Will Sony launch a premium Ultrabook or only the T Series?

The new T-Series 11" & 13" are obviously aimed at a budget end of the Ultrabook market. Is there any rumour or news of a more premium Ultrabook from Sony? i5 & i7 ULV , Full SSD, Better displays with much smaller bezels than T Series, thinner design?

 

Premium Ultrabook is the SV Z13!

 

1) Asus Zenbook UX31 - wait for new model with backlit kb and 1080p screen, around $1,199.

2) Samsung 900X3B(SB) or 3C (IB). Starts around $1,300.

These are the "tweeners" Sony has apparently decided not to make. Also, at $749 often on sale for the HP Folio, it's hard to make the case for the heavier, lower powered, Sony T.

 

Umm..top end T series has 256GB SSD and an ulv core i7 processor...

If you want better then that, then the bottom Z series model is probably appropriate as it doesn't come with the PMD...but too expensive in comparison I think

Edit: aside from screen really not much point, T Series is pretty damn thin

 

is it confirmed that the ULV i7 will be the top cpu? I did not see this spec leak, maybe it was posted somewhere?

 

Possible rival to the Z:



Lenovo announces ThinkPad X1 Carbon, calls it the world's lightest 14-inch ultrabook (hands-on) | The Verge

It looks phenomenal!

 

The "premium ultrabook" is the Z. Even though it doesn't qualify for Intel's "ultrabook" title.

As for the X1 Carbon, it's awesome and it's my favorite "ultrabook" right now, doesn't it still have a ULV CPU and no GPU? Now, the latter isn't as big of a deal with Ivy Bridge, but the CPU distinction is still an important distinction, as is the 1080p option on the Z.

 

I think so, but it should still have enough power for the vast majority of users needs. Obviously if people want raw horsepower then they wouldn't be looking at an Ultrabook anyway.

 

X1 is impressive, but I would rather have Dell XPS 13 with Z class screen. Both recognize foot print still matters, but went the opposite direction. I personally prefer about 13" screen but as small foot print as possible.

 

Oh, I agree. I think for most people, a ULV CPU with SSD is plenty fast, and for most high-performance users, they're looking at mobile workstations instead of ultraportables. I was just pointing out for the narrow market who want a full-power CPU in an ultraportable chassis, the Z remains the only option.

 

For ultraportable SV CPU, there is also the Panasonic SX/NX. It's relatively thick, is "only" 1600x900, and Japan only though. Other than that, I don't see anything that comes close to the Z.

I don't think that is the "premium" OP was looking for. The T's chassis isn't really that premium imho. It's too heavy and not particularly sleek even if it is thin. All metal is nice though.

 

They appeared on the Asia Pacific site for a short period like the new S Series.

Ulv Core i5 Ivy Bridge as a minimum I believe, and most models had ulv Core i7s pretty expensive though, top grade 13" T Series cost $1899 AU..will undoubtedly be cheaper in other countries though.

 

This is confusing. The original "sightings" of the T spec sheets had it with a Sandy Bridge ULV Core i3, even a spinning HDD with a tiny SSD "booster," but that recollection may be wrong. Between its 4 lb weight, low end cpu and crappy screen, I pretty much turned off any further thought of it. Still, curing the cpu and SSD issues leaves the heavy weight and crappy screen problem as the market is at 900p - 1080p IPS panels and 2.5 lb weights. EG, the new Asus Zenbook UX31 with 1080p, 1000:1 contrast IPS display starting at $1,099 with an IB ULV i5 and 128GB SSD, fabulous audio, and something like $1,499 with an i7 and 256GB. Likewise, Samsung 900X3B/C (SB/IB) blows the doors off the T with an exceptional screen (their proprietary variation of IPS), great audio, 2.4 lbs, thinner than a MBA...

...speaking of which, every body rush for the exits when Apple releases it's new MBPs and MBAs. I couldn't be more miserable, but I'm afraid they are going to once again redefine the category and wipe even the best UBs and likely even the Z off the map, with that 2548x1536 display, probably thin/lightness like no one else has achieved on the MBAs and plenty thin and light SV + dGPU MBPs. And, worst of all, I would wager, they will price them very aggressively (=LOW!).

Katie bar the door! I so hope I'm wrong.