The Ultrabook - the ultimate destination?

The Ultrabook is faster, greener, smaller, lighter, less power hungry and has better performance than previous devices in its class. For Intel, which announced the Ultrabook concept in mid-2011, it's going to define the next generation of notebooks. "A tablet when you want it and a PC when you need it" is Intel's vision according to their blospot.* And it's backing it with a USD300 million fund, which will be used toward developing technologies related to Ultrabooks.

Combination of aesthetics and convenience

Intel wants the Ultrabook to be ultra-thin and light, responsive and secure. What will drive its evolution and adoption is a combination of aesthetics and convenience in the form factor, and its "fit for purpose" quality. A number of developments - technological advancement; trends like the proliferation of devices; and changes in lifestyle related to our use of digital tools - are converging to define the evolution of the electronic devices we use.

Today, Ultrabooks have their place, just like tablet PCs, mobile phones and minis, and the bigger, heavier laptops with bigger screens and more processing muscle that most of us use to do our grunt work. It fits into an interesting niche.

Miniaturisation of components has made it easier to build small for comfort and convenience, while the shift to solid state drives (SSD) and a ramp up in RAM means no moving parts (hard drives or CD/DVD ROMs) and so, less chance of failure. Add to this the Huron mobile platform, the low power Intel Core Bridge processors with integrated graphics, and battery life of five to nine hours, and you have a very nice in-between device - one that could evolve either way.

Computing or consumption

Computing devices can be roughly categorised as being either for computing purposes (the desktop PC or high-end laptop we do our daily work on) or for consumption (tablet devices, gaming devices, mobile phones). Most of us have two or more of the following: a phone that uses 3G; a tablet device (wireless); a laptop and/or netbook; notebook or mini; and a desktop PC (Ethernet). As the personal devices we carry with us continue to proliferate, challenges arise.

Devices that were once considered personal productivity tools, because we now have so many of them, are becoming a nuisance to carry and operate. The ideal is a device that combines the most powerful and useful features in an appropriate form factor and can access our data seamlessly and safely. Intel has it covered: the responsive and secure features of the Ultrabook are underpinned by Intel Identity Protection and Anti-Theft Technology.

At the same time, we are beginning to expect all our devices to have the functionality we find most useful on our favourite devices. For example, our mobile phones are now touch capable, always on, always available, always updating, and provide us with instant notifications. That would be useful on a laptop, but a laptop also needs to be as conveniently mobile as the mobile phone and as robust and powerful as a desktop PC.

As the various devices we use continue to evolve, it's likely that they will converge toward more multi-functional devices. What would suit you? Perhaps a lightweight wireless mobile device that has the computing power of your desktop and an ergonomic input device that makes it fast and efficient to use - even when you are driving? There is an endless array of options; certainly no single solution that will suit everyone. Right now, however, the Ultrabook looks like a front runner.

Current Ultrabook specs

Typical Ultrabook specs include a sub-14-inch screen; 4 to 8GB of RAM; 64/128/256GB or 1TB SSD; battery life of six to nine hours; 1.1kg to the heaviest t 1.9kg; 11.1mm up to 20.5mm in thickness; running on Intel's mobile platform Huron River (the next release, Chief River is expected in 2012); with the low power Intel Core Sandy Bridge processors with integrated graphics (Ivy Bridge microarchitecture to be released in mid-2012). Screen size is expected to go up to meet needs of some users and touchscreen technology is expected soon.

While it's still fairly niche at a starting price of R12 000, in five years it's likely to be the standard.

*http://blogs.intel.com/technology/2011/07/the_world_of_computing_is/