Gigabyte U2442
Gigabyte is a brand that is, locally at
least, strongly associated with video gaming. One would assume then, that their
Ultrabook offering may be a bit on the flimsy side. And the CPU, being an i5
processor, might be, but the 8GB of RAM and really fast CPU clock speeds make
it look a lot better.
Gigabyte
U2442
In fact, there are a lot of features around
this particular Ultrabook that make it look very appealing, including great
graphics, a backlit keyboard and stylish looks. The light grey metal finish
clashes a little with the black keys, but the two USB 3.0 ports, 2 USB 2.0
ports, card reader, HMDI output and full audio ports make up for that little
complaint.
While it is not strictly an Ultrabook per
se, the U2442 fits into this round-up well, thanks to many features that are
similar to other Ultrabook units.
It is a little larger than the previous
few, and is not as light and sleek as the others… but generous storage and
decent performance make it a solid choice.
Score: 92
Samsung Series 9 900X
Samsung is showing a great understanding of
devices, and the Series 9 Ultrabooks are no different. Although it is a larger
Ultrabook, it still manages to be light and sleek. The light silver finish
complements the attractive lines of this notebook beautifully. The black keys
are a little jarring, but the large track pad more than makes up for this.
At its core is an i5 processor, although
not the quickest, is supported by 4GB of RAM. In terms of storage, it is a
little on the light side, but it makes use of only SSD technology for its
storage. This makes it particularly speedy.
Being the second largest model in the
round-up, it is a little less portable than some of the other Ultrabooks we
looked at. But this added size means that it can squeeze a few extras in too.
It provides the user with two USB 3.0 ports, as well as a single USB 2.0 port.
Additionally, it has an SD card reader, headphone port and mini HDMI output.
In short, it is a very solid option for
those who want their Ultrabook to be a bit bigger. The performance is good, and
the overall look of the device is quite impressive.
Score: 88
HP Envy 6
HP have a lot of experience in all aspects
of notebooks, so it is hardly surprising that their Envy is the most visually
striking device we looked at. The unit is mostly finished in black, with a
rather unusual and attractive burgundy base. While it is the biggest Ultrabook
in the round-up, it remains surprisingly light and portable. The size also
means that the keyboard and track pad are generously sized, too.
With around 500GB of hard drive space, the
Envy is among the larger in terms of storage space. On the other hand, the i5
CPU and 4GB of RAM make it a little average in terms of performance, and there
is no SSD to speed things up. Not bad, mind you, but the visuals of this
machine imply a little more performance punch than it actually delivers.
A multicard reader, three USB ports, full
audio ports and an HDMI output are all provided. In addition, the audio
supported by Beats is far better than expected.
Great looks and good performance combine in
the Envy – it’s not quite HP’s flagship Ultrabook, but it gets the job done in
style.
Score: 85
Final Words
For all intents and purposes, the Gigabyte
U2442 is faster and offers more in terms of expansion, as so forth. Its
mid-range size and fairly light weight make it a great option for all kinds of
sage, and the large amount of storage is a real boon.
If you want to go small and sleek, though,
the Asus Zenbook Prime is an awesome idea. Good looks combine with a fair
amount of power and extreme portability, making it a conversation piece as well
as a great notebook.
Battery life – if that’s something that is
important to you – is the province of HP, with better battery performance (on
paper, at least) than the other brands.
But if it came down to a single choice –
we’re talking a gun-to-the-head style choice – we would more than likely opt
for the Gigabyte. It’s generous storage and faster processor make for a
compelling argument.
