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Dell launches Ultrabook for $999

dell.com

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Re: Dell launches Ultrabook for $999

#71

Post by kristianp »

eropple wrote: post #8

So I clicked through this article, expecting something that totally misses the point (like their Adamo a few years ago). It doesn't match my immediate expectations. Which is good! The machine looks solid. I don't know if I like it more than my Air, but it looks promising. I keep clicking through. In a machine like this, two things really matter: keyboard and display. As allwein says in another comment thread, they do…

I think we're going to have to wait until a year or two after Apple releases retina display Airs before ultrabooks start having high resolution displays.

Re: Dell launches Ultrabook for $999

#72

Post by rhizome »

JoshTriplett wrote: post #70
rhizome wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They want to sell to Dell customers.

Dell has one of the search mechanisms I just mentioned: on their laptop or monitor pages, you can click a few links to filter the set of products based on features you want. For monitors, they include resolution in those features; unfortunately, for laptops they don't.

Good thing we're talking about laptops, then. If we were including their monitor product pages in this critique we'd really look silly.

Re: Dell launches Ultrabook for $999

#73

Post by mindrunner »

eropple wrote: post #8

So I clicked through this article, expecting something that totally misses the point (like their Adamo a few years ago). It doesn't match my immediate expectations. Which is good! The machine looks solid. I don't know if I like it more than my Air, but it looks promising. I keep clicking through. In a machine like this, two things really matter: keyboard and display. As allwein says in another comment thread, they do…

Same here. Was amazed by the initial marketing gloss, but let down by the 1366x768 display :(

Re: Dell launches Ultrabook for $999

#74

Post by jimrhoskins »

shinratdr wrote: post #57
jimrhoskins wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because at first glance it will pass for a macbook air. I don't say that with any bitterness. I have and love my air, but as I find myself using less and less of OS X, and really just living in iTerm and my browser, the real appeal of the Air to me now is the hardware. If the Ultrabook stands up to the Air in quality, I'm seriously considering the Ultrabook + Ubuntu (double-u?) for my next notebook. Also assuming Ubu…

Why would you do that instead of just putting Ubuntu on the Air?

In the case that Dell (or someone else) had better hardware at a better price. It doesn't look like that's the case with the Ultrabook just yet.

Re: Dell launches Ultrabook for $999

#75

Post by commandar »

JoshTriplett wrote: post #62
commandar wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Keep an eye on Vizio. The thin and lights they announced at CES are going to pack 1600x900 screens in the 14" model, and full 1080p screens in the 15.6" model. Gorgeous industrial design, great screens, they're working with Microsoft to ship Windows 7 bloatware-free, and Vizio has a reputation for being absolutely ruthless in cutting prices while maintaining quality. They're supposed to hit market in June, and I'm ho…

Sounds promising, but I wouldn't normally consider a 14-15" screen "thin and light", and I don't see any statistics on thickness or weight to indicate otherwise. And the biggest open issue from my perspective: will they have an incredibly good warranty? Always a major concern with a new company in a field, particularly when you don't know if they'll remain in that field for the lifetime of the product. To calibrate e…

>Sounds promising, but I wouldn't normally consider a 14-15" screen "thin and light", and I don't see any statistics on thickness or weight to indicate otherwise.

From Gizmodo's hands on with them at CES:

>Like its new tablet, the specs aren't final, so Vizio won't say just how thin, or how light they are. But the 14-inch felt comprable to my Macbook Air, and looked to be similar in terms of thickness. (See comparison shot.) Bottom line, this thing will be a breeze to shove in a bag and tote around all day.

http://gizmodo.com/5874470/putting-my-hands-on-vizios-new-ma...

Just guessing at the photos the prototypes they were showing off looked like they were in the inch-ish thick range. I do know that pretty much every hands-on I read about them said they fit the ultrabook mold even though Vizio is choosing not to use the term to describe them. (And I don't blame them. I always thought ultrabook was a pretty terrible name).

Re: Dell launches Ultrabook for $999

#76

Post by commandar »

eropple wrote: post #60
commandar wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Keep an eye on Vizio. The thin and lights they announced at CES are going to pack 1600x900 screens in the 14" model, and full 1080p screens in the 15.6" model. Gorgeous industrial design, great screens, they're working with Microsoft to ship Windows 7 bloatware-free, and Vizio has a reputation for being absolutely ruthless in cutting prices while maintaining quality. They're supposed to hit market in June, and I'm ho…

This is interesting. I hadn't realized they were getting into PCs (my only knowledge of Vizio is "shitty Walmart TVs") and they're at least saying all the right things. Admittedly, at this point it'll take a lot to get me to come back from Apple, but that is definitely a start.

>(my only knowledge of Vizio is "shitty Walmart TVs")

FWIW, Vizio has developed a reputation for building TVs that match the quality of more expensive sets at lower prices. They're generally far better than the junk budget displays you'll find while considerably cheaper than something from a "name" manufacturer like Samsung or Sony. The hope -- and what Vizio is claiming they intend to do -- is that they bring this to the PC market.

Re: Dell launches Ultrabook for $999

#77

Post by phamilton »

jimrhoskins wrote: post #10
herge wrote: post #3

Why make it out of aluminium? Does it have better heat properties or lighter weight than say some high quality plastics or steel, or any other metal?

Because at first glance it will pass for a macbook air. I don't say that with any bitterness. I have and love my air, but as I find myself using less and less of OS X, and really just living in iTerm and my browser, the real appeal of the Air to me now is the hardware. If the Ultrabook stands up to the Air in quality, I'm seriously considering the Ultrabook + Ubuntu (double-u?) for my next notebook. Also assuming Ubu…

I'm in the same boat with one crutch: Netflix.

While I enjoy the fantastic gestures of OS X, I could survive without them. Netflix on the other hand, is irreplaceable. If (or hopefully when) Netflix runs on Linux, I'd consider it if the hardware were on par.

Re: Dell launches Ultrabook for $999

#79

Post by eropple »

commandar wrote: post #76
eropple wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is interesting. I hadn't realized they were getting into PCs (my only knowledge of Vizio is "shitty Walmart TVs") and they're at least saying all the right things. Admittedly, at this point it'll take a lot to get me to come back from Apple, but that is definitely a start.

>(my only knowledge of Vizio is "shitty Walmart TVs") FWIW, Vizio has developed a reputation for building TVs that match the quality of more expensive sets at lower prices. They're generally far better than the junk budget displays you'll find while considerably cheaper than something from a "name" manufacturer like Samsung or Sony. The hope -- and what Vizio is claiming they intend to do -- is that they bring this t…

Totally possible! My only knowledge of them is through the fine Walmart electronics department, though, which has no reputation for quality. :)
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