More Hybrid Tablet/Notebooks Vs. Microsoft Surface

Everyone knows the Microsoft Surface now because of the ubiquitous and catchy TV ads, but the rest of the PC industry is trying the same thing: Take a tablet and a separate, but attachable keyboard, and sell them as a hybrid device that can be used as either a tablet or a conventional notebook computer.

We had such good feedback from our recent story "How The Surface Compares With The Other Hybrids" that we thought we'd add three more devices to the list: Sony Xperia, Acer Iconia W5 and Samsung ATIV Smart PC. All 8 devices are included in this story, and the feature charts on page 3 are update to include all as well.

Originally, the premise of the article was that the keyboard had to be part of the OEM tablet and close into a clamshell; and while we've maintained the latter, the Iconia's keyboard snaps on but doesn't fold shut.

Sony Xperia Tablet S

Almost every review you read about the Sony Tablet Xperia S makes a case for the tablet to be a stay-at-home all around family tablet. From its splash-proof protection in the kitchen, a universal remote for the living room and a smudge resistant surface for little fingers, and a guest mode which allows for young people to use it without accessing the web. In this upgrade, Sony moved the speakers from the sides to the bottom so the hands hold it don't inadvertently mute it.

The keyboard/cover — though still OEM — doesn't open like a clamshell as much as creates an angled rest like the Surface. The angle can't be adjusted and it should come with Android 4.1/4.2 (Jelly Bean) out of the box, instead of 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich).

Acer Iconia W5

The Acer Iconia W5 clearly is a tablet-first hybrid. The keyboard does not close up like the rest in this list. The keyboard dock — like many other hybrids — has a built-in battery which adds a whopping nine hours of battery life for a total of 18. And that's running Windows 8 (not RT).

The keyboard dock is light — maybe too light because when connected in laptop mode the Iconia is prone to tipping. When bent backwards — what Acer calls the "twist" — the keyboard serves as a stand for the tablet.

Samsung ATIV Smart PC

The Samsung ATIV Smart PC's keyboard dock incorporates a touchpad and two USB 2.0 ports, but doesn't include an additional battery, so, again, the tablet is top-heavy and when using it as a laptop — literally in your lap — you're holding it in place with your wrists.

Like other full Windows 8 installs on a growing number of hybrids, users will be tempted to install beefy applications like they would on an ultrabook, but the specs don't support it. According to Tom's Hardware, after Windows 8 is installed, you're left with 39 GB of built-in storage on the ATIV Smart PC. And you'd never buy an ultrabook with 2GB of RAM running any version of Windows.

Next Page: Microsoft Surface, Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101, Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx K3011, and HP Envy

Dell XPS 10

With a starting price of $499, the Dell XPS 10 has an advantage over Microsoft Surface. The XPS has a battery built into the keyboard. Dell says it provides "all-day productivity." Expect five to seven hours per battery for a total of 10 to 14 hours.

Microsoft Surface

The Surface is Microsoft's flagship Windows 8 tablet product. Consumers who don't know the difference between storage space and memory can purchase the Surface and know that it is backed by the OS developer. Windows 7 and below had performance issues with underpowered hardware and Microsoft didn't want to risk that same problem with Windows RT. Microsoft is following in Apple's footsteps with hardware and software to be built by the same manufacturer. The price? $628 with an optional keyboard.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer was the first of the major brands to introduce the detachable keyboard. Variations of this design appeared at the 2011 CES show in Las Vegas, where every manufacturer was searching for the right form factor in products with single screens, dual screens, slide-out keyboards, running Linux, Android and Windows 7. Some devices even ran multiple operating systems.

Unlike the other devices here, the TF101 runs Android. It comes with version 3.2 (Honeycomb) but is upgradable to version 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich).

It is the detachable keyboard that was the innovative feature. Today the design seems to be more standardized due to popular demand. The clamshell design, which allows the keyboard to protect the screen when not in use, is the preferred design. Asus added a battery to the keyboard for a whopping 16-hour battery life.

Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx K3011

The IdeaTab Lynx K3011 starts at $599 and has an 11.6-inch display which allows the optional keyboard to be full-sized. Lenovo, more than any other computer manufacturer, is exploring different form factors with the Yoga and the ThinkPad Twist. It has patents pending on the Twist. Other than the Microsoft Surface, this was the only other tablet I held. It feels well-engineered and oddly light, considering how big it is. The keyboard is docked with a click and seems sturdy enough. The 11.6 inch display allows the optional keyboard to be full-sized as well.

HP Envy

The HP Envy is on the pricey side, at $849 per tablet. HP doesn't give you an option to buy the tablet alone — the keyboard is part of the package. To get the real value from Windows RT, you need a keyboard. Unlike the others, it does not add a battery to the keyboard so battery life is limited to 7 hours. It also has an 11.6 inch display.

Like Dell, HP gives customers a wizard when purchasing from the web site to upsell customers on items such as a docking station and port replicator. The USB 3.0 SuperSpeed Dual Video Docking Station offers dual video ports that deliver "beyond HD video and graphics" up to 2048 x 1152(1x DVI-I, 1x HDMI ) to two monitors. In addition it includes a DVI to VGA adapter.

Next Page: Specifications

Specifications