Acer Aspire P3-171-3322Y2G12ass - Fast forward

The Acer Aspire P3 is a 11.6-inch Windows 8 Ultrabook. Well at least that is what Acer calls it. At Php33,900 with a HD display, Core i3-3229Y processor, 2 GB of RAM and a 120 GB SSD, it seems to be a reasonably equipped laptop for the money. What really merits discussion though it the form factor. 

The good. In use design is similar to a slider, but when closed, keyboard really serves as a protective case. What makes this package interesting is its portability. The entire package weighs in at a light 1.74 pounds. That is three-fourth of a pound less than a 11-inch MacBook Air. It is also incredibly thin at 0.4-inchers. Battery life is also rated up to 6-hours. This is pretty much as good as it gets for ultralight 11-inchers.

The bad. For the laptop fan, well the Acer Aspire P3 has no touchpad, so you are really left with just the touchscreen. This type of design which really showcase what Windows 8 is all about. But this is also a bit worrisome. Without the touchpad, it won't be the best option for using it with traditional Windows apps. Software designed for mice and touch pads are not necessarily finger friendly. Things like the Microsoft Surface Pro seem like a better transitional device, with touch for "Metro" and a touchpad for your good old Windows desktop apps.

Understanding the Post-PC Phenomenon: Apple iPad versus 11-inch MacBook Air

This...

...or this.

This post was inspire by Joanna Stern and Kevin Tofel's discussion on Twitter.

The worse than expected decline in the sales of traditional desktop and laptop computers has spurred a lot of debate on the Web recently. What is the culprit? It really is not too hard to understand. A comparison of two products will explain this phenomenon easily enough. Lets compare the Apple iPad 64 GB with the 11.6-inch Apple MacBook Air 64 GB.

Price. The iPad WiFi 64 GB will cost you Php33,900 at the local Apple Store. The 11.6-inch MacBook Air 64 GB will set you back Php46,990. In this first round, the iPad wins the day by a cool 13K.  The question is, can the 11.6-inch MacBook Air 64 GB make up for a 13K deficit?

Winner: iPad

Display. The iPad 64 GB has a 9.7-inch display as opposed to the 11.6-inch display, and following the bigger is better theory, the 11.6-inch MacBook Air wins that aspect of this category. But this is only part of the story. The smaller iPad display has a sharp 2048 x 1536 resolution display, against the 11.6-inch MacBook Air 1366 x 768 display. Overall, I think most of you will agree, the higher resolution gives the iPad the edge. 

Winner: iPad

Portability. The 11.6-inch MacBook Air is "razor" thin being just 0.67-inches at the thickest point. It is also terribly light at 2.5 pounds. Still, this feels thick and heavy compared to the iPad's 0.37-inches and 1.44 pounds.

Winner: iPad

Battery Life. The 11.6-inch MacBook Air has a battery that will last up to five hours. The iPad will run up to 10-hours on a single charge.

Winner: iPad

Apps. The iPad App Store has over 300,000 dedicated iPad apps. Apple does not post on its website how many apps there are in it MacBook App Store. Two years ago, there were 30,000. I think it is fair to say, the iPad has more available apps.

Winner: iPad

Keyboard. The MacBook Air has a nice keyboard. The iPad has none out of the box. You can add a keyboard to the iPad, but it still wont be as nice as the keyboard on the MacBook Air.

Winner: MacBook Air

Score: 

Apple iPad 64 GB: 5

11.6-inch Apple MacBook Air 64 GB: 1

Many of you will point out that there are other things I should look at like USB or Thurderbolt ports. Other will see I should give the iPad another win for having more and better cameras or having an LTE option available. I think, most of the market sees it my way, with the six categories I selected being what most buyers will consider.

Samsung Series 7 NP740U3E-S01PH - Touch Ultrabook

Intel has mandated that all Ultrabooks with the next generation Haswell processors be touchscreen devices. While Haswell is still a few months away, several manufacturers are already releasing touchscreen Ivy Bridge Ultrabooks. The latest Samsung Series 7 released in the Philippines is one such model. 

The new Samsung Series 7 NP740U3E-S01PH ushers in the era of next generation Ultrabooks with a 13.3-inch, Full HD touch panel. That's a sharp 1920 x 1080p display. Powering the device is a Intel Core i7-3537UM processor with a AMD Radeon 8570M graphics and 1 GB of dedicated video RAM. The device has 4 GB of system RAM and storage via a 128 GB SSD. Battery life is a good 7+ hours. All this is encased in a 0.74-inch thick shell which which weighs in at about 3.6 pounds. 

The Samsung Series 7 NP740U3E-S01PH will set you back all of Php69,900. This is a good choice for those who want a high end touch Ultrabook.  The price puts it in direct competition with the 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display. It also makes it much more expensive their my current favorite portable, the Samsung Series 9 NP900X3D.

Samsung Series 9 NP900X3D-A03PH - 13 inch Macbook Air/Zenbook Killer?

When talk comes around to reasonable priced low cost 13-inch Ultrabooks these days, the discussion often centers around the Apple's MacBook Air and Asus Zenbook. Samsung wants to break into that party, with its Samsung Series 9 NP900X3D. 

The Samsung Series 9 NP900X3D comes in a sleek all metal body which is just 2.49 pounds in weight and 0.52 mm thin. This makes it 0.5 pounds lighter and 0.15 mm thinner than its Apple and Asus competitors. Priced at Php52,900 with a 128 GB SSD, it also shaves a bit off the price, being priced Php3,000 lower than the comparably spec'ed MacBook Air. The price includes a Windows 8 license.

The display is a 13.3-inch, 400nit display with a high resolution 1600 x 900 resolution making it a bit sharper than Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air. The display is also Anti-Reflective which provides better legibility outdoors. The display is not a touchscreen display though.

Inside, you have a sufficiently powerful Intel Core i5 3317U processor with 4 GB of RAM. The package has everything you expect with a Micro-HDMI port, a 3-in-1 card reader and USB 3.0. I do not have any information on battery life yet. 

The thinner aspect of this laptop does not appeal to me too much. But the 2.49 pound weight does. It tips the scales at the same weight as an 11.6-inch MacBook Air. This certainly makes the Samsung Series 9 NP900X3D worthy of a long look if you are looking to buy a 13-inch ultraportable.

Dell Inspiron 14z Ultrabook

It has been some time since Dell laptops have been considered the best in the business, but if the new releases are like the new Inspiron 14z Ultrabook, the Dell brand could again be the choice for many. Rather than follow the pack and try to make the laptop as thin as possible, Dell's Inspiron 14z Ultrabook just does minimum compliance with the Ultrabook standard. This 14-inch laptop is 0.83-inches thick and weighs in a 4.1 pounds, which is a bit thicker and heavier than your typical Ultrabook.

But Dell has achieved a bit of product differentiation with the with the Inspiron 14z Ultrabook. The Dell Inspiron 14z Ultrabook has a discrete video, card an AMD 7570M graphics chip, and DVD drive. These are two features which you do not see in an Ultrabook.

Priced at Php42,990, with Windows 8 pre-installed the other specifications are good for the asking price. An Intel Core i5-3317U processor and 4 GB of RAM power the Dell Inspiron 14z Ultrabook. Storage is via a 500 GB hard drive with a 32 GB SSD cache.

The direct competitors of the Dell Inspiron 14z are the Acer S3 and Samsung NP530U3C, both of which sell for a bit less than the Dell. The Acer and Samsung have a smaller 13.3-inch displays, and are thinner and lighter. But the Acer and Samsung Ultrabooks do not have discrete graphics or a optical drive. The Asus Zenbook UX32VD Ultrabook has discrete graphics, but cost much more at Php59,900.  HP's Envy Utrabook 4 is comparably priced, offers discrete graphics but has no optical drive.

The Dell Inspiron 14z does a good job of offering a set of features that its competitors do not have. This distinction will make Dell Inspiron 14z the choice for those looking for a powerful Ultrabook with an optical drive.

Three Low Cost Ultrabooks to Consider

An Ultrabook is slim Intel powered laptop with either SSD storage or an SSD cache drive to allow for instant wake from sleep. When the first models came out in the Philippine in October 2011, they cheaper Ultrabooks were priced at about Php45,000. Now, sixteen months later, Ultrabook prices have gone down by 30%, low enough to make them choices for the mainstream consumer.

Acer Aspire S3-391-33214G52add - Php32,900

A good place to start is Acer's entry level Aspire S3. This 13.3-inch Ultrabook is just 0.68-inches at its thickest point and weighs in a just 3.1 pounds. An Intel Core i3-3217U processor and 4 GB of RAM should provide sufficient power for most users. The laptop also comes with Windows 8, a 500 GB hard drive, 20 GB SSD cache drive, an 2-in-1 card reader, USB 3.0, HDMI out and all the bells and whistles you expect from a current laptop. The battery is a 3280 mAh unit.

Samsung Series 5 NP530U3C-A09PH - Php34,990

An alternative option is the Samsung Series 5 NP530U3C-A09PH. This Ultrabook has specifications almost identical to the Acer Aspire S3-391. It comes with a large 24 GB SSD cache drive, and a 4-in-1 card reader and a full sized Gigabit LAN port. The battery is slightly a smaller 3060 mAh unit.

Between this and the Acer Aspire S3-391, I would think look and feel would be the deciding factor.

Asus Vivobook S400CA-CA006H - Php35,990

Asus has something decidedly different to offer. Asus does not call it an Ultrabook, but with an Intel Core i3-3327U processor, a 500 GB hard drive with a 24 GB SSD cache drive, being just a tad over 0.8-inches in weight and weighing in at about 4-pounds I think we can classify this 14-inch laptop as a Ultrabook. The additional weight and thickness can be understood when you take into consideration the larger screen size, and the edge to edge glass used to protect the touchscreen.

The touchscreen is probably what will decide if this is the one for you.

Samsung NP510R5E-S01PH and Samsung NP530U4C-S06PH - Portables that Pack a Punch

Traditionally, Ultrabooks were expensive laptops designed for those who preferred portability over power and were willing to make compromised fast storage capacity for fast boot and wake speeds. Over time PC manufacturers have worked to make the Ultrabook less of a compromise by packing more powerful hardware in those slime cases. At the same time "Slimbooks" or "Sleekbooks" have been designed around Ultrabook specifications to bring down the price. Samsung two newest offerings in the Philippines are good examples of this.

The Samsung NP510R5E are Samsung NP530U4C both 14-inch laptops built on Samsung's slim 0.79-inch Series 5 case. Both feature powerful Intel Core i7 processors, a second discrete graphics card and 1 Terabyte of storage. Neither one features a touchscreen,

Samsung NP510R5E. The Samsung NP510R5E is the cheaper among the two at Php44,900, and offers very good kit for the money.

Quick specs:

- Windows 8 SL

- 14' WXGA (1366 x 768) LED Display 

- Intel Core i7-3537U Mobile Processor (2.0 GHz/4MB L2 Cache)

- 2GB dedicated AMD HD7670M Graphics

- 8 GB DDR3

- 1TB SATA HDD

- 1.3 MP Webcam

- Bluetooth 4.0

- 4 in 1 Card Reader

- 1 x USB 3.0 Port, 2 x USB 2.0,

- HDMI

- 4 cell battery

- 3.55 pounds

It is a very powerful, but very potable package.

The Samsung NP510R5E is not an Ultrabook not being equipped with a SSD cache drive. The SSD cache drive really only helps the laptop resume from sleep better so its absence may or may not be all that important to you.

Samsung NP530U4C. The Samsung NP530U4C is the higher end model priced at Php52,900.

Quick specs:

- Windows 8 SL

- 14' WXGA (1366 x 768) LED Display 

- Intel Core i7-3157U Mobile Processor (1.9 GHz/ 4MB L2 Cache)

- 1GB dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT620M Graphics

- 6 GB DDR3

- 1TB SATA HDD + 24GB SSD

- 1.3 MP Webcam

- Bluetooth 4.0

- 4 in 1 Card Reader,

- 1 x USB 3.0 Port, 2 x USB 2.0

- HDMI

- 4 cell battery

- 3.75 pounds

Ironically, the more expensive Samsung NP530U4C has a slower processor and less RAM, and comes with slower graphics (opinions on this do vary). It does give you a 24 GB SSD cache drive. Depending on your sense of priorities you may prefer one over the other, but Samsung NP510R5E-S01PH looks like the better deal among the two.

Apple Cuts Prices of it MacBooks and Upgrades a Few

Good news, Apple has upgraded several of its MacBook's and at the same time slashed prices:

11.6-inch MacBook Air - 64 GB

- Price cut from Php47,990 to Php46,990

11.6-inch MacBook Air - 128 GB

- Price cut from Php52,990 to Php50,990

13-inch MacBook Air - 128 GB

- Price cut from Php57,990 to Php55,990

13-inch MacBook Air - 256 GB

- Price cut from Php72,990 to Php64,990

13-inch MacBook Pro  - 2.5 GHz

- Price cut from Php57,990 to Php55,990

13-inch  MacBook Pro  - 2.9 GHz SSD

- Price cut from Php97,990 to Php79,990

13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display - 128 GB SSD

- Price cut from Php82,990 to Php69,990

13-inch  MacBook Pro with Retina Display - 256 GB SSD

- Processor upgraded from 2.5 GHz to 2.6 GHz

- Price cut from Php97,990 to Php79,990

15-inch  MacBook Pro with Retina Display - 2.4 GHz

- Processor upgraded from 2.3 GHz to 2.4 GHz

- Price cut from Php107,990 to Php102,990

15-inch  MacBook Pro with Retina Display - 2.7 GHz

- Processor upgraded from 2.6 GHz to 2.7 GHz

- Price cut from Php137,990 to Php130,990

The deepest price cuts are with the 13-inch Retina models and the 13-inch MacBook Air with 256 GB of SSD storage.

Asus Taichi21-CW001H

Asus Taichi21 is a Php85,990 Windows 8 11.6-inch laptop. At that price these is little reason to focus on the specifications. For that price you get a Core i7 processor, 4 GB of RAM, a 256 GB SSD drive and a Full HD (1080 x 1920) display. But none of those specifications will make you decide to buy the Asus Taichi. This draw of this laptop is all about the dual screen. See, the Asus Taichi comes with two Full HD displays on its lid.

Close the lid and you can use it like a tablet. Open the lid, and you can use it like a laptop. The second display could also be used to show other people what you are working on, which could be useful for small group presentations. But the most amazing thing, is both screens can function independently. You can be typing a report on one side, while some plays angry birds on the other.

In terms of design and construction, what is even more amazing is that Asus manage to place to screens and keep thickness down to just 0.68-inches and weight to just 2.75 pounds.

Given the high price, the Asus Taichi is not going to be a big seller in the Philippines. For 86K, you can buy a tablet and a decent laptop, and have cash to spare. Still, if you are looking for a device that will turn heads, this is it.

Asus Zenbook Touch UX31A-C4027H - Touch Ultrabook

The 13.3-inch Asus Zenbook Touch UX31A-C4027H is a fairly expensive option at Php76,990. The high price is mainly because of the 256 GB SSD drive and Core i7 processor. At Php77K, is cost as much as a 13-inch Macbook Air with a 256 GB SSD and Core i7 processor. But the Asus Zenbook Touch UX31A-C4027H does come with two tricks up its sleeve to woo potential MacBook Air buyers. It comes with a Full HD (1920 x 1080) display, which has a much higher resolution than the 1440 x 900 display you find on 13-inch Macbook Air's. The other trick? Well, its a true Windows 8 device, so it comes with a touchscreen.

Whether you like them or not, it is just a matter of a few weeks when pretty much all Windows PC's, except the lowest cost models, will be touchscreen devices. Go shopping for a laptop now and you will  find excellent deal on mid-level and high end non touchscreen laptops. Asus low cost VivoBook touchscreen series of laptops covers the entry level portables. For hose looking for something with higher specifications, Asus has the Zenbook line, with all new models now coming with touchscreen.

The Asus Zenbook Touch UX31A-C4027H is an ultrabook, so as expected it is a thin 0.7 inches, weighs in at just about 3 pounds. A 6840 mAh battery promises long battery life. It comes with all the bells and whistles you expect from an Ultrabook at this price, including a 4 GB of RAM, USB 3.0 and HDMI out.  

Lenovo Ideapad Yuga 13

A second Lenovo Ideapad Yoga Window laptop is now available in the Philippines, the 13-inch Lenovo Ideapad Yoga 13 joining its little brother. 

The Yoga is Lenovo's line of laptops which feature a lid that can fold all the way over to the back, allowing it to be used as a tablet. Exactly who would want a 13-inch, 3.4 pound, tablet I do now know.  Most people looking a a Yoga 13 will probably look at it more as a touchscreen Ultrabook.

The Lenovo Ideapad Yuga 13 being just 0.67-inches thin, weighing in at just over 3 pounds, with a 128 GB of SSD storage, and up to 8 hours of battery life, qualifies as an Ultrabook.  Priced at Php60,990,  The Yuga 13 comes with Windows 8, an Intel Core i5 3317U processor and 4 GB of RAM. The price is a bit on the steep side for the Philippine marker, but that is the typical price for laptops with these kind of specifications. The SSD drive is what drives up the price, but is well worth it.  You can get it at 12-months deferred payment at this price, and can negotiate a lower price if you pay cash or straight payment on your credit card.

The Lenovo Ideapad Yuga 13 is well worth the asking price, but an alternative option would be Asus VivoBook S400CA which is priced at a lower Php35,990. The Asus VivoBook S400CA is cheaper, but is both thicker, heavier and comes with a hybrid storage rather than SSD storage.

MSI S20 Slider Touch Ultrabook

MSI has released it own take on what the new touch enable PC form factor should be, with its Windows 8 powered MSI S20 Slider. This is similar to the design of the Sony Vaio Duo 11 Slider PC. The slider design allows for devices to be used as a laptop or tablet.

MSI also calls its Slider an Ultrabook, and it does qualify as one. This 11.6-inch tablet PC is just 0.8-inches thick and weighs in at just 2.6 pounds. 

It is a bit expensive at Php49,900, but its specifications justify the price. It comes with an 11.6-inch Full HD IPS display. Yup, it has as 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. Muscle is provided by an Intel Core i5-i3317U processor and 4GB of RAM. That is what you would expect from a Ultrabook price at this level. Storage is 128 GB using a SSD drive. A 2-in-1 memory card slot can be used to increase this. It also comes with WiFi, HDMI out and Bluetooth 4.0.

Php49,900 is a steep price, but the MSI S260 Slider justifies its asking price well with its specifications. Compared to a 11.6-inch MacBook Air for the same price, you get the same amount of processing power with double the storage. You also get a higher resolution display and touch functionality.

Given its price, I don't see it becoming a volume seller. But if you are looking to spend about 50K on a new laptop, you should definitely give this one a look.

CES 2013 and the New WIndows 8 Form Factor

Looking at the coverage of the Consumer Electronics show, one of the main drivers this year is Windows 8. Intel has made touchscreen as a standard requirement for a laptop to be called an Ultrabook. For 2013, whether Ultrabook, Sleekbook or by whatever other name they are called, what you should expect more and more are touchscreen laptops. The question really is, what new form factor will be dominant.

Removal display.  One common solution is to have a display, that can be removed from the keyboard. This seems like a reasonable enough solution. But I think this suits the desk-bound office worker more. In the morning, drag the tablet and keyboard dock with you. When in the office, you can pull out the tablet component and bring the tablet part of it with you to meetings. At home, the keyboard dock will sit on your desk while you browse the web with your tablet while resting comfortably on your couch. 

Swivels, sliders and the like. The other solution is to find a way to rotate, swivel open the lid or having a sliding keyboard in such a way that it lies flat with the keyboard. When you use the device in tablet mode, you have the keyboard laying under it. This all sounds well and good, till you realize that you have a 2.8 pound tablet.

Keyboard integrated into the carry case. The solution of Microsoft, with its surface was to integrate a keyboard into the carry case. The good part is that in tablet mode, the device is as light as a tablet. The bad part is, even with the "Type" keyboard cover, tactile feedback is limited. This is my "favorite" solution among the three, but I have not bought one of these yet, which does tell you something. 

Leave well enough alone. The other option is just to replace the laptop display with a touchscreen display and not do anything else. Most likely, when I pick-up my next laptop, I will go with one of these. Really, I am happy with a keyboard and trackpad (an will be running Linux on it anyway).

Which of these solutions pans out as the new default, I do not know. What is your favorite hybrid solution?

Asus Vivobook S400CA-CA006H - 14-Inch Touch Screen Ultrabook

Looking for a 14-inch touchscreen notebook? The Asus Vivobook S400CA-CA006H is a 14-inch version of the 11.6-inch Vivobook x202e, upgraded to Ultrabook specifications. The touchscreen feature is designed to maximize the Windows 8 operating system on board.

The Asus Vivobook S400CA has a 14-inch HD display on a 0.8-inch chassis which weighs about 4 pounds. It is powered by an Intel Core i5 3317U processor and 4 GB of RAM. With a 500 GB hard drive back-up by a 24 GB SSD cache the Asus Vivobook S400CA qualifies to be classified as an Ultrabook.

The Asus Vivobook S400CA is priced at Php35,990. It does not have any direct competition in the Philippine market right now being a 14-inch touchscreen device. 

When it comes to touchscreen PC's I kind of think they be kept in the 10.1 to 12.5-inch form factors. What do you all think?

Shopping for a Windows 8 Laptop

I was looking for a new ultraportable laptop for my wife. The MacBook Air with a 128 GB SSD storage is nice, if somewhat pricey option, at Php52,990 for an 11.6-inch unit and Php57,990 for a 13.3-inch model. I asked her about the MacBook Air during the Apple sale two weeks about when I would be able to be get a 5K discount, but she said she was no too happy using OSX on my own 13-inch MacBook Air. 

Also the idea of a touchscreen laptop appeals to her. I got her a tablet two years ago, and from time to time now she mistakenly touches the screen of here old faithful HP Compaq 6510b, which has served here well for five years. 

The Sony Vaio Duo is a very interesting option, but starting at Php69,999, that is a fair bit more than my budget. I like it though, but I do wonder how much it will be used in tablet mode, being all of 2.8 pounds. 

Reading reviews the best regarded is the Dell XPS 12 Convertible. 

At Php65,990, it is a tab bit cheaper than the Sony Vaio Duo. Still more than I would like to spend. Like the Sony Vaio Duo, it can convert itself into a tablet too, but that would be a 12.5-inch, 3.3 pound tablet. 

The Lenovo ThinkPad S230u at Php55,990 is getting around a price that I am more willing to shell out for. Unlike the previous models mentioned, this one does not have SSD storage, but instead a 500 GB conventional hard drive. Still, it would be a 12.5-inch, 3.48 pound tablet.

Looking at the 11.6-inch Acer Aspire S7, I found something I really like. At Php59,900 it is expensive, but something around the budget I set. It has a 128 GB of flash storage, and this 11.6-inch touch screen laptop is thinner and lighter than the 11.6-inch MacBook Air. 

Now you cannot convert to tablet configuration. But my wife uses her 7-inch tablet with a kickstand case, and my friends with iPad's all seem to use it at a 45 degree angle propped up by a case. So I do not consider the ability to not be able to have it lay flat on its own keyboard a big loss.

I think this would make a good choice for her and I am really sold on the 2.3 pound weight. The 1080p display is a nice bonus.

Is there anything cheaper that would meet the grade. 

The Microsoft Surface RT is not a Windows 8 machine, but with a web browser and MS Office it would suit her fine. I wont run her old Kodak photo editing software, but really there are better options these days. Price at Php37,999 it is not a bad choice at all. About 2 pounds with the keyboard. The only thing is that it looks like if I want 64 GB, I will have to have it bundled with a Touch Keyboard Cover, even if what I want is the Type Keyboard Cover. The type cover being all of Php6,999, if I wanted the 64 GB version, than that would set me back Php44,998, but I would have a spare keyboard cover. 

The 8-10 hour battery life also makes this option interesting. But 64 GB storage wont be enough for a primary machine. 

Another option would be to get the 32 GB Microsoft Surface without a keyboard (Php29,999), add a Type Keyboard Cover (Php6,999) and a Class 10 64 GB microSDXC card (Php4,488). That all comes down to Php41,448 for a 2 pound package with 8-10 hours of battery life with 96 GB of storage, with about 80 GB user available. 

A really low cost option is the Asus VivoBook 202E. Both the Celeron and Intel Core i3 powered variants of the Asus ViviBook 202e are easy on the pocket, at Php20,990 and Php26,990, respectively.  Looking at the Asus ViviBook 202e, it is nicely built with a aluminum (or aluminum like?) deck and lid. The only time I feel like it is a 20K laptop is when I type with the keyboard which feels a bit less tactile than I would like. 

It is between the the Acer Aspire S7 at Php59,900, a Microsoft Surface RT at Php44,998 or a Asus ViboBook 202e at Php26,990. So, which to get?

Acer 11.6-inch Aspire S7-191-53314G12ASS

I am typing this now, lying in bed with a pillow propping up my back, an my 13-inch Macbook Air nestled between my legs and belly. It is a fairly comfortable lazy working position. This is probably the kind of situation when a Windows 8 touchscreen laptop is more useful than a tablet with a keyboard. With the screen a a foot and a half from my face, it would not be too difficult to reach for it and manipulate it. In all fairness, I am perfectly happy using the touchpad, but being able to reach out a touch a link might be a bit faster than navigating with the touchpad.

I do not feel like a touchscreen laptop is all that easy to manipulate on a desk or table, but when it is on your lap, that is a different story. 

This is what laptops like the Windows 8 powered Acer's 11.6-inch Aspire S7 is supposed to allow you to do. The 11.6-inch laptop is extremely light, coming in at 2.29 pounds. That is substantially lighter than an 11.6-inch MacBook Air.  The Acer Aspire S7 is also extremely thin, at just 12.2 mm (or 0.48 inches), which makes a MacBook Air look chubby by comparison. This makes it easy to use is irregular positions. The laptop also has an intake and exhaust fan at the back to keep it cool when on your lap. 

Inside the razor thin case is a fairly power Intel Core i5-3317U with 4 GB of RAM. Storage is provided by a 128 GB SSD. A 3790 mAh battery promises 5 hours of battery life. The Acer Aspire S7 also has a backlit display that automatically lights up when the conditions grow dark. Capping of the specifications is a 11.6-inch IPS Full HD (1920 x 1080) display. The lid is protected by white Gorilla Glass 2 to protect it from scratches. The rest of the case is made of aluminum.

All this costs all of Php59,900. Still whether you use the touchscreen or not, it looks like Acer has created the ultimate ultraportable.

Dell XPS 12 Convertible Touch Ultrabook

Dell has released its own Windows 8 centric laptop, the Dell XPS 12 Convertible Touch Ultrabook.  Lenovo used the traditional Tablet PC for factor for its ThinkPad Edge 230su and Sony used the less familiar but not innovative slider design for its Sony Vaio Duo. Dell, well they did something different using a new type of swivel mount. 

All three laptops allow for the use of the device as both a laptop and tablet. Dell's solution is the most novel. Dell also calls their device an Ultrabook.

The Dell XPS 12 Convertible Touch Ultrabook weighs in at 3.3 pounds which meets Intel standards for an Ultrabook, but its 0.95 inches in thickness does not. That is a minor point. It's price of Php65,990 is not. That is some serious money.

But the Dell XPS 12 Convertible Touch Ultrabook specifications seem to be enough to justify the hefty price. The laptops 12.5-inch display is a Full HD (1920 x 1080) display, the Intel Core i5-3317U processor is powerful enough and the 4 GB of RAM is sufficient. Also is comes with a SSD drive, a 128 GB unit being equipped on the 65K unit. For this much money, I would have like double the RAM and storage. Battery life in real world tests is a tad over 5 hours.

After looking at three new offerings designed around Windows 8,  all are expensive. The Dell XPS 12 Convertible Touch Ultrabook actually compares pretty well price wise comparing favorable with thins like a 13-inch MacBook Air (Php57,990), with the 8K difference being justified by the Full HD display. 

If you want a new touch oriented Windows 8 laptop, this is the best of the three I have seen so far.

     

Apple Philippines One Day Sale

Apple Philippines is having a one day sale today. The Apple iPad 2 16 GB (WiFi and WiFi + 3G) is being offered at Php1,392 off the suggested retail price. The  MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are being discounted at Php4,892 off the suggested retail price.

The discounted prices being the same across the board, this makes the 11.6-inch MacBook Airs and the 13-inch MacBook Air (128 GB) particularly interesting. 

Apple Philippine is also offering a discount on iPods and accessories. Check out the full list of items on sale at Apple Philippine's website. It's a one day sale, so don't think about it too long. 

A Look at Windows 8 Part 3: The new "hybrid" devices

In Part 2 of this post I took a look at some of the early Windows 8 touchscreen laptops to hit the market. While the touch function is interesting, I really do not see how these devices will excite people enough to go out an buy Windows 8 laptops by the millions. Windows 8 was built with tablets in mind, and new devices which bridge the gap between laptops and tablets is what Microsoft is counting on to make the Windows 8 family a success. 

Microsoft's own take on the matter was its 10.1-inch and 11.6-inch surface tablets. Pretty much conventional tablets which integrate a keyboard in the tablets protective case. Essentially, this is a Windows RT tablet that can serve as a laptop. The concept of plugging a keyboard into a tablet is nothing new. The Surface's innovation is being able to do it in a way that the keyboard accessory is not a burden to carry around.  

Microsoft Surface

I have seen the US$699 Surface 64 GB version, with touch cover for sale here, a bit overpriced at Php37,999. The 32 GB version, with the touch cover should be priced at about 30K would be a more competitive offering. With "Type" keyboard instead of the "Touch" keyboard it makes a very compelling laptop weighing in at less than two pounds.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga in laptop mode

Other concepts like the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga do the reverse. The Yoga comes in two sizes. One with a 11.6-inch display. The other with a 13.3-inch display. The Yoga is essentially a Ultrabook that can serve as a tablet. 

With prices starting at US$799 for the 11.6-inch version, it does seem to be one of the more interesting Windows 8 designs. 

But the Philippines is a developing country. I do not see the new hybrid Windows 8 devices ending the growing dominance of the growing number of Android and Apple tablets which inhabit the below Php20,000 price point to be slowed by devices costing Php30,000 or more. These days, access to a computer can be had for less than Php5,000 via one of the low cost "China" tablets. I do not expect any Windows 8 devices that will compete in the lower price ranges for the foreseeable future.

Your next laptop is still likely to run Windows. MacBooks are expensive, and Linux lacks the software. But I suspect you will be keeping your current laptop for a very long time. Before you replace it, you probably would have bought two smartphones and two tablets... and this is bad news for Micrsosoft's OEM partners.

A Look at Windows 8 Part 4: The tip of the iceberg

A Look at Windows 8 Part 2: Keeping the tablet at bay

In Part 1 of this post, we noted that Windows 8 is part of Microsofts long terms strategy of maintain its position as the dominant desktop operating system. Microsoft's OEM partners need to generate sales today, and look to Windows 8 to shore up PC sales.

A bit of history. Late in 2007, Asus took Intel's remaining stocks of outdated Celeron processors, put it in a frame with a ill-fitting 7-inch display and called it the Eee PC. The first Asus Eee PC sold 300,000 units in four months. Other OEM's started building their own small low cost mini-laptops, Intel created the Atom processor, Microsoft extended the life of Windows XP and over 100 million "Netbooks" were sold. Between a worldwide financial crisis and demand in developing countries the Netbook was a sales success.

But no one liked selling these things. A friend of mine who sold laptops, hated selling netbooks. Profit margins were low. And that was true down the line. OEM's, Intel and Microsoft were making less per Netbook sold, and so the product was allowed to languish with only incremental improvements being made to the platform. I don't think users really enjoyed using them. I bought two, and never really liked either. The plan was, to eventually phase out netbooks and go back to selling higher priced laptops. 

In 2010, Apple launched its iPad tablet. It came out at a price point close to what netbooks were sold for. Came with an operating system and software ecosystem built around the form factor. The iPads could play HD media and were good gaming platforms. For the consumer market, the iPad brought the capabilities consumers wanted from their Netbooks.

Instead of Netbooks being phased out and laptops taking their place, tablets took over the market. In the third quarter of 2012, 27.8 million tablets were sold. Apple sold 14 million iPad's and the rest sold 13.8 million tablets. Instead of the Netbook being phased out by the traditional laptop, it was wiped out by the tablet/ 

The OEM's, Intel and Microsoft probably regret they did not develop this segment more, all of whom have no significant market share in the tablet space.

Hence, Windows 8. The Windows 8 family is designed to take a share of the smartphone and tablet markets, with Windows phones, tablets and hybrid devices. This in turn would secure the future of Windows on the desktop. But that is a long term strategic move.

PC OEM's and Intel need a quick fix to shore up lagging PC sales. First came the Ultrabook, and now comes touch screen laptops. PC OEM's and Intel are hoping there new devices will convince prospective tablet buyers to buy a PC instead. They are also hoping that the new devices are exciting enough to make PC owners decide to upgrade their existing devices.

A few of these new devices have hit the Philippine market already. 

The Samsung NP-540U3C-A01PH brings full touchscreen functionality to its Ultrabook line. This 13.3-inch Core i5 laptop is priced at Php47,900, which will not make it a success in the Philippine market. It would appeal to a laptop owner looking to replace and existing laptop.

The other device, the Asus VivoBook X202e, is a more interesting device. Available in different configurations with a price range of Php20,990 to Php26,990, these 11.6-inch touchscreen laptops are priced low enough to compete with tablets, to be a second PC and items which a buyer might buy on impulse.

The question is does a touchscreen work well with the traditional laptop form factor? Using one for a bit, I found myself using the touchpad all the time. A fair number of laptop buyers still drag around a mouse, and maybe this will appeal to them. I just don't see it.

A Look at Windows 8 Part 3: The new "hybrid" devices