You want to hear about maybe the craziest device announcement you'll see all year?  ASUS just unveiled the Transformer Book Trio, a device they are dubbing a "three-in-one" that combines hardware from the Haswell architecture and an Atom Z2760 SoC to offer up a tablet, notebook and even a DESKTOP experience.

The Transformer Book Trio is a detachable ultraportable notebook at a glance with a top portion that can be removed and becomes an 11.6-in, 1920×1080 IPS multi-touch screen based Android tablet powered by the Intel Atom Z2760 dual-core Clover Trail platform.  It includes 64GB of on-board flash storage.

When the display is docked to the keyboard the Trio can switch instantly between a Windows 8 and Android environment by pressing a single key.  Data is even shared between the two units via the tablet's 64GB of flash storage. 

Here is where things get even more interesting: when detached, the base station of the Transformer Book Trio is not simply dead weight.  As quoted from the ASUS press release below: "With an external display connected via Mini DisplayPort or Micro-HDMI, the PC Station can be used as a self-contained desktop PC featuring Windows 8, which means two people, in two different places, can use the Transformer Book Trio at the same time."

Crazy right??  There are more details and specifications below, after the break!  I have already inquired about pricing and availability and I'll post more information as soon as I have it!

Read the full press release on the new ASUS Transformer Book Trio!!

ASUS Announces Transformer Book Trio ‘Three-in-One’ Ultraportable

Unique 11.6-inch ultraportable combines a detachable Android tablet with a keyboard dock that is also a self-contained Windows 8 desktop PC

Berlin, Germany (4th September, 2013) — ASUS today announced Transformer Book Trio, a new breed of ultraportable device with a two-part dockable design that can be used by one person as a laptop, or by two people as a separate tablet and desktop PC. With the ability to switch between Windows 8 and Android at the press of a button, Transformer Book Trio offers unmatched three-in-one flexibility for users who want the best of all mobile worlds.

Dual processors and dual operating systems

ASUS Transformer Book Trio features a sleek and durable metallic design powered by a 4th generation Intel® Core™ processor for seamless multi-tasking performance and outstanding energy efficiency in Windows 8 laptop mode.  When it’s time for entertainment to take over from productivity, the 11.6-inch display detaches from the ‘PC Station’ keyboard dock for use as a multi-touch Android tablet with its own Intel Atom™ dual-core processor and up to 64GB of solid-state storage.

With the display docked, Transformer Book Trio can switch instantly between Windows 8 and Android 4.2 by pressing the dedicated ‘Trio’ key on the keyboard, with data shared between the two operating systems via the tablet’s storage. Unlike other dockable ultraportables, Transformer Book Trio’s PC Station is not dead weight when the tablet display is detached. With an external display connected via Mini DisplayPort or Micro-HDMI, the PC Station can be used as a self-contained desktop PC featuring Windows 8, which means two people, in two different places, can use the Transformer Book Trio at the same time.

Full HD multi-touch display and SonicMaster audio technology

ASUS Transformer Book Trio’s 11.6-inch display features a crisp Full HD resolution with IPS technology for vibrant and accurate color with wide 178-degree viewing angles. 10-point capacitive multi-touch gives instant fingertip control with both Windows 8 and Android, while the backlit keyboard and multi-touch touchpad ensures comfortable productivity use. With stereo speakers and ASUS SonicMaster audio technology in both the PC Station and tablet, Transformer Book Trio also delivers rich and detailed sound with video, music and games.

Power-packed portable performance

ASUS Transformer Book Trio does not sacrifice portability for the sake of versatility — or vice versa. With 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 in the PC Station, plus 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0 in the tablet display, Transformer Book Trio cuts the need for cables, no matter which mode it’s used in. Separate batteries in each part also maximize mobility, and Transformer Book Trio has up to 13 hours battery life in Android mode and five hours in Windows 8 mode.

AVAILABILITY & PRICING

Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.