Interview: Linus Torvalds
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Fri 20th Apr 2012 21:14 UTC, submitted by ingraham
Linux Liuns Torvalds is a finalist for this year's Millenium Technology Prize, prompting Scott Merrill with TechCrunch to do an e-mail interview. Interesting how Torvalds ignores the existence of ultrabooks - the Air is the exact same Intel-designed machine. Curious.
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RE[2]: Comment by galvanash
by galvanash on Sun 22nd Apr 2012 07:57 UTC in reply to "RE: Comment by galvanash"
galvanash
Member since:
2006-01-25

You can pretty much define ultrabooks as "ultraportables that are less-expensive & less-expandable than most 'business ultraportables' and use ULV processors." E.g. laptops like the ThinkPad T410s (my current laptop) are really only distinguished from ultrabooks by the CPU, the pricetag, and the lack of the "ultrabook" trademark.


Well it just depends how picky you are with the definition... As things are now, 3 lbs is considered the absolute maximum weight allowed for an ultrabook. Personally I consider a 3 lbs to be too much to lug around comfortably, which is why I opted for the 11" Air (which is closer to 2 lb).

For business class "ultraportables", 3 lbs is pretty much the minimum weight you can find - most of them are in the 4-5 lb range. Your T410 weighs more than two 11" Airs... Nothing wrong with that, just saying you considering that distinction trivial doesn't mean other people do.

If anything, Apple was one of the last major computer manufacturers to release something that could be considered an ultraportable. One thing I will give them credit for is that the MBA does seem to have started a trend of more affordably-priced ultraportables - but unfortunately ultrabooks also seem to be copying the Air's flaws compared to business ultraportables (fewer ports, no wired ethernet, batteries that aren't user-replaceable, RAM that isn't upgradeable, etc).


Those are not flaws... To get under 3 lbs AND retain good battery life AND have a small form factor - well you have to give up some things (like a lot of ports, user replaceable batteries, upgradable ram, removeable media, etc. - although not necessarily all of these).

Its a trade off. This is essentially the main reason why I consider ultrabooks to be descendents of the orginal Air - they make almost exactly the same tradeoffs in almost exactly the same way. Business class ultraportables make tradeoffs too, but not the same ones and they are not aiming for the same targets.

Both types of machines have their audience - but one is not "better" than the other, it just depends on your priorities.

Edited 2012-04-22 07:59 UTC

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