Disqus
And I’m continuing to rant about ultrabooks. This time we’ll help you select the right model for you. Here are some things you should consider.
Screen size
Most ultrabooks have a 13.3-inch screen, though there are some with smaller and bigger screens, and it’s kinda safe to bet we’ll see even more proliferation in the future. For instance, the Asus UX21 comes with an 11.6-inch display, while LG Xnote Z430 and HP Envy 14 Spectre both have a 14-inch screen.
Size and weight
The screen size is (obviously) directly proportional to the ultrabook’s size and weight. Dell’s XPS 13 is a bit smaller – they famously managed to cram a 13.3-inch screen into a 12-inch laptop body. Out of all 13.3-inch models, the Toshiba Portege Z830/Z835 is by far the lightest.
Ports
Even though it’s the lightest of all comparable models, Toshiba’s computer also has more ports than any other ultrabook, and even includes an Ethernet LAN connection. That could be a plus for some, while other folks may not care about that at all.
Keyboard
Two important factors to consider:
- Does it [ultrabook] have a dedicated Home, End, Page Up and Page Down keys or you’ll have to get those with the Function key (I find this pretty important)?
- Is it a backlit keyboard?
Overall look and feel
As we said in our previous post, all ultrabooks share the same platform and at the end you’ll most likely choose your computer based on its looks. If you want something that looks like the MacBook Air, go for the Asus UX21/31 or Acer Aspire S3. On the other hand, if you want something different, check out ultrabooks made by the likes of Dell, Toshiba, HP, Lenovo, Samsung and LG. It’s your call…
About The Author
Dusan Belic
Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.
