Computex: Asus shows off Windows 8 powered notebooks, tablets and all-in-one PCs

Firm pushes yet more hybrid devices

TAIPEI: Asus has unveiled a line of notebooks, tablets and all-in-one PCs running the Windows 8 operating system (OS) at Computex as yet another hardware firm commits to Microsoft's forthcoming platform.

Speaking at an Asus keynote, chairman Jonney Shih unveiled the Taichi (pictured above) and the Transformer Book notebooks that both convert into tablet computers in different ways.

The Taichi notebook is what Asus has dubbed a "notebook-tablet fusion" where an LED-backlit IPS/FHD display is doubled up on both the front and back of the lid. The latter is multi-touch enabled so it can be used as a tablet when the lid is closed and the keyboard is concealed.

Asus said that the Taichi's two screens are completely independent of one another meaning it can be used simultaneously by two different users face-to-face.

Dimensions are yet to be confirmed but Asus said it is as light and as thin as the Zenbook Ultrabook, which should make it around 17.7mm thick and just over 1kg for the 11in model and 17mm thick and 1.3kg for the 13in version.

Dubbed "the world's first convertible notebook", Asus' Transformer Book allows users to switch between a notebook and tablet by detaching the screen from the keyboard. It works in a similar way to the Transformer Pad tablet.

Powered by Intel's Core i7 Ivy Bridge with 4GB DDR3 RAM, USB3.0 connectivity and SSD storage, Asus said it will be the lightest and thinnest tablet on the market and will come in 11.6in, 13in and 14in sizes.

Computex: Asus shows off Windows 8 powered notebooks, tablets and all-in-one PCs

Firm pushes yet more hybrid devices

Asus also revealed its new all-in-one PC at the event, called the Transformer AIO. Running on Windows 8 and powered by Intel's Ivy Bridge CPU, it has an 18.4in 10-point multitouch LED backlit display and can also work as a tablet.

The mammoth screen detaches in the same way the Transformer Book does and allows users to switch between Windows 8 and Android OS on a screen around the size of an A3 piece of paper.

Other products announced at the launch were the firm's 11in Asus 810 and the 10.1in Asus 600 tablets.

The 810 runs on Windows 8, and is fuelled by an Intel Atom processor, with 2GB RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage.

The Asus 600 tablet, which runs on Windows RT, is driven by an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor alongside a 12-core GPU for more detailed mobile gaming with 2GB RAM and 32GB eMMC storage.

Both tablets have 1366x768 IPS+ displays and are supplied with mobile docks allowing them to ‘transform' into clamshell "ultraportables" with full Qwerty keyboards.

We were not allowed to get to play with any of Asus's newly announced products - only look at them - but hopefully we'll be able to get a hands-on at the post-Computex event in London next week.

Asus said all its products announced today will be available to buy in the fourth quarter this year to complement its upcoming Asus Open Cloud Computing (AOCC) solution, which aims to connect different devices running different operating systems over the cloud. However, Asus would not disclose any of products' planned prices.