Notebook Vendors to Offer TouchScreen Ultrabooks?

The newest version of the Windows OS, Window 8, is expected to be released with touch functionalities. Thus, manufacturers of notebooks plan to take advantage of this capability by producing Ultrabooks with touch screens.

These transforming mechanisms would have to be studied more closely so that the touch capabilities could be utilized to the maximum. To achieve this, manufacturers would likely need to strengthen the torque or the rotational force of the hinge in the clamshell design of the Ultrabook so that the display could be flipped.

Of course, the designs would vary from brand to brand, but it is expected that some models would have screens that rotate, transforming the notebook into a slate. Notebooks with sliding screens are also a possibility.

Consumers should expect at least a 0.7 to 1.5cm addition in the thickness of the new products, and also a higher cost as the materials would entail an increase in production cost.

Among the companies who are planning to launch these transforming Ultrabooks are Asustek Computer, Acer, and Lenovo. Lenovo, in fact, has already announced that they are launching a notebook called the Yoga in the second half of 2012.

The introduction of transforming Ultrabooks might open a new niche in computer production, which is probably what the industry needs since there are too many notebooks and tablet PC models available today.

via digitimes