS seems like a potential opportunity to marry the best of Android, with its plethora of apps, with an established, functional desktop interface.
Microsoft's 15-inch Surface Book 2 comes to 17 new countries
Microsoft first launched the Surface Book 2 in November, but so far, both the 13- and 15-inch variants have only been available in the US. That's about to change, however, as the 15-inch model is now on pre-order in Australia, Canada, France, German, the UK and other European nations where, until now, only the 13-inch model was sold. On top of that, starting in February, Microsoft will release both Surface Book 2 models in places where it has yet to go on sale, including China, India, Italy, Qatar and other parts of Asia and the Middle East.
Dell's latest Inspiron PCs include the first 17-inch 2-in-1
Dell is launching its latest generation of Inspiron PCs pacing Intel's latest 8th-generation "Kaby Lake" chips, with a bit more fanfare than usual. Exhibit "A" is the Inspiron lineup of laptops and 2-in-1s: Dell says the Inspiron 7000 is the first 17-inch 2-in-1 on the market. That might seem excessive, but the larger screen makes some sense -- foldable devices are increasingly used in "tent" mode for multimedia and graphics, rather than just as glorified tablets.
Porsche Design reveals a Windows 2-in-1 convertible
Porsche Design had another Mobile World Congress revelation besides a limited-edition version of Huawei's Watch 2. The design group has also announced a laptop-tablet convertible and detachable hybrid of its own called Book One, which looks like it was designed to rival Microsoft's Surface Book. It runs on Windows 10 Pro and is loaded with all the features you'd expect on a Windows hybrid: It has Cortana and facial recognition through Windows Hello. Plus, you can take notes and draw all over the tablet's touchscreen using Windows Ink.
HP's revamped 15-inch Spectre x360 packs a 4K display
We generally liked HP's redesigned Spectre x360, but it had a few flaws: It dropped some particularly useful ports, and there was no 15-inch model for people who need more screen real estate. Consider those issues solved. HP has unveiled a 15.6-inch edition of the new Spectre x360, and it's a lot more than just an upsized version of a familiar 2-in-1 PC. To start, you're getting much nicer visuals. The larger Spectre ships with a 4K IPS-based touchscreen and dedicated graphics (albeit an older GeForce 940MX chip), both of which are miles ahead of the 1080p display and integrated video on the 13-inch system. However, it's the subtler additions that you might appreciate the most.
Dell preps a 2-in-1 version of its iconic XPS 13 laptop
Dell's XPS 13 has a loyal following for a good reason: it's a solid mix of portability and speed framed by that eye-catching, near-borderless display. It's 'just' a conventional laptop, however, which rules it out if you want a 2-in-1 like Lenovo's Yoga series or HP's Spectre x360. You won't have to give up that design to get tablet functionality in the future, though, as a Dell product page discovered by Windows Central has spoiled the existence of an "XPS 13 2-in-1." There's little there beyond the name and an image, but it's clear that Dell won't be reinventing the wheel here -- this really is the portable you've come to know, just reworked to let the display fold all the way for presentations.
Lenovo's Yoga Book is part tablet, part sketch pad
Let's face it: Tablets are on the brink of death, and it's difficult to get excited about a new slate these days. And even though tablet-laptop hybrids are taking off, that market is cornered by Surfaces and iPad Pros. So I wasn't prepared to be as thrilled as I was by Lenovo's latest offering. The Yoga Book, based on my experience with a preview unit, is not merely a mimicry of Microsoft's Surface Book; it has impressively innovative features and a well-thought-out interface that make it a solid hybrid in its own right.
Dell's new 2-in-1 PCs run the gamut in screen size
It's no secret that the PC market has been shrinking due to the onslaught of smartphones and tablets, but if you ask Dell, it's apparently bucking the trend thanks to its 2-in-1 notebooks and gaming laptops. At Computex, Executive Director Monty Wong told us that Dell saw 13 consecutive quarters of increasing PC market share, to the point where it overtook HP as the number one PC brand in the US back in Q1, according to IDC. As such, it's no surprise that the PC giant has been mostly focusing on 2-in-1s at this year's show, with the new lineup running the gamut from the world's first 17-inch 2-in-1 all the way down to a $249 11-inch device. Let's take a closer look.
ASUS's affordable 2-in-1 with reversible USB 3.1 is now on sale
If you're looking for a cheap laptop that converts into a tablet, now's a good time to buy. Following models from Toshiba and Lenovo, ASUS's convertible Transformer Book T100HA and reversible Transformer Book Flip TP200SA are now on sale. The 10.1-inch, 1,280 x 800 touchscreen T100HA model has one neat trick: Type-C USB 3.1, thanks to the Intel Cherry Trail CPU. It also has 12 hours of battery life, 4GB of RAM, 64GB expandable eMMC storage, 5-megapixel rear/2-megapixel front cameras and 1.28 pounds (pad-only) and 2.32 pounds (combined) weight. That makes it similar to the Toshiba model, but for a bit less cash ($299 instead of $349).
Dell unveils a range of affordable PCs ahead of Windows 10
While Dell managed to surprise us with its rather handsome XPS 15 -- the sibling of the thin-bezel XPS 13 laptop -- at Computex, it's also bringing us a range of both new and refreshed models ahead of the Windows 10 launch. Starting off with the headliner, we have the Inspiron 15 7000 series laptop (pictured above) that runs on Intel's quad-core Core i7H chip, and it's garnished with Waves MaxxAudio enhancement plus a "performance class" NVIDIA graphics processor with 4GB of GDDR5 memory, so you'll get some good gaming action on it. Most importantly, the machine's 15-inch FHD display has an optional 4K touchscreen upgrade that looks stunning, though it isn't clear as to how long that 74WHr battery can last for. The price? All we know so far is that it'll start from 5,999 yuan or about $970 when it launches in China on August 7th.
Intel's Windows 8.1 Pro Broadwell tablet is thinner than the iPad Air
When Intel announced the new 14nm Core M (Broadwell) processor to enable thinner, fanless convertible devices, I knew the "Llama Mountain" reference design would be impressively svelte. But hearing a spec is different than seeing it; this laptop-tablet hybrid is insanely skinny. At 7.2mm (0.28 inch), the slate is thinner than the iPad Air (7.5mm), and it's also significantly lighter than two-in-one devices already on the market; it's a notebook-class PC running Windows 8.1 Pro, yet it weighs just 1.47 pounds, compared to 1.76 pounds for the Surface Pro 3.
