BW Communities

One Form Fits All

Mala Bhargava Nov 08, 2014

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><root available-locales="en_US," default-locale="en_US"><static-content language-id="en_US"><![CDATA[A TABLET PC, IN ONE And why shouldn't a PC be able to double up as a tablet? Asus doesn't see any reason why not. Accordingly they've come up with the Transformer AiO or All-in-One which sits in a dock to be an 18 inch desktop, running Windows 8, or lifts out to become a giant tablet that you had better not drop. This hybrid device combines two of the technologies that were the backbone of the Computex show — Windows 8 and Intel's Ivy Bridge proccessor. But there's a surprise up the sleeve of this device. It can also run Android in its tablet avatar. That means a whole other ecosystem of apps widgets and maybe some of the customisability that is the hallmark of Android. <table style="width: 200px;" border="0" cellspacing="9" cellpadding="9" align="right"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img src="/businessworld/system/files/images/june_12/ASUS_TAICHI_250x201_0.jpg" width="250" height="201"></td> </tr> <tr> <td>ASUS TRANSFORMER AiO CAN RUN BOTH WINDOWS 8 AND ANDROID 4.0, AND CAN SEAMLESSLY GO FROM A DESKTOP TO A TABLET.WILL IT REACH THE MARKET? WAIT AND WATCH</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> The Transformer AiO is too prototype to be indicative of the eventual and finished product — if it does go into commercial use. Until we know, think of the uses. Could it make for a great canvas for artistic creation? Board games? Architectural plans? Taichi in Taiwan How would you like an ultrabook with two screens? The lid of the Taichi actually has a second display on the back. You can use the notebook normally as a screen and keyboard (backlit) and forget about what's on the lid, or you can close the lid and turn on the lid to go tablet. But both screens can be on at the same time — independently or mirrored. This opens up a number of possibilities, none of which we "need" right now, but which could trigger uses now that the capability has been demonstrated. For instance, you could redefine quality time by having a loved one use one screen while you use the other.Or you could mirror the same application on both screens and be training a co-worker. You could go into productivity mode with the laptop part of the device and then flip over for some relaxing tablet time. The screens on the prototype device are bright and 11.6 inch super IPS and both have their own 5 megapixel cameras. A 13.3 inch version will apparently also be available. The device is neither heavy nor does it have short battery life. It's also full of specs with the new generation of Intel processor, Ivy Bridge i7, for ultrabooks. It runs Windows 8 and,  interestingly, you could run a Metro app on one screen and desktop on the other. Mala Bhargava is a personal technology writer and media professional Contact her at mala at pobox dot com and (at)malabhargava on Twitter

Mala Bhargava

BW Reporters Mala Bhargava has been writing on technology well before the advent of internet in Indians and before CDs made their way into computers. Mala writes on technology, social media, startups and fitness. A trained psychologist, she claims that her understanding of psychology helps her understand the human side of technology.