Samsung Series 5, Series 7 Slate PCs Debut With Windows 8, Detachable Keyboard
Who says you have to decide between a tablet or a laptop? Certainly not Samsung.
At the IFA Consumer Electronics Show in Berlin, Germany, today, the company announced its Series 5 and Series 7 Slate PCs, which convert from a notebook to a tablet, thanks to a detachable keyboard. Both devices run on Microsoft’s latest Windows 8 operating system.
The Series 5 and Series 7 slates both feature an 11.6-inch touchscreen (the Series 7 display has a 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution, while the Series 5 display is 1,366 x 768 pixels) that docks into the keyboard via mechanical hinges. Samsung said it chose mechanical hinges instead of magnetic ones (like those some of its competitors use) to ensure that the tablet would stay securely in place.
You can close it like a regular laptop, making it easier to carry and store the device. The Series 7 weighs 1.89 pounds; the Series 5 weighs 1.65 pounds.
Like the Samsung Galaxy Note and Galaxy Note 10.1, the slates come with an embedded stylus, which Samsung calls the S Pen, so you can take handwritten notes, draw sketches and more.
The Series 7 is built for the power user, offering a third-generation Intel Core i5 processor, more memory and a 128 gigabyte solid-state drive for quicker start-up times. The Series 5 is designed more for the everyday user, with an Intel Atom processor and 64GB solid-state drive.
In addition to the Slate PCs, Samsung introduced a touchscreen version of its Series 5 Ultra notebook. The design of this Ultrabook remains much the same as the non-touch model, which debuted late last year. But the addition of the multitouch display will help users take advantage of Windows 8’s touch-friendly user interface.
The Samsung Series 7 Slate costs $1,199. The Series 5 will come in two versions: One with the keyboard dock for $749, and one without for $649. Pricing for the touchscreen Series 5 Ultra will range between $799 and $849. All of the products will be available on Oct. 26.
