Ultrabook 13.5 recommendation for the budget ($1300)

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › Ultrabook 13.5 recommendation for the budget ($1300)

Steve113

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#205266 6-Nov-2016 12:05

Hello,

I'm looking for a 13-13.5 Ultrabook for around $1300.

Yes i am on a tight budget. But I dont think its too unreasonable considering Microsoft is selling the Dell XPS 13 in the US for $999 USD.

https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/productID.326871500

Can you please help me find the best value for buck given my low budget?

Many Thanks,

Steve

kiwi_64

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#1664583 6-Nov-2016 15:05

other than 'ultrabook', what specs are you looking for?

toyonut

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#1664590 6-Nov-2016 15:31

US pricing seldom translates here the way you would think it should unfortunately. Looks like the best options in that price range is something like an Asus Zenbook.

https://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/asus-zenbook-ux305fa-fc060t-13-3-laptop-intel-core-m3-6y30-4gb/25677277

https://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/asus-zenbook-ux310ua-gl082t-13-3-laptop-intel-i3-6100u-4gb/26149406

Otherwise, just hit pricespy and start filtering by the specs you want.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

ech3lon

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#1664597 6-Nov-2016 15:46

Dell Intel i5 - 8GB - 256 SSD, Full-HD touch screen - 1.6 kg - $1400 NZD (incl GST & shipping)

http://www.dell.com/nz/p/inspiron-13-5368-2-in-1-laptop/pd?oc=z510443nz&model_id=inspiron-13-5368-2-in-1-laptop

D.W

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#1664599 6-Nov-2016 15:57

Thinkpad 13 is another option in your price range: http://www3.lenovo.com/nz/en/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpad-13-series/TP-13-Windows/p/22TP2TX132E#tab-customize

sidefx

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#1664610 6-Nov-2016 16:53

With shipping, GST, CGA coverage and the small size of the NZ market, I'd expect that 1000USD to translate to about 2050NZD :P

(http://www.dell.com/nz/p/xps-13-9350-laptop/pd?oc=z510490nz&l=en&s=dhs)

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ech3lon

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#1664617 6-Nov-2016 17:12

sidefx:

With shipping, GST, CGA coverage and the small size of the NZ market, I'd expect that 1000USD to translate to about 2050NZD :P

(http://www.dell.com/nz/p/xps-13-9350-laptop/pd?oc=z510490nz&l=en&s=dhs)

But they're soo purty.. :-)

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#1664618 6-Nov-2016 17:29

sidefx:

With shipping, GST, CGA coverage and the small size of the NZ market, I'd expect that 1000USD to translate to about 2050NZD :P

(http://www.dell.com/nz/p/xps-13-9350-laptop/pd?oc=z510490nz&l=en&s=dhs)

Dell XPS 13

I have one of these - purchased in NZ - highly recommended.

Sideface

Steve113

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#1664635 6-Nov-2016 18:13

Thank you very much. Those are excellent recommendations which i am seriously considering.

The specs and price for the i5 model of the Lenovo ThinkPad looks really enticing:

http://www3.lenovo.com/nz/en/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpad-13-series/TP-13-Windows/p/22TP2TX132E#tab-customize

The other option is the Asus ux305UA with the i5 but that blows out my budget a bit.

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NBKASU305024/ASUS-Zenbook-UX305UA-Fast-Slim-Beautiful-Ultrabook

networkn

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#1664673 6-Nov-2016 20:16

I have an Asus UX series, was fantastic, though it had 2 faults in 2 years one of which was fixed quite quickly the other not so much. Asus do fit a lot into their devices, bang for buck is pretty hard to beat, but warranty is pretty average to poor in my experience.

I'd NEVER buy one as my main machine, but would buy one as a secondary machine I used when I went on holiday or as a walk around the house device.

Basically, if you rely on it, buy an HP, Toshiba, Lenovo, if you don't worry about that stuff buy something else.

Some people like Dell, I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole (in fact, not even with 2 tied together).

1101

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#1664868 7-Nov-2016 10:51

Steve113:

Hello,

I'm looking for a 13-13.5 Ultrabook for around $1300.

Yes i am on a tight budget. But I dont think its too unreasonable considering Microsoft is selling the Dell XPS 13 in the US for $999 USD.

Dell NZ price
"Starting at $1,954.00"

That Lenovo i3 is a really good price

I just bought one of these ASUS for a customer , very thin & lightweight . Riddled with crapware though , 1/2 hour to uninstall all the crap off it :-(
i5 , 500G ssd , 2x USB (full size)
http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?itemID=440768

Dairyxox

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#1665034 7-Nov-2016 14:31

Spotted this at Noel Leeming.

Looked like a good deal.

- PROS

Decent brand

Full HD Screen

Super Slim

Thin side bezels

Latest Generation (Skylake) & 8GB.

- CONS

Small SSD (PCIe though so fast, just add an SD card? not sure if it has an SD card slot)

Non-touch screen

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Dairyxox

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#1665043 7-Nov-2016 14:38

Yes it does have a SD card reader, and the screen is IPS.

eracode

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#1665073 7-Nov-2016 15:09

Skylake isn't really latest gen any more - there's laptops with the Kaby Lake processors out now. Not in OP's price range though I guess.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

TeaLeaf

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#1667770 11-Nov-2016 07:39

Are we talking ultra book or subnotebook because half of these are ultrabooks.

For an actual subnotebook/tablet MS Surface Pro 4. Best screen you are going to get for that money and I think that price squeezes in an i5. For the love of NZ Cricket get the grey matching keyboard not that toy looking blue one Surface Pro 4 $1799, u will find it cheaper.

Ultrabooks

ux303UB or LB, have seen at $1600 but usually around $1800.

Basic info

• On board processor: Intel Core i7-5500U Processor, 2.4GHz (4M Cache, up to 3.0GHz)
• Operating System: Windows 10 (64bit)
• Memory Slot: 1x
• Memory: 8GB
• Storage: SATA 256G 2.5' SSD
• Display: 13.3inch LED Back-lit Touch Ultra Slim 300nits FHD 1920x1080 Screen
• External video display modes: HDMI 1.4
• Video Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 940M ( N16S-GT)

Or if you can handle the Intel IGP Graphics then the UX305 starting $1100 but seriously get at least i5 $1500. Beautiful machines, like all a couple faults noted by some but nowhere near as many as my POS Apple MBP 13. https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NBKASU693535/ASUS-UX305UA-FC030R-133-FHD-i5-6200U-8GB-128GB-SSD?qr=pspy&ref=pricespy

But if it were me and I could stretch my budget (quite a bit), this is the most sophisticated professional ultrabook on the market imo by a long way. Its a 13" but really 12.5, Asus not trying to TRICK people like some other companies. Its smaller and thinner than a Macbook Air 11 and weighs 900gm with battery. $2500nzd

https://www.asus.com/nz/Notebooks/ASUS-ZenBook-3-UX390UA/ Kaby Lake i7, 4 Harmon Kardon speakers the list goes on........

The XPS infinity is a good choice but Id only get it if it was UHD and thats going to cost you $3k. That and the notebook surface imo have the 2 best screens. But are bigger for the UHD screens (15" but feels like 14"). If you see a normal XPS infinity FHD used on TM, that could be an option, especially if it has some warranty left.

Keep in mind most of these will be dual core whether i5 or i7, so web browsing etc no problem, photoshop unlikely if exporting batch files. My i7 6200u struggles with large exports, nature of the beast, anything that uses multi core will, in fact lightroom export drops off after about 8 cores.

ie http://browser.primatelabs.com/v4/cpu/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=i5-6200U

http://browser.primatelabs.com/v4/cpu/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=i7-6500U

CPUs for the most part have not really progressed that much in 7 generations (intel anyway) and even more so on dual core low voltage chips like these.

IMO look used, say 6 months old, someone who has changed their mind, still has warranty, make sure no issues. Either the Asus or the Xps. Or if you need to stylus the Surface Pro, even the 3 is pretty good and CHEAP used.

Steve113

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#1677305 25-Nov-2016 11:51

Thank you all for your input. Some great recommendations here.

I ended up opting in for the Lenovo 710s, given the price and specs and JB HI-FI doing a price match and offering a 2 year warranty it was a good offer.

I am very happy with it right now. Many Thanks for your help.