(Post Master Sr)

10/21/15 10:19 AM

Learn me on ultrabooks

Learn me on computers!
Buying a new one for work. Looking at Dell XPS13, and as usual, there are touch and non touch options. I never used Win 8 or 10 heavily before. Those who live with these OS's on a day to day basis - would touch be something I should be springing for? I'm thinking no, but clearly, my experience is limited and I would not know any better!

(Post Master Supreme)

10/21/15 10:40 AM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

https://www.asus.com/Notebooks/ZenBook_Pro_UX501/

(Post Master Sr)

10/21/15 10:45 AM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

I've preferred Asus or Lenovo.

I ended up purchasing a refurb Lenovo from CanComputers and upgraded the RAM myself ... An SSD is an absolute must.

re: touch, it's the new thing, and it's getting cheaper. I don't use it much... I'm also not a touchpad person either...

If you're looking at an 'ultrabook' for the sake of WEIGHT, then go as light as you can afford. i.e. don't be purchasing a massive i7-equipped machine with all the works, and then it comes in at 6lbs...

(Post Master Supreme)

10/21/15 11:00 AM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

I'm no expert but the touch computers work really well and if given the option I'd get one of those

(Post Master Supreme)

10/21/15 11:17 AM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

Originally Posted By: phoenixrage

https://www.asus.com/Notebooks/ZenBook_Pro_UX501/

Even the website looks like Apple's

(Sr Member)

10/21/15 11:32 AM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

For a quality laptop: MBP i7 w/ Bootcamp

Zenbook is alright. Currently on a Lenovo Y40 as it was dirt cheap (i7 for $1000) but its not an ultrabook and the performance sucks when battery life is 50% or less. I'm waiting for the X1 to come out. I went from Zenbook to MBP to W540 to MBA to Y40. I'd suggest 14-15" screen and a low resolution unless you are playing video games. The Zenbook had 1920x1080 on a tiny 13" screen, making text hard to read and I have/had 20/20 vision.

(Post Master Supreme)

10/21/15 11:45 AM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

I have the Dell XPS 13 on order, I went with it because of the form factor and matte screen.

If the quality/durability is poor or even Dell's customer service suck I will happily go back to Apple.

(Post Master Supreme)

10/21/15 12:17 PM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

Surface pro 4

(Post Master Sr)

10/21/15 01:29 PM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

Originally Posted By: Hatorade

Surface pro 4

(Post Master Sr)

10/21/15 02:39 PM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

Thanks for the tips, guys.
I will look into one with touch.
The surface pro looks really cool. Except it is not handy at all when you are sitting on a couch and typing (that keyboard wont work while holding the screen up in such a situation).

The only reason I lean toward the Dell is that it packs a 13 inch screen in something like an 11.5inch case. My #1 priority is def light weight. SSD is a must. A good screen is also preferred, as is proper batt life. I don't care too much about how much horsepower the machine has, as all my work is cloud based. Any other suggestions?

EDIT: Haven't had good luck with Asus or Acer. So I will be staying away from those.

(Sr Member)

10/21/15 03:02 PM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

I'll sell you my 2014 Macbook Air 13", lightly used... the wife uses it to watch TV shows.

Senor Eduardo_82

(Post Master Supreme)

10/21/15 03:09 PM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

Originally Posted By: phoenixrage

https://www.asus.com/Notebooks/ZenBook_Pro_UX501/

You mean SNSV, right?

(Post Master Sr)

10/21/15 03:32 PM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

Originally Posted By: xza8

I'll sell you my 2014 Macbook Air 13", lightly used... the wife uses it to watch TV shows.

Thanks for the offer. I'd prefer it to have a receipt, as it is a business writeoff $\:\)$

(Post Master)

10/21/15 03:50 PM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

OP: Well what do you need an ultrabook for anyway?

Do you code?
Do you do presentations?
Do you just browse the web?
Hardcore gamer?

What exactly do you plan on using this thing for?

(Post Master Sr)

10/21/15 04:51 PM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

^My OP post specified this was for business, but if you'd like more deets, I operate as a marketing consultant and travel to see clients in the states on a regular basis. I want/need a computer that is compact/light for travel, good battery life to last close to a full day on a charge if required.

Do I do presentations and workshops? Check.
Do I browse the web? Check.

That's about it, really.
My line if work is really more about business systems architecture in the world of marketing, but the platforms I use are either on prem (accessed via corporate network) or on the cloud. The machine itself doesn't need to be an insane workhorse.

That said, it would be nice to have a good screen to watch videos on too $\:D$

Does that help? XD

EDIT - oh and i do not game on pc. That's what gameboy advance is for XD XD

(Post Master Sr)

10/22/15 07:01 AM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

Anyone have tips on how to painlessly swap out an HDD to an SSD? i.e. how to easily transfer/copy the contents without much accessory hardware....

I'd assume you'd need some kind of SATA - USB connector to hook up the new SSD, then use software to copy over, then swap... ?

(Post Master Supreme)

10/22/15 07:33 AM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

Originally Posted By: 4age

^My OP post specified this was for business, but if you'd like more deets, I operate as a marketing consultant and travel to see clients in the states on a regular basis. I want/need a computer that is compact/light for travel, good battery life to last close to a full day on a charge if required.

Do I do presentations and workshops? Check.
Do I browse the web? Check.

That's about it, really.
My line if work is really more about business systems architecture in the world of marketing, but the platforms I use are either on prem (accessed via corporate network) or on the cloud. The machine itself doesn't need to be an insane workhorse.

That said, it would be nice to have a good screen to watch videos on too $\:D$

Does that help? XD

EDIT - oh and i do not game on pc. That's what gameboy advance is for XD XD

woh.. GBA.. thought you'd be on those old school LCD screen games.

(Post Master Supreme)

10/22/15 07:34 AM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

Originally Posted By: furball

Anyone have tips on how to painlessly swap out an HDD to an SSD? i.e. how to easily transfer/copy the contents without much accessory hardware....

I'd assume you'd need some kind of SATA - USB connector to hook up the new SSD, then use software to copy over, then swap... ?

some come with software and cable already.

(Post Master Sr)

10/22/15 10:47 AM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

Originally Posted By: 4age

^My OP post specified this was for business, but if you'd like more deets, I operate as a marketing consultant and travel to see clients in the states on a regular basis. I want/need a computer that is compact/light for travel, good battery life to last close to a full day on a charge if required.

Do I do presentations and workshops? Check.
Do I browse the web? Check.

That's about it, really.
My line if work is really more about business systems architecture in the world of marketing, but the platforms I use are either on prem (accessed via corporate network) or on the cloud. The machine itself doesn't need to be an insane workhorse.

That said, it would be nice to have a good screen to watch videos on too $\:D$

Does that help? XD

EDIT - oh and i do not game on pc. That's what gameboy advance is for XD XD

Surface pro 4.

You shouldn't be sitting on a couch with a laptop anyway/thread.

(Post Master Supreme)

10/22/15 12:19 PM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

XD XD XD

(Sr Member)

10/22/15 12:25 PM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

Originally Posted By: 4age

^My OP post specified this was for business, but if you'd like more deets, I operate as a marketing consultant and travel to see clients in the states on a regular basis. I want/need a computer that is compact/light for travel, good battery life to last close to a full day on a charge if required.

Do I do presentations and workshops? Check.
Do I browse the web? Check.

That's about it, really.
My line if work is really more about business systems architecture in the world of marketing, but the platforms I use are either on prem (accessed via corporate network) or on the cloud. The machine itself doesn't need to be an insane workhorse.

That said, it would be nice to have a good screen to watch videos on too $\:D$

Does that help? XD

EDIT - oh and i do not game on pc. That's what gameboy advance is for XD XD

Zenbook won't last more than 5 hours on the i7

If you want amazing battery life, I found the Macs running OSX to have the best battery life, lasting you a day. Not sure how the X1 compares.

(Post Master Supreme)

10/22/15 04:54 PM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

Originally Posted By: xza8

I'll sell you my 2014 Macbook Air 13", lightly used... the wife uses it to watch TV shows.

What's the spec and how much?

(Post Master Sr)

10/22/15 10:53 PM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

I'm posting this from my Asus UX31E Zenbook. Love it, would definitely buy again. I've had it 3 yrs. I broke the screen when it was 5 months old, it was replaced with the unconditional warranty. Recently got keyboard wet and replaced it myself with a $30 keyboard. Battery is still good for 5 hours. Needed to tighten the hinges once. GF loves it, dad loves it, I get a rough life for a pretty little computer. Always being used in factories to look at assembly photo's and videos, troubleshooting machinery code and touchscreens, airplanes, been around the world dozens of times, tossed around in the backpack.

I am not into touch. It's not got the ergonomics of a phone and I have little interest in touching my screen leaving marks.

(Post Master Supreme)

10/23/15 06:48 AM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

A bit off topic, how do any of you do "work" on a 13" machines? I get it, they are super light and convenient and I see more and more people switching to them at work, but aside from rattling away on emails and browsing the net I can't see how you can do anything in a spreadsheet as an example unless it's docked and you have a proper screen and number pad keyboard.

Also, do any ultra books come with a number pad?

(Post Master Sr)

10/23/15 07:36 AM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

None have number pad. With external mouse I'm good on mine. Its got a very high resolution screen so its just like being a little closer to a 22" screen. If you're anal about ergonomics it may not be for you but the screen and keyboard are good, its been my primary computer many times now. But my desktop still is better in so many ways although i don't mind the laptop one bit.

(Post Master Sr)

10/23/15 08:16 AM

Re: Learn me on ultrabooks

Originally Posted By: Risky Business

A bit off topic, how do any of you do "work" on a 13" machines? I get it, they are super light and convenient and I see more and more people switching to them at work, but aside from rattling away on emails and browsing the net I can't see how you can do anything in a spreadsheet as an example unless it's docked and you have a proper screen and number pad keyboard.

Also, do any ultra books come with a number pad?

u in finance, so i understand the concern.
you'll want a 15 inch ultrabook for your biz.

i dont touch spreadsheets XD