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HP Envy Spectre XT review: a sleek and speedy Ultrabook with a killer keyboard
More Info HP unveils Envy Spectre XT Ultrabook, other thin-and-lights in various sizes HP announces 15-inch Spectre XT TouchSmart Ultrabook, Envy 4 Ultrabook with touch HP Envy 14 Spectre review HP's Envy 14 Spectre hit almost all the right notes when we reviewed it back in March, thanks to its high-res display, sleek metal-and-glass design and brisk performance, but a stiff trackpad and the steep $1,400 price were clear downsides. The new Envy Spectre XT, a 13.3-inch Ivy Bridge-powered Ultrabook, has a thinner, lighter profile than its big brother, and a lower $1,000 price tag to match. That's still not chump change, though, so does the XT deserve a spot in the top tier of Intel-approved ultraportables? Join us past the break for the full breakdown. %Gallery-165035%
Acer Aspire V5 review: an 11-inch Ivy Bridge laptop for $550
More Info Acer launches Ultrabook-like Aspire V5 series, we go hands-on (video) Acer Aspire V5 notebooks get Ivy Bridge treatment, shipping by end of June for $630 and up Acer Aspire V3 review: an affordable, Kepler-packing laptop for back-to-school season Acer first took the wraps off its Aspire V5 series at CeBIT in March, teasing the line of notebooks with designs that are 30 percent thinner than other laptops in their category. A few months later, in June, the company officially unveiled the 14- and 15-inch Aspire V5s, with Ivy Bridge processors and prices starting at $630. Rounding out that family is the 11-inch Aspire V5 171. We have a bit of an identity crisis on our hands with this guy: though it looks like a netbook and weighs a light three pounds, it packs a Core i5 Ivy Bridge processor befitting a full-fledged machine, but it costs a budget-minded $550 ($500 with Acer's current promotion). Many products in this price range are clunky 15-inchers, so where exactly does this Aspire V5 fit in? Join us past the break as we sort that out. %Gallery-163210%
Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultrabook gets official: on sale August 21st for $1,399 and up
Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon has been a known entity since May, when the company gave us a look at the 14-inch, Ivy Bridge-packing Ultrabook. Up until now, though, the successor to the ThinkPad X1 remained somewhat shrouded in mystery, with no pricing or specific availability information to its name. But no more -- Lenovo's just raised the official curtain on the Carbon, announcing a pricing scheme of $1,399 and up and targeting an on-sale date of August 21st at Lenovo.com. The entry-level model will run a 1.7GHz Core i5-3317U CPU with 4GB, and it includes a 128GB SSD and Intel's HD integrated graphics. Like on the ThinkPad X1, 3G connectivity will be an optional feature. Head past the break for more info on the business-centric Ultrabook.%Gallery-161909%
Toshiba Satellite U845W review: an Ultrabook with a screen size all its own
More Info Toshiba outs Satellite U845W Ultrabook with 14.4-inch, 21:9 display (updated: $999 and up in the US) The Ultrabooks of Computex 2012 Toshiba bows out of netbooks in the US, sees Ultrabooks as the wave of the future Ultrabooks now come in countless shapes and sizes, and we've seen display quality vary just as much. Though 1,366 x 768 may still be the norm, 1,600 x 900 panels aren't unheard of in this ultraportable category. But what about a screen that bucks the 16:9 aspect ratio for an extra-wide 21:9? Toshiba is mixing things up with its new premium Satellite U845W Ultrabook ($1,000 and up), the first laptop to feature that odd aspect ratio. Styled in the fashion of movie theater screens, the U845W's 14.4-inch, 1,792 x 768 panel adds more horizontal pixels -- ostensibly to enhance the movie-watching experience. In theory, too, that setup should allow for more room to multitask with windows side by side. So how good of an idea is a 21:9 screen in practice? Join us as we put it to the test. %Gallery-161861%
ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A alights its Ivy Bridge at Amazon: $1,149 for Core i5 edition
True to its pledge, ASUS has hauled the backlit keys and 1920 x 1080 IPS displays of the Zenbook Prime UX31A stateside, where it just made the Amazon scene in Core i7 and i5 Ivy Bridge flavors. The 13.3-inch Ultrabooks also have 4GB RAM, Intel HD 4000 Graphics and 128GB or 256GB solid state drives, depending on the model, and weigh in at a stark 2.86 pounds. The priciest Core i7 configuration with a 256GB SSD will run $1,599, and the lower-end Core i5, 128GB SSD version is $1,149. Some models are out of stock already, so if want to shell out, check the source for the product page.
Dell Vostro line gets Ivy Bridge CPUs, optional 4G LTE
Dell's Vostro line of entry-level business notebooks is next up to receive the good 'ol Ivy Bridge update. Today the company is announcing the Vostro 3360, 3460 and 3560 laptops, in 13-inch, 14-inch and 15-inch sizes, respectively. All models will be configurable with either second- (Core i3) or third-gen (Core i5 or Core i7) Intel CPUs along with several graphics options and up to 8GB of RAM. And let's not forget those business features: fingerprint readers, file and folder encryption and security software are available on all three models. The Vostro 3360 and 3460 will also offer optional 4G LTE mobile broadband. Getting more specific, the $649 Vostro 3360 measures 0.76 inches thick, weighs 3.67 pounds and comes standard with a 320GB hard drive spinning at 7,200RPM (a 750GB configuration and an optional 32GB SSD are also available). Starting at $599, the 4.92-pound Vostro 3460 comes with the same processor options and is available with NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M graphics and up to a 7,200RPM, 750GB hard drive coupled with a 32GB SSD. Unlike the 3360, the 14-incher comes with a backlit keyboard and includes an optical drive. Lastly, there's the 15-inch, 5.75-pound Vostro 3560, which can be configured with AMD Radeon HD 7670M graphics and a 1920 x 1080 display (you get the same storage options as the 3460, along with the same backlit keyboard and optical drive). The Vostro 3560 is currently on sale for $599 on Dell's website, while the 3360 and 3460 will be available on June 21st. Head past the break for more photos and the full press release.
Sony VAIO T Series Ultrabook hands-on (video)
Sony just announced US availability for its T Series Ultrabook, and though we'll only get the T13 and not the T11 stateside, this version will ship with third-gen Intel CPUs rather than the European model's Sandy Bridge processors. Here's the Cliff Notes version if you missed the earlier announcement: the 13-incher weighs 3.5 pounds (admittedly a little hefty for an Ultrabook), but its chassis is just 0.71 inches thin. Moreover, the T13 starts at $800, which is pretty dang low in the larger scheme of Ultrabook pricing. We went hands-on with the T13 at the Sony Center this morning -- head past the break for a closer look at Sony's first Ultrabook.
Sony announces new VAIO L all-in-one with Ivy Bridge, thinner design
Along with refreshing its various VAIO laptop lines, Sony is updating its L Series all-in-one. The new L24 has -- surprise! -- a 24-inch display with the same X-Reality chip used in Sony's Bravia televisions. This time around, the company went with an edge-to-edge design for the multitouch display, and picture-in-picture for juggling TV watching and actual work. As you can imagine, that multitouch screen will come in handy once Windows 8 gets the green light from Microsoft. Other changes include a slot DVD rather than a tray-loading one, and thinner dimensions for the PC, mouse and keyboard. The base $1,299 configuration comes with a Core i5 Ivy Bridge processor, and a glasses-free 3D version will be available for $1,999 later this summer. For storage, you get a 1, 2 or 3TB drive, and Sony says there will also be NVIDIA graphics options. Intrigued? We've got photos and the full PR below. %Gallery-156866% %Gallery-156159%
Intel details 14 dual-core Ivy Bridge processors ahead of Computex
Intel announced its quad-core Ivy Bridge processors in April, but we've known that dual-core CPUs must be on the way too. And alas, the chip maker does have some up its sleeve -- 14, to be exact. Core i5 and Core i7 versions will be the first to ship, with Core i3 processors launching later this year along with new Pentiums and Celerons. Of the 14 dual-core processors, six are desktop-grade. The rest are mobile, though four are ultra-low voltage (which will be denoted by a U at the end of their name). Computex is just around the corner, and we expect to see plenty of Ivy Bridge systems -- especially Ultrabooks with ultra-low voltage CPUs -- there next week. In the meantime, we've already reviewed the Lenovo ThinkPad x230, a system running a dual-core 2.6GHz Core i5 Ivy Bridge processor. If you're into the nitty-gritty details, you'll find plenty to love in the Intel slides below the break.
Acer outs Ivy Bridge-packing TravelMate P243 notebook series in the UK
Needless to say, Ivy Bridge is here to stay -- at least until Intel takes us on a different road. That being said, Acer just announced a business-oriented machine of its own with Intel's latest chips onboard. Part of the outfit's TravelMate lineup, this 14-inch (1366 x 768) P243 rocks some pretty standard features, including a Core i5, Ivy Bridge processor, an HD webcam for all those Skype calls and a USB 3.0 port. As expected, depending on configuration, you'll also be able to choose up to 8GB of RAM, as well as NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M graphics if you don't mind shelling out the extra cash. Speaking of, Acer's pricing the TravelMate P243 starting at £339 (about $536) once it hits UK shelves -- though, there's no word on when that'll be. In the meantime, you can check out some additional eye candy after the break.
