With the IFA tradeshow due to commence, a variety of intriguing products are being leaked and unveiled. PocketNow scooped up these pictures of Sony’s new iteration of a Windows 8 tablet and we think it’s a step in the right direction for the company.
It’s called the Sony Vaio Duo 11 and, as PocketNow reveal, the ’11’ in its name most likely refers to its screen size, while the ‘Duo’ pertains to its convertible form factor.
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Seldom does Sony work on a device without dressing it in their unique style, but the face of this tablet appears understated. It’s reminiscent of Microsoft’s Surface tablet, but we anticipate the Duo 11 will have a longer, more intriguing spec sheet due to its convertible, backlit keyboard and its stylus.
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The combination of a folding factor, a stylus and a backlit keyboard positions this hybridised tablet at the professional market. Windows 8 will be released in two versions for tablets, a cheaper ARM powered version that will run a reduced version of Windows (Windows RT) and an Intel powered version that will run Windows Pro. Based on a screenshot where Microsoft Excel is open, it appears the Duo 11 will be running the more powerful, more expensive Windows Pro.
Like all things carrying Sony’s badge, we expect the Vaio Duo 11 to be expensive. If that’s not the case, this could mark Sony returning to form by producing products with a focus on quality, rather than the cache of the company’s name. The fact it runs software promoting its PS3 rival, Microsoft’s Xbox, is just one indicator.
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There’s no word on pricing or availability yet, but we’ll provide more details as the IFA show is underway.
