IFA 2012: Sony unveils Duo 11 hybrid tablet and VAIO Tap 20 portable all-in-one PC

Sony has introduced two Windows 8-based touch-portables with unique twists at the IFA expo in Berlin: The Duo 11, which is basically a hybrid that mixes tablet functionality with an ultrabook spec; and the VAIO Tap 20, which looks like a 20-inch all-in-one desktop that can be leaned over for use as some sort of oversized tabletop slate.

The Duo 11 features an 11.6-inch, 1080p touchscreen that supports digital stylus input for sketching and handwriting recognition. Unlike the Asus Transformer that hooks up with a separate keyboard dock, this isn’t just a tablet with buttons though. The keyboard is built into the frame, designed with a slide-out mechanism to turn it into a fully-functional Windows 8-based ultrabook. The spec checks out too: it’s going to run on an Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 processor and pack in 128GB or 256GB SSD storage. Features are rounded out by NFC and GPS, as well as an HD camera at the back.

The VAIO Tap 20 is an all-in-one PC that can basically be lugged around and used away from a wall socket thanks to a built-in battery. For ‘semi’ portable use (with an 11-pound weight and 20-inch screen, it’s not really that travel-friendly), the Tap 20 can be set to stand up or lay flat, and features a 1280 x 800 touchscreen interface if you want to use it as a small touch-table. Like the Duo 11, it also runs on Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 processors, but uses a more conventional hard drive (750GB or 1TB options) for storage.

Sony didn’t mention pricing and availability for the two devices.