Skip to main content

Intel launches new laptop category, includes tablet features

They’ll cost under $1000, be extremely thin and portable, start up in seconds, be produced by a number of manufacturers and go on sale before Christmas. Say hello to a new kind of laptop – the “Ultrabook.”

As reported by Reuters, Intel unveiled the new class of computer at the Computex technology exhibition in Taipei on Tuesday.

Related Videos

Asus will be the first company to release an Ultrabook computer (the UX21), which will be announced at the Computex exhibition. Its sleek design and added features could well give Apple’s MacBook Air a run for its money.

Talking to Reuters, Intel senior vice president Tom Kilroy said that Ultrabooks would be svelte and lightweight but at the same time be equipped with powerful processors. He said that by the end of 2012 Ultrabooks could have as much as 40 percent of the consumer laptop market. Kilroy also said that he expected the cost of Ultrabooks to go as low as about $600 over the next couple of years.

“We’re shooting for ultra responsive,” Kilroy said. “You’ll have always-on, always-connected, much more responsive devices, similar to what you would see with a tablet today such as an iPad.”

A statement released by Intel said that the Ultrabook has been made possible by the company’s latest 2nd-generation Intel Core Processors, enabling “thin, light and beautiful designs that are less than 20mm (0.8 inch) thick.”

The emphasis on the portability and responsiveness of Ultrabooks shows that the world’s biggest chip maker is hoping to make consumers think twice about purchasing mobile devices such as the hugely popular iPad tablet. Processors built by the California-based company are found in 80 percent of the world’s PCs but so far it has failed to make an impact when it comes to mobile devices. However, on top of the Ultrabook announcement, the Computex exhibition will also see Intel showcasing more than 10 tablets incorporating the company’s new Oak Trail processors – made especially for mobile devices.

Many computer manufacturers will be hoping that the new Ultrabook style of laptop will give them something to shout about and perhaps give Apple a reason to take a cautious look over its shoulder.

Editors' Recommendations

6 things I want to see in the new iMac
Apple's 24-inch M1 iMac is an all-in-one solution.

Apple’s 24-inch iMac got a major redesign in spring 2021, but it’s been a long two years with no updates to speak of since then. Many of us are impatiently waiting to see what comes next.

Now, though, rumors are swirling that a new version is coming this year. That means there’s a lot to look forward to -- and a lot of potential pitfalls that Apple needs to avoid. With so many possibilities floating around, here’s what we want to see in the next 24-inch iMac.
A decent price

Read more
The biggest Apple design fails and screw-ups of all time
Apple Pencil

Apple is world-famous for its design success stories, from the iMac G3 to all the best iPhones. But things don’t always go according to plan, even for the most design-savvy tech firm on the planet.

No, Apple has had its fair share of design howlers over the years. Here, we’ve rounded up eight of the most egregious design sins Apple has ever committed. It’s a good reminder that no one is above dropping a few absolute clunkers -- even Apple.
The butterfly keyboard

Read more
Microsoft still sells the Surface Laptop 4, and it’s $200 off
Using a Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 sitting on a couch with a dog.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 may already be out, but that doesn't mean you can't buy the Surface Laptop 4. What it does mean is that the 4 is a lot cheaper than it used to be. Right now you can grab the Surface Laptop 4 for only $700 after a $200 discount. This Best Buy deal isn't guaranteed to last long, so if you're interested, grab it now. If you're not sure whether you should buy the older model or shell out for the new one, read on to hear what we love about the Surface Laptop 4.

Why you should buy the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 has been around for some time now, but it still has a lot to offer almost anyone in the market for a new laptop. In many ways we even like the Surface Laptop 4 more than its successor, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5. From a performance standpoint, the Surface Laptop 4 can compete with many of the best laptops on the market, and the Surface Laptop 4 15-inch and MacBook Pro 16-inch often duke it out amongst creatives when it comes to purchasing a new laptop. As built for this deal, the Surface Laptop 4 comes with a custom AMD Ryzen 5 processor and 8GB of RAM.

Read more