Samsung Intros Powerful Series 5 and 7 Convertible Slate PCs

The Korean giant doesn’t want to be left behind in all the Windows 8 tablet/touch craze and has just announced two new convertible tablets using the highly anticipated Microsoft operating system. Both units use the popular tablet-to-clamshell netbook format.

It seems that ASUS should have patented the clamshell netbook/tablet concept introduced with the famous Transformer series, as all big PC makers in the world seem keen on imitating the idea.

Some might claim that this is only a tablet with a dock, but ASUS was the first that specifically designed the dock to make the whole assembly look exactly like a whole notebook and not like a docked tablet.

Therefore, Samsung’s new Series 5 and 7 Slates look just like HP’s ENVY x2 that we presented here.

The nice surprise is that Samsung’s most powerful Series 7 Slate is powered by Intel’s Ivy Bridge, just like SONY’s VAIO Duo 11 convertible tablet that we presented here.

The processor of choice is Intel’s Core i5-3317U that is running at a default frequency of 1700 MHz with the Turbo ability to run at 2400 MHz with both cores active. It can even reach 2600 MHz when only one thread requires maximum performance.

It comes with 3 MB of level 3 cache and can handle up to four threads using Intel’s HT technology.

The integrated graphics processing unit (iGPU) is Intel’s HD 4000 with acceptable performance for the amazingly low 17 watts TDP with the interesting mention that the minimum programmable TDP is 14 watts.

Basically, the Intel’s Core i5-3317U consumes almost the same, no matter whether it runs at the default frequency of Turbo speed.

The Series 7 Slate from Samsung features a 11.6” screen with 10-point multitouch support, that has a quality 1920 by 1080 FullHD pixel resolution and an impressive 300-nit brightness that’s somewhat inferior to HP’s ENVY x2’s 400-nit.

The tablet comes with a default 4 GB of RAM, and there’s no info on any upgrade capability. It also sports a 128 GB SSD.

GigabitLAN, WirelessN and Bluetooth 4.0 are there and all this will be available in October for $1200 (€956).

The Series 5 Slat is more of a convertible netbook, just like HP’s ENVY x2 as it’s powered by Intel’s Atom Z2760 processor. It also comes with 2 GB or RAM and a 64 GB SSD with the same connectivity options.

On the Slate 5, the screen features a more mediocre 1366 by 768 pixel resolution, but it will be available for “just” $750 (€600) together with the keyboard dock.