Comments on: ASUS X401a–Utrabook Alternative at $330

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 02:10:18 +0000

This has promise… the processor beats the last gen i3 ulv processors in performance, it uses asus active hybrid engine for instant on from sleep mode like an ultrabook. And its only 329 at best buy right now. And its getting about 4hrs of battery life in reviews.

Add a $70 64gb samsung 830 ssd should get the boot time in a ultrabook friendly range and maybe give another hour of battery life.

So for $400 you could have something pretty close to an ultrabook. A lenovo 310s is 699-799 and isn’t to far off this spec wise.

By: vjachi

vjachi — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 20:10:59 +0000

awful to type on tablet…
thin*; 2-3years*

By: vjachi

vjachi — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 20:08:32 +0000

I’m sorry, but before the ultrabooks I couldn’t find so small (think&light) device with good battery life (6-7h) while powerful performance in the same time. The market is just evolving. After 2-3h the main devices could be touch screen hybrid ultrabooks

By: James

James — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 19:26:29 +0000

Low cost light weight notebooks aren’t without their compromises.

The 14″ screen is only 1366×768 and the Celeron and Pentium processors are more limited with no Turbo Boost for the CPU part, and HyperThreading, AES, Virtualization (VT-x and VT-d), Trusted Execution or Intel Quick Sync are all deactivated.

The HD GMA is also only based on the HD 2000.

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 13:55:37 +0000

If we have lightweight notebooks like this and the Samsung NP350, why even bother with all these ultrabook bullshits that are selling for over $1000?

The ultrabook concept was created because Intel was not making margins of traditional notebooks which were dropping in price rapidly. So $1000 plus ultrabooks were born.