ultrabook | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Thu, 30 Mar 2023 15:36:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png ultrabook | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Razer Book 13 Review – Razer’s first Ultrabook! https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/andrew-munro/razer-book-13-review-razers-first-ultrabook/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/andrew-munro/razer-book-13-review-razers-first-ultrabook/#respond Tue, 04 May 2021 07:34:57 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=513057 A laptop from Razer that ISN'T meant for gaming?!

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Everyone knows that Razer makes high end gaming laptops that can be in excess of £3000 – but what if gaming isn’t the reason you’re looking for a new laptop? Maybe you’re on the hunt for an ultraportable machine that doesn’t compromise on quality or productivity for your work environment. Well, that’s what Razer is offering with its latest range of Razer Book 13 Ultrabooks. We review the most expensive Book 13 model that comes in at £1,999.99 – but are you really willing to spend £2k just to check your emails and use office?

Specifications:

  • £1,999.99
  • 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-1165G7 Quad-Core Processor
  • Windows 10 Home
  • 4″ UHD 60Hz
  • Slim side bezel
  • Touch display
  • Up to 178° wide viewing angles
  • Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
  • 512GB SSD
  • 16GB dual-channel (fixed)
  • 55WHr battery, Up to 14 hours
  • 65W power adapter
  • 720p Webcam with Windows Hello
  • Per-Key RGB, powered by Razer Chroma™
  • Anti-Ghosting
  • USB 3.1 Gen 1 USB-A x1
  • Thunderbolt 4 USB C + power x2
  • HDMI 2.0 x1
  • MicroSD slot
  • 5mm combo-jack
  • Dimensions 15.15 x 198.5 x 295.6 mm
  • Weight 1.4KG
  • Product Code: RZ09-03571WM2-R3W1

The Razer Book 13 is aimed at productivity users, both personal and business, it’s ideal for those that want an ultra-compact system with solid build quality. This isn’t a laptop aimed at heavy workloads like video editing or gaming for example, instead it’s aimed at Microsoft Office use, browsing emails, using search engines and video calls.

Looking at the specs of the system they match up with the target audience and on paper it seems to be perfect for the job. We have put the system through various benchmarks to see how it stacks up, continue reading to find out how it performs.

Taking a look at the dimensions above in the specifications, size wise we think it’s great, it’s small and thin enough to slip into almost any backpack or messenger bag whilst retaining a decent sized keyboard and a very usable 13.4” UHD 16:10 touch display.

Inside the Book 13 we can see a 55WHr battery as well as the Samsung PM981a OEM-only SSD, which is accessible so you could always swap this out if you really wanted to. The RAM is soldered on so there’s no accessible SODIMM slots therefore you can’t upgrade these in future. Finally, we can see Razer are using a vapour chamber for the CPU cooling too and they often use this on their other laptops.

It’s fairly heavy despite its small size at 1.4KG but it is an anodised aluminium uni-body design, reminiscent of the older Apple MacBook Pro, personally we like that is has some weight behind it and we also like the metal construction because it does give it an air of quality. If it was super lightweight and plastic, I think it would feel like a toy and I’d be dubious of its longevity or build quality. Talking of build quality, it’s great. There’s no rattle from any of the keys on the keyboard and the screen lid opens smoothly with enough resistance to hold the screen up at an angle.

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Razer unveils new Blade Stealth 13 with world’s fastest 13.3” display https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/christopher-nohall/razer-unveils-new-blade-stealth-13-with-worlds-fastest-13-3-display/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/christopher-nohall/razer-unveils-new-blade-stealth-13-with-worlds-fastest-13-3-display/#respond Wed, 22 Apr 2020 12:00:16 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=463248 Razer has revealed its updated Razer Blade Stealth 13 that comes equipped with the "world's fastest 13.3” display with a 120Hz refresh rate" alongside a discrete GTX 1650 Ti GPU and low-power Core i7 processor...

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Razer has revealed its updated Razer Blade Stealth 13 and says that the laptop “pushes the envelope with what’s possible in a thin and light Ultrabook”. Razer's new gaming laptop comes equipped with the “world's fastest 13.3” display with a 120Hz refresh rate” alongside a discrete GTX 1650 Ti GPU and low-power Core i7 processor.

Besides being the “world's fastest 13.3” display”, the display offers a 1920x1080p resolution and is “finished with a matte coating for improved glare reduction.” Razer also gives the option of upgrading the screen of the Blade Stealth 13 to a 4K touch display aimed at “creators and touch users.”

Under the hood, we find a GeForce GTX 1650 Ti GPU and 25W Intel Core i7-1065G7 10th Gen processor – which, according to Razer, makes the laptop able to combine “portability and style, with performance that’s perfect for gaming and productivity.” In terms of dimensions, it measures 304.6 mm x 210 mm x 15.3mm (W x D  H).

Image credit: Razer

“The Razer Blade Stealth 13 is the world’s most powerful Ultrabook and we just made it better,” according to Brad Wildes, Senior Vice President of Razer’s Systems Business Unit. “The new Razer Blade Stealth 13 introduces the next generation of ultraportable gaming, providing users the perfect balance between fun and function.”

The Razer Blade Stealth 13 is available for retailers in America and will start at $1799.99, with Razer saying that the laptop soon will come to Europe start from €1,999.99.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: It seems like the market is moving more and more towards portable products. What do you think about the Razer Blade Stealth 13?

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Razer Blade Stealth 13 Mercury White Laptop Review (i7-1065G7) https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/briony-hannam/razer-blade-stealth-13-mercury-white-laptop-review-i7-1065g7/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/briony-hannam/razer-blade-stealth-13-mercury-white-laptop-review-i7-1065g7/#respond Thu, 16 Jan 2020 09:16:03 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=444364 It's a new ultrabook from Razer, priced at £1500

The post Razer Blade Stealth 13 Mercury White Laptop Review (i7-1065G7) first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
I almost exclusively take a look at hardcore gaming laptops here at KitGuru, which often come with a large form factor, a dedicated GPU and mediocre battery life. In this review I review a laptop from a well established gaming brand that has taken a different direction. The Razer Blade Stealth 13 is an ultrabook at heart with a 15mm,1.35Kg thin and lightweight chassis. It might lack a dedicated GPU but the Intel Iris graphics should still pack a reasonable punch. Is this the perfect blend of gaming laptop and portable ultrabook or is the £1499.99 asking price too steep? 

 

 

Specifications: 

  • Processor: Intel Core i7-1065G7 Quad Core (1.3 GHz base frequency, up to 3.9 GHz base with Intel Turbo Boost)
  • Screen: 13.3″ (1920×1080 Full HD Resolution, IPS Screen)
  • Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64-bit
  • RAM: 16GB (LPDDR4 3733MHz)
  • Solid State Drive: 256GB NVMe SSD PM981
  • Graphics: Integrated (Intel Iris Plus Graphics)
  • Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0
  • Wireless LAN: Wireless (802.11ac Wireless)
  • Integrated Webcam: Integrated HD Webcam with Microphone + IR Camera
  • USB Ports: 2x USB 3.0 (Type A) 1x USB 3.0 (Type C)
  • Thunderbolt: 1x Thunderbolt 3 Port (USB Type C)
  • Charge Time: 3.0 Hours
  • Battery Life: 9-10 Hours (up to 10 hours with power management)
  • Keyboard: RGB Backlit Keyboard
  • Weight 1.35 Kg
  • Warranty: Razer 12 Month Collect & Return Warranty

The Razer Blade Stealth 13 is equipped with the Ice lake i7-1065G7. This processor has a TDP of only 15W (in the balanced profile) meaning it uses less power and creates less heat that some of its more powerful family members. It is well suited to this type of portable ultrabook but still packs a reasonable punch with 4 cores, 8 threads and a boost clock speed of up to 3.9GHz. With my review sample, I saw it sit around 1.4GHz on battery power, and while plugged in it peaked at around 3.8GHz on all cores.

The Razer Blade Stealth 13 comes with the option of dedicated graphics in the form of a GTX 1650. However the Mercury White model is only available with the new Intel Iris Plus graphics. These integrated graphics come with a memory speed of 1800MHz and a GPU clock of 300MHz with a maximum boost to 1100MHz.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Razer’s new Blade Stealth is the world’s first gaming ultrabook https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/matthew-wilson/razers-new-blade-stealth-is-the-worlds-first-gaming-ultrabook/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/matthew-wilson/razers-new-blade-stealth-is-the-worlds-first-gaming-ultrabook/#respond Wed, 04 Sep 2019 04:00:44 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=424482 Today at IFA, Razer kicked off the event by announcing the all new Razer Blade Stealth 13, which doubles as the world's first gaming ultrabook.

The post Razer’s new Blade Stealth is the world’s first gaming ultrabook first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Today at IFA, Razer kicked off the event by announcing the all new Razer Blade Stealth 13, which doubles as the world's first gaming ultrabook. The new Blade Stealth uses an Intel 10th Gen CPU and Nvidia GTX 16-series graphics to deliver gaming performance in the company's most compact laptop.

The CPU here is an Intel 10th Gen Core i7-1065G7, while the GPU is an Nvidia GTX 1650. It won't be the most powerful gaming laptop around, but you will get good performance considering the small 15mm thin chassis and 1.3kg weight. The laptop also includes a 512GB PCIe SSD and there are two display options- 1080p and 4K.

The Full-HD version has a matte black finish with Intel's Low Power Display Technology to help squeeze out as much battery life as possible. The 4K UHD version has a glass panel with touch integration, although both versions are calibrated to offer 100% sRGB colour space.

Razer is also bringing back the Mercury White colour option, although the spec is a little different. This one comes with a 1080p display and a 256GB PCIe SSD instead.

As you would expect, the new Razer Blade Stealth 13 also comes with an RGB keyboard, USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports and WiFi 6 for improved networking. The new line of Razer Blade Stealth laptops will start at $1,499.99 in the US and €1,679.99 in Europe. Availability is currently planned for the end of September across the US and Canada, with the UK, France, Germany, Nordics, China, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan to be added to the list a bit later.

KitGuru Says: We'll be looking forward to getting some hands on time with this later in the week. On paper though, this seems to be very impressive, particularly for an ultrabook. What do you all think of the new Razer Blade Stealth?

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ASUS ZenBook 13 UX331UN Ultrabook Review https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/james-morris/asus-zenbook-13-ux331un-ultrabook-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/james-morris/asus-zenbook-13-ux331un-ultrabook-review/#respond Fri, 30 Nov 2018 13:28:25 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=391058 It's a thin and light laptop for under £1000, but it's an all-round excellent machine

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ASUS has been a serious contender for the “best ultraportable that isn't made by Apple” for some years now. Its ZenBook range has regularly impressed with its looks, features, performance and value. The UX331UN is the latest 13in model in the “Classic” range, which means it doesn't flip into tablet mode or incorporate a touch screen. Yet, despite weighing just 1.12kg, it still comes with discrete graphics.

The ASUS ZenBook 13 UX331UN comes in two colours – grey or blue. You can also specify it with either an Intel Core i5 or i7 from the eighth generation (Kaby Lake R). Our sample used the Core i5-8250U, with the Core i7-8550U the other option, although both are quad-core. There's a reasonable 8GB of RAM, but the really surprising inclusion is discrete NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics, which comes with its own 2GB complement of GDDR5 memory.

 

Storage is reasonable, with either 256GB or 512GB of M.2 SSD. So you get a very useful amount of computing hardware in a package that weighs just over a kilogram, sports a Full HD screen, and boasts up to 14 hours of battery life.

It's also reasonably priced, costing just £999 from some vendors, making this cheaper than the equivalent Apple Macbook Air. Let's find out if this is the perfect “go anywhere” notebook companion.

Specification

  • Processor: Intel Core i5-8250U 1.6GHz, Turbo Boost up to 3.4 GHz
  • Memory: 8GB LPDDR3 2133MHz
  • Hard drive: 256GB Micron 1100 M.2 SATA3 SSD
  • Operating System: Windows 10 Home
  • Display: 13in (16:9) 1,920 x 1,080 LED backlit 60Hz IPS
  • Graphics: Integrated Intel® HD 620 Graphics and NVIDIA GeForce MX150 with 2GB GDDR5 Memory
  • Audio: 1W Harmon Kardon speakers
  • Networking: Integrated 802.11 AC (2×2)
  • Power Supply: 3 Cells 50 Whrs Polymer Battery, 65W power brick
  • Dimensions: Width 310 mm, Depth 216 mm, Height 13.9 mm
  • Weight: 1.12 kg with Battery
  • Interfaces: 1 x combined headphone/microphone audio jack, 1 x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type C, 2 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Micro SD card reader
  • Adapters included: USB 3 to Ethernet

Price: £999.95

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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ASUS ZenBook Pro (UX550VD) Ultrabook Review https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/notebook/dominic-moass/asus-zenbook-pro-ux550vd-ultrabook-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/notebook/dominic-moass/asus-zenbook-pro-ux550vd-ultrabook-review/#comments Tue, 21 Nov 2017 10:42:40 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=354612 The ZenBook Pro - a premium Ultrabook from ASUS. Worth £1300?

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ASUS is well known for producing quality laptops, especially with its ZenBook line. While I did look at the ZenBook 3 earlier this year,  the new ZenBook Pro (UX550VD) has a bigger display, faster internal processor and even a dedicated GTX 1050 graphics chip – making it a significant upgrade over the older ZenBook 3. Currently priced at £1299.99, is this the killer Ultrabook you've been waiting for?

Despite sharing the ‘ZenBook' family name, the ASUS ZenBook Pro (UX550VD) is actually a very different beast to the ZenBook 3 (UX390UA) that I reviewed in February this year. For one, it is larger with its 15.6-inch display, and while it is still very thin and light (weighing just 1.8kg) it is not quite as miniscule as the ZenBook 3.

Then there are internal components to consider – the ZenBook Pro positively blows the ZenBook 3 out of the water thanks to its faster i7-7700HQ processor, while it also has discrete graphics in the form of GTX 1050. Accordingly, ZenBook Pro seems to offer the best of both worlds – portability and performance. So just how good is it?

Specification

  • Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-7700HQ processor
  • Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® 1050
  • Display: 15.6” IPS LED-backlit Full HD (1920 by 1080 16:9)
  • Memory: 8GB 2400MHz DDR4 onboard
  • Storage: 512GB SATA3 SSD
  • Interfaces: 2 x Type-C™ USB 3.1 Gen 2 (thunderbolt), 2 x Type-A USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Combo audio jack, 1 x Micro SD Card reader
  • Keyboard: Full-size backlit, with 1.5mm key travel
  • Touchpad: Glass-covered with optional integrated fingerprint sensor supporting Windows Hello; intelligent palm-rejection support
  • Quad speakers: ASUS SonicMaster stereo audio system with surround-sound. Certified by Harman Kardon
  • Wi-Fi: Dual band 802.11ac Wi-Fi
  • Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.2
  • Battery and Power: 73Wh 8-cell lithium-polymer battery. 120W power adapter
  • Dimensions: 36.5 cm x 25.1 cm x 1.89 cm
  • Weight: 1.8 kg

What strikes me most about the ZenBook Pro is how it is still a very portable laptop (at just 18.9mm thick and 1.8kg in weight) yet it still packs a fair punch – the i7-7700HQ is a quad-core with HyperThreading processor, while a dedicated GTX 1050 graphics chip opens up the possibility of some less demanding gaming.

That combination of hardware, along with the very portable nature of the laptop, makes me think the ZenBook Pro is probably best for someone who wants to get some work done on the go – be it photo editing, graphic design or even a spot of video editing – without lugging around a monster of a laptop like one from the MSI Titan range.

That kind of consumer will be very happy with the ZenBook Pro – internal hardware aside, it also boasts a pretty decent, tactile keyboard (a huge improvement over the ZenBook 3's keyboard), very good front-facing speakers as well as an overall swish and solid aluminium body.

Most impressive (to my mind, at least) is the excellent I/O configuration – two USB 3.1 (Gen 1) ports are provided, as well as another two ThunderBolt 3 ports in Type-C format. Complimenting those ports is a headphone jack and micro SD reader. Compared to the ZenBook 3 – and most Ultrabooks currently available – this a brilliant set of connectivity options, with the two ThunderBolt 3 ports providing lots of versatility that a professional might require.

The only real downside to the design of the laptop is the trackpad. I think it could be bigger from the outset as tracking can get slightly cramped pretty fast, but primarily I dislike the spongy clicks. I am fine with having the integrated right and left clicks, as opposed to dedicated buttons, but actually pressing the trackpad down feels quite mushy and unpleasant, and it does mar the overall experience.

Internally, things look pretty standard with the large battery taking up most of the laptop's bottom half, while the cooling system consists of two blower fans and two copper heatpipes, which as we shall see below seems to get the job done despite not appearing to be overly sophisticated.

There doesn't seem to be any upgrade path, though, as the RAM is soldered to the motherboard, while there is only one M.2 connector which is occupied by the included 512GB SATA 3 SSD. That is a bit disappointing since a typical user may well want to upgrade to 16GB RAM or add more storage down the line, but find out that that is impossible with the UX550VD.

Testing

Synthetic tests – notebook results only

Synthetic tests – notebook and desktop results

Gaming performance

The ZenBook Pro isn't really a gaming machine – the GTX 1050 would probably be better for accelerating any workflows rather than being used with the latest AAA titles, as even at medium settings the machine struggles.

esports gamers should be fine, however, though the IPS display isn't exactly a gaming-grade panel either (in terms of response times, that is). Still, over 130 FPS in Rocket League is certainly good enough for casual gamers who want to go down that route.

Thermal dynamics

Despite the rather simple cooling solution, the ZenBook Pro stays pretty cool for a laptop of its size – I really thought the slim chassis would be choking the components for air. However, those thermal results speak for themselves, so it is a good bit of engineering from ASUS.

Battery life

Battery life isn't quite the best, though. 3hr 26 minutes is certainly not a bad result – and remember, double the time to give a real-world estimate – but the Dell XPS 13 definitely outperforms its rival by a considerable distance.

Closing Thoughts

On the whole, the ASUS ZenBook Pro (UX550VD) is a very capable Ultrabook. It is very sleek and portable, yet it still manages to cram in some decent hardware – the i7 and GTX 1050 should not be sniffed at when you remember just how small this thing is.

On top of that, we must factor in the excellent IPS display, decent keyboard and plentiful I/O – all of which adds up to make the ZenBook Pro look a real winner.

That is, until we get to the trackpad and battery life. Neither are bad per se, they are just not quite up to scratch when we factor in the competition. The Dell XPS 13, for example, has a superior trackpad while it battery lasted about two hours longer than the ZenBook Pro.

Neither issue is overly significant, but together they do mean the laptop isn't quite perfect. It does come close, though, and we definitely still think the ASUS ZenBook Pro (UX550VD) is overall a very good buy thanks to its portable body, impressive spec and vibrant display.

You can buy one from Amazon for £1299.99 HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Pros

  • Very slim and light.
  • Very good performance considering the size.
  • Decent keyboard.
  • Excellent I/O.
  • Harmon Kardon speakers sound better than most.
  • Vibrant display.

Cons

  • Trackpad is a bit spongy.
  • Battery life isn't quite as good as the competition.
  • No upgrade path for storage or memory.

KitGuru says: Despite a couple of minor flaws, the ASUS ZenBook Pro is a very appealing Ultrabook. It is fast, light and boasts a wonderful screen, making it a very good buy in its price bracket.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Dell XPS 13 (9360) Review https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/notebook/dominic-moass/dell-xps-13-9360-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/notebook/dominic-moass/dell-xps-13-9360-review/#respond Wed, 25 Jan 2017 09:56:41 +0000 http://dev.kitguru.net/?p=319585 Its small, its light weight and it looks like a fine machine to take with you on your travels...

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Here at KitGuru we love a good, gaming laptop. However, we also place high value on Ultrabooks due to their portability and typically high-end hardware. The Dell XPS 13 has been at the forefront of the Ultrabook market for the last few years, and today's review is of the new 9360 model – complete with an i7-7500U, 256GB PCIe SSD and InfinityEdge display.

If you are looking at buying a new Ultrabook, it is very likely you have already considered the Dell XPS 13. The latest model – the XPS 13 9360 – features brand-new Kaby Lake hardware as well as an ultra-thin body. The super-thin screen bezel is also worth pointing out, as Dell have somehow managed to cram a 13.3″ display into a chassis that looks more like an 11″ laptop. Read on for the full review, including system benchmarks, battery performance and analysis of the XPS 13's build quality.

main1

Specification

  • Processor: 7th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-7500U (4MB Cache, up to 3.5 GHz)
  • Operating Systems: Windows 10 Home English
  • Memory: 8GB LPDDR3 1866MHz
  • Hard Drive: 256GB PCIe Solid State Drive
  • Video Card: Intel® HD Graphics 620
  • Display: 13.3” FHD AG (1920 x 1080) InfinityEdge display
  • Keyboard: Internal UK/Irish Qwerty Backlit Keyboard
  • Ports: 2 USB 3.0 – 1 w/PowerShare, 1 SD card reader (SD, SDHC, SDXC), 1 Headset jack, 1 Noble lock slot,1 Thunderbolt™ 3
  • Height: 9-15mm (0.33-0.6″) x Width: 304mm (11.98″) x Depth: 200mm (7.88″)
  • Weight: Starting at: 1.2Kg (2.7lbs)2 non-touch display, 1.29Kg (2.9lbs)2 touch display
  • Wireless: Killer 1535 802.11ac 2×2 WiFi and Bluetooth 4.1

Price: £1179

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Dell Latitude 13 7370 Ultrabook Review https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/dominic-moass/dell-latitude-13-7370-ultrabook-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/dominic-moass/dell-latitude-13-7370-ultrabook-review/#comments Thu, 23 Jun 2016 13:27:02 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=296447 Traditionally, Ultrabooks command a high premium. After all, you are getting a high-performance laptop, crammed with the latest features, with typically slim and lightweight bodies. Let's not forget, too, that Intel has to certify a laptop as an Ultrabook before it can be sold using the Ultrabook name – so you are paying for bragging …

The post Dell Latitude 13 7370 Ultrabook Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Traditionally, Ultrabooks command a high premium. After all, you are getting a high-performance laptop, crammed with the latest features, with typically slim and lightweight bodies. Let's not forget, too, that Intel has to certify a laptop as an Ultrabook before it can be sold using the Ultrabook name – so you are paying for bragging rights, too. As such, it cannot be much of a surprise that pricing for the Dell Latitude 13 7370 starts at £1179.

Aimed primarily at business users, the Dell Latitude 13 7370 is certainly a good-looking piece of kit. Boasting a passively cooled Core m5-6Y57 CPU, PCIe SSD and InfinityEdge display, it looks to back up its appearance with decent hardware.

However, specifications on paper are one thing, and real-world performance is another. We put the Latitude 7370 through its paces to see if it is worth buying.

main1

Specification

  • Intel® Core™ m5-6Y57 (Dual Core, 1.10 GHz, 4MB cache)
  • Windows 10 Pro
  • 8GB LPDDR3 1866MHz Memory
  • 256GB Solid State Drive M2 2280 PCIe
  • 33.8cm (13.3”) FHD (1920 x 1080) InfinityEdge display
  • 1 USB 3.0 (Type A)
  • 2 Thunderbolt™
  • 1 Micro HDMI
  • Universal Jack
  • 3 M.2 Expansion Slots: 1 SSD 1 WWAN and 1 WLAN/WiGig
  • Lock Slot
  • Optional SmartCard Reader and Touch Fingerprint Reader
  • Micro SIM Card Slot
  • Micro SD 4.0 Memory Card Reader
  • Height: 14.32 mm (0.56″) x Width: 304.8 mm (12″) x Depth: 210.5 mm (8.3″)
  • Weight: 1.12 kg (2.47 lbs)
  • Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 802.11ac + Bluetooth® 4.2 LE Wireless Card
  • Primary 4-Cell (34Wh) battery
  • E5 45w Type C Adapter
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Razer announces Blade Stealth Ultrabook and Core GPU enclosure https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/matthew-wilson/razer-announces-blade-stealth-ultrabook-and-core-gpu-enclosure/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/matthew-wilson/razer-announces-blade-stealth-ultrabook-and-core-gpu-enclosure/#comments Wed, 06 Jan 2016 18:30:49 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=279914 Today, Razer announced the latest edition to its highly praised ‘Blade' line of gaming laptops. This time around, though, Razer is doing things a little differently by releasing a 12.5-inch Ultrabook that will pair up with the Razer Core, a powered GPU enclosure for those that still want the desktop gaming experience, in addition to …

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Today, Razer announced the latest edition to its highly praised ‘Blade' line of gaming laptops. This time around, though, Razer is doing things a little differently by releasing a 12.5-inch Ultrabook that will pair up with the Razer Core, a powered GPU enclosure for those that still want the desktop gaming experience, in addition to the portability of a thin and light laptop.

The Razer Blade Stealth comes with an Intel Core i7-6500U processor as standard, which is a dual-core model with Hyper-Threading and Intel HD Graphics 520. It comes in both 1440p and 4K options, with storage ranging from 128GB, 256GB and 512GB just like the rest of the Blade laptops.

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Obviously integrated graphics isn't going to do the job when it comes to serious gaming, so those that still want to game while at home will need to pick up the Razer Core, which is sold as a standalone product. It's essentially an external graphics card enclosure, using a thunderbolt 3 connection to allow you to hook the Razer Blade Stealth up to a more powerful GPU.

The Razer Blade Stealth is actually already available in the US, starting at $999 for the base model. However, we don't currently have an international release date for Europe or other countries. There is even less information right now about the Razer Core, which doesn't have a price yet but is due to ship sometime in the first half of this year.

KitGuru Says: It is great to see laptop makers experimenting with external GPU enclosures for those that want portability in addition to desktop gaming performance. Though this is still quite an expensive setup to pick up. What do you guys think of Razer's announcements today? I certainly wouldn't mind carrying around one of those Ultrabooks. 

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PCSpecialist Lafité Ultrabook Review https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/dominic-moass/pcspecialist-lafite-ultrabook-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/dominic-moass/pcspecialist-lafite-ultrabook-review/#comments Mon, 03 Aug 2015 07:46:00 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=259953 Ultrabooks have become increasingly popular over the last few years thanks to their portable yet powerful nature. However, prices remain high – in many cases you can be paying over £1000 for a new Ultrabook. PCSpecialist's Lafité aims to change that. Priced at just £499, Lafité ships with the latest Broadwell-U CPU, a 1080p display …

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Ultrabooks have become increasingly popular over the last few years thanks to their portable yet powerful nature. However, prices remain high – in many cases you can be paying over £1000 for a new Ultrabook. PCSpecialist's Lafité aims to change that. Priced at just £499, Lafité ships with the latest Broadwell-U CPU, a 1080p display panel and SSD storage. Is this the Ultrabook you should be getting?

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Specifications

  • Chassis & Display: Lafité Silver Aluminium Chassis: 13.3″ Matte Full HD IPS LED (1920 x 1080)
  • Processor (CPU): Intel® Core™ i3 Dual Core Processor i3-5010U (2.10GHz)
  • Memory (RAM): 8GB KINGSTON SODIMM DDR3 1600MHz (1 x 8GB)
  • Graphics Card: INTEL® HD GRAPHICS 5500 (Only with Intel® Core™ CPUs)
  • Memory – Hard Disk: 240GB KINGSTON V300 SSD, SATA 6 Gb (450MB/R, 450MB/W)
  • Dimensions (W x D x H): 325mm x 219mm x 18mm
  • Weight: 1.42Kg
  • Card Reader: Integrated 2 in 1 Memory Card Reader (SD, MMC)
  • Sound Card: Realtek 2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
  • Bluetooth & Wireless: GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® AC-3160 M.2 (433Mbps, 802.11AC) + Bluetooth
  • USB Options: 1 x USB 3.0 PORT + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
  • Battery: Lafité Series 4 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (6,300mAh)
  • Power Lead & Adaptor: 1 x UK Power Lead & 40W AC Adaptor
  • Keyboard Language: LAFITÉ SERIES INTEGRATED UK KEYBOARD
  • Operating System: Genuine Windows 8.1 64 Bit – inc DVD & Licence DPK
  • DVD Recovery Media: Windows 8.1 (64-bit) DVD with paper sleeve
  • Office Software: FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365
  • Anti-Virus: BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY – FREE 90 DAY TRIAL
  • Notebook Mouse: INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
  • Webcam: INTEGRATED 720P 30 FPS HD WEBCAM
  • Warranty: 3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
  • Insurance: 1 Month Free Laptop Insurance inc. Accidental Damage & Theft

Being an Intel certified Ultrabook, PCSpecialist have had to meet a few criteria to get that certification. Perhaps the most obvious of these criteria is the thin and light chassis, which is very portable and attractive. Lafité weighs just 1.42KG, and is a mere 18mm thick. Both figures are hugely impressive, and mean you will have absolutely no problems carrying Lafité around with you. It is so light it is barely noticeable when carried in a rucksack, for instance.

The silver aluminium design also adds a touch of class, though there are inevitable comparisons with the MacBook Air – especially considering Lafité has the same tapered chassis design and a black island keyboard. Still, such comparisons are no bad thing as MacBooks are well constructed laptops in their own right. Given that the outer chassis is also completely devoid of any logos or branding, Lafité looks simple and clean while the aluminium feels durable and classy.

In terms of connectivity ports, what we have is a fairly standard affair for a thin and light laptop. The left edge features a charging port, 1x USB 2.0, a combo audio jack and a reset pinhole. The right edge has an SD card reader, 1x USB 3.0, a HDMI port and a Ethernet port. So there are not masses of options, but anything more is getting unreasonable for a laptop which is just 18mm thick.

Once the lid has been opened, the black Island keyboard greets you, which contrasts nicely against the silver body of the laptop. The keyboard itself is in a standard UK configuration, though it is important to note the power button is part of the keyboard rather than a separate button positioned elsewhere. There is next to no key travel, but this has to be expected from such a thin laptop. It takes some getting used to but is still usable.

My main area of contention is the trackpad, as it makes a noticeable ‘sweeping' sound as you use it. It is not awful, but it is not the smoothest trackpad I have ever used. Responsiveness improved when I adjusted the pointer speed in Windows, but with the default settings it is somewhat sticky.

Inside, we have a Core i3-5010U CPU – the U denoting Ultra Low Power, as the CPU has 15W TDP. This is paired with 8GB of single-channel RAM, while storage is provided by a 240GB Kingston V300 SSD. This makes for a very responsive and speedy system, and a competitively priced one at that.

You will have no problems at all with general tasks like media playback or web browsing, with the PCMark Vantage score below is a real testament to how good a general computer Lafité is. Some fairly light Photoshop work is also comfortable, but that is only really an added bonus as Lafité is not meant for any serious imaging work.

It should go without saying that Lafité is not a gaming machine. It crawled through 3DMark Fire Strike as slowly as you would expect, so just to be extra clear – you will not be gaming on this Ultrabook. The general system responsiveness, though, is exceptional, which makes Lafité a great option for office tasks, particularly as it is so portable.

Benchmarks

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As for the benchmarks, I have already mentioned that Fire Strike was far too demanding for the integrated Intel HD 5500 graphics as you can clearly see by the scores. Cloud Gate was able to run more smoothly but Lafité is in no way, shape or form going to be handling the latest games. The Handbrake encoding time of less than 8 minutes is noteworthy in that it is the fastest I have seen so far.

Battery life

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In the PCMark 8 battery benchmark test, Lafité lasted just over four and half hours. This is a very strong score, and you can be assured of all day battery life when using Lafité for everyday tasks as office jobs are not battery-intensive at all.

Closing thoughts

All in all, PCSpecialist's Lafité is a very capable Ultrabook at a very competitive price.

For £499, you get a thin and light aluminium chassis, which houses the latest Broadwell-U i3 processor, 8GB RAM and a 240GB SSD for storage. Of course, as Lafité is from PCSpecialist, it can be configured with different processors and storage options to name but a few. Our specific review model costs £499.

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Lafité is very attractive and slim – weighing just 1.42kg and measuring just 18mm thick. Despite that, it is still very responsive and fast thanks to the Kingston SSD and i3-5010U. These components are a great combination, which makes Lafité a perfect solution for almost anybody looking for a laptop for general computing tasks.

You can buy the pre-configured model I tested from PCSpecialist for £499 inc VAT, or you can configure your own laptop here.

Discuss on our Facebook page, over HERE.

Pros

  • Ultra-thin and ultra-light.
  • Attractive aluminium chassis.
  • Very affordable Ultrabook solution.
  • Sharp 1080p display.
  • i3, SSD and 8GB RAM make for a nippy system.

Cons

  • Trackpad is a bit noisy and can feel sticky.
  • Limited storage space.

KitGuru says: PCSpecialist have made a great Ultrabook with Lafité. It is super-portable and can handle everyday computing with consummate ease.
MUST-HAVE2

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Asus ROG G551J Gaming Laptop Review https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/leo-waldock/asus-rog-g551j-gaming-laptop-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/leo-waldock/asus-rog-g551j-gaming-laptop-review/#comments Mon, 06 Jul 2015 08:37:58 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=257002 The Asus Republic Of Gamers G551J laptop delivers the styling cues we have come to expect so you get a black and red colour scheme with red accents on the WASD keys and red back lights for the keyboard. If you take a squint inside the cooling exhaust vent you'll find it is red inside …

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The Asus Republic Of Gamers G551J laptop delivers the styling cues we have come to expect so you get a black and red colour scheme with red accents on the WASD keys and red back lights for the keyboard. If you take a squint inside the cooling exhaust vent you'll find it is red inside there too.

Perhaps more importantly when you look beneath the surface you'll find this particular G551J (there are many variants) has a solid list of features that starts with a Core i7 processor that is allied to GTX 960M graphics.

On top of that you get 12GB of DDR3L RAM, a Full HD 15.6-inch screen and a small 128GB SSD that is backed up by 1TB of HDD storage.

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Asus ROG G551J Gaming Laptop Specifications

  • Processor Intel Core i7 4720HQ Processor (Turbos to 3.6GHz)
  • Operating System Windows 8.1
  • Chipset Intel HM86 Express Chipset
  • Memory 12GB DDR3L 1600MHz SDRAM, 2 x DIMM socket for expansion up to 16 GB SDRAM
  • Display 15.6″ IPS FHD (1920×1080)
  • Asus Splendid Video Intelligent Technology, Zero Bright Dot, anti-glare
  • Graphics Integrated Intel HD Graphics 4600
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M 2GB DDR5
  • Storage 128GB SSD with 1TB HGTS TravelStar HDD
  • Optical Drive Blu-ray DVD Combo
  • Card Reader 3 -in-1 card reader (SD/ SDXC/ MS/ MS Pro/MS Pro Duo/ MMC)
  • Camera HD Web Camera
  • Networking BT 4.0 support (on WLAN+ BT 4.0 combo card)
  • 1 x Microphone-in jack
  • 1 x Headphone-out jack (Audio-in Combo)
  • 3 x USB 3.0 ports
  • 1 x RJ45 LAN
  • 1 x HDMI
  • 1 x mini Display Port
  • Audio Built-in 2 Speakers and microphone
  • Bang & Olufsen ICEpower
  • SonicMaster Premium
  • MaxxAudio support
  • Battery 6 Cells 5200 mAh 56 Whrs
  • Power Adapter 19 V DC, 6.3 A, 120W
  • Dimensions 383 x 255 x 28 ~31.5 mm (WxDxH)
  • Weight 2.7 kg
  • Warranty: 2 Years

This is a 30mm thick chassis (actually 28mm-31.5mm depending on where you measure) so there is space for all the usual laptop bits and pieces such as a Blu-ray combo drive and an Ethernet port. In addition you get three USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort and a headset jack so there is absolutely no cause for complaint.

This model is not a thin and light, such as the G501JW, but neither is it horrendously heavy as the weight comes in at 2.7kg.

It was an interesting experience to pull the G551J apart for the photos as the construction is quite novel. Once you've removed the optical drive, 2.5-inch HDD and battery then pulled a handful of screws, the keyboard lifts out of the chassis. The intriguing thing is that the keyboard comes away complete with the motherboard, graphics, RAM, SSD, Wi-Fi card and cooling hardware. On the face of it this laptop would be a doddle to configure at the factory before it is assembled and shipped.

If you feel the need to perform maintenance it shouldn't cause you too many problems but does feel as though you are going deep inside and essentially dismantling the laptop. It is curious to see the lightweight nature of the empty plastic casing once the innards have been removed. The only noticeable downside to the construction of the G551J is that the mouse buttons feel a bit clicky, which might be due to a lack of physical support for the mechanism.

Testing
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During our testing the G551J performed exactly as expected. The combination of Core i7, GTX 960M and Full HD screen are mainstream and well understood and we found that Thief played at High presets just below 30fps while Tomb Raider was close to 60fps. This is very much a gaming laptop, however it isn't an out-and-out powerhouse that can handle any graphics settings you care to use as that would require a GTX 970M or 980M. The chassis and cooling have clearly been designed to accommodate a GTX 960M without any fancy hardware, whilst keeping the price down to a sensible level..

Having said that, the G551J is available in different forms with SSD, HDD or combination of the two and our review sample came with a 128GB Kingston M.2 SSD to boost performance and a 1TB HDD to provide adequate storage. In an ideal world you simply pay more money for a huge SSD however that is an expensive luxury.

This laptop has more than enough grunt to handle daily office duties, as well as other trivial tasks such as YouTube and email.

Thermal Dynamics
The combination of a 4th Gen Core i7 and GTX 960M in a roomy 30mm chassis means that Asus has felt no need to employ an especially clever or sophisticated cooling set-up. There are two flattened copper heatpipes that are routed from the CPU, via the GPU, to a single cooler that exhausts to one side of the chassis. The other side is taken up by the Blu-ray combo drive so there is no option for dual coolers on the CPU and GPU.

Running a combination of Furmark and Cinebench cranks up the temperatures to the max and the silicon runs at 75-80 degrees inside the chassis, however the casing of the laptop is nice and cool at 30 degrees.

Acoustic Performance
At idle the G551J is effectively silent. When the thermal loads increase and the fan spins up you can certainly hear the increase in noise level but it is nothing to complain about and certainly not a problem.

Battery life
Battery life isn't great, delivering two and a half hours of continuous work in a loop of PC Mark 8. This equates to five hours of regular use in the real world.
The reason for this relatively short battery life is simply a matter of compromise. The battery is fairly small at 56Wh partly (we guess) to reduce costs but also to keep weight down. It would be all too easy to include a larger battery that took the weight of the laptop up to 3kg and that would be problematic.

Closing Thoughts

The Asus ROG G551J shows signs of compromise and balance at every turn. The 15.6-inch chassis and Full HD IPS panel set the tone for the laptop and the combination of Core i7 CPU and GTX 960M GPU do a fine job of powering it along. There are occasional signs the cost cutting may have gone slightly too far, such as the choice of 802.11n Wi-Fi rather than 802.11ac. No doubt this saves some cash but you have to wonder just how much difference it makes.
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Overall the choices that have been made are sensible and the resulting laptop is a reasonable 30mm thick unit that weighs an acceptable 2.7kg and delivers plenty of gaming performance. Pricing is slightly on the steep side and would have felt more comfortable at £999, but the fact is that Asus charges a premium for ROG products and the market appears to be willing to pay a little extra. At the time of going to press, this model was £1,099.

Discuss on our Facebook page, over HERE.

Pros:

  • Full HD IPS panel looks good and doesn't have a silly shiny coating
  • Intel Core i7 delivers plenty of power
  • Nvidia GTX 960M graphics do a fine job for gamers
  • Kingston M.2 SSD handles Windows and applications
  • 1TB HDD for extra storage
  • Smart Asus ROG red and black styling
  • The weight is reasonably low
  • Blu-ray combo drive

Cons:

  • Battery life is acceptable but marginal
  • Price is a little on the high side
  • Unnecessary levels of Asus bloatware
  • Mouse buttons feel a bit clicky

KitGuru says: Asus ROG G551J delivers decent levels of gaming performance without breaking the bank.
WORTH BUYING

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Dell’s new XPS 13 and XPS 15 revealed https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/brendan-morgan/dells-new-xps-13-and-xps-15-revealed/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/brendan-morgan/dells-new-xps-13-and-xps-15-revealed/#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2015 02:09:16 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=229258 At CES today Dell announced refreshes of it's XPS 13 and XPS 15 Ultrabooks, with the XPS 13 seemingly getting most of the attention. The reason for this is that Dell is claiming that the XPS 13 is the smallest 13-inch Ultrabook available today, along with the stunning virtually borderless “infinity display” that has a tiny bezel on …

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At CES today Dell announced refreshes of it's XPS 13 and XPS 15 Ultrabooks, with the XPS 13 seemingly getting most of the attention. The reason for this is that Dell is claiming that the XPS 13 is the smallest 13-inch Ultrabook available today, along with the stunning virtually borderless “infinity display” that has a tiny bezel on the sides and the top of the screen.

The screen on the XPS 13 can be configured as a QHD+ (3200 x 1800) IPS touch display with Gorilla Glass or a full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS non-touch display, both of which are being made by Sharp. With just a 5.2mm bezel around the top and sides of the screen the look of this is pretty stunning and quite comparable to Sharp's own AQUOS Crystal phone. The size comparison is also valid with the XPS 13 being smaller than a Macbook 13-inch in every dimension and comparable in size to 11-inch Ultrabook.
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Also of note is the battery life which, depending on the exact configuration is up to 15 hours. Apparently even with the QHD+ screen and an Core i7 CPU you will still manage 12 hours of battery life which is pretty impressive. CPU configurations range from an Intel Core i3 and i5 up to i7 pared with up to 8GB RAM and a 512GB SSD. All this while packing in a backlit keyboard, a pretty massive trackpad as well as an aluminium and carbon fibre chassis, this is definitely an Ultrabook to keep an eye out for. Prices are starting at $799.99 for a the HD display with a Core i3 and 4GB of RAM and it's on sale today at Dell.com.

The XPS 15 refresh is not quite as exciting as it is more of a refresh and does not have the borderless “infinity display” of the XPS 13. It does however gain a QHD+ touch display and can be configured to be quite a bit more powerful than the XPS 13 with up to 16GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M 2GB. Other than that nothing much has changed for the XPS 15. It's also availible now from Dell.com starting at $1,549.99.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Dell's XPS laptops have been a bit of a mixed bag at times with some of them in the past having cooling issues but the XPS 13 looks like a stunning bit of kit. All the press shots of it look incredible from every angle, I'll be the first to offer to review this if we get one here!

Source: Windows Central

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Dell XPS 12 2-in-1 Ultrabook Review https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/notebook/henry-butt/dell-xps-12-2-in-1-ultrabook-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/notebook/henry-butt/dell-xps-12-2-in-1-ultrabook-review/#respond Tue, 22 Apr 2014 09:07:47 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=186534 Today we are going to look at one of the latest, and perhaps most interesting notebooks in Dell’s range, the XPS 12. This aluminum convertible Ultrabook offers a ‘flip and fold' motion and features a Corning Gorilla glass screen with Full HD Display. Dell refer to the XPS 12 as a ‘convertible Ultrabook’, which does …

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Today we are going to look at one of the latest, and perhaps most interesting notebooks in Dell’s range, the XPS 12. This aluminum convertible Ultrabook offers a ‘flip and fold' motion and features a Corning Gorilla glass screen with Full HD Display.

Dell refer to the XPS 12 as a ‘convertible Ultrabook’, which does a reasonable job of explaining the dual purpose nature of this model. There are a few other convertible notebooks on the market which compete directly with the Dell XPS 12, most notably the Lenovo YOGA which uses a slightly different mechanism.
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With prices starting at £899.00, we find out today if the XPS 12 2-in-1 Ultrabook is worth the money.

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Acer makes Intel’s Ultrabook dream afforable https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/harrison/acer-makes-intels-ultrabook-dream-afforable/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/harrison/acer-makes-intels-ultrabook-dream-afforable/#respond Wed, 26 Jun 2013 07:05:05 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=139949 When Intel first started touting the concept of an Ultrabook, our imaginations were captivated. Computex that year was full of new ideas and concepts – mostly built around processors that would ultimately struggle to make their sales targets. The problem was price. But maybe that's changing. You want the Core i7 processor. An SSD that's …

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When Intel first started touting the concept of an Ultrabook, our imaginations were captivated. Computex that year was full of new ideas and concepts – mostly built around processors that would ultimately struggle to make their sales targets. The problem was price. But maybe that's changing.

You want the Core i7 processor.

An SSD that's bigger than 120GB? Perfect.

At least 4GB of DDR3 memory and a screen that's bigger than 13 inches?

Now if you could put that in a stylish, brushed aluminium/magnesium chassis – so the whole product weighs just over 900 grams and charge me less than £600 – I'll take one.

That was the dream, but according to an offer on Amazon – it's real right now (albeit with limited stock).

Things might get better with Haswell - but we doubt it. This is a crazy good deal. Ultrabooks as advertised. If Intel pushed this 'across the board', then maybe the Mac Book Air products would finally come under pressure.
Things might get better with Haswell – but we doubt it. This is a crazy good deal. Ultrabooks as advertised. If Intel pushed this ‘across the board', then maybe the Mac Book Air products would finally come under pressure.

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KitGuru says: OK, we haven't tested it in the KitGuru Lab – but if we had £599 burning a hole in our pocket and needed to buy a laptop then, surely, this would be near the top of any shortlist – based on stated spec only.

Comment below, in the KitGuru forums or join us over on Facebook.

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No SSD? Why are laptop companies so sad? https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/harrison/no-sd-why-are-laptop-companies-so-sad/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/harrison/no-sd-why-are-laptop-companies-so-sad/#respond Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:49:32 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=127739 Since 2010, KitGuru has been driving the notion that all systems should boot off an SSD. With the pricing on SSDs so competitive across the board – and laptop companies telling us how important battery life is – why do the vast majority of notebooks come with a cruddy old hard drive instead of a …

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Since 2010, KitGuru has been driving the notion that all systems should boot off an SSD. With the pricing on SSDs so competitive across the board – and laptop companies telling us how important battery life is – why do the vast majority of notebooks come with a cruddy old hard drive instead of a turbo-powered solid state drive?  KitGuru puts on war paint and goes to investigate.

SanDisk is one of the oldest and most trusted names in memory, so when we evaluated its ~£130 256GB Ultra Plus drive, we were not surprised to see it do well in the KitGuru Labs.

Take off the VAT and some margin for the reseller & distributor – and you can imagine that this product would cost around £80 in bulk from a factory in the Far East.

The terribly slow drives used by most of the laptop vendors might cost something like £30.

So we have a £50 difference for an SSD that will change your mobile computing life completely.

So why do weak-to-average laptops cost so much when you want a decent SSD in them?

Just how much can one company charge for an SSD ?

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In our opinion, it's just SAD that laptop companies have insisted on taking lots of really powerful components – and then putting the huge weight of a traditional hard drive around the laptop's neck, to ensure slow/cranky performance.

The price of SSDs was in free fall last year, so there's no reason for vendors to carry on crippling laptops with 5,400 drives.

KitGuru says: It's time for liberation without a huge price. More power for all please.

Comment below, in the KitGuru forums or join us on Facebook.

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Ultrabook sales predictions take a nose dive https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/jon-martindale/ultrabook-sales-predictions-nose-dive/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/jon-martindale/ultrabook-sales-predictions-nose-dive/#respond Tue, 02 Oct 2012 19:00:20 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=110353 The sales predictions by market research firm IHS iSuppli have been drastically reduced by more than half, due to poor sales earlier in the year. While initial expectations were for at least 22 million to be sold by the end of the year, now it only suggests 10 million will leave the shelves. The Intel …

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The sales predictions by market research firm IHS iSuppli have been drastically reduced by more than half, due to poor sales earlier in the year. While initial expectations were for at least 22 million to be sold by the end of the year, now it only suggests 10 million will leave the shelves.

The Intel inspired Ultrabook brand was designed to reinvigorate the laptop market, which has been somewhat overshadowed in the past couple of years by the growth of tablets and smartphones devices. The thinking was, create something incredibly light and portable, with much more power for tasks like video editing and gaming – as well as ensuing a professional feel – and it would bring back the customers. While 10 million is hardly a poor number, the fact that it's half what was initially expected suggests the uptake slower than Intel and others hoped.

Ultrabooks
Like Apple before them, Ultrabook manufacturers are trying to appeal to the hip, professional crowd

2012 isn't the only period IHS is suggesting will see less Ultrabook sales though, 2013 is on the cards too. While initially expected to see 61 million Ultrabooks in homes and offices around the world by the end of 2013, now it's thought there will be more like 44 million.

According to one of the firm's researchers, Craig Stice, (via The Telegraph), it's all down to the fact that the hype isn't there. Tablets and smartphones were still capturing people's imaginations about what a contemporary computer is. Ultimately he said that because of this and, “When combined with other factors, including prohibitively high pricing, this means that ultrabook sales will not meet expectations in 2012.”

KitGuru Says: You guys are technically savvy and don't necessarily need the hype Mr Stice is talking about to buy a product you know is good: do Ultrabooks interest you? Maybe you're reading this on one. Let us know what you think below or on our Facebook page.

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Intel: Retina displays will become commonplace by 2013 https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/monitors/blair-mcclelland/intel-retina-displays-will-become-commonplace-by-2013/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/monitors/blair-mcclelland/intel-retina-displays-will-become-commonplace-by-2013/#comments Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:32:47 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=87200 One of the biggest trends out there in the mobile industry at the moment is displays with crazy resolutions; often outclassing what me and you are using at home or in the office. A couple of months ago we saw the new iPad with a 9.7 inch display with a staggering 2048 by 1536 pixel …

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One of the biggest trends out there in the mobile industry at the moment is displays with crazy resolutions; often outclassing what me and you are using at home or in the office. A couple of months ago we saw the new iPad with a 9.7 inch display with a staggering 2048 by 1536 pixel resolution, while more recently it was the HTC One X with a 720p HD display on just a 4.7 inch display. Now Intel is expecting the same trend to branch across to devices with larger and more productive-inducing displays within the next couple of years.

There are some obvious benefits to retina-class displays

At the Intel Developer Forum in Beijing recently Intel told us to start expecting to see retina-esque displays in laptops and desktops by 2013. This would include a 2560 x 1440 resolution on an 11 inch ultrabook (resulting in a PPI count of 267,) and 21 inch desktop displays weighing in at 3840 by 2160 pixels (a PPI count of 210,) a resolution also known as Quad Full High Definition (QFHD). While this doesn't quite match what we are currently seeing in smartphones and tablets, you do have to factor in you are typically twice as far away from a desktop screen than your smartphone's display.

These display examples come from an advice guide given to display and associated PC manufacturers from Intel. Intel also wants to see overall higher quality displays with better viewing angles and high colour ranges, something that is all to often lacking on the majority of laptops.

Kitguru says: As much as this amazes us now, I can't wait to see what kind of price premium we will have to pay for a 21 inch QFHD display.

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A considerably cheaper wave of Ultrabook-like notebooks coming? https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/stephen-dougherty/a-considerably-cheaper-wave-of-ultrabook-like-notebooks-coming/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/stephen-dougherty/a-considerably-cheaper-wave-of-ultrabook-like-notebooks-coming/#comments Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:39:00 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=82028 With the confirmed delay of Intel's next-gen Ivy Bridge processors for the mobile segment until June this year and current Sandy Bridge Ultrabooks still fetching rather hefty pricing, Taiwanese based notebook vendors are apparently looking to mix the pot in the interim by preparing for market some “Ultrabook-like” notebooks that will be offered at significantly …

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With the confirmed delay of Intel's next-gen Ivy Bridge processors for the mobile segment until June this year and current Sandy Bridge Ultrabooks still fetching rather hefty pricing, Taiwanese based notebook vendors are apparently looking to mix the pot in the interim by preparing for market some “Ultrabook-like” notebooks that will be offered at significantly lower price points.

Intel's Ultrabook specification automatically equates to exxy notebooks not just because of their slender design, but also due to attributes like expensive metal unibody chassis', hollow hinges and SSDs. Vendors have a plan to introduce notebooks that would be as compact as your current day Ultrabook with as much power on tap internally, but would come in at much lower price points (speculated to be around US $600 on average) as a result of switching over to a mix of metal and plastic chassis', 7mm-thick mechanical HDDs etc.

Sources are indicating that we will see this wave of cheaper “Ultrabook-like” offerings hit the market as early as sometime during the second quarter.

KitGuru says: Sounds like a logical move to increase sales margins. No doubt there's a huge crowd out there who solely want an Ultrabook based on those attractive, slim dimensions but are quickly frightened away by the US $1000+ pricing and don't have much appreciation or desire for metal and SSDs.

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Dell’s XPS 13 Ultrabook goes on sale https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/stephen-dougherty/dells-xps-13-ultrabook-goes-on-sale/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/stephen-dougherty/dells-xps-13-ultrabook-goes-on-sale/#respond Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:08:26 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=80953 Dell has cut it fine in delivering on its promise to bring the XPS 13 Ultrabook to market this February. It is now available for purchase from Dell's website with shipments commencing as of now at a base price of $999 US. The XPS 13 is a 13.3-inch sized Ultrabook with an edge-to-edge LED-backlit 1366 …

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Dell has cut it fine in delivering on its promise to bring the XPS 13 Ultrabook to market this February. It is now available for purchase from Dell's website with shipments commencing as of now at a base price of $999 US.

The XPS 13 is a 13.3-inch sized Ultrabook with an edge-to-edge LED-backlit 1366 x 768 display covered by Gorilla Glass. It has an aluminum casing with a carbon fiber composite base and weighs in at 2.9 pounds, while running measurements of 0.71-inches thick and tapering down to just 0.24-inches at its thinnest point.

The XPS 13's keyboard is of a full size backlit chiclet type whilst the touchpad is made with glass integrated buttons. Inside is either a 1.6 GHz Core i5-2467M or a 1.7 GHz Core i7-2637M processor, 4GB of memory, a 128 or 256GB SSD, 802.11b/g/n Wifi and Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity. The XPS 13 gives a couple USB ports (one being USB 3.0 and the other USB 2.0) and a mini Displayport output, two 1.5W speakers and a 1.3MP webcam.

A 6-cell (non-replaceable) battery is incorporated which delivers up to 8 hours and 53 minutes of use between charging.

Dell's XPS 13 can now be ordered via this page.

KitGuru says: Boo to the resolution. Where's the higher resolution option Dell? All other aspects of that edge-to-edge Gorilla-glass display are on a dime..

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ASUS adds more charisma to Zenbook UX21 with “Rose Gold” finish https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/stephen-dougherty/asus-adds-more-charisma-to-zenbook-ux21-with-rose-gold-finish/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/stephen-dougherty/asus-adds-more-charisma-to-zenbook-ux21-with-rose-gold-finish/#respond Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:20:49 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=80705 ASUS decided to launch an Ultrabook striving to gain attention with its stylish, elegant design cues in an equally fitting manner at the Milan Fashion Week in Italy. Say hello to the new Zenbook UX21 Rose Gold Ultrabook. The Rose Gold edition of its UX21 stays with the 11-inch sized, super slim (just 2cm thick) …

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ASUS decided to launch an Ultrabook striving to gain attention with its stylish, elegant design cues in an equally fitting manner at the Milan Fashion Week in Italy. Say hello to the new Zenbook UX21 Rose Gold Ultrabook.

The Rose Gold edition of its UX21 stays with the 11-inch sized, super slim (just 2cm thick) chassis and boasts a premium 2-tone alloy finish with brushed rose-gold on its lid that extends to other areas including the bezel around the display itself.

Specs comprise a Core i5-2467M CPU with 4GB of DDR3 memory and 128GB SSD. The notebook will shift for about 999€.

Source: Notebook Italia

KitGuru says: It might not be all that astonishing in the specs dept. but you can't deny that this has got to be one of the most attractive notebooks strutting its stuff in the Ultrabook realm to date. Simply gorgeous ASUS!

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Ivy Bridge reportedly to launch with reduced pricing https://www.kitguru.net/components/stephen-dougherty/ivy-bridge-reportedly-to-launch-with-reduced-pricing/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/stephen-dougherty/ivy-bridge-reportedly-to-launch-with-reduced-pricing/#respond Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:47:51 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=80353 A short time after hearing of supposed lengthy delays in bringing Ivy Bridge chips to market, it's since been more positive news for Intel's third generation, 22nm based Core processors. It came to light a short time after rumours first begun circulating about Ivy Bridge not arriving in the flesh till June that only a …

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A short time after hearing of supposed lengthy delays in bringing Ivy Bridge chips to market, it's since been more positive news for Intel's third generation, 22nm based Core processors. It came to light a short time after rumours first begun circulating about Ivy Bridge not arriving in the flesh till June that only a few select, lower profile dual core parts (namely those targeting Ultrabooks and notebooks) would be affected.

The latest on Ivy Bridge will inevitably bring instant satisfaction to all who are reading this. Intel is apparently looking to reduce pricing across its Ivy Bridge lineup by as much as $70 per model. Intel's motivation for the price dropping strategy ahead of launch is said to be primarily to avoid causing a price-shock to its partners in transitioning to its latest generation chips.

Intel has already cut pricing by quite a good chunk on its Sandy Bridge line of CPUs in attempts to clear inventories before Ivy Bridge arrives. If these Ivy Bridge price drops do go into effect, It's being anticipated that you'll be able to pick up an Ivy Bridge-powered notebook for about the same price as a current-gen Sandy Bridge based one as soon as they hit the market.

KitGuru says: Quite an unusual move from Intel upon letting a new line of chips out the gate. We wonder if this will actually do Ivy Bridge any favours in the long run… On the flipside, further more aggressive price drops would be inevitable for Sandy Bridge and assumingly this is where most of the attention will be. Keep your eyes on the downward pricing of Sandy Bridge notebooks as Ivy Bridge's launch nudges closer.

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Ultrabooks expected to gain momentum later in the year https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/slyvia/ultrabooks-expected-to-gain-momentum-later-in-the-year/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/slyvia/ultrabooks-expected-to-gain-momentum-later-in-the-year/#respond Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:21:29 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=76882 The Apple train keeps ‘a rolling with no sign of slowing down. The latest reports from analysts Canalys show that Apple shipped 20 million personal computing devices in Q4, claiming 17 percent of the total market. This is split between 5 million Macs and 15 million iPads. Hewlett Packard are now resigned to second place, …

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The Apple train keeps ‘a rolling with no sign of slowing down. The latest reports from analysts Canalys show that Apple shipped 20 million personal computing devices in Q4, claiming 17 percent of the total market. This is split between 5 million Macs and 15 million iPads.

Hewlett Packard are now resigned to second place, with a market share of only 12.7 percent. The other three in the top five companies were Lenovo with 11.2 percent, Dell with 9.9 percent and Acer with 9.3 percent.

The research from Canalys highlights just how popular the tablet market is, with the Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble's Nook taking a decent percentage of the market. Without tablets involved in the figures, the market dropped 0.4%.

Canalys analyst Tim Coulling said “You have to look at the market holistically and consider that people are using tablets in much the same way as one might use a PC–for e-mailing, Web browsing, and other tasks.”

He added “Currently, HP is pursuing a Windows strategy for its pad portfolio, producing enterprise-focused products such as the recently launched Slate 2, until the launch of Windows 8.

However, questions remain over Microsoft's entry into the consumer pad space. While early demonstrations of the Windows 8 operating system seem promising, Microsoft must focus its efforts on creating an intuitive user experience that is far less resource intensive.”

Intel executive vice president Sean Maloney with the new Medfield mobile processor in a prototype tablet. Photograph: Wally Santana/AP

What about Intel's Ultrabook? The company are putting a lot of weight behind the new range of computers.

Coulling said “We expect Ultrabook volumes to see limited adoption through the first half of 2012, before finally gaining momentum later in the year as price points decline and Intel launches a new line of processors and embarks on an aggressive marketing campaign.”

Kitguru says: By then the iPad 3 should be in full flight, so people may just opt for the new super high resolution tablet computer instead.

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NVIDIAs Kepler making its way to Ultrabooks? https://www.kitguru.net/components/stephen-dougherty/nvidias-kepler-making-its-way-to-ultrabooks/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/stephen-dougherty/nvidias-kepler-making-its-way-to-ultrabooks/#respond Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:37:56 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=76375 While much of the focus has been on AMD in the graphics realm recently with the birth of the HD 7970 in particular, NVIDIA is getting some real momentum happening in the mobile segment with its new 28nm TSMC based architecture, Kepler being well into production and apparently now shipping to its partners and system …

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While much of the focus has been on AMD in the graphics realm recently with the birth of the HD 7970 in particular, NVIDIA is getting some real momentum happening in the mobile segment with its new 28nm TSMC based architecture, Kepler being well into production and apparently now shipping to its partners and system builders.

With the focus for now being on the entry level, lower segment of its lineup, it's expected that Kepler will have arrived in large quantities to manufacturers by the middle of February, with the launch of these mobile parts said to take place alongside that of Intel's Ivy Bridge in early April.

What we're also hearing is that NVIDIA's Kepler chips will be finding their way into next-gen Ultrabooks despite the obvious size limitations they pose, in turn heat and energy consumption being of crucial consideration. No doubt thanks to Optimus helping balance things out NVIDIA has found a way to get some low power GPUs into them and play nicely. Apparently ASUS and Acer will be jumping onboard with Kepler equipped Ultrabooks, but this is unconfirmed at the time of writing.

Via: Nordic Hardware

KitGuru says: This is a rather refreshing piece of news with the general consensus in the past being that Ultrabooks were going to be stuck with Intel integrated graphics.

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Acer claim up to 35% of shipments this year for Ultrabooks https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/raymond-daily/acer-claim-up-to-35-of-shipments-this-year-for-ultrabooks/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/raymond-daily/acer-claim-up-to-35-of-shipments-this-year-for-ultrabooks/#respond Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:38:44 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=74913 Intel have a lot riding on the success of the Ultrabook platform this year, and they seem to have the backing of Acer. They are planning to release their second generation Ultrabook models in Q2 this year and are bringing even more models to market in Q3. Company chairman JT Wang says they should have …

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Intel have a lot riding on the success of the Ultrabook platform this year, and they seem to have the backing of Acer. They are planning to release their second generation Ultrabook models in Q2 this year and are bringing even more models to market in Q3.

Company chairman JT Wang says they should have between 25-25 percent of its total notebook shipments based around the Ultrabook this year.

Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook - big seller for the company

Their first Ultrabook,  the Aspire S3 gathered around 250,000 to 300,000 unit sales in the first quarter after it was launched and they claim that sales of their Aspire S5 tablet PC should be even better.

Sales have been quite slow in America and Europe, but Acer expect good sales figures in Thailand, Southeast Asia market, Brazil and The Philippines.

Acer expect a 10% sales growth this year.

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