ASUS Reveals the Transformer Book Duet, a Quad Mode, Dual-OS Hybrid Notebook
ASUS has just announced the existence of the ASUS Transformer Book Duet (TD300), a hybrid Ultrabook that is able to quickly switch to Android in just four seconds, without having to connect to its keyboard dock. This means that the Android operating system will be able to fully utilize the full power of the Duet's fourth generation Intel Core U-series processor.
Shortly after revealing the versatile ASUS Transformer Book Trio, the Taiwanese manufacturer has yet again revealed another Transformer machine -- the 13.3-inch ASUS Transformer Book Duet. The main difference between the Duet and Trio, is that the Duet's dual operating systems are running off the same hardware, unlike the Trio which has tablet hardware in its display, and Ultrabook hardware in its keyboard dock.
Users can easily switch between Android (4.1, Jellybean) and Windows 8.1 by hitting the Instant Switch button or virtual key on the tablet. OS switching doesn't use OS virtualization, which means the Duet's Android operating system, uses the full power of the Intel processor, making much more powerful than most Android tablets in the market. ASUS also claims that the time it takes to switch between OSes is a mere four seconds.
The Duet's 13.3-inch full HD (1920 x 1080) multi-touch tablet / display sports a powerful fourth generation Intel Core U-series (up to i7) processor, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD -- essentially what you'd expect to find on any premium Ultrabook. There's even a microSD slot that allows users to add on an extra storage (up to 64GB). For even more storage, simply dock the Duet's display back on it's keyboard dock, which contains a massive 1TB mechanical hard drive. Besides a hard drive, the dock also has both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports, a LAN port and a full-sized HDMI 1.4 port with 1080p support.
And as for looks, the Duet will have the same concentric-circle finish seen on its Zenbook line of notebooks. The tablet / display measures only 12.9mm thick, while its dock measures 16mm thick. When combined, the machine weighs 1.9kg, which is slightly heavier than regular Ultrabooks. However, take note that the Duet is considered to be a quad mode device, which means it can be used as a Windows 8.1 and Android tablet, or Windows 8.1 and Android notebook.
There aren't any pricing and availability information regarding the Duet at the moment, but we will keep this space updated once we find out more. In the meantime, do check out HardwareZone for more CES product unveils.
Source: ASUS
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