The primary culprit is SSD drives, which remain pricey even as traditional hard drives offer greater capacities as lower prices. Solid-state drives continue to offer comparatively huge dollar to gigabyte ratios, and their speed and power advantages are unlikely to win over the consumer market, which tends to focus on raw storage. Thin display panels and expensive metal chassis aren’t helping the situation. Many “premium” ultrabooks are still saddled with relatively high retail prices, like HP’s Envy 14 Spectre, hitting the street on Friday with a price of $1399.

Still, there’s light at the end of the tunnel for those who want power, style and battery life without breaking the bank. Suppliers and vendors claim that many models will land in Q2 just south of the $800 mark, though computer sellers will be making razor-thin margins and will likely push for either upgraded internals or more expensive alternatives. Intel stated at their CES Ultrabook press event that they’re hoping to see the spec lead to significant increases in both computing power and affordability – us too, Intel. Us too.

[via BGR]

Citing a source familiar with the new MacBook Pro design, AppleInsider reveals that the new Air-like MacBook Pros will be phased in over the course of this year. The revamped version of the more popular 15-inch model will be introduced first, followed by the 17-inch model later.

For the new notebooks, Apple is expected to eliminate optical disk drives and traditional hard drives, replacing them with solid-state drives. They will rely heavily on Thunderbolt for data transfer as well as digitally distributed software and media, such as downloads from the Mac App Store

The notebooks will feature extended battery life, instant-on capabilities, and Intel’s upcoming Ivy Bridge chips that are set to ship in April. However, it’s not clear whether the new Apple notebooks will be branded as MacBook Airs or MacBook Pros.

[via AppleInsider]

Hardware

Not so long ago, HP was synonymous with cheap, bulky and entirely plastic machines that would crack and warp at the drop of the hat. But with the ENVY, EliteBook and now the Folio lines, they’re bucking the trend and bringing a little pride back to the old Hewlett Packard name. The Folio is neither the thinnest nor the lightest Ultrabook around, but when the difference is measured in millimeters and ounces, that doesn’t necessarily bother me. The screen lid and palmrest use a stylish brushed aluminum that looks good while keeping fingerprints mostly invisible, but the bezel and underside are soft-touch plastic, probably chosen to keep the weight down.

The Folio has a few touches that are nice to see on a notebook starting at just $900, particularly the backlit keyboard – a rare sight even in supposedly upmarket Ultrabooks. Since HP fancies this a business-class machine, that means comparing the keyboard to the best: Lenovo’s ThinkPads. While the short travel and slight flex of the keys don’t quite measure up to those lofty goals, it’s plenty comfortable even for extended typing, and the chicklet style makes it easy to care for. For those who place high importance on such a small detail (like yours truly) the Function key is to the right of the Control key, so you won’t have any trouble with the key combos stored in your muscle memory. The right shift key is also full-sized, unlike some Asus models.

The touchpad on the Folio deserves particular attention, because it’s the first all-in-one design I’ve seen that can hold a candle to the MacBook. While it’s not quite as easy to glide the cursor around due to a plastic construction, it’s still accurate and responsive. And, miracle of miracles, it’s the first PC touchpad with an integrated click that I’ve been able to reliably perform a triple-tap on, which defaults to the extremely useful middle-click command.

Ports on the Folio are a little lacking, but no more so than they are on competing models. On the left you get Ethernet, HDMI, USB 3.0 and an SD card slot, while on the right you get a spare USB 2.0 and a combined headphone/microphone port. Aside from that, the 13-inch 1366×768 screen and commendable Dolby speakers are the extent of the input/output options. Inside the base model features a Core i5 ULV processor, 4GB of DDR3 memory, Intel HD3000 integrated graphics and a 128GB solid state drive.

All of these are perfectly functional, and even pretty good values given the price – except for the screen. Ignoring for a moment that the only resolution option is the rather pedestrian 1366×768, the screen’s contrast is awful. Reading anything but black-on-white text it a chore, and I had to change the default Windows color scheme to something darker just to avoid straining my eyes. Considering the excellent LED screen on the ENVY 15, this is a major dissapointment. If the rest of the Folio’s charms lead you to consider a purchase, make sure and find one in a retail environment before laying down you cash, just to make sure you’re alright with the sub-par screen.

Software

The Folio 13 comes with Windows 7 Professional 64-bit, in line with the “business Ultrabook” moniker. The laptop is surprisingly free of bloatware, choosing instead to display a few easily-deleted links on the desktop. You still get HP’s suite of built-in detritus, including a movie and game store, plus Microsoft’s ubiquitous Bing bar and Office trial. Norton anti-virus and Evernote are some you might actually want to hold on to, but for those who prefer a stock experience, it shouldn’t take more than twenty minutes or so to remove all the unwanted software. This is a much better state of affairs than you’ll find on many equivalent laptops, even in the “premium” space.

Performance

After loading up some of my proffered programs like Chrome, getting around the familiar Windows interface was easy and without issue. Though the screen was a problem, it’s more than mitigated by the Folio’s excellent battery life – more on that later. The little Folio’s specifications are more than enough to handle basic browsing, office and media tasks, and should do just fine with more advanced fare like Photoshop editing in a pinch – just don’t expect it to get 30 frames per second in Skyrim. But then, you’d never play on company time, would you?

Media & Battery

While the Folio lacks the Beats audio found on the ENVY line, the Dolby speakers that run between the hinges are more than loud enough to enjoy a movie comfortably between three or four people. Hi-fi they’re not (even if the rather fetching grille implies as such) but for a laptop, and especially one so small, they’re more than serviceable. With relatively little storage space and no DVD drive, you’ll have to rely on web video for most of your visual entertainment, and I’m sorry to say that the combination of low-bitrate video and a low-contrast screen is not a pleasant one. The reflective plastic finish doesn’t help, but it’s far from the worst that I’ve seen.

And now we come to the area where the Folio 13 absolutely shines: the battery. HP has made a point of extolling its 9-hour life in advertising, so I made sure to put the little laptop through its paces. I’m pleased to report that it broke the 8-hour mark in two tests and made it all the way to 9:15 on a third before dying. That’s almost exactly as much as my ThinkPad T420 with an extended 9-cell battery – that’s it dwarfing the Folio in the photo above. While there’s no replaceable battery option, this should be more than enough for anything short of a cross-continental flight. I performed my tests with 60% brightness and medium-to-heavy web browsing, with some Flash video thrown in – if you spend all your time on Netflix or YouTube, expect that figure to dip a bit.

Wrap-up

The Folio 13 is a good showing for HP, combining solid value, admirable build quality and excellent longevity into a package that’s only slightly bigger than other Ultrabooks. If you’re looking for an ultrabook that won’t have you scrambling for a power outlet, this is pretty much your only option at the moment – for an afternoon outing you can even leave the AC power adapter behind. The screen is an unfortunate fly in the ointment, but it’s counter-balanced by the best all-in-one touchpad I’ve ever used on the PC side of things. If you’ve got a budget that won’t stretch beyond a thousand dollars and a desire for all-day computing in a light package, the Folio might be the best in a field of one. That said, with all the Ultrabooks shown at CES 2012 (including HP’s own stunning ENVY 14 Spectre) you might wait a couple of months before making your final decision.

For a look at all the nooks and crannies, have a gander at our hands-on video below:

The Classmate+ laptops, first introduced early last year, are designed to withstand rough treatment from student use. This new generation of Classmate+ laptops are designed to be even tougher, featuring a keyboard with enhanced water resistance, a stronger corner design, reinforced steel hinge, and a more durable DC jack.

The 10.1-inch anti-glare screen is available with capacitive touch and stylus capability on the convertible model and optional high-brightness or high-definition available to both models. The laptops run on an Intel Atom N2600 processor with up to 2GB DDR3 memory and up to 320GB HDD or up to 32GB SSD storage. They also offer three USB ports, VGA, an optional HDMI port, and webcam. Battery life is now extended to all-day use, up to 10 hours on a 6-cell battery.

The new Lenovo Classmate+ laptops will be available starting this month, however, they are limited to education and government customers only. Pricing is not listed and will vary depending on configuration options. The laptop comes in a standard gray color, but can be made in custom colors with a minimum quantity order.

The OCZ Deneva 2 mSATA SSDs are touted as being faster, more efficient, smaller, and lighter as well as more reliable, longer-lasting, and secure. They are much lighter than traditional SSDs, weighing about 10 times less than a standard SSD and 15 times less than a conventional 2.5-inch hard drive. Their ultra thin profile allows them to fit into dimensions less than 21mm thick.

The Deneva 2 mSATA SSD series also includes SATA 3.0 and 120GB versions, but those have not been Intel certified for ultrabooks yet. The models certified are the D2CSTEMS1A10-0030 and D2CSTEMS1A10-0060. The series boasts max read speeds of up to 280MB/s, max write speeds of up to 260MB/s, and up to 32,000 4K random write iOPS.

[via TheVerge]

The ThinkPad X1 Hybrid is an updated version of the super-skinny X1, reconfigured with an eye towards utility. Claiming double CPU performance and quadruple graphics from an integrated Intel chip, Lenovo is positioning the 13-inch X1 Hybrid as a business-class laptop with excellent media features. Those include a high-definition display (not detailed) with Corning Gorilla Glass, an HD webcam, Dolby Home Theater sound and both HDMI and Intel Wireless Display technology. To satisfy your IT admin you get an encrypted hard drive and remote system management, plus a fingerprint reader. Processor options will include Core i3, i5 and i7.

Lenovo has addressed battery issues with two features: a low-power Media Mode powered by a separate Qualcomm dual-core processor (hence the Hybrid name), and RapidCharge technology that allows it to fill 80% of its battery in 30 minutes. The Media Mode loads up a custom operating system that should sip battery while still giving users access to WiFi connections, Internet browsing and basic files. Think of it as a tablet that’s trapped inside a ThinkPad body. The X1 is factory rated for 10 hours of battery life, though the longevity of the Instant Media Mode was not disclosed.

On the lower end of Lenovo’s business scale is the ThinkPad T430u, which they’re calling an “Ultrabook that’s all business.” It would take a lot for an Ultrabook to match the power, utility and economy that the 14-inch T400 series has provided thus far, but they’re giving it their best with a choice of Intel Core processors and integrated or discrete Nvidia graphics, an SSD or massive 1TB traditional hard drive, six hours of battery life and a quick boot feature. The .8-inch laptop is downright svelte for a T-series, and it’s got a stylish aluminum lid that should look better than the typical ThinkPad soft-touch finish.

New entries into the ThinkPad Edge series of more conventional laptops were announced as well. The new S series gets its first entry in the Mocha Black S430, which Lenovo is advertising as less than an inch thick. The 14-inch laptop has optional Nvidia graphics, Dolby sound, USB 3.0 ports and a snazzy new Thunderbolt port. It comes with a choice of SSD or up to a terabyte hard drive. The S430 will be available in June starting at $749.

On the lower end the E series gets all-new versions in 14 and 15-inch bodies, named the ThinkPad Edge E430 and E530, respectively. Options include either Intel Core processors or AMD’s Fusion platform, with integrated or discrete graphics choices for both. The same solid state and 1TB hard drive choices are present with USB 3.0 and an HD webcam. The ThinkPad E130 and E330 are the 11.6 and 13.3-inch variants using Intel processors, while the E135 and E335 use AMD. All models should be available in April, starting at $549 in a range of black, red or blue colors.

The Lenovo B series also gets some love.  The unassuming affordable line has new 14-inch models called the B480 and B485, and 15-inch models labelled B580 and B585. Intel and AMD processor are split from the same as the E series above. Optional additions include 1TB hard drives, USB 3.0, HDMI and multi-card readers, with the base machines starting at a price of just $499. The new B series models will also be available in April.

More exacting details like specific resolutions and battery power weren’t provided, but you can bet the new models will be on display at Lenovo’s CES booth. Check in next week for some hands-on time with all of Lenovo’s latest offerings.

The Durabook R13C also features an IP65 rating, which ensures that all enclosed portions are completely protected from dust and water. It has a water-resistant backlit keyboard and a magnesium alloy case that’s 20 times stronger than ABS plastic. Additional security features include a fingerprint scanner, Trusted Platform Module 1.2, and a Kensington lock.

The laptop features a 13.3-inch multi-touch shock-mounted display with a 1000 NIT LCD that’s readable in sunlight. Inside, it’s powered by an Intel Core Low Power i7-620LM vPro processor along with 8GB of RAM. It also sports a 2.5-inch shock-mounted SATA hard drive with heater, an ultra slim super-multi DVD drive, two USB ports, SIM card connector, and SD card reader. For more details, you can visit GammaTech’s product page.

Apple had booted NVIDIA about three years ago in favor of AMD chipsets, but the recent issues with AMD Llano supply capacities and the failed attempt at implementing them in the latest MacBook Airs have forced Apple to switch back. Despite Apple allegedly swearing off NVIDIA, there’s really no other alternatives in that arena.

The switch will mainly be for Apple’s larger notebooks that haven’t transitioned into an all-Intel solution with integrated graphics. It’s been rumored that Apple has been working on a new MacBook Pro for 2012 that will feature a redesigned chassis that will be thinner and lighter, similar to the MacBook Air lineup.

[via MacRumors]

The Samsung Series 7 features 13-inch and 15.6-inch laptops. The 13-inch model actually squeezes in a 14-inch screen with its ultra-slim bezel design. Both models feature an HD+ (1600×900) high resolution matted display with 16 million colors and up to 50 percent better brightness (300 nit) thanks to Samsung’s Superbright Technology. Graphics is powered by an AMD Radeon HD6750M.

Inside, the Series 7 packs the latest Intel Core i5 or i7 quad-core processor that features ExpressCache, which accelerates boot-up and start times as well as overall performance with up to 50-60 percent quicker web browsing thanks to an extra 8GB of flash memory loaded directly on the motherboard. Samsung boasts that Series 7 laptops can do a cold boot-up in just 19 seconds and resume from sleep mode in as little as 2-3 seconds. Battery life is rated for up to 9 hours for great all-day use while on the go.

The Series 7 laptops comes in four configurations with a starting price of $999.99 and goes up to $1,299.00. They will be available starting on October 2.

Apple’s mobile PC shipments made up 21.1 percent share of the market and its 13.6 million shipment figure is a 136 percent growth from the same quarter last year. HP comes in second place having shipped 9.7 million units with a 15 percent market share, followed by Dell, Acer, and Lenovo.

Almost 80 percent of the Apple’s mobile PC sales were of iPads, which saw a 107 percent year-over-year growth. Notebook sales, however, remained stagnant across the board with a 2 percent drop from the previous quarter and a 2 percent increase year-over-year.

Tablet shipments in the category as a whole grew 70 percent since the previous quarter and 400 percent year-over-year. However, of the 16.4 million tablets sold, 10.7 million units were Apple’s iPad. However, excluding Apple from the figures, the other vendors did see a 25 percent increase year-over-year in tablet shipments.

[via DisplaySearch]

According to Miller, modern laptop batteries contain their own firmware and microcontrollers to monitor power levels, allowing operating systems to check and respond accordingly. Even when your notebook is powered off, the lithium ion battery inside knows when to stop charging. Also, the battery can detect and regulate its heat level to maintain a safe temperature.

From examining Apple’s laptops, Miller noticed that all the embedded chips in the batteries used the same default passwords. This means that a hacker who knows of the password can find a way to control the chip’s firmware and in turn manipulate the battery to wreak havoc on your system.

There are many possible methods of attack, including not letting your battery recharge, not letting it regulate heat leading to physical dangers, and implanting hidden malware that infects your computer. This last one can reinfect your computer over and over again even after cleaning out the system and reinstalling all software if the battery is not changed as well.

Miller has sent his research to Apple and Texas Instruments and expects to expose the vulnerability at the Black Hat security conference in August. He has also proposed a fix, which he calls “Caulkgun,” that replaces the battery firmware’s default password with a random string. However, this password change could be an issue when it comes to OS updates.

[via Forbes]

Dell Latitude notebooks are designed with the mobile business professional in mind with fast performance, 12-hour battery-life, and enterprise security and durability. But with the help of Verizon, the notebooks are even better for mobile professionals.

The Dell E6420 will now have the option to be configured with Verizon’s 4G LTE mobile broadband technology. The Latitudes integrated video, voice, and data technology have also been optimized for 4G speeds, promising speeds up to 10 times faster. Upcoming rugged models of the Latitude, the E6420 ATG and the E6420 XFR, will also get the 4G LTE option by the end of the year.

However, additional 4G LTE wireless data plans will be required and we all know about the pricey new Verizon tiered data plans.

[via Dell]