Gigabyte Intros 3-in-1 Laptop With Unique Dock
Gigabyte introduces a new 3-in-1 laptop with a unique docking station.
In addition to introducing its new gaming laptop on Thursday, Gigabyte also revealed a three-in-one laptop called the U21MD. While the name isn't all that catchy, the device itself looks rather snazzy, especially when it's parked in the "innovative" docking station. Pricing and availability are unknown at this point, but additional details are expected to be provided next week.
As with Gigabyte's other models, the U21MD will have multiple configurations. On the processor front, the laptop has an Intel Core i5-4200U (1.6 GHz, 2.6 GHz) or an Intel Pentium 3558U processor (1.7 GHz). There will also be either 4 GB or 8 GB of DDR3L memory (2 slots up to 16 GB), and Intel HD Graphics. The 11.6 multi-touch screen has a resolution of 1366 x 768.
Surprisingly, this notebook features a dual-storage system. There will be four possible configurations, one with a solid state hybrid drive with 500 GB to 1 TB of storage capacity, an mSATA SSD and hard drive combo, and so on. Capacities range from 128 GB to 1.5 TB.
In addition to the storage configurations, the laptop has two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI output, an SD card reader, a SIM card slot, and jacks for earphones and a microphone. There's also Wireless N and Bluetooth 4.0 +LE connectivity, an HD camera, and a Li-polymer 40 Wh battery.
As for the dock, this device provides three USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, a docking connector, and jacks for a microphone and headphone. The laptop comes with a chicklet keyboard as well as an optional backlit keyboard.
"For those who seek ultimate multimedia experience, U21MD has the best audio and visual experience a 3-in-1 laptop could offer," reads the PR. "The equipped Dolby Digital Plus Home Theater technology eliminates sound distortion, enhances volume and reinforces even the smallest details of the sound. Enjoy a fantastic audio experience on the U21MD, which is great for music, movies and games."
Thanks to a special hinge on the laptop, this device can be used as a tablet by rotating the screen 180 degrees, as a notebook and as an office PC when docked. This notebook is ideal for those who want the traits of an entertainment PC but also the quick and light functionality of a tablet. Want a gaming laptop? Check out the new P15F v2 instead.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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dgingeri It looks kinda neat, but after three straight motherboards with serious bios issues, and each update buggier than the last, I've sworn off Gigabyte products permanently.Reply -
ldogg1981 Seriously!? It looks like the original touch screen laptops that ran windows xp 10 years ago.Reply -
elcentral 1366 x 768 oh my, is it legal to use eny thing lower then 1920x1080 in 2014?Reply
or is it eny good enought reason for it ?! maby if you get +8h battery and price drop by 80%
my last laptop i disposed of had a 13" 1600x900 its a good screen but all websites
today are built for 1080p and the 900 really don't play well. get a surface pro 2 it truly is
one of the best laptops on the market and the screen is perfect. -
back_by_demand Yep, that innovative design looks like a 12 year old XP Tablet, those funky hinges were stupid then and haven't improved much with age. I normally love Gigabyte for their motherboards, this will only serve to spoil an otherwise good reputation.Reply -
CaedenV ReplySeriously!? It looks like the original touch screen laptops that ran windows xp 10 years ago.
which makes it PERFECT! I love the rotate and fold design of those things. If the price is right then I just might pick one of these up for school next year... assuming that there are not better Broadwell and Airmont options available before September.