Low-cost Ultrabook challenger lurking in the shadows

Now that Intel® has officially pulled back the curtain on its next-generation processor family known as Ivy Bridge, all eyes are looking toward the Ultrabook™ computer and what the new chipset may mean for this emerging technology. However, there is another device making noise in the background that could prove disruptive to the Ultrabook's success.

According to PC Magazine, several PC manufacturers are planning to introduce their own lines of "ultrathin value notebooks," which are essentially stripped-down Ultrabooks that sell for a lower price.

Cost has been cited as the main obstacle of the Ultrabook's success. Though the technology is indeed alluring, many people may have trouble coming up with the $699 needed for low-end models. Users who want the works from their Ultrabooks are looking to spend around $1,199.

Recognizing that not everyone is willing to shell out this amount of cash, some PC vendors will offer their value ultrathins for between $349 and $599, PC Magazine reports. These devices will lack some of the flash and functionality of the Ultrabook, but they will still come in a lightweight, highly portable body that's likely to catch the attention of many cost-conscious users.

Still, the Ultrabook will enjoy much of the spotlight for the foreseeable future. Several manufacturers are already looking into developing cutting-edge models that will redefine the notion of the notebook computer. And the arrival of Ivy Bridge is expected to lead to price cuts for early Ultrabook models.