Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook: Thicker than the MacBook Air

We got an HP laptop with an i3 for $650 that has about the same weight, and about the same dimensions, but is more capable than any computer we have in the house. I already consider that "ultraportable" and the cost was about $650 WITH OFFICE included.
Maybe we just got a deal?
I think this is just marketing hype to promote a product that is probably less durable with about the same capability (or less) for more money.

Good speech recognition and other user interface breakthroughs in my opinion are going to bring people to the marketplace. I just bought a Droid Bionic and have been amazed at how reliable the speech recognition is. It has changed the way that I previously interacted with my mobile device by allowing me a more natural avenue. Unfortunately the Ultrabook kind of comes across as a Jabberwocky project.

I have, in fact, installed replacement HDDs into these devices without a problem. Firewire 800, USB II, and thunderbolt ports are on all the new Apple products, so why the need for eSATA?