超极本：哪款模仿MacBook Air的产品最出色？

    超极本被认为是英特尔（Intel）和微软（Microsoft）对苹果MacBook Air的有力回击。它重量超轻但性能强劲，能完成高级用户所需的繁重工作。

    不过超极本在头一年卖出的数量少得可怜，《纽约时报》（New York Times）四月份时报道称，调研机构NPD集团（NPD Group）和高德纳（Gartner）“甚至无法统计超极本的销量。”

    不过，情况也许将发生改变，因为第二代超极本即将闪亮登场了。调研网站ChangeWave本周二做了一次调查，结果显示，虽然只有1%的受访者拥有超极本，但7%的人打算今后购入一台。ChangeWave的乔希•莱文表示，“PC新类别——超极本表现出明显的上升势头。”

    半数受访者并不清楚自己需要哪个品牌的超极本，不过，在了解情况的受访者中，戴尔（Dell）和惠普（HP）最受青睐，打算购买这两种品牌的受访者比例相当，共有44%的受访者计划购买超极本。

    但即使在这些潜在客户中，也只有14%的人表示自己打算在未来三个月内购入超极本，有64%的受访者表示购买时间可能在半年甚至更久以后。

    外界普遍认为苹果将在下周推出新版MacBook Air。这些并不急于购买超极本的潜在客户们是否在等着看苹果的新产品？

    在证券公司Topeka Capital工作的布莱恩•怀特本周参加了在台湾举办的一个电脑展后，在周二致客户的报告中写道：“还是买MacBook Air吧，超极本还是太贵了。”

    “在Computex电脑展的第二天里，我们分析了更多的超极本。不过，迄今为止，我们的调查显示，新版超极本的售价将大大超过699美元，而我们认为这一价格门槛正是超极本想取得成功所必需不能逾越的。例如，技嘉（Gigabyte）展示了一款11英寸显示屏的碳素纤维外壳超极本，将于今年7月上市，售价为999至1299美元；而宏碁（Acer）和华硕（Asustek）也展示了引人注目的超极本，但我们认为其价格将是大问题。在我们看来，如果用户不能以很大折扣购买Windows版超极本，那么他们会毅然选择最好的产品，花999美元购买苹果的MacBook Air。”

    译者：项航

    Ultrabooks were supposed to be Intel's (INTC) and Microsoft's (MSFT) answer to Apple's (AAPL) MacBook Air -- featherweight laptops powerful enough to do the heavy lifting that power users require.

    But so few sold in their first year on the market that the New York Times reported in April that the research firms NPD Group and Gartner "can't even get their fingers on a pulse."

    With the second generation of Ultrabooks now available for purchase, that may be changing. In a survey released Tuesday, ChangeWave reported that although only 1% of respondents owned an Ultrabook, 7% were planning to buy one in the future – "a clear sign," according to ChangeWave's Josh Levine, "of momentum for the new PC category."

    Half of the respondents didn't know which model they wanted, but among those who did, Dell (DELL) and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) were the clear winners, with 44% of likely buyers split evenly between them.

    But even among these potential customers, only 14% said they planned to make a purchase within the next 90 days; 64% said they would wait six months or longer.

    Apple is widely expected to unveil a new version of the MacBook Air next week. Could the Ultrabook holdouts be waiting to see what Cupertino's new machines are like?

    That's the advice of Topeka Capital's Brian White, reporting this week from a trade show in Taiwan. "Ultrabooks Are Still Too Pricey, Stick with the MacBook Air," he wrote in a note to clients Tuesday:

    "During our second day at Computex, we analyzed more Ultrabooks; however, our checks thus far indicate that the price points for the new releases will be well over the $699 price threshold that we deem necessary for this new category to be a big success. For example, Gigabyte showed off a new 11-inch, carbon fiber Ultrabook that will launch in July with a price point of $999 to $1,299, while Acer and Asustek also showed off attractive Ultrabooks but we believe price will be an issue. In our view, if consumers are not getting a significant discount for a Windows-based Ultrabook, they will simply opt for the best and pay $999 for Apple's MacBook Air."