When Intel unveiled its ultrabook concept, the company positioned the new systems as best-in-class platforms that would compete against the MacBook Air. In some ways, that strategy has worked -- laptops have gotten markedly thinner and a higher percentage of total systems are using low-voltage processors to boost battery life. But the hoped-for simplification of the PC buying experience? It's only gotten worse. In this the ultrabook program has been a failure and the process of buying a PC has not been improved or even simplified.