Intel B14 whitebox ultrabook

[cbn]

Ava Direct sells these --->http://www.avadirect.com/custom-laptop-configurator.asp?PRID=26282

According to this link they are made by Pegatron---> http://www.asipartner.com/Solutions/Mobile/ASINotebookSolutions/PegatronB14/tabid/935/Default.aspx

What can someone expect by buying one of these?

I couldn't find any reviews, but I am very curious about the hardware: Battery quality and capacity, keyboard, trackpad, etc <--- How do these stack up against the major brands?

 

[Zap]

Here is some generic information on "whitebooks."

Expect to pay more than a similar configuration, if one exists.

That is, unless you can source used parts.

 

[hans007]

pegatron used to be asus. they had to split off to be ablet o make stuff for OEMs liek say HP or dell.

but it should be pretty high quality.

 

[EarthwormJim]

Such low resolution for a 14" screen.

 

[slugg]

Looks like a piece of crap, in my opinion. For that price, find an Asus Zenbook on sale. Or hell, even a used MacBook Air.

 

[cbn]

After doing some more searching I found out the CyberPower PC Zeus M is the B-14 ultrabook. (Only the first review I linked mentions this though).

http://www.custompcreview.com/reviews/cyberpowerpc-zeus-m2-ultrabook-review/16276/

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/2103/1/

http://www.computershopper.com/laptops/reviews/cyberpower-ultrabook-zeus-m

Two of the reviews mention a high fan speed at idle and all three mention hard to push trackpad buttons. It is 18mm thick and weighs 3.41 lbs according to the first review. The eight cell battery has a capacity of 49 WH.

The laptop has two so-dimm slots, m-sata and space for a 2.5" 7mm drive.

Price is much lower than the B-14 listed by Ava Direct. For example, at the CyberPower PC website a Zeus M (Intel B14) with Core i5-3317U, 4GB of Corsair Vengence Memory, 120 GB Intel 520 SSD comes out to $739.00.

 

[cbn]

Here is some generic information on "whitebooks."

Expect to pay more than a similar configuration, if one exists.

That is, unless you can source used parts.

That makes sense and is consistent to what I have read elsewhere.

However, I keep wondering if Intel will bring change to this especially after today's announcement of discontinuing desktop mainboard and increasing focus on Ultrabook and tablet FFRD.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6685/...board-business-to-ramp-down-over-next-3-years

Intel will also continue to produce its own form factor reference designs (FFRDs) for Ultrabooks and tablets, which will be where many of these employees will end up as well. As of late Intel has grown quite fond of its FFRD programs, allowing it a small taste of vertical integration (and the benefits that go along with it) without completely alienating its partners.This won't be a transfer of talent to work on smartphone FFRDs at this time however.

So I am hoping to check out some comparison reviews (over the next 3 to 5 years) quantifying how close Intel whitebook/whitetablet gets to (or possibly even exceeds) the value/efficiency of the OEM proprietary designs?

Ivy Bridge whitebook/tablet.....Haswell whitebook/tablet.....Broadwell whitebook/tablet.....Skylake whitebook/tablet.....Skymont whitebook/tablet.....what kind of progression will we see Intel engineering take in order to shift OEM differentiation over to some other category for these devices?