Gigabyte To Release Windows 8 Slate, Ultrabook

CNET reports that Gigabyte is gearing up to launch a Windows 8 slate and a convertible Ultrabook sometime after Windows 8 launches. The slate will arrive with an optional docking station that adds a DVD drive, two speakers and a subwoofer, turning the gadget into a miniature movie theater. There's also an optional keyboard kit to turn it into a notebook as well.

According to the specs, which can be accessed here, the S1082 slate will feature a 10.1-inch capacitive multi-touch LED-backlit screen with a 1366 x 768 resolution. Also packed into this flattened PC will be an Intel Celeron dual-core 847 processor clocked at 1.1 GHz, up to 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, Intel HD graphics, and up to 500 GB of HDD space, or up to 256 GB of SSD space.

On the connectivity side, this device will provide two USB 2.0 ports, one HDMI port, Gigabit Ethernet, an SD card reader, a docking station/extended battery port, and audio jacks. On the wireless side, it will offer 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v4.0 + LE, and an optional WWAN 3.5G. The gadget will even sport a 1.3MP camera, two 1.5 watt speakers, a microphone, and a Li-polymer battery (7.4v, 29.6Wh). There's also an optional Li-ion 2-cell extended battery (2700mAh, 20.25Wh).

"The S1082 is equipped with an optical finger navigation button as well as left/right mouse buttons," reads the product page. "This excellent design gives users the ability to operate the S1082 like they would with any non-slate computer. Now opening applications and making precise edits to documents is simply a breeze. The optical navigation button can also be used for clicking, dragging and page scrolling, just like a real mouse. The buttons can even be used to bring out the task manager by pressing them together at the same time."

Pricing for this new slate is expected to be between $599 and $799, depending on the configuration. An actual release date was not provided.

In addition to the S1082 slate, CNET said Gigabyte will also release a Windows 8 convertible Ultrabook, the U2142. As of this writing, the device hasn't appeared on Gigabyte's website, but it will reportedly feature an 11.6-inch multitouch display (1366 x 768 pixels) for easy wandering through Windows 8's blocky interface, and both a 256 GB SSD and a 1 TB HDD.

Hanif Wang, Senior Specialist in the Channel Marketing Section at Gigabyte, told the site that the U2142 is targeting "road warriors" who need lots of space and connectivity options while on the road. Under the hood it will sport a 3rd-generation Core i3 or i5 ULV processor, up to 16 GB of RAM, and connectivity options like USB 3.0, HDMI output, Bluetooth v4.0, 3.5G and more.

Like the slate, this convertible Ultrabook is expected to arrive on the market soon after Windows 8 hits the streets this Friday. Pricing will start at $999, barely sliding in under Intel's required Ultrabook pricing spec.

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  • bystander
    Featuring left and right mouse buttons is a nice feature. I recall trying to operate an iPad (not mine) with work related software, and without the ability to left and right mouse click, the program was not usable. I didn't realize how important being able to click was until that point. (The program was web based, which is why it loaded up, even though it wasn't an iPad program).
    Reply
  • john_4
    Ahh, Not Interested at all.
    Reply
  • Wisecracker
    Intel Celeron dual-core 847 processor clocked at 1.1 GHz, up to 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, Intel HD graphics ... expected to be between $599 and $799
    I suspect AMD is salivating at the opportunity of snagging some of that action with a low-watt Trinity, BrazosII or Kabini.

    Reply
  • masterasia
    Windows 8 isn't even out yet and the Windows 8 tablet market is already saturated with garbage.
    Reply
  • kyuuketsuki
    masterasiaWindows 8 isn't even out yet and the Windows 8 tablet market is already saturated with garbage.I know right. Who wants options when you can have an iPad, an iPad, or an iPad?
    Reply
  • Seems to me the best way to address the mouse oriented interface of existing applications in a touch based environment is to use a stylus, which buttons that simulate mouse click on it, and some form of wireless technology that triangulate and determine the mouse cursor movement on screen when you move the stylus on top of the tablet surface even without touching it. This should be possible using today's technology, as evidenced by the S Pen in Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

    The greatest strength of Windows is tremendous amount of existing applications. Microsoft should have really done more to create a stylus that can do this and pair it with the Surface, and sell it to support tablets built by other third party vendors. Instead, they ignore the need to improve the usability of existing applications in a touch-based environment, and bet all their hope on the new Metro UI interface and the future apps. That approach has thrown away significant advantage of Windows. They are currently trying to market Surface and Windows 8 as productivity machine in a touch based environment by bundling Office. However, notebooks are really much better as far as mobile productivity goes and tablet is really more suitable for entertainment and light work. How soon will people start to realize doing real work on tablet without a keyboard and mouse is a pain? Sure Surface RT does include keyboard and mousepad in the touch cover, but does people reall want to pay that much extra instead of getting a notebook with real keyboard and true backward compatibility with existing applications?
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  • masterasiaWindows 8 isn't even out yet and the Windows 8 tablet market is already saturated with garbage.
    People on this site really tend to be negative nancys... This isn't garbage in the slightest.
    Reply