Before getting started let's get something straight, the class ultraportable notebook was something created by 2 computer manufacturers, Panasonic and Sony.
I can't really say who's the first creator of the ultraportable notebook, but it's certain that the only 2 real competitors were Panasonic and Sony. Sony with the 505 series ultraportable notebook and Panasonic's early model Let's Note (known as the Toughbook in the US) brand notebook computers. The more modern version was Panasonic R7 series (see review here). The direct competitor to the Panasonic R7 series is the Sony VAIO T series (TX, TXN, TZ, TT) (see review of TZ here). The Panasonic R series is visible in the movie, Fast and Furious 3 2006 Tokyo Drift. The movie features either the R7 or R6. The R6 is the lighter ultraportable notebook, but the resolution is lower. Compare the Panasonic R6 to the Sony VAIO G. Since the Panasonic doesn't sell their laptops except their larger toughbook models in the US, it's hard to do a comparison with older models. You can see Panasonic's current ultraportable notebook here at Dynamism. It's a direct competitor to the Sony VAIO Z. We'll get to the direct specification comparison later. The ultraportable notebook was defined by power (CPU and memory), size (appoximately 10 inches), weight (approximately 1 kg), screen resolution (As small as you can get it. First generation ultraportable notebooks were 1024x768 whereas all the competitors were at 800x600), and battery life. The terminology for subcompact notebook used to be applied to ultraportables, but with the creation of the netbook, subcompact notebook has been used to describe the netbook.
With the coming of Windows 8 based notebook computers and the focus on Slate PCs, it's highly possible that the ultraportable notebook computer will return to the market. The Slate PC has all the specifications of an ultraportable notebook computer minus keyboard.
Observe the specifications of a Slate PC as defined by the Microsoft Surface and the Samsung Series 7 Slate PC.
| Microsoft Surface Slate PC as of 2012-08-18 (based on pre-release specifications) | Samsung Series 7 Slate PC as of 2012-08-18 | Asus Eee Slate B121 as of 2012-08-18 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | ??? | Intel® Core™ i5-2467M Processor 1.6 GHz (3M Cache, up to 2.30 GHz) | Intel Dual-Core i5 470um 1.33 GHz (3M Cache, 1.33 GHz) |
| Memory | ??? | 4 GB max | 4GB |
| Size (Screen size, W x D x H) | 10.6", ??? x ??? x 0.53" (??? x ??? x 1.35 cm) | 11.6", 11.66" x 7.24" x 0.51" (29.464 cm x 18.39 cm x 1.295 cm) | 12.1", 12.28" x 8.157" x 0.667" (31.2 cm x 20.72 cm x 1.695 cm) |
| Weight | 1.99077 lbs (0.903 kg) | 1.98 lbs (0.898 kg) | 2.557 lbs (1.16 kg) |
| Resolution | ??? | 1366x768 HD LED backlit | 1280x800 LED Backlight WXGA |
| Battery life | ??? hours (42 Wh battery) | ??? hours | 2.4-4.5 hours (34 Wh battery) |
| Additional features |
microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae, VaporMg case, Touch Cover, Type Cover, Pen with Palm Block
| 128GB mSATA SSD, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wireless LAN,
BT v3.0 + HS, WiDi, micro HDMI, 1 x USB 2.0, Front/rear webcam
| 64GB SSD, WLAN 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth V3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, mini HDMI |
Ultraportable notebook computer comparison as of 2008, so as to include the original Apple MacBook Air. I am including the Apple MacBook Air because I don't want to seem unfair, but it is important to note that Apple is a late comer and introduced the MacBook Air to compete directly with the Sony VAIO TZ. Similar to Panasonic and Sony, Apple left the ultraportable market, but ended developing a different class of notebook computer which Intel has termed, the Ultrabook, a low powered, portable, lightweight notebook computer with high battery life for a reasonable price (sub $2000) compared to the high price commanded by Panasonic and Sony for a high powered (comparable to larger notebook computers), portable, lightweight notebook computer with high batter life ranging in cost anywhere between $1500 to $4000.
| Sony VAIO TZ (VGN-TZ198N/RC) as of 2007-12-26 | Panasonic Let's Note CF-R7 (CF-R7BW5AJR) as of 2008-01 | Panasonic Let's Note CF-W7 (CF-T7BW5AJR) as of 2008-01 | Apple MacBook Air (A1237) as of early 2008 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core 2 Duo U7600 1.2 GHz, L2 Cache: 2 MB CPU integrated | Intel (R) CoreTM2 Duo processor U7500 ultra low voltage version | Intel (R) CoreTM2 Duo processor U7500 ultra low voltage version | Intel Core 2 Duo L7700 1.8 GHz |
| Memory | 2 GB max | 2 GB max | 2 GB max | 2 GB max |
| Size (Screen size, W x D x H) | 11.1", 10.9"x7.8"x0.8-1.17" (27.686 cm x 19.812 cm x 2.032-2.9718 cm) | 10.1", 9.02"x7.36"x1.157-1.67" (22.9 cm x 18.7 cm x 2.94-4.25 cm) | 12.1", 10.7"x8.437"x0.98-1.78" (27.2 cm x 21.43 cm x 2.49-4.53 cm) | 13.3", 12.8" x 8.94" x 0.16-0.76" (32.5 cm x 22.7 cm x 0.4-1.9 cm) |
| Weight | 2.65 lbs (1.2 kg) | 2.07 lbs (0.940 kg) | 2.75 lbs (1.249 kg) | 3.0 lbs (1.36 kg) |
| Resolution | 1366 x 768 | 1024x768 | 1024x768 | 1280x800 |
| Battery life | 4.0-8.5 hours (Standard Capacity Battery) | 4-8 hours | 5-8 hours | ??? hours (37 Wh) |
| Additional features |
Variable HDD (1.8" HDD w/ DVD or 2.5" HDD w/ no DVD or with SSD or with SSD/2.5" HDD combo), Ethernet, Firewire, Memory Stick, Modem, SD card, 2 x USB 2.0, VGA
| Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN, Modem, SD card, 2 x USB 2.0, Ethernet | Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN, Modem, SD card, 3 x USB 2.0, Ethernet, DVD | 1.8" 120 GB HDD or 128 GB SSD |
Although it is unclear the battery life of the Slate PCs, the power, size, weight, resolution combination is very simliar to the ultraportable computers of yesterday. In fact, the 13.1" Sony VAIO Z is lighter than it's smaller Sony VAIO TZ counterpart at 2.58 lbs (1.17 kg). I hope with the introduction of the Slate PC and Windows 8, the PC industry will find that high performance ultraportable notebook computers are once again viable alternatives to the full size 13+" notebook computers (see Sony VAIO Z series).
Update 2012-08-20
It's happened, a new line of laptop hybrids has emerged at IFA Berlin 2012. Check out the Sony VAIO Duo 11 review here.
Update 2013-07-13
This month, 2013-07, Sony relaunched the Sony VAIO Z as the Sony VAIO PRO 13 and the Sony VAIO PRO 11 (see here). The significant introduction here is the Sony VAIO PRO 11. The high performance 11 inch ultraportable is BACK after 4 years of being off the market.
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