10. TOSHIBA SATELLITE RADIUS 11
This laptop is a budgeted windows laptop (yes its affordable) with a 11.6 inch touch screen just like the Lenovo Yoga 3. Its display can spin around to make a clunky tablet. This is clocked at 2.19 GHz and has a little scope to run faster, to 2.58 GHz, using a what Intel calls Burst Technology, believed to be a more basic version of its Turbo Boost Technology.
Supporting the processor is 4 GB of 1600 MHz memory – not upgradeable – and a 500 GB hard-disk drive.
Toshiba has pre-installed regular Windows 8.1, a step away from the free version that Microsoft now offers to hardware partners on the condition that they don't try to earn kickback revenue from Google or other search engines by turning off Bing. But without those conditions attached to the regular Windows OEM edition, Toshiba has instead taken the opportunity to claw back its investment and turn some profit by including plenty of third-party sponsorship.
Skyscanner, Spotify, eBay, Google and Amazon are five companies that appear unbidden in Internet Explorer's favourites bar, on the Windows desktop or the main taskbar, while Intel's McAfee division wants to prise money from the hapless laptop buyer to keep using its pre-installed virus software. New IE webpages open with both MSN and link aggregator Symbaloo pages. But award for the cheekiest piece of affiliate marketing must go to Toshiba's removal of Windows' built-in free archive extraction tool, for opening .zip files. Instead, any .zip file must be opened by the commercial WinZip program that's been installed.
Ports and connectors are limited, but no more so than many ultraportable-class laptops today. Two USB ports are included, USB 3.0 to the left and USB2.0 to the right. There's an HDMI output for connection to a monitor, TV or projector, and an SDXC slot for memory cards. A single 3.5 mm headset jack lets you connect earphones with mic for video chats, for example. But missing from the laptop is any ethernet network port.
The display is a touchscreen with a poor contrast ratio and limited colour capability – to wit, just 80:1 and only 56 percent of the SRGB colour space. Its pixels span 1366 x 768, a low resolution for laptop screens but helped here by filling an 11.6-inch rather than 15.6-inch panel. Consequently its pixel density of 135 ppi is better than the latter 100 ppi, meaning not such grainy screen typography.
It suffers limited view ability, not just because of constricted viewing angles (which here were not the worst of the breed, with image still partly viewable from the sides) but through being highly reflective – and moreover, twice over. There appears to be a gap between the mirror-like touch surface and another reflective surface beneath, which adds a second reflection for you to fight through. Maximum brightness of the display was a comparatively low 191 cd/m^2.
The trackpad is a traditional buttoned design, rather than buttonless, which is more welcome on low-cost laptops since the cheapest buttonless pads rarely work well. Here though the buttons themselves are something of a struggle to operate, require concerted finger/thumb downforce to click.
In use noticed some random pauses and slowdowns from the Toshiba, with the trackpad seemingly broken at times. Whether that was an issue with the trackpad in that particular laptop or general system lethargy is not known. But just navigating Windows 8.1 the Satellite Radius did feel sluggish in general use.
SPECIFICATIONS
- 11.6-inch (1366 x 768) 135 ppi TN gloss touchscreen
- 2.16 GHz Intel Celeron N2840 (2.58 GHz Burst) 2C, 2T
- Intel HD Graphics
- 4 GB 1600 MHz DDR3L RAM
- 500 GB 5400 rpm HDD
- 802.11b/g/n 1x1 MIMO
- Bluetooth 4.0
- 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0
- HDMI
- SDXC card slot
- stereo speakers
- single mic
- webcam
- 3.5 mm headset port
- UK layout, tiled keyboard
- 85 x 43 mm, two button trackpad
- 26 Wh non-removable lithium-ion battery
- 45 W mains adaptor
- 287 x 198 x 22.5 mm
- 1309 g
9. ASUS FLIP
The Asus Transformer Book Flip TP300L is a nice looking Haswell powered laptop with a convertible screen. The Transformer Book Flip is Asus’s mainstream ultrabook line for the rest of 2014 and the TP300 is the 13 inch model within this series, with 14 and 15 inch versions also available. They are meant to offer good value for the money,
Aesthetically, the TP300 is quite appealing. It has some scents of Macbook Pros and some standard Asus lines. Metal is used for the lid cover, a dark brushed sheet of metal that will catch fingerprints and smudges like crazy. No kidding! Metal is used for the interior as well, but this time it’s a simple hunk of sturdy aluminum, with straights edges. The bottom is covered by a soft and smooth plastic, which does offer good grip, but is also prone to retaining smudges.
For the screen Asus chose a 13.3 inch IPS touch panel, bright, sharp and with great viewing angles. Its HardwareID is CMN1361 and it looks like a new panel, not one of those Asus used on their previous laptops.
There’s little to no light bleeding and the color reproduction is also very good, as far as my eyes can tell when having this device next to a recent iPad. The 1920 x 1080 px resolution is just enough to offer crisp fonts and elements, without having to worry much about potential Windows scaling nuisances.
On top of these, the screen is highly reflective, so using the laptop in strong light could be annoying. But the fact that the display can actually bend completely on the back, and even more, does make the TP300 easy to adjust to pretty much any working environment, from a desk to a couch or a flight seat. 
All these would be in vain if this laptop would not be able to properly cope with daily requirements. But that’s not the case. The Transformer Book Flip TP300 is going to be available in a bunch of different configurations.
A rather small and slow 128 GB SSD , which does not leave that much room for your own content after installing Windows and usual programs, but the speed bump over a regular hard-drive is appreciated. And you can upgrade the laptop yourself anytime you want to.
SPECIFICATIONS
Ultra portable
Announced June 2014
322x232x22mm, (0.9 inch thick)
1.75 kilos - 3.85 kilos
Aluminium body with a plastic underbelly
IPS glossy touch
13.3 inch, 1920x1080px
Windows 8.1
Intel Haswel
Intel core i3/i5/i7
Intel HD 4000, optional Nvidia GT 820m
8GB
Comes in various configuration
3x USB 3.0, HDMI, card reader
Wifi N, bluetooth 4.0
Stereo speakers
8. DELL INSPIRON 13 7000 2 in 1
This laptop offer a happy medium for users who want the convenience of a tablet, but depend on a keyboard and touchpad to be their primary input devices. With the Dell Inspiron 13 7000 Series 2-in-1, you get the best of both worlds in a sturdy, metal-clad chassis that features a full-size keyboard that folds back, allowing you to use the system as a Windows-powered tablet. The 13.3-inch, In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel displays bright, bold colors and wide viewing angles and offers responsive 10-point capacitive touch technology. The Inspiron 13 7000's at Dell Intel Core i5 processor delivers solid performance, but this 2-in-1 is a tad heavy for a 13-inch tablet.
This laptop actually feels like a tablet.
The system is built around a beautiful full HD (1,920-by-1,080) IPS display with 10-point captive touch technology and edge-to-edge glass. The touch screen handled swiping, zooming, and scrolling gestures with aplomb, and the panel displayed brilliant colors and dark blacks that remained intact regardless of the viewing angle. It has a sharp image detail and excellent color tone. The side-firing speakers embedded in the keyboard/base provide good volume, but sound tinny due to a lack of bass response.
As with the Dell Inspiron 11 3000 Series 2-in-1 , the Inspiron 13 7000's screen is attached to a full-size keyboard using two very sturdy hinges that have a 360-degree folding range, allowing you to use the device as a laptop or a tablet. The keyboard can also be partially folded for use in Tent mode or Stand mode. The palm rest matches the laptop's exterior and contains a chiclet-style keyboard with black keys and white lettering. The backlit keyboard is comfortable and responsive. The 4.0-by-2.5-inch multipoint touchpad is also responsive and provides plenty of room for Windows 8 gestures. A stylus is stored on the right side of the chassis for users who want take advantage of Windows 8.1's Pen functionality, and there's a 720p webcam embedded in the display's upper bezel.
Connectors include two USB 3.0 ports, one of which is a PowerShare port that allows you to charge USB peripherals without powering up the laptop, a USB 2.0 port, an HDMI video output, a headphone jack, and an SD card reader. You don't get an Ethernet port on this model, but it does offer dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity.
The Dell Inspiron 13 7000 Series 2-in-1 is a well-built, 13-inch convertible-hybrid laptop that delivers solid all-around performance and features a crisp In-Plane Switching (IPS) display.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Type: Ultraportable, Tablet |
| Processor Name: Intel Core i5-4210U |
| Processor Speed: 1.7 GHz |
| Operating System: Windows 8.1 |
| RAM: 8 GB |
| Storage Capacity (as Tested): 500 GB |
| Graphics Card: Intel HD Graphics 4400 |
| Screen Size: 13.3 inches |
| Weight: 3.7 lb |
| Screen Type: Widescreen |
| Native Resolution: 1920 x 1080 |
| Graphics Memory: 2048 |
| Storage Type: HDD |
7. TOSHIBA SATELITE CLICK 2 PRO
For some Windows 8.1 2-in-1 hybrids, the added tablet mode is a welcome bonus. For others, it actually hinders the laptop experience. The latter is the case with Toshiba's $1,185 Satellite Click 2 Pro, which has a gorgeous 1080p screen and crisp Harman Kardon speakers, but is weighed down by its top-heavy design.
Like its predecessors, the Toshiba Satellite Click 2 Pro flips the overall feel of an average laptop on its head, sporting a super-slim keyboard deck and a much heftier, 13.3-inch display that can detach for use as a tablet. Because of this, I constantly found the weighty display bobbling on its hinge, and it was a pain trying to pick up the notebook by the keyboard deck.
The Click 2 Pro touts a smooth, brushed-aluminum lid, with a backside that protrudes out a bit when the laptop is open. The notebook's skinny deck hosts a set of black chiclet keys, with a soft, textured bottom that runs along the underside.
Don't let the thinness of the deck fool you, though; this notebook will weigh you down. Measuring in at 13.0 x 9.8 x 0.78 inches and weighing 4.4 pounds fully assembled, the Click 2 Pro is similar in size to the HP Specter 13 X2 (13.4 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches, 4.4 pounds) but heavier than the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 2 13 (13 x 8.71 x 0.68, 3.6 pounds) and noticeably wider than the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 (11.45 x 7.8 x 0.36 inches, 1.76 pounds).
The Click 2 Pro turns into a tablet when you push down on the hinge and pull it out of the keyboard dock, though doing so sometimes took me a few tries. The screen's curvy edges make it comfy to hold, but the device's 2-pound, 13 x 9.8 x 0.78-inch span offsets that comfort.
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU : Intel core i7-4510U
OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 8.1
RAM: 8gb RAM
HARD DRIVE: 256GB
HARD DRIVE TYPE: SSD Drive
DISPLAY SIZE: 13.3 inch
NATIVE RESOLUTION: 1920x1080
WIFI: 802.11ac
BLUETOOTH: 4.0
TOUCH PAD SIZE: 4.2 x 2.6
USB Ports: 2x 3.0
HDMI cable, SD card slot
6 .ASCER ASPIRE SWITCH 10
Is it a tablet? No, may be it's a laptop. The truth is the Acer Aspire Switch 10 is a little bit of both and a whole lot more. This attractive Windows 8 convertible device offers several modes of use with a stunning display and plenty of power to surf the Web, check your email, and write a paper or two. But should you be inspired to make the switch to this 10-inch hybrid?
The Switch 10 is a beautiful tablet/laptop. Its attractive aluminum lid has subtle crosshatching with a slightly raised, diamond-cut chrome Acer emblem in the center. The device has a squarish look, with straight edges and slightly rounded corners, and we like that the hinge mechanism doesn't protrude from the back of the hybrid.
The color is equally impressive, with the Switch 10 displaying vivid reds and oranges, alongside deep blacks. The screen did a great job with blues, allowing every cerulean-eyed cast member to easily draw our gaze. Viewing angles are almost ridiculously wide, allowing us to sit to the side of the tablet without any noticeable color degradation.
Just in case you want to take your tablet out to the park or for a stroll, Acer has added its LumiFlex display technology. When enabled, this feature gives the display an extra pop of color, which helps prevents image washout in direct sunlight. However, the enhanced colors can look over saturated in an indoor setting.
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU 1.33-GHz Intel Arom Z3745
Operating System Windows 8.1
RAM 2GB RAM Upgradable to Hard Drive Size 64GB
Hard Drive Type SSD Drive
Display Size 10.1 Native Resolution 1366x768
Optical Drive None Optical Drive Speed n/a
Graphics Card Intel HD Graphics Video Memory
Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi
Model Bluetooth Bluetooth 4.0
Mobile Broadband Touchpad Size 3.5 x 2 inches
Ports USB 2.0 Ports (excluding USB)
Micro USB Ports (excluding USB)
micro HDMI Ports (excluding USB)
Combo Headphone/Mic Jack USB Ports 2 Card Slots microSD
Weight 1.2 pounds (tablet) 2.4 pounds
5. HP PAVILION X360
HP is looking to make the hybrid more affordable than ever with the HP Pavilion x360. This notebook's 360-degree hinge allows its 11.6-inch, 1366 x 768 display to be used in laptop, tablet, tent and stand modes. Factor in its loud Beats Audio speakers and a snappy keyboard, and you've got an apt companion for work and play, however, with similar notebooks available at the same attainable price.
Like an affordable sports convertible, the HP Pavilion x360 is stylish, compact and can transform itself in a few seconds. As with other flexible notebooks, you can fold the x360's keyboard back for an entertainment-friendly stand mode, put the notebook in tent mode for tabletop use, or condense the whole thing into an 11.6-inch tablet.
For the most part, the x360 stays at a manageable temperature throughout long periods of use. After 15 minutes of streaming HD video, the touchpad reached 77 degrees Fahrenheit, while the G and H keys became a warmer 87 degrees. Both of these sections stayed below our 95-degree comfort threshold, which was exceeded only by the notebook's underside at 97 degrees.
Fueled by a 2.17-GHz Intel Pentium N3520 Processor with 8GB of RAM, the x360 provided mostly dependable performance for Web surfing and video streaming.
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU 2.17-GHz Intel Pentium N3520
Operating System Windows 8.1
RAM 8GB RAM > Upgradable
Hard Drive Size 500GB
Hard Drive Speed 5,400rpm
Display Size 11.6 Native Resolution 1136 x 768
Optical Drive Speed Graphics Card Intel HD Graphics Video Memory
Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n
Wi-Fi Model Bluetooth
Bluetooth 4.0
USB 3.0 Ports (excluding USB)
USB 2.0 Ports (excluding USB)
Kensington Lock Ports (excluding USB)
Headphone/Mic Ports (excluding USB)
HDMI Ports (excluding USB)
Card Slots SD/SDHC
Card reader
4. ACER ASPIRE SWITCH 11
I know i talked about the the Acer Aspire Switch 10 earlier on but the Acer Aspire switch is more different and performs better. They kind of look alike or may be they actually
The quest for the ideal hybrid continues. The Aspire Switch 11 is a 2-in-1 that gives you a laptop and tablet in a single device, complete with a Core i3 processor, 128GB SSD and full HD touch display. We like how easy it is to change modes using the magnetic hinge, the comfy keyboard dock and strong performance for the price. However, the design of this 2-in-1 is a bit too top heavy, and the battery life doesn't go too well. Still, if you want something more like a laptop than the Microsoft Surface Pro 3, the Switch 11 is worth considering.
Seriously, Before this 2-in-1 even made it into my hands, I knew it was going to be bulky. By itself, the tablet weighs 1.8 pounds, matching the Asus Transformer Book T200, and it's slightly heavier than the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 (1.76 pounds).
When joined together the keyboard dock, the Switch 11's weight 3.4 pounds, which is heavier than the Surface Pro with its Type Cover attached (2.4 pounds), the Dell Inspiron 11 3000 (3.1 pounds) and the T200 (3.2 pounds). Heck, the 13-inch MacBook Air weighs 3 pounds.
The right side of the tablet houses a full-size USB 3.0 port, mini-HDMI, microSD slot, reset pinhole and a power port. Positioned on the left is the headset jack and buttons for power, volume and Windows.
For some reason, Acer just loves ergonomically challenged button placement. The location of the Windows button is at once perplexing and annoying, as it would be better served along the bottom display bezel where it's normally found on other systems. Instead, Acer chose to tag that prime real estate with a shiny Acer logo.
SPECSIFICATIONS
CPU 1.5-GHz Intel Core i3-4012Y processor
Operating System Windows 8.1
RAM 4GB RAM Upgradable
Hard Drive Size 128GB
Hard Drive Type SSD
Display Size 11.6 Native Resolution 1920x1080
Optical Drive None Optical Drive
Graphics Card Intel HD Graphics 4200 GPU Video Memory
Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
Mobile Broadband Touchpad Size 4.1 x 2.3 inches
microSD card slot
USB 3.0 Ports (excluding USB)
USB 2.0 Ports (excluding USB)
Mini HDMI Ports (excluding USB)
Headset USB Ports
3. LENOVO THINKPAD YOGA 14
Lenovo's ThinkPad Yoga 14 combines two of the company's staples: durable notebooks built for business, and hybrid laptops that support a range of use modes. Like other Yoga notebooks, this 14-incher sports a 360-degree hinge that lets it act as a laptop, tablet or stand-up touch display, complete with an excellent keyboard that retracts itself when not in laptop mode. The Yoga 14's inch 1080p display, discrete Nvidia graphics and sturdy design make it ideal for getting work done, but is it portable and usable enough to be your mobile workhorse?
Like its predecessor, the ThinkPad Yoga 14 blends business-class, style and durability with the Yoga series. The notebook's matte black, magnesium alloy construction is a signature of the ThinkPad series, as are the machine's red pointing stick and thin red stripes at the top of the touchpad.
The Yoga 14's hinge proved strong enough to keep the display firmly in place in stand and tent modes, and the Lift 'n' Lock feature meant I could hold the machine in tablet mode without my fingers getting stuck with the keys.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Battery Life: 6:13 |
| Bluetooth Version: 4.0 |
| Dimensions: 0.88x13.25x9.0 inches |
| GPS: No |
| Screen Pixels Per Inch: 157 ppi |
| Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Screen Type: IPS LCD, Widescreen |
| Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 |
| Ports: HDMI, USB, Proprietary |
| Additional Storage: SD |
| CPU: Intel Core i5-4210U |
| Wi-Fi (802.11x) Compatibility: 2.4GHZ/5GHz |
| Type: Tablet, Business, Ultrabook |
| Processor Name: Intel Core i5-4210U |
| Processor Speed: 1.7 GHz |
| RAM: 8 GB, 8 GB |
| Storage Capacity (as Tested): 1 TB |
| Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GT 840M, Nvidia GeForce GT 840M |
2. MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO 3 The Surface Pro 3 improves greatly upon the previous model in just about every which way – Microsoft has checked all of its boxes. The company was even so brash as to compare this hybrid of sorts to both Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air and its tablet atop the mountain, the iPad Air.
At least on the outside, the Surface Pro 3 falls somewhere smack in the middle. Measuring 7.93 x 11.5 x 0.36 inches (W x D x H), the 1.76-pound tablet isn't quite as thin and light as the iPad Air, but beats the Mac Book Air in both respects easily.
And that's pretty much the point: a device that offers enough of both to replace both. The Pro 3 is a light enough tablet – but not the absolute lightest – and arguably one of the thinnest and lightest laptops around. But dimensions aren't even half of it.
Microsoft says that it is essentially two devices in one, and has priced it accordingly, not to mention with Apple squarely in mind. So, starting with the latest iPad, it would cost $799 -- the Pro 3's starting price -- to only reach half of this Microsoft tablet's storage. And this is Apple's most premium configuration.
At first glance, it looks like the Surface Pro 3 can dance around both of Apple's machines at the same time. However, that's assuming you purchased the optional Type Cover. That's right: the one tool that enables this tablet to truly replace the laptop does not come with the device. In fact, it costs a cool $130 (around £77, AU$140). Even so, this Surface Pro 3 configuration, with Type Cover included, still costs less than Apple's entry level tablet and laptop combined. Microsoft may have made good on its goal of replacing the laptop in terms of price, but what about performance?
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: 1.9GHz Intel Core i5-4300U (dual-core, 3MB cache, up to 2.9GHz with Turbo Boost)
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4400
- RAM: 8GB LPDDR3
- Screen: 12-inch, 2160 x 1440 multi-touch (ClearType, 3:2 aspect ratio)
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Ports: One USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, microSDXC card reader (up to 128GB), headphone/mic jack
- Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
- Camera: Two 5MP webcams (1080p HD video)
- Weight: 1.76 pounds
- Size: 7.93 x 11.5 x 0.36 inches (W x D x H)
1. LENOVO YOGA 3 PRO CONVERTIBLE
The Yoga 2 Pro was arguably the finest convertible Ultrabook money could buy when it launched in late 2013 - and it continues to impress today. It was sleek, packed a best-in-class QHD+ display and could transform into a multitude of positions depending on how its going to be used by the user.
2015: Lenovo has swapped the Intel Core M5Y70 on the original Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro for a newer Intel Core M5Y71. The latter has a slightly higher base/boost clock speed (1.1/2.6GHz vs 1.2/2.9GHz) so you get a bit more oomph. This hasn't trickled to the UK though till now. The company has also cut the price of the cheaper model in the UK.
On the flip side, its battery life, unwieldy tablet mode and lack of 802.11ac Wi-Fi meant that there was still plenty of room for improvement. By addressing these concerns, I could see Lenovo returning with a smash hit on its hands.
On paper, the Yoga 3 Pro promises to be just that, with one look at the spec sheet revealing a machine for fans of both convertible machines and Ultrabooks in general to lust after.
.
SPECIFICATIONS
General
- Tablet
- Convertible
- Windows (8.1)
Display
- 3200 x 1800
- 16:9
- LCD (Active, Color, Backlit, LED)
- Capacitive [finger]
Processor
- Intel
- Other
- Core M 5Y70
- 1.1 GHz
Networking
- 802.11 b, g, n (2.4, 5 GHz)
Video
- HDMI
Memory and storage (basic)
- 8 GB
- 256 GB (total)
SSD
Input
- Yes
- Trackpad
Connections
- 3.0
Audio
- 3.5mm (Dual-input)
- Stereo
- Yes
- Stereo
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