What sets Ultrabooks apart from traditional notebooks?

Ultrabooks arrived on the PC scene last year as the newest entrant into the laptop computer market. But what really sets the devices apart from traditional laptops and netbooks?

There are, in fact, many robust features that are getting users to embrace the latest technology.

Most noticeable is the size of the Ultrabook™. Many land somewhere between a netbook and a traditional laptop, and combine the portability and light weight of the former with the speed and performance of the latter.

The battery life of the Ultrabook also far exceeds its PC predecessors. That's because the use of low-power Intel® chips conserves energy, and the design of the device allows for a larger battery to be included in a small form factor.

Among the only drawbacks to Ultrabooks is their hefty price tag. However, some experts have predicted that the cost of the devices may soon come down, especially once the second generation is released later this year with the launch of Intel's Ivy Bridge platform. Once that happens, manufacturers are expected to lower the price tags of first-generation models.