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    MacBook Air vs. Aspire S3, IdeaPad U300s, Portege Z830, andUX21 ultrabooks - hands-on pictures

    MacBook Air vs. Aspire S3, IdeaPad U300s, Portege Z830, andUX21 ultrabooks - hands-on pictures

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    Intel's ultrabooks have well and truly arrived at IFA this week, with Acer, Lenovo and Toshiba revealing their entries into the new category of super-skinny laptop. The Aspire S3, IdeaPad U300s, and Portege Z830 all have their subtle differences, but at their core, they're machines designed for maximum portability with a minimal corresponding sacrifice in utility. Apple's MacBook Air is the gold standard in this respect, so we thought it worthwhile to see how well it stacked up against the Windows-equipped newcomers. Three Four galleries of detailed hands-on photos await your attention after the break.

    Update: We've not only tracked down ASUS' mythical UX21 (the original ultrabook) for a tête à tête with the Air, but we even managed to gather all four ultrabooks together for a direct size comparison. See the fresh pics in the fourth gallery below.

    MacBook Air vs Acer Aspire S3

    MacBook Air vs Acer Aspire S3 photos

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    MacBook Air vs. Lenovo IdeaPad U300s

    MacBook Air vs. Lenovo IdeaPad U300s photos

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    MacBook Air vs Toshiba Portege Z830

    MacBook Air vs Toshiba Portege Z830 photos

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    MacBook Air vs ASUS UX21 (plus group comparison)

    MacBook Air vs ASUS UX21 photos (plus group comparison)

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