Windows 8 hybrid is the phrase used to describe a mobile computing device that combines typical features of both a tablet and laptop in a single device, running the Windows 8 operating system.
Photo: The ASUS Transformer Pad combines the portability of a tablet with the productivity of a notebook.
A Laptop and Tablet in One Device
Many device manufacturers, including ASUS and Samsung, have launched laptop-tablet hybrids that combine touchscreens with full-size keyboards. Other Windows 8 hybrids can attach to docks or feature folding or flip keyboards. The benefit of a Windows 8 hybrid is that it can be used as a touchscreen tablet or laptop.
Windows 8 Android Hybrids
Some manufacturers may also include the Android mobile operating system on its hybrid device. Switching between the two operating systems requires users to simply tap a tile on the Windows 8 desktop or access a predefined hotkey to switch between the operating systems.
A new trend in Windows 8 hybrid devices is to offer a “Windows 8 laptop” experience when connected to a keyboard, but when the keyboard is removed and used as a standalone device, it becomes an “Android tablet”.
Windows 8 hybrids may also be called Windows 8 convertibles.
