Hewlett-Packard has said for months that it’ll be a staunch supporter of Ultrabooks. And the company delivered the proof on May 9 when it unveiled a wave of new enterprise-focused Ultrabooks. Led by the EliteBook Folio 9470m, HP’s new line of business Ultrabooks could very well play an integral role in the success or failure of the company’s enterprise-focused computing line. To say that Ultrabooks are very important to HP would be an understatement.
But HP isn’t alone. Ultrabooks are increasing in popularity, and more and more vendors are deciding to offer them. The computers are a bit on the expensive side; HP’s new Spectre Pro Ultrabook, for example, costs $1,049. But it delivers the kind of mobility that had heretofore not been available in the Windows notebook market. Thanks to Intel, Ultrabooks are now a real challenger in the computing space.
But that doesn’t mean they’ll succeed. There are several major issues that could potentially stymie Ultrabook growth in the computing space and send the product category to the junk bin.
Read on to find out the issues that are standing in the way of Ultrabook success now and in the future.
1. We can’t forget about tablets
Although Ultrabooks might be considered a different category to some folks, they’re still competing against tablets. Customers who want to be able to achieve certain computing goals while on the go are deciding between a lightweight notebook like an Ultrabook and the iPad. The fact that Ultrabooks are competing against the iPad is a major challenge to the success of the slimmer, lighter form factors from HP and other makers.
2. Pricing
As noted, Ultrabooks are rather expensive compared with other PC forms. In fact, if one wants to buy one of the older models, they’ll still need to drop about $700 to $900. The newer Ultrabooks on store shelves are now setting customers back as much as $1,300. Considering nice, nearly as thin notebooks are retailing for half that, Ultrabooks might have a problem selling customers on their price.
3. Intel’s control
Intel created the Ultrabook spec, which means it’s playing a role in every one of the computers that are hitting store shelves. To some vendors, that’s not a problem. But to others that are used to simply acquiring a chip from Intel and moving on, it is. Look for Intel’s relationship with vendors to play a crucial role in the success or failure of Ultrabooks.
4. How will Windows 8 fare?
Although Ultrabooks are available now and running Windows 7, the Ultrabook makers are waiting for the introduction of Windows 8. If Windows 8 becomes a success, it will make it much easier to sell Ultrabooks. But if the operating system fails, all kinds of trouble could ensue. Expect Windows 8 to be a key component in the success or failure of Ultrabooks.
To read the original eWeek article, click here: Ultrabooks: 10 Factors that Will Determine Their Success or Failure