With the release of Windows 8 on the horizon, we’re excited to see the wide range of touchscreen laptops and desktops coming our way from 26 October. One such device is the Vaio Duo 11, a hybrid ultrabook from Sony that we were happy to get our hands on.
Not quite a tablet and not quite a laptop, the Vaio Duo 11 rests somewhere in between. The 1.3kg device is just under 18mm thick and comes with an 11.6-inch full-HD display and the latest-generation Intel Core processors.
The device can be used flat as a tablet using touch control or the digitiser stylus pen with changeable tips, or it can be folded out to reveal the integrated keyboard.
The Vaio Duo comes with all the features you would expect of a top-of-the-range tablet, including two 2MP full-HD web cameras, GPS, and a range of both Windows 8 and Sony Vaio apps. It also comes with NFC capabilities and DLNA technology, expanding its connectivity possibilities.
With Windows 8 comes an opportunity for tablet computing to become more productive. With the power of an ultrabook, the Vaio Duo 11 will appeal to businesspeople who want to travel light but also clear a heavy-duty workload on the go.
Having tried out the device, I can see how this can be achieved, but it comes with a fairly hefty price tag. Available from November, the Windows 8 Pro edition of the Vaio Duo 11 comes with 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and a recommended retail price of €1,899, while the more modest Windows 8 Home edition comes with 4GB RAM and 128GB SSD at €1,249.
