The ultrabook is Intel’s answer to Apple’s highly popular MacBook Air. It is perfect for those who want that MacBook Air feel, but do not want to be culture shocked by the Mac OSX. They are defined by their possession of low powered Intel processors, a very slim and attractive form factor (reminiscent of the MacBook Air), fast boot times, and when compared to full-size laptops, impressive battery times. To be clear, an ultrabook is a notebook computer with specs that are Intel-defined.
With netbooks’ slowly waning popularity in the mobile computing market, ultrabooks are now starting to fill the gap left by netbooks to fulfill the average consumer’s need for portability, aesthetics and easy computing on-the-go.The ultrabook is grabbing a huge chunk in the market for mobile devices. Here are some of the best ones:
1. Asus Zenbook UX31 (and its little sibling, the UX21)
At first glance, the Asus Zenbook almost seems like a facsimile of the MacBook Air. It is priced a bit cheaper, and has 2GB more RAM. It has that solid feel to it, mainly due to its steel chassis. The UX21 has an 11.6" screen, while the UX31 comes with a bigger 13.3" display. They have powerful Core i7 processors that will surely stand some heavy computing, and a whopping 256 SSD storage.
2. HP Folio 13
With prices ranging from $899 to $1000 (the price will be a whole lot less if you use a HP coupon code, the HP Folio 13 offers one heck of a great deal compared to its competitors. Though a bit heavier at 3.25 pounds, the Folio 13′s battery lasts for almost nine hours (a very impressive figure compared to the average ultrabook battery life of six hours), and it also has complete set of ports, including a SD/MMC slot, HDMI, USB 3.0 and Ehternet ports.
3. Acer Aspire S3
The Acer Aspire S3 gives you all the ultrabook specs and features that you love at a much lower price; at $800, it is considered one of the most budget-friendly ultrabooks on the market today. It still packs the standard 13.3" display, Core i7 processor on a lightweight 1.4 kg frame. The price cuts stem from the fact the Aspire S3 has a hybrid drive, with only 16GB of SSD and 320GB of standard HDD. The battery life is not impressive, lasting somewhere around four hours on a full charge. But overall, the Acer Aspire S3 can pack a mean punch and is recommended for those on a budget.
4. Samsung Series 5 Ultra
Samsung is one of the frontrunners in the ultrabook race, and the Series 5 Ultra shows why. Priced at $899, this is the budget version of the Series 9. But with a full set of ports, a solid metal body, matte screen (compared to the glossy screens of competitors), great keyboard and decent battery life, the Series 5 Ultra is still considered by tech critics as a great overall ultrabook.
5. Dell XPS 13
Dell’s first ultrabook shows a lot of promise with its 128GB SSD, magnesium and carbon body and its light form factor. Some ports are lacking like the HDMI and Ethernet ports, and the viewing angles can get a bit tricky. But still, at $999, the XPS 13 is a great buy for the price.
