14 DAY TRIAL // The Ultrabook concept really is seeing quite some use, what with the IFA 2011 trade show, where Lenovo decided to bring out its own such device, bearing the name of U300.
Those keeping track of what has been happening at this year's edition of the IFA trade show may have learned of the Lenovo IdeaPad U400.
What they may also have learned is that, more than this notebook, many users have been waiting for an Ultrabook known as U300.
The Ultrabook concept appeared as a response to the aggressive progress of tablets, who started quite quickly to earn notebook market share.
Essentially, such items are laptops which, even closed shut, are only as thick, sometimes even thinner, than slates which lack physical keyboards altogether.
Acer Aspire Ultrabook S3 and Toshiba's Portege Z830 are just two examples that got attention lately, and ASUS is working on six of its own.
Now, our colleagues over at IFA 2011, in Berlin, Germany, managed to get a close look at Lenovo's U300.
Measuring 13.3 inches in diagonal, it relies on an Intel Core i7 central processing unit (CPU), which has its own built-in graphics (HD 3000).
The aspect ratio of the LCD is 16:9 and the native resolution is what is commonly known as HD (1,366 x 768 pixels).
Up to 1 TB of HDD storage can be implemented, though users who prefer speed may select a solid state drive of up to 256 GB instead.
Furthermore, up to 8 GB of DDR3 RAM (random access memory) are present, along with a battery life of up to six hours on a single charge.
Available in a graphite gray color, as well as Clementine Orange (limited edition), the Ultrabook has a starting price of $799, which is actually not as high a sum as some may have feared, though still not on par, affordability-wise, with the slates such items are supposed to challenge.
Note: Fellow editors Cosmin Vasile and Sorin Nita are on the floor at the 2011 IFA Show and are keeping us posted with pictures and live reports on the latest product previews and launches.
