-=PCTechTalk=- As if by fate, this just appeared in my Inbox...
- From: "Larry Southerland" <larrysoutherland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:01:10 -0400
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http://www.pcworld.com/article/240164/windows_laptops_redefined_everything_y
ou_need_to_know_about_ultrabooks.html#tk.nl_dnx_t_crawl
Windows Laptops Redefined: Everything You Need to Know About Ultrabooks
The next generation of laptops is thinner and lighter--and may make you
think twice about needing a tablet. Should you buy one now?
By Melanie <http://www.pcworld.com/author/Melanie-Pinola> Pinola, PCWorld
<http://www.pcworld.com/> Sep 18, 2011 9:00 pm
Windows Laptops Redefined: Everything You Need to Know About UltrabooksThe
Ultrabook, a new class of ultraportable laptops defined by Intel, has been
making waves lately as the next major step in laptop design. These ultraslim
and lightweight laptops promise to combine the conveniences of tablets with
the functionality of larger notebooks. If Intel and Ultrabook manufacturers
can get the design and technology right, Windows users may finally have
relatively affordable and varied alternatives to the reigning ultrathin
laptop, Apple's MacBook Air. In addition to the much thinner and lighter
laptops we'll see this fall, you can expect combo devices with sliding or
removable multitouch screens for true all-in-one versatility. Here's what
you need to know about Ultrabooks and whether you should prepare to purchase
one.
What Are Ultrabooks?
Ultrabooks are laptops based on reference designs that Intel
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/228991/intel_launches_new_class_of_ultrabook
_laptops.html> announced at the Computex trade show in May. Although Intel
makes computer chips, not entire laptops, the company has provided the
Ultrabook specification (five different ones, actually) to laptop
manufacturers so that they can produce a new army of "thin, light, and
beautiful" portables.
Intel defines Ultrabooks as having Intel Core processors, a thickness under
21mm (0.8 inches), and a long battery life (initial Ultrabook models are
rated for at least 7 hours). They also share 11- to 13-inch displays, a
weight under 3 pounds (closer to 2.5 pounds), and a near-instant resume from
sleep, thanks to their solid-state drives. Ideally--and this is the
kicker--Ultrabooks should be priced at under $1000.
In short, Ultrabooks are designed to be inexpensive, high-performance, and
svelte laptops.
Ultrabooks Are Like the MacBook Air.But Not
Toshiba Portege Z830 UltrabookToshiba Portege Z830 UltrabookIn concept,
Ultrabooks aren't really new: After all, the MacBook Air meets the criteria,
and Apple revealed it in 2008. And the laptop industry as a whole was
already racing
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/237724/the_race_to_thin_a_look_back_at_the_i
ncredible_shrinking_laptop.html> to thin-and-light long before the MacBook
Air made skinny popular; five years earlier, for example, we had the 2-pound
Sony <http://www.pcworld.com/article/113381/sony_vaio_goes_extreme.html>
VAIO x505.
Some people might argue that the MacBook Air is an Ultrabook, but
"Ultrabook" is also a marketing term that Intel trademarked this year--a
term that describes the laptop PC's comeback attempt in a world of rising
tablet and smartphone fame.
To date, if you wanted a well-designed, high-performance ultraportable
laptop--something that you could easily carry everywhere without having to
worry about looking for an outlet every couple of hours--and specifically
one that cost about a grand, you'd have to turn to the MacBook Air. As
PCWorld laptops editor Jason Cross has pointed out, Windows
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/237992/windows_laptop_makers_cant_catch_up_t
o_the_macbook_air.html> laptop makers haven't been able to keep up with
Apple in its innovation, marketing, and pricing for the MacBook Air.
Ultrabooks, however, may be the first worthy MacBook Air rivals, machines
that can compete on all levels: design, hardware specs, and price. And Intel
is pushing for innovation beyond the MacBook Air model.
The First Ultrabooks
Acer Aspire S3 UltrabookAcer Aspire S3 UltrabookThe first Ultrabooks are
coming this fall, from Asus, Acer, Lenovo, and Toshiba. (You might also
consider the Samsung
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/224643/samsung_series_9_the_first_true_macbo
ok_air_competitor.html> Series 9 to be an Ultrabook, but it debuted before
Intel announced the Ultrabook concept.)
Asus UX21: The first
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/229002/intels_ultrabooks_what_you_need_to_kn
ow.html> Ultrabook to be introduced, this 2.4-pound laptop has an 11.6-inch
display, a 0.66-inch thickness, and an Intel Core i7 processor. It's
expected to start at under $1000 and launch this month.
Toshiba Portege Z830: Billed
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/239449/toshiba_portege_z830_ultrabook_billed
_as_worlds_lightest_13inch_laptop.html> as the "world's lightest 13-inch
laptop," the Z830 starts at just under $1000, is 0.63 inches thin, and
weighs under 2.5 pounds.
Acer Aspire S3: Launching at 799 euros ($1134) and promising to capture
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/239410/acers_aspire_s3_looks_to_capture_macb
ook_air_feel.html> the MacBook Air feel, the 13.3-inch Aspire S3 offers a
Core i3, i5, or i7 processor and a choice between a traditional hard drive
or an SSD.
Lenovo IdeaPad U300s: This 13.3-inch Ultrabook is expected in November
starting at $1200. The U300s will be available in Core i5 and i7 models, and
will have a Clementine color option.
The Future of Ultrabooks: Laptops Meet Tablets
Intel has indicated that the potential of Ultrabooks exceeds what we've seen
in current ultraportable laptops. After the initial Ultrabook models (the
Windows MacBook Air clones) come out this year, we should see a second wave
based on Intel's next-generation Ivy Bridge chips--systems with touchscreens
that swivel or slide out of the way. In other words, they'll be superthin,
convertible tablets. Intel is calling Ultrabooks
<http://newsroom.intel.com/community/intel_newsroom/blog/2011/09/07/chip-sho
t-first-ultrabooks-spotted> a "new category of what promises to become the
must-have, most complete and satisfying computing devices over the next
couple of years."
Should You Buy an Ultrabook?
Lenovo IdeaPad U300s UltrabookLenovo IdeaPad U300s UltrabookThis year's
Ultrabooks are truly attractive laptops--for both business and personal use,
and especially for travel. They're powerful, flexible, incredibly thin,
light, and durable. If you need a laptop right now, these are among your
best options.
However, at the moment Ultrabooks aren't the great value we first envisioned
(due to manufacturers
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/237316/apples_control_of_laptop_materials_ma
y_make_ultrabooks_cheaper.html> ' issues with high costs and limited
supplies), and laptop makers are taking
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/239535/laptop_makers_taking_a_timid_approach
_with_ultrabooks.html> a wait-and-see approach to this new portable
category, despite Intel's $300
<http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/237841/intel_gives_ultrabooks
_a_300m_investment_boost.html> million investment in the project.
If you have a couple of months to wait, you could see these Ultrabooks drop
in price and become even more attractive. Alternatively, you might prefer to
get in touch with Windows
<http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/239872/intel_to_show_tablets_
ultrabooks_running_windows_8.html> 8 Ultrabooks next year, or hold out for
Ultrabooks with 24-hour
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/240040/laptops_to_last_24_hours_on_one_charg
e_standby_for_10_days.html> battery life, which are due in 2013.
Follow Melanie Pinola <http://twitter.com/melaniepinola> (@melaniepinola)
and Today@PCWorld <http://www.twitter.com/pcwtoday> on Twitter.
Your friend,
Larry
-----Original Message-----
From: pctechtalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:pctechtalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of RecklessMaverick
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 2:01 PM
To: pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: No Mail Rec'd
Consider a tablet PC instead. For most folks it will do everything they do
with a full size computer and are much easier to carry around or travel
with. As a bonus they are nice to use as an ebook reader with either the
Kindle App or the Nook App or probably any other ebook reader app available.
Prefer the normal size keyboard, mouse and monitor? Use the video output to
connect to your current monitor or TV set, get a USB wireless mouse/keyboard
set that works with the tablets OS (or purchase a proprietary keyboard/mouse
to match your tablet).
If you think you still need a full size desktop, keep your XP machine in the
corner for a while. I think you will discover that you don't really need
it.
I'm looking at the Toshiba Thrive.
Don
-----Original Message-----
From: pctechtalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:pctechtalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Sandi Beach
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 11:49 AM
To: pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: No Mail Rec'd
Glo, I think it has just been a slow week. One of these days I am going to
take the plunge and get a new computer and, when that happens, you all will
be hearing from me a lot!! I am trying to wait until Windows 8 comes out.
I still have Windows XP Pro and I am reluctant to give it up.
Glad you had a good vacation. Welcome back!
Sandi
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