samsonlonghair wrote:Valid points, but I still see Ultrabooks filling the same market niche previously occupied by desktop replacements. I like that you use the phrase "everything machine" because that's exactly what this is to the consumer. This is the laptop for the consumer who has the money to spend, doesn't want to make a lot of compromise, and maybe doesn't want to waste much time comparing specs. Call it an ultrabook or a desktop replacement. It's the laptop that does everything.
I think that stems more from laptops taking over more and more of personal computers in general, but yeah. If you're actually wanting to tote your computer around with you all day, then the things that an Ultrabook prioritizes will suit that. In turn, they do suit the needs for a lot of people that just want a nice machine for general computing.
Personally though, that's not the niche I associate with "desktop replacement". To me, that's the label for laptops that
aren't designed to be carried around as much. The class of machine where it's fine if it's an 8-10+ pound behemoth with terrible battery life, because the point of it is to be able to easily tote it from one desk to another, not have it in your bag all the time. That's what mobile workstations and "gaming laptops" (other than stuff like the M11x) tend to be.
If more people are actually choosing to buy Ultrabooks because of the premium status, instead of ginormous 17" bricks to carry around all day, then great.
It's a much better trend.
noiseredux wrote:I mean, XP is a solid choice for such a goal, right? Or should I be aiming for a less flashy but more useful 98SE laptop?
Personally, I think it comes down to just how many machines you plan on maintaining. If you were looking for one Retro PC, then I would definitely favor 98SE over XP. If you had several, then XP was on the market for a loooong time and could suit a lot of games too - there'd just be more that likely still works fine on 10.
I don't think that a laptop is ideal as a retro PC for either OS though.
