Thinking of switching from notebook to ultrabook Options

[Panerex77]

main attraction - the thin form factor, even though to be frank, i dont really carry my laptop ard except only during weekend (but i do drive though).

Have wanted to go for Mac BookAir, but after thinking a while, think the high price may not justify it..

I would think my preferred laptop brand would be Asus.


Few noob questions:
- anyone of you regretted switching over to ultrabook?
- usually how many USB ports would ultrabook have?
- do ultrabooks have the usual ports that a normal notebook would have?
- since ultrabooks are using SSD nowsadys, would i be able to plug in a normal 2.5 inch external hard disk and USB thumbdrive to read the contents?
- are the battery lifespan generally better?


Many TIA

[Ysc3]

i bought acer s3 (i7, 500gb hdd -not ssd) ... $1k. ... so tat i can bring it with me when i go on holidays.... that's all.

as for asus, the flag now is the Zenbook ... read it came with USB 3.0 !!

as for all the specs, google is your best friend.

[Donut]

What's the difference from a netbook?

[Mits_jc]

Netbook specs are very basic, processor not too fast, allows u to do some surfing, email, YouTube in a small form factor.

What's the difference from a netbook?

[Happily1986]

Intel ultrabooks are essentially crossovers positioned between netbooks and notebooks.

[Sunburnsam]

main attraction - the thin form factor, even though to be frank, i dont really carry my laptop ard except only during weekend (but i do drive though).

Have wanted to go for Mac BookAir, but after thinking a while, think the high price may not justify it..

I would think my preferred laptop brand would be Asus.


Few noob questions:
- anyone of you regretted switching over to ultrabook?
- usually how many USB ports would ultrabook have?
- do ultrabooks have the usual ports that a normal notebook would have?
- since ultrabooks are using SSD nowsadys, would i be able to plug in a normal 2.5 inch external hard disk and USB thumbdrive to read the contents?
- are the battery lifespan generally better?


Many TIA

Some sharing from me
- anyone of you regretted switching over to ultrabook? [Nope....Solid. Switching all my front-line employees to Ultrabook soon]
- usually how many USB ports would ultrabook have? [ Usually 2 - 3. At least 1 should be USB3.0]
- do ultrabooks have the usual ports that a normal notebook would have? [Depends. Do note that lots of ultrabook are using a HDMI (micro/std) and they need a converter to connect to legacy projector/monitor]
- since ultrabooks are using SSD nowsadys, would i be able to plug in a normal 2.5 inch external hard disk and USB thumbdrive to read the contents? [No problem. Conenct via USB as usual]
- are the battery lifespan generally better? [Much better solid !!]

If you are looking at the Asus Ux31 series of ultrabook which I am using now
** Pros
- very sleek and lightweight
- good value for $$
- HD 1600 resolution
- Solid Bose Speaker and Sound
- Solid Battery life
- Recommended for Home/Consumer Usage :)

** Cons
- The keyboard cannot make it. If you are using for work ......got to avoid this asus model.
- The keyboard colouring "ran" ....black smudges all over
- The trackpad is equally bad. You do need a mouse.
- some "static" electricity leakage on the side of the laptop
- Micro HDMI adaptor required....again if this is for work....you need to remember to bring this for presentation
- all the ports(usb, power, HDMI) all cluttered together making it difficult to attach eg: BOM with POWER adaptor.

[I-LOVE-CARS]

Some sharing from me
- anyone of you regretted switching over to ultrabook? [Nope....Solid. Switching all my front-line employees to Ultrabook soon]
- usually how many USB ports would ultrabook have? [ Usually 2 - 3. At least 1 should be USB3.0]
- do ultrabooks have the usual ports that a normal notebook would have? [Depends. Do note that lots of ultrabook are using a HDMI (micro/std) and they need a converter to connect to legacy projector/monitor]
- since ultrabooks are using SSD nowsadys, would i be able to plug in a normal 2.5 inch external hard disk and USB thumbdrive to read the contents? [No problem. Conenct via USB as usual]
- are the battery lifespan generally better? [Much better solid !!]

If you are looking at the Asus Ux31 series of ultrabook which I am using now
** Pros
- very sleek and lightweight
- good value for $$
- HD 1600 resolution
- Solid Bose Speaker and Sound
- Solid Battery life
- Recommended for Home/Consumer Usage :)

** Cons
- The keyboard cannot make it. If you are using for work ......got to avoid this asus model.
- The keyboard colouring "ran" ....black smudges all over
- The trackpad is equally bad. You do need a mouse.
- some "static" electricity leakage on the side of the laptop
- Micro HDMI adaptor required....again if this is for work....you need to remember to bring this for presentation
- all the ports(usb, power, HDMI) all cluttered together making it difficult to attach eg: BOM with POWER adaptor.

looks good...

[Panerex77]

thanks for all the feedback....since the ultrabooks willl not come with DVD drive, i reckon i will need to fork out extra $$ to buy the external DVD drive too?

otherwise how to install programs like Office?
Unless i can somehow map my Office installation CD-rom to an external harddisk, and install into the ultrabook via external harddisk?

[WTF]

thanks for all the feedback....since the ultrabooks willl not come with DVD drive, i reckon i will need to fork out extra $$ to buy the external DVD drive too?

otherwise how to install programs like Office?
Unless i can somehow map my Office installation CD-rom to an external harddisk, and install into the ultrabook via external harddisk?

Take the external DVD drive as an one-time investment.....'cos next time when you buy your next ultrabook or whatever, you don't need o buy another DVD drive liao.......

[Ysc3]

thanks for all the feedback....since the ultrabooks willl not come with DVD drive, i reckon i will need to fork out extra $$ to buy the external DVD drive too?

otherwise how to install programs like Office?
Unless i can somehow map my Office installation CD-rom to an external harddisk, and install into the ultrabook via external harddisk?

external usb powered dvd writer only s$45-50 ....

This post has been edited by Ysc3: Aug 5 2012, 10:04 AM

[Babyt]

sometimes when they have promotion, they will give u free external DVD.

nowadays hardly ppl use DVD liao lor. all use thumdrives...even most new cars can plug thumbdrive

[Jman888]

I have a MacBook Air and iMac, can install program via iMac DVD drive

Actually most program can be downloaded from the net, just need to purchase license key activate.

[Gabrielhrteo]

Am also looking for ultrabook. What's the best for buck recommendation you guys have?

[Happily1986]

If you are getting an Ultrabook, make sure you get one with an Ivy Bridge processor rather than a Sandy Bridge processor.

[Jrage]

By if you have the $$...

However, i see the era of Notebook( whatever book) ending pretty soon.. just like pager being replaced by mobile phones.

Touchscreen is the way to go as more and more companies adopt it as part of their business process. OCBC has just launch a complete touchscreen banking app. UOB uses ipad for their loan. AIA and other issuance are using ipad for instant premium calculations...

It will make no sense to carry a notebook and a ipad. Ipad and other touchscreen will be used for both play and work..

This post has been edited by Jrage: Aug 7 2012, 09:32 AM

[WTF]

If you are getting an Ultrabook, make sure you get one with an Ivy Bridge processor rather than a Sandy Bridge processor.

Sorry for the noob qns.

But how can we tell? If I were at the Challenger or Best Denki, how am I able to see which one it's using?

[13177]

Do you mean those super thin and light is ultrabook? I also looking for light and thin notebook, wonder which brand good?

[Joseph22]

By if you have the $$...

However, i see the era of Notebook( whatever book) ending pretty soon.. just like pager being replaced by mobile phones.

Touchscreen is the way to go as more and more companies adopt it as part of their business process. OCBC has just launch a complete touchscreen banking app. UOB uses ipad for their loan. AIA and other issuance are using ipad for instant premium calculations...

It will make no sense to carry a notebook and a ipad. Ipad and other touchscreen will be used for both play and work..

I will be getting the surface pro on launch. working on Ipad or Andriod equivalent is seriously bad for productivity.

Laptop will seriously be exculsive to gaming tools if tablet era kick off.

[Jrage]

I will be getting the surface pro on launch. working on Ipad or Andriod equivalent is seriously bad for productivity.

Laptop will seriously be exculsive to gaming tools if tablet era kick off.

the us/eu will take abit longer to shake off notebook because of the keyboard.
However, i see the chinese/Korean/Japanese.. will be the first to head for touchscreen era given that it will be fast to write.

[Kangadrool]

the us/eu will take abit longer to shake off notebook because of the keyboard.
However, i see the chinese/Korean/Japanese.. will be the first to head for touchscreen era given that it will be fast to write.

not really. Keyboard still faster. Chinese: if use pinyin or stroke method + predictive input = super fast, fasterer than England.