MSI has announced it is ready to ship its Slidebook S20, a hybrid device that aims to combine the best features of Ultrabooks and tablets.

The Slidebook S20 hybrid combines Ultrabooks' thin design and powerful hardware with tablets' multi-angle view and touch control features. With Windows 8 on board, the device aims to blur the line between tablets and Ultrabooks, allowing users to enjoy the functionality of the standard "desktop" environment with the convenience of a mobile touch interface.

The S20 packs Intel's third-generation Ivy Bridge Core i5 processor, a long-life, all-weather battery, and integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics supporting DirectX 11, OpenCL v1.1 and OpenGL 3.1. The device sports an 11.6-inch IPS LCD display, and is "the ideal mobile workstation and leisure companion," according to MSI.

"This chicly mobile machine satisfied the needs of both on-the-go businesspeople and students and the extended battery power ensures that you have plenty of time to do what you're doing," said the company. "Ideal for Internet browsing, social networking, and word processing, the Slidebook S20 is the perfect choice for anybody on the go. The S20's design with keyboard and sliding cover eliminates the limitations most people feel when they use tablets. MSI's innovative, user-friendly design have you the user in mind."

When it comes to specs, the S20 packs up to 8GB of DDR3-1333 DRAM (depending on the model), a 64GB or 128GB mSATA SSD, a 2.5-inch drive bay for an extra HDD, an HD webcam, and a three-cell 3800 mAh battery. In terms of connectivity, the hybrid device has Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, a mini HDMI port, two USB 3.0 ports, audio jacks, and an external microphone.

"The Slidebook S20, which tips the scales at just 1.2 kilogram [2.64 pounds], comes with high fidelity speakers with a wide frequency range for crisp audio that is faithful to the original," said MSI. "The crisp, clear sound quality is ideal for a variety of music types and the S20 and features THX TruStudio Pro wrap around sound for high fidelity movie, music, and gaming experience."

The hybrid's 11.6-inch display packs over 350 lumens of brightness, delivers a 1920 x 1080 ultra-high resolution, and supports up to ten simultaneous touch inputs. The device supports SATA 3 (6Gb/s) and PCIe interfaces, according to MSI.

The company did not offer details on pricing and actual availability, but back in October, when the Slidebook S20 was first unveiled, the starting price was rumored to be around $1,099. The S20 is expected to be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2013. More details should become available in a few weeks.