Gadget Review - A Concise Guide to Ultrabooks

Ultrabooks are all the rage right now. These machines represent an effort to bring about a balance between two extremes - tablet PCs and Laptops. Ultrabooks are supposed to resemble laptops in terms of high-end performance while also incorporating a high degree of mobility like tablets. This is important because despite the phenomenal improvement in the quality of Tablet PCs, serious work still requires something more. The latest generation of ultrabooks are also beginning to lean more towards tablets and smartphones by incorporating more sensors and touch-capable features.


But how does one actually go about buying an Ultrabook? What should you keep an eye out for? These are questions that need to come to mind when anyone (especially those unlucky enough to step into a PC sales store in Colombo) gets bombarded by “specs” or “recommendations”, often meaningless dribble.


Ultrabooks are now becoming more standardised. In fact, Intel has a trademark on the capitalised word “Ultrabook” and uses this to create a set of common standards for manufacturers. This does not mean Ultrabooks are a homogeneous bunch. In fact, Ultrabooks take many shapes and sizes, ranging from so-called hybrids (a combination of a Tablet and Notebook) to high-end gaming systems.



Display : Screen Size, Touch or No-Touch, and Resolution

Ultrabooks range from 11-15 inches, though the average size is about 13.3 inches. This is very subjective, but having used a variety of screen sizes, I’m most comfortable with 14 inches - not too small and not too big.

In addition, if you are going to use Windows 8(.1) you should seriously consider investing in a touch-screen variant, which is becoming the rule rather than the exception. However, most screens use Gorilla Glass 2 or 3, which is decent enough. The responsiveness of these touchscreens have improved immensely over time but admittedly in my experience, it’s easier to use the system in screens of a smaller size.

Another thing to keep in mind is display resolution. The higher the resolution, the sharper the image. Right now, 1,366-by-768 is common on the cheaper systems. However, right now most Ultrabook variants are shifting to 1,920-by-1,080 resolution which is slowly becoming the new standard. So if you are going to buy a reasonable Ultrabook, make sure it comes loaded with a better resolution. Premium models, on the other hand, push this boundary even further. The Toshiba Kirabook, for instance, packs in a 2,560-by-1,440 resolution while the Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus comes loaded with 3,200-by-1,800.



Design - Weight, Profile, Materials

Intel’s own guidelines dictate that any device that is 13-inches and under must have a maximum thickness of 0.7 inches, while devices that are 14-inches and up, can be as much as 0.83 inches thick. If the device is a convertible or hybrid, then despite the screen size, it is allowed to reach 0.9 inches. Intel, has stayed clear of specific requirements for thickness and instead designs targets based on weight. Hence, the weight of the devices range from 2.5 to 5 pounds.

Note: There is somewhat of a misconception that a thin profile invariably means a trade-off between performance and mobility. It is true that the emphasis on productivity and battery life does push manufacturers to lean closer to integrated graphics systems. Yet, there are systems like the Razor Blade, MSI GE40 20c-009 US and Gigabyte U24T-CF1, which pack a serious graphics power that will appeal to gamers.

Given Intel’s requirement, some manufacturers have begun creating ultrabooks with premium materials  and designs such as unibody construction with aluminum, with no plastic. Others mix things up, combining aluminum casing with a base made of carbon-fibre or magnesium alloy. There is a real difference in the feel of these devices and keep in mind that premium materials generally mean higher durability. However, that’s also going to mean higher prices.

Note: When testing an Ultrabook before purchase, test the durability or feel of the machine. Despite their light and thin design, they should feel firm and durable. So try picking it up from one corner or grasping the screen by the top corners to see if the screen feels loose. In addition, try typing while sitting on your lap, which is a great way to feel the laptop and gauge the comfort levels. Pay particular attention to the hinges as you open the Ultrabook. Always keep a keen eye for wobble or too much flex.



Under the hood - Processor and Storage

 If you are planning on buying an Ultrabook over the coming days, weeks or months, go for the latest Haswell variant, which provides generous power savings compared to the previous version (Ivy Bridge). Generally an i3 is sufficient but an i5 is more than enough if you plan on using it for standard work (i.e., no processor busting apps such as high-end video editors, modelling software, etc.). However, if you work requires the use of powerful applications, opt for a i7.

When it comes to Ultrabooks, the special feature is storage. The latest standard is the Solid-State-Drive (SSD) - between 128GB to 256GB. This is different to the standard Hard Disk Drive (HDD), which is still the dominant form of storage. The SSD does not feature any moving parts and is therefore more durable and responsive, improving boot-times, and allowing for near-instantaneous resumption from Sleep or Hibernation. However, HDDs are much cheaper since it is a far more mature system.

If you have the money, go for a SSD system. Some models try to provide a combination of SSD and HDD, with the former increasing start-up times and the latter providing more storage. While this tries to bring about the best of both worlds, it may not be best for an Ultrabook that is moved around a lot.

Note: SSDs do not mean RAM is unnecessary. RAM is still necessary but not as necessary for a device that uses HDD. Therefore, 4GB RAM which is moderate on an HDD based computer, would be optimal on an SSD based device. Anything more would provide relatively little noticeable improvement.



Connections and Input-Systems

When it comes to connections, some Ultrabooks feature plenty of ports, while others only feature a few. Virtually every machine has a combination of USB 2.0 and the faster USB 3.0 (blue connector) or only features USB 3.0 ports. There are also the other standard ports such as HDMI, headphone/microphone, etc. Older ports, however, such as Ethernet and VGA are slowing vanishing from Ultrabooks and you may need to invest in a few miniature connectors or convertors. WiFi (802.11n but now 802.11AC) is the standard, Bluetooth 3.0 or even 4.0 is always built-in. Some also come loaded with WiDi, 4G connectivity, fingerprint scanners, GPS, etc.

Given the low profile of Ultrabooks, expect keyboards to be shallow and relatively cramped (especially in smaller models). However, premium designs like Samsung ATIV and Dell’s XPS range, come with rather comfortable back-lit keyboards. Touchpads are generally quite standard across devices but they may differ in features.



Closing Comments

There are lots of Ultrabooks in the market today so make sure you know exactly what you want to buy and don’t limit yourself to the stores in Colombo, as now it is easier than ever to purchase devices on Amazon and eBay.
Try to opt for the latest range of processors (Haswell), full SSD systems, and decent input systems.


Text by Navam Niles