Category: Roundup

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2012 concluded last week and showed off what technologies will be coming to consumers this year. This year there were a lot of ultrabooks, phones, tablets and smart TVs (some with Google TV). Below are the ultrabooks announced/previewed at CES.

Key Points

• Many hitting the under US$1000 mark
• Less compromises compared those currently out with more ports and full-sized ports
• Dell XPS 13, HP Envy 14 Spectre, Samsung Series 5 and 9 are/should be available in Q1

• Acer Aspire S5: Thunderbolt port with AcerCloud for syncing/backing up data/devices, probably competitive on price as with most Acer products
• Dell XPS 13: 13″ screen in a 12″ chassis. Smaller form factor for 13″ screen
• HP Envy 14 Spectre: 14″ screen in 13″ chassis with Beats and an optional 2nd SSD
• Lenovo ThinkPad T430u: interesting with optional nVidia graphics but looks to be released late in the year with the newer Intel processors
• Lenovo YOGA: for Windows 8, interesting slate, tablet & laptop usage scenarios
• Lenovo U310/U410: targeting lower end with the cheap price
• Samsung Series 5: mainstream ultrabooks with the 14″ model having an optical drive
• Samsung Series 9: premium ultrabooks 13″/15″ but light

Acer Aspire S5

• 13.3″, 1366 X 768 screen
• 8GB of RAM
• 128GB SSD
• 1.35kg
• 2 x USB 3.0, HMDI, Ethernet port, 1 x Thunderbolt, SD card reader
• MagicFlip I/O port panel that hides ports in the hinge/base. When open, raises ultrabook
• AcerCloud that allows backup/syncing of pictures, media & documents via the cloud
• Availability: Q2 2012
• Links: Engadget hands on, Engadget Hands on Revisited, The Verge hands on, The Verge Aspire S5 annoucncement, Ars Technica, Ultrabook News database

Dell XPS 13

• 13.3″ (1366×768) screen in 12″ chasis
• Core i5/i7 processor
• 4GB of RAM
• 128GB/256GB SSD
• 1.4kg
• 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0 (with PowerShare – charge devices while device is asleep), 1 x MiniDisplay ports (no SD card slot / HDMI port)
• Backlight keyboard
• Aluminum lid, Gorilla Glass covered screen, Carbon fibre base
• Starting at US$999
• Availability: end of February
• Links: Dell, Engadgetd, TheVerge, T3 review, TechRadar Review, Ultrabook News database

HP Envy 14 Spectre

• 14-inch, 1600 x 900 screen in 13.3″ chassis
• Core i5/i7 processor
• 4GB of RAM
• 128GB/256GB SSD
• 1.8kg
• 128GB SSD drive with an option to add a second SSD to double the storage
• Gorilla Glass covered
• Beats Audio system
• 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, Ethernet port, SD card reader
• Starts at $1,399 (i5, 128GB)
• Availability: March 2012
• Links: TheVerge, CNET, Ultrabook News database

Lenovo ThinkPad T430u

• 14-inch (1366 x 768) screen
• Next Generation Intel Core processors (or Ivy Bridge) with optional Nvidia graphics
• Windows 8 ready
• 1TB HHD
• 1.8kg
• Starts at US$849
• 2 x USB 3.0 ports, an Ethernet jack, full-size HDMI socket, SD card reader
• Availability: Late 2012
• Links: TheVerge, Engadget, Pocket Lint, Ultrabook News database

Lenovo YOGA

• 13.1″ (1600×900) screen
• Intel Core processor
• Windows 8
• 8GB RAM
• 256GB SSD
• 1.47kg
• 360 degree dual- hinge flip design: screen bends all the way back so that the keyboard becomes a stand or device can be used as a slate
• 10-point capacitive touch
• Starts at US$1199
• Availability: 2nd half of 2012
• Links: ArsTechnica, TheVerge

Lenovo U310/U410

• 13″ (U310) / 14″ (U410) (1366×768) screen
• Intel Core processor
• 2GB RAM
• 320 GB HHD (configurable with SSD)
• 1.7kg (U310) / 1.9kg (U410)
• U310: 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, HDMI, ethernet,
• U410: 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, HDMI, ethernet, SD card reader
• U410: Nvidia GeForce 610M graphics
• Availability: May 2012
• Start at U$699
• Links: Engadget, TheVerge, TechRadar, Ultrabook News database (U310), Ultrabook News database (U410)

Samsung Series 5

• 13.3″ (1366 x 768) / 14″ (1366 x 768) screen
• Intel Core i5 processor
• 128GB SSD / 16GB SSD and 500GB hard drive combo
• 4GB of RAM
• 1.39kg (13″) / 1.84kg (14″)
• 13″: 1 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, HDMI, SD card reader, Ethernet, full size HDMI
• 14″: 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, HDMI, VGA, SD card reader, Ethernet, full size HDMI, optical drive
• Starts at US$900 (13″) / US$950 (14″)
• Availability: End of January
• Links: TheVerge, Pocket Link, TechRadar, Ultrabook News database

Samsung Series 9

• 13.3″ (1600 x 900) / 15.6″ (1600 x 900) screen
• Intel Core i5 processor
• 4GB (13″) / 8GB (15″) of RAM
• 128GB
• 1.1kg (13″) / 1.59kg (15″)
• 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, HDMI, ethernet, SD card reader.
• Starts at $1,399 (13″) / $1,499 (15″)
• Availability: End of February
• Links: TheVerge, ZDnet CNET, GSM Arena