Asus is preparing to introduce its second generation Zenbook line of ultrabooks. The original Zenbook UX21 and UX31 were the first thin and light laptops to meet Intel’s ultrabook specifications when they launched in late 2011. So what’s next? Higher resolution displays.

Asus Zenbook Prime

Engadget Chinese got an early glimpse at two new ultrabooks from Asus. The company is apparently calling the new 11.6 inch and 13.3 inch laptops Zenbook Primes, taking a page out of its tablet playbook (the first Asus Android tablet was called the Eee Pad Transformer, while  its successor is called the Transformer Prime).

Both the 11.6 inch and 13.3 inch models reportedly feature 1920 x 1080p IPS displays with wide viewing angles and matte, non-glare screens.

That’s about all we know for certain, but it looks like Asus may also be adding a backlit keyboard — something that the original Zenbook models lacked. It’s also likely that the new models will feature Intel’s upcoming Ivy Bridge processors for ultrabooks — but we’ll probably have to wait until June to know for certain.

Intel’s third generation Core family chips feature a new graphics chipset which should help with high definition displays. That makes sense, since Intel is pretty sure high-res screens are the next big thing. In fact, by next year Intel expects 1080p notebook displays to be old hat. The company is preparing for a future where we’ll see 2560 x 1440 pixel and higher resolution displays in ultrabooks.

via Engadget

 

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11 replies on “Asus Zenbook Prime ultrabook with 1080p screen spotted”

  1. About time manufacturers paid attention to the screens. Now if only, Lenovo, HP, Dell, etc. would follow suit for their entire range of systems. Then we’d be talking.

  2. An 11.6 screen ultra book makes sense for some who travel, and for students who commute.  It is a niche that manufacturers are overlooking.   Bigger is not always better

  3. Anyone know of possible dimensions and battery life of the 11.6″ model? I’m coming from an Acer 1810T which has fairly small bezels and 6-8 hours of battery life. Too bad Acer discontinued the 11.6″ TimelineX series. The only things I can find now are ultrabooks with a larger footprint and shorter battery life.

    1.  Yes, Ultrabooks don’t yet offer desired run times and the integrated design doesn’t allow battery swapping for longer options.  Along with the compact design limits the size battery they can include but the upcoming Ivy Bridge systems should see at least a little improvement with the improved power efficiency.

      While Ultrabook makers should be able to squeeze in slightly better battery capacities.

      Though we may have to wait for Haswell based systems that are coming out early next year before we see really good run times, as Haswell will improve power efficiency even better than Ivy Bridge.

      1. You know of any 11.6″ notebooks like the 1810T (ie. not ultrabooks)? Maybe some OEM is making an 11.6″ notebook with current specs. The last 11.6″ TimelineX was the 1830T which was a while ago.

        I’m not exactly looking into ultrabooks because I want a thinner notebook. 1″ is thin enough.

        1.  Nothing really in the 11.6″ size range, Acer took their TimelineX series to the 14″-15.6″ range when they updated to Sandy Bridge.

          Most 11.6″ are netbook range based on either Intel ATOM or AMD Fusion. While even Ultrabook makers are only offering a handful of 11.6″ models.

          You’ll likely have to expand your search to include up to 13.3″ to find something you may like that isn’t too big or too thick, like Dell is still selling their Alienware M11x, or too costly as prices tend to ramp up quickly with decent specs at that size.

          So nothing to recommend off hand as a good replacement of the 1830T.

  4. It’s great to see some manufacturers are giving more attention to the screens.

    1. … Great screen, but I’ll bet you a million bucks it’ll have a 0.3 megapixel webcam, and a terrible Elantech touchpad instead of a proper Synaptics touchpad.  Even if they do get the touchpad correct, I bet the buttons will be too stiff, or it will not have its own separate buttons.  I think they hire people specifically to figure out how to mess up a good thing.

      1. I don’t think any of that stuff would matter. 1080p IPS! Hook up a USB mouse and enjoy the screen.

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