Samsung launches Windows 8 Ultrabooks and tablet hybrids

Samsung Windows 8

Samsung has unveiled its new range of Windows devices, including a touch screen-enabled ultrabook.

The Korean firm launched its new 13-inch Series 5 Ultra Touch Windows 8 ultrabook, which sports Core i3 chips as well as a 1366x768 touch screen display, 4GB of RAM, and 500GB hard drive with 24GB of ExpressCache SSD storage (high-speed solid state storage directly on the logic board).

The i3 laptop will go on sale for around 500 ($809.99).

Its higher-end sister device, the Core i5 is available for an extra $50 (30) at $859.99. Both will run Windows 8. Despite the Ultrabook tag, the laptops weigh in at 1.73kg.

In addition to the Series 5 Ultrabooks, the tech giant announced a couple of new Windows 8 tablets, which will hit the shops just after the 26 October launch of Windows 8.

Both the hybrid tablets - which combined with the laptops - form part of Samsung's Smart PC strategy, have 11.6in displays. The tablets, dubbed Ativ Smart PC, run Windows 8. The 500T boasts an Intel Atom Z2760 processor, 2GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

The 500T can be bought with a keyboard for 476 ($749.99) or without (405 or $649.99).

The second tablet, called the Ativ Smart 700T, comes with a Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. This will come in at 745 ($1199.99).

At the launch event in New York, Samsung also unveiled two all-in-one touch-enabled desktops. The Series 5 and Series 7 are 21in and 27in display models respectively, both supporting 10-finger touch and hand gesture recognition so users can operate the PC by moving hands in front of the display. The Series 5 will retail at 497 ($800) while the Series 7 will cost 1050 ($1700).

Rene Millman

Rene Millman is a freelance writer and broadcaster who covers cybersecurity, AI, IoT, and the cloud. He also works as a contributing analyst at GigaOm and has previously worked as an analyst for Gartner covering the infrastructure market. He has made numerous television appearances to give his views and expertise on technology trends and companies that affect and shape our lives. You can follow Rene Millman on Twitter.