Ultrabook laptops poised to take off
— -- As if buying a laptop wasn't confusing enough, new product categories seem to pop up regularly.
The latest wrinkle in the laptop lineup is the ultrabook. So what is so ultra about this type of laptop?
When size matters, the ultrabook is the answer.
Intel launched the platform in May with some specific guidelines for manufacturers. Ultrabooks require an Intel Sandy Bridge processor, a thickness of 20mm or less and a starting cost of $1,000 or less.
The point is to create a line of fast, thin, reasonably priced laptops. Why does that sound familiar? If you said it sounds like the MacBook Air, give yourself a treat. Ultrabooks are the PC world's answer to Apple's popular, svelte laptop.
At this moment, there are only three ultrabook lines on the market. These are the Asus Zenbook, the Acer S3 and the Samsung Series 9. LG has its X-Note series, although the ultrabook model isn't available in the U.S. yet. It will be soon, and a very large crop of unveilings is expected at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Jan. 10 to 13.
Of course, the Series 9 and X-Note don't quite fit the Intel definition, since neither has a model under $1,000. However, they are the correct size and close enough to warrant a comparison.
Each of these lines has multiple combinations of processor, RAM and storage space. The prices range from $900 to $1,600, depending on the configuration. Acer says prices will drop to $800 next year and to $500 by 2013. That sounds nice, but it doesn't do you much good if you're buying now.
Be aware that ultrabooks won't be quite as fast as the price tags suggest. Much of your money goes toward the reduced thickness and other aesthetics. The actual computer hardware is mid-range, although ultrabooks do have some nice tricks, such as instant resume.
If cost is important, you'll be ahead by spending less money on a bulkier laptop that runs just as fast. It will cost much less. The less expensive laptop will also have options like an optical drive, which ultrabooks don't have.
Do you have a need for speed? If so, spend your $1,000 on a high-end laptop that will give you all the speed you want.
If size is your top consideration and you want an ultrabook before the prices come down, the Asus Zenbook is my recommendation. It has the highest-resolution screen and fastest hardware options. Unlike the Acer, for example, it uses an SSD hard drive, which improves performance and battery life.
But how do the MacBook Air (starts at $1,000) and the $1,000 Zenbook stack up in a technical head-to-head comparison?
They each have a similar processor (Core i5 1.6GHz), comparable screen size (11.6 inch) and battery life (5 hours).
Air has less RAM (2GB vs. 4GB) and storage (64GB vs. 128GB) for the price. But it does have the Thunderbolt port; ultrabooks don't have anything comparable (yet).
If you want the best thin laptop overall, the MacBook Air is still my recommendation. It's fast, stylish and has been around long enough to get the kinks worked out.
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Kim Komando hosts the nation's largest talk radio show about consumer electronics, computers and the Internet. To get the podcast, watch the show or find the station nearest you, visit www.komando.com. E-mail her at techcomments@usatoday.com.
