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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
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Acer and ASUS unveil Windows ultrabook systems

By | October 11, 2011, 6:26am PDT

Summary: Should Apple be worried?

Acer and ASUS have unveiled new ultrabook systems.

First up, the ASUS Zenbooks which is designed to up against Apple’s MacBook Air systems.

The ASUS ultrabook comes in two flavors - The X21 that features an 11-inch screen and an i5 processor and 128GB SSD. The X21 weighs in at 2.2lbs, a shade under the 2.38lbs of the MacBook Air. Then there’s a higher-end UX31 which has a 13-inch screen, an i7 processor and 256GB SSD.

Prices start at under $1,000, available starting October 12.

Next up, the Acer S3 series ultrabook.

This features a 13-inch display, i6 processor and a hybrid 20GB SSD/320GB HDD system and Intel HD 3000 graphics. This system has an attractive price tag, $899.99, a substantial saving compared to the MacBook Air’s $1,299.99 price tag.

Should Apple be worried?

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Topics

ASUS, Acer Inc., Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

Disclosure

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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RE: Acer and ASUS unveil Windows ultrabook systems
MIMP 12th Oct
@owlnet : I totally agree with you...
View in thread
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RE: Acer and ASUS unveil Windows ultrabook systems
Cylon Centurion 11th Oct
And the point of these are...?
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RE: Acer and ASUS unveil Windows ultrabook systems
Grumpy Bob 11th Oct
@Cylon Centurion

I guess the point is they will target the same market as Apple's kit. You know, competition. I wouldn't mind one. I'd lose the Windows and install Ubuntu.
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RE: Acer and ASUS unveil Windows ultrabook systems
Imrhien 11th Oct
@Grumpy Bob Ditto happy Or at least, I'd experiment. These laptops look gorgeous, and the price looks about right to me =D
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RE: Acer and ASUS unveil Windows ultrabook systems
bobiroc 11th Oct
@Cylon Centurion

I thin and light laptop.. Would have liked to see them made into convertible models with a touch screen because they could have made good tablets too capable of running Windows 8 and the MetroUI
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RE: Acer and ASUS unveil Windows ultrabook systems
Cylon Centurion 11th Oct
@bobiroc

I never understood these. I once worked with a buddy's Air, and felt like I was going to break it. I like light, but regular laptop models have been pretty darn light for a while now.
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RE: I never understood these
bobiroc 12th Oct
@Cylon

Eh... to each is own I guess. I don't understand them either as I find them to be too limiting for what I need a laptop for but it still beats some Mobile OS powered Tablet IMO. That is why I would have liked them made with multi-touch capability and flip into a tablet. Dual functionality.
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RE: Acer and ASUS unveil Windows ultrabook systems
dsf3g 11th Oct
Should Apple be worried? No, not really. If nothing else, the quarter century following the release of the Macintosh has demonstrated that Apple has an unshakeable 8-12% grip on the traditional dektop/laptop OS market. Rarely does Apple exceed 12% and rarely dows it go below about 8% (give or take). It's a two edged sword, of course, as it guarantees that, not only will Apple suvive as a niche player, but it will also never be anything but a niche player.

The good news for Apple, of course, is that we may well be netering the "post-PC era" and right now, Apple absolutely rules the nest when it comes to post-PC devices.
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RE: Acer and ASUS unveil Windows ultrabook systems
owlnet 11th Oct
As long as there are idiots in this world, APPLE need not worry....
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RE: Acer and ASUS unveil Windows ultrabook systems
MIMP 12th Oct
@owlnet : I totally agree with you...
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N/A
Michael Alan Goff Updated - 13th Oct
Delete please
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RE: Acer and ASUS unveil Windows ultrabook systems
bobiroc 11th Oct
@Michael Alan Goff

According to Apple's website it is the 11" MB Air that is $999 and with only 2GB of Ram

I think he is comparing the Acer's 1.66Ghz i5 Ivy Bridge Processor to the 1.7Ghz Sandy Bridge i5 Processor and taking into account that the Acer has 4GB ram, the bigger display and more hard drive storage.

You might want to check your facts
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RE: Acer and ASUS unveil Windows ultrabook systems
Michael Alan Goff 11th Oct
@bobiroc

I guess I should have been more clear.

I have no problem buying a good refurbished computer, and neither should anyone else.

>_>
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RE: buying a good refurbished computer
bobiroc 11th Oct
@bobiroc

Well you cannot really compare a refurbished product to a new product now can you? Refurbished will always be cheaper.
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RE: Acer and ASUS unveil Windows ultrabook systems
Michael Alan Goff 11th Oct
I tried finding a refurbished version of that, but I couldn't.

My point is, really, that you can get a good Mac on the cheap. Refurbished will always be cheaper, but I doubt that people will pay the extra on the logic of "to be fair, refurbished is always cheaper".
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Apple has nothing to worry about as long as they continue to have
adornoe@... 11th Oct
the "pApple" (people who love Apple, no matter what).

The loyalty is beyond compare, and it's got nothing to do with practicality or prices of products.
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RE: Acer and ASUS unveil Windows ultrabook systems
frankwick 11th Oct
never had an asus but that unit looks nice.
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RE: Acer and ASUS unveil Windows ultrabook systems
Lghost 11th Oct
Oh wait....I6 processor?!
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There is NO Intel i6 CPU
syxtim 12th Oct
According to Intel, there is no i6 and none planned. Serious typo.
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RE: Acer and ASUS unveil Windows ultrabook systems
zd baron 12th Oct
Uh-Oh I see a lawsuit coming from Apple. The Asus zenbooks "look" like the Mac Book Air and is lighter than that.

I would go for a windows based dvice anyday as it gives me a little flexibitiy with what OS I install on it.

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