Samsung Series 9

The entire concept of an Ultrabook is centered on portability. To the average consumer, that pretty much means thin and light. Previously, thin and light also meant compromise in one way or another. What Samsung had in mind with their Series 9 laptop was something else altogether.

It doesn’t get any thinner and sexier than the 12.9mm Samsung Series 9, for now at least. Interestingly, Samsung isn’t marketing the Series 9 as an Ultrabook, as that space is occupied by their Series 5. However, the Series 9 has all the hallmarks of an excellent, high-end

Sony Vaio T

When the Ultrabook concept was revealed at CES last year, most major PC manufacturers introduced their take on what was supposed to be thin, sexy and affordable. Sony went out of their way to produce the Vaio Z, which then symbolized what an ultrabook could be like. The Vaio Z had a Full HD display, super thin and light body at just 1.17kg, super fast pair of SSDs running in RAID 0, and even a media dock that sported a discrete GPU which enabled super-fast graphics on an ultraportable (when docked), thanks to the power of a custom Thunderbolt-based interface. On the other hand, the Vaio Z targeted the ultra-premium consumer.

HP Envy Spectre XT

The Envy Spectre XT was revealed in Shanghai this year, along with several other Sleekbooks (a HP-coined term for AMD-powered ultraportable laptops). Prior to the introduction of the Spectre XT, HP experimented with the Folio 13 and the iconic Envy Spectre. The Folio 13 was a business laptop with a strict utilitarian design, while the Spectre was much flashier, with a shiny Gorilla Glass lid and palmrest.

Lenovo IdeaPad U310

Lenovo’s IdeaPad U310 does have the premium quality that you would expect in an Ultrabook. It looks sturdy, yet light-dazzles yet with a subtlety. On the outside, the Ultrabook means all business-the grey colour top and bottom stating the intent clearly. The interior of the notebook uses matte eggshell white plastic that extends around the sides of the notebook. Its cool and distinct. A lone chrome power button sits in the top left corner just above the black matte keyboard. Intel’s Ivy Bridge processors continue to impress, powering the Lenovo IdeaPad U310 to solid scores.

Dell XPS 13

Of the Ultrabooks released so far, the Asus Zenbook UX31 has been the best. Despite the terrible track pad, it offers Core-17 goodness and a fantastic design for £999, while you can get the 11.6-inch UX21 version for £800.

Dell hasn’t been quick to get into the market, but it has waited for rivals to make their move-something that

Zenbook UX31

If the Ultrabook is all about marrying beauty with brawn, then Asus’ Zenbook UX31 would seem to be the perfect poster child for the breed. Despite housing the fastest processor of the current crop, and a Lightning-fast SandForce SSD, Asus has managed to produce a thing of rare beauty.

Clad in sheets of machined aluminium, the Zenbook UX31 is a visual treat. While paying homage to the

Acer S5 thinner than The Macbook Air

Acer is currently winning the War on Thickness with the Aspire S5, the most fat-free Laptop ever produced. But how many features can you cram into a slender Ultrabook shell?
Acer was first at the Windows Ultrabook table with the impressive Aspire S3, and it’s really got its premium range onto the cross-trainers. Cresting just 15mm at its thickest point, this slimline laptop is a full 2mm thinner than the MacBook Air, and its sleek black magnesium alloy shell keeps it light.

Best Ultra Book

Your first decision when ultrabook shopping is screen size, and your choices are skewed-the majority of ultrabooks have 13.3 inch displays with 1,366-by-768 resolution. If you can check out an ultrabook before buying, try picking it up by one corner or grasping the screen by the top corners, as well as typing on it with the system in your lap. Try lifting the open laptop by its screen and see if a loose hinge causes the keyboard to flop down. Look for flex or wobble. You shouldn't expect an ultrabook to feel as solid as a six-pound