An Ultrabook that works with your projector: Lenovo T450s reviewed

Specs at a glance: Lenovo ThinkPad T450s
	Entry level	Top spec	As reviewed
SCREEN	1600×900 TN at 14" (131 ppi), 250 nit	1920×1080 IPS at 14" (157 ppi), multitouch, 264 nit/ 1920×1080 IPS at 14" (157 ppi), 300 nit	1920×1080 IPS at 14" (157 ppi), multitouch, 264 nit
OS	Windows 7 64-bit, Windows 8.1 64-bit, Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
CPU	2.2-2.7GHz Core i5-5200U	2.6-3.2GHz Core i7-5600U	2.3-2.9GHz Core i5-5300U
RAM	4GB 1600MHz DDR3	12GB 1600MHz DDR3	8GB 1600MHz DDR3
GPU	Intel HD Graphics 5500
HDD	500GB SATA 7200rpm	512GB SATA SSD	256GB SATA SSD Opal 2.0
WIRED NETWORKING	Intel Gigabit Ethernet
WIRELESS NETWORKING	802.11 b/g/n 2x2, Bluetooth 4	802.11 ac/a/b/g/n 2x2, Bluetooth 4	802.11 ac/a/b/g/n 2x2, Bluetooth 4
WWAN	None	4G LTE	None
PORTS	3x USB 3.0, mini-DisplayPort, VGA, SD, headphone/microphone dual jack, dock
BATTERY	Integrated 3-cell 23Wh + external 3-cell 23Wh	Integrated 3-cell 23Wh + external 6-cell 72Wh	Integrated 3-cell 23Wh + external 3-cell 23Wh Integrated 3-cell 23Wh + external 6-cell 72Wh
SIZE	13.03×8.90×0.81"	13.03×8.90×0.90" (multitouch)/ 13.03×8.90×0.81" (no touch)	13.03×8.90×0.81"
WEIGHT	3.26lb	3.2lb (multitouch)/ 2.9lb (no touch)	4.02lb/ 4.42lb
WARRANTY	1 year depot	4 year onsite	1 year depot
PRICE	$818.10	$2,576.40	$1,592.10
OTHER PERKS	TrackPoint, optional fingerprint reader, 720p webcam, optional smartcard reader

As a technology writer, I have the luxury of not needing to care much about legacy technology. I'm never faced with the all too common business scenario of needing to hook up my laptop to a projector that only has a VGA port. While wired Ethernet is occasionally useful—it has a robustness and reliability that Wi-Fi just can't match in busy hotels or conferences—it's not something I need day to day. I don't have a corporate LAN that I need to connect to.

As such, I've welcomed the Ultrabook trend with open arms. Portability and battery life combined with decent performance are both important to me; old analog connectors and wired networks are not. Shedding these legacy ports produces a better laptop as far as I'm concerned. In the unlikely event I need to use any of those things, there's always a dongle to fall back on.

But I recognize my needs are not universal. For plenty of people, these port needs aren't occasional wants; they're bread-and-butter needs. A laptop without a VGA port is a laptop that's a pain in the ass.

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