For These Laptops, Thin Is In Ultrabooks, a new class of Windows-powered laptops, are downsizing portable computing.

PC users rejoice: After four years of watching Apple's svelte MacBook Air laptops grace conference rooms, tray tables and cafes, the Windows crowd can finally join the party. Last year, Intel launched the computer category known as Ultrabooks, which employ second-generation Intel Core chips, power up in seven seconds or less and are no more than 0.8 inches thick. What's missing from these laptops? Big screens, gigantic file-storage capacity and all the extra weight that goes with those features.

Samsung Series 9 second generation

Photo courtesy of Samsung

Hard-cover Wonder
Samsung Series 9 second generation ($1,399)
Encased in an aluminum single-shell body, the Series 9 packs an arsenal of travel-ready features: a 1.4-second wake-up, a 128 GB solid-state drive and a four-in-one card slot for additional storage.