We’re through CES and have now got details on all the (true) Ultrabooks that will be available before the end of Q1 2012. This is likely to be very close to the final count for Sandy Bridge-based (2011 architecture, Phase 1) Ultrabooks so it’s a good time to take a poll.
What’s your favorite Ultrabook? Which one is at the top of your list?
Make your choice below. The poll will run for a few weeks and will always be available on the home-page in the right-hand column. You only get one vote though so choose carefuly.
Click on each product name to learn more about the product.
View a sortable, interactive one-page comparison of all Ultrabooks here.
[poll id=”3″]
For me Dell XPS is the best and that was what I was waiting.. :)
same for me! Dont know how anybody can like ASUS UX31 with all its keyboard and touchpad problems!
Same here with all those problems going on with the asus ultrabook, how can it still bag so many votes?
close second – Lenovo U300s :)
The Toshiba Z830, without a doubt.
Would have been a great option if it had a 256 GB version. There is not much you can do with less than 100 GB of space after OS and all!
Anyone know which of the 11.6″ ultrabooks/notebooks have the smallest footprint (ie. thinnest bezels)? I’m not concerned by thickness since they’re all thin enough. Thanks.
I’m with you. The smallest notebook I’ve found is the Samsung Series 3 NP300. Almost the same size as a 10.1″ netbook but significantly more powerful.
I’ve been eyeing the ultrabook scene and hoping for more 11.6″ ones that focus more on footprint rather than thinness. For me anything thinner than an inch starts getting into the depreciating returns category.
Wheres me samsung 900x3b ? Ok its not an “ultrabook” as such but cant wait to get my hands on it.
Me too!
This is the beauty of Windows and the manufacturers competing for our loyalty… we have many great choices!!
+1 here for the U300s of course!
I consider MBA as ultrabook – but it’s not there.
Still the best, even with all that devices out there.
I’ve kept this poll limited to true Ultrabooks that will be available in Q1-Q2. Sorry.
The Asus UX31 is a great Ultrabook, everything apart from no backlit keyboard and touchpad are almost perfect.
The keyboard not being backlit is really a none issue for allot of people, and the touchpad sensor is so huge and with a software update is really not that bad, way better than older gen non multitouchpads still ^_^ its also very well priced! hence its sucesss
For me UX21/31 is among the best, but it fails so hard on the keyboard. It has no travel what-so-ever, except for that I’d say ASUS nailed it. Hopefully Dell XPS 13 will succeed where the UX-series have failed.
Admittedly, I don’t own a UX31, but having played with one on the shop floor, alongside the Toshiba, Acer, Lenovo and (almost ultra) Samsung I can safely say I hated it.
It’s ugly, with horrible fonts scrawled all over its gawdy frame. The keyboard and trackpad felt flimsy and unresponsive. What is it about this machine that draws the crowds?
I went for a U300s, another less than perfect machine, but one which hits more usability nails on the head than the Asus. Plus, if it’s style you are aiming for, the Lenovo has its own kind of gorgeous going on.
It is that the Asus has more features? Extra port adapters? Is it that it looks like a Macbook Air if you squint your eyes real tight and stand 20 paces back?
I’m not trolling here. I just really don’t understand people’s votes.
I think the UX31 wins on paper, and it was arguably the first official “ultrabook” to reach wide ranges of people… sold in BestBuy, etc.
The U300s wins hands down imho also. Both in design and usability. And the superb keyboard that Lenovo has put in the U300s hasn’t gotten nearly enough press. I’m typing on mine right now and it’s a pleasure to pound out paragraphs.
I think that U300s is really good but where i saw it, it was like 1300-1400$
You can help give it press – How about a user report guest post ? U300s not available in many places yet. Still waiting in Europe.
I’d be more than happy to write a short user piece about the U300s.
I am based in the UK, and a few U300s i5 models are available at PC World : BUT only if you know they have it in stock. The website has a hidden page, detailing the machine, and staff at stores that do have them in have no idea until you turn up and ask. They don’t put them on the shop floor because they “don’t have a padlock slot”. At least, that’s what one clerk told me.
I bought mine from a South London PC World in early December.
I’ve been planning on writing a detailed user review, but just haven’t had the time. Between running a business and having a new baby at home, I only have a few minutes here and there to write and play with my U300s.
Daniel, I’d love to read your user review if you have a chance. If you do, be sure to mention that some U300s have Synaptics touchpads which are great while others have Cypress. (I have a Cypress, and after a driver update and tweaking the settings, it’s really not that bad even though I hear the Synaptics is better).
Hi Dan. Kids are more important!
Originally I bought a Cypress model, and after a couple of days I took it back and managed to convince them to swap it for a Synaptics one (NOT easy). The two trackpads are worlds apart. Admittedly, that was before the driver update in late December.
Overall I am extremely happy, especially after I bought a £12 anti-glare screen protector for it. By far the greatest money-spent –> upgrade-result ratio for any tech I have owned.
Interesting. I checked PC World when I was back at Christmas. I didn’t ask though! Would love to have you write a little user review ion the U300s. I’m sure others would love to read it.
I will get back to you in next few days…
Hi Daniel,
is there anyway to tell which type of trackpad you’re getting on the u300s from the packaging?
Perhaps by the batch number on the box or the like?
thanks
I believe it’s the design that draws so much attention to be honest.
I think maybe its the 1600×900 Res :/
Despite the shortcomings (chiclet keys, glossy screen), the UX21 wins because it’s the only 11″ in the bunch. The 13″ is too expensive and not portable enough.
I was impressed by the 11.6″ too. I’m using a thin-bezel 12.5″ Samsung np350 at the moment. Will upgrade to ssd soon. Should save 100gm and speed things up. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Hey chippy thanks for all your hardwork. Just wanted to ask if you could get us a review of the new series 9, xps 13, and hp spectre as soon as possible so that i can make a decision of buying one. I’m a big fan of you and want to make my decision based on your notings.
Vaibhav
Can you guys honestly say that the trackpad and KB are bad? Have you actually used them? I am on a clean copy of windows and my TP and KB work great.
Just making sure that people think for themselves instead of pretending they know what they are talking about because of the words of others.
Yes i Did use the zenbook and i did lose keystrokes..in just one sentence i lost some keystrokes. Dont know bout the touchpad though but all people have difderent accomodations maye you would have found it less troublesome.