The Asus Transformer Book is a Windows 8 laptop. However, the display portion is detachable and becomes a separate, Android-based tablet. In fact, according to Asus the detached Asus Transformer Book display will claim the title of "world's biggest tablet."

The Taichi takes a different approach. It is an ultrabook which has a display on both sides of the top half. When the device is closed, the top display acts as a tablet--albeit a bulkier tablet than most because it's still an ultrabook. When open, the display can operate independently with one person using the keyboard and touchpad on one side, and someone else using the touchscreen display on the other side for with the Windows 8 Metro interface and apps.

The third device unveiled by Asus is the Transformer AIO (for "all-in-one"). The multitouch display can be separated from the guts of the AIO and used as a wireless display.

Kudos to Asus for thinking outside of the traditional box, but I'm not sure these devices provide any practical benefits for the 'post-PC era'. The different devices seem innovative in their own unique ways, but seem like they try to straddle the line between PC and post-PC and deliver an "all of the above" solution.

I haven't seen or used these devices in real life yet, so I will withhold my final judgment until I've had a chance to experience the new Asus Windows 8 devices firsthand. I can see the benefit of having a laptop with a detachable display that pulls double-duty as a tablet, but the Taichi and the Transformer AIO seem to put form over function in delivering features that are innovative, but impractical.