I need help buying an Ultrabook for xmas

MasterNoob on 01/12/2013 - 11:47

My brother is in dire need of an ultrabook when university starts next year. His current laptop was bought in 2007, it constantly freezes, is too slow and heavy for her to carry around. He wants to buy the second generation Asus Zenbooks his friends have but he also wants haswell because of its longer running time. The Asus zenbook infinity is priced too expensively at $2800. Please recommend me an ultrabook that has the following characteristics:

  • haswell processor
  • light weight
  • capable of 3D renders
  • under $1500
  • strong build quality
Computing

Comments

  • MATTDAMON on 01/12/2013 - 11:49

    The Dell XPS 13 is a pretty decent ultrabook with good specs, ie the middle spec one is 1299 currently, from memory they are around 1.2kg total

    http://www.dell.com/au/p/xps-13-9333/fs

    • MasterNoob on 01/12/2013 - 11:58

      Including the huge $200 dollar discount, that is sexy! :)

      However, I've heard from people buying Dell laptops in 2008-2010 that they had a lot problems with their laptops ie some said theirs randomly shutdown after a year of purchase. Does Dell still have such problems?

      • MATTDAMON on 01/12/2013 - 12:01

        We have an XPS 17 thats around 2 years old now i suppose, its been perfect, all i did was upgrade the stock 750gb hdd to a 512gb ssd.

      • DeWalt on 03/12/2013 - 07:43
        +1

        Bought 3 in the last 2 years.
        No problems with them.

        Bought 5 Dells in the last 8 years. The 2 older models had a video card problem - that impacted other brands as well. It was a soldering problem. I cooked the video card in an oven @ 200 deg. Those laptops are still running, with the cooked video cards :)

        But, Dell service is usually bad.

      • teyc on 03/12/2013 - 18:32

        Yes, I have problem with a 2010 era Dell Vostro. Apparently they were not designed to take the heat for i5 or i7. Mine started giving problems one month out of warranty. You might be luckier.

    • Tnetennba on 22/12/2013 - 01:11

      Hello,

      I just found the page for the i5/8gb/128gb config

      And it doesn't have any alerts that there is a delay in shipping? Do you think if I ordered (after using 12% student discount) for $1331 they would later email me saying it is delayed? I can get to the last page of checkout and not receive ANY notification that it is delayed. It just says "view estimated shipping times" and it says 11-17 days for the XPS models.

      I say this because the other day it said 3-4 weeks on TOP of that 11-17 day estimate due to high demand. It seems strange that they would suddenly drop that estimate.

      Should I bite the bullet and buy it for $1330? Or should I buy the vaio pro 13? It's similar, but only 4gb of ram. I can get that for $1100 on a sale. UGH. The dell just seems a lot nicer, not sure why because i hate dell as a company!

  • powerhead on 01/12/2013 - 14:33
    +3

    Have a look at Sony vaio Pro 13
    13"
    Haswell
    1kg weight
    Under $1500 (maybe just)

  • jellymelly on 01/12/2013 - 15:16
    +1

    I'm interested in an ultrabook too and will probably go with the Asus Zenbook UX31A. Not much difference between Ivy Bridge and Haswell is there? Even though the Intel HD graphics is only worse by 10% or something it's a pretty good price right now ~$1200

    • iseenya on 01/12/2013 - 18:18
      +2

      There's lots of good info about this model in Whirlpool's Asus Zenbook Touch UX31A discussion, here: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=2052265&p…

      • jellymelly on 01/12/2013 - 18:41

        thanks really helpful

    • Astro551 on 01/12/2013 - 23:31
      +3

      I'd imagine laptops are where you find the biggest difference between Ivy Bridge and Haswell. 60-70% (possibly more) battery life improvement, what didn't last more than 5 hours should be lasting around 8 hours.

      Graphics performance is boosted as well but the battery is the killer. Haswell ultrabooks are decently priced too: Dell XPS 12, Sony Vaio Pro 13, MBA 13 all ~$1200-1400.

      Haswell over Ivy is a well worth investment if you're on the go imo.

      • jellymelly on 02/12/2013 - 09:34
        +1

        man I wish the haswell zenbooks are cheaper… :(

        • Astro551 on 02/12/2013 - 10:39

          ikr! zenbook infinity is so sexy :3 but costs enough to send me to broke-land

  • Hirokuro on 02/12/2013 - 02:26

    I have the Sony Vaio Pro 13 and absolutely love it!!!

    However, I wish I went for the 8GB/256GB version although the base 4GB/128GB handles everything a throw at it (excluding multiple Virtual Machines).

    • Astro551 on 02/12/2013 - 10:40

      oh lol, personally would never have the need for multiple VMs luckily enough… what's the batt life like when you run them?

  • No ONE on 02/12/2013 - 12:04

    What!

    my brother
    And
    heavy for HER

    Had your brother changed his gender?

    No ONE on 02/12/2013 - 12:04 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
    • edgar28 on 02/12/2013 - 12:26
      +1

      i was curious for a while too, i think he meant for his girlfirend to carry for him…..

  • dsp26 on 02/12/2013 - 14:19

    *double post

  • dsp26 on 02/12/2013 - 14:22

    http://www.logicalblueone.com.au/store/560-horize-w840sn-ult…

    only because its got a dgpu in addition to the igpu.

    in saying that though, ultrabook ulv processors are rubbish… haswell maybe better though…

    as for me id get this for raw performance and its thin enough to pass as an ultrabook and shits on anything in its price range:
    http://www.logicalblueone.com.au/store/557-horize-w230st-cle…

    • scotty on 02/12/2013 - 15:10
      +5

      at 2kg it's really on the heavy side of "ultrabook".

      • dsp26 on 02/12/2013 - 15:34

        your right!

        But if we're talking the W230st.. it's size/price/performance ratio is like ~3x better than a typical ultrabook with size/weight/price benefits.

        I personally went the W110er last financial year purely for the desktop spec in a small package… allows me to run up to 4 VMs quite smoothly on only a i7-3610QM and 16Gb RAM… would have gone the W230st if it was released in that period.

        OP did say "capable of 3D renders"… the haswell iGPU is barely capable of this feat. Then again it depends what OP means by this… the ivy bridge iGPU CANNOT handle CAD/GIS or games such as path of exile so I couldn't imagine the haswell doing more advanced rendering. As mentioned above, the performance advantages over an ivy in ULV processors is minimal and the gains are mostly in higher TDP processors

        From the entire OP requirement list, "Light weight" is the least important unless he/she plans on work travel where carry-on baggage weight is important. an extra 700g for uni/study commute is not that important compared to shitty specs

    • MasterNoob on 02/12/2013 - 18:21

      2kg is a definite nono for being too heavy DESPITE the nice specs

    • morpheu on 02/12/2013 - 21:05

      nice specs but it's not just the weight that stretches the 'ultrabook' definition, according to notebookcheck it's 31.9mm thick, more than double some thin laptops, some people just want portability over performance

  • longislandicetea on 02/12/2013 - 22:56

    Surface Pro 2

  • Binchicken22 on 02/12/2013 - 23:36

    Lenovo Yoga pro 2 - Best piece of tech I've bought in years, laptop and tablet in one. All for $1350 delivered from the US.

    • Tnetennba on 03/12/2013 - 00:35

      Where did you buy it from and what specs for the $1350?

    • Astro551 on 03/12/2013 - 11:48

      I'm questionable on the batt life, even with the Haswell upgrade reviews are putting it at ~5-6 hours. Might be to do something with the insane res

  • [Deactivated] on 03/12/2013 - 10:14

    His current laptop was bought in 2007, it constantly freezes, is too slow and heavy for her to carry around…

    ???

    • Wampus on 03/12/2013 - 13:49

      OP is probably ESL

  • Snail on 03/12/2013 - 10:36
    +3

    Mac Air 13in is great. Not sure if it does "3D rendering" though.

  • jxsumi on 03/12/2013 - 12:10
    +2

    Mac air 11in or Mac pro 13in

  • verio on 03/12/2013 - 12:17

    I am afraid that it won't be easy to find a decent laptop which is under:
    - lightweight
    - capable of 3d rendering (in this case you really need a discrete GPU)
    - under $1500.

    Can't really think of any laptop that has all three points. For instance, Dell XPS 13 does not have a discrete GPU, only integrated Intel HD Graphics 4400.

  • Tnetennba on 17/12/2013 - 00:03

    Bump: anyone got any new ideas/deals? I really wanted to get the lenovo yoga 2 pro, but it would be pretty expensive as far as I can tell to get it imported. $130~GST + customs fees (~$50) + currency conversion (over $100) + delivery ($60-70) makes it a bit out of reach, plus it wouldn't have a warranty.

    I would go for the Sony Vaio Pro 13 if it had 8gb ram or upgradeable, but seeing as it's soldered on, it makes me worry about the price, seeing as in 3 years it would probably be lacking in the ram department.

  • MATTDAMON on 17/12/2013 - 00:40

    Another option is the 256gb Surface Pro 2 with the keyboard, they are crazy powerful for what they are.

    • Astro551 on 17/12/2013 - 18:11

      Only issue I'm having with SP2 is that 10.6" is quite a small screen if you want to be doing lengthy amounts of work and don't have access to an external monitor. Even with FHD, although I'm not sure how the Windows 8 scaling works.

      • MATTDAMON on 17/12/2013 - 21:39

        Ive got a SP2 currently and it scales pretty well, and you can change the zoom scaling easily to make the text larger.

        worth having a look at in a shop anyways, i got a Samsung XE700 a while back when they were 600 new and its pretty decent, easily outshines an ultrabook.

        • Astro551 on 18/12/2013 - 00:58

          just re-read my post might sound like I have the device (which I don't, but one can wish :P). I've been jumping around the SP2, Vaio Flip 13, Yoga 2 Pro and all over the place haha. I really want to just go onto the SP2 but still not ready to pull the trigger.

          any problems that you've found with it so far. wait is the samsung one you have the atom tablet with the keyboard?

          im sceptical of those those 10" tablet keyboards, tried out the T100 at officeworks and the keyboard is way cramped for me. I mean I would probably get used to it after a while, but by no means would it be an enjoyable switch haha..

        • MATTDAMON on 18/12/2013 - 03:56

          Nah the Sammy i have is the i5 model.

        • Tnetennba on 19/12/2013 - 03:02

          How would you go about buying the yoga 2 pro?

        • Astro551 on 19/12/2013 - 10:52

          I believe it's actually coming to Australia really soon on the Lenovo Website.

          Otherwise I mean you can purchase through a freight forwader/online if you can't wait :P

          http://www.electronicbazaar.com.au/lenovo-yoga-2-proi5-9681.…

          Dunno how reliable that site is though. Haven't heard anything about retail store release yet though

        • Tnetennba on 20/12/2013 - 00:09

          That site reeks of scam, reading whirlpool reviews and such. No thanks!

          I am going to wait for the Vaio Pro 13. A business has told me they are going to be offering it for $1099 on boxing day, so I'm holding out until then! :)

        • powerhead on 20/12/2013 - 08:57

          That seems like a decent price. Is it one of the small local retailers or a large one?

        • Tnetennba on 20/12/2013 - 11:50

          It's a shady website you should take caution when buying.

          http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1094235

          A lot of reports there say products don't arrive, they don't answer the phone, etc. There are some positive reviews, but a few of them are from accounts with 1 post count.. Yeah.

          It seems they drop ship from china and say it is local stock. People have been given invoices by customs to pay tax on it!

        • Astro551 on 20/12/2013 - 14:12

          was powerhead talking the vaio pro 13 or the yoga? Shopping Express did a deal on the Vaio Pro 13 the the other day. the wifi issues have been fixed, but the keyboard is flexy as…

          also i really think batt life is subpar, esp when compared to mba 13. it gets ~6 hours or just over normal use (on paper "8.5" i believe).

  • Toph Beifong on 24/12/2013 - 00:52

    Does Dell do boxing day sales?

    • Tnetennba on 30/12/2013 - 00:44

      Looks like they had one but it's not on any of the models listed above. They have it on the XPS 12 I believe.

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