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If the PC market continues to focus on the Hardware segment and ignore the software/hardware duality, their sales will continue to dwindle when compared to Apple.

People want solutions, not more problems.

Stop loading your PC's with (literally) useless software that no one wants (or can use longer that 30 seconds), and start making computers that compliment the software they're running.

Anything short of that and you might as well sell the company now.

I'm not an ultrabook fan, but thought I would leave a note about PC's in general.

I've been using PC's since 1994, and have worked in the software engineering industry for a number of years.

I don't know how many times I've heard predictions about the death of the PC since the 90s, and every time those predictions have been a flop and a complete laugher. I still haven't bought an ipad or one of the smaller whatchamacallits for one simple reason: I can do everything it does on my pc at home and far more. So it would allow me to cruise the web while I'm driving (ummm whats that again?), it would allow me to cruise the web while I'm sitting in the park (why?), and it's going to cost me hundreds of dollars, and I have to keep buying the "latest and greatest" every few years, so the costs just keep piling up? Why?

Remember the brave predictions of whatshisname who said that pcs would all be replaced by "thin clients"? Bah ha ha ha ha!!!! Yeah he is rich, but I still haven't seen any "thin clients" anywhere in sight yet.

So I don't put much stock in these predictions about the PC. I love my Windows 7 PC with several gigs of memory and a 64-bit processor that can handle HUGE files with no problem at all, and do image and video processing that was completely unheard of just a decade ago.

Those hand-held whachamacallits can't even hold a candle to that.

And by the way, the reason I haven't bought a new PC lately is because it's working so well!! Since I bought my HP Win7 about a year ago, I haven't had to reinstall the OS a single time yet. I had one blue-screen shutdown, but it wasn't Windows fault, it was a program I was running, and the OS recovered without a hitch. This machine is absolutely amazing compared to the PCs I used to own. The PC may not be selling as well, but that is probably because they are working so well that they don't need replacing as often. That's a good thing.

I may have bought an ultrabook earlier this year, however, I'm waiting for Microsoft's surface pro. I think that's really my future in the computer industry. Why buy an ultrabook when you can have a surface tablet?

Expensive toys always have a very limited marketplace. Tablets and ultrabooks can hardly be considered for serious productive, content-creating tasks.

Easy--there is nothing to buy. Newegg lists 26 models.

Maybe...just maybe the reason these things aren't selling that well is because they are more hype than performance ("ultrabook" leads me to think of some high-end gaming laptop). That may work for Apple but not so much for Windows. I get that they're thin and some come with SSDs, but for the price, one can get considerably more in a typical laptop. Or am I overlooking some magic spec that blows typical laptops away?

I ontt see the difference between Ultrabooks and the netbook. Both of them have no optical drive or really worth getting compared to a high speed 17 in laptop with all the bells and whistles for Media, Games and everything in between for $500!

Why pay twice as much for so little?? /shakes head

I think the PC sales are slow, not because you think Ultrabooks are expensive. For one thing you really need to stop comparing Windows PC's to Apple's offerings just because they are a similar type.

With Windows peopel dont want to pay a lot for a PC. Ultrabooks sales have been low likely because they cost too much. Why woudl I pay $1500 for a thin laptop, when Ican get a desktop with equal or better specs that can be upgarded for less?

As far as Apple commanding the premium PC market? Mac's arent premium PC's. They are highend, mid-range computers. Apple sales more of them in high cost ranges because if you want OSX you are forced to pay what it cost to have it. With Wndowd you arent forced to pay a high price because you have multiple OEM choies. With Ale they are the only choice.

If you could buy another PC runninh iOS frm a good OEm like HP, Lenovo or Asus, Apple sales would drop liek rocks.

It si so stupid to compare a platform cost where it is the only option with one that offers multiple options. This is suppose to be a tech-smart magazine.

Also, many XP users who did ahev a older system, likely upgarded whe they moved to Windows 7. If they ahve a nw Windows 7 PC, they dont need aother PC for quite some time.

Ipersonally did look at Ultrabooks, but decided to wait after seeing the Surface. It si now July. Windows 8 on new PC's will start showing up in late September. I am sure sales will pick up just a bit.

I do agree that cost has something to do with Ultrabook sales,but lowering the cost may help a bit. But if you already have a PC running Wndows 7, why buy another that runs the same?

TheTess, on 12 July 2012 - 11:09 AM, said:

You're looking at it wrong. Once you install all the apps you need to a laptop, what do you need an optical drive for? My laptop has an optical drive and I rarely ever use it. Every CD or DVDIhave, Icreated an ISO image for and it is stored onan external drive. No CD/DVD to get lost. If i need to install an app, I simply load the image into a Virtual CD/DVD drive.

I do agree with the other poster that sice Ultrabook have less hardware capability, the price should go dwn. Thin laptops have been around for a very long time. You mean in 20 years of making light, then laptops, the proce has only fallen by 1/2?

Why Ultrabook Sales Have Flopped So Far?

1) transition from Sandy to Ivy Bridge

2) incessant Apple lawsuits and the design changes made to avoid them

3) as the article mentions, Windows 8

IPC makers want Ultrabooks to sell faster, then they need to do exactly what Apple did to increase Macbook Air sales.

Apple's most sold laptop was the 13" Macbook and 13" Macbook Pro. They eliminated the 13" Macbook Pro and only educational facilities can get them now, unless of course you by a refurb or something. This now forces any Apple comsumer if they want a 13" model to by the Macbook Ar because that si the only option for a small laptop other than the 11" model of the same computer.

The 11" is a bit to small and many may find 15" and 17" to be too big. 13" and 14" laptops seem to be a swwet spot and are the most common models I see businessmen carry.

So if PCmakers want to see the same, they need to eliminate making any other 13" or 14" models and replace them with Ultrabooks. Theuy will then sell, because buyers of small laptops would be forced to buy them. Tis will aso force them to drop the proce to compete with each other. With so many being so, the increase in demand for parts will also drive those cost down, which will result in lower ultrabook pricing.

In this scenario, Apple made a smarter move. The 13" Macbook Pro was still outselling the Air by a huge margin. Instead of wasting parts on a device that isnt selling, you simply eliminate one t force sales on another to increase.

Tis is likely why Aple hasnt refreshed the iPod Touch. Because iPad sales have been cannabalizing the sales of the Touch, because for $100 more you can get a bigger screen and a device that works essential 100% the same.

This post has been edited by QUADICON: 12 July 2012 - 12:27 PM

In December I bought an HP I-7 laptop with 8 GB ram and 750G hard drive for about $700. It's a 13 inch screen and weighs 4.3 pounds. Very easy to carry around. Why would I pay a lot more for less computing power and HD space just to save a pound in carry-around weight? Ultra books make no sense to me except as expensive toys for those with money to burn.

QUADICON, on 12 July 2012 - 12:25 PM, said:

I don't know what you've taken 3 posts to ramble on about, but as far as i'm concerned, the 13 inch MacBook Pro continues to remain in Apple's lineup at 1320 dollars. I'd know - I just bought one. The MacBook Pro 17" was discontinued last month, while it is the 13" White Unibody Macbook which is available to educational institutions, not the 13" Macbook Pro. The 13" MacBook Pro is essentially the rebranded 2009/2010 Macbook which had an aluminum unibody. Hope this clears up your confusion with regards to Apple products - Information is plentiful on the web if you look for it ;P

TheTess, on 12 July 2012 - 11:09 AM, said:

One word: Portability.

Who wants to lug a 17" 30lb monster everywhere they go? I don't. I honestly don't like lugging my w520.

Touch Ultrabooks with Windows 8 for around $600 to $800, in many ways will be Intel's and AMD's saviour.

Intel and AMD will not be able to command enough margins in Windows 8 tablet market as compared to Touch Ultrabook market.

The answer to WHY ultrabook sales have flopped is simple: There is no meaning behind it. Ultrabook had a simple goal from the outset: Create a class of notebooks designed to compete with the Macbook Air. It was that simple. Now we have 15" 5lb monster "ultrabooks" made of plastic. In other words, the same crap as before that could never compete.

blottobot, on 12 July 2012 - 11:06 AM, said:

they are just too expensive. manufactureres're really crazy.