Windows alternative to the MacBook Air? (i.e. best ultrabook?)

jmk396

Gawd
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What's the best Windows alternative to the 13.3" MacBook Air?

I can run Windows using Bootcamp, but the trackpad drivers aren't that great and I've been told if I'm going to primarily use Windows then to get an ultrabook instead. I plan to use the laptop 75% on the couch with the trackpad/touchscreen or using a game controller resting the laptop on my lap. The other time will be using the laptop on my front porch, etc.

Here's my ideal laptop:

12" - 13"
1440x900 (because Windows DPI scaling isn't great)
IPS screen
Glass trackpad
Geforce GPU (for extremely light gaming or NVidia GameStream)
Tablet-mode (i.e. folding or twisting the laptop to make using it as a tablet easier)

The Lenovo Y410 seems nice but 14" is a bit too big, it's heavy, and I've heard the trackpad is terrible.

The Yoga 2 13" seems nice. I've never used the trackpad though and the GPU is a tiny bit lacking. (I wish it was at least the HD 5000)

The Dell XPS 12 seems interesting but I don't know much about it.

The Dell XPS 13 looks really good but I think it has a rubber trackpad?

Anybody have any advice for me? As much as I'd like to use a MacBook Air, I really want something with Windows.
 
As much as I DON'T like advocating for apple products, sadly the MBA has the ultrabook market, and is, I'd argue, the best bang-for-buck in that area. Instead of dual-booting, did you try running windows in Parallels? Almost everyone at my work that uses MBP's and MBA's does this, and there doesn't seem to be a problem (i.e., virtualized Windows). Unless this option doesn't work for what you want to use the computer for (which I could easily see being the case).

What's your price range? The Samsung ATIV ultrabooks have always looked appealing to me, and IMHO as close as you can get to the size/weight of a MBA with similar spec's. Though full-disclosure, I've never used one. It has an absurd screen resolution though: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-ativ-book-9-13-3-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i5-4gb-memory-128gb-solid-state-drive-mineral-ash-black/1662947.p?id=1219058905747&skuId=1662947&st=categoryid$abcat0502000&cp=1&lp=2

On Windows 8, DPI scaling has been significantly improved though, if that makes a difference.
 
Lenovo X1 Carbon is another good alternative, it has a pretty thin bezel so it's around the size of 13" ultrabooks even though it has a 14" screen.
 
What teh_chem said above is true: Unfortunately the MBA is as good as it gets for Ultrabooks especially for its price, processor and battery life for $1199 (1.4GHz CPU) on the 13-inch model. As far as very good ultrabooks, as said above, Samsung ATIV models are the best on the Windows side.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/30/samsung-ativ-book-9-plus-review/

Only an HD 4400 from Intel and a 1.6GHz CPU for nearly $1300, which the MBA with a 1.7GHz CPU and an Intel 5000 is $1349 with a 256GB SSD.

Also, Nvidia Game Stream, you need this:
2014-05-19_06-12-59.png


That means non-ultrabooks seeing that the vast majority of ultrabooks use Intel HD graphics. That means you need entry-level or midrange laptops.
 
Thanks for all of the information everybody.

I'm looking to do some light gaming so parallels/virtualization won't work that good, and I'm only considering the 4 GB base model. The 8 GB models require special ordering and then you don't get any discounts like the refurb or student discount models.

For example, the 2013 13" 4 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD is only $799.00 as refurbished. The only problem is that the trackpad drivers in Windows aren't that great and lots of places seem to suggest that if you're going to run Windows more than 75% of the time that it's better to get an ultrabook with proper trackpad drivers, etc.

The Samsung ATIV books look really interesting though. Ideally I'd also like a tablet-mode (like the Thinkpad Yoga, etc).

Lots of different options are available I guess which is good. I'm also looking forward to Microsoft's Surface event tomorrow...

EDIT: Anybody have any experience with the Dell XPS 12?
 
It seems you want more than the Air offers as well though with the touchscreen and tablet requirement?

The closest clone to the Air 13inch is the probably the Asus UX301 which also uses HD 5000 graphics. The screen though would be an issue, although most would consider it way better (higher resolution IPS vs TN), you specifically want lower resolution (which will be hard to find for current gen Windows laptops, everything but the bargain end has moved to 1080p+, with IPS displays being almost standard as well for non bargain bin ultrabooks).

Keep in mind the HD 5000 is not necessarily a huge jump over the HD4400/HD4600 for gaming (possibly TDP limitations). The HD 5200 Iris Pro is what is actually significantly faster, and there is a very large gap between the two.

The Yoga 2 uses the pretty common HD4400 for graphics, same as the XPS12 and XPS13. If you find it slow you'll find the latter two as well and many others.

The only sub 14 inch I can think of with a gaming GPU is the Clevo W230ST and that Razer Gaming Tablet.

The y410p is big and heavy even for a 14inch laptop with a gaming GPU. The new Razerblade 14 and Gigabyte p34g v2 are two contrasting examples.
 
Hmmm, I'm just looking at my local Best Buy and they have an open box (in "Excellent" condition) of a Yoga 2 for $629.99.

It's the haswell model with 4 GB RAM and 128 GB HDD.

Is that a killer deal or just so-so?

EDIT: Bummer, it doesn't have 802.11ac. :( (would be useful for Steam In-Home Streaming...)
 
There is Bootcamp as an alternative to Parallels/VM for the MBA. My friend uses the Macbook Pro and has used Bootcamp for it. The last update I believe added support for Windows 8.1. The 13-inch MB Pro has Intel Iris graphics and 2560x1600 resolution display, 128GB PCI-e SSD, 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 dual-core CPU, for $1299.

I don't know too much about the XPS 12. For $1199, you get a 1.6GHz Intel i5-4200U (HD 4400 graphics) and a 128GB SSD.

Here are reviews for the XPS 12:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2411258,00.asp

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Update-Dell-XPS-12-9Q33-Convertible.100626.0.html

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2047...-review-haswell-refresh-adds-performance.html

http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/dell-xps-12-2013.aspx

Seems the general consensus is that it's good as a convertible, but heavy by tablet standards.

I honestly still think the MB Pro or MBA will be a better deal since you get a better Intel HD graphics chip-- Intel HD 5000 in MBA or Intel HD Iris in MB Pro versus Intel HD 4400 in the Samsung and Dell. However, you lose touch capability in the Macbooks. And, for its price, you also get a better resolution screen at 2560x1600 (MB Pro) versus 1920x1080 (XPS 12 and XPS 13, Samsung ATIV).

LimitedAccess also mentioned the ASUS UX301 and Clevo, I do agree with what he said above, including the Razer Gaming Tablet, but those are nearly comparable in price to an MB Pro.
 
I wouldn't count on finding an Ultrabook with NVIDIA graphics -- just adding a dedicated GPU frequently rules out an Ultrabook design, since you need more power, more cooling and more space.

Among Windows Ultrabooks, you do have a few decent options: the Acer Aspire S7, Samsung ATIV Book 9 (not the Lite or Plus), Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo Yoga 2 may do the trick. However, they're all using Intel graphics, and you'll really have to try them to know if you like their trackpads.

My question is, how much remotely streamed PC gaming do you want to do while sitting on the couch? It's a cool concept, but I don't know how much I'd want to play, say, Titanfall while putting a mouse on the coffee table. If you're mostly planning to play 2D games (or light-intensity 3D), an Intel GPU would be fine.

Also, are you sure about the lack of discounting on custom MacBook Air models? At least here in Canada, you can still customize at the online Apple Store (if you choose the education store) and get a better deal, even on the cost of the upgrade itself. Just tried it!
 
Does anyone have some thoughts on the Sony VIO Duo as a possibility? I had been looking into these as an intriguing form factor, but notice that it is never mentioned in any of the shortlists.

My wife has a 13 MBA, and I agree, the hardware/battery life is pretty impressive, I just need/want a Windows environment same as OP.
 
My Lenovo X240 has a good touchpad and goes forever on battery. Runs Civ V very well too.
 
As a user of the XPS12 I can highly recommend it. Build quality is excellent and was well above any expectations I had. Easily 10-hour batterylife, can even play arma2/3 on lowest settings. Lovely IPS display on which I actually did a lot of on-the-go photo editing after callibration with my Spyder. It is also easily a stop brighter than my macbook display. (I think 400nit)
I owned a Macbook pro, and this replaced it. Now I also want to move my video-editing to a mobile enviroment and ordered a XPS15 (which I was blown away with after using it from a friend), so that's the only reason this one will be given to someone else.

For what you are looking for, the XPS12 will be perfect. (btw trackpad feels great)
I would opt for the I7 model with 256gb like I did. (also 8gb ram)
 
I had a lenovo helix and it was a nice machine.... ultrabook and tablet with a core i5/i7 ssd and can be a tablet.

keyboard and trackpad are the best i have used on a windows laptop

i know it is on CPU gen behind but it does well
 
Sony Vaio Pro's are amazing. 1080p IPS, MBA quality.

Alternately go with the rest of the thread, XPS12, ATIV, or thinkpad.
 
I have the x1 carbon gen1, great laptop but if I was purchasing a new laptop this summer I would most likely go with the surface pro 3 with type cover
 
Slightly thicker but the Dell 7440 is very impressive. Enough that we've pretty much are not issuing it as our std deployment.
 
Now that the surface pro 3 was announced, I'd consider it for your purposes, so long as the storage options and price don't bother you.
 
Now that the surface pro 3 was announced, I'd consider it for your purposes, so long as the storage options and price don't bother you.
Video card is weak and will not help for light gaming unless we are talking old school games like emulation and basic games like small steam games.
 
I guess it depends on what extremely light gaming means. Intel Hd4400 is capable of some decent stuff.
 
The i7 option of the surface pro 3 will have a Intel hd5000, but the price is hard to swallow.
 
I'd hold off on the surface pro 3 until some more people get to play with it. There was some reports of sluggishness and apparently the maximum performance profile isn't available anymore. Definitely would make me wary of using it for any gaming at all.
 
I like my 2012 Vaio 13. 1600*900,hybrid Intel and GT640M graphics, full fat Core i5 3210.
 
I'd hold off on the surface pro 3 until some more people get to play with it. There was some reports of sluggishness and apparently the maximum performance profile isn't available anymore. Definitely would make me wary of using it for any gaming at all.
Interesting, after seeing your post I quickly googled this, and it came up with a guy at penny arcade:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/news/post/2014/05/23/surface-pro-3

Is that what you heard about? I'm curious if it's all due to the number of pixels it's pushing. Their testimonial strikes me as a bit odd--not that I distrust it, but that it doesn't quite make sense (cursors lag, yet pen input has no lag--even if the digitizer input is offloaded to a sub-processor, I'd still expect the graphical rendering to be affected if there is a lag component due to the gpu/resolution). Then again, we don't really know exactly how this person was running the device.

At first I wasn't sure what the significance of the i7 option was--perhaps this explains it; the more powerful GPU to adequately push all those pixels.
 
I expect nearly everyone here to dismiss this suggestion, but the nicest windows ultrabook on the market right now imo is the spectre 13 from hp.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-spec...4363609&skuId=2587056&st=spectre 13&cp=1&lp=1

You can go to hp.com and configure one with a 2560x1440 display, but I've seen the base model with the 1080p display and it is absolutely gorgeous. Fantastic contrast and color saturation, crisp and clean. Beautiful.

Battery life is decent, around 7 hours of moderate use, an hour better than the yoga 2, and the trackpad is probably the single best trackpad I've EVER used on a windows based notebook. It's wider for more control of some of the newer windows 8 functions, but the real star is just the smooth and responsive center pad.

Great ultrabook through and through. The vast majority of people in the market for ultrabooks seem to buy the yoga 2 models because of the novelty of being a 2 in 1 device, but as a LAPTOP, the hp is superior. Better battery life, better trackpad (best in class for ANY windows laptop ever made imo), display that is JUST as good as any I've ever seen.

To the resolution wh0res, the 1080p model would probably be a turn off, but if you actually see the display it will not matter. The display is still supremely sharp and clear.



[Speculation] Every one of you, who did not mention this laptop, did not do so because you have not seen and compared it first hand. And that is why it will not do as well.

Nobody, and I mean NOBODY has it on their radar.
 
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