Backpack buddies

Gone are the days when you got sore shoulders from lugging around a laptop all day long. The new-generation Ultrabooks are not only light, they pack a punch as well.

When the Ultrabook was first launched, prices started at Rs 50,000 but they have gone south since then. Here are two mid-range Ultrabooks one could consider for work and play.

Size zero in black
Yes, the Dell Latitude 6430u Ultrabook looks great in black, though the chassis is a fingerprint magnet. The slim and trim laptop is the size zero of Ultrabooks - it is less than an inch in thickness. The fit and finish, like all Latitudes, is top notch.

This laptop means business and so it does away with "silly frills" such as touch screens. The review unit had a 3rd generation Intel Core i5 1.8 Ghz processor, 4 GB of RAM and Windows 7 Professional 64-bit. Windows 8 users might miss the touchscreen, but on Windows 7, I was more than happy without the distraction.

The 1,366 x 768 LED backlit display is bright yet soothing to the eyes. Working and watching videos on the screen was a pleasure as well.

Using the laptop over extended periods of time wasn't a problem as was using it while on the move due to the fact that the 6430u sports a 128 GB SSD. I also liked the fact that one had a physical button to turn on or turn off Wi-Fi. The touch-enabled volume buttons were a nice touch as was the placement of the Windows COA sticker within the battery compartment. While the review device came with a three-cell battery, good enough for about five-six hours, one also has the option of a six-cell long life battery. One can't install too many of the latest games because of the limited storage, but they run fast, again at low resolutions because of the absence of a discrete graphics card. But then, Latitudes aren't built for gaming, are they?

The keyboard is responsive and the only thing lacking is backlighting - which helps a lot while working in the dark. This laptop sports Intel's vPro technology, which helps in remote management of IT assets. The built-in HD webcam and microphone are good for group chats as well, and video chats in noisy locations were satisfactory as well. Audio output is also very good at low volumes.

The laptop sports two USB 3.0 ports, one eSATA/USB combo port, a card reader, a headphone/microphone combo port, a gigabit Ethernet port, one HDMI port and a VGA port.

If one needs a solidly built Ultrabook for work and play, this is a very good choice. Plus you can order one built to your specifications.

DELL LATITUDE 6430U

Price: Rs 69,990

OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit ram: 4 GB

Processor: Intel Core i5 3427U @ 1.80Ghz

Display: 14-inch HD LED (1,366 x 768) with anti-glare

Hard Drive: 128GB SSD

Weight: 1.69 kg

Battery: Three-cell 36Wh Li-Polymer

Silver warrior
At first glance, the Samsung Series 5 Ultra Touch 540U3C looks like the big brother of the company's range of ATIV hybrids. But a closer look reveals that its fit and finish are far superior. And it's thinner than an inch.

Turn it on and Windows 8 greets you. Since the 13.3-inch screen has touch capabilities, using the tiled interface is a cakewalk. Playing touch-enabled games is a whole lot of fun on the 10-point touch screen though I doubt if hardcore gamers would be satisfied with casual games since the 3rd generation Intel Core i5 1.7 Ghz processor can handle most of the latest games with elan, when run at low resolutions. That's because the 540U3C doesn't have a discrete graphics solution, like on gaming laptops.

The 1,366 x 768 HD LED display is comfortable to work with for most of the day and also played back movies satisfactorily. Multi-tasking is a cinch while the four-cell battery meant we could get through the day with one or two video calls.

The review device came with a 500 GB hard drive, with an express cache of 24 GB and 8 GB of RAM, ensuring that boot-ups were fast. But at this price point, just one USB 3.0 port seemed an unkind cut. The 540U3C also sports two USB 2.0 ports (one of which supports charging), a card reader, HDMI port, a headphone/microphone combo port and a VGA out via adapter. Another interesting design was its collapsible gigabit ethernet port.

It also came bundled with PowerDVD and Samsung's apps such as S Player, S Gallery and S Camera. The 1.3 MP built-in HD webcam and microphone are good enough for video chats. The built-in speakers delivered crisp audio, though not audiophile quality.

The 540U3C is a good device to own, provided you can live with a single USB 3.0 port.

SAMSUNG SERIES 5 ULTRA TOUCH 540U3C

(NP540U3C-A01IN)

Price: Rs 64,990

OS: Windows 8 64-bit Single License

RAM: 8 gb

Processor: Intel Core i5 3317U @ 1.70Ghz

Display: 13.3-inch HD LED (1366 x 768) with touch

Hard Drive: 500GB SATA with ExpressCache of 24GB

Weight: 1.69 kg

Battery: Four-cell 52Wh Li-Polymer