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Ultrabook

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  • 07-10-2012 10:31am
    #1
    blahblah06
    Registered Users Posts: 4,306 ✭✭✭


    Hi lads wonder can use help I'm In the market for an ultrabook I use it work so need at least 2 USB ports and a hdmi or VGA to attach to tv in the future. Storage shud be reasonable for photos and music.
    I was looking at the dell 14Z purely cause I'm used to dell and windows. Have about €7-800
    Any other suggestions


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    #2
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    blahblah06 wrote: »
    Have about €7-800

    Any other suggestions

    UltraNote

    14" display
    Core i7 3632QM (35W max TDP quad core CPU)
    8 GB RAM
    128 GB solid state disk
    Ultra slim DVD writer
    3 USB ports (2x USB 3.0)
    HDMI & VGA
    Win7 HP x64 (incl. OS installation DVD)
    3 yrs warranty

    £ 632 or €782

    You'll hardly find any other ultrabook with that performance within your budget. If you think the Core i7 is somewhat of an overkill, with a Core i5 3210M the UltraNote costs £548 or €678.

    You may save a few quid if you configure it with a platter HDD for more storage instead but I strongly recommend a SSD for performance and robustness (no moving parts). Storage can be easily expanded with an external HDD or a few 32 GB SD cards (€15)


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    #3
    juan.kerr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,766 ✭✭✭juan.kerr


    blahblah06 wrote: »
    I was looking at the dell 14Z purely cause I'm used to dell and windows. Have about €7-800

    Latitude 14Z or XPS 14Z? Not sure either is considered an Ultrabook.

    The XPS 14Z is discontinued, replaced by the XPS 14 I think.


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    #4
    juan.kerr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,766 ✭✭✭juan.kerr


    What about Lenovo U410?


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    #5
    blahblah06
    Registered Users Posts: 4,306 ✭✭✭blahblah06


    Hi lads the dell inspiron 14z sorry I should have said. I like the idea off that custom build but tbh I'm an amateur and wouldn't know anything about drives as u said


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    #6
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    blahblah06 wrote: »
    I like the idea off that custom build but tbh I'm an amateur and wouldn't know anything about drives as u said

    Simply put, a solid state disk beats a platter hard disk in any realm but storage cost.

    Solid state disks offer faster read/write speed, seek/access time is next to nothing, no moving parts (hard disk drives are usually the most damage-prone component in a laptop) but they do come at a price. Although the Kingston 128 GB SSD is on special offer when you configure the UltraNote, for the same price you will get a 750GB platter HDD. If you really need to carry an insane amount of data with you, you'll be better off with a conventional hard drive, other than that, a SSD is the way to go. As I said, you can also pick up an external hard drive if need be.

    It should also be noted, that the UltraNote doesn't exactly match the definition of an ultrabook. According to Intel's specifications, they should have an ultra low voltage processor (17W max TDP) to provide for extra long battery life. PC Specialist doesn't offer any ULV processors for the UltraNote. However, ULV CPUs are rather poor performers, a dirt-cheap regular Ivy Bridge Core i3 3110M (35W max TDP) doesn't score much less than a Core i5 or i7 ULV in processor benchmarks.

    On the other hand, you won't find a "real" ultrabook with a "real" solid state disk under €1.000 (except some stock clearance deals of the previous processor generation).

    Also keep in mind, the system memory of many ultrabooks (especially the cheap ones) cannot be upgraded as it is soldered onto the mainboard and 4 GB of RAM is precious little today. The UltraBook can take up to 16 GB of RAM


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    #7
    johnfaul
    Registered Users Posts: 358 ✭✭johnfaul


    does anyone know what weight the ultra note is?
    Im thinking of changing from a dell xps15 which I find too heavy and would like something lighter thanks john


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    #8
    Mat the trasher
    Registered Users Posts: 365 ✭✭Mat the trasher


    johnfaul wrote: »
    does anyone know what weight the ultra note is?
    Im thinking of changing from a dell xps15 which I find too heavy and would like something lighter thanks john

    See here,

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=81661396


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    #9
    freestyla
    Registered Users Posts: 1,047 ✭✭✭freestyla


    Proper ultrabook goes easily over €1000.

    Innovative and PC customers respecting manufacturers should try come up with something decent for decent money, at least for PC users. I don't like how they play marketing and brainwashing people!

    Why do I need to pay 30-40% premium over normal PC laptop to get half the expansion ports and non-changeable/soldered components? That's not a PC anymore.

    Wouldn't mind to have stylish lightweight PC laptop but once you cut on thickness and components, shouldn't the whole thing be cheaper then? Of course not because Intel takes €200-300 only for the processor + €100-150 for many other small components. Not greedy at all?

    Macintosh is, and always was, different story. A notch better in many, if not every, way but had premium price which kept it in it's own (stupid) league.

    Windows 8 boosts productivity of ultrabooks but IMO only with touchscreen because of Metro UI. In other hand, need for touchscreen will keep final price
    tag too high again even it's slowly getting cheaper to obtain Sandy and Ivy processors. And of course, Intel is introducing the new CPU gen next year called Haswell.. I doubt we will have sub €900-1000 proper ultrabook any day.

    No sure but think AMD is allowed to co-operate with Ultrabook manufacturers nowadays? because Intel has patent or smthg on Ultrabook form...

    So respect to such companies as PC Specialist are - the whole package is simply perfectly balanced and reminds me of what a PC is all about.

    I don't want some fcking mini-VGA or mini-this and mini-that helloouu!!


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