[daigo]

The sleekness and thinness of the MBA is definitely the strongest point for me, but the problem is that I never use OS X. I always end up installing Windows to run my applications, and OS X just takes up valuable SSD space, so I am looking for just a normal laptop that's as sleek and thin as the MBA.

I don't know if the MBA in the class of laptops that it's in is the most powerful. I don't expect laptops these thin to be as powerful as their fully-featured, thicker laptops, but if there's something faster and better than the MBA, then I'd definitely take it.

Another thing which isn't a big deal is that I don't like the aluminum colour. I prefer black, but colour isn't really a deal-breaker unless it's got some really odd, dodgy, unremovable designs on it or something.

But anyway, is there anything as sleek and thin as the MacBook Air, but about the same power or more powerful than it?

[psionic]

There a few reviewed at: http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile...r-2012-1054355

and

http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/12/27...ks-of-ces-2012

and if you can wait for Windows 8:

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/08/u...computex-2012/

[alanwarwic]

Methinks you mean an alternative to Windows 7 Ultrabooks.

Both are premium Netbooks.
Intel gave Apple exclusivity for a year on the chipsets which is understandable considering Apple do not buy the lower cost Intel or AMD stuff yet.

[IvanIV]

I like ASUS Zenbook laptops myself and was considering one, but I am waiting for laptops with Windows 8. Newer HW and I may even like the new OS.

[s2k]

No specific recommendations as far as ultra-books go but just pointing out that you can install just Windows, Linux or whatever you want on a Mac - you dont need to dual boot if you don't want to (that seemed to be the original problem you were emphasising).

Basically you just boot off the OS X DVD, run disk utility and set your disk the way you want (ticking the option to use a Windows MBR), apply the changes then reboot off the Win7 DVD as if it were no different to any other computer.

[TheBigM]

You can get ultrabooks from about £600 to £1,300. Acer, Asus, Dell, Toshiba and Samsung are among the maker. The sweetest one of all is the Samsung Series 9 but is expensive.

Alanwarwic, netbook is a bit of a pejorative term - those were cheap, low-powered machines. Ultrabooks are plenty powerful for anything other than heavy applications like HD video editing.

[alanwarwic]

Netbooks are not all low powered and in fact ultrabooks are simply another stage towards laptops.

I will draw the line at tablets but strangely enough many will describe laptops as low powered.

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by alanwarwic

I will draw the line at tablets but strangely enough many will describe laptops as low powered.

Some laptops are low powered...that's why people call them low powered.

[IvanIV]

Originally Posted by s2k

No specific recommendations as far as ultra-books go but just pointing out that you can install just Windows, Linux or whatever you want on a Mac - you dont need to dual boot if you don't want to (that seemed to be the original problem you were emphasising).

Basically you just boot off the OS X DVD, run disk utility and set your disk the way you want (ticking the option to use a Windows MBR), apply the changes then reboot off the Win7 DVD as if it were no different to any other computer.

Apple people would have a cow, should he need a hardware support and they found that devil's OS on their precious

[alanwarwic]

Originally Posted by alan1302

Some laptops are low powered...that's why people call them low powered.

All tablets are low powered yet we have near silence.
The fact is that much software has improved dramatically in efficiency over the years, yet netbooks can be far faster than laptops of old.

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by alanwarwic

All tablets are low powered yet we have near silence.
The fact is that much software has improved dramatically in efficiency over the years, yet netbooks can be far faster than laptops of old.

Hard to compare netbooks and tablets though as they are running different OSs - and tablets are running an OS that is basically designed for a smartphone to they tend to run well.

Most new products can run faster than older ones so it's not a surprise a new netbook can out perform some older laptops...old laptops in particular used to be be very underpowered compared to their desktop equivalents.

[MrQuike]

My trusty old laptop had to be put down a few weeks ago and I was looking at ultrabooks and even netbooks myself. Which magazine rates these as best buy Ultrabooks.
Dell XPS 13
HP Folio 13-1000
Dell XPS 13

They are nice machines but it just seems too much to pay for mostly just accessing the Internet while sat downstairs in the lounge distracting myself from the rom coms, "talent" shows and associated crap on the TV. I can get a laptop for about £300 for that but they're mostly 15.6 screens and a bit big and heavy. 13.6" or 14" would do me but they're much more expensive.
So I'm down to 11.6" netbooks at the moment with a Samsung and a HP looking the most promising. I considered an Ipad 2 but I bought Mrs Q one for her birthday last year and it'd just be bad form to buy one for myself so soon.

What I'd really like is a something with the looks of a Mac Air, the cost of a netbook, a nice cool AMD Trinity processor, a 128 gig SSD drive and Linux compatible for a dual boot.

[TheBigM]

Originally Posted by MrQuike

My trusty old laptop had to be put down a few weeks ago and I was looking at ultrabooks and even netbooks myself. Which magazine rates these as best buy Ultrabooks.
Dell XPS 13
HP Folio 13-1000
Dell XPS 13

They are nice machines but it just seems too much to pay for mostly just accessing the Internet while sat downstairs in the lounge distracting myself from the rom coms, "talent" shows and associated crap on the TV. I can get a laptop for about £300 for that but they're mostly 15.6 screens and a bit big and heavy. 13.6" or 14" would do me but they're much more expensive.
So I'm down to 11.6" netbooks at the moment with a Samsung and a HP looking the most promising. I considered an Ipad 2 but I bought Mrs Q one for her birthday last year and it'd just be bad form to buy one for myself so soon.

What I'd really like is a something with the looks of a Mac Air, the cost of a netbook, a nice cool AMD Trinity processor, a 128 gig SSD drive and Linux compatible for a dual boot.

Ultrabooks are meant to be ultraportable machines. If you're just going to be at home, there's no need for that, the £400 laptop is ideal for you.

Perhaps wait until Windows 8 machines are released this autumn, perhaps a laptop/tablet hybrid will tickle your fancy.

[s2k]

Originally Posted by IvanIV

Apple people would have a cow, should he need a hardware support and they found that devil's OS on their precious

Probably. But the look on their face would probably be worth the drive down to the Apple store alone.

For what its worth i've read online about people using Mini's in this way so they can put proper server OSes on them then chuck them in a rackmount kit. It does seem a bit ilogical to me but some sysadmins are just strange quite frankly.

[cnbcwatcher]

Originally Posted by IvanIV

Apple people would have a cow, should he need a hardware support and they found that devil's OS on their precious

I can only imagine the fun at the Genius Bar. They'd have to call in the exorcist and a priest It would be worth it. Think I might install Windows on my MBP, break it and then go down the Apple Store to get it fixed

[MrQuike]

Originally Posted by TheBigM

Ultrabooks are meant to be ultraportable machines. If you're just going to be at home, there's no need for that, the £400 laptop is ideal for you.

Perhaps wait until Windows 8 machines are released this autumn, perhaps a laptop/tablet hybrid will tickle your fancy.

The good ultrabooks are nice and light with fast sturdy solid state drives - bit like tablets but with bigger screens, proper keyboards and better connectivity. I can see the attraction.

15.6" laptops are more like a modern day desktop replacements. They're not really laptops. They get hot, they're heavy, the vents get blocked, they make noise, the hard drives are relatively fragile, the system boards and screens on some probably flex more than is good for them. But they're a lot cheaper so I'll probably end up biting the bullet and buying one eventually...

[MrQuike]

Not quite an alternative to a Macbook air but I'm now very interested in the HP Pavilion DM1-4125 netbook. AMD 450 Fusion dual processor, 11.6 screen, bit chunky and plastic - but in real life respectable in the looks department, nice and light, solid and sturdy and best of all I can get it under £300!. Easy install/upgrade of a 128Gig SSD, and bingo - one very cheap Ultra(ish)book...

[daigo]

I'm getting a couple suggestions for the ASUS Zenbook Prime on another board - That one looks considerable as well as the Samsung Series 9, as earlier suggested in this thread

[daigo]

Also considering the ThinkPad X1 Carbon coming out this summer.

[alanwarwic]

Originally Posted by MrQuike

.... and bingo - one very cheap Ultra(ish)book...

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20120614PD214.html

With 'Intel to hold ultrabook cost-reduction meeting' it is all about manufacturers cutting corners so that Intel can still charge a massive premium.

That AMD E450 APU really defeats its designed 'ultra portable' target and instead appears in more full size laptops than sub-notebooks.

[daigo]

Since the new Macbook Air was released earlier this week, I've been checking out the hardware specs and the Air seems to beat out every single ultrabook on the current market.

Samsung Series 9 vs. MBA:
Series 9: http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/l...3A-A03US-specs
MBA: http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MD232LL/A

The MBA can be upgraded to 2 GHz i7, the MBA has better graphics (for my Physics/computational applications that run on GPU power I guess?) while everything else seems to be pretty much equal.

One upside to the ultrabooks is that I can upgade the RAM while on the Air, the RAM is soldered onto the board so you have to purchase their over-priced upgrade from the get-go.

I guess I will wait for the Zenbook Prime UX32A and UX32VD as well as the ThinkPad X1 Carbon to be released...

[TheBigM]

Originally Posted by daigo

Since the new Macbook Air was released earlier this week, I've been checking out the hardware specs and the Air seems to beat out every single ultrabook on the current market.

Samsung Series 9 vs. MBA:
Series 9: http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/l...3A-A03US-specs
MBA: http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MD232LL/A

The MBA can be upgraded to 2 GHz i7, the MBA has better graphics (for my Physics/computational applications that run on GPU power I guess?) while everything else seems to be pretty much equal.

One upside to the ultrabooks is that I can upgade the RAM while on the Air, the RAM is soldered onto the board so you have to purchase their over-priced upgrade from the get-go.

I guess I will wait for the Zenbook Prime UX32A and UX32VD as well as the ThinkPad X1 Carbon to be released...

You are looking at the older model there. You need to compare like for like i.e. the Ivy Bridge generation.

http://www.samsung.com/hk_en/consume...X4C-A01HK-spec

Also remember that Apple gimps the drivers for Windows to reduce performance and battery life compared to running in OS X.

The biggest difference for me however is that with the Ivy Bridge generation, one can get a 15" Series 9. MBA is stuck at 13"

[TheBigM]

Originally Posted by daigo

The MBA can be upgraded to 2 GHz i7, the MBA has better graphics (for my Physics/computational applications that run on GPU power I guess?) while everything else seems to be pretty much equal.

The MB Air only uses Intel integrated graphics so if you are trying to do GPGPU calculations then you are using the wrong machine.

If you want performance then Macbook Pro not Macbook Air is the answer but you can get a much higher spec per dollar from Windows machines than MBPs.

[daigo]

15" is too big for me. I have a separate machine for high-resource intensive applications, but sometimes I will need to use MAPLE, MATLAB, Mathematica, etc. on the go, in class, in the lab, etc. so it's not like this will be my main rig for performing calculations and whatnot. Mobility and density of hardware performance/quality is my main concern, I guess

[TheBigM]

Originally Posted by daigo

15" is too big for me. I have a separate machine for high-resource intensive applications, but sometimes I will need to use MAPLE, MATLAB, Mathematica, etc. on the go, in class, in the lab, etc. so it's not like this will be my main rig for performing calculations and whatnot. Mobility and density of hardware performance/quality is my main concern, I guess

They still offer 11" and 13" machines too.

The MBA is still the best all-rounder in its class. I don't know if those applications are available on OS X.

If you're going with Windows and are interested in Windows 8 then I would wait a while for a laptop. Even for those not interested in their laptops having touchscreens, you will see all manufacturers supporting more trackpad gestures for Win8 and some will go the extra mile to support extra track-pad features like edge-swipes.