The concept is coming along, and we have seen some of the models that will be shown at CES. Intel’s first keynote regarding Ultrabooks is over, and between all the marketing talk, there was some room for the technologies we can expect in the future.
After Intel’s first appearance at CES it sounds like there will be more. The company is talking intensely about the future, and future technologies, but not so much about the Ultrabooks today. It said that 2011 would be the teething period, while 2012 will be the year the concept will really take off and prices will become more appealing to the masses.
Intel says it has realized the thinking of the broader masses : it doesn’t purchase a processor, it buys a complete product, a complete product and an experience. Intel has focused everything on making processors that delivers, but in the future it will be more about the entire products, which is what the people actually buy.
Ultrabooks like ASUS Eee Pad Slider will arrive later with Windows 8
So what can we expect from future Ultrabooks? We have known about some of these for some time, like screens that pivots, or slides, which makes it easy to switch from tablet mode to notebook mode. These models will of course not be in the ships before Windows 8 is here, which translates into Q3. Mainly since Windows 7 is not very touch-friendly.
Kinect-like tehcnology will be found in future Ultrabooks. While it is still in a prototype stage, Intel showed how the computer could track the motion of the hand, to charge a slingshot and break a window.
It also talked about how the technology was catching up to our expectations, and that there is enough power to do more things with your computer, than just doing computer-oriented tasks. Together with the company Dragon, Intel is working on voice control, or more precise allowing the user to talk to the computer. You could argue that Apple Siri already does this, but the idea is have this locally without having to be connected.
Larger screens coming to Ultrabooks
Intel had done surveys where they asked people who weren’t interested in Ultrabook – why? 28 percent answered that the screen size was too limiting. Intel could not quite understand why people wanted bigger Ultrabooks. More people are noticing the design than before, but does not want to compromise on the size. Therefore Intel has opened up for partners to make Ultrabooks in sizes 14″ and 15″ (15.6″?).
Other requirements are probably still there, like max 1.4 kg. and no thick than 20mm, which will make it rather hard to make large Ultrabooks. Intel says the first Ultrabooks in these sizes should arrive in Q1 – and we can only assume there will be attempts to make 17.3″ Ultrabooks too.
Intel has a long way to go with the Ultrabook, but so far many Ultrabook centric technologies are not ready and we get the feel that Intel wants to show us what we can expect, eventually. Intel VP Paul Otellini, will make a big announcement soon, we will have to wait and see what that is.
