The MacBook Air Isn’t The Only Ultrabook Worth Buying Anymore
The MacBook Air does offer a few unique features that no other Ultrabook currently on the market can emulate. In particular, OS X is something you won’t be able to get anywhere else (with the exception of running some unstable “Hackintosh” software). It’s also the only system supporting Thunderbolt for now. If you can pass on Thunderbolt and OS X, there are several other Ultrabook options that truly do best the Air in one form or another.
If you want the closest thing you can get to a MacBook Air experience while saving a bit of money, the Sony T-Series has a lot to offer.
Dell’s XPS 13 and XPS 14 give you the option of a larger screen without the need of a larger notebook, and anyone with an active lifestyle will likely appreciate the solid construction and thoughtful design. Plus there are a few performance perks thrown in as well.
Asus offers one of the most compelling alternatives with its new Zenbook line. If you ever wished Apple would bring its Retina Display to the MacBook Air, the Zenbook line is for you.
Anyone who is into a bit of casual gaming would love the prospect of an Ultrabook that can double as a gaming laptop, and Acer’s TimelineUltra M5 does just that (and is one of the few Ultrabooks with an optical drive). Even better, Acer is one of the few manufacturers that doesn’t charge a premium for its Ultrabooks, making it a great choice for anyone looking to save big – just keep in mind that it does sacrifice a bit of quality to make up for the difference.
And if you want the most battery life in the slimmest possible form factor you can find, an Ultrabook to the extreme, Samsung’s Series 9 boasts a solid design that will certainly turn some heads.
It’s clear that the MacBook Air isn’t the only high-performance ultra-portable out there, so if you feel like it’s missing something, don’t be afraid to look elsewhere. Don’t make the one-size-fits-all compromise.