Asus May Ship Swiveling Display Ultrabook in 2012
Asus plans to reveal a touch-based swivel display ultrabook during Computex next year, allowing the new form factor to convert into a tablet-like experience.
What's the best way to attack both the notebook and tablet market without losing the best features of both? Release an ultrabook with a touch-based, swiveling display. Unnamed industry sources are now reporting that Asus will do just that next year, and reveal the first model during Computex Taipei in June.
The news follows previous reports that ultrabook manufacturers are incorporating touch-based screens into their designs starting next year to support Windows 8's touch-based features. To make this possible, back-light unit (BLU) manufacturers are reportedly mounting lighting devices, optical films, and light guide panels onto the upper covers of ultrabooks by using an open cell (which depends on the lid of the ultrabook for protection) or hinge-up process. This is to reduce the thickness of touch-based ultrabooks and keep them in line with Intel's sub-0.83-inch specification.
That said, an ultrabook twisted into a tablet mode won't be quite as thin as an actual tablet, but consumers will have the option of pulling the keyboard back out once typing on the touch screen gets too annoying. The Asus ultrabook making its appearance in June is already slated to launch alongside Windows 8 when it's offered by Microsoft for public consumption in September... and it probably won't be the only swivel ultrabook on display.
The swivel screen idea reportedly stems from Intel itself who is offering a handful of design ideas to its "downstream" partners for their upcoming ultrabooks. Future models will also sport Intel's Ivy Bridge as of May 2012 which is expected to reel in even more demand for the new form factor. Still, the combination of Ivy Bridge and a swivel touchscreen may just be what the ultrabook market needs to pull consumers away from the lure of tablets -- if they're kept at a reasonable price point, that is.
Just recently, Acer president Jim Wong said that ultrabook prices will drop down to $799 to $899 USD by 2Q12, and then to $499 USD in 2013 -- this is partially due to a $100 subsidy finally provided by Intel. But will touch-based swivel ultrabooks be just as cheap? Probably not, so there's a good chance we'll begin to see two tiers of ultrabooks come September 2012.

now please throw in wacom tech
That would be a waste of hardware.
I have an old fujitsu and a Dell XT2 that pretty much are what they are speaking of.. not quite a thin, but close..
[insert Apple/Microsoft/Rambus joke here]
look at the HP EliteBook 2760p, the swivel screen idea is not new. There are also thinkpad tablets with swivel screens.
The difference is it's not as thin as the ultrabook.
I think this is the device that Microsoft was thinking about when they decided to toss Metro into the x86 version of Windows.
(Though I'd still compromise thinness for a DVD drive, matte screen, and non-chiclet keyboard.)
I am aware of those, but they are not as thin nor as good quality (with exception of Lenovo's). Also, the price is hight. I so wish the price for wacom think tablet PC could go down. HP's is cheap but at the same time, bad frame quality.
It's actually great for bank counters or managers... If you have used it before, with the signature verifying and simple form inputs.
You say the price is high but then the next sentence you say HP is cheap, bit of a contradiction don't you think?
I have the first model (2710p) they haven't change the frame since then, they are not plastic like most laptops. They are very solid and "built to military standards" it dropped of a table while it was on and it kept running just the same. I wouldn't buy the HP consumer level laptops but their business models are better quality. The only reason they could charge those high prices was because there was little competition, it was a niche market before slate tablets became mainstream.
The current ultrabooks are already $1000 before adding a touch screen.
There are also things like the Asus eee slate which also has a wacom pen but has a separate keyboard and screen. But the battery life compared to other tablets is.....meh.
I have been looking for a replacement for my 2710p for a while now so I am familiar with the wacom tablets. In my case battery life is more important than get it thinner, at that size it is not heavy.
Yes, it is nothing new. In fact ASUS has their own swivel/touch screen netbook already (and it runs win8 quite well). I have used it for ~3months now and they are awesome! When on the floor at work you can use it like a tablet, but when you sit to do work at a desk it works like a normal netbook. Truly the best of both worlds