Ultra Fine Ultrabooks: The Best Ultrabook For Every Type Of Person

‘Ultrabook’ has become the laptop buzzword of 2013. An ultrabook is a subnotebook that uses a low-power Intel Core processor, solid state drive and a uni-body chassis. Simple, right? Wrong.

While ultrabooks are the biggest thing in computers right now, they are also the most commonly misunderstood. Simply put, an ultrabook is a laptop that is pretty light but still has awesome battery life and performance. To spell it out even more clearly, here are five great ultrabooks for five different types of people:

For the Commuter: the Dell XPS 12

The rise of Windows 8 has seen the rise of the tablet-laptop hybrid and an ultrabook is the way to go if you value maximum power with minimum weight. The Dell XPS 12 weighs 3.3lbs which is – unbelievably – a little on the heavy side for ultrabooks, although definitely lighter than the average laptop.

With its rounded corners, it is comfortable to hold and to transform from a tablet to laptop with ease. This means that you can switch from playing Angry Birds to typing documents without bumping the person sitting next to you.

For the Kids: the Dell Inspiron 15z-5523

While ultrabooks are cool, it is a risk giving them to the younger members of your family because – with their touchscreen and slim design – they do have a reputation for being a little bit flimsy. Enter the Inspiron.

This sturdy laptop has a 15.6 inch screen and weighs just over 5lbs, making it one of the bigger and heavier ultrabooks on the market. But, with its sturdy design, parents can have peace of mind that their kids are playing and learning on a piece of cutting edge technology, without fearing it will be broken within the hour.

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For Students: the Toshiba Portege Z935-P300

It’s light, it has a long battery life and… it’s not a Mac. If you’re a student who doesn’t want to join the Macbook club, but don’t know what will do the same job, the answer is this Toshiba. The Portege has a physical on/off switch for its keyboard, which means that you can type freely on the most inconveniently high or low lecture bench, without moving your cursor around the display with your palms.

With its 13 inch model coming in at $300 less than the equivalent Macbook Air, this is a great option for students on a budget.

For the Serious Businessperson: the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon

Coming in at $1500, this is one of the most expensive ultrabooks on the market, but if you’re after a serious laptop for the office, the Thinkpad X1 is the Ultrabook for you. It has a classic design with a matte display, as well as a battery that lasts over seven and a half hours – meaning that you’ll make it through most of the working day if you leave your charger at home.

For the Bargain Hunter: the Asus Vivobook S400CA-UH51

If you’re keen to get a taste of what ultrabooks have to offer, but are scared off by their high prices, this Asus is an excellent choice. The Vivobook S400-UH51 comes in at just under $700, a nice change from the four figure prices of most ultrabooks.

This model has a generous 14 inch touch screen display optimised for Windows 8, and the same processor as is used in the Asus’s higher range Vivobooks. The Vivobook S400CA-UH51 does have a slightly shorter battery life than most of its competitors, but for this cheap price, you’ll be willing to remember your charger.

  Frances Ward

About the Guest Author:

Frances Ward is a computer enthusiast from Sydney. She’s keen to get stuck into these new ultrabooks, but maybe she’ll rent a laptop first, to see which one is right for her.