MaximumPC
Vizio's Full HD 1080p Ultrabook Bucks Tradition, Now Available Online
As much as we're in love with the Ultrabook category's thin and light form factor, we're not nearly as smitten over the low display resolution that plagues the majority of first and second generation models. Even larger models like Acer's 15.6-inch Timeline and HP's equally sized Envy both sport 1366x768 screen resolutions, while Samsung's 15-inch Series 9 taps out at 1600x900. Well, as luck would have it, I stumbled upon Vizio's online collection of PCs, including a 15.6-inch Ultrabook model that finally gets the resolution right.
The fact that Vizio's 15.6-inch Ultrabook boasts a 1920x1080 display resolution isn't some grand revelation -- after all, Vizio revealed as much a little over a month ago when it officially announced a line of PC products that were first introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January. However, it's now available to purchase, and as I've discovered, 1920x1080 is a rarity in the Ultrabook space.
Full HD comes at a cost. Vizio, traditionally a value oriented brand, kicks off its 15.6-inch Ultrabook category with a $950 model that also includes a Core i3 3217U processor clocked at 1.8GHz, 4GB of DDR3-1333 RAM, Intel HD 4000 graphics, 128GB solid state drive, 802.11n dual-band Wi-Fi, HDMI output, two USB 3.0 ports, 1.3MP webcam, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. For $50 more, Vizio upgrades the processor to a Core i5 3317U clocked at 1.7GHz, while it's flagship $1,250 model features a Core i7 3517U processor clocked at 1.9GHz and twice the amount of solid state storage (256GB).
These aren't inexpensive Ultrabooks, though they are larger than most -- 15.6 inches versus 13.3 inches and 14 inches -- with a screen resolution to match the added real estate. For the record, Vizio also sells a series of 14-inch models starting at $900, all of which feature a 1600x900 resolution and solid state storage.
Vizio's Full HD 1080p Ultrabook Bucks Tradition, Now Available Online
As much as we're in love with the Ultrabook category's thin and light form factor, we're not nearly as smitten over the low display resolution that plagues the majority of first and second generation models. Even larger models like Acer's 15.6-inch Timeline and HP's equally sized Envy both sport 1366x768 screen resolutions, while Samsung's 15-inch Series 9 taps out at 1600x900. Well, as luck would have it, I stumbled upon Vizio's online collection of PCs, including a 15.6-inch Ultrabook model that finally gets the resolution right.
Full HD comes at a cost. Vizio, traditionally a value oriented brand, kicks off its 15.6-inch Ultrabook category with a $950 model that also includes a Core i3 3217U processor clocked at 1.8GHz, 4GB of DDR3-1333 RAM, Intel HD 4000 graphics, 128GB solid state drive, 802.11n dual-band Wi-Fi, HDMI output, two USB 3.0 ports, 1.3MP webcam, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. For $50 more, Vizio upgrades the processor to a Core i5 3317U clocked at 1.7GHz, while it's flagship $1,250 model features a Core i7 3517U processor clocked at 1.9GHz and twice the amount of solid state storage (256GB).
These aren't inexpensive Ultrabooks, though they are larger than most -- 15.6 inches versus 13.3 inches and 14 inches -- with a screen resolution to match the added real estate. For the record, Vizio also sells a series of 14-inch models starting at $900, all of which feature a 1600x900 resolution and solid state storage.
