MacBook Air Alternatives

[kevinp8192]

Very cool; thanks! I admit my mistake--I didn't realize the new Dell ultrabooks included a DisplayPort. The XPS13 looks like a really good piece of kit (although I've always been a Thinkpad guy). I also admit that I'm in a small minority with the DisplayPort requirement. Surely HDMI/1080p output is good enough for most of the people who would want an ultrabook PC.

On top of that, all of the input devices would need both HDMI and DisplayPort inputs.

Well, maybe. But it's worth noting that Apple doesn't provide both, only DisplayPort (or Thunderbolt, depending on the model). Of course, Apple has never been known to burden their users with the bother of choice. But it does avoid the excitement of wondering if your equipment will all work together now or in the future. The Dell U2711 has HDMI, DVI, and DP. But per Dell's specs, WQHD only works through DVI or DP inputs, even though HDMI 1.3 is used. Who knows why. Anyway, take it easy, and thanks again for responding.

 

[sviola]

[citation][nom]kevinp8192[/nom] But per Dell's specs, WQHD only works through DVI or DP inputs, even though HDMI 1.3 is used. Who knows why. Anyway, take it easy, and thanks again for responding.[/citation]

Maybe because it uses HDMI 1.3 and WQHD requires HDMI 1.4

 

[Guest]

One HUGE advantage of the MacBook Air (And all Apple laptops) compared to other brands is the trackpad. The trackpad on an Apple laptop is SMOOTH and tracks perfectly. The trackpads on most other brands are terrible, and even the best ones pale in comparison to Apple's. That's why I will only buy a MacBook Air, even when I want to run Windows.

Also, Thunderbolt peripherals are starting to come down in price, and there will be a few affordable docking stations available soon that utilize the port.

 

[kitekrazy1963]

I'd take the Asus. I still have Asus socket A boards in a closet that could still run. There's an article somewhere about the quality of Asus laptops.
I wonder of those PC ones are full of crapware. I could see where Mac would be the choice. The only thing with Mac is all of the little external attachments get over priced.
Warranty should be a consideration. I would think out of warranty service would be expensive.

 

[liftyd]

-Samsung may be thin but hot as hell.
-The Xps screens are of low quality which saddens me (viewing angle, etc...not just resolution).
-The new Asus fixed the keyboard, but its trackpad is still a question mark. Thats probably only noticeable if you've used a good trackpad/mac before.

Unlike on a desktop where pc is king, on the laptop side the air sells so well because keyboard, trackpad, and screen quality all can't be changed (external monitor not withstanding).
This article missed talking about these.

Lenovo also needs a mention, though there ivy bridge u300s replacement is not out yet

 

[liftyd]

[citation][nom]kitekrazy1963[/nom]I'd take the Asus. I still have Asus socket A boards in a closet that could still run. There's an article somewhere about the quality of Asus laptops. I wonder of those PC ones are full of crapware. I could see where Mac would be the choice. The only thing with Mac is all of the little external attachments get over priced. Warranty should be a consideration. I would think out of warranty service would be expensive.[/citation]

You'd think a premium laptop like the Zenbook Prime wouldn't have any software cruft. You'd be dead wrong. The UX31A greets you with constant product registration reminders, unwanted toolbars and widgets, and the system also has totally extraneous processes (like tablet PC stylus input software) running in the background. That would be fine if all that software didn't affect performance, but oh, how it does.

 

[Guest]

another alternative is the Samsung series 5 with almost the same features. it is the lightest ultrabook in it's price is ($799 for windows 7 and a non-glare screen and it is 3.35 pounds + a 13.3 inch desplay same Intel HD Graphics 4000 + an i5 processor 500GB HDD and a 20GB SSD) it starts up faster than the average windows computer, i have this one and it is one of the best air alternatives. the newest model ($850, currently on sale for $750, features a glare touch-screen, windows 8, an i5 [599.99 for i3] and same on everything else, both of them also have 7 hours of battary life. this is the samsung series 5 filtered page- http/www.samsung.com/us/computer/series-5-notebooks. this page also has models that have a optical drive or 120GB SSDs. also check out these ones at best buy, these are only touch screens- http/www.bestbuy.com/site/olstemplatemapper.jsp?id=pcat17080&type=page&qp=cabcat0500000%23%230%23%237t0~~cabcat0502000%23%230%23%23b6~~cpcmcat259400050000%23%230%23%235~~f510%7C%7C53616d73756e67~~q70726f63657373696e6774696d653a3e313930302d30312d3031~~f1137%7C%7C4265737420427579204974656d73~~f534%7C%7C31342671756f743b20616e6420556e646572~~nf628%7C%7C3530304742202d203639394742&list=y&nrp=15&sc=abComputerSP&ks=960&usc=abcat0500000&sp=-bestsellingsort+skuid&list=y&iht=n&st=processingtime%3A%3E1900-01-01&gf=y