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
Overview of Devices
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- 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
