What is an Ultrabook?

 

What is an Ultrabook?

• A mobile laptop that includes processing capability and features that would normaly only be found on larger laptops and desktops.
• Sizing that enables ease of portability. 11.1″-13″ being the main target screen sizes. 1-1.5KG being the target weight. Intel say that Ultrabooks could be available with 15″ screens.
• SSD storage. In order to enable fast-boot and resume (see below) a fast SSD storage is needed. This reduces power and increases ruggedness too. A ‘hybrid’ hard drive with traditional spinning disk and a smaller flash memory module is also available on some Ultrabooks.
• Fast boot, long standby, fast resume. An ultrabook should learn lessons from the ARM-tablet world where devices are rarely turned off. It means having very low power idle states and the ability to resume from standby and connect to Wifi in under 5 seconds. In the future, you’ll see devices even waking up to update email, Twitter and other clients.
• Processing power to cover nearly every business usage scenario. Aside from the biggest video rendering operations, compression processes, large or batch image editing operations and most complex spreadsheet calculations the Ultrabook will be able to operate just as you would expect from a desktop. Multiple applications in the background with multiple flash-enabled browser tabs, fast decompression of  compressed packages, 720p video editing and almost careless use of the operating system.  In 2011 the Sandy Bridge architecture for Core i3, i5 and i7 processors in ‘ultra low voltage’ versions will be the main processing engine.
• Latest operating systems. Windows 7, Windows 8 will be the main target operating systems but we see OSX also fulfilling the users needs with devices like the MacBook Air
• Security, graphics, video subsystems. Putting security, graphics and video decoding and encoding into silicon allows longer battery life and faster operation. We expect more and more silicon subsystems to differentiate from the mainstream. Wireless Display, Video streaming encryption, hardware anti-virus and more.
• Intel Anti-Theft System
• Ultrabook designs should be light, thin and stylish
• Price should be under $1000. As time goes on, the prices will reach the top end of the netbook market. $600 will bring these devices into the mainstream for anyone wanting more than a netbook can offer.