CES 2012 Ultrabook Roundup
By Timothy Lim
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" (1366x768) 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" (1600x900) 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) (1366x768) 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
