According to market research firm IDC’s recent survey, shipments of tablet computers declined 3.2 percent y-o-y to 229.6 million units in the fourth quarter of 2014, marking the first-ever yearly fall. Last year’s shipments are estimated to have dropped 8.1 percent y-o-y to 211.3 million units. Meanwhile, the 2-in-1 hybrid laptop market has been growing fast.
IDC has estimated last year’s shipments of 2-in-1 hybrid laptops at 14.7 million units, up 86.5 percent y-o-y. Skimming the cream off laptops and tablets, 2-in-1 laptop/tablet hybrids come with the performance of a laptop and the convenience of a tablet in one small device that makes it easy to take with you anywhere. Will 2-in-1 laptop/tablet hybrids serve as a new breed of portable computers that can rejuvenate the sluggish personal computer market
The decline of tables was followed by the emergence of 2-in-1 hybrid laptops.
With the launch of Apple’s iPad in 2010, tablets caught on. However, the emergence of phablets (smartphones designed to straddle the size format of smartphones and tablets) resulted in tablets being sandwiched between smartphones and laptop computers. Then came 2-in-1 laptop/tablet hybrids that combine the strengths of a laptop and a smartphone.
2-in-1 laptop/tablet hybrids can serve as both a laptop and a tablet as they come with detachable keyboard docks. While 2-in-1 laptop/tablet hybrids feature the performance of a laptop computer, they also support a touch-based user interface just like any other tablet does.
Thus, it is believed that there is plenty of potential for growth in 2-in-1 laptop/tablet hybrids since their usability triumphs over laptops’ and they beat smartphones in productivity. Against this backdrop, global personal computer makers Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Apple and software companies like Microsoft and Google are jumping into the 2-in-1 hybrid fray.
Selling points of 2-in-1 hybrids
Above all, 2-in-1 hybrids “kill two birds with one stone”: a laptop and a tablet.
While you are in a bus or a subway train, 2-in-1 hybrids will let you easily browse the Internet or watch videos. When you are in your office, 2-in-1 hybrids with keyboard docks connected to them will help you perform various tasks.
They can go for on average 10 hours of use on a single charge. You don’t need to carry a separate power adapter. Price-wise, compared to laptops, 2-in-1 hybrids are more reasonably priced. You can buy a decent 2-in-1 hybrid for 400-500 dollars if you spend some time comparison-shopping.
Global electronic giants roll out 2-in-1 hybrids offering the best value for money.
The HP Elite x2 is viewed as a good 2-in-1 hybrid for corporate use. The HP Elite x2 features HP Sure Start with Dynamic Protection (which offers BIOS-level protection), HP Client Security and TPM (Trusted Platform Module).
The HP Elite x2 supports biometric fingerprint authentication or smartcard based authentication, so it is good at protecting corporate data and user information. The HP Elite x2 also can be remotely controlled. So in case you end up losing your HP Elite x2, you can still lock the device to protect your data.
From the moment the HP Elite x2 boots up, BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) checks are carried out. Once errors have been detected, they will be automatically fixed. All the data stored in the HP Elite x2 are encoded into 256 bytes. The HP Elite x2 has yet to reveal its price tag. It is likely to hit the stores sometime in March.
Then, let’s take a look at the LG Tab Book Duo, which sports a multi-pairing Bluetooth keyboard. The multi-pairing Bluetooth keyboard allows the LG Tab Book Duo to pair up with up to three Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as a smartphone or a tablet, at the same time. For instance, the multi-pairing Bluetooth keyboard features a one-push setup button for easier connection that can switch between connecting to the tablet or a smartphone nearby.
The LG Tab Book Duo boasts an IPS display that gives it an impressive wide viewing-angle of up to 178 degrees. It comes with Intel Atom Z3745 processor and 4GB RAM. It is priced at over 500 dollars.
Samsung Electronics unveiled a new 2-in-1 Windows tablet on Jan. 5: the 12-inch Galaxy TabPro S. The Galaxy TabPro S is a record-breaking 2-inch Windows tablet: it is thinner and lighter than the iPad Pro.
It packs a 2,160 x 1,440 Super AMOLED display with a 4:3 aspect ratio. It is powered by 900MHz Intel Core m3-6Y30 processor and has 4GB of memory. It takes 2 and a half hours to get it fully charged. The Galaxy TabPro S can go for up to 10 hours of use on a charge. The 12-inch Galaxy TabPro S is scheduled to hit the stores this month.
Will 2-in-1 hybrid laptops establish themselves as a new breed of portable computers that succeeds tablets
Judging from what tablet users say, the reason for tablets’ short-lived popularity was that tablets had failed to carve out a niche between laptops and smartphones.
However, the declining popularity of tablets teaches a lesson to 2-in-1hybrids because there is a chance of 2-in-1hybrids following the same fate as tablets. 2-in-1hybrids should score highly in technology, design and trends all not to gather dust on the shelves after enjoying a short-lived fame.
