Ultrabooks were the brainchild of chip manufacturers, Intel; they are designed to be slimmer and lighter than any other laptop on the market, without losing performance. A range of hardware manufacturers, such as Dell, Asus and Lenova, now have their own versions of Ultrabooks. The Ultrabook is similar in size to the Macbook Air, and is generally more expensive than your bog standard laptop. However, Intel has suggested that the prices will drop by the end of the year and hopes to offer an alternative to tablets. Some companies are already bringing out Ultrabooks with touchscreen technology and this could prove to be a challenge to Microsoft’s Surface tablet, due out in October. For example, Lenova showcased a touchscreen version earlier this year at an industry event. This was the “IdeaPad Yoga”, which can be turned into a tablet by flipping the screen backwards. This model is due out later this year and will enable users to use Microsoft’s newest OS on the device.

So why buy an Ultrabook?

• Power with the added luxury of being so light and thin you can carry it around with you.
• Some versions can be converted into a tablet, giving the best of both worlds.
• Comes with a standard keyboard, making working on one better than using a ‘soft’ keypad, such as with the iPad.
• Compatible with Windows.
• Intel’s name and reputation go before them so you can be sure of quality as manufacturers are obliged to work within the hardware constraints that Intel insist upon, including weight and size.

The downside:

• Some models take away connectivity due to their slim design, so don’t include USB ports.
• The price – Ultrabooks are on a par pricewise with MacBook Air; however, if you’re in no rush to get one then prices will come down.

Intel has designed the device so that it won’t be pushed out of the PC market, as ARM-based processors have taken away a portion of it. At the moment, Intel has very little presence in the tablet market and so this is a way for them to begin to edge into the market.

Whilst it’s probably not the best time to buy right now, due to the price, this will change as touchscreen capabilities are introduced and the generation following that is expected to significantly increase battery life, although the life of an Ultrabook battery is pretty good now, as it stands.

Basically, if you’re the kind of person that wants to own the latest in gadgetry, then sure, buy an Ultrabook; but if you’re prepared to wait a little longer, the prices will come down. When Surface launches in October, consumers will have a huge amount of choice, especially with the announcement that Sony has also unveiled an upcoming tablet range that can run on either Windows 8, or Android, depending on your preference.

Author Bio: This article is contributed by Kerry Butters on behalf of Broadband Genie. Want to get your hands on a laptop? Then follow this link to find out more information on the best laptop deals.