HP unveils the Envy Spectre XT ultrabook with 3rd Gen Intel`s Ivy Bridge.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

HP unveils the Envy Spectre XT ultrabook with 3rd Gen Intel`s Ivy Bridge.

Sports the latest Intel 3rd Generation processor,  its ultra-thin, all-metal design. As thin as .57 in (14.5 mm) and starting at only 3.07 lb (1.39 kg), with  built-in Beats Audio and four speakers,  a solid-state drive and Intel Rapid Start Technology and  Backlit keyboard. 

 Base specs

HP ENVY Spectre XT

Starts at $999.99; available on June 8

• Operating system: Windows 7 Premium (64-bit)
• Display: 13.3-inches (1366 x 768 resolution)
• CPU: Available with third-generation Intel Core processors
• Memory: 4GB 1600MHz DDR3
• Storage: 128GB (up to 256GB) SSD
• Input devices: Backlit Keyboard and HP Imagepad
• Connectivity: 802.11a/g/n, 2x2 WLAN, Bluetooth, Intel Wireless Display
• Ports include: Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0 (1), HDMI
• Dimensions: 327 x 221 x 14.5 mm
• Weight: 3.07 lbs.
• Battery life: up to eight hours
• Included software: two-year subscription to Norton Internet Security, full versions of Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Elements 10
• Beats Audio with quad speakers
• HP CoolSense technology
• HP TrueVision HD Webcam
• One-year subscription to Absolute Data Protect
• Concierge phone line dedicated exclusively to HP ENVY Spectre owners.

Notes:

• With the latest Intel^® 3rd Generation Processors, you have all the speed you need.
• With its ultra-thin, all-metal design, the HP ENVY Spectre XT Ultrabook™ looks smart. As thin as .57 in (14.5 mm) and starting at only 3.07 lb (1.39 kg)¹, you'll be confident knowing you can carry less and do more.
• Thanks to built-in Beats Audio™ and four speakers, the HP ENVY Spectre XT is designed for the best sounding, richest audio available on a PC. Small size. Big sound.
• We gave this Ultrabook™ a solid-state drive and Intel^® Rapid Start Technology so you can get going in seconds whenever inspiration strikes.
• Keep working or playing even in dimly lit rooms or on red eye flights. The backlit keyboard is full-size so you don't compromise comfort. Backlit keyboard. Another bright idea.

More information on: HP

3Q 2012: Ultrabooks $699.- vs MacBook Air $799.-

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

 

According to Digitimes, Apple is reportedly considering responding to the upcoming second-generation ultrabooks by launching a US$799 MacBook Air in the third quarter of 2012.

 Intel continues to aggressively push ultrabooks and is aiming to have the devices priced at US$699 in the second half of the year. However, if Intel is unable to bring down ASPs to its goal, the price gap between ultrabooks and the US$799 MacBook Air may further postpone the time ultrabooks become standardized,

Intel has already set aside a fund of US$300 million for ultrabooks and another US$100 million for developing its own application store. In addition, with its heavy investment in product promotions, the company believes the investments will help strengthen notebook brand vendors' morale and help increase ultrabook's share in the notebook market.

However, Digitimes believe that ultrabooks are unlikely to achieve strong sales performance until the launch of Windows 8.

Currently, Apple's 11-inch 64GB MacBook Air is priced at US$999 with a 128GB version priced at US$1,199. The 13-inch 128GB version is priced at US$1,299 and 256GB version is US$1,599. If Apple decides to launch a US$799 MacBook Air, Digitimes believes the strategy will damage ultrabooks allowing Apple to continue to press its advantage.

I won`t be surprised if Apple comes out with a total redefined MacBook Air in hardware and on software in the upcoming WWDC 2012 this June 11-15 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, in order to reach a $300.- less price device, that is a lot, something to think how Apple is going to do that. Is Digitimes news just a rumor? 

Related post:

HP, Lenovo, Asustek and Acer to launch second gen ultrabooks in May. Prices to drop to US$699.

Intel is preparing the biggest channel promotion drive to push the Ultrabook concept.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Intel is preparing the biggest channel promotion drive to push the Ultrabook concept.

The vendor revealed at its Intel Platinum Summit, currently underway in London that it will invest heavily in R&D, manufacturing of innovative products and channel marketing.

Along with its OEM vendor partners Lenovo, Dell, HP, Acer and Novatech, Intel has prepared a multi-language print, television and web advertising, social media and support package to challenge the tablet business. It intends the channel to be a major player.

Intel vice president for Sales and Marketing Group, Steven Dallman, said that in a year's time, the Ultrabook will be everywhere.

Dallman said the company expects the form factor to appeal strongly in emerging regions. "Intel has had exceptional growth in the EMEA region particularly in emerging markets in the last year, largely due to the efforts of our channel partners," he said.

With EMEA now the top market for Intel's channel and having repaid investment in recent by lifting sales in a number of technology areas, the chip-maker knows it has to create a bit of a storm to drive the Ultrabook campaign in each country.

Gregory Pearson, vice president, Sales and Marketing Group & general manager, Worldwide Sales Operations Group at Intel, added that Intel wants to be the partner that resellers want to do business with.

"As we are redefining the PC with Ultrabooks, it's vital that our channel partners are involved in everything we do," he said. "We want to transition more users to the Ultrabook platform and we can only achieve this if we involve our channel partners."

Pearson said Intel's motivation in embarking on the global Ultrabook campaign is to help channel partners to differentiate themselves in the market by adding solutions to the products they sell, not just pure play systems integration.

"We want our channel partners through the Intel Technology Provider (ITP) initiative to be a major player in this," he added.

According to Pearson, the Ultrabook campaign also aims to help local system builders and integrators to work closely with Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs) in bringing to market local branded Ultrabooks.

"We are encouraging a lot of our resellers that want to build their local branded solutions," he said.

Pearson pointed out that the campaign will also assist channel partner with in-country demand generation activities.

"We want to take this Ultrabook drive to the world in a ‘big' way. At the end of the day, this is about learning, sharing and challenging the established order in the market with compelling products and solutions," he said.

HP, Lenovo, Asustek and Acer to launch second gen ultrabooks in May. Prices to drop to US$699.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

HP, Lenovo, Asustek and Acer to launch second gen ultrabooks in May. Prices to drop to US$699.-

Intel, which originally planned to announce its new Ivy Bridge processors on April 29, is expected to bring forward the announcement to April 23 with Asustek computer, Acer, Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard (HP) all ready to release their second-generation ultrabooks starting in May.

Kirk Skaugen, vice president and general manager of Intel's PC Client Group, at Intel developer Forum (IDF) in Beijing pointed out that ultrabook prices in the next few months will drop rapidly to US$699 from US$999 currently as shipment scales become large reducing costs.

Intel, at the show, also demonstrated its developments with China-based partners for products such as chassis, panels and software, and in addition to showcasing upcoming second-generation ultrabooks, Intel also revealed its innovative designs for ultrabooks and several concept devices for Windows 8.

To promote ultrabooks, Intel has set up a fund of US$300 million to assist its partners for ultrabook design and R&D. The company is also integrating the upstream supply ecosystem to allow its partners to connect with each other.

Ultrabooks prices dropping. Second gen coming.

WorldWide Tech & Scince. Francisco De Jesús.

As ultrabooks from brand vendors such as Acer, Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard (HP) are all recently seeing price drops in the North America, sources from retail channel believe that the PC vendors are dropping their ultrabook prices to promote upcoming new ultrabook models, that are set to launch soon after Intel releases its new Ivy Bridge processors.

Acer's S3 ultrabook equipped with a hard disc drive has already seen its price drop to US$799 in North America, while Lenovo and HP's ultrabook prices also recently dropped 25% and 21%, respectively.

HP is already set to launch its new Ultrabook Envy Spectra 14 in Taiwan this week with Acer and Lenovo's new ultrabooks are set to release in the second quarter.

Although ultrabooks are unlikely to achieve Intel's goal of having a share of 40% in total notebook shipments by the end of 2012, as more new ultrabook products will appear in the retail channel, the average price should quickly drop to US$699-799 in the second quarter from the current US$1,000 price.

Source: Digitimes.