Innovating? (Part 2)

XPS 12 Convertible Ultrabook

Now Windows 8 is apparently what all the manufacturer's were waiting for in order to start getting creative with their designs. Even Dell decided to join the party with their creative convertible XPS 12 Ultrabook. It features a fully rotatable screen allowing you to flip the screen so it faces the other side and turns into a tablet. The body itself offers a very premium, and durable feel. It features a machined aluminum, carbon fiber, and the glass is Corning Gorilla Glass. After years of some pretty standard or mediocre designs it's nice to see Dell branching out and trying new designs.

ATIV Smart PC

Samsung is also trying their hand at the convertible tablet/pc combo with their new ATIV Smart PC. Now it's noticeably similar to Asus' initial approach. However they have also added their own tweaks to the design, making it more streamlined, and providing it with S Pen functionality. While not as original as some of the other designs we've seen here it's still nice to see them at least try a different approach to their laptops. Although I do hope to see something more original from Samsung sometime in the future. They might just be playing it safe unsure if these new convertibles will sell well.

VAIO Duo 11

Sony, and Toshiba both decided to approach their designs in a rather similar design. They implemented a screen that slides over the keyboard, and track pad to cover it, and put the screen front and center. Sony's solution comes in the form of the VAIO Duo 11 with an 11.6" screen. Toshiba's is the Satellite U925t Ultrabook which features a 12.5" screen. However the difference comes in the fact that instead of a touch pad the VAIO has a trackball and relies more on the touch screen and included stylus. Whereas the Satellite does come with a touch pad, other than that however the two are quite similar.

Satellite U925t

Overall I'm quite excited for the new influx of creative designs, and to finally see manufacturer's branching out and experimenting with new things. I think this can only lead to new more creative and fun designs. We're finally seeing the end of the traditional simple clamshell laptop design. Microsoft has done something interesting, unique, and new with Windows 8; and as a result we're finally seeing manufacturer's follow suit and trying new things.