When it comes to choosing a device these days things are much different than they were just a few years ago. Now there are so many devices that allow us to complete our daily tasks that it is hard and even sometimes confusing to choose a device when it is time for an upgrade or a new purchase. Intel knows this and we sat down with them to discuss some of the latest Intel-powered Ultrabooks and tablets. They not only let us get our hands on these devices but explained many of the features that are built-in on a hardware level that you will not find with a non-Intel system. Read on as we show you some of these new devices and give you an idea of what to expect to see from Intel-powered devices in the future.
The Ultrabooks
Intel’s big focus for the upcoming holiday season and 2013 is the Ultrabook. If you didn’t know Ultrabook is a specification set by Intel. In order to call your device an Ultrabook it needs to meet these specifications. Currently for Ivy Bridge systems some of the specifications are 5 hours of battery life, USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt technology, and height restrictions.
We were shown three of the latest Ultrabooks, the Acer Aspire S7, Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga and the Dell XPS Duo 12.
Out of the three my favorite was the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga. The coolest feature of the Yoga is the 360-degree flip-and-fold design that allows you to use it as a notebook, tablet or tent. This really shows where these devices are headed. Not only do you have an Ultrabook for doing work, but a tablet for simple tasks and games. The Yoga is only 16.9mm thick and weighs 3.4lbs. The screen is a 13.3-inch 10-point multi-touch display with a 1600 x 900 resolution. You will get up to 8 hours of battery life with the Yoga. The Yoga ships with Windows 8 and a 3rd generation Intel Core processor. Prices start at $1,099.
The thinnest and sleekest out of the Ultrabooks was the Acer Aspire S7. Pictures do not do it justice, go into the store and check this one out! The one you see pictured above is the 13.3-inch version which is only 11.9mm thick and weighs in at 2.86lbs! It has an all aluminum unibody design, which looks awesome. The screen itself is made of Corning Gorilla Glass, is multi-touch and features a full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080. Why you cannot flip the screen around you can lay it flat. You should be able to get 12 hours of battery life out of the S7. It will ship with Windows 8 and a 3rd generation Intel Core processor. Prices start at $1,199.
The Dell XPS Duo is another great Ultrabook. It features a flip hinge design that allows you to turn it into a tablet in just seconds. It is designed with some pretty high-end materials like aluminum, carbon fiber and Corning Gorilla Glass. The XPS Duo 12 is 14.98mm thin and weighs in at 3.35lbs. The 12.5-inch multi-touch display features a full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080. Battery life should be around 6 hours. The XPS Duo will ship with Windows 8 and a 3rd generation Intel Core processor. Prices start at $1,199.
