Apple stole the show last 2 years with its super thin, cool iPads. This led most other computer manufacturers to switch focus to the tablet PC market. Almost every computer and laptop manufacturers including Lenovo, HP, Dell, Sony and Asus announced their plans to come up tablet computers to take advantage of the market situation created by the Apple iPad. We started seeing a lot of Windows 7 and Android based tablet devices in the market. Meanwhile, Microsoft announced the Windows 8 with touch oriented features optimized for tablet PCs. Many analysts predicted lot of laptop and netbook users will switch to tablets and the year 2012/2013 will be of the tablets.

But is the scenario changing again?

Many computer manufacturers started working on their new ultra thin laptops running Windows 8. Obviously, Windows 8 is not just for tablets. Instead, it can run on desktops, laptops and ultrabooks.

The trend we are seeing now is, people are switching to ultrabooks that offer the power of laptops and convenience of tablet PCs.

Tablet style Windows ultrabooks - demo by Intel

In the Computer and Electronics Show (CES 2012) at Las Vegas, Intel demonstrated few Windows based tablet style Ultrabooks. Some of the ultrabooks in the demo were powered by Windows 7, yet had a UI element that look like the Windows 8 metro UI. This is considered as an attempt by Intel to take advantage of the interest in consumers to have the convenience and mobility of tablets but still need the power of laptops for high end computing needs.

Tablet PCs are convenient to use, easy to carry and great companion on travel. However, when it comes to major computing needs like programming, multi tasking etc, tablets are not so helpful. People look for physical keyword and mouse for most part of such usage. Tablets are small and thin and do not have physical keyboard, even though many of them allow adding an external keyboard. But by adding an external keyboard, we lose the advantage of tablets, if not adding more inconvenience of carrying extra accessories.

In the CES 2012, Intel demonstrated multiple ultrabooks with a wide range of features that the ultrabook industry hasn't seen before. Some of the ultrabooks demonstrated by Intel was a combination of tablet and laptop which has a touch screen to use as a tablet PC and a sliding keyboard to make it a laptop for high end computing needs when needed. In my opinion, the ultrabooks that combine tablet and laptop in to one device is the future of mobile computer devices. I personally use a laptop at home because of its physical keyboard and mouse but carry an iPad while travelling.

The ultrabooks demonstrated by Intel were from different manufacturers including Asus, HP and so on. At this point, they are just concept models and run on Windows 7. The modern ultra books are expected to hit the market as soon as Windows 8 is released and would be powered by Windows 8.

I am looking forward to get an Intel powered Windows 8 ultrabook in a super slim size but with a touch screen, sliding or folding keyboard and a wireless mouse. Have you seen a Windows 8 ultrabook? Share your reviews and thoughts.

Price of Windows 8 ultrabooks

One of the challenges of Windows tablets and ultrabooks is the high price. There are several cheap tablets available in the market which run on other platforms. In order to be competitive in the market, the pricing is a significant factor. There was no mention of the price range for the upcoming Windows 8 ultrabooks or tablets in the show, but they are expected to be priced below US$ 1,000. They would face tough competition in the laptop and netbook market if they are priced above US$ 1000, especially when the well established iPads are available starting from US$ 499.

Intel showcases Ultrabooks with Windows 8 style UI

Tablet style Windows ultrabooks - demo by Intel

Price of Windows 8 ultrabooks

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