It’s time to talk a bit more about what Windows 8 will have to offer as far as tablets go, and what better way to do this is there, other than taking a look at one of the future competitors of the Microsoft Surface Pro tablet.
We’re talking about none other than the Asus Taichi, a tablet/notebook hybrid that tries to stand out from the crowd with its unique design, much as various other Windows 8 devices do. More details below.
Microsoft Surface Pro vs Asus Taichi - An interesting Duel
Microsoft Surface Pro vs Asus Taichi
One of the main differences between the Surface tablet and the Taichi is the fact that the former is purely a tablet that comes with an optional keyboard cover, whereas the latter comes with a unique and somewhat exotic design.
To be more precise, the Taichi borrows the form factor of a notebook, but because it packs a double-sided display it can also be used as a tablet, reason why I’ve mentioned that Asus’ attempt to combine the two concepts seems a bit exotic. To give you a comparison, the HP Envy X2 and the Ativ Smart PC Pro, which are hybrids as well, come with a removable display that becomes a pure tablet when operating alone, and the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga comes with a 360-degrees non-removable flip-display.
In any case, the Asus Taichi does things its own way but let’s move on and see what the device has to offer in terms of hardware.
| Device Name | Microsoft Surface Pro | Asus Taichi |
| Display Size | 10.6 inch | 2 x 11.6 inch |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 / 208 ppi | 1920 x 1080 / 190 ppi |
| CPU | Intel Core i5 | Intel Core i5-3317U / Intel Core i7-3517U |
| GPU | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | Intel HD Graphics 4000 |
| RAM | 4 GB – Dual Channel | 4GB DDR3 1600 MHz |
| Storage | 64GB / 128GB | SATA III SSD 128 / 256GB |
| Cameras | Two 720p HD LifeCams (more info. required) | 5 MP 1080p / HD720p |
| Weight | 907 g | 1,250 g |
| Other | Stereo speakers, pen input (stylus included), touch or type keyboard cover (optional) | 1 x Mini VGA port, 2 x USB 3.0 port, 1 x Micro HDMI 1.4, Bluetooth 4.0, full-size backlit keyboard |
| Price | 64GB = $899, 128GB = $999, Touch Cover = $120, Type Cover = $130 | TBA ($1,299 rumored) |
| Release Date | January 2013 – Subject to change | TBA |
It’s quite interesting how both these devices offer very similar specs. They’re both powered by roughly similar hardware and the same Microsoft OS, yet we’re quite intrigued by the fact that, if the rumored price of the Taichi is right, the Asus alternative seems to offer more bang for the buck, including a second display that doesn’t cost pocket change to manufacture and fit, and a full notebook experience due to the full-sized backlit keyboard which isn’t really optional, but part of the package.
Of course, until we find out more regarding the exact price and release date of the Asus tablet, we can’t draw any final conclusion, but the Taichi is definitely an interesting device and it might pose a threat to the Surface Pro. Any thoughts?
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