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LG and Gigabyte show off unique tablet and ultrabook form factors at CES (hands-on)

LG and Gigabyte show off unique tablet and ultrabook form factors at CES (hands-on)

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gigabyte convertible ultrabook
gigabyte convertible ultrabook

LG's H160 may seem like a typical Windows 8 tablet, but its form factor is anything but. The 11.6-inch device, on display here at CES, combines an Ultrabook-like body with a convertible slider design, making for a rather unique user experience. LG's sliding Clover Trail tablet comes with a spring-loaded hinge that, when released, triggers a pop-up keyboard. That differentiates it from similar devices such as the Asus Eee Pad Slider or Samsung Series 7 Sliding PC, both of which require users to manually pull out their keyboards. The H160's keyboard, by contrast, can be accessed with the push of a button.

Originally announced in October, the H160 features a 1366 x 768 display and promises up to ten hours of battery life. Pricing and availability, however, remain unclear.

Also on display at CES today is Gigabyte's U2141 convertible ultrabook, which puts a similarly clever twist on a familiar form factor. Announced last month, the device features an 11.6-inch capacitive touchscreen that you can flip up, down, and spin around, allowing users to easily switch between laptop and tablet modes. The Windows 8 ultrabook is powered by Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, and includes both a solid-state drive and spacious hard drive.

During our time with the U2141, we noticed that its touchscreen wasn't quite as responsive as we would've liked, and its keyboard design left much to be desired, though its 1.49 kilogram weight is a definite plus. Unfortunately, however, it doesn't look like the U2141 will be coming to the US anytime soon.

LG H160 hands-on pictures

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