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HP and Dell lead Samsung, Lenovo, and Acer in InfoWorld's reviews of both classic clamshell notebooks and innovative touch-driven hybrids
When Intel coined the term "Ultrabook" to describe a new breed of notebook -- thin, light, power-efficient, all courtesy of new chip set technology -- it was easy to dismiss as little more than a clever marketing ploy. But the units themselves, from a broad range of manufacturers, have turned heads and created a niche for themselves in the PC market.
Credit Windows 8 too for its part in spurring a general rethink of the laptop among hardware makers. By attaching a touch-driven tablet UI to the traditional Windows desktop, Windows 8 (like it or not) has given birth to a wide variety of tablet-laptop convertibles and hybrids. The result is more choice than ever for the Windows stalwart. As always, some options are better than others. Let this brief recap of InfoWorld's Windows 8 hardware reviews (so far) be your guide.
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The new form factors
Windows 8 notebooks come in roughly three basic designs: the classic clamshell (the Lenovo X1 Carbon, the Acer Aspire S7), the convertible (Dell XPS 12, Lenovo ThinkPad Twist), and the dockable or detachable (HP Envy X2, Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro 700T). The clamshell of course appeals mainly to those who are comfortable with a conventional notebook design and don't have much use for a tabletlike experience.
The second form factor, the convertible, is a halfway house for users who want a tablet design and don't mind lugging the extra weight of a keyboard -- or for those who fear that a detachable keyboard may become a liability (for example, if it's left on the train).
But the third form factor presents the strongest possible contender for the market currently dominated by tablets. Some dockables get battery life comparable to a tablet (even more if the keyboard dock doubles as another battery, as with the HP Envy and Acer Iconia W510), and...