I'm becoming concerned that the new Windows 8 hardware may be too expensive to make a significant impact.
Acer Iconia W510 detachable tablet / laptop
I like the concept of this Acer Iconia W510 netbook-class Intel Atom powered laptop, but $749 is the same price as the Core i5 MacBook Air 11" refurb currently listed on Apple's website. Granted the Acer has a detachable tablet screen, but for $749 consumers might want more horsepower if this is a long-term purchase.
Lenovo Yoga 13 convertible laptop / tablet
Conceptually, my favorite new Windows 8 laptop / tablet combo so far is the Intel Core i5 powered Lenovo Yoga 13. I spent time with it last weekend and it's generally great with a screen that folds all the way back to form a thick tablet, but at 3.5lbs it weighs about a pound too much. At $1,099, it's also very expensive compared to other 13" Windows laptops. It's understandable that a 13" laptop will have some heft, but when in tablet mode it's not feasible to hold the Yoga 13 for any more than a few minutes. I like the direction this is going in though and look forward to seeing lighter and slimmer large screen tablet / laptop combos!
Neil Berman, Helper-in-Chief, TheONbutton
