5 Windows 10 hybrids that rival the Microsoft Surface Book

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  • Microsoft Surface Book

    Microsoft Surface Book

    Windows 10 has been optimized for both laptop and tablet use, and Microsoft has done a good job with it. It works using a keyboard and trackpad as well as it does the tablet touch screen. The hybrid, aka the 2-in-1, is a good fit for those wanting to take full advantage of what Windows 10 has to offer.

    In an industry where there are seldom secrets, Microsoft surprised us all with the unveiling of the Surface Book. With the premium design from top to bottom, the newest member of the Surface family is one of the best laptops. Popping the screen, or Clipboard as Microsoft prefers to call it, off using the innovative latch is icing on the cake.

    Microsoft pitches the Surface Book as a laptop first and tablet second, and the three hour battery life of the Clipboard makes that clear. Those needing to use a tablet for longer than that in a day may find that to be limiting.

    As nice as the Surface Book is, there are some reasonable alternatives for those in the market for a 2-in-1 device. We’ve collected five of them for your consideration. These are some of the best models currently available. While some may be considering the iPad Pro for a work system, all of these run Windows 10 to keep comparisons straightforward.

    Caption by: James Kendrick

  • Toshiba dynaPad

    Toshiba dynaPad

    The new dynaPad from Toshiba has a keyboard dock that turns the tablet into a full laptop. The tablet is only 0.27 inches thick and lightweight at just 1.25 lbs. That’s highly portable for a 12-inch tablet, and with the keyboard dock attached it’s not much heavier (2.2 lbs).

    The dynaPad ships with a Wacom pen (TruePen) and software to facilitate taking notes. Toshiba’s goal was to make the new device as versatile as Windows 10 and it looks like it succeeded.

    The Toshiba dynaPad will be available soon in Japan and in the US and Europe early next year.

    Specs:

    - CPU: Intel Atom x5-Z8300

    - Display: 12-inch, 1920 x 1080

    - Memory / storage: 4GB / 128GB

    - Starting price: TBD

    Caption by: James Kendrick

  • Dell XPS 12

    Dell XPS 12

    Dell is leveraging its long history making laptops with the XPS 12. The new XPS 12 looks to be a solid laptop with a detachable screen for tablet use. It features a full keyboard dock making it a real laptop when needed. It has a 12.5-inch display that attaches magnetically to the dock.

    The XPS 12 is a reasonable alternative to the Surface Book given the price and battery life of 12 hours.

    The Dell XPS 12 will be available November 5, 2015.

    Specs:

    - CPU: Intel Core M

    - Display: 12.5-inch, 1920 x 1080, optional 4K version available ($300)

    - Memory / storage: 8GB / 128GB

    - Starting price: $999

    Caption by: James Kendrick

  • HP Envy x2

    HP Envy x2

    HP has been making tablet PCs longer than anyone and the experience shows in the Envy x2. This 2-in-1 is a tablet with kickstand and a Surface-like keyboard cover with backlit keys. The 13.3-inch display may be too big for some folks but is as large as that on the Surface Book.

    The HP Envy x2 has battery life of 7.5 hours and is a business-class device, making it a decent alternative to the Surface Book.

    Specs:

    - CPU: Intel Core M

    - Display: 13.3-inch, 1920 x 1080

    - Memory / storage: 8GB / 256GB

    - Starting price: $989

    Caption by: James Kendrick

  • Microsoft Surface Pro 4

    Microsoft Surface Pro 4

    If the Surface Book is the platinum standard in the 2-in-1 space, the newly refreshed Surface Pro 4 is golden. The tablet is light at 1.69 lbs and the new Type Cover doesn’t add much weight to the package. The Surface Pro 4 is a good tablet that becomes a laptop replacement with the Type Cover. Unlike other hybrids in this collection the keyboard cover is a $130 extra cost. Note that the Type Cover 2 for the Surface Pro 4 is compatible with the Pro 3 for those not wanting an expensive upgrade to that Surface.

    The Surface Pro 4 is a versatile alternative to the Surface Book that is configurable to meet the price and performance needs of the individual. It has a 9 hour battery life for long work days.

    Specs:

    - CPU: Intel Core M (Core i5, i7 available)

    - Display: 12.3-inch, 2736 x 1824

    - Memory / storage: 4GB / 128GB (8GB, 16GB memory available, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB storage available)

    - Starting price: $899

    Caption by: James Kendrick

  • Acer Aspire Switch 10

    Acer Aspire Switch 10

    This 2-in-1 from Acer is not the most powerful device but it packs a punch for the price. The smallest option in this collection, the 10.1-inch display is highly portable and a reasonable size for tablet use. It comes with a full keyboard dock in the box that turns the tablet into a solid laptop.

    In our testing we found the Aspire Switch 10 to be a decent tablet and good laptop. It is a great value for the low price and worth consideration.

    Specs:

    - CPU: Intel Atom 3735F, 1.33 GHz, quad-core

    - Display: 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800

    - Memory / storage: 2GB / 64GB

    - Starting price: $349.99

    See the review on ZDNet

    Caption by: James Kendrick

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Microsoft surprised everyone with the innovative Surface Book. As good as it looks, there are some other nice options in the 2-in-1 category.

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Microsoft Surface Book

Windows 10 has been optimized for both laptop and tablet use, and Microsoft has done a good job with it. It works using a keyboard and trackpad as well as it does the tablet touch screen. The hybrid, aka the 2-in-1, is a good fit for those wanting to take full advantage of what Windows 10 has to offer.

In an industry where there are seldom secrets, Microsoft surprised us all with the unveiling of the Surface Book. With the premium design from top to bottom, the newest member of the Surface family is one of the best laptops. Popping the screen, or Clipboard as Microsoft prefers to call it, off using the innovative latch is icing on the cake.

Microsoft pitches the Surface Book as a laptop first and tablet second, and the three hour battery life of the Clipboard makes that clear. Those needing to use a tablet for longer than that in a day may find that to be limiting.

As nice as the Surface Book is, there are some reasonable alternatives for those in the market for a 2-in-1 device. We’ve collected five of them for your consideration. These are some of the best models currently available. While some may be considering the iPad Pro for a work system, all of these run Windows 10 to keep comparisons straightforward.

Caption by: James Kendrick

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