Intel has outed a new class of super-slim PC at Taipei tablet love-in Computex. The Ultrabook name will be slapped onto super-slim laptops rocking the Ivy Bridge Intel Core processors and to join the new crew they’ll need to be rocking a shell slimmer than 20mm thick.
The current 13in MacBook Air comes in at a thickness of 19mm and it’s Apple’s ultra-slim laptop, along with tablets, that the Ultrabook class is aiming to take on bringing that thinness at a much lower price…
The first Ultrabook to break cover is the ASUS UX21 which is due to arrive just in time for Christmas. Intel executive vice-president Sean Maloney makes big claims for the future of the Ultrabook: “If we do it right, the PC Ultrabook will be 40% of the notebook market in about 18 months. We did this before in 2008 and we screwed it up: we didn’t cut the price. Now we’ll cut the price, thanks to volume and scale.”
Maloney was referring to Intel’s CULV (consumer ultra-low voltage) processors which delivered super-slim laptops but didn’t come at an affordable price. With the Intel Ultrabook plans, the company wants to get its partners pumping out MacBook Air style ultra-light, ultra-thin machines that bring instant on smarts and serious performance without punishing your pocket.
Sceptics say that Intel is just giving the now dormant netbook market a shove by attempting to create a new range of machines for consumers to lust after. With current slimmed down options like the Samsung Series 9 and the aforementioned MacBook Air on the pricey side, it could be on to something.
Out late 2011 | Under £1000 | Intel
