a·gen·tic a·gil·i·ty

Review Part 1: Unboxing the Intel Haswell Harris Beach SDS Ultrabook

Hands-on unboxing and first impressions of Intel’s Haswell Harris Beach SDS Ultrabook, highlighting hardware specs, sensors, Windows 8.1 setup, and developer features.

Published on
4 minute read
Image
https://nkdagility.com/resources/D-CZSgtpLGe
Subscribe

I was contacted just over a week ago and asked if I would like to review the new developer Ultrabook from Intel, a “Harris Beach SDS Ultrabook SDP - PVT2 ISV”. Geek stuff, wohoo… (composure) … Why sure, I would love to review your new device.

This device comes with a Haswell i5-4350U processor and lots of sensors and is part of the Intel Software Development Platform . This program provides hardware with all of the sensors and components that a developer needs to make sure that they can take advantage of the cooler attributes of their customers hardware. If you are developing a Windows 8 or 8.1 application then this is a must.

Review Part 1: Unboxing the Intel Haswell Harris Beach SDS Ultrabook

Video: Unboxing the Harris Beach SDS Ultrabook

The machine is very well made and the touch screen is incredibly responsive. While this is only an i5 (5350U) is is one of the new Haswell chipsets and has 4GB of RAM. I run Visual Studio with no problems on my 2GB Atom tablet so I know it will have no issues on here.

It came with Windows 8 and I immediately upgraded to Windows 8.1. The install was smooth and after I realised that the USB memory stick that came with the machine had some pretty strict and ordered steps to setting up for the first time I even got all of the sensors and other paraphernalia working. As this is a ‘developer platform’ device its not necessarily as simple as those devices that we are used to using that target purely consumers.

Review Part 1: Unboxing the Intel Haswell Harris Beach SDS Ultrabook

Figure: Left to right; Dell M6600, Harris Beach SDS Ultrabook, Acer W520

Even though my Dell M6600 is a powerhouse it is still a consumer device and we expect it to act like one. However this is a very different beast. It pretends, with its slim profile to be some simple consumer device but it has all of the sensors you would expect in a Tablet or Phone. For communication it has a SIM card slot as well as a Near Field Communication (NFC) Device. It has a 5 point touchscreen that does 1920x1080 and some demo applications for working with games. Review Part 1: Unboxing the Intel Haswell Harris Beach SDS Ultrabook

Figure: Bottom to top; Dell M6600, Harris Beach SDS Ultrabook, Acer W520

So that you can figure out where you are there are GPS, Gyromiter, Acceleriomiter, Inclinomiter, Compass, Orientation, and Ambient Light sensors as well as some demo code for the different ways of accessing and interpreting the sensor data. This is not a development powerhouse but it is loaded to the gunnels with enough gadgets to make even the most hardened geek OD.

Pros

Cons

It is not going to replace the beast but it is a nice machine to developed Windows 8.1 apps on. Now all I need is ideas….

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe my readers will enjoy. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “ Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising .”

Subscribe

Related Blog

No related videos found.

Connect with Martin Hinshelwood

If you've made it this far, it's worth connecting with our principal consultant and coach, Martin Hinshelwood, for a 30-minute 'ask me anything' call.

Our Happy Clients​

We partner with businesses across diverse industries, including finance, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, engineering, transportation, hospitality, entertainment, legal, government, and military sectors.​

YearUp.org Logo

YearUp.org

Philips Logo

Philips

Teleplan Logo

Teleplan

Freadom Logo

Freadom

Slaughter and May Logo

Slaughter and May

Cognizant Microsoft Business Group (MBG) Logo

Cognizant Microsoft Business Group (MBG)

Brandes Investment Partners L.P. Logo

Brandes Investment Partners L.P.

Sage Logo

Sage

MacDonald Humfrey (Automation) Ltd. Logo

MacDonald Humfrey (Automation) Ltd.

Boxit Document Solutions Logo

Boxit Document Solutions

Capita Secure Information Solutions Ltd Logo

Capita Secure Information Solutions Ltd

SuperControl Logo

SuperControl

Big Data for Humans Logo

Big Data for Humans

Slicedbread Logo

Slicedbread

Hubtel Ghana Logo

Hubtel Ghana

Xceptor - Process and Data Automation Logo

Xceptor - Process and Data Automation

Microsoft Logo

Microsoft

Jack Links Logo

Jack Links

Washington Department of Transport Logo

Washington Department of Transport

Department of Work and Pensions (UK) Logo

Department of Work and Pensions (UK)

Royal Air Force Logo

Royal Air Force

Washington Department of Enterprise Services Logo

Washington Department of Enterprise Services

New Hampshire Supreme Court Logo

New Hampshire Supreme Court

Ghana Police Service Logo

Ghana Police Service

Ericson Logo

Ericson

Graham & Brown Logo

Graham & Brown

Capita Secure Information Solutions Ltd Logo

Capita Secure Information Solutions Ltd

Illumina Logo

Illumina

SuperControl Logo

SuperControl

Microsoft Logo

Microsoft