If there is anything leading the pack of consumers migrating to tablets, it’s businesses. Let’s face it: desktop PCs and even laptops have become less attractive alternatives to tablets that are as dedicated and competitive as, if not more than, their precursors. Now, most people have thought that Windows 8, the latest version of the Microsoft operating system, will give the world PC market a boost, but overall PC sales for this year’s first quarter show otherwise. It also appears that, for a number of reasons, most businesses aren’t planning a Windows 8 upgrade anytime soon.
Since a few years back, we have seen iOS and Android mobile devices brought to workplaces, whereas Windows have a teeny share of the world smartphone and tablet market. So, if there is any reason why Windows 8 would still make sense for your business, it’ll probably be because of the Windows 8 laptop-tablet hybrids.
“Weak” Windows 8 reception further slows PC sales
According to the International Data Corporation, global provider of IT market intelligence, worldwide PC sales posted the steepest decline in a quarter early this year. PC sales were down by 13.9% with 76.3 million units sold globally for the first quarter of 2013, the worst since 1994.
As it is, consumer spending is shifted towards smartphones and tablets, but Windows 8 has made the entire PC industry all the more uninspiring. PC vendors are putting in a lot of effort to offer PCs with touch capabilities and ultra slim systems. However, Windows 8, which now sports a tiled and touch-based interface and without the Start button, has made it even less attractive by being “unintuitive”.
Best Windows 8 convertibles
If anything, the Windows 8 laptop-tablet hybrids or more popularly called “convertibles” can be the operating system’s only road to salvation. It’s because the Windows 8 convertibles allow you to switch between laptop and tablet depending on your needs, giving you the best of both worlds. And besides, it comes along with a free Office 2013 suite and is powered by ARM CPUs, making them more power-efficient than standard PCs.
Here’s a rundown of the best Windows 8 convertibles in the market:
Acer Iconia W700
What makes Acer Iconia W700 a standout among other Windows 8 hybrids is that it has an Intel Core i5 processor and a high-resolution screen, which you don’t ordinarily find in a tablet. Also, aside from working as a laptop, the Iconia W700 can also function as a small desktop PC, however limited its viewing angles and external mouse or touchpad are.
Dell XPS 12
At a competitive price, you can own a Dell XPS 12, a slim yet powerful convertible. It touts an Ultrabook-class hardware and is solidly-built with aluminum and carbon chassis, capable of withstanding constant travel. Also, unlike other slide convertibles that come with a small keyboard and track pad, the XPS 12 manages a full keyboard and touch pad by having a rotating screen within its clamshell case.
HP Envy x2
HP Envy x2’s impressive battery life can actually make up for its Intel Atom processor, which is under what most convertibles have today. Add to that a keyboard dock with battery integration, a must-have for those who spend hours and hours on the machine. Envy x2 is also built in an aluminum chassis and can be attached to its dock without much hassle.
Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11
The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11 can easily adapt to your work style by being able to shift with much ease between its four usage modes—laptop, slate, tent or stand. It is surprisingly lightweight yet solidly-built and has good battery life. The IdeaPad Yoga 11 runs on a Nvidia Tegra 3 chip.
