2022 Acer Chromebook Spin 311 Review: Budget Chromebook

The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is not like any Chromebook, it’s also a flexible 2-in-1 wonder. It works and functions as both a laptop and a tablet. So you will quickly get familiar with it. Another reason is that it’s cheap, portable, quite durable and adaptive, and user-friendly. But will this budget Acer Chromebook meet your everyday needs? Let’s find out from the review of the Acer Chromebook Spin 311.    

 

Acer Chromebook Spin 311

The main view of the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 3H plus stylus

 

2022 Acer Chromebook Spin 311 3H | DISPLAY: 11.6-inches HD IPS, 1366 x 768, 2-in-1 Touchscreen | CPU: MediaTek MT8183C, 2.00GHz, 8-core | STORAGE: 64GB eMMC | RAM: 4GB LPDDR4X | OS: Chrome OS | GPU: ARM Mail-G72 MP3 Integrated | INPUT: 1 x USB Type-C ports USB 3.1 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gbps) Display Port over USB Type-C & USB Charging, 1 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x 3.5mm combo jack (headphone/speaker) | OTHER: Webcam, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, weighs 2.65 lbs (1.2 kg)

REASONS TO BUY

  • Budget 2-in-1 Chromebook
  • Portable & durable
  • Great for web browsing, emails & video streaming
  • Long battery life
  • Includes access to cloud storage
  • Includes USB-type C & USB 2.0 ports
  • Responsive keyboard & touchpad
  • Includes stylus pen

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Mediocre storage
  • Mediocre performance
  • Comes with a small, low res HD screen
  • Few input ports
  • No backlit keyboard

 

Overview

So what is this Acer Chromebook? Well, the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is a 2-in-1 laptop, that functions as both a laptop and a tablet. It comes with an 11.6-inch touchscreen display, including a keyboard and touchpad. You can open it up to 360 degrees and use the touchscreen as a tablet. The hinges attached are pretty firm and keep the Chromebook screen from flipping backward. 

It also includes a MediaTek CPU, with 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage. And lastly, it comes Chrome OS operating system, and up to 15 hours of battery life, as advertised. Overall, these are typical specs you will find in most budget laptops and Chromebooks. Expect to get it at an affordable price under the US$300 range. Let’s see what makes this laptop tick.     

 

What’s to Like

So what makes the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 so special? Firstly, the Chromebook weighs 2.65 pounds (1.2 kg). It’s really lightweight and portable so you can carry it whenever and go where ever you, please. 

 

Tent-fold view of the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 3H

 

Next. It’s a very nice tool to use for basic computer functions such as internet browsing, and video streaming, and great for daily working activities. Thirdly. The Acer Chromebook comes at an affordable price. Yep. Right now it costs less than US$250. Good price for a budget Chromebook. Next. It has fewer input ports but a good mix of USB 2 and USB-C ports. It comes with a strong silver plastic build, strong hinges, and protective glass for the screen, which makes it more durable.  

Lastly. It was advertised that, with the Acer Chromebook, you can get up to 15 hours of battery life. Upon testing, I can say it doesn’t really hit that mark, but I was satisfied when it lasted for about 12. Not bad for battery life.

 

What’s not to Like

As much as this Chromebook comes with good perks, here are a few things you need to know. Firstly, it comes with a small, low-resolution HD display and thick screen bezels. Not that it’s a bad thing, it’s just not as good as a 1080p screen. It still offers good-quality views. 

 

Keyboard & touchpad view of the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 3H

 

Next. The MediaTek CPU inside is not a powerful processing chip, but it manages to get the job done. As long as you don’t open a lot of apps at once, you will not have performance issues or deal with system crashes.

Next. I know 64GB of internal storage is not much, but alternatively, you can access cloud storage online, giving you even more gigs to store files and media. Just make sure you have a good internet connection.  Lastly. The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 does come with a comfortable and responsive keyboard and mouse pad, but no backlit keyboard here.     

Verdict

If you’re in the market for a basic Chromebook, the Acer Spin 311 is a great choice. It offers excellent value for money, and will likely appeal to any users who are looking for an affordable 2-in-1 portable computer that can be used for web browsing and other everyday tasks.

Overall, the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is a great value for its price tag. If you are looking for a sturdy 2-in-1 notebook to use primarily for email, web browsing, and some light video streaming, this could be the perfect laptop for you. If you want to do more with it (such as editing spreadsheets, high-quality video streaming, or photo editing), then you may need to consider upgrading the RAM or choosing a more expensive model with better specs. 

however, if you’re looking for a cheap Chromebook that can handle all your essential needs, then this is the one for you. Internal storage is low but if you have a good internet connection you can easily access your files and documents in cloud storage. 

So if you want a new budget release or a laptop for your teens to use at school or college, then this is the perfect laptop for them too. Trust me. It’s a great buy. Click here to find out more and to buy the Chromebook. Thanks for checking out my review of this awesome Acer Chromebook 311.

If you have any questions or comments, then kindly leave them below. All that is left for me to say is to click here to find out more or to purchase the Chromebook. If it’s what you looking for, don’t waste time. Get it. Try it. You won’t regret it. 

 

Apple MacBook Air Review: Best Performance MacBook

Apple MacBook Air

The new Apple MacBook Air comes with the latest performance, looks, and software features to better its predecessors, and other laptop brands. With the new features and a lower price on offer, it may attract new and existing MacBook users to get it fast. But is worth the purchase? Let’s review the new Apple MacBook Air (2020).

 

 

Apple MacBook Air (2020)

(image source: Apple)

 

 

DISPLAY 13.3 inch, LED-backlit with IPS technology, 2560 x 1600
OS macOS 11 Big Sur
CHIPSET 8-core Apple M1 
GPU Integrated 7-core or 8-core
STORAGE 256GB or 512GB SSD
MEMORY 8GB SDRAM
INPUT 2x USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack, 
OTHER 720p webcam, WiFi-6, Bluetooth 5

Reason to Buy

  • Best performance chip
  • Fast & responsive OS
  • Great battery life
  • Great typing experience
  • Super thin & lightweight

Reason Not to Buy

  • Same laptop design as the 2019
  • No thermal cooling fans
  • Pricey
  • Same input ports from the predecessor

 

Overview

The Apple MacBook Air laptop was released back in the last quarter of 2020. It’s slim, lightweight, and impressively fast thanks to its new hardware spec.  The base model features Apple’s own M1 chip with an 8-core processor, 7-core integrated graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD storage. The better specced, but higher-priced model features the same M1 chip, the same RAM but with 8-core graphics, and 512GB SSD storage. 

Overall, it’s one of the best-performance laptops to date thanks to the new M1 chip. With a base model priced less than US$1000, it competes with other top brands, making it a better option to buy. But before you go into buying this incredible laptop let’s check out the review.      

 

What’s To Like

 

(image source: Apple)

 

When it comes to laptop performance, the Apple MacBook Air is really impressive. The new macOS 11 feels fast and responsive. It also looks pretty good with vibrant bright colors, and a modern look, which really shows how gorgeous the screen is. The laptop boots up quickly. Old macOS apps and games run very well with the new OS. Overall, it’s a great performance laptop. 

The Apple MacBook Air has a long but great battery life. From tests done, it lasts up to 11 hours on a single charge. As long as you don’t do anything intensive, the battery will deplete slower, lasting you a good day, and no worries about battery power.

With a weight of 2.8 pounds (1.29kg), this indeed is one lightweight laptop. It’s easily portable, you can carry it anywhere you go. And it’s slim so it easily fits into a laptop bag. 

Lastly, the MacBook Air includes the ‘Magic Keyboard’ feature, known for its good keyboard layout and comfortable typing experience. In short, the Apple MacBook Air includes great features that give you a reason to buy.

 

What’s Not to Like

 

(image source: Apple)

 

As impressive as the new MacBook is, there are a few things you need to know before you consider it. Firstly, the MacBook is not cheap. The base model may start at less than US$ 1000 yet still, the price is high. Next, there are no cooling fans included, which is why it’s so much thinner and lighter.

Thirdly, the laptop design has not changed from its last two models. In fact, the Apple MacBook Air (2021) looks exactly the same as the 2019 and 2018 models. I guess Apple has decided to stick to what works with the laptop design. The screen is small at 13 inches too.

Lastly, there are only two input ports: USB type C and an audio jack. To increase input ports, you need to get a USB hub. But overall, there’s are the only things to note before you consider getting the 2020 MacBook Air.

 

Verdict

The Apple Macbook Air of 2020 is indeed one laptop not to judge too quickly. It may look the same as the last two models but a performance beast on the inside. It may have a smaller screen but delivers great-quality images, color, and sharpness.

The best feature is the new M1 processor. It gives the MacBook Air the best overall performance, and smooth navigation with the new macOS looks good. The battery life is also great as well, and the typing experience is also great equally great. With the negatives, I guess Apple really sticks to what works like other laptop brands. It works well but for how long? 

If you can afford this amazing Apple MacBook Air, then it’s a good idea to buy. There are so many reasons to buy it so give it a chance. The next thing for you to do is to click on this link here (or use the “Click here” buttons all over the post), to check out the latest available prices and purchases.

Don’t forget to please add comments below, or if you have questions regarding the Apple MacBook Air, leave them also below and I will get back to you. Take care. Stay safe until next time 😀

 

HP Envy X360 15 Review: Affordable and Astonishing

 

HP Envy X360 15

“The HP Envy X360 15 is a great 2-in-1 laptop. The fast performance, great design, good battery life, and other features make it a worthy laptop to buy.”

 

HP launched its new budget HP Envy X360 15 laptop, to add to the entry-level Envy laptop series. This one comes with some of the latest hardware that guarantees good overall performance. Since it’s a budget laptop there will be compromises but performs well to meet your needs. If you’re searching for a budget 2-in-1 laptop that’s easy to use, and comes with the latest hardware and specs, then the HP Envy X360 laptop is for you. Want to know more? Then read on the HP Envy X360 15 review.

 

 

Overview

 

The new HP Envy x360 15 is a 2-in-1 tablet laptop, that includes a 15-inch 360-degree foldable touchscreen display. It comes with the latest Intel Core 11th-gen i7 processor, the new Xe integrated graphics processor, 16GB of memory, and 512GB SSD of storage. Other features include WiFi, Bluetooth connectivity, a fingerprint scanner, and built-in voice assistance.

 

Specs – HP Envy X360 – 15t

  • DISPLAY: 15.6-inch Full HD (1920×1080), 60Hz, Touch display
  • CPU: 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 
  • GRAPHICS: Intel Iris Xe Integrated 
  • STORAGE/MEMORY: 512GB SSD/16GB DDR4 
  • OS: Windows 10 Home (64-bit) 
  • INPUT PORTS: 1xUSB 3, 1xHDMI, 1xUSB-C, 1xSD card reader, 1xheadphone/microphone jack 
  • BATTERY: 65W, 3-cell 51WHr 
  • CONNECTIVITY: WiFi, Bluetooth, Ethernet LAN 
  • WEIGHT: 4.35lbs/1.97kg

 

What’s to Like

The overall performance of the HP Envy is fast and reliable. The Intel i7 processor is known to be one of the top performers, and it’s included in the laptop.  Though there are other brands like AMD Ryzen 7, which is slightly cheaper, whichever one you choose they both perform well to meet your needs.  The SSD storage included will make apps load faster and overall system performance better. The 16GB of memory will for more storage of apps on standby. All of them contribute to the overall performance of the laptop. 

With the battery life, you’re looking at an average of up to 7 hours of daily use. That’s great for daily usage.  The touchscreen display looks great. It’s a full HD, with 1080p screen resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. The images are sharp and clear, with good color accuracy. The laptop design looks natural and realistic, workable but premium as well. It has a good choice of colors and looks sophisticated. It’s made of premium materials, comes with a slim lightweight design, well-placed hinges to fold over the touchscreen display to tablet mode, and speakers placed on the top section of the keyboard. Overall, great laptop design.

 

What’s Not to Like

A lot of good things have been mentioned in this HP Envy X360 15 review. Let’s now look at other need-to-know features or setbacks to take note of. Firstly, the laptop may be a lightweight wonder, but thanks to the big 15-inch screen, it increased the weight. This is a minor setback, but one to take note of. The touchpad works but it’s not good enough to compete with other well-known laptop brands. It’s just not as smooth to the touch and the click feels bad at times. Rather use an external mouse. The cooling fans are there to keep the overall laptop cool especially when you do activities that require more processing power. The fans do get loud at times and get noisy in quiet areas.  

 

Verdict

Overall, the HP Envy X360 15 is a great 2-in-1 laptop. The fast performance, great design, good battery life, and other features make it a worthy laptop to buy. Let’s not forget that it’s an affordable laptop as well. Should you buy it? If you want an affordable 15-inch laptop that can help you do all your daily tasks on the go, then yes. If you want a lightweight laptop that also functions as a tablet, then yes. 

 So far there’s no better 15-inch 2-in-1 laptop in this price range, and comes highly recommended as the best 2-in-1 laptop to use this season. If you want a cheaper one that comes with a smaller screen, then check out the price for the HP Envy X360 13 2-in-1 laptop. It has relatively the same specs but a smaller touchscreen display. 

Thank you very much for coming this far in my HP Envy X360 15 review. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them here below and I will get back to you as soon as I can. If this is not your ideal laptop, then don’t hesitate to explore more reviews here on wildbreaktech.com. There’s bound to be something to catch your eye. Thank you once again. Stay safe. See you in the next one.     

 

Refurbished Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510 Review

 

Refurbished Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510 Review

 

Nowadays, a refurbished laptop is a great alternative to go for because they are more affordable than the latest releases. One such laptop to look out for is the refurbished Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510 (also known as the Dell Precision 5510).

It was one of the best laptops ever released because of its stunning UHD display, genuine design, and fast system performance. Is it worth spending your hard-earned money? Will it match the performance of current generation laptops?

If you want to find out, here’s my review of the refurbished Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510 business laptop. 

 

Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510

 

DISPLAY: 15.6-inch touch UHD (3840 x 2160) | CPU: Intel Quad Core i7-6820HQ | GPU: Nvidia Quadro M1000M + Intel HD 530 Graphics | MEMORY: 16GB RAM | STORAGE: 512GB SSD | INPUT PORTS: HDMI, 2xUSB, SD card reader, Type-C port | OS: Win 10 Pro | OTHER FEATURES: Bluetooth, WiFi, HD Webcam,  | WEIGHT: 3.1 kg (6.9 lbs)

 

 

 

Overview

 

The Dell Precision 5510 is a top-class, premium business laptop, that comes with premium features. It’s all bundled into an impressive aluminium build, that comes with a stunning 4K touch screen, and amazing performance overall.

This is an excellent business laptop, made for top business professionals, creative editors or artists, and for those who are looking to tackle complex tasks and projects.

 

 

Display

 

The 15.6-inch display is the most impressive in this model. It comes with really thin display bezels. The touch screen responds well to touch. The screen technology includes Ultra High Definition (UHD), with a 3820 x 2160 screen resolution.

In a nutshell, the display is gorgeous. The pictures look really sharp. The colours really pop out onscreen and look vibrant, and watching 4K movies or videos is amazing. This is the most outstanding feature of the laptop and is worth the look.

 

 

Design

 

The refurbished Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510 is made of a combination of silver aluminium and black carbon fibre. The backlit keyboard looks good, types comfortably and the touchpad functions well. 

It does weigh a bit more than normal 15-inches but it’s slim. The webcam is located at the bottom section of the display, but it records good quality videos.

It comes with a good set of input options that includes: 1xHDMI, 1xUSB 3.0, 1xUSB Type C, headphone jack, and MicroSD card reader.  

Overall, the Precision 5510 comes with a great design-build. It’s made of premium materials, has a bit more weight than normal but slim, and comes with great features. 

 

 

Performance

 

Performance-wise, the Precision 5510 comes with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of system memory, and an Nvidia Quadro graphics card. Thanks to this hardware spec the performance is fast, scoring close to 3000 points on benchmark performance tests.  

 

 

Bear in mind, this is a business laptop, but it does support gaming as well. It does have the hardware specs for gaming development and for light, casual gaming sessions.

Overall, if performance is what you looking for, you got it here with the Precision 5510. It’s fast and supports gaming as well. Don’t expect similar performance as a gaming laptop. 

 

 

Battery Life

The battery life here is a short one. You are looking at a business laptop that lasts up to 4 hours of battery life.

Bear in mind, this laptop has a lot of features, which contributes to the short battery life. For example, the UHD display needs a lot of power to run effectively.

Overall, the Precision 5510 does have a short battery life. It’s best to keep it plugged in if you need to use it for long working sessions.

 

 

Other features

Other features to consider. Firstly, the audio speakers are placed on the bottom of the refurbished Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510 business laptop, contributing to the overall average quality sound.

Secondly, the webcam sits at the bottom section of the display, instead of being on top. It’s not a good idea as your hands will most likely be visible especially when you typing during a teleconference call. 

Lastly, the Precision 5510 manages to stay cool upon use. It does increase the temperature when using it for complex functions like streaming HD videos but after prolonged uses. 

Overall, these features are worth knowing so as to know what to expect upon purchase. 

 

 

Impressions & Verdict

 

 

The refurbished Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510 is an awesome laptop. I really like the stunning pictures on the screen, the premium design and the fast performance of the system.

The keyboard looks great as well with the backlit and offers a comfortable typing experience. I highly recommend this laptop. 

Although the battery life is short, and the webcam is awkwardly placed, it’s still a great business laptop. Keeping it charged, and getting an external webcam (to place on top) can fix the issues. 

Because this is an older laptop (release in 2017), the price has gone done. In fact, if you go online right now, you can find the refurbished model, at a fair price.

So, if you want a business laptop, with a stunning UHD display, has a premium design features, and a great performance, then the Dell Precision 5510 is the laptop worth buying.

If you want a business laptop with long battery life, then it’s best to look elsewhere. Bear in mind, you’ll be compromising on a lot of top-class features it offers. 

 

 

Closing Off

Thank you for your interest and for reaching this far. This is my review of the refurbished Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510.

Don’t forget to click here to find out the latest affordable price on the refurbished Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510 business laptop.

If this one’s not what you looking for, then click here to check out 2020’s best affordable laptops.

If you have comments, questions, or thoughts to share, you are welcome to share them here below. You can also present your own rating of the laptop reviewed. 

As always, stay safe, take care. See you again next time. 

 

Introducing the Best Budget Business Laptops of 2020

Let’s face it. We all want the best laptop to do everything we want. Problem is that we cannot all afford them. They are so expensive and take months to save up for. Even if we do end up getting one, not all of us will use the nice premium features. Some of us just want a simple business laptop, that can handle everyday tasks and overall achieve our business goals. If you are one of such fellows, then here are five of the best budget laptops that have made good ratings this year. They offer good performance, cool features, at affordable prices.

 

 

Lenovo Chromebook Duet

DISPLAY: 10.1-inch FHD Touch (1920×1200) | CPU: 8-core, MediaTek P60T | GRAPHICS: ARM Mali-G72 MP3 GPU | MEMORY: 4GB RAM | STORAGE: 32GB/64GB/128GB | Battery: 7000mAh | OS: ChromeOS | WEIGHT: 0.99 lbs. (449 g) | OTHER: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2MP Webcam, 8MP Rear Camera | RATING: 3.9/5 

 

REASONS TO BUY

  • Available at an affordable price
  • Includes keypad
  • Decent webcam and rear camera
  • Great battery life
  • Lightweight 

REASONS NOT TO BUY

  • Average performance
  • Includes one USB port
  • No headphone jack nor microSD slot
  • No backlit & cramped keypad
  • Heavier with a keypad 

The Chromebook Duet from Lenovo is not really a business laptop, but rather a handy 2-in-1 laptop-tablet, catered for those who want a laptop-tablet package alternative. Yes, college students can get this one now and make great use of it straight away, as it also includes a free keypad upon purchase.

Starting at less than US$300, this 2-in-1 tablet includes an 8-core processor, 4GB of memory, storage model options from 32GB to 128GB, up to 14 hours of battery life, and weighs a pound. But it comes with compromises.

Firstly, performance is adequate but tends to slow down if you open up too many apps. Secondly, no headphone jack and a MicroSD slot to increase storage. Thirdly, it only comes with one USB slot. And lastly, the keys on the keypad are too narrow which means uncomfortable typing. 

Overall, the Chromebook Duet is just a budget 2-in-1 laptop. No premium features. Just a simple mobile device that can handle simple day-to-day tasks. With good battery life, and at an affordable price, check out the latest price on offer here.

 

 

Acer Chromebook 715

DISPLAY: 15.6-inch FHD Touch (1920×1080) | CPU: Intel Core i3-8130U | GRAPHICS: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 GPU | MEMORY: 4GB RAM | STORAGE: 128GB eMMC | OS: ChromeOS | WEIGHT: 4.3 lbs (1.9 kg) | OTHER: WiFi, Bluetooth, Webcam | RATING: 4.0/5

 

REASONS TO BUY

  • Great premium look and design
  • Large keyboard & touchpad
  • Great battery life
  • Lightweight & affordable
  • Great performance for everyday use

REASONS NOT TO BUY

  • No backlit keyboard 
  • No fingerprint sensor
  • Average quality webcam

The Acer Chromebook 715 may be in line to be one of the better Chromebooks to come out this year. The bigger display, premium looks, and great battery life make it a worthy contender. Compromises are minor here but you’ll quickly overlook them, and performs decently for every use. But is it worth your time and investment?

Let’s find out more. As I said, performance is decent here. Here’s why. Firstly, the Intel Core i3 processor, together with the 4GB memory, manages to keep the Chromebook working at its peak.

Secondly, the full HD livens up the 15-inch touch screen. Thirdly, you are looking at up to 16 hours of battery life. Enough for a good day’s work. The Chromebook comes with no backlit keyboard, no fingerprint scanner, and a standard-quality webcam. Common features for a budget laptop, yet it’s expected at its affordable price.  

Overall, the Acer Chromebook 715 has the makings of being one of the best budget business laptops, as it offers you great features at a budget price. If a cheap 15-inch Chromebook is what you look for, then here’s one for you. See the latest price here

 

 

Microsoft Surface Go 2

DISPLAY: 10.5-inch FHD+ multi-touch (1920×1280) | CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y/8th Gen Intel Core m3 | GRAPHICS: Intel UHD Graphics 615 | MEMORY: 4GB/8GB RAM | STORAGE: 64GB eMMC/128GB SSD | OS: Windows 10 Home | WEIGHT: Wi-Fi – 1.2 lbs. (544 g)/LTE – 1.22 lbs. (553 g) | OTHER: Bluetooth, 5MP webcam, 8MP Rear camera | RATING: 4.0/5

 

REASONS TO BUY

  • Slim, lightweight & great quality design
  • Good audio output
  • Decent battery life
  • Comes with a kickstand
  • Great quality display
  • LTE model available

REASONS NOT TO BUY

  • Stylus pen and keypad sold separately
  • Entry model is under-powered
  • Better performance models are more expensive

In my review of the Surface Go 2, here was my overall impression: 

Surface Go 2 is great to use and has the potential to be a great 2-in-1 tablet. With a bigger display, reliable performance for everyday use and features, it’s a fun portable mobile device to use wherever you are.

Check out my full Surface Go 2 ReviewMy impressions remain unchanged. The Surface Go 2 from Microsoft is still one of the best budget business laptops to use for everyday tasks. It may have a smaller touch screen but supports higher resolutions than 1080p. It’s one of the best mobile devices to offer up to 6 hours of battery life.

The kickstand too is another great feature that lets you open it up at the rear, and place the Surface Go 2 on any flat surface. Performance is still decent for everyday tasks, but other budget laptops come with slightly better performance ratings. Storage from the entry-level model is too small for the apps and updates we use on a daily basis. 

Overall, if you want a simple, portable business laptop that has better screen quality and other cool features, then look no further than the Surface Go 2. I recommend getting the Surface Go 2 with 8GB memory and 128GB storage SSD, but that means getting a more expensive model.

 

 

Samsung Chromebook 4

DISPLAY: 15.6-inch FHD (1920×1080) | CPU: Intel Celeron N4000 | GRAPHICS: Intel UHD Graphics 600 | MEMORY: 4GB/6GB RAM | STORAGE: 32GB/64GB eMMC | OS: ChromeOS | WEIGHT: 0.99 lbs. (449 g) | OTHER: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Webcam | RATING: 3.7/5

 

REASONS TO BUY

  • Great battery life
  • Good look and design
  • Really affordable
  • Comfortable keyboard and touchpad
  • Great performance for everyday use
  • Slim and lightweight

REASONS NOT TO BUY

  • No touch screen
  • No storage high than 64GB
  • Below average brightness
  • Mediocre audio performance
  • Comes with budget hardware specs

Another 15-inch Chromebook to look out for, is the Samsung Chromebook 4. Samsung brings you an entry-level Chromebook that comes at an affordable price, includes a 15-inch screen, good battery life and a premium design finish.

This 15-inch Chromebook comes with an entry-level Intel Celeron processor, with 4GB of memory, and 32GB of storage. The hardware specs are low but perform tasks well. It’s a great Chromebook for everyday use, comes with a comfortable keyboard layout, a responsive touchpad, and guarantees up to 10 hours of battery life.

The Chromebook does have its flaws. Firstly, the display has no touch function. Secondly, the bezels around the screen are pretty thick. And thirdly, the display is not that bright.

Suffice to say the Samsung Chromebook 4 offers you a great working laptop at an affordable price. The display is the major disappointing issue, which may cause others to look elsewhere. But it’s more of a normal laptop than a Chromebook. If you looking for a laptop that is affordable, functions as a laptop rather than a Chromebook, and works with everyday tasks, then the Samsung Chromebook 4 is for you. 

 

 

Asus VivoBook 15

DISPLAY: 15.6-inch FHD Touch (1920×1080) | CPU: Intel Core i3-1005G1 | GRAPHICS: Intel UHD Graphics | MEMORY: 8GB RAM | STORAGE: 128GB/256GB/512GB SSD | OS: Windows 10 Home | WEIGHT: 3.75 lbs (g) | OTHER: WiFi, Bluetooth, Webcam, Backlit keyboard | RATING: 3.8/5

 

REASONS TO BUY

  • Great overall look and design
  • Thin screen bezels
  • Good set of input slots

REASONS NOT TO BUY

  • Below average battery life
  • Below average processor performance
  • Display lacks brightness

The entry-model Asus VivoBook 15 comes with great design features, that include a thin-bezel display, good-looking keyboard layout, and touchpad. But suffers greatly as it lives up to the common cliche ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’.

The screen is dim. Battery life is less than average. The performance is adequate but not as good as average. But with an affordable price tag, you can rest assured that you get what you pay for. 

Here are reasons why you should buy it. Starting with the display, it’s a large 15.6-inch full HD touch screen, that shows clear, sharp images and good color accuracy. Secondly, the laptop comes with a little over 5 hours of battery life that is better than older budget laptops.

Next is the long list of input ports, which includes a USB Type-C, USB 2, USB 3, HDMI, audio jack, and a microSD reader. No Ethernet port but supports WiFi. In terms of performance, the VivoBook 15 does its job well but it’s rated lower than other budget laptops. The display is not a good feature as it comes with lower brightness, and the battery life is considered shorter than other budget laptops.

Overall, the Asus VivoBook looks like a solid contender in the design department but suffers from performance, battery life, and display. Keep in mind that this is a budget laptop, so there will always be compromises, but if you’re looking for a better business laptop, then it’s best to look elsewhere. 

 

 

Lasting Impressions

These best budget business laptops of 2020 may not be the most powerful laptops around. They may even lack the premium features included in top-range laptops, but with the limited hardware specs, features and performance, they are good laptops for simple everyday tasks.

My eye is on the Acer Chromebook 715. It has a stunning design, comes with good system performance, and high initial storage. It may have its flaws but is overlooked because of the good features it offers.

Another one is the Microsoft Surface Go 2. It comes with great features plus a higher screen resolution that offers a better quality picture. It’s sad that you must buy the extra accessories, and it’s a little more pricey than most, but the unique features make up for the price tag.

These are my recommendations. Check out the corresponding links that follow to find out more about them. Thank you for check out my post on the best budget laptops of 2020. If you have any comments, please share them below and check out the links within. It helps me out tremendously with no extra cost to you. Thanks again for your time. Take care of yourself. Stay safe until next time. 

 

Introducing Extraordinary Laptops with Long Battery Life

 

Introducing Extraordinary Laptops with Long Battery Life

 

Believe it or not. There’re laptops out there that last longer than 4 hours on a single charge. That means more work done, more time to chat and visit social media, and no more work lost. In other words, more things for you to do on your laptop.

Let me introduce to you my recommendations of laptops with long battery life.

 

 

MSI Prestige 14 (2020)

 

DISPLAY: 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) | CPU: 10 Gen Intel Core i5 / i7 | MEMORY: 16GB RAM | STORAGE: 512GB SSD / 1TB SSD | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 MaxQ | BATTERY: 50 Whr | WEIGHT: 2.8 lbs (1.3 kg) | OS: Windows 10 Pro 64 

Rating: 4.0 out of 5

 

REASONS TO BUY

  • Available in beautiful choices of colors such as pink and white
  • Attractive and unique design features
  • Really lightweight
  • Excellent battery life
  • Nice design keyboard
  • Great system and gaming performance

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Displays a little dim
  • Weak audio speakers
  • No HDMI port
  • Pricey

The Prestige 14 from MSI is one of the best laptops with long battery life. With up to 9 hours, losing power is the least of your worries.

Its portability and lightweight makes it easy to carry. With up to date hardware, looks and premium features, it offers impressive system and gaming performance and comes with looks that will turn heads.

It may be expensive, lacks the means to connect to your HDTV, and comes with low-quality sound speakers, but overall, it offers great performance, long battery life, and an attractive design.

 

 

Dell XPS 13 9300 (2020)

 

DISPLAY: 13.4-inch FHD+ / touchscreen (1920 x 1200) | CPU: Quad-core 10th Gen Intel Core i7 | MEMORY: 8GB RAM | STORAGE: 256GB SSD | GPU: Intel Iris Plus | BATTERY: 52 Whr | WEIGHT: 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) / 2.8 (1.3 kg) | OS: Windows 10 

Rating: 4.2 out of 5

 

REASONS TO BUY

  • Attractive design
  • Really lightweight
  • Excellent battery life
  • Really thin bezels
  • Great quality display
  • Good performance

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Input ports very limited
  • Pricey

The Dell XPS 13 is a great business laptop that offers a great screen quality view, attractive design, impressive performance and long battery life.

With over 8 hours of battery life, you can get your work done, go to social media, and casual gaming yet still have enough power.

There are many things this laptop has to offer. If the long battery life does not captivate you, then the full HD+ screen will amaze you with the thinnest bezels to optimise a wide view experience, the lightweight for easy portability, and not forgetting the great system performance.

Even though it lacks common input ports and may need you to dig deeper into your pocket, overall, this is a great business laptop from Dell. It offers an amazing display, good design features and long hours of battery life. 

 

 

HP Spectre X360 13 (2019)

 

DISPLAY: 13.3-inch touchscreen FHD (1920 x 1280) | CPU: 10th Gen Quad-core Intel Core i7 | MEMORY: 8GB RAM | STORAGE: 256GB / 512GB SSD | GPU: Intel Iris Plus | OS: Windows 10 Home

Rating: 4.0 out of 5  

 

REASONS TO BUY

  • Great system performance
  • Both a laptop and a tablet
  • Excellent display quality
  • Great design
  • Comfortable and great design keyboard
  • Excellent battery life

REASONS TO AVOID

  • May include bloatware
  • Standard quality audio speakers
  • Low battery life in 4K version
  • Pricey

The HP Spectre X360 13 is a 2-in-1 laptop that comes with a beautiful design, a slim bezel display and a nice looking keyboard. Inside it comes with a good hardware spec that offers great performance and over 13 hours of battery life. That’s the highest ever tested from a 2-in-1, making it one of the best laptops with long battery life.

Minor shortcomings such as bloatware which can be deleted and low-quality audio speakers can easily be overlooked. Note that the 4K model has less battery life compared to the Full HD model, yet it has better screen quality.

Overall, if you want a 2-in-1 laptop that offers long battery life, great performance and great design, then look no further than 2019’s HP X360 Spectre 13. 

 

 

Razer Blade Stealth 13 (2019)

 

DISPLAY: 13-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) | CPU: 10th Gen Quad-core Intel i7 | MEMORY: 16GB RAM | STORAGE: 512GB SSD | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti MaxQ | OS: Windows 10 Home | WiFi, Bluetooth

Rating: 3.8 out of 5

 

REASONS TO BUY

  • Impressive 120Hz display
  • Good battery life
  • Good performance
  • Least expensive Razer

REASONS TO AVOID

  • 4K not ideal on 13-inch
  • Single-colour RGB keyboard
  • Gets warm pretty quickly
  • Least powerful Razer

The Razer Blade Stealth 13 gaming laptop is one of a kind. It’s the less expensive in the Razer Blade series. It offers smooth gameplay thanks to the 120Hz display. And lastly, it offers up to 7 hours of battery life.

Unlike other Razer Blade gaming laptops, this one is the least expensive but also the least powerful. It maintains the traditional Razer chassis design with the signature RGB logo behind the display and includes the RGB keyboard.

And since it’s a gaming laptop, the battery drains a lot of power whilst gaming so it is best to keep it plugged in.

Overall, the Razer Blade Stealth 13 has more battery life compared to other gaming laptops for now and is worth the buy at its price.     

 

 

MacBook Pro (2020)

 

DISPLAY: 13.3-inch Retina FHD+ (2560 x 1600) | CPU: 10th Gen Quad-core Intel i5 | MEMORY: 8GB / 16GB RAM | STORAGE: 512GB / 1TB SSD | GPU: Intel Iris Plus | OS: macOS | BATTERY: 58.2 Whr | WEIGHT: 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) | WiFi, Bluetooth, 720p webcam

Rating: 4.2 out of 5

 

REASONS TO BUY

  • Great keyboard layout and large touchpad
  • Good system performance
  • Large SSD for entry model

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Limited input ports
  • Thick bezels
  • 8th gen processor in entry model
  • Pricey

The MacBook Pro offers better performance with its trademark retina display, popular design, and offers up to 9 hours of battery life making it one of the best MacBooks or laptops with long battery life.

MacBooks have always won the race for best battery life against other Windows 10 laptops, and this year’s model is no exception.

Not only does it offer improved performance, but the MacBook Pro also comes with 58 watt-hour battery that grants you more hours to do business, video conferencing, explore social media, and stream videos using its gorgeous display.

It may come with limited input ports, a mid-range processor, and thick display bezels, but it’s a great MacBook that is pricey but worth the purchase.

 

 

Impressions

 

Here are my impressions of these here laptops with long battery life. Firstly, bigger may not always be better. They each come with a 13-inch full HD/HD+ screen except for the MSI Prestige which comes with a 14-inch.

Smaller displays tend to consume less power yet deliver good quality views. In other words, smaller screen laptops are a better choice.  

Secondly, 4K laptops are great and offer amazing quality displays but consume more power and hence less battery life.

Full HD laptops still offer good quality displays yet tend to consume less power so you get more battery life. Know that your choice will come with consequences.

 

Let’s summarise here below. 

 Laptop Battery Life (hours and minutes)
 Dell XPS 13 9300 (2020)
8:14
 HP Spectre X360 13 (2019) 13:19
 MSI Prestige 14 (2020) 9:49
 MacBook Pro (2020) 10:00
 Razer Blade Stealth (2019) 7:00

(credit: Techradar, Tom’s Hardware)

 

From the table above you can see that the laptop with the longest time, and long battery life, is 2019’s HP Spectre x360. 

So if you’re looking for a laptop that will last longer on a single charge, then here they are, amazing laptops with long battery life.

 

 

Close off

 

If smartphones are more of your thing, check out these smartphones with long battery life

So what do you think of my recommendations? Are you happy with them? Do you have one of these laptops already? Please leave comments below.  

 

Affordable & Best Chromebooks for Students

Looking for an affordable laptop to get you through the day, complete an assignment and meet deadlines, then here are some of the high-ranked best Chromebooks for students. In this day in age, top-range laptops are for those who want serious performance for their money, but unfortunately, you’ll need to pay a lot of money to get one.

However, there are laptops out there for those who don’t want to pay so much money and just want one to handle the bare essentials. Chromebooks are one such as they are affordable, and come with good features. Here is a list of affordable Chromebooks to look out for and to buy, perfect for students, young scholars, and others looking for affordable laptops.   

 

HP 14 Chromebook

 

14-inch HD display (1366 x 768) | AMD A4-9120 2.20 GHz CPU | 4GB RAM | 32GB eMMC storage | AMD Radeon R3 series GPU | Chrome OS | 1.5 kg (3.4 lbs) | Other features include WiFi, bluetooth, microSD, webcam  

 

 

Pros

    • Comfortable keyboard 
    • Good quality touch-pad
    • Good quality display

Cons

    • Low battery life
    • Average laptop performance
    • No touchscreen

The HP 14 Chromebook is a budget clam-shell laptop that manages to balance efficiency and affordability.

Why I say this is one of the best Chromebooks for students, is because firstly, it comes with a great quality 14-inch HD display with a comfortable keyboard, good quality touch-pad, and weighs 1.5 kgs.

Secondly, it comes with a dual-core AMD A4 processor, 4GB of system memory with 32GB of internal storage.

And lastly, the Chromebook is affordable and perfect for those who want a simple device that can get them through the day and help them with everyday tasks. 

Although the budget HP 14 Chromebook comes with at most 5 hours battery life and average laptop performance, it works well and is worth considering.

To date, It’s one of the best Chromebooks for students to get right now.

 

 

Acer Chromebook 15

 

15.6-inch HD display (1366 x 768) | Intel Pentium CPU | 2GB RAM | 16GB SSD storage | Intel HD Graphics 400 GPU | Chrome OS | 2 kg (4.3 lbs) | Other features include WiFi, bluetooth, microSD, webcam  

 

 

Pros

    • Good build quality
    • Insane battery life
    • Nice back-lit keyboard
    • Audio speakers on top 

Cons

    • Disappointing touch-pad
    • Average laptop performance
    • No touchscreen
    • Heavier

With the best battery life and good build quality, the Acer Chromebook 15 is a budget laptop that has definitely made its mark. 

Starting off, it comes with a 15.6-inch HD display, comfortable keyboard with audio speakers. Next, it comes with an entry-level Intel Pentium processor, 2GB of system memory, and 16GB of SSD storage. This is one of the most affordable Chromebooks to date. However, it has its setbacks.

Firstly, it comes with average performance with lower system memory and smaller internal storage. Secondly, the touchpad is a disappointment thanks to its loose and clunky function. And thirdly, it’s heavier than other Chromebooks. 

Yes, it may have a few setbacks but let’s not forget, this is a budget Chromebook and these are minor. i.e. using a mouse instead of a touchpad. But overall, this is an affordable Chromebook that can help you with everyday tasks.     

 

 

Lenovo Chromebook 500e

 

11.6-inch HD touch display (1366 x 768) | Intel Celeron N3350 CPU | 4GB RAM | 32GB Flash Memory storage | Intel HD Graphics GPU | Chrome OS | 1.7 kg (3.8 lbs) | Other features include WiFi, Bluetooth, Webcam

 

 

Pros

    • Good starter for teen scholars
    • Lots of USB ports
    • Stylus included
    • Impressive battery life and durability
    • Laptop and tablet features

Cons

    • Low screen resolution
    • No HDMI port
    • Display bezels are really thick
    • Poor audio output

The Lenovo Chromebook 500e is a 2-in-1 laptop that comes with an 11.6-inch touchscreen, a comfortable keyboard and a responsive touch-pad. To top it off, it comes built from plastic aluminum material.

On the inside, it’s powered by an entry-level Intel Celeron processor, with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The Lenovo 500e is ranked one of the best Chromebooks.

Firstly, it’s a 2-in-1 laptop that includes hinges that can open up the screen up to 360 degrees and comes with a stylus pen. Secondly, it comes with normal input ports including a micro SD to increase storage.

Thirdly, it can survive against shock damage, vibrations, high temperature, water spills, and other environmental hazards, making it a very durable laptop. And lastly, the battery life of the Lenovo 500e is really impressive. On a single charge, you’re looking at up to 15 hours of usage time.

Overall, the Lenovo Chromebook 500e has good features in its class, making it a worthy buy. However, there’re some flaws to note. 

To start, the touch screen works well with good image colors and contrasts, satisfactory brightness, and good glass protection, but the screen resolution is low and the glossy surface that reflects light and other things spoil the viewing angles. The display comes with thick bezels which almost narrows the view.  

Secondly, there’s no HDMI port to connect the Chromebook to a better display. Third, the audio speakers are placed underneath, therefore the sound output is not very good.

To finish off, if you can handle the low-resolution display, then the Lenovo 500e Chromebook will be a good pick for you. It’s one of the best Chromebooks for students because of its good features.      

See more great Chromebooks

 

 

Asus Chromebook C523

 

15.6-inch HD display (1366 x 768) | Intel Celeron N3350 CPU | 4GB RAM | 32GB Flash Memory storage | Intel HD Graphics 500 GPU | Chrome OS | 1.4 kg (3.1 lbs) | Other features include WiFi, Bluetooth, Webcam  

 

 

Pros

    • Sleek aluminium design
    • Comfortable keyboard and touch-pad
    • One of the most portable and lightweight
    • Good battery life

Cons

    • No back-lit keyboard
    • Poor audio output
    • No touch screen

The Asus Chromebook C523 features a dual-core Intel Celeron processor, 32GB of flash storage, 4GB of RAM. It includes a 15.6-inch non-touch display, with a comfortable keyboard, responsive touchpad, and an aluminum design finish. So what makes this Chromebook a winner?

Well, firstly, it comes with a 15-inch screen with thin bezels on the sides. Secondly, it’s made from aluminum material and is lightweight. With this one, you’re looking at up to 10 hours of battery life which is not bad, but it has no backlit keyboard, a glossy screen that reflects light and other things back at you, and has poor audio.

If you can get yourself good headphones, don’t mind the low-resolution display then this Chromebook will serve you well. There’s the option of getting the 1080p version with better quality and a touch screen but it will cost you a bit more.

To sum it up, this is the more affordable Asus Chromebook, and a good pick if you’re a student and looking for a budget laptop.    

 

Last Impressions

The reason why I chose these Chromebooks are first, they have been reviewed and top-ranked. Second, they are the most affordable laptops to get right now. Thirdly, they each have unique features that range from big screen, durability, lightweight, to portability and flexibility. 

Keep in mind that they are not the fastest performing Chromebooks becomes they each have entry-level hardware specs and, yes, there are bound to be a few drawbacks.

However, since these are Chromebooks there’s a lot to appreciate about them such as you’ll have access to hardware services like Google Drive to store documents or media files and get access to apps to help you manage your work from the Google Play Store. 

Overall, these are for all who need an affordable laptop to work on. These are some of the best Chromebooks for students, young scholars, and those who just want a laptop to get work done.

I hope you enjoyed reading up on four of the cheapest and best Chromebooks for students. Thanks for reading my post. If you have any comments or opinions, please leave them below.

Please follow me on Instagram: luvuyomadyibi

 

New Microsoft Laptops Preview: Surface Go 2 & Surface Book 3

 

Microsoft has announced new laptops scheduled for release later this month. The Surface Go 2, the budget tablet/laptop, and the Surface Book 3, the powerful 2-in-1 laptop. Let’s do a preview and see what you can expect from these two devices upon release.

 

Surface Go 2

Budget Laptop Tablet

 

Official Tech Specs:

Display: 10.5-inch PixelSense Touchscreen
1920 x 1280 resolution
Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 Protection
Memory: 4GB/8GB RAM
Processor: Intel® Pentium® Gold 4425Y/8th Gen Intel® Core m3
Graphics: Intel® UHD Graphics 615
Storage: 64GB eMMC drive/128GB Solid-state drive (SSD)
Connections:

 

1 x USB-C®
3.5 mm headphone jack
1 x Surface Connect port
Surface Type Cover Port
MicroSDXC Card Reader
Compatible with Surface Dial*

See more specs >

 

 

The Surface Go 2 is a portable, 2-in-1 Microsoft laptop or tablet that comes with a big 10.5-inch touch screen, a large resolution, and comes with better battery life compared to its predecessor. Speaking of battery life, you are looking at up to 10 hours and weigh only 1,2 lbs (0.5 kg). It’s the next best in portability and a lightweight package for you to use anywhere and on the go. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons.

 

Pros:

    • Nice Full HD display
    • More storage with the MicroSD
    • Compatible with many Microsoft accessories
    • Great budget price
    • Lightweight
    • Good battery life
    • LTE Model available

Cons:

    • Surface Pen & Surface Go Type Cover sold separately

 

 

If you get the keypad accessory, then you can use it as a laptop, but in most cases, it’s sold separately and so is the stylus pen. So if you have a little extra, I suggest you get the keypad if you wish to type. The starting price for this Microsoft laptop is US$399. It’s available online right now for you to configure and pre-order.

This is a great Microsoft laptop or tablet for people who like to work on the go. If that’s you and are looking for an affordable one then this one’s for you. 

 

 

Surface Book 3

The Powerful 2-in-1 Microsoft Laptop

 

Official Tech Specs:

Display: 13.5” PixelSense Touchscreen, 3000 x 2000 resolution
15” PixelSense Touchscreen, 3240 x 2160 resolution
Memory: 13.5” – 8GB/16GB/32GB RAM
15” – 16GB/32GB RAM
Processor:

 

 

13.5”
Quad-core 10th Gen Intel® Core i5-1035G7
Quad-core 10th Gen Intel® Core i7-1065G715”
Quad-core 10th Gen Intel® Core i7-1065G7
Graphics:

 

 

 

13.5”
Intel® Core i5-1035G7: Intel® Iris Plus Graphics
Intel® Core i7-1065G7: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with Max-Q Design15”
Intel® Core i7-1065G7: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti with Max-Q Design
Storage: 13.5” – 256GB/512GB/1TB SSD15” – 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB SSD
Connections:

 

2 x USB-A
1 x USB-C®
3.5mm headphone jack
2 x Surface Connect ports
Full-size SDXC card reader
Compatible with Surface Dial

See more specs >

 

 

The next Microsoft laptop is the new Surface Book 3. It comes with a detachable keypad with hinges that connect to the Surface Book. The hinges are strong enough to bend the screen up to 360 degrees. It promises better performance, better graphics and texture, and better gaming than its predecessor. It comes in two model sizes: 13.5-inch and 15-inch, both with high-resolution and touchscreen displays. It also includes a GPU from NVIDIA GeForce and a mid to high-performance Intel Core i5 or i7 processor. Let’s move on to the pros and cons.

 

Pros:

    • Comes in 13.5-inch and 15-inch models
    • Great quality 4K display
    • Similar features to a 2-in-1 laptop
    • GPU for gaming included
    • Up to 2TB of storage
    • Up to 32GB system memory
    • Good battery life

Cons:

    • 15-inch model is expensive
    • Surface Pen & Surface Go Type Cover sold separately
    • GPU best for creative works not for hardcore gaming

 

 

Surface Book 3 is not a gaming laptop. You can get away with playing less hardware-demanding games though. But it’s a great tool to use if you need one for creative works. The starting price for the Surface Book 2 is US$1600. It’s available now on pre-order, releasing on 21 May 2020. The Surface Book 3 may come at a high price but you get a more powerful 2-in-1 laptop with a bigger screen and better specs meaning better performance. 

 

Verdict & Impressions

This is just a preview of what you can expect to get when you purchase the Microsoft laptop. Performance cannot really be said yet until the laptops have been reviewed. But for now, here are my impressions of the two.

The Surface Go 2 looks like a Microsoft laptop or tablet catered for those with budget constraints. The initial price is well below US$500, making it affordable and great value in my opinion.

The specs are similar to a typical budget laptop, so expect a standard laptop with a mediocre performance. But at the same time, expect a good laptop with the ability to help you get things done, nothing else. do normal everyday tasks, such as:

Bottom line – This is a budget Microsoft laptop or tablet. It’s going to be affordable. It will let you do normal everyday things well with features of lightweight and good battery life.

Surface Book 3 is looking to be a good mid to top-range Microsoft laptop, aimed at people looking for a more powerful 2-in-1 laptop, especially for those who are in the creative arts, and media development. 

Gamers can also make use of this laptop as the GPU can help run PC games, but it won’t be as powerful as top-ranked gaming laptop brands. If top-ranked laptops are what you prefer, then check them out here

It’s going to be a pricy one, with the starting price at US$1600, and that’s only for the mid-range 13-inch Intel Core i5 model.  

Bottom line – If you’re looking for a more powerful Microsoft laptop, with premium looks, nice display, and other premium features, then this one is for you.

==> To see more of what a 2-in-1 laptop can do for you, click here.  

 

Conclusion

So there you have it, two Microsoft laptops scheduled to come out before the end of May 2020. Release dates are scheduled from the 21st May 2020.  Now you know what to look forward to when you get one of these two Microsoft laptops, keep your eyes open for the next coming news and updates.

If you’re curious about the older Microsoft laptop models, check them out here. Anyone curious about what to look out for when getting a new laptop, check it out here. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below and I will respond to you as soon as possible. Stay safe and take care until next time. 🙂  

Please follow me on Instagram by clicking here: luvuyomadyibi and on Twitter: @LuvuyoMadyibi

 

Get Yourself a Good Business Huawei MateBook Laptop

 

Get Yourself a Good Business Huawei MateBook Laptop

 

For those who don’t know, Huawei has its own series of business laptops called Huawei MateBook. They look great. They have awesome displays. They look so slim. But what of its performance? Is it worth the investment? If you looking for something different, and want to try something new, then here are 4 reasons why you must get a Huawei MateBook laptop. 

 

Huawei MateBook 13

Hardware Spec:

    • CPU – Intel Core i5-10210U
    • GPU – NVIDIA GeForce MX250
    • Display – 13-inch IPS Touch Screen (2160×1440)
    • Memory – 16GB
    • Storage – 512GB SSD
    • OS – Windows 10 Home
    • Weight – 1.33kg
    • Battery – 3660mAh
    • Ranking – 4.7 out of 10

 

The first laptop on the list is the Huawei MateBook 13. It comes with a 13-inch touch screen, a slim chassis that holds the latest 8th generation Intel Core mobile processor, good system memory, and a decent mobile GPU for casual gaming. 

REASON TO BUY

    • Available in three colous, mystic silver, space grey, and pink
    • Ultra-slim & lightweight
    • Slim dark bezels 
    • Full 4K display
    • Includes GPU for casual gaming
    • Good performance
    • Choice of Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7
    • 10 hours of battery life
    • Fast charging 
    • Fast start-up & fingerprint scanner button
    • Replacable battery

REASONS NOT TO BUY

    • Wireless transfer with Huawei smartphones
    • Mediocre sound quality
    • Only USB Type C & headphone jack input ports 
    • Gaming at medium settings
    • Bad positioning of webcam

 

 

The Huawei MateBook 13 is a great-looking laptop. It comes with great specs so solid performance is guaranteed. It looks elegant and professional. It comes with great features like long battery life, a gaming GPU for casual gaming, and a fingerprint scanner to prevent unauthorized entry.

For those looking for a laptop for creative, corporate, or business work, then this is for you. Gamers this is a no-no. Specs are good but not great enough for a great gaming experience. The MateBook comes with speakers underneath so the sound quality is not that great, and comes with few input ports.      

To get this Huawei MateBook, there is limited stock worldwide. It’s an expensive laptop, but it’s a great package so the price is worth it. Check online vendors or e-commerce websites. You can start by clicking on the button above if you’re interested.

Otherwise, this is a great laptop. It’s got great looks and great performance. Go out there and order one.  

 

 

Huawei MateBook D

Hardware Spec:

    • CPU – Intel Core i7-8550U
    • GPU – NVIDIA GeForce MX150
    • Display – 15.6-inch FHD (1920×1080)
    • Memory – 16GB
    • Storage – 256GB SSD
    • OS – Windows 10
    • Weight – 1.9kg
    • Battery – 3800mAh
    • Ranking 4.4 out of 5

 

The next one is Huawei MateBook D, the affordable model laptop in the series. This model comes with Intel’s high-performance i7 processor along with 16GB memory, 256GB SSD, and NVIDIA’s GeForce mobile graphics card for casual gaming. Outside you’re looking at a good-looking 15-inch full HD display with a well-design chassis.    

REASONS TO BUY

    • Good performance
    • Well design chassis
    • Affordable mid-range price
    • Comfortable typing experience
    • Up to 9 hours of battery life

REASONS NOT TO BUY

    • Bad positioning of webcam
    • Average FHD display 
    • Wireless transfer only with Huawei smartphones
    • Average sound quality

 

Huawei MateBook D is an affordable alternative. It’s surprising because it comes with a high-performance processor, high system memory, and a GPU at a more affordable price. Not only that: it’s well designed, and has good battery life. 

One would expect that it comes with some pretty nice features too but sadly, this is the budget model. The full HD display looks good but it’s the least good quality compared to the other Huawei MateBooks. The sound output works well but is not the best quality, and the webcam is poorly placed.

But nonetheless, Huawei was looking at really appealing to the middle class here, more to those who are looking for a fast performance laptop at an affordable price. Students and young corporate personnel, (or anyone who’s looking for an affordable laptop) can get this laptop. 

This laptop is catered to those looking for an affordable Huawei MateBook. If you’re looking for a cheap Huawei MateBook, then check online right.

 

 

Huawei MateBook X

Hardware Spec:

    • CPU – Intel Core i5-7200U
    • GPU – Intel UHD Graphics 620
    • Display – 13-inch IPS HD+ (2160×1440)
    • Memory – 4GB 
    • Storage – 256GB SSD
    • OS – Windows 10
    • Weight – 1kg
    • Battery – 5449mAh
    • Ranking – 4.0 out of 5

 

The next Huawei MateBook is the MateBook X. It’s a laptop that comes with a 13-inch display with thin bezels around the screen. It’s lightweight. It’s well-designed with a good choice of colors.

Specs include a mid-range processor from Intel, 4GB of system memory, 256GB of storage, and a big battery package that lasts up to 7 hours of battery life. Is it worth the investment? Let’s see. 

REASONS TO BUY

    • Great 4K display
    • Well design with a good choice of colours
    • Really thin dark bezels
    • Responsive fingerprint scanner
    • Good sound output 
    • Fans run quietly whilst working
    • Really lightweight
    • Up to 7 hours of battery life

REASONS NOT TO BUY

    • Average system performance
    • Only 1 type of USB-C ports
    • Expensive
    • The touch-pad is a little smaller than average

 

This is another 13-inch model that Huawei is selling. It indeed is a good-looking model, with a good quality display. But the system memory is typical of a budget model laptop yet it’s more expensive than the affordable Huawei MateBook D.

The high price is because of the high-quality display that comes with this MateBook. The specs are typical of a standard budget laptop, yet it still performs well.  

For those looking for a laptop for creative, corporate, or business work, then this laptop is for you. Gamers this is a no-no. The GPU is good for casual gaming and for creative work but not extreme gaming.

Specs are not great enough for a great gaming experience. The MateBook X comes with speakers underneath so the sound quality is not that great, and comes with only one input port.     

 It may be expensive, but if you want a better-looking display than the affordable Huawei MateBook D, then this is for you. 

 

 

Huawei MateBook X Pro

Hardware Spec:

    • CPU – Intel Core i5-8250/i7-8550U
    • GPU – Intel UHD Graphics 620/NVIDIA GeForce MX150
    • Display – 13.9-inch HD+ LTPS (3000×2000)
    • Memory – 8/16GB
    • Storage – 256/512GB SSD
    • OS – Windows 10 Home
    • Weight – 1.33kg
    • Battery – 7565mAh
    • Rating – 4.0 out of 5

 

The top-of-range Huawei MateBook is the MateBook X Pro. As expected this is the more expensive one with all the nice perks and features. It comes with a 13.9-inch display, with great premium looks and design. It’s super lightweight and ultra-thin, so it fits well in laptop bags.

Inside is one of Intel’s top-of-the-range processors. It also comes with the mid-range Intel i5 alternative. It comes with either 8 or 16 GB of system memory, a choice between 256 or 512 GB of internal storage, and a huge battery that guarantees up to 8 to 10 hours of battery life.  

REASONS TO BUY

    • Good performance
    • Decent performance keyboard
    • Responsive touch-pad
    • Great battery life
    • Really nice quality 2K display
    • Really thin bezels around the display
    • Solid sound output
    • Premium designed chassis

REASONS NOT TO BUY

    • Expensive
    • Limited availability
    • Poorly placed webcam
    • Not ideal for AAA gaming titles

 

 

The Huawei MateBook X Pro is a well-designed laptop with a remarkable display, great performance overall, and great battery life. It’s a great alternative to other more expensive top-range laptops. 

Again, for this one webcam is placed poorly. It’s located as a button on the keyboard and only not on the screen. It’s not a gaming laptop either but you can get away with playing AAA titles at medium graphics settings. It’s available worldwide but from limited retailers, but online retailers do have stock.  

So are you interested? If you need a powerful laptop with a great display, who don’t type whilst video chatting, then this is for you. It’s a great laptop for business-related and for creative work as well.

Gamers this is not a laptop for you. The MateBook X Pro laptop includes an entry-level GPU not recommended for gaming. Check out these great gaming alternatives. It’s available online right now.  

 

Last Thoughts

Huawei has a good collection of laptops bundled with great hardware specs, gorgeous-looking displays, and a well-design laptop body. The only problem is the webcam that is placed on the keyboard as a button you press. If you need to make a video conference call or chat then that’s fine, just don’t type anything as it will obscure the view.

But then Huawei decided to make their displays bigger with really thin bezels around the screen instead of putting a water drop webcam on the screen like other brands. They have also made the touch-pad larger than normal, and laptop models are lightweight weighing less than 2 kgs.   

I would go for either one of these Huawei MateBooks as they are catered for personnel that is looking for laptops to help them with whatever business, work, or creative related task that needs doing. 

It would be great to see them come up with gaming laptops that compete against MSI, Alienware, and ASUS ROG. But time will tell. For now, these are Huawei’s business laptops. 

So which is your ideal laptop? Are you happy with these here reviewed? What are your opinions on the webcam placed as a pop-up button? Please leave a comment or questions below and let’s share info. 

Follow me on Instagram by clicking here: luvuyomadyibi and/or on Twitter: @LuvuyoMadyibi

 

Who Else Wants Cheap Lenovo Laptops?

Cheap Lenovo Laptops

If you’re looking for an affordable laptop, then you’ve come to the right place. Here are some cheap Lenovo laptops here for those looking for a well-designed and overall, good device to help get the job done. If you are loyal to the Lenovo brand but are not finding the best laptop out there, then look here and choose from these.

 

 

 

Chromebook S330

 

SPECS

  • Google Chrome OS
  • 14-inch HD display (1366 x 768)
  • 4GB RAM
  • 32GB storage
  • MediaTek MT8173c processor
  • 10 hours battery life
  • Weighs 3.2 lbs. (1.45 kg)

REASONS TO BUY

  • Excellent battery life
  • Affordable and great value for money
  • Traditional but sturdy design
  • Thin bezels widen the display

REASONS NOT TO BUY

  • Average performance
  • Not good for gaming

The first of these cheap Lenovo laptops is the Lenovo Chromebook S330. It excels in three things: it’s affordable; has a nice look and design, and has excellent battery life. But don’t get too excited yet. This is a budget Chromebook after all so don’t expect much from this one. It can perform standard functions like web browsing, watch YouTube videos, and help perform work tasks for the office. The graphics GPU lacks the power for gaming, but it’s a great laptop. This laptop’s good for those who need a laptop to do basic work tasks, perfect for students and the price isn’t bad as well. For those who want a serious performance powerhouse, good gaming, and to do complex tasks like video rendering, don’t get this laptop. So if you’re a student or someone looking for an affordable laptop or Chromebook to help you get things done, then this one’s excellent for you.  

 

 

Yoga C630 2-in-1

 

SPECS

  • Google Chrome OS
  • 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080)
  • 8GB RAM
  • 128GB Flash Memory
  • 8th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-8250U
  • Intel® UHD Graphics 620
  • 10 hours battery life
  • Weighs 4.19 lbs. (1.9 kg)

REASONS TO BUY

  • Great performance
  • Great battery life
  • 4k display model available
  • Traditional but sturdy design

REASONS NOT TO BUY

  • No stylus included
  • Quite expensive
  • Heavy with square edges
  • No HDMI port

The next of these cheap Lenovo laptops is the Lenovo Yoga C630 2-in-1 Chromebook. Some good things to note: it performs well; comes with great battery life, and functions as a normal 2-in-1 laptop tablet. But this is not a cheap Lenovo laptop, as it ranges just a little above US$ 500. Another thing to be aware of is that it’s quite heavy at 2 kg, has no HDMI port to connect to an HD monitor, and has no stylus for the tablet mode. There are more affordable 2-in-1 laptops out there, so I’d say check them out here before deciding on this one. But overall, if you’re looking for a better performance laptop than the budget range, and don’t mind the shortfalls, then they pick this one for your next laptop 2-in-1 purchase.

 

 

IdeaPad 130

 

SPECS

  • MS Windows 10
  • 15.6-inch HD (1366 x 768)
  • 4GB RAM
  • 128GB SSD
  • AMD A9-9425
  • AMD integrated Radeon R5
  • 5 hours battery life
  • Weighs 4.63 lbs. (2.1 kg)

REASONS TO BUY

  • Affordable
  • Good performance
  • Good for basic functions
  • Plenty of input ports
  • DVD-rom included

REASONS NOT TO BUY

  • Short battery life
  • Heavy for a budget laptop
  • Low quality screen
  • Mediocre speakers

The third of these cheap Lenovo laptops is the Lenovo IdeaPad 130. These ones’ good for basic functions such as internet browsing, use in the office, and streams Youtube videos well. It has good performance but remains true to the budget range. It has plenty of inputs slots from HDMI to ethernet slot, even a DVD ROM drive which is rare these days. That’s all good but yes, unfortunately, it has a bit of shortfall. Firstly, it has a short battery life, the screen quality is low, the sound output is not that great, and it’s quite heavy. This one’s also good for those who need a laptop to do basic work tasks, perfect for students and the price isn’t bad as well. For those who want serious laptop performance, great gaming fun, and to do complex tasks like video rendering, don’t get this laptop.   

 

 

IdeaPad S145

 

SPECS

  • MS Windows 10 Home
  • 15.6-inch HD (1366 x 768)
  • 4GB RAM
  • 1TB HDD
  • AMD A6-9225
  • AMD Radeon R4
  • 5.5 Hours battery life
  • Weighs 4.08 lbs. (1.85 kg)

REASONS TO BUY

  • Affordable
  • Best for basic computer tasks
  • Comes with a big screen
  • Plenty of storage

REASONS NOT TO BUY

  • Mediocre performance
  • Hard drive HDD not SSD
  • Mediocre battery life
  • Low resolution screen

The next one of the cheap Lenovo laptops is the Lenovo IdeaPad S145. It’s affordable, well-designed comes with a 15-inch screen and plenty of storage to store data and information. The hardware specs are typical of a budget laptop model so it’s the best to use for basic computer functions such as checking emails, web browsing, checking social media, and document editing. Some things to note: the performance is not that great; there’s lots of storage but not its HDD, not SSD; the battery life is not that great; and comes with a low-resolution screen, even though it has a big screen. The S145 is good for those who need a laptop to do basic work tasks, perfect for students and the price is cheap enough for purchase. This one’s definitely a pass for those looking for a powerful machine.

 

 

100e Chromebook

 

SPECS

  • Google Chrome OS
  • 11.6-inch HD screen (1366 x 768)
  • MediaTek MT8173c processor
  • 4GB RAM
  • 32GB Flash memory
  • PowerVR GX6250 integrated graphics
  • 9 hours battery life
  • Weighs 2.7 lbs. (1.22 kg)

REASONS TO BUY

  • Very affordable
  • Well designed
  • Really lightweight 
  • Very durable with shock and water resistance
  • Good for basic computer tasks

REASONS NOT TO BUY

  • Average performance
  • Thick screen bezels
  • Low resolution screen
  • Small screen
  • No touchscreen
  • Low quality webcam

Perfect for young teens and students, the next of these cheap Lenovo laptops is the Lenovo 100e Chromebook. This may be the cheapest of them all Lenovo laptops. It’s perfect for all ages, even young teens can use this to get their school work done, plus it is very durable so if they drop it on the floor it’s going to have very little damage. It’s also a laptop Chromebook good for light computer usage like web browsing, checking emails and social media, and document editing. Some things to note here. This Chromebook has a small screen with thick bezels that makes it look narrow and have no touchscreen. The performance is really good enough to perform standard computer tasks. The webcam is not that great either. This one’s definitely for those looking to do normal basic tasks. Anything complex will really slow the performance of this Chromebook. If you’re looking for a cheap Lenovo laptop that young teens or students can use, has good durability, and is affordable, then get this one here. 

 

 

IdeaPad 330

 

SPECS

  • MS Windows 10
  • 17-inch HD+ (1600 x 900)
  • AMD A9-9425
  • 8GB RAM
  • 1TB HDD
  • AMD Radeon R5
  • 5 hours battery life
  • Weighs 6.2 lbs. (2.81 kg)

REASONS TO BUY

  • Big 17-inch screen
  • Plenty of input ports
  • DVD rom included
  • Easy to upgrade the internal  
  • Good performance

REASONS NOT TO BUY

  • Low-performance HDD
  • Low battery life
  • Low response mouse-pad 
  • Webcam not so good
  • Quite heavy

The Lenovo IdeaPad 330 is another one of these cheap Lenovo laptops but isn’t a budget laptop. It’s also a little over US$500 and is powerful enough to do more complex tasks. The big screen with good high resolution, good performance and well-designed are the main reasons to get this laptop. It’s easy to upgrade too, just pop open the panel underneath to insert a bigger or better hard drive, memory, and a bigger battery if available. The main things to watch out for are the following: it’s a 17-inch so they are usually heavy laptops; the performance of the hard drive is not that great so if you can, upgrade it to SSD; the battery life is quite low with poor webcam quality. For those looking for a good-performance laptop at a reasonable price, and who can handle the faults then this one is for you. 

 

 

IdeaPad S340

 

SPECS

  • MS Windows 10
  • 15.6-inch HD (1366 x 768)
  • 4GB RAM
  • 1TB HDD
  • AMD Ryzen 3
  • AMD Radeon Vega 3
  • 8 hours battery life 
  • Weighs 3.97 lbs. (1.8 kg)

REASONS TO BUY

  • Mediocre GPU for low spec gaming
  • Good battery life
  • Good performance
  • Plenty of storage
  • Lightweight
  • Options to upgrade internals

REASONS NOT TO BUY

  • Low-resolution screen
  • HDD storage
  • Close to US$500

Then lastly the last of these cheap Lenovo laptops on this list is the Lenovo IdeaPad S340 which is also not a budget laptop. This Lenovo laptop is a mid-range model that has a bit more processing power than the budget. It’s well-designed, and not that heavy. It comes with a 15-inch screen with thin bezels to widen up the view. Good performance. Good battery life. Plenty of internal storage. It even has a GPU for casual gaming. With all that specs, come the not-so-good points. The screen has a low resolution. It’s still okay but not the best. The internal storage is 1TB. That’s huge but it’s a traditional hard drive and loads slower. If you’re looking for this laptop, make sure it’s an SSD hard drive. It may be more expensive but it’ll make a big difference in terms of performance. With it, It’s going to help boot Windows faster. Your apps, other documents, and media will load much quicker. if not, get a laptop SSD hard drive, and get assistance to help install it. The verdict, is a great laptop with good performance. Good laptop for light gaming. Perfect for those who want a more powerful laptop than budget models.

 

To Sum it Up

In my opinion, these cheap Lenovo laptops are good laptops that are highly favored, highly rated, and have received positive feedback from previous customers and users. If I was you, I’d go for the Lenovo IdeaPad 330. It’s by far, the one that I prefer, and if you take it, I have no doubt it will serve you well. So do you like my choice of these cheap Lenovo laptops? Which one do you prefer? Thanks for checking out my post. Leave comments below, share it on social media because you never know who you would help.

 

Five Ways to Prevent a Common Laptop Problem or Two

et’s be real. Laptops are expensive. Over time, they will start to give you problems. With more and more powerful laptops releasing if you can afford one that’s awesome. Getting one will mean you having to gain much-needed skills and knowledge on ways to take good care of it because it’s a valuable asset to you.

So, if you are having a laptop problem or two, here are five tricks and tactics to help prevent common laptop problems from happening in the future. 

1) Overheating

This is a common laptop problem. As you use the laptop for long periods of time don’t your hands feel warm when you rest your hands on the keyboard or on the laptop?

Don’t worry, you won’t get burnt but you need to note this. There are components inside that heat up, so a cooling fan is installed to reduce overheating.

As it gets used over the years the cooling fan starts to clog up, then it starts to lose its function. It becomes noticeable when either the laptop suddenly shuts down during use or it stops powering up entirely.

To minimize this from happening, you need to keep your laptop well ventilated and elevated at all times whilst using it.

Take note of the following laptop solutions:

Place your Laptop on a Hard Surface 

The cooling unit is positioned at the bottom of the laptop, so it is important to always place your laptop on a hard, flat surface.

Soft surfaces such as pillows, cushions, or carpets, all cling underneath the surface and cut off possibilities of ventilation. The more ventilated and elevated the laptop is, the less likely it will overheat.

Get an Adjustable Laptop Stand with a Cooling Unit

It’s an affordable unit that lets your laptop rest on it and it activates an additional cooling fan to cool the laptop from underneath. It will keep your laptop elevated, and well ventilated.

2) HD Drive Breakdown

The next laptop problem is choosing the best hard drive. The hard disk market is pretty competitive as we consumers want more storage space to store information. Manufacturers are focusing on supplying hard disk drives with more quantity of space, but end up making sacrifices of quality.

Unless they have come up with a way to increase the quality, the bigger the number of storage offered, the more problems you will experience in the future.

Here are some laptop solutions:

Less Storage is Best

When buying a laptop or notebook, get one with either a 500GB or a 1TB HDD or SSD. Most of them nowadays come with less than 500GB of storage because now we have access to cloud storage.

Know your Product

Consider doing research to find out the name of the hard drive brand manufacturer, and check out product reviews to find out if their devices are of high quality.

3) Power Unit Problems

Another laptop problem is damage to the power unit. The power unit is responsible to help convert and manage overall power and voltage in your laptop. Any changes in the voltage can cause damage to your power unit which will damage the laptop.

To prevent this, here are some laptop solutions: 

Stick to using the AC adaptor that comes with your laptop

If it gets damaged, you going to need to purchase a new one from local your computer dealer and make sure it supports your laptop brand.

Overheating will also cause damage to your laptop’s power unit

Once again it’s important to keep your laptop offs it doesn’t do damage to surrounding hardware components. Check the information above on methods to minimize or prevent overheating.

Get a good quality laptop bag

Dropping the laptop will also cause damage to the power unit. It happens unfortunately to the best of us. I suggest getting a good and durable laptop bag, which has special protective features. 

4) Unchangeable/Dead Battery

The next laptop problem is damage to the battery. If your battery does not charge your laptop it could be one of two scenarios: 1) Your laptop battery is not working anymore and needs to be replaced or 2) Your AC adaptor is not working.

Both of these items can be replaced and are available for purchase from the laptop manufacturer. Modern laptops today, especially the 2-in-1 laptops and Chromebooks do not come with removable batteries as they have better battery power and long battery life.

As a result, if this happens I suggest either replace the AC adapter or invest in an affordable laptop such as a 2-in-1 or a Chromebook. 

5) Touch-pad Sensitivity

The next laptop problem is issues with the touchpad. If you are experiencing problems with your touch-pad being too sensitive, try doing the following:

  • 1) Click to open ‘Control Panel’ on Windows and find ‘Hardware and Sounds’.
  • 2) Under ‘Hardware and Sounds’, click ‘View devices and printers.
  • 3) Right-click on the laptop icon, a menu will appear then click on ‘Mouse Settings’.
  • 4) Choose the ‘Device Settings’ tab on top of the window and navigate to find the Sensitivity settings and adjust according to your preference.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how to prevent common laptop problems, you are in a better position to know what to do if things go wrong with your laptop. If all else fails, then take to a computer technician to see what the problem is. 

What common laptop problems are you experiencing? What have you done to resolve it? Let’s discuss it by leaving your comment below.

9 Tips on How to Optimize your Laptop

 

9 Tips on How to Optimize your Laptop

 

So you have a laptop and it’s giving you nightmares. Maybe your hard drive’s almost full or viruses have invaded and are all over the place, messing up your files. If that’s the case then your laptop needs help.

But before you take it to a computer shop for repairs, try these tricks here to help you optimize your laptop. These will help to boost the performance of your newly bought laptop or notebook. .

 

1) Laptop Registration

Most laptops nowadays come with registration information to register your product online through the retailer or the company brand. This is useful for warranty claims and other laptop offers if you are interested.

 

 

So you need to identify and keep records of the serial number of the laptop, model number, date of purchase, the name of the retailer, and the warranty card or receipt in a safe place.

2) Bloatware

One way to optimize your laptop is to delete unnecessary files and/or bloatware. Bloatware is promotional software that comes pre-installed in laptops along with the Windows OS (Operating System). 

You need to remove them to free up space on your hard drive and to avoid annoying pop-ups. But careful not to remove the operating system itself. To find out check online on how to remove bloatware.

 

3) Windows Update

The next method to optimize your laptop is to update your Windows OS. If you have an internet connection, it is a good idea to update your windows operating system, as new updates and security patches are released to prevent software bugs and malware.

 

4) System Restore

It’s a name given to the collection of important system files stored by the system restore in Windows at a given date and time. Basically, it works as a safety mechanism in case Windows OS gets corrupted drivers and software drivers that do not work. You can use it to recover your Windows operating system to the date the restore point was created.

 

5) Anti-virus Software

Get rid of viruses is a good way to optimize your laptop. With all the viruses and unwanted software out there such as malware, spyware, or ransomware that can harm your laptop, it is a good idea to get a good anti-virus to secure your files and your system.

Windows 10 already has an anti-virus named Windows Defender, but you must also consider third-party anti-virus software, such as AVG, Avast, Norton, etc., as it comes with additional security features.

 

6) Backup, Backup, Backup

 

I cannot stress this enough, backup, backup, backup! Windows has a backup feature that lets you select a particular drive, folder, or files, and a scheduling feature to backup and restore data from the hard drive or an external hard drive. This is a good strategy to optimize your laptop.

 

7) Default Apps

Here you can set the software or applications installed to open emails, an internet browser, music player, photo viewer, etc. From the windows icon on the lower left of the screen, click it, find and click ‘Settings’, then ‘Apps’, then ‘Default Apps’.

 

8) Power Cuts

If you are constantly faced with frequent power outages, then it is a good idea to get an offline UPS to provide backup power. For laptops this is no problem, just remember to keep your laptop fully charged frequently.

 

9) Laptop Accessories

 

If you are not too comfortable using the touchpad, then use your external mouse. There are other accessories to use but it depends on the input ports available on your laptop.

 

Final Word

If these tricks are too advanced for you, or time is not on your side,  then it’s okay to take it to a laptop technician. It may cost you but once it’s done your laptop will run well as new.

If you’ve had it with your existing laptop and need a new one fast, then click here for a quick guide on how to pick a good laptop or notebook before purchase. Click here also view affordable laptops or notebooks to buy online.   

Any tips you would like to share relating to this topic? Are you considering these tips after getting a laptop? What issues are you facing with your laptop right now? Is it running efficiently? Please leave your comments below.

 

What You All Don’t Know About 2 in 1 Laptop Tablets

You may never need a laptop or a tablet again. 2 in 1 laptop tablets are gaining popularity because it comes with features that cater to both the laptop user and the tablet user.

 

The laptop users get a laptop with a touch-screen and tablet features; and the tablet user, gets a tablet with an operating system, for example, Windows 10, a keyboard, and laptop features.

 

But what are 2 in 1 laptop tablets? What makes it so different from other laptops or notebooks? What can you benefit from this device?

 

What are 2 in 1 Laptop Tablets?

A 2 in 1 laptop-tablet is a computer device that comes with features from both a laptop and a tablet. They are normally released in the market as tablet-like laptops or laptop-like tablets. They are smaller, and lightweight and most of them are affordable.

 

What makes them so different?

What makes it different from a normal laptop or a tablet? Well, it is built like a laptop but is thinner, and slimmer. Typical 2 in 1 laptop tablets include the following features:

  • A responsive touch screen
  • Laptop hinges that allow flipping the screen up to 360 degrees
  • A detachable keypad and stylus pen 
  • An operating system that runs both mobile and PC apps
  • A powerful hardware spec

 

Benefits

  • Works like a laptop and a tablet
  • Able to use apps for creative use
  • Access to cloud storage
  • Increases versatility with a stylus pen and a detachable keypad

 

Costs

  • Top-range models are really expensive
  • Detachable keyboard and stylus pen sold separately
  • Budget models include less powerful hardware

Here are typical 2 in 1 laptop tablets to consider.

 

Lenovo IdeaPad Miix 520

Hardware Specs

  • Intel Core i5 8th Gen 8250U
  • 8GB Memory
  • 256GB SSD hard drive
  • Intel UHD Graphics 620
  • 12.2-inch Touchscreen (1920 x 1200)
  • Detachable Keyboard
  • Windows 10 Pro

Pros

  • Good performance
  • Good hardware specs
  • Good HD+ display
  • Comfortable typing experience
  • A good alternative for expensive models
  • Includes micro-SD slot

Cons

  • Detachable keypad and stylus pen sold separately
  • Average battery life 
  • The keypad backlight performs below average
  • Thick display bezels

The Lenovo Ideapad Miix 520 is a 2 in 1 laptop-tablet that is geared to compete with the top market leaders in the laptop and tablet industry. It comes with the whole package: great performance; a stunning and responsive touch display; a comfortable typing experience; and the option to increase internal storage.

 

However, there are a few things to consider. The keypad and stylus are not included in the box. Battery life is below standard. The keyboard backlight effect is not that bright. If this 2 in 1 laptop-tablet is the one you’re looking for, then click here for more info and to get it. 

 

Score: 3.9/5 

 

 

Microsoft Surface Pro

Hardware Specs

  • Windows 10
  • Intel Core i5
  • 4GB Memory
  • 128GB SSD hard drive
  • Cellular/4G/LTE
  • 12.3-inch HD+ Touchscreen (2736 x 1824)

Pros

  • Great battery life
  • Good performance
  • Great HD+ resolution

Cons

  • High price
  • Stylus and keyboard sold separately
  • Thick screen bezels

Good performance. Great battery life. Stunning display. What more can you ask for? It has the typical specs of a midrange 2 in 1 laptop-tablet, and it’s more expensive than others in the market. Click here below to find out more and to purchase it.

 

Score: 4.0/5

 

 

HP Pavilion X360

Hardware Specs

  • Intel Core i5 8th Gen 8265U
  • 8GB Memory
  • 1TB HDD
  • Intel UHD Graphics 620
  • 14-inch HD Touchscreen (1366 x 768)
  • Windows 10 Home 64-bit

Pros

  • Good performance
  • Huge internal storage
  • Good quality sound

Cons

  • No ethernet port
  • Average battery life
  • SSD hard drive would be better
  • No micro SD slot 

Overall, the HP Pavillion X360 is a great mid-range 2 in 1 laptop tablet. The performance and sound quality are on point, and it’s fun, easy to use, portable, and versatile. 

 

The battery life and the touchscreen display are average but work well. If you are happy with this 2 in 1 laptop-tablet and want to know, click here below to get more info and to purchase it.

 

Score: 3.9/5

 

 

ASUS VivoBook Flip

Hardware Specs

  • 14-inch FHD Touchscreen (1920 x 1080) 
  • Intel Core i7
  • 8GB RAM 
  • 512GB SSD hard drive
  • Windows 10 Home (64 bit)
  • Intel UHD Graphics 600

Pros

  • Well designed
  • Lightweight
  • Good quality display
  • Decent battery life
  • Good performance
  • Stylus included

Cons

  • Poor webcam quality 
  • May include bloatware

The Asus Vivobook Flip is an all-around good-performance 2 in 1 laptop tablet. It’s lightweight, includes a 14-inch touch display, decent battery life, good performance from a top performance chip, and includes a stylus pen in the box. 

 

There is a cheaper model but it’s best to avoid, as it doesn’t perform just as well. The poor webcam quality and the bloatware installed, are minor that can easily be rectified. Overall, this is a great 2 in 1 laptop-tablet.

 

Score: 4.0/5

 

 

Dell Inspiron 13

Hardware Specs

  • Intel Core i5 8th Gen 8250U
  • 8GB Memory
  • 256GB SSD hard drive
  • 13.3-inch FHD Touchscreen (1920 x 1080)
  • Windows 10 Home 64-bit

Pros

  • Good performance
  • Stunning quality display
  • Affordable price

Cons

  • Average battery life

The Dell Inspiron 13 is a mid-range 2 in 1 tablet laptop that offers good performance, and a stunning full HD display, at a good price. The battery life may not the best, but for a good mid-range 2 in 1 laptop-tablet, it is one to consider.

 

This one is rated one of the best 2 in 1 laptop tablets to buy right now and it’s available at an affordable price. Click the button here below to see the latest prices. 

 

Score: 3.9/5

 

 

Last Impressions

 

Firstly, these 2 in 1 laptop tablets are great performers in their unique way. They offer something different to the next user and include similar features. But now, from my list above, here’s what I recommend to you. 

 

The first recommendation is the Microsoft Surface Pro. It has better screen technology and higher screen resolution options. It’s good for those looking 2 in 1 laptop tablet to liven up their creative side.  

 

If you can afford it and don’t mind purchasing the stylus pen, then you can rest assured that you made a good choice. The next recommendation is the ASUS VivoBook Flip. It offers top system performance, good battery life, and includes a free stylus pen. Another recommendation for creatives and corporate workers. business.

 

The rest of the 2 in 1 laptop tablets are similar in features and are available at similar prices. For a cheaper option, they are worth considering.

 

 

Closing off

 

There you have it. Now you know what to expect from 2 in 1 laptop tablets. They are innovative mobile devices and come with interesting features. Thanks for checking out my choice of 2 in 1 laptop tablets. If you are looking for something different, get a 2 in 1 laptop or a Chromebook.

 

Click here to find out more about Chromebooks. If you are interested, click where indicated and order one or find out more info. Also, leave your comments below.

 

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Five Top Chromebook laptops of 2019

Ever since the release of the top Chromebook laptops they’ve flooded the tech market by far with affordable models with unique features and the best performance ratings. But now it’s time to separate the bulls from the cows, the alphas from the weaklings, and inevitably, the best from the rest. 

It’s time to see what are the best Chromebooks of 2019, what’s so good about them, and what to expect as they strive to meet your needs. It’s a good idea to read up more on what Chromebooks are to really understand why they’re so different from normal laptops. So without further ado, let’s finish off this year by taking a look at my list of the top Chromebook laptops of 2019.  

 

Acer Chromebook 15

 

Display: 15.6-inch Touchscreen HD LCD (1920×1080) | Processor: Intel Celeron N3450 Quad-core | Memory: 4GB RAM LPDDR4 | Storage: 32GB Flash Memory | OS: Chrome OS | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 500 | Battery: 13 Hour Battery Run Time

The Acer Chromebook 15 is one of the most affordable laptops with a 15-inch touchscreen. It comes with an Intel Celeron, that’s an entry-level processor, with 32GB internal storage, 4GB system memory, and a good 13 hours of battery life.

It’s also known to be very durable cause it’s made from scratch-resistant material and can take shock damage. It all comes together with a pre-installed Chrome OS that gives you access to many of Google’s services and apps for you to use.

It’s perfect for college students to help them get through college. It’s a standard budget Chromebook, that’s lightweight, has a nice silver color design, and comes with standard specs for day-to-day use.

There’s really not much else to say here but the fact is that it has great battery life, is very durable and you can get it at an affordable price. However, it does have small internal storage but with Google, you can get more storage space through the cloud services. So, if you feel you need the best Chromebook of 2019 that is affordable, then rest assured you’ll be happy with this one. 

 

 

ASUS Flip C434

 

Display: 14-inch Touchscreen HD LCD (1920×1080) | Processor: Intel Core M m3-8100Y Dual-core | Memory: 4GB LPDDR3 RAM | Storage: 64GB Flash Memory | OS: Chrome OS | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615 LPDDR3 | Other features: Bluetooth, backlit keyboard, webcam | Battery: 10 Hour Battery Run Time

The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is the best-selling 2-in-1 Chromebook. Its stylish looks, portability, and powerful specs are all designed to let you get things done with no fuss, all day, every day.

It features a four-sided Nano Edge 14-inch display, with slim bezel edges around the display, for the impressive viewing experience, and unique hinges that allow opening up the Chromebook to 360 degrees comfortably.

The ASUS Flip Convertible 2-in-1 Chromebook makes light work of standard every task. The 4GB system memory helps to support multitasking of apps, the 64GB internal storage lets you save files, apps and documents and boost load times, and the dual-core Intel processor packs it all together to optimize system performance.

This 2-in-1 laptop comes with hinges that can easily switch from laptop to tablet and feature a 15-inch touch screen display.  

Here we have a Chromebook 2-in-1 from ASUS that has a standard hardware spec, like system memory, Chrome OS, and an entry-level Intel processor.

What’s so different? Well, it’s a 2-in-1 so it opens up the laptop 360 degrees, it has thin bezels making the screen look wider, it has 10 hours battery life, looks good with the black and white design, and a backlit keyboard.       

So let’s not let this best Chromebook offer pass you by. If you’re looking for a best-seller, look no further. The Acer Chromebook is one of the most affordable top Chromebook laptops with budget hardware specs but has good features and acceptable performance. 

 

 

Google Pixelbook

 

OS: Chrome OS | Processor: 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-7Y57 | Display: 12.3″ Touchscreen HD Display (2400×1600) | Memory: 8GB RAM  |  Storage: 128GB SSD | Other features: Bluetooth, backlit keyboard | Battery: 10 hours battery life

Get your work done with Google’s 12.3-inch 2-in-1 Chromebook called the Pixelbook. Expect some serious mid-range processing power thanks to the Intel i5 processor, good system memory thanks to 8GB, and the fast loading internal storage of 128GB SSD.  

Let’s not forget that it’s lightweight, has up to 10 hours long battery life per charge, and comes with Chrome OS that gives you access to apps, software, and much more at the Google Play Store. 

This one’s one of the most expensive 2-in-1 laptops to date. But comes with decent specs pushing the value above budget level.

So yes, you get what you pay for here. If you’re looking for a more powerful 2-in-1 that is expensive but has better performance, then this may be for you. Prepare to pay a bit more as the Pixelbook is amazing but one of the expensive top Chromebook Laptops. 

 

 

Lenovo Yoga C630

 

OS: Chrome OS | Display: 15.6″ 4K Ultra HD (3840×2160) Touchscreen | Processor: 8th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-8250U | Memory: 8GB RAM | Storage: 128GB eMMC Flash Memory | Battery: 9 hours battery life 

Experience smooth performance and great entertainment with the 15.6-inch Lenovo Yoga 2-in-1 Chromebook. It comes with a 15.6-inch Ultra HD touchscreen with sharp gorgeous visuals and a 360-degree flip-and-fold design.

It delivers impressive system performance thanks to the mid-range Intel i5 processor, and 8GB system memory to handle multitasking of apps and every task. 

I have to admit, I’m really impressed with this one, cause it comes with a 4K resolution display. No other Chromebook has it at this price.  The rest is still good, with its powerful mid-range processor, good system memory, and good internal storage. Plus the design looks really good. 

Now, this is not exactly cheap either but you get what you buy here as well. It’s a bit heavier as than the rest here but still portable to carry.

So if you want a Chromebook to experience a whole different display with 4K quality, then this one’s for you. The Yoga C630 is one of the best top Chromebook laptops thanks to its amazing features. 

 

 

Samsung Chromebook Pro

Display: 12.3″ Touchscreen LCD (2400×1600) | Processor: Intel Core M (6th Gen) m3-6Y30 Dual-core | Memory: 4GB RAM | Storage: 32GB Flash Memory | OS: Chrome OS | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 515 | Other features: Bluetooth, webcam, USB-C adaptor and stylus pen | Battery: 9 Hour Battery Run Time

Get your work done anywhere, anytime with this 12-inch Samsung 2-in-1 Chromebook. It’s a budget laptop with an entry-level Intel processor, 4GB of system memory, and 32GB internal storage, all pre-installed with Google Chrome, and with 9 hours of battery life on a single charge.  

This is yet another budget 2-in-1 Chromebook that comes with standard features of a 2-in-1. Pre-installed with the Chrome OS along with its benefits, it’s extremely lightweight and gives you more time to work before the battery runs out.

I like the fact that it comes with a stylus pen, and a USB Type-C adapter to have more input ports, cause normally you’d have to buy them separately.    

Even though it comes with a small display, thick bezel edges that making the screen look smaller, and the fact that it’s a bit more expensive than any other budget laptop with the same internal hardware specs, I’d say it’s not worth getting.

But then again it comes with added extras you only get with a few 2-in-1 laptops. So with that said, it’s a lot more affordable top a Chromebook laptop but a great starter laptop. 

 

Last Impressions

And there we have it. Five of the top Chromebook laptops to get for 2020 that made top ratings in 2019. Out of these, if you’re looking for a better performance Chromebook, then I recommend the Lenovo Yoga is one to pick. It has good features plus mid-range specs that offer good visuals and good performance. For a budget Chromebook, I recommend choosing either the Acer Chromebook 15 or the Samsung Chromebook Pro. They’re cheaper and come with entry-level specs to match the price.        

So if you’re looking for top Chromebook laptops, and want one of the ‘alphas’, then consider these reviewed here for your next purchase. So go ahead and click on the ‘order now’ images to find out more, and to order one if you are interested. That’s all for now. Leave comments below. Share the post to others on social media. Stay safe and take care until next time.

 

Introducing The Ultimate Buying New Laptop Guide

Looking for a new laptop? Need a buying new laptop guide? If you know what type of laptop you are looking for, if you understand what’s under the hood, what they mean, and how they benefit you, then you know the bare essential things. If not, that’s okay. It’s simple, really. You just need to know what the parts are, what they do, and how they will benefit you. By the time you’re done reading this, you’ll be tech-savvy, boosting your confidence and growing some well-needed knowledge. Who knows, you’ll even surprise yourself. So, here’s a quick buying new laptop guide on things you need to know before buying a laptop.

 

1. Types of Laptops

There’re three types.

The modern type that we’re all familiar with, comes with hinges that open up the unit up to 180 degrees. It has a keyboard, a touchpad, a screen, and other standard features.
Next is the touchscreen type that has similar features to the modern type, but comes with a touchscreen display that you can tap to interact with items onscreen like a tablet. It’s a nice addition and works pretty well.
Then we have the 2-in-1 convertible type (usually called the 2-in-1), which comes with similar features to the two, but with hinges that open up all the way to 360 degrees, giving it more uses and switches to a tablet. 

So when you’re looking for a new laptop, keep in mind there are these three types of laptops available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.   

 

2. Laptop Specs

Now we move on to the hardware specs. It’s essentially a list of components that a laptop has so that you know what’s under the hood. This may get a little complicated, but let’s keep focused, okay?  

 

3. OS (Operating System)

 

 

You are familiar with Windows 7, 8, or 10, right? That’s basically what it is. It’s the pre-installed operating system that lets you run other programs. So if it lists ‘Windows 10 Home’ it means your operating system is Windows 10 Home.

The most widely used operating systems are Windows and Chrome. Windows from Microsoft is pretty much installed in most laptops and desktop computers.

Chrome, developed by Google, is an operating system installed in Chromebooks and uses the Chrome web browser as the main user interface. Make sure that an operating system is installed into your laptop before you buy one.   

 

4. Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

A GPU, included in your laptop, helps to display items on the screen so that you view and read images on the screen. There’re two types: Integrated and Dedicated/Discrete.

Integrated GPUs use the existing system memory to function, depending on what software or app is running. If you see it listed ‘Intel HD Graphics XXX’ under graphics, the GPU is most likely integrated. It’s mostly included in the budget or mid-range laptops.

Dedicated GPUs have their own source of memory to use in order to function so it doesn’t use the system memory. It is most likely found in brands such as NVIDIA GeForce or ATI Radeon, which is good for gaming.

 

 

If you want a laptop to do normal everyday work, get one with an integrated GPU. If you want a laptop for gaming and other complex tasks, get a laptop with a dedicated GPU.       

        

5. Internal Disk Storage

 

The windows operating system, documents, media files, and other apps are stored in a laptop’s hard drive. There are two types: Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and Solid-State Drive (SSD).

HDD uses magnets to store and retrieve data using rotating plates. This is the most common type on both laptops and desktops.

The benefit is that it’s capable of storing up to 2TB’s (terabytes), 2 terabytes = 2000GB (gigabytes) of data and info, depending on storage capacity, and can be used for backup purposes. 

SSD uses flash memory chips to store and retrieve data and info with no use of moving parts, making accessing data faster.

They are commonly used in thinner laptops like Chromebooks and 2-in-1 types. The benefit here is that SSDs load apps faster, but are available in less storage capacity, as they currently go up to 512GB (gigabytes), 512 gigabytes = 512 000 Mb (megabytes).

In this case, if the laptop specs read ‘256GB SSD’ then is an SSD. If it reads ‘1TB HDD’ then it’s an HDD.  You would have to decide if you want a laptop with more storage space, but slower loading time or an SSD with fast access to data and loading times, but less storage capacity.     

 

6. Processors

Do you notice the Intel logo sticker on laptops? That indicates what processor the laptop comes with. It’s basically the ‘brains’ of the laptop because it controls and does everything. It loads up programs, turns on your laptop, manages the hardware and other complex tasks.

 

 

There’re different types and differ according to processing power and price. For instance, if a laptop has an Intel Celeron, i3, or i5 processor, it has low to mid-range processing power but is cheaper. If a laptop has an Intel Core i7 – i9 processor, it has high processing power but is more expensive. 

The two main brands are Intel and AMD. Intel processors range from entry-level Celeron, Pentium, Atom, to mid-range core i-series (i3 and i5) and the top-range core i-series: i7 and i9.

AMD processors range from entry-level E-series, and mid-range A-series. Then they have high-performance processors from the FX to the Ryzen RX series. So, you would have to make a choice: get a budget laptop with low processing power, mid-range, or a top-range laptop that’s more expensive but with high processing power. 

 

7. Display, Screen size, Resolution

The screen size is measured in inches, ranging from the small 13-inch to a large 17.3 inch. The smaller screen laptops are more portable, lightweight, and consume less power, whereas large screen laptops are better for viewing work documents, watching videos, or viewing media files, and best of all gaming, at the cost of it being heavier and consuming more power. 

With the display resolution, it affects clarity and level of detail onscreen. The higher the resolution, the more clearer and detailed the quality of the display. Here’s a list to help you identify the right resolution for your ideal laptop.   

 

Resolution
 1366 x 768 HD, Standard display quality, good for daily everyday tasks, and web browsing.
 1600 x 900 HD+, Improved display, emphasis on casual gaming, and video streaming.
 1920 x 1080 Full HD, Improved display, emphasis on viewing Blu-ray movies, gaming, photo, and video editing.
 3840 x 2160 4K, Improved display with a high emphasis on clarity and detail. Ideal for extreme gaming and for higher-quality photo and video editing.
IPS Display In-Plane Switching, Offers high-quality color reproduction and wide viewing angles. Ideal for creative professionals.

 

If you spot the above numbers listed, it shows the resolution of the display. So choose the right resolution display for you. 

 

9. System Memory

The system memory inside a laptop or computer works by storing info that the computer is actively using so that it can be accessed fast. The more programs you load up, the more system memory is used. For budget laptops, make sure it’s at least 4GB of RAM (Random Access Memory). For mid-range to top-range laptops, it must be at least 8GB of RAM or higher.      

 

10. Input Ports, Network, Connectivity

These are the inputs ports for your USB external or USB flash stick, HDMI, SD card, audio jack, MicroSD slots, and ethernet. These are located on the left or right sides of a laptop. If you didn’t know this, you can use the HDMI to connect to an HD monitor or HDTV, USB, or MicroSD to get more storage space and ethernet to connect online using a network cable. It is standard nowadays for a laptop to also have WiFi and Bluetooth for cordless connection.              

 

Closing

This here was just a guideline to help you find a laptop, understand the jargon used, and compare laptops. If a budget laptop is what you’re looking for click here,  for top-range, which are usually gaming laptops, click hereI hope you found this helpful. That’s all from me for now. Stay safe. Take care until next time.