First Ultrabook Arrives from Acer October 16 for $900
The first ultrabook is slated to arrive this Sunday, October 16, for $899.99 USD, and is already listed for pre-ordering on Amazon.
Monday various reports pointed to an Amazon listing that revealed the 13.3-inch Acer Aspire S3-951 as the first ultrabook to land in the States. According to the listing, the super-slim device will officially arrive on October 16 just under Intel's sub-$1000 target price point, costing $899.99 USD. Acer later backed up the listing with an official press release on Monday, announcing the ultrabook's arrival.
"This featherweight Ultrabook powers on instantly, connects to the Web in seconds and provides up to 50 days of stand-by time, or 6 hours of continuous usage," the company said Monday. "As slim and easy to carry as a magazine, it includes a powerful Intel Core i5 Processor, speedy solid state drive for quickly booting the operating system, roomy hard drive, and essential USB and HDMI ports."
According to the specs, the device sports a 13.3-inch HD widescreen CineClear LED-backlit display with a 1366 x 768 resolution, Intel's second-generation Core i5-2467M CPU clocked at 1.6 GHz, integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 128 MB of dedicated system memory and 4 GB of RAM. Windows 7 Home Premium is installed on a 20 GB SSD while an additional 320 GB 5200RPM hard drive is available for media and other file storage.
As for other features, the ultrabook provides a 2-in-1 card reader, 802.11 b/g/n connectivity, Bluetooth 4.0 + HS, a 1.3MP HD webcam (1280 x 1084), two USB 2.0 ports, one HDMI port with HDCP support, and a 3-cell Lithium polymer battery promising up to 8 hours. The device measures just half-an-inch at its thinnest and weighs a mere 2.98 pounds (depending on the configuration), and its overall dimensions are 12.59 inches by 8.52-inches by .51 to.68-inches, making it "one of the thinnest notebooks available on the market."
"The Acer Aspire Ultrabook also includes numerous design elements that keep the system running cool and efficiently," the company said. "All the heat generating components have been placed away from the palm rest and touchpad area, and warm air is funneled away from the user through the back of the Ultrabook. Venting throughout the keyboard also helps the system stay cool, and its vent-free bottom allows it to be used comfortably on a lap or pillow, without fear of obstructing air flow and overheating. In addition, airflow is optimized to enhance efficiency and lower power consumption to help increase system battery life."
Acer added that future models to be announced will round out its ultrabook line up, and will include Intel Core i7 or Core i3 Processors and larger capacity solid state drives. However consumers can pre-order the world's first ultrabook at Amazon for $899.99 USD by heading here.
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Apple lawsuit in 3...2...1...
Apple lawsuit in 3...2...1...
Lawsuit for what? Copying their design in the most vague manner, or for copying the idea of a slimmer laptop than a netbook, or for making it look like a Macbook Air by Acer's virtuous clever placement of its logo where MBAir's apple is...oh wait, I see. Never mind.
Yeah...what back_by_demand said.
It look like this article is a cut and paste (no editing) from a couple of sources. I see that is has an HDMI port, and later in the article, I see it still has an HDMI port. It has a 6 hour battery life and an 8 hour battery life (alternating?), etc.
So what, the new bandwagon in pc manufacturing lingo is "ultrabook"? After tablet and netbook from the last two years?
Every 2 years your new laptop is an ultrabook. They get smaller for a reason.
Also, Apple tried the slim thing. I have tons of friends with macbooks, but none of them have an air. What are you going to do with a slim laptop, its not like you can fit it in your pocket.
Or are you just gonna slide it into manila envelopes?
20GB SSD? i'm sure pricing it $100 more and throwing in a 64GB SSD would have been more sensible. I mean, the Crucial m4 64GB is going for $115 on newegg, and i'm sure the 20GB SSD they've used must be the Intel 311, which costs almost the same. Hell, even if it's not the Intel, this still would have cost at least $40. Just add 60-70 more! sub-$1000 and ultra useful! 20GB for win 7?! There'll be approx 18.6 GB usable anyway...bad decision acer...
i think you meant dedicated video (or graphics) memory? not a major mistake, but for the sake of accuracy...
Wow. The specs suck big-time. Pathetic. I won't buy a laptop which is so underpowered just because it's a bit thinner and lighter than the rest.
Then again, there's MacBook Air and lots of people like it... so I wouldn't be surprised if that sells.
or for making it look like a Macbook Air by Acer's virtuous clever placement of its logo where MBAir's apple is
+1, I also thought it's an Air for a second
Anyhow, most of the laptops on the market nowadays are utter garbage. Keyboards suck, specs are unbalanced (saw some Vaio laptops with 3GB of RAM... 1GB stick and 2GB stick... freakin' stupid! Or how about a Core i7 and integrated graphics?) and most look like garbage. I wish we could build our own laptops like we do with desktops!
Windows 7 on a 20gb SSD. You have got to be kidding me. Run Windows Update once and that drive us full.
Windows 7 on a 20gb SSD. You have got to be kidding me. Run Windows Update once and that drive us full.
Correction: Is full.
have to be a numpty to order a 20gb ssd.
Even if you could hold an os on there, the fuller it is the slower it becomes.
Wow. The specs suck big-time. Pathetic. I won't buy a laptop which is so underpowered just because it's a bit thinner and lighter than the rest.Then again, there's MacBook Air and lots of people like it... so I wouldn't be surprised if that sells.+1, I also thought it's an Air for a second Anyhow, most of the laptops on the market nowadays are utter garbage. Keyboards suck, specs are unbalanced (saw some Vaio laptops with 3GB of RAM... 1GB stick and 2GB stick... freakin' stupid! Or how about a Core i7 and integrated graphics?) and most look like garbage. I wish we could build our own laptops like we do with desktops!
What exactly do you want in something that's 1/2" thick.... some people make me wonder.
Wow. The specs suck big-time. Pathetic. I won't buy a laptop which is so underpowered just because it's a bit thinner and lighter than the rest.
Then again, there's MacBook Air and lots of people like it... so I wouldn't be surprised if that sells.
+1, I also thought it's an Air for a second
Anyhow, most of the laptops on the market nowadays are utter garbage. Keyboards suck, specs are unbalanced (saw some Vaio laptops with 3GB of RAM... 1GB stick and 2GB stick... freakin' stupid! Or how about a Core i7 and integrated graphics?) and most look like garbage. I wish we could build our own laptops like we do with desktops!
Well, these ultrabooks don't seem like they're meant for gaming or marketed to the gaming enthusiast (THG's general population). Intel realized that the MacBook Air is selling really well and came up with copied this design idea. This example should be a peppy machine for Widows 7 & 8 for general MS Office-type work, web-use, and even a little Photoshop-type activity. ...just like the MacBook Air. If you've used a 2010/2011 MacBook Air you'll know its a pretty peppy machine given its specs. The 2008/2009 Airs were really underpowered for an enthusiast as far as I'm concerned...too slow...too many compromises...but my wife loves hers. So, if these non-Apple ultrabooks perform in the same class as the recent MacBook Airs they'd make a great 2nd machine or something for the executive that travels a lot. I have executives at my job that think 4lbs. is too much to carry...but 3lbs is okay (can't say I agree
For those that hate the MacBook Air simply because its by Apple, these ultrabooks are an alternative.
hey, at least theyre trying to drive the market again! not too bad of an attempt, they look good and is cheaper than the air
Every 2 years your new laptop is an ultrabook. They get smaller for a reason.
Also, Apple tried the slim thing. I have tons of friends with macbooks, but none of them have an air. What are you going to do with a slim laptop, its not like you can fit it in your pocket.
Or are you just gonna slide it into manila envelopes?
There's people like me who have a self build monster of a desktop, watercooled and all, and yet I need something portable to take to college classes. The MacBook Air is sufficient, it can run AutoCAD, Inventor, and Altium Designer pretty well which are the most demanding college apps I'll ever need.
Not everyone needs to game in their laptops you know. From my experience, no matter what laptop it is, it always ends up being a choppy, hot mess. I would rather game in my desktop and have the thinnest lightest laptop to move around and work.
Well, these ultrabooks don't seem like they're meant for gaming or marketed to the gaming enthusiast (THG's general population). Intel realized that the MacBook Air is selling really well and came up with copied this design idea. This example should be a peppy machine for Widows 7 & 8 for general MS Office-type work, web-use, and even a little Photoshop-type activity. ...just like the MacBook Air. If you've used a 2010/2011 MacBook Air you'll know its a pretty peppy machine given its specs. The 2008/2009 Airs were really underpowered for an enthusiast as far as I'm concerned...too slow...too many compromises...but my wife loves hers. So, if these non-Apple ultrabooks perform in the same class as the recent MacBook Airs they'd make a great 2nd machine or something for the executive that travels a lot. I have executives at my job that think 4lbs. is too much to carry...but 3lbs is okay (can't say I agree
).
For those that hate the MacBook Air simply because its by Apple, these ultrabooks are an alternative.
Nah, I don't like any ultrabooks so far; let's see whaT Asus comes up with.
I used a 2010 MB Air. Slow as hell; I wrote about it in our home thread. Well... not slow, but just as fast as any other mid-range laptop. SSD doesn't really show.
Apple won't sue in this case since the Ultrabook intiative comes from Intel (theya re the ones pushing the design and helping manufacturers make it). Even with Apple beign litigation happy they wouldn't go after their CPU supplier
WTF is with "18" being appended to the end of everyone's post?!
WTF is with "18" being appended to the end of everyone's post?!
I noticed that and thought it was just me.
Apple won't sue in this case since the Ultrabook intiative comes from Intel (theya re the ones pushing the design and helping manufacturers make it). Even with Apple beign litigation happy they wouldn't go after their CPU supplier
Aren't Apple suing Samsung for copying their iphone & ipad yet still buying chips from them to make the same devices?
Aren't Apple suing Samsung for copying their iphone & ipad yet still buying chips from them to make the same devices?
Yes. And? Gotta love those contracts.
I noticed that and thought it was just me.
Already reported that to the feedback section of the forums. Some glitch in the site engine, I suppose.
What exactly do you want in something that's 1/2" thick.... some people make me wonder.
Well, seeing as the SSD drives in 2.5" format are the same size regardless of 16gb or 500gb capacity then stripping off its casing and attaching just the PCB to the inside of an Ultrabook should at least allow a user to define how much drive space he has, same goes for RAM and CPU.
Well, seeing as the SSD drives in 2.5" format are the same size regardless of 16gb or 500gb capacity then stripping off its casing and attaching just the PCB to the inside of an Ultrabook should at least allow a user to define how much drive space he has, same goes for RAM and CPU.
I agree, except for the CPU... don't forget these thin chassis don't have good cooling, so no proper CPUs.
So, instead of a 300 Euro laptop we can have a 50% thiner and 50% lighter ultrabook for probably about 1k Euros? Nah thx.
Well, seeing as the SSD drives in 2.5" format are the same size regardless of 16gb or 500gb capacity then stripping off its casing and attaching just the PCB to the inside of an Ultrabook should at least allow a user to define how much drive space he has, same goes for RAM and CPU.
Having a more customized configuration/design and trying to keep the device under $1K probably don't go hand and hand, they'll probably want to keep the internals as close to off-the-shelf as possible.
A chief selling point of this would be its $400 savings over the MacBook Air. Why else would you choose this over the Air. ...but to me 1400x900 is better than 1366x768, and I'd rather just have the 128GB Flash storage than an almost uselessly-sized SSD and slow HDD. Does it really cost that much more to put a 1400x900 screen in? Yes, when you're trying to cut costs and keep it sub $1K.
The more I think about it the more I wonder how well these will do. The folks that really want this type of machine (executives, I'm thinking) can typically afford the better spec'd Mac.
Having a more customized configuration/design and trying to keep the device under $1K probably don't go hand and hand, they'll probably want to keep the internals as close to off-the-shelf as possible.
A chief selling point of this would be its $400 savings over the MacBook Air. Why else would you choose this over the Air. ...but to me 1400x900 is better than 1366x768, and I'd rather just have the 128GB Flash storage than an almost uselessly-sized SSD and slow HDD. Does it really cost that much more to put a 1400x900 screen in? Yes, when you're trying to cut costs and keep it sub $1K.
The more I think about it the more I wonder how well these will do. The folks that really want this type of machine (executives, I'm thinking) can typically afford the better spec'd Mac.
All this talk of laptops makes me want to get one, even though I don't need one
1366x768 is stupid resolution; I hate it. Many games don't recognise it and wallpapers scale weirdly.
Here's what I want in an "ultrabook": dual-core i7, 8GB RAM, 60GB SSD, 1TB 7200RPM HDD, good midrange GPU (GT555M?) and don't pretend like all that costs $3K, $1500 at best; then I'll buy it. G53 has all that save the small form factor and a dual core i7 would allow to scale it all down for cheap.
Here's what I want in an "ultrabook": dual-core i7, 8GB RAM, 60GB SSD, 1TB 7200RPM HDD, good midrange GPU (GT555M?) and don't pretend like all that costs $3K, $1500 at best; then I'll buy it. G53 has all that save the small form factor and a dual core i7 would allow to scale it all down for cheap.
Those specs are nice but not likely to fit in the "ultrabook"-sized chassis, especially with a GPU that might wanna heat up. Forget $1500 too.
Why is this news? AMD has had more powerful versions of these out for months for cheaper.
Why is this news? AMD has had more powerful versions of these out for months for cheaper.
Links please.
Those specs are nice but not likely to fit in the "ultrabook"-sized chassis, especially with a GPU that might wanna heat up. Forget $1500 too.
As I said, you CAN fit it in ultrabook chassis if you want to. Dual core i7s were made for ultrabooks. GPU might be too much, but a midrange one with Optimus shouldn't be too bad. I'd rather have a hot powerful ultrabook than a cool slow one. And the price? Well, I want a price that doesn't have a 400$ overhead; we all know how much these midrange components cost
Links please.
+1
For all of you complaining about the small SSD, it's too bad the SSD can't be used for Intel's Smart Response Technology (SSD caching). According to AnandTech, the chip set doesn't support it.
I have Windows 7 Ultimate and all my programs installed on a 40GB Intel X25-V, and it uses 24GB. My users folder is on a short-stroked HDD, my games on a different short-stroked HDD, and my media files are on my server.
So, yes, the 20GB SSD can work combined with the 320GB HDD by putting the users folder on the HDD and installing only the bare minimum of programs. However, it's not ideal, and ditching both the 20GB SSD and 320GB HDD in place of a single 128GB drive would really be worth the money for me.
Links please.
Throw a dart on the board to any AMD system made in the last 6 months under $900 that has a monitor smaller then 13". When you pack a laptop with an Intel GMA, you are packing it for fail.