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Kirk Skaugen reveals why Intel made touch mandatory for Haswell Ultrabooks
We were able to sit down with Intel's PC chief, Kirk Skaugen, and chew through the revelations and news that were announced at the press conference the day before. We wanted to know if Ultrabooks will eventually replace Laptops, what was the motivation behind the decision to make Haswell Ultrabooks touch only and if there's one form factor from the several available that's winning the popularity war. Share our curiosity? After the break is where you need to be.
LG's 13.3-inch Windows 8 Ultrabook Z360 hands-on
By now, you should be familiar with all the Windows 8 options flooding the market and here on the CES 2013 show floor, LG's showing off its latest Ultrabook entry: the Z360. The thin and light device measures just 13.6mm and weighs in at 1.15kg making it easily openable with just one finger. Of course, since the Z360's 13.3-inch 1080p IPS panel doesn't support touch input, there's an array of dedicated "Metro" hot keys along the left edge of the keyboard. Inside, you're getting a fourth-generation Intel Core i5 processor (alternate Core i3 and i7 configurations are also possible) which allows for the device to cold boot in just eight seconds. On the Z360's bottom right, you'll find two slots for microSD slightly hidden, as well as HDMI and wired ethernet ports around the device. LG hasn't made its pricing or release details known at this time, so stay tuned for those additional details. %Gallery-175319%
Spotted: Samsung shows off a white Series 9 Ultrabook with a different finish, we prefer the old version
Welcome to "Laptop Porn," an exciting series hosted by that lady who reviews notebooks sometimes. Here at CES 2013, Samsung is showing off a white version of its 13-inch Series 9 Ultrabook -- the same second-gen model that's been shipping since last year. What's interesting is that although this has the same magnesium-alloy frame as all the other Series 9 laptops, the finish feels different: it's smoother, and warmer to the touch. It feels so different, in fact, that we initially thought it was some sort of watered-down plastic version meant to be sold at a lower price. As it turns out, it's apparently just difficult to paint metal, and the manufacturing process required to make this laptop in white results in a smoother surface. We're not sure we prefer it this way, though this finish does have the advantage of masking fingerprints better. Samsung says it hasn't decided whether or not to bring this to market. In fact, a rep told us the product team is going to listen to feedback at the show to decide whether or not introducing this different material is a good idea. (We already know they take Engadget commenters very seriously!) In any case, in absence of any concrete plans, we'll leave you to peruse our hands-on photos and have unnecessarily heated arguments about color preferences.%Gallery-175324%
Samsung refreshes its mid-range Series 5 Ultrabook with touch; arrives in February for $749+
Just about a year after Samsung first announced its mid-range Series 5 Ultrabooks, it's refreshing them with a higher-end aluminum chassis, backlit keyboards and touchscreens. The laptop, which will be available with a 14-inch screen only, will be offerred in black, red and navy (same as the GS III). It will come standard with a touchscreen in the US, though the version on display here at CES wasn't touch-enabled. Perhaps the biggest difference -- aside from the touch bit -- is that the design has a considerably more upscale feel than the last-gen models. Here, you have a brushed aluminum lid that takes after the high-end Series 9 line. In fact, every surface here is made of metal, save for the bottom, which is plastic. The keyboard layout is more similar to last year's model, though, except that now it has backlighting. As before, the chassis is thick enough to accommodate a tray-loading optical drive. Other amenities include three USB ports (one of them 3.0), an Ethernet jack, HDMI-out, a headphone port, DisplayPort (swapped in for VGA) and a lock slot. A Samsung rep told us it will be sold in two configurations in the US: a $749 model with a Core i3 processor and 4GB of RAM and an $899 model with Core i5 and eight gigs of memory. Both will have 1,366 x 768 resolution (a minor disappointment) and a 500GB hard drive paired with 24GB of ExpressCache for faster boot-ups and application launch times. In the US, at least, you're looking at integrated graphics only, though in other countries it will be available with an AMD Radeon HD 8750 GPU. Look for these in February and for now, enjoy the hands-on shots below.
NEC shows off a super-thin, 12.8mm thick Ultrabook, we go hands-on
Just after wrapping up its CES 2013 press conference, Intel showed off two Ultrabooks: one that's just a concept, and one that you can actually buy. What you see in that photo up there is the NEC LaVie X, the follow-up to last year's NEC LaVie Z. It's a 15-inch Ultrabook that measures just 12.8mm thick. We realize you might be desensitized to such specs at this point, so here's a little context: that's almost two millimeters thinner than the 15-inch Samsung Series 9, which already seemed impossibly skinny at 14.7mm. Other specs include a 1080p display and Haswell processor, though the machine we saw wasn't powered on, so we could only play with the keyboard and see what it felt like to hold the laptop in one hand. Unless you're reading this in Japan, you probably won't ever have the chance to purchase it, but hopefully this isn't the last time we see a 14-millimeter-thick laptop on this side of the Pacific. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Intel confirms partnership with Comcast, brings Xfinity TV viewing to Intel-based devices
Well, there's no new set-top box box per se, but most of those rumored Intel / virtual cable TV details have come true here at CES. Intel just announced a new partnership with Comcast, which will enable Xfinity TV viewers to watch television on Intel-based devices in the home. According to Intel, the collaboration will enable users to tap into Xfinity TV on "IP set-top boxes, Ultrabooks, Intel-based all-in-one PCs, tablets and smartphones, as well as smart TVs in the home." It's like Tru2way, but slightly less restrictive. Evidently, the back-end magic is being handled by Intel's Puma 6MG-bsaed XG5 multi-screen video gateway. In other words, this is Comcast opening up live TV streaming to more than just the HDTV connected to your set-top box, but unfortunately, there's no mention at all about this working remotely. We're also getting the impression that Intel's pitching this kind of scenario to other pay-TV providers, and if we hear of any others hopping onboard, we'll be sure to let you know. Update: It appears the box itself is actually being produced by (recent purchaser of Motorola's set-top box business) Arris. There's a few more details in Arris' press release after the break, we'll be checking it out for ourselves later this week. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Intel makes Touch, Wireless Display mandatory components for Haswell Ultrabooks
We're here live at Intel's CES press conference, where Kirk Skaugen has announced that companies who want to use the Ultrabook name and Haswell internals, it'll have to include touch as standard. The other new condition that Santa Clara is imposing is that the device must carry Wireless Display as standard. On the upside, at least you'll be able to see the images on your TV when your Ultrabook screen gets too greasy from your fingers. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
MSI's Slider S20 Windows 8 convertible gets first quarter release, priced at $1,200
This year's Consumer Electronics Show has yet to officially kick off, but that's not stopping early birds like MSI from getting their news out ahead of the flood. Announced as part of its upcoming showcase, the company's Slider S20 is the very same Ultrabook we first saw back at Computex 2012 and even recently had hands-on time with, but now there's official pricing and a semi-concrete release date to accompany it: Q1 2013 for $1,200. True to its name, this 2.2lbs Windows 8 hybrid measures just under 1-inch in thickness and features an 11.6-inch 1,920 x 1,080 10-point multi-touch IPS display, an Intel Core i5 processor, 128GB of SSD storage, 8GB DDR3 RAM, 720p front-facing camera and supports radios for Bluetooth 4.0 , as well as WiFi b/g/n. As for connectivity, the glossy white convertible hosts ports for USB 3.0 (2x), Ethernet, mini HDMI-out and a Jackson Peak Wireless adapter. It'll be on display in Vegas next week, so you can check it out en vivo if you happen to be in town. Otherwise, make do with the PR just past the break. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch review: one of our favorite Ultrabooks gets a touchscreen
When Lenovo came out with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, it seemed like precisely the sort of thing ThinkPad fans had been waiting for: an ultraportable with fast performance, a crisp 1,600 x 900 screen and, of course, one well-engineered keyboard. In fact, we deemed it one of our favorite Ultrabooks -- not just for businesspeople, but for everyone. The thing is, it arrived just before Windows 8 went on sale, which means four months after its release it's already a bit outdated. Enter the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch: it's more or less the X1 Carbon you know and love, except it has a touchscreen allowing for finger input. (Don't worry, that signature red pointing stick hasn't gone anywhere.) So is this basically just an even better version of the original X1 Carbon? And is it worth that steep $1,499 starting price (a $250 premium over the non-touch version)? Let's find out.
NEC intros 15.6-inch LaVie X Ultrabook in Japan, claims it's the 'world's thinnest'
Following the announcement of its somewhat flexible LaVie Y in Japan, NEC's now introducing us to a new, much sleeker member of the company's Windows 8 lineup. At first glance, you may quickly notice that the novel LaVie X clearly takes a design cue from another NEC affiliate, the Lavie Z, but does sport a relatively larger 15.6-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 IPS display, a more powerful Core i7-3517U CPU which clocks in at 1.9GHz, 4GB RAM and a 256GB SSD -- all while being wrapped in a slim 12.8mm package. The LaVie X is expected to hit Rising Sun shelves starting December 27th, with NEC slapping a cool 175,000 Yen (around $2,100) price tag on this slim, Windows 8-loaded Ultrabook.
Sony VAIO Duo 11 review: a Windows 8 slider that falls short
The Sony VAIO Duo 11 was one of about a bazillion Windows 8 convertibles to debut at IFA this summer, and it stood out from a gaggle of flipping, twisting and dockable devices with its slider form factor. And it's equipped to compete with other iterations of the two-in-one concept, with a choice of Core i5 or Core i7 processors, a 1080p touchscreen coated in Gorilla Glass, a sturdy magnesium-alloy design and a generous selection of ports. Sony also bundles a stylus for tapping your way through Win 8 and doing some light photo editing, rounding out a nice list of features that could justify the $1,200-and-up price. But good specs are one thing, and ease of use is another. We've already tested a slider, the Toshiba Satellite U925t, and we walked away unimpressed -- in part because the design gets in the way of the typing experience. So, does the Duo 11 fare better despite having the same form factor? Join us past the break for the full report.
Gigabyte X11 review: slim and powerful but not without flaws
Gigabyte was certainly feeling brave when it unveiled the £857, 11.6-inch X11 Ultrabook earlier this year. Appearing shortly before the arrival of Windows 8, it straddles two OS life cycles, with a feature set that's more faithful to Windows 7 than to the touch-centric future. Still, with a Core i5 Ivy Bridge CPU, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, the current holder of the "world's thinnest Ultrabook" title is specced to compete -- and, as you'd imagine, this is a fast and powerful little machine. But has Gigabyte sacrificed compelling features to achieve the X11's extra-skinny frame? Join us after the break to learn if this unit, only available outside US, is worth the import fees.
Acer Aspire S7 review (13-inch): great Ultrabook, a shame about the battery life
Back in June, when Acer first announced the Aspire S7 Series, two things seemed noteworthy: these were the company's first touchscreen Ultrabooks, for one, and they were easily its best-made. Whereas the earlier S3 and S5 skew a bit boring, the S7 is made of aluminum, with either a metal or Gorilla Glass lid, depending on whether you choose the 11- or 13-inch version. What's more, it has a 1080p IPS display, which looked just as nice in our initial hands-on as the spec sheet would have you believe. Throw in a choice of Core i5 and i7 processors and a RAID 0 SSD configuration, and you can easily expect the same fast performance we recorded on the S5. So is this it? Has Acer finally built an Ultrabook we can heartily recommend? More to the point, does the 13-inch model get enough things right to justify that $1,400 starting price? Find out in our review after the break.%Gallery-170640%
Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 review
Make no mistake: Lenovo is taking this Windows 8 thing very seriously. The company's first-generation of Win 8 devices includes everything from a laptop / tablet hybrid to a classic convertible laptop with a swiveling display. Then there's the Yoga. This, too, is a convertible, in the sense that it can be used as a tablet. But it's not like any convertible you used back in the Win 7 era: the screen folds 360 degrees back, turning this Ultrabook into a giant, 13-inch slate. Because of that special hinge, though, you can also bend it into Downward Dog, to use a Yoga term ("tent mode," if you're nasty) or fold the keyboard underneath so that only screen is exposed. It was one of the most memorable things unveiled at CES, and it remains the most striking Windows 8 design we've seen to date. But what's it like to actually use it? And how does it fare as, you know, a plain old $1,000 Ultrabook? Let's find out.%Gallery-170641%
Engadget Giveaway: win an ASUS S400 Windows 8 Ultrabook, courtesy of TigerDirect!
Microsoft's finally released the Windows 8 hounds, and retailers aren't skipping a beat on stocking up on pre-loaded hardware. TigerDirect is one such outlet eager to get you hooked up with a Windows 8 device, and to prove it, it's provided us with an ASUS S400CA-DH51T Ultrabook (currently an $899 value)! All you have to do is leave a comment below to enter, but you should definitely take a few minutes out of your day to check out TigerDirect's website for some great online deals! Specs for the Ultrabook include a 3rd generation Intel Core i5-3317U 1.7GHz, 4GB DDR3, 500GB HDD + 24GB SSD Cache, 14.1" Touchscreen and Windows 8 64-bit. Head to the above link for more details. Note: This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to our winner: Kazi K., Lawrenceville GA!
Thinkpad Helix appears on Lenovo's Israeli website, lends hope to a stateside or Euro arrival
It wasn't long ago that our Chinese language website reported on the Lenovo Thinkpad Helix, a convertible ultrabook that launched alongside other models, but seemed destined for China only. Now, it looks like Israeli folks might also get the device, as it popped up recently on the company's website there. We noted that it would carry Windows 8, an 11.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 detachable IPS touchscreen, NFC 3G module, stylus, 10-hour battery life and optional Core i7 processor for the top model. That would make it a pretty potent ultrabook, let alone a tablet -- making us hope that it'll power its way over to our shores.
Microsoft's Sinofsky says Windows 8 PCs can undercut Apple's 'recreational' iPad mini
It just wouldn't be a major Apple launch if there wasn't a Microsoft executive calling out his old rival, would it? In a chat with AllThingsD, Windows division lead Steven Sinofsky has expressed doubts that Apple's iPad mini is really a cost-effective pick against the just-launched Windows 8. It's a $329 "recreational tablet" when there are work-ready Windows 8 laptops that cost $279, he says. He added that there are at least a few touchscreen Ultrabooks that could undercut the non-touch MacBook Air on price, and he ascribed the difference as much to "engineering" as the cost-cutting measures you'd expect. Sinofsky was naturally just as keen to champion the advantages for work that Windows RT tablets like the Surface have when competing more directly with iPads, alluding to that Office bundle which hopefully keeps us more productive than a copy of Documents To Go. The company President would certainly disagree with Apple chief Tim Cook's view that Surface is a confused product, calling it a "PC for everyone" that just doesn't have to be used all the time. He makes valid points on the sheer value for money that you can get from both Windows PCs and tablets, although it would only be fair to mention that he didn't touch on the currently low Windows RT app selection, or if the OS was exactly what the market wanted -- we'd do well to remember that Microsoft alumni have a spotty track record when it comes to predicting Apple's destiny.
Hands-on with MSI's S20 Slidebook, a $1,099 Windows 8 convertible Ultrabook (update: video)
We just got more hands-on time with MSI's S20 Slidebook, which we first spotted at Computex 2012. This ultra light (2.3 pounds / 1kg) and thin (0.78-inches / 19.8mm) convertible Ultrabook runs Windows 8 (naturally) and packs an Intel Core i5 processor (Ivy Bridge), 4GB RAM and a 128GB mSATA SSD. In front, there's a gorgeous 11.6-inch 1920x1080-pixel IPS display with a 10-point capacitive multitouch layer plus an HD front-facing camera. A glossy white plastic bezel surrounds the glass panel and incorporates the MSI logo and the Windows button. The back cover is made of a silver magnesium alloy with matching plastic antenna covers for the built-in WiFi b/g/n, WiDi and Bluetooth 4.0 radios. Most of the ports are on the right edge along with the power / lock key and LED indicators -- this includes the power input, a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, a mini-HDMI output and a pair of USB 3.0 connectors. You'll find a gigabit Ethernet port on the left side plus an SD card reader, orientation lock button and volume rocker in back. Of course, what sets the S20 apart is its ability to switch instantly from a tablet into a usable laptop. The screen slides up and tilts forward to reveal a chiclet keyboard with excellent key travel and decent spacing. You're not limited to any specific angle here -- the display is fully adjustable from flat to almost perpendicular with the keyboard. The sealed 3-cell 3900mAh battery is rated for 7 hours of continuous operation. We spent several minutes using the Slidebook and came away pretty impressed -- it's incredibly light for its size, the screen is bright and crisp, and the keyboard is comfortable. Even in prototype form, performance and build-quality are top-notch. MSI plans to make its convertible Ultrabook available late November for $1,099 through major US retailers both online and in stores. The company expects to sell other configurations in other markets as well. Take a look at our gallery below and hit the break for our hands-on video.
ASUS expands its Zenbook line of Ultrabooks to include 14- and 15-inch models
About a year ago, when Ultrabooks were first starting to go on sale, ASUS was one of the first out of the gate with some lightweight, Intel-approved ultraportables. Since then, it's released a handful of iterations, including redesigned models with improved keyboards and sharper screens. That's a lot for a 12-month period, but there's one area where it fell behind: it tended to ignore larger-screened ultraportables, even as its competitors started selling models with 14- and 15-inch screens. That changed today, as the company announced three new Zenbooks, the 14-inch UX42VS and the 15-inch UX52VS and U500VZ, all of which will go on sale next month. Though the company hasn't issued granular pricing for each possible configuration, we know that prices in the US will range from $699 at the low end all the way up to $2,000. So what do these have to offer, aside from a larger footprint? For starters, the UX42VS weighs 1.9kg (4.19 pounds) and has a chassis that whittles down to 6mm. It makes room for an optical drive, unlike ASUS' smaller Zenbooks, and features NVIDIA GT645M graphics with 1GB of dedicated video memory. Like any other ultaportable worth its salt, it will be offered with Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, though this guys steps up to 6GB of RAM and up to 1TB of hybrid hard drive storage. Moving on, the 15-inch UX525VS (pictured) has a Core i5 or i7 Ultrabook-grade CPU, up to 10GB of memory (!) and up to 1TB in hybrid hard drive storage. The graphics card is the same 645M as on the 14-inch model. As for the U500VZ, it isn't an Ultrabook at all, as it has a standard-voltage, quad-core Core i7 processor. Other specs include 8GB of memory, a 1080p display and a beefier GT650M GPU, this time with 2GB of video memory. Despite the horsepower, though, it weighs in at a relatively light 2kg (4.4 pounds) and measures 6mm thick. Finally, wrapping things up, ASUS still plans to sell touchscreen versions of its 11- and 13-inch Zenbook Prime Ultrabooks. No word on availability for any of these, but we'll follow up with more details as they come in.
ASUS TAICHI dual-screen Ultrabook coming in November for $1,300, 13-inch version to follow a month later
Although we've now seen many dozens of Windows 8 devices, the ASUS TAICHI remains one of the most memorable -- it's unusual, after all, for a PC maker to make a laptop with displays on both sides of the lid. Even when it was announced, ASUS shared some high-level specs, but now we also know how much it'll cost, and when it will be available. As leaked the 11-inch version (aka the TAICHI 21) will go on sale next month, starting at $1,299. A lofty price, to be sure, but no one ever said dual 1080p IPS displays would come cheap. At the entry level, you get a Core i5-3317U processor, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. For $1,499, it comes with 256GB of storage. Finally, there will be a $1,599 configuration with a 256GB drive and a Core i7 processor. And what of the 13-inch version ASUS showed off earlier this year? An ASUS rep says the TAICHI 31 won't ship until December. Across the board, the TAICHI comes with Intel HD 4000 graphics, two USB 3.0 ports, a 5-megapixel rear camera, a 720p webcam up front, Bluetooth 4.0 and Intel's Wireless Display technology. Again, the smaller, 11-inch version will ship in November with the 13-inch model following a month later. In the meantime, we'll direct you to our hands-on from June if you're hankering for hands-on photos and video.
