TECH NOW: 2-in-1 computing gadgets, fad or trend?
Jennifer Jolly with Sony's Vaio Duo 13 and Dell's XPS 12.(Photo: Jennifer Jolly for USA TODAY)
Story Highlights
- Vaio Duo is light, has great battery life
- XPS has "Ferris wheel-like flip hinge"
- Vaio starts at $1,399; XPS starts at $999
There's all this talk lately of tablets killing PCs, but could a recent revival of the 2-in-1 tech trend breathe new life into the quest for one gadget that truly does it all? Intel coined the term "2-in-1" to describe a device that's part laptop and part tablet. While other chipmakers are dipping toes into the hybrid market[1], Intel powers the majority of the latest do-everything devices, including the recently launched Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro, Acer Aspire, and Sony VAIO Duo 13 and Dell XPS 12.
If you haven't encountered a 2-in-1 device before, there's a gee-whiz factor right off the top. A laptop when you need it, tablet when you want it, these latest multitasking Ultrabooks are getting a lot of buzz,[2]Unlike earlier iterations that were so large and heavy, it was difficult to imagine truly using them as a mobile device, the newest versions are lightweight and have tablet-like touch-screens that fold and flip for total flexibility. They also have an astounding 10-12 hours of battery life andspeedy 4th Generation Intel Core processors.
If you're debating between a laptop and a tablet, a 2-in-1 Ultrabook could be the perfect solution. Here are two of best I've reviewed so far:
•Sony's Vaio Duo 13[3]is a powerhouse Windows 8 machine that starts at $1,399. This 13-inch model is the perfect compromise between size and portability. At just under 3 pounds, it won't weigh you down, but it sports a 4th Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor at up to 3.30GHz for plenty of processing power. And it has the great battery life typical of 4th-gen processors — up to 10 hours. To convert this ultrabook to a tablet, just slide the screen down over the keyboard — and you can even use the tablet screen for sketching using the included digitizer stylus.
•Dell's XPS 12[4] is an even more petite 2-in-1 that packs a powerful one-two punch, starting at $999. The screen's Ferris-wheel-like flip hinge makes for easy transitions between a tablet and laptop. This petite laptop is a smaller 12-inch size. That's perfect for portability but makes it a bit less powerful than the Vaio. There's a step-up model offering an i5 processor and 9.5 hours of battery life that starts at $1,199, but if you're on a budget or you want more power, you can find models with more or less powerful configurations.
Is a Two-Fer For You?If you asked me this a year ago, I would have said, "only if you don't really plan to leave your house with it." While hybrids then had Goldilocks issues — too heavy, too big, too slow — these newly branded 2-in-1's may very well be … just right. If you're having a hard time deciding between a tablet or a laptop, these can now deliver to get the best of both worlds.
Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy award-winning consumer tech contributor and host of USA TODAY's digital video show TECH NOW. E-mail her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.[5]. Follow her on Twitter: @JenniferJolly[6].
References
- ^ http://blog.laptopmag.com/toshiba-satellite-click-unveiled-first-hybrid-with-amd-temash-apu (blog.laptopmag.com)
- ^ http://www.zdnet.com/latest-dell-xps-12-comes-close-to-a-true-2-in-1-7000021347/ (www.zdnet.com)
- ^ http://store.sony.com/c/VAIO-Duo-13-Ultrabook-Laptops/en/c/S_D_SERIES_PAGE (store.sony.com)
- ^ http://www.dell.com/us/p/xps-12-9q33/pd (www.dell.com)
- ^ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (rssfeeds.usatoday.com)
- ^ http://twitter.com/jenniferjolly (twitter.com)