Transforming ultrabooks with touchscreens expected by summer

DigiTimes reports notebook makers are expected to introduce transforming ultrabooks with touchscreens in July or August 2012. This includes Acer, ASUS, and Lenovo. Most systems will feature a rotatable screen that turn the ultrabook into a tablet, while some may use sliding screens to achieve the same results.

In order to match Windows 8's touch functions, notebook vendors plan to offer touch ultrabooks, but the addition of touch functions will result in 0.7-1.5cm increase in thickness and higher production cost. To solve the problems, vendors will launch models with transforming designs as early as July-August 2012, according to sources from the notebook supply chain.

Notebook hinge makers pointed out that with the existing clamshell designs of ultrabooks, the panel could easily move around while users are operating through a touchscreen, but if they strengthen the hinge's torque, it could easily flip up the bottom part of the notebook. As a result, the vendors will need to adopt a transforming design to allow touch screen functions to work.

Transforming ultrabooks with touchscreens expected by summer - More news at DV Hardware

NVIDIA has Kepler part for ultrabooks

FUD Zilla heard NVIDIA's Kepler GPU will show up in some new Ivy Bridge based ultrabooks, but exact details aren't known.

This makes for an exciting development as many people expected that ultrabooks will always be doomed with Intel integrated graphics. It turns out that with Optimus, Nvidia can play this card and place some low power GPUs in some ultrabooks. Of course, don't expect any miracles, we are still talking about low TDP parts.

Sources mentioned that Asus and Acer should be on board, but we cannot confirm this at press time. However, we stand tall by the news that Kepler gets to Ultrabooks this year. This was confirmed by several industry sources.

NVIDIA has Kepler part for ultrabooks - More news at DV Hardware

Acer, Asus and Lenovo to debut Thunderbolt ultrabooks in Q2 2012

DigiTimes reports Acer, Asustek and Lenovo will all three release ultrabooks with Thunderbolt support in Q2 2012:

Acer, Asustek Computer and Lenovo are expected to offer ultrabooks based on Intel's Ivy Bridge platform which supports Thunderbolt in the second quarter of 2012, while Gigabyte Technology will take the initiative to offer Thunderbolt-enabled motherboards, according to industry sources.

Intel's Ivy Bridge is already set to natively support USB 3.0 technology and will be mainly equipped in mid-range to high-end PC models in 2012 and be fully standardized by 2013; however, limited by the increasing cost of more than US$20, the company's Thunderbolt technology is only expected to be adopted among high-end notebooks or desktops in 2012, the sources noted.

Acer, Asus and Lenovo to debut Thunderbolt ultrabooks in Q2 2012 - More news at DV Hardware

Acer predicts 25-35 percent marketshare for ultrabooks

Acer chairman JT Wang told DigiTimes that he anticipates that ultrabooks will account for 25 to 35 percent of total notebook shipments in 2012:

Sales of Acer's first ultrabook, the Aspire S3, totaled about 250,000-300,000 units in the first quarter after launch, and the company expects sales for its new Aspire S5 tablet PC will be even better.

While the sales prospects are still unclear for Europe this year, Acer expects strong sales gained in Brazil, the Philippines, Thailand and other Southeast Asia markets will make up slow sales in the US and Europe, Wang stated.

Acer predicts 25-35 percent marketshare for ultrabooks - More news at DV Hardware

Acer and ASUS to use fiber glass for ultrabooks

DigiTimes received word that Acer will introduce a 15" ultrabook with fiber glass enclosure in early 2012. Additionally, the site also heard that ASUS will also adopt fiber glass cases. This material will enable ultrabook makers to save $5-10 compared to models with aluminium alloy enclosures.

Acer plans to launch a 15-inch ultrabook model in early 2012 built using fiber glass cases supplied by Mitac Precision Technology. Asustek Computer is expected to follow suit, also adopting fiber glass cases from MPT, according to industry sources.

Acer originally planned to release the 15-inch model in the fourth quarter but decided to delay the launch to 2012 due to unfavorable market conditions, noted the sources, noting that the fiber glass cases will help bring down unit costs.

Acer and ASUS to use fiber glass for ultrabooks - More news at DV Hardware

AMD sees little future in ultrabooks

X-bit Labs writes AMD does not consider Intel's ultrabook initiative as an imminent success. The chip designer intends to offer competitive chips, but believes ultrabooks will have a hard time competing against Apple's MacBook Air.

Intel wants ultrabooks to employ its latest-generation microprocessors, use latest technologies available from other developers and still maintain relatively low costs. But AMD believes that there are many ways to address the market of ultra-portable mobile PCs: some may want extremely cheap netbooks with extended battery life and other may want to have powerful multimedia capabilities.

�We have been on the market with our ultra-thin strategy for some time. We have always believed there was a sweet spot in the market: the extreme sort of portability with beautiful aesthetic and very thin designs. [�] We have Llano silicon solution today that delivers as good or better battery life than Intel and better all around visual experience. [�] The Brazos platform [for low-cost systems] has been a runaway success for AMD,� said John Taylor, the director of client product marketing and software at AMD, in a brief interview with X-bit labs.

AMD sees little future in ultrabooks - More news at DV Hardware

Aluminium chassis for ultrabooks likely to be in short-supply in 2012

DigiTimes heard aluminium alloy enclosures for ultrabooks will likely be in shortage next year:

The supply of aluminum alloy chassis for ultrabooks may fall short of demand in 2012 as most ultrabook models launched by brand vendors will come with the metal chassis. Capacities at metal chassis makers including Catcher Technology and Foxconn Technology have been fully booked to the end of 2011, according to industry sources.

The ultrabook models already announced including Acer's Aspire S3, Lenovo's IdeaPad U300s, Toshiba's Portege Z830 and Asustek's forthcoming UX-series lineup, all will be available with metal chassis, the sources noted.

Aluminium chassis for ultrabooks likely to be in short-supply in 2012 - More news at DV Hardware