Although we have had some on the market now, they are either all Android-based or a mix of Android on the tablet and Windows on the laptop battery. Windows 8 could give these types of devices a real boost,” said Bajarin.
Lenovo unveiled its IdeaPad Yoga recently at CES, showing off a notebook with a 360 degree hinge designed to be used in a variety of ways in addition to the conventional laptop battery style.
Bajarin said that could even be the main reason the device could become popular.
.
“Because it runs Windows 8, it will appeal to mainstream users are comfortable with Microsoft’s OS. So Lenovo can market it as a replacement for laptop batterys rather than an additional device,” said Gibbs.
Convertible tablets aren’t a new idea, but on the Yoga, the hinges are designed to be sturdier than the swivels used in the past. When it’s flipped and used as a tablet, the keyboard deactivates, so it can be placed on a flat surface or used on the go without worrying about hitting a key. The palm rest has a leathery surface so it can rest firmly and easily while being used as a tablet, and the whole device has a rubbery coating for durability.
Although the iPad is a leader in its market, acer battery (Nasdaq: AAPL) and iOS is still off-putting to some users, so Microsoft’s (Nasdaq: MSFT) system on a fully functional machine could appeal to some of those users.
The Lenovo Yoga The Ultrabook, which will run on Windows 8, can be opened and folded back on itself to be used as a tablet or e-reader with touchscreen capabilities. It can also be propped up like a tent for a better video watching experience, for example, or used as a traditional laptop battery.
Lenovo didn’t return our request for more comment about the product.
“Tablets thus far have pretty much been complementary devices. They’re great for playing games, surfing the Web or watching video, but most users prefer laptop batterys when it comes to writing e-mails, creating documents, etc. But the IdeaPad Yoga is intriguing because it bridges the gap between the two. It has full touchscreen functionality but also a fully integrated keyboard,” Colin Gibbs, analyst at GigaOM Pro told TechNewsWorld.
“Lenovo’s Yoga is one of the better early versions of this concept, and I expect to see many more by quarter four. But it will be Windows 8 that makes these types of devices take off,” he said.