Computex Taipei - What to do with Windows 8?

Nobody knows what to do with Windows 8 and if Computex Taipei is anything to go by, this is bad news for consumers.

Companies are falling over themselves to come up with weired and wonderful ways to use the operating system. Caught between desktop, tablet and laptop, Asus went so far as to show-off tablet PCs big enough to crush a grown man.

As my colleague Alan Lu notes, everything (apparently) needs to transform into something else. Swivelling hinges and detachable keyboards are in abundance. The confusion over how to use Windows 8 has persuaded some companies to announce laptops with touchscreens.

Most of the strange offerings on show here in Taipei will never make it to your nearest branch of PC World, but some of them will eventually appear in the UK. On first impressions, Windows 8 is an awkward fit and companies don't know what to do with it.

There are laptops with two screens, laptops that turn into tablets, tablets that turn into laptops, desktops that turn into tablets, all-in-one PCs and even one company proudly showing off a large touchpad for controlling Windows 8 without needing to touch the screen of your device.

Thus far, companies don't seem to have a clue what to do with Windows 8. The early experiments are far from convincing.

Early adopters beware. While these strange new devices are intriguing, they don't appear to be well thought out. A Samsung Ultrabook laptop running Windows 8 with a touchscreen can fold into a tablet. While this sounds clever, it means the keyboard is then on the back of the tablet, causing you to randomly press keys when you hold it.

We've got Computex Taipei 2012 covered. Check out the Computeractive Blog for updates.