Follow this blog:: RSS; Email Alert

Cracking Open

Ultrabooks cheat sheet cuts through the hype

January 19, 2012, 10:58 AM PST

Takeaway: Are ultrabooks a unique category of computer or just the next step in the laptop’s evolution? This cheat sheet helps you decide.

What exactly are ultrabooks? Intel believes they are a unique category of computer–devices that are more portable and less power hungry than traditional laptops, but more powerful than netbooks. And, the company is putting $300 million (US) behind an effort to improve Ultrabook technology.

But is there something special about ultrabooks, or are they just the next step in the laptop’s evolution? To help you answer that question, Natasha Lomas, senior reporter for TechRepublic’s sister site Silicon.com, has put together a cheat sheet for ultrabooks.

In her cheat sheet, Natasha explores the differences between ultrabooks and traditional laptops, the difference an operating system makes, the $1,000 price target, and more.

And if you want to see what’s inside an ultrabook, check out my Cracking Open gallery of the Acer Aspire S3.

Get IT Tips, news, and reviews delivered directly to your inbox by subscribing to TechRepublic’s free newsletters.

About Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Head Technology Editor of TechRepublic. Previously, he worked as a Support Tech and IT Manager in the social research and energy industries.

Full Bio
Disclosure
Contact

G-Form Extreme Sleeve protects iPad from dropped bowling ball

Motorola Xyboard 10.1 Teardown: Overpriced, soon to be outdated

People who read this...

Comments

Add Your Opinion

Join the conversation!

Follow via:: RSS; Email Alert

See All Comments

Staff Picks
Top Rated
Most Recent
My Contacts

No messages found

3 Votes

+ -

It's a notebook

boomchuck1 20th Jan

The whole ultrabook moniker is a joke. It's a notebook folks. Yes, it is skinny, and missing some important (for some of us) components, but in the end you have to judge it by what it does. It compares to many current notebooks the same way the current notebook compares to the big heavy ones we were buying 10 or so years ago. So it is more evolution than a new category. It's still a notebook. They're just trying to build some "it's the new big thing" hype into it.

View in thread

2 Votes

+ -

That's pretty silly logic...

adornoe@... 20th Jan

Look, any corporation is in business to try to maximize its profits, and they can easily do so by creating more products and technology which people will want. Even Apple is buying into the Intel growth tactics. What Intel puts out, Apple and all other manufacturers will want, but, only if it's priced at a level which most people can afford. With Thunderbold, and the exclusivity which Apple bought into for a few months, Apple could demand or command a higher price, because, "nobody else had it". That's a business gimmick unto itself, and you're too much of an Apple fanboy to notice how Apple is playing the same game that you accuse Intel of playing.

If I were leading Intel or Microsoft, or even Apple, my goal would be to get as many products and technology out there as possible, in order to increase revenue and profits. If you find a problem with a company being "greedy" and wanting more and more, then you are anti-capitalism and anti-free market. The end result of much of what Intel does, and what Microsoft does, and even what Apple does, is that, the consumers end up being the big winners, with lower prices, and new technology, and new tools, and all of those at very affordable prices (except on the Apple side).

View in thread

0 Votes

+ -

Looks like a

stykat 31st Jan

Sounds like a tablet PC with a keyboard and some extra features.
There are already ultra slim laptops and notebooks and you can usually opt for lower power cost hardware when buying one of the two.

View in thread

0 Votes

+ -

Maybe I just don't care

Sagax- 31st Jan

If I cannot use the keyboard comfortably, I just do not like it. Back in the old days, IBM built a laptop/portable/whatever with a "butterfly" keyboard. Sigh - there were not enough of us who bought them and it was discontinued. It now comes down to just how portable you need it to be. The smaller and more easy to carry units must sacrifice power and screen size. The more effort you use to carry one around, the more capability you carry with you.

View in thread

0 Votes

+ -

danbi: There are always people who march to their own drumbeat,

adornoe@... Updated - 24th Jan

and, there will be thinkers and non-thinkers, and there will be those that, won't ever think about practicality and will just be fanatical about what they do, how they do it, and why they do it. That's the Apple formula. Fanatical people purchasing products, being loyal, with no real practical and meaningful reasons.

If a challenge were to be done, using the "blind test" (like the Pepsi/Coke challenges), I'm pretty sure that, most people, if not all, would settle for the PC over the Mac. The blind test would have to be done using just the guts of the systems involved and the software available and the prices would have to be mentioned. If technically, they both end up as capable, but the PCs resulted in being able to run more available applications, and the PCs ended up being hundreds of dollars less, then, logic would dictate that, the PCs would win, hands-down.

Now, that has nothing to do with being a Microsoft shill; it's completely about being practical and logical.

View in thread

Once logged in, adding contacts is simple. Just mouse over any member's photo or click any member's name then click the "Follow" button. You can easily manage your contacts within your account contacts page.

See all comments