Asus Unveils Vivo Windows 8 Tablets with Both Intel and ARM Designs

With the Window 8 launch looming, Asus announced two new tablets today that are designed to run the new, touch-centric operating system. Asus is taking the same route with the Vivo Tab that Microsoft is with the Surface: launching Intel-based and RT models at the same time. Asus has released some detail on these tablets prior to this; the device was originally known as the Tablet 810. The Tab RT was known as the Tablet 610.

Both models are also following the Surface’s lead by including detachable QWERTY keyboards. You’ll be able to tap and swipe the Super IPS+ displays when you’re on the go and attach the keyboard when you need to type. Interestingly, the keyboard includes a second battery to boost the device’s lifespan during your workday.

Asus Vivo Tab

The Asus Vivo Tab boasts an 11.6-inch display with a 1366x768 resolution. It’s a multi-touch display and 1024-level Wacom digitizer support, so power users who prefer to wield a stylus won’t be disappointed. It should be extremely thin with an 8.7mm thickness. Even so, it has front and rear-facing cameras at 2 and 8 megapixels, respectively.

The Tab’s specifications aren’t too shabby. The tablet will run Windows 8 on a next gen Intel Atom CPU and 2GB of system memory. The tablet will have a 64GB eMMC (embedded multimedia card) for storage and support NFC (Near Field Communication) technologies.

The Asus Vivo Tab RT has a 10.1-inch display, but the same 1366x768 resolution as its Intel-based sibling. The cameras are the same and, like the Tab, the Tab RT’s display has Super IPS+ technology. The RT version also has support for NFC.

Asus Vivo Tab RT

Where the two models diverge is the internal components. The RT version has an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core SoC and 12-core NVIDIA GPU. It has 2GB of RAM, like the Intel model, but half as much storage with a 32GB eMMC card. And, like the Intel version of the Tab, the Tab RT will have a keyboard that includes a battery for extended usage. Asus hasn’t yet announced prices for either model.