Over the next few weeks, I hope to draw your attention to a variety of ultrabooks, which are now becoming more popular and more affordable. FYI, an ultrabook basically refers to a highly portable notebook/laptop computer and generally features a Solid State Drive (SSD), as opposed to a the traditional SATA hard drive found on most laptops and notebooks. SSDs allow manufactures to build devices that are thinner and lighter.

 

 

Acer Aspire S3-951 (~Rs120,000)

Pros

Superb Core i7 Performance
Good Keyboard
Very light
Attractive design

Cons

Relatively short battery life
Touchpad can be annoying
Relatively low storage

Key Specs

 

 
The Acer Aspire boasts a 13.3" display, which is nearly perfect for those who travel a lot. it also features an HDMI port and two USB ports in the rear. The only thing is that it does not feature a built-in Ethernet port, so users will not be able to take advantage of wired networking; Wi-Fi is the only option.
 
The Acer Aspire I looked at had around 250GB of storage capacity and once again this is enough for someone who needs for assignments or business and it isn't exactly the best option for hard-core gaming or entertainment.
 
The Aspire also features a 1.3MP camera, which is quite standard these days.

Performance

 

 
When it comes to performance, everything depends on the Intel dual-core i7 processor and the 4GB RAM, which together, provide very good performance, allowing high-end multitasking.  The integrated GPU also means that users can work on demanding photo or video editing software.
 
However, keep in mind (despite the fancy advertising) the battery is quite weak. After doing some research online, I found that the battery could only provide approximately 3 hours of power under intense working conditions.

Design

 

One thing you will immediately notice is the sleek design of this ultrabook. It weighs a mere 1.38kg and is only 19mm at its widest point. However, do not let its thin profile fool you; the device feels sturdy despite the fact that you can easily carry it in one hand.

 

The keyboard is not backlit so typing in the dark is going to be a problem. However, the keys are not crowded and so it is actually quite easy to type. Admittedly, I did not get around to typing essays but I doubt it would have been a problem even if I tried. The only thing that really gets on your nerves is the integrated touchpad, which requires users to press the left and right corners to trigger the clicks.

Conclusion
 
The Acer Aspire S (depending on the specs) is a good value for money for anyone on a tight budget needing a high-performance ultrabook. The design and performance of the device is more than satisfactory and despite disappointing features are the integrated touchpad, the weak battery and the lack of a built-in Ethernet; it still manages to make it to the top-tier.