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The best tablets of CES 2014

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The line between tablets and laptops has blurred in the last few years, and the tablets of CES 2014 continued to take on traditional computers with convertible form factors, scaled-down PC gaming chips, and combinations of Windows and Android.

  • Jan 6, 2014

    Vlad Savov

    The Transformer Book Duet combines Windows with Android, tablet with laptop

    Gallery Photo:
    Gallery Photo:

    On stage at CES today, Jonney Shih proclaimed his company's new Transformer the world's first 4-in-1 device. By that he meant that it's a Windows laptop and tablet as well as an Android laptop and tablet. This new 13.3-inch slate transforms both physically and virtually thanks to the company's new dual-OS setup. A quick switch of three or four seconds is all that's required to morph you from the Windows 8 environment into the familiar Android UI and vice versa.

    The Transformer Book Duet is powered by Intel's Haswell CPU, up to the Core i7 models, and comes with storage starting at 64GB, but extending beyond a terabyte if you're willing to pay the price. The larger storage options will be housed within the keyboard dock, which also expands the device's connectivity options with extra ports.

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  • Nathan Ingraham

    Jan 6, 2014

    Nathan Ingraham

    The Asus Transformer Book Duet hybrid can instantly switch between Windows and Android

    Asus Transformer Book Duet
    Asus Transformer Book Duet

    Back at Computex in June, Asus introduced its Transformer Book Trio — a computer that could function as both a laptop and tablet and dual-booted between Windows 8 and Android. Now, the company's announcing a new version with a similar mission: the Transformer Book Duet TD300 is a convertible laptop / tablet hybrid that can dual boot between Windows 8.1 and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

    Beyond Asus' earlier effort, Samsung tried this dual-boot trick last year with its Ativ Q, though the new Asus model looks more like a traditional ultrabook at first glance. It has the standard folding form factor rather than the sliding keyboard that Samsung used and looks quite a bit like Asus’ other laptops. Its 13.3-inch multitouch display features a solid 1,920 x 1,080 resolution; it doesn’t quite match the Ativ Q but should still be solid in most normal circumstances. That 13.3-inch form factor makes Asus' new model a good bit bigger than the older Transformer Book Trio.

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  • Jan 6, 2014

    Vlad Savov

    Nvidia's Tegra K1 tablet shows a beautiful future for Android gaming

    Nvidia Tegra K1
    Nvidia Tegra K1

    Nvidia's big announcement for CES 2014 was, as expected, the fifth generation of its Tegra mobile processor. It's such a momentous step forward for the company, however, that it's getting a whole new designation in being called the Tegra K1. That's because it implements the Kepler architecture, which underpins Nvidia's desktop graphics card lineup, meaning you're literally getting desktop-class graphics technology in your mobile processor.

    To demonstrate the prowess of the new K1, Nvidia has set up a number of customized Tegra Note 7 prototypes around the periphery of its press event. They include demos of the custom build of Trine 2, the highly impressive Digital Ira real-time face-rendering demo, and even a version of Serious Sam 3 — all running on the new K1.

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  • Sean Hollister

    Jan 3, 2014

    Sean Hollister

    Intel plans a CES coup: Android and Windows in the same computer

    Asus Transformer Book Trio live blog
    Asus Transformer Book Trio live blog

    The PC industry isn't doing so well. Sales have dramatically slumped, despite the industry’s efforts to tempt consumers with Windows 8 tablets and transforming touchscreen laptops. But next week, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas may be the launching pad for a new push — a new brand of computer that runs both Windows and Android.

    Sources close to the matter tell The Verge that Intel is behind the idea, and that the chipmaker is working with PC manufacturers on a number of new devices that could be announced at the show. Internally known as "Dual OS," Intel's idea is that Android would run inside of Windows using virtualization techniques, so you could have Android and Windows apps side by side without rebooting your machine.

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