Samsung Ativ Book 9 Plus - Hot Laptop This Year

What's the story?
At the other end of the scale to Chromebooks sit Ultrabooks, which are all about high-end tech packed into slim bodies. The catch (there's always a catch) is that you'll have to do without chassis-fattening extras such as Ethernet ports and optical drives. The Ativ Book 9 Plus is Samsung's latest Ultrabook, and in addition to having a stupid name it has a super hi-res 13.3in screen. Given Samsung's past triumphs in the field, we have high hopes for it.

Any good?
The Samsung is pure class. Its black finish is a world away from the dated silver of its brethren, and the whole thing exudes a premium feel, like you've just been given a really expensive box of chocolates. The display is a ludicrously high-def 3200x1800 with excellent viewing angles and 10-point multi-touch, we got a useful 7.5hrs out of the battery and even the speakers are great. The negatives? The touchpad can be a bit tetchy, its Core i5 Haswell processor isn't quite powerful enough to game in full detail and Windows 8.1's desktop mode is really not designed to be viewed at 3200x1800 resolution; scaling down to 1080p works far better. But we're being picky – as premium ultra-portable laptops go, this is one of the best.

PEOPLE SAY
The most luxurious mobile home you can give to Windows 8

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Securifi Almond: router all evil

    If you've ever sat by your router, trying to guess the IP address and then the login details (192.168.1.something?), then you'll know how un-user-friendly they tend to be. If you haven't, then your neighbours probably have, right before they started stealing your broadband. The Almond is the first router to have its own touchscreen, with a simple user interface that makes setting up and controlling your network easy — and secure. Take that, neighbours.£tba (due autumn)  securifi.com

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Nifty MiniDrive: space invaders

    Lovely as Apple's laptops are, they do boast the most expensive storage since Crazy Gary's Super  Expensive Cupboard Shop got shut down for overcharging. But expand your space with an SD card and it hangs out of Apple's shallow SD slot, spoiling that clean-lined design you forked out for. Nifty's MiniDrive is a microSD holder that sits flush with the side of your MacBook, allowing you to add up to 64GB extra while keeping style intact.
US$30, niftydrives.com

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Windows To Go: free stuff by Microsoft

My PC is secure. I always click on those 'You May Have a Virus' pop-ups and install what they tell me to.
Wow. It's butties like you that keep IT people awake at night. Actually it's a mixture of coffee and Game of Thrones (yes, of course the books) that keeps IT people awake at night, but you're not helping. But Windows To Go should change that: this portable build of Windows 8 lives on a USB stick, which you can plug into your malware-stuffed home PC to boot as an independent machine. You'll log Into your work computer - secure and IT-managed.

But how? it is magic?
No, you great ciabatta. By using all of your PC other than its hard drives, Windows To Go gives you the muscles of your home machine (or one in your hotel, or at your mum's house) but not its crazy, virus-addled brain. Cloud storage means your data stays where your IT guy wants it to stay, and it can even resume from where you left off if the USB stick gets unplugged by an inquisitive child or dextrous pet (just as long as you plug it back in within 60 seconds). And as It's not a pricey-looking laptop, it's a lot less likely to get nicked than, say, your new Windows 8 work laptop.
Cool! I'm going to go buy one!
Steady on, you eager bap. Windows To Go isn't being sold as a product. It's all part of the functionality built into Windows 8 Enterprise. It's likely something you're issued with, not something you'll buy. OK, muffin?

Windows 8 in USB form, wherever you are - great news for businesses

£free, microsoft.com

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APPLE MACBOOK PRO WITH RETINA DISPLAY

    Apple's latest 15-incher uses style cues from the Air to reduce the size and weight to an almost-ultraportable, despite its 16:10 ratio screen, quad-core processor and Nvidia GT 650M graphics. Damn pricey, though.Alternatively No Retina display, but Apple's 27in IPS-screen iMac (£1000) is still a stunning desktop alternative.
Pros Retina screen; excellent performance; thin design
Cons Eye-watering price; relatively small SSD storage£1800, apple.com

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