#its white and pretty and has great specs and has upgradable ram and ssd | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

droneseco · 4 years ago

Text

Atari VCS Review: An Incredible Nostalgia Hit With Gaming and Productivity in Equal Measure

Atari VCS

7.50 / 10

Read Reviews

Read More Reviews

Shop Now

Atari bills the 2021 iteration of its VCS as a perfectly capable mini PC and a game console in one; a computer console hybrid. The launch games work well and there are some lovely indie titles in there, and you can stay productive with Chrome's browser-based apps. In all, despite a couple of expected teething problems, the Atari VCS is a great console capable of streaming media, running games, and with a selection of apps allowing users to make use of the computer console's features.

Key Features

Console computer hybrid

Multiple controllers

Up to 4K resolution

Atari app store

Gaming and productivity

Specifications

Operating System: Atari Custom Linux OS

Storage: 32 GB flash (upgradeable M.2 SSD slot))

VR Support: Not at present

Resolution: Up to 4K

App Store: Yes

Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4/5GHz

Ports: HDMI 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, 4x USB 3.1

HDR Support: No

Pros

Nice selection of launch games

Excellent for nostalgic gaming

Can connect other Bluetooth devices

Chrome browser works a charm

Great for media playback

Cons

PC Mode currently has issues

Fan can be noisy

Buy This Product

Atari VCS other

Shop

// Bottom

At last, the Atari VCS computer console has arrived. With four years in the making, you'd certainly expect the console to be more than just a heavy nostalgia trip. And it is, with one or two small caveats.

With so much hype leading up to its release (and somehow miraculously weathering the COVID storm despite electronic component shortages and logistics issues plaguing the tech industry), let's look at whether the Atari VCS lives up to expectation.

What's in the Box?

When you open the Atari VCS box, you'll find:

The Atari VCS 800 computer console

HDMI cable

Power supply unit

And that is it. You don't actually get any controllers with the device as they need to be purchased separately. Each both the Atari Modern controller and the Classic Joystick come with a micro-USB charging cable in the box.

The console retails for $299.99, while both controllers retail at $59.99 each. You can also get a bundle, with the console and both controllers, for $399.99.

What About the Atari VCS Specs?

The Atari VCS comes with specs that, as Atari says, make it "a solid mini PC". We'll come to whether the specs do indeed make it so later, but for now, here's what we're looking at:

Operating system: Atari Custom Linux OS (Debian based)

APU: AMD Raven Ridge 2 (RG1606G)

GPU: AMD Ryzen

Storage: 32GB eMMC fixed internal; internal M.2 SSD slot; unlimited external USB HD/stick; cloud (subscription required)

RAM: 8GB DDR4 RAM (upgradable)

Compatible Operating Systems: Linux, Windows, Steam OS, Chrome OS

Wireless Connections: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4/5GHz, Bluetooth 4.0

Wired Connections: HDMI 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, 4x USB 3.1

Mouse/Keyboard Support: Yes, USB or Bluetooth

4K video with HDCP 2.2 Integration: Supported

A Familiar Face

We'd forgive you for thinking you've seen the Atari VCS before. That is because Atari bases the console's appearance on the original Atari VCS, which later became the Atari 2600 in 1982.

Not familiar with the original VCS/2600? OK, let's take a tour around the device's aesthetics first.

We reviewed the Onyx version. This is all black (save for the back panel), with a ridged, contoured top surface that replicates the original device. Note that the faceplate is also black, although you can also get the Black Walnut version, which features a real wood faceplate, further mimicking the first iteration of the console.

To the front of the device we have the iconic Atari Fuji logo. This lights up with a white glow when the device in operation, and pulses with the same hue when you put the VCS into standby mode.

There are also two USB ports, which you can use to connect the controllers to charge, or to insert a USB drive if you need to use the device in PC Mode.

Spin the VCS round and the back comes in a recognizable Atari red. The back panel houses the power button, power input, an Ethernet port, and two further USB ports.

Anyway, now you know what the console looks like, lets see what the controllers have to say for themselves.

Atari VCS Controllers

As mentioned, you can get two controllers for the VCS. One is a modern joypad style controller, while the other is a very recognizable joystick. Both are wireless, but work with a wired connection too, should you wish.

The Wireless Modern Controller will have a familiar form-factor for anyone who plays Xbox, uses a Switch Pro control pad, or the official Stadia pad.

Crafted by PowerA, the joypad's buttons have the same configuration as those mentioned above in terms of the thumbstick, action buttons, triggers, and directional buttons/pad. The center houses a home button that features the Atari Fuji logo and lights up white. Below this is a strip of LEDs that indicate remaining battery power.

PowerA also designs the joystick controller. This looks pretty much identical to the joysticks that shipped with the 2600, save for a couple of extra buttons to add functionality, such as a home button and (curiously) a trigger button around the side of the device.

Personally, I find the stick component of the joystick to be a little flimsy. However, my memories of playing with a joystick (pre-1995) involve the Powerplay Cruiser.

Retro gamers will remember this stick. Not only because of its bright colors but also because of the adjustable torque control. This was a collar at the bottom of the stick, which made it harder or easier to manipulate the directional controls.

Because of this resistance, I guess my muscle memory expects the Atari wireless joystick to behave in the same way. A little more resistance would have been nice with the wireless joystick, personally, I find it isn't firm enough when I'm using it.

Saying that, it works perfectly for some of the retro games I have been playing from my younger days (more on those later).

Simple, User-Friendly Set-Up

The first thing you need to do, when you get any console, is set it up. This is a simple process. Just hook it up to a power source, connect to a display with the included HDMI cable, and you're ready to switch it on.

Doing so presents you with a lovely Asteroids animation, which then takes you to the sign-in page. At this stage, you'll need to connect the controller to the console, or you won't be able to input any details for account set-up. This is simply a case of holding down the home button, which puts the controller into pairing mode and connects it to the console.

Setting up your account is as easy as defining your user name and selecting a password.

Given that I received the Atari VCS prior to general release (in order to test it), for the first time in my life, I could choose Ste Knight as my user name and wasn't greeted by a "This username is unavailable" message. Sorry, SteKnight_1.

Note that you can set up different user accounts on the VCS, which is great if you want to have an account for the grown-ups and a separate one for the kids.

With the Atari VCS running and the account set up, now it is time to check out the VCS software.

An Easy to Navigate User Interface

The first thing that struck me about the Atari VCS was its simple user interface (UI). This comprises several pages; Home, Games, Apps, Store, and System.

When you first see it, the Home page will be fairly unpopulated, save for Google Chrome and the Atari VCS Companion launcher. As you use the apps and games you add to the device, the home page will populate, with your most recently used app appearing first in the list.

The Games page will also be unpopulated. This (obviously) fills up with titles as you add them from the Store. As you do, it presents each game in its own box, and you just select it to launch the game, as with any other console carrying digital titles.

In the Store, you'll find Featured Apps and Games, plus a section for all Games and all Apps. Selecting one will present you with a description of the game, with screenshots, and the option to buy it (along with the price).

System is where you deal with the Atari VCS settings. You'll find the following options in here:

Account: Here you can alter account settings and remove an account.

General Settings: Here you can change display settings, change your console preferences such as Sleep time, find out how the controller operates, perform System and BIOS updates, and factory reset the VCS.

Network: This is where you connect to the internet, wirelessly or via ethernet cable.

Devices: Toggling Bluetooth, checking out your connected devices, and adding new controllers. You also update your controller firmware here.

Storage: You can manage internal storage and connected storage media here.

At the top right of the screen, you'll see your avatar. Navigating to this will allow you to switch accounts and turn the console off.

With menus out of the way, let's get to the meat on the Atari VCS' bones.

Gaming on the Atari VCS

Being a nostalgia freak, I absolutely love any gaming system that lets me play games I loved growing up, like the Evercade handheld games console. With this in mind, the Atari VCS provides an excellent platform for me to get all misty-eyed over.

Including Antstream Arcade on the store is a real boon for Atari and for its retro game loving fans. I've been hammering the likes of Sensible World of Soccer, GODS, and Chaos Engine, along with many other titles from my youth. The VCS copes well with these games (as you would expect; it is significantly more advanced than the original game platforms).

The Atari VCS Store currently features a modest selection of games. These are indie titles, and you'll recognize some of them from other platforms, like Sir Lovelot, Something Ate My Alien, and Jetboard Joust.

One exciting title (currently in public beta on the VCS and Steam) is a remake of 1993 shooter Utopos. This is an arena-based game, in which contestants fly space ships around an enclosed zone, blasting each other deathmatch style. Oh yeah, and no spawn camping in this one. Brill! As it is in beta, though, you're likely to only play against AI for now.

Atari promised the VCS would create a platform for indie developers to shine, and it has so far. It just needs to grow the collection of titles available in the store. But, hey, the PS5 had few titles at launch and it still relies heavily on indie titles, so who are we to talk?

Most of these games run smoothly on the VCS. The only exception is Missile Command Recharged, which seems to hate the Wireless Classic Joystick. This doesn't work at all with the game, seemingly taking on a mind of its own and dragging the cross-hair to the bottom left of the screen, so you can't defend your base. It is pretty hard to play with the Modern Controller.

Hopefully, as the Atari VCS grows in popularity, the game store will expand to feature some bigger titles alongside its loveable indie games.

Productivity on the Atari VCS

In terms of productivity, I must start with a caveat. I couldn't test the PC Mode, as the VCS wouldn't boot the UbuntuOS drive I had created on external storage. I reached out to Atari for help with this matter, and I'm told that it will resolve the issue in the next software update. Fingers crossed because I would actually like to use the VCS as a living room PC, as Atari marketed the device.

You should also note that PC Mode also currently only works with a signed OS (when it works). So platforms like ChromeOS, Windows, and Ubuntu. I tried to boot Chromium, but this isn't a signed OS, so the VCS displayed a security warning and refused to launch it, sadly.

However, if you're having a similar issue, you do have Google Chrome pre-installed on the VCS. So you can still make use of Google's suite of browser-based applications such as Docs, Sheets, and so on. Therefore, if you need to get productive with your VCS, you still can, just not with PC Mode at the time of writing.

Browsing the web on my Sony Bravia TV, via the VCS was a pleasant experience (MUO looked particularly resplendent). I have connected a wireless keyboard and mouse to the device, which makes using it for productivity even easier.

Note that you can download an app for your smartphone or tablet called the Atari VCS Companion. This acts as a wireless keyboard and mouse, so you don't actually need any extra peripherals if you're in a pinch and need to browse the internet on your VCS. It works very well with the console and I noticed very little latency between executing a command and the VCS performing it.

TV, Movies, and Music on the Atari VCS

You can access a range of SVOD services on the Atari VCS. This includes the current "big three"; Disney+, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video. You can also access further services (sadly geo-locked to the US, sorry non-US readers), including Showtime, ESPN, and Peacock, among others.

I installed Netflix and found no issue with playback, even with UHD movies and TV series'. Likewise, Amazon Prime Video works as it does on my PS5 or my Fire TV stick. So, all is well in this respect. I noticed no lagging or juddering, no buffering, and it perfectly syncs audio with video.

I also installed Plex, meaning I can access all of my owned media directly from my server upstairs and play it via the VCS (although I don't really need to, as I also have Plex on about a million other devices). However, it handles Plex really well, streaming my music collection faultlessly.

Related: Features That Make Plex the Perfect All-In-One Media Streaming Platform

So, as with games, we're all good regarding media playback.

Should You Buy the Atari VCS?

That all depends on what you want from it. If you want it so that you have a central hub to play retro and indie titles, then that is one box ticked. If you would like to use it for streaming media and accessing your owned media, there is another box ticked.

The only area that I felt a little let down on was the PC Mode. Productivity is still achievable, and don't forget, almost every device you buy now requires updates and so on as developers address bugs. The Atari VCS is no different in this respect. Hopefully, Atari will resolve the PC Mode issues with the next update.

Some might sneer at the price and compare it to the PS5 or the Xbox Series X. However, how much work can you do on those? None. Atari doesn't want to draw comparisons between the VCS and new-gen consoles, and for good reason, they're totally different things.

Once Atari sorts the above-mentioned teething issues out, I am confident that I for one will use the device not just to play myriad games, but also to write my reviews here on MUO while I'm relaxing on my sumptuous sofa, and that can't be a bad thing at all.

Atari VCS Review: An Incredible Nostalgia Hit With Gaming and Productivity in Equal Measure published first on http://droneseco.tumblr.com/

0 notes

batteriestore · 5 years ago

Text

Getting ready for back to school season? Here are some of the best MSI laptops that can be your perfect companion for studies, creativity, and leisure

A new school year heralds the beginning of new learning experiences. What better way to kick start this year's back to school season than with MSI laptops? In this article, we detail the salient features of the upgraded GF Thin, GL Leopard, and Prestige series, so you can be equipped well for both challenges and fun that the new academic year entails.

Introduction

Back to school season is upon us once again and that means shopping for new laptops that can take on the vagaries of the new academic year. With Intel announcing the new 10th generation Comet Lake processors and NVIDIA refreshing its mobile GPU lineup, there has never been a better time to go laptop shopping. But with the myriad of choices available for just about every budget, selecting one can get pretty daunting.

MSI has been a pioneer in gaming and content creator laptops for many years now. The company has offerings across almost all price ranges with a slew of configuration options to ensure your academic needs are taken care of and that you are getting the maximum bang for your buck.

In this article, we will discuss several MSI products in the GF Thin, GL Leopard, and Prestige series, which we feel will aptly address the needs of the coming academic year and also offer great gaming performance to help you unwind after a hectic day at school.

MSI GF Thin Series — Great power in a thin form factor

Grad school already has its own burdens, so why trouble yourself additionally with a very thick laptop in your backpack? Thin laptops usually compromise on component choice owing to chassis and thermal constraints. The MSI GF Thin series seeks to alter this paradigm.

The GF Thin series offers a variety of configurations and screen sizes, so not just your academic content but also your games and multimedia get the platform they deserve. Let's have a look at what this lineup has to offer.

MSI GF65 Thin

When it comes to thin notebooks, it is often a trade-off between style and substance. Not any more with the MSI GF65 Thin. With a thickness of just 0.85 inches and weighing just 1.86 kg, the GF65 Thin is your perfect portable companion for both work and play. All variants of the GF65 Thin are powered by the latest Intel 10th generation Core i7-10750H processor. Featuring six cores and 12 threads combined with boost speeds up to 5 GHz, the Core i7-10750H offers the required horsepower to ensure a smooth computing experience at all times — whether you are on battery or plugged-in.

More and more applications are becoming increasingly GPU-aware these days, so a simple integrated graphics solution won't cut it anymore. Keeping the present and near-immediate needs of students in mind who would probably be working with domain-specific software and would also like their device to help them unwind after a grueling day at college, MSI is offering the GF65 Thin in both NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 and GTX 1660 Ti variants.

Both the RTX 2060 and GTX 1660 Ti variants offer high refresh rate displays with the GTX 1660 Ti models going up to 144 Hz making them perfect for competitive fragging sessions after school. All GF65 Thin models come with a 15.6-inch IPS-level FHD panel and sport thin bezels for an immersive viewing experience.

Class work is all about assignments and that means a lot of research and collecting data. The GF65 Thin offers a choice of 512 GB and 1 TB NVMe SSDs in the default configuration. So, whether you are collecting material for finalizing your much anticipated thesis or need space for your ever-increasing games library you can be rest assured of having access to fast, copious storage with scope for further expansion.

The MSI GF65 Thin offers easy maintenance, decent port selection that also includes a couple of USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C ports, ability to expand memory and storage, Nahimic 3 enhanced audio with dual 2 W speakers, and all the latest networking options. A 51 Wh battery helps the GF65 Thin keep pace with the vagaries of school life.

If you are after a thin and light laptop that perfectly suits your curricular and gaming needs without breaking the bank, the MSI GF65 Thin ticks all relevant boxes.

MSI GF75 Thin

For those who need a larger screen while still reaping the benefits of the thin chassis and affordability of the GF Thin series, the MSI GF75 Thin is an easy recommend. The GF75 Thin sports similar features as the GF65 Thin but offers a few added niceties. You get the same high-performing Core i7-10750H and now a GPU choice between the RTX 2060 and the GTX 1650. The 17.3-inch FHD displays in the GF75 Thin series are available in both 120 Hz and 144 Hz options, which make for a smooth viewing experience.

MSI GL Leopard Series — Unhindered performance for work and play

What if you need more performance than what the majority of the choices offer in the market? When subjects become more demanding, you need a laptop that can measure up to the task at hand without breaking a sweat. The MSI GL Leopard series is capable of handling demanding workloads while also measuring up to a very capable mobile gaming machine. Similar to the GF Thin series above, there are a slew of configuration options available with the GL Leopard, so let's check them out.

MSI GL65 Leopard

The MSI GL65 Leopard gets an upgrade to the 10th generation Core i7-10750H. On the GPU side of things, you get a choice between the RTX 2060 and RTX 2070 in the RTX series, and the GTX 1650, GTX 1650 Ti, and GTX 1660 Ti in the GTX series. All models in the GL Leopard series offer 144-Hz 15.6-inch FHD IPS-level panels that nearly cover the entire sRGB color gamut. Other useful features include default memory configurations up to 16 GB DDR4-2666, SteelSeries RGB keyboard, and Nahimic 3 audio.

MSI has endowed the GL65 Leopard with a fairly decent port selection that includes both HDMI and mini-DisplayPort-outs. This, combined with the powerful RTX 2070 GPU, enables connecting up to two 4K external displays for maximum productivity and gaming.

The RTX 2070 is also powerful enough to offer excellent ray tracing and DLSS performance resulting, in smooth, immersive, and cinematic gaming experiences.

MSI GL75 Leopard

The MSI GL75 Leopard offers all the goodness of the GL65 Leopard but with a 17.3-inch 144 Hz display with near-100% sRGB coverage, making it an ideal choice for those who could use the additional screen real estate. The inclusion of the Core i7-10750H CPU and the RTX 2070 GPU option means that the GL75 Leopard can easily sail through even demanding workloads, making it ideal for students who work on extensive number crunching, simulations, and the likes.

The default configuration includes both a 512 GB M.2 NVMe SSD as well as a 1 TB HDD, which provides an ideal combination of speed and storage space for both work files and games. If you are after a powerful laptop that does not disappoint in work or play, the MSI GL75 Leopard is your best bet.

In the Notebookcheck review, the GL75 Leopard also has very low fan noise that is nearly inaudible under light loads, which helps during the times you need to absolutely focus on the task at hand or when you are in the library. The laptop is also cool to touch and does not heat up unexpectedly, allowing for a very comfortable long-term usage.

MSI Prestige Series — A content creator's best friend

Design, content creation, and allied disciplines are much sought after fields these days. While gaming laptops are powerful enough from a specifications point of view, those into content creation need much more than merely ticking off items on a spec sheet. Content creation workloads can be very demanding and also require certain characteristics such as the availability of a color-accurate display and fine-grain control over adjusting system modes and resources. Content creator laptops also need to have a good design aesthetic while also being easily portable and highly durable.

This is where the MSI Prestige 14 and Prestige 15 come in.

MSI Prestige 14

The Prestige 14 instantly stands out from the sea of other similar laptops out there. It comes with a fully metallic finish and is available in several color options including Carbon Grey, Pure White, and Rose Pink. With an ultra-slim design that is just 0.63 inches thick and weighs a mere 1.28 kg, the Prestige 14 is sure to turn heads on campus.

A slew of configuration options that include the Intel 10th generation Comet Lake-U series chips such as the Core i5-10210U, Core i7-10510U, and Core i7-10710U are available. All variants feature the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU for hardware acceleration in popular content creation apps such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and the likes.

The Prestige 14 is well-equipped for an ultrabook and even comes with two Thunderbolt 3 ports that enable fast data transfers.

Though the 16 GB RAM (dual channel, LPDDR3-2133) is soldered, the Prestige 14 offers easy maintenance to swap out the NVMe SSD and the Wi-Fi if need be.

The factory-calibrated True Pixel display that comes in both FHD and UHD options is perhaps one of the Prestige 14's strong points. Notebookcheck's tests found that there was very minimal need to re-calibrate the display. MSI True Tone allows for an excellent, color-accurate viewing experience for critical design workflows both indoors and outdoors. The screen is also devoid of any measurable PWM, which means working for long hours does not cause any eye strain or headache.

To understand more about the importance of having color-accurate displays in content creator laptops, check out the following article: Laptops 101: Understanding what goes into selecting an ideal laptop display for content creators

MSI Prestige 15

If you need the slim profile that the Prestige 14 offers but could use a slightly larger screen, the Prestige 15 definitely merits consideration. The Prestige 15 offers similar CPU and GPU configuration options as the Prestige 14 and comes with the added flexibility of expandable RAM. Once again, MSI has equipped the Prestige 15 with an excellent True Pixel display that has the potential to offer highly accurate color reproduction for your masterpiece.

Creation often involves extensive collaboration. The Prestige 15 features a 180-degree lay-flat hinge that allows effortless sharing and discussions of your design ideas.

Notebookcheck's testing found that the Prestige 15 with 4k panel really lives up to its claims of offering 100% sRGB and 100% AdobeRGB coverage along with an average delta E of less than 2. The slightly larger chassis also helps in better long-term sustained performance without the ills of thermal throttling. Similar to the Prestige 14, the Prestige 15 has fairly low noise emissions and manageable temperatures even under load.

Whether you are student of design or a content creator on the move, the MSI Prestige 15 offers the right combination of power, portability, performance, and affordability to ensure your creations get the platform they deserve.

Conclusion

MSI is offering upgraded versions of the popular GF Thin, GL Leopard, and Prestige series this year.

The GF Thin is for those who need a thin and light laptop that offers a good mix of performance and affordability while also being fully capable of catering to the demands of most school or college requirements.

The GL Leopard takes things a notch higher and is perfect for those who need a lot more power for demanding workloads and competitive gaming.

The Prestige series is made with the needs of mobile content creators in mind and features a beautiful design aesthetic combined with a very lively and color-accurate True Pixel display along with the required performance to boot.

Back to school season is the perfect time to evaluate your requirements for the coming academic year and plan your laptop purchases. With an assortment of laptops targeted at each price point and use case, you can count on MSI to be your best companion for a productive college year.

0 notes

tophostingplans · 5 years ago

Text

Top 08 The Best Laptop 2020

New Post has been published on https://emarketingshare.com/top-08-the-best-laptop-2020-2/

Top 08 The Best Laptop 2020

Top 08 ,The Best Laptop 2020 :

how to choose your laptop?

Welcome to our information to the most effective laptop computer in 2020. We stay in a world the place smartphones are ubiquitous, tablets are commonplace, and even smartwatches are a factor that folks discuss on the common. However all through all of those advances, the standard laptop computer has persevered — and for good motive. When it comes time to work, whether or not that is enhancing photographs, writing a variety of emails, composing paperwork, or staying in contact with colleagues and household, we’re right here that will help you discover the most effective laptops for the job.

TOP 08 LAPTOPS 2020:

The Dell XPS 13 is the most effective laptop computer of 2020.

Photograph by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

1. DELL XPS 13 (2020)

THE BEST LAPTOP YOU CAN BUY

IfIf you’re in search of a laptop computer that does nearly all the things proper, we suggest Dell’s newest XPS 13. It includes a sturdy construct, 10th Gen Intel processors with highly effective built-in graphics, and a virtually bezel-free 16:10 panel.

The show is what you’ll possible discover first. It has a 91.5 p.c screen-to-body ratio with a backside bezel of simply 4.6mm. You’ll be able to configure the XPS with a 1920 x 1200 pixel or 4K show, however the lower-resolution mannequin must be satisfactory for anybody who’s not doing artistic work. It delivers as much as 500 nits of brightness (a lot for working in a vibrant room and even outdoor) and correct, vivid colours. It’ll additionally provide you with considerably higher battery life, along with the decrease value.

You’ll be able to customise numerous different specs; the present base mannequin has a Core i5-1035G1, 8GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a 1920 x 1200 non-touch show. (There’s allegedly a mannequin with a Core i3 and 4GB RAM floating round, but it surely’s not at present listed on Dell’s web site. It is best to keep away from it should you see it.) We suggest this base mannequin to anybody who simply desires to browse; should you plan on gaming or artistic work, it’s value upgrading for extra storage and RAM.

THE LATEST XPS 13 EXCELS AT PRODUCTIVITY AND EVEN HAS ENOUGH POWER FOR LIGHT GAMING

The Ice Lake processor options Intel’s new Iris Plus built-in graphics, which delivered distinctive efficiency for an built-in GPU. You’ll nonetheless desire a discrete graphics card for critical gaming, however you’ll haven’t any drawback working lighter fare like Overwatch and Rocket League. On these video games, it delivers comparable efficiency to some lower-tier graphics playing cards, comparable to Nvidia’s MX150 that got here in older variations of the Razer Blade Stealth.

OUR REVIEW OFDELL XPS 13 (2020)

VERGE SCORE9OUT OF 10

Purchase for $999.99 from Dell

Relating to the opposite fundamentals, the XPS beats its competitors in nearly each manner. We bought an appropriate seven hours of battery life and even three hours of sunshine gaming. (League of Legends was playable for about 85 p.c of that point.) The keyboard and touchpad are among the many greatest of their classes as properly. And at simply 2.Eight kilos and 0.58 inches thick, it’s fairly moveable.

The most important knock towards the XPS 13 is its restricted port choice. With simply two Thunderbolt Three ports, a headphone jack, and a microSD slot, it’s entering into MacBook territory (although it does ship with a USB-C to USB-A dongle). The 720p webcam can also be fairly horrible, although, in Dell’s protection, it needed to squeeze the factor right into a 2.25mm prime bezel.

These are legit considerations that will drive some customers to look elsewhere. However for many customers, they received’t be as essential as the basics: construct high quality, keyboard, touchpad, show, and efficiency. The XPS excels in all of these areas, incomes it our prime suggestion.

The MacBook Air is the most effective laptop computer for Mac customers.

Photograph by Nilay Patel / The Verge

2. MACBOOK AIR (2020)

THE BEST LAPTOP FOR MAC USERS

TheThe 2020 MacBook Air is the best choice for most individuals preferring the Apple ecosystem. The Air comes with 10th Gen Intel processors (although in a decrease energy variation than the XPS 13), a pointy Retina show, and a brand new scissor-switch keyboard. The bottom configuration (together with a Core i3, 8GB RAM, and 256GB storage) is available in below $1,000, however we suggest that you simply go for, at minimal, the upgraded mannequin with a Core i5 processor.

MacBook keyboards have been virtually universally maligned for the previous few years. However the 2020 Air inherited the new-and-improved keyboard from the newest 16-inch MacBook Professional, which brings again the “inverted T” arrow structure and keys with 1mm of journey. There’s no Contact Bar, however that’s a controversial function already, and most customers must be high quality with the usual prime row and performance keys. It does retain the Contact ID fingerprint scanner for straightforward logins and fee authentication.

THE MACBOOK AIR IS THE DEFAULT APPLE LAPTOP FOR MOST PEOPLE

You’ll be able to configure the Air with three totally different Y-series chips, maxing out at a 1.2GHz quad-core Core i7. We had no drawback with the 1.1GHz Core i5, although; it dealt with Chrome, Slack, Zoom, and Lightroom simply high quality, and had single-threaded Geekbench scores according to these of the 16-inch MacBook Professional.

The place you would possibly run into bother is with heavy workloads that must run for lengthy intervals of time, comparable to rendering graphics or exporting video. We witnessed some thermal throttling in these circumstances, and clock speeds had been capped at lower than half of the processor’s enhance. Which means should you’re doing heavy artistic work or different duties that basically push the CPU, you’re prone to expertise slowdown and a really loud fan.

OUR REVIEW OFAPPLE MACBOOK AIR (2020)

VERGE SCORE8.5OUT OF 10

Purchase for $999.00 from Apple Purchase for $999.99 from Greatest Purchase

The MacBook Air does have a number of different vital weaknesses. The first one is battery life. We bought about 5 hours utilizing a workflow of Chrome, Slack, Zoom, and Lightroom with the display on most brightness. You’ll most likely get extra juice should you dim the display and stick to Apple’s apps, however we count on most individuals will need to preserve the brightness excessive (it solely will get as much as 400 nits), and third-party packages are requirements for a lot of.

Regardless of these downsides, although, the MacBook Air will function a reliable and dependable system for many customers. It has the wonderful design, show, efficiency, and (lastly) keyboard that we count on from Apple. Energy customers who want the Professional most likely know who they’re; everybody else must be simply high quality with the Air.

OTHER BEST LAPTOPS

Wants for laptops can range extensively. Some individuals must do intense video enhancing and may pony up for a professional machine. Others simply want a dependable keyboard and some home windows, so one thing much less highly effective will do. Some would possibly desire a tremendous mild laptop computer that may typically double as a pill. Some will desire a moveable gaming machine able to working the entire newest titles. Others desire a tall aspect-ratio display, which is way more snug to make use of than a cramped 16:9 show should you primarily do your work in Workplace paperwork or an online browser. Beneath, we’ve bought suggestions for all of these use circumstances and extra.

There are many nice choices within the Home windows PC world, full with the newest processors and designs, and Apple’s MacBook lineup has been not too long ago refreshed fully with new keyboards and upgraded efficiency.

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is a superb gaming laptop computer.

Photograph by Avery White for The Verge

3. ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS G14

AN EXCELLENT GAMING LAPTOP

The Zephyrus G14 is an astonishingly highly effective gaming laptop computer for a low worth (relative to different notebooks with comparable hardware). It pairs AMD’s new Ryzen 9 4900HS with an Nvidia RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU and a 120HZ show, and it may possibly run demanding video games at their highest settings and not using a drawback. It’s additionally fairly mild for such a strong laptop computer, weighing simply over 3.5 kilos. Its battery life can also be spectacular for a gaming rig; we bought virtually 9 hours of multitasking.

However you don’t have to be a gamer to understand the Zephyrus G14. It’s additionally a terrific pocket book for enterprise and on a regular basis multitasking with a novel retro design. Plus, the keyboard and touchpad are distinctive and quiet sufficient to not hassle officemates. On the flip facet, if you should use your laptop computer for videoconferences, the G14 wouldn’t be a terrific alternative, because it lacks a webcam.

OUR REVIEW OFASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS G14

VERGE SCORE8.5OUT OF 10

Purchase for $1,449.99 from Greatest Purchase

The MacBook Professional is a superb laptop computer for video enhancing.

Photograph by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

4. MACBOOK PRO (16-INCH, 2019)

A GREAT CHOICE FOR MAC POWER USERS

The 16-inch MacBook Professional is the most effective Apple laptop computer for energy customers. Apple handled the most important complaints that folks have traditionally had about MacBook Professionals, and should you can abdomen the value, there’s not quite a bit else to complain about.

Most significantly, the keyboard is sweet once more. The keys have a full millimeter of journey, and whereas the typing expertise isn’t distinctive, it’s a world away from the maligned butterfly keyboard of MacBooks previous. It’s pretty quiet, too.

This MacBook additionally options the most effective sound you’ll discover on a laptop computer. Apple has crammed three audio system into either side, together with two woofers. The result’s balanced audio with audible bass and nice stereo separation. For individuals who want a laptop computer that may crank by means of enhancing video, working with a number of audio tracks, or processing massive batches of photographs, the 16-inch MacBook Professional is the king of the hill.

OUR REVIEW OFAPPLE MACBOOK PRO (16-INCH, 2019)

VERGE SCORE8.5OUT OF 10

Purchase for $2,399.00 from Apple Purchase for $2,399.99 from Greatest Purchase Purchase for $2,399.00 from B&H

The HP Envy x360 is the most effective laptop computer you should buy for below $1,000.

Photograph by Monica Chin / The Verge

5. HP ENVY X360 (2020)

THE BEST MID-RANGE ULTRABOOK

You don’t must spend $1,000 to get a laptop computer that appears and feels premium. The HP Envy x360 2020 is among the greatest midrange laptops you should buy, due to its sturdy and compact construct, stylish convertible design, and glorious efficiency.

A part of what makes the Envy so nice is that HP has ported over numerous parts from its glorious 2019 flagship, the Spectre x360, together with the skinny and lightweight chassis, and almost bezel-free show with an 88 p.c screen-to-body ratio. The touchscreen (which helps HP’s MPP2.Zero pen) is vibrant and appears nice. (You’ll be able to select a 300-nit, 400-nit, or 1,000-nit panel). And HP has added a row of handy hotkeys to the keyboard, together with kill switches for the microphone and webcam.

However essentially the most thrilling function is inside: The brand new Envy x360 is powered by AMD’s Ryzen 4000 sequence. The Ryzen 5-4500U in my mannequin did an impressive job with a reasonably heavy load of multitasking. And AMD’s built-in Raedon graphics delivered good gaming efficiency similar to what you’d count on from a lower-powered discrete GPU.

OUR REVIEW OFHP ENVY X360 (2020)

VERGE SCORE8.5OUT OF 10

Purchase for $759.99 from HP

The HP Elite Dragonfly is a superb enterprise laptop computer.

Photograph by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

6. HP ELITE DRAGONFLY

A BUSINESS LAPTOP WITH SOLID SECURITY

If you happen to’re a enterprise skilled and cash isn’t any object for you or your organization, you may’t do higher than the HP Elite Dragonfly. The 2020 mannequin is the primary Dragonfly that options HP’s super-secure SureView Mirror know-how, which tints the display in order that snoops can’t see what you’re doing when you’re working in public. When it’s not tinted, the show will get fairly vibrant (over 700 nits) and has nice viewing angles.

The brand new Dragonfly can also be the primary laptop computer to incorporate a built-in Tile tracker. Which means should you lose the system, you need to use the Tile smartphone app to set off an alarm (if it’s in Bluetooth vary) or find it wherever on this planet utilizing Tile’s crowd-finding community. The tracker can work for a restricted time even when the laptop computer is off.

Virtually all the things else concerning the Dragonfly is sweet; it has a number of the greatest battery lifetime of any laptop computer in the marketplace (we bought over 11 hours), a smooth and beautiful 2-in-1 design, and an distinctive keyboard. Plus, it incorporates sustainable materials, together with ocean-bound plastics and recycled DVDs.

The Dragonfly is costly, and there are cheaper enterprise laptops that can swimsuit the wants of most professionals simply high quality. However should you’re in search of the most effective of the most effective, it’s the unambiguous winner.

OUR REVIEW OFHP ELITE DRAGONFLY (2020)

VERGE SCORE8.5OUT OF 10

Purchase for $2,885.00 from HP

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a superb possibility for funds customers.

Photograph by Monica Chin / The Verge

7. LENOVO CHROMEBOOK DUET

A GREAT BUDGET LAPTOP FOR KIDS

Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet is a superb convertible laptop computer for teenagers, or anybody who desires a dependable secondary driver for looking and video games. It’s a nice-looking, well-made 10-inch system that comes with a removable keyboard and kickstand.

The Duet is tailored for use round the home and on the go, weighing simply 2.03 kilos and delivering over 11 hours of battery life. Its MediaTek processor isn’t designed to shoulder heavy hundreds, but it surely’s simply high quality for looking in a pair tabs, watching Netflix, or taking part in Android video games — it even handles photograph enhancing fairly properly. The Duet additionally includes a new “pill mode” for Chrome OS, which helps an Android-inspired gesture navigation system and a novel Chrome structure optimized for pill use.

The Chromebook Duet is an absolute steal for its low worth, and is the Chromebook to purchase should you’re on a decent funds.

OUR REVIEW OFLENOVO CHROMEBOOK DUET

VERGE SCORE8.5OUT OF 10

Purchase for $299.00 from Greatest Purchase

The Razer Blade Professional 17 is a strong gaming laptop computer with few compromises.

Photograph by Monica Chin / The Verge

8. RAZER BLADE PRO 17

THE BEST PORTABLE GAMING LAPTOP

Normally, if you would like a 17-inch laptop computer that may pull playable body charges out of at the moment’s most demanding video games, you’d count on some compromises on portability and design. Notebooks of this measurement typically weigh north of seven kilos and require a number of energy bricks to cost.

However whereas the Blade Professional 17 doesn’t have fairly the gaming chops of some cumbersome desktop replacements, it makes up for that by sporting the compact and enticing design that’s a trademark of the Razer Blade line. At simply over six kilos, it’s not too troublesome to maneuver round (as 17-inch workstations go). You get an RTX GPU (as much as Nvidia’s 2080 Tremendous Max-Q) an eight-core CPU (Intel’s Core i7-10875H) and both a 300Hz display or a 120Hz touchscreen. There’s even an RGB keyboard with coloration results tailor-made to the sport you’re taking part in.

OUR REVIEW OFRAZER BLADE PRO 17 (2020)

VERGE SCORE8.5OUT OF 10

Purchase for $3,199.00 from Razer

#2020 #Laptop 2020 #Top 08 The Best Laptop 2020 #top 8 #Uncategorized

0 notes

terryblount · 6 years ago

Text

Acer Predator Helios 300 (2019) Gaming Laptop – Review

Acer has updated its entry-level Predator gaming laptop for 2019, now more in line with the rest of the line aesthetics-wise. Not only that, but it also sports better innards in keeping up with the year’s standards for gaming laptop specs.

In short, this is a beefy update to the Helios 300, but unfortunately, it has this one big Achilles heel that stops it from being an easy recommendation.

Hardware

At first glance, the Acer Predator Helios 300 may look bland and generic. But it’s filled to the brim with nice details up close. The big change here is the Helios 300 ditching the red accents in favour of light blue, making in line with the rest of the Predator lineup. While the two lines on the back make the blue accent obvious, there are many other nice trims of blue. The WASD, arrow keys and dedicated Predator button have blue keycaps, but it’s more of an accent since all the keys have black with white lettering on top.

But to top it all off, all the visible heat sinks from the vents are tinted blue, which is ridiculous but also looks pretty neat.

The laptop has a warning in between the two back vents saying “Hot Surface. Warning. Do Not Touch.” Not something you’d see often on a gaming laptop, but at least they know and are honest with that.

Similar to last year, it still retains a brutish look to it. Those vents at the back look like the designers took inspiration out of a Lamborghini car, using big, bodacious and angular curves to give them a brutish, aggressive look to it. On the bottom cover, there’s an aggressive design as well which you won’t ever notice, but looks pretty nice.

But the matte surfaces, while looks clean, will leave a lot of smudges very visible.

The side edges are nicely curved and nice to touch. There is not only a chrome trimming but also a blue accent surrounding the touchpad. The keyboard is a fully-fledged one with a numpad. And despite it being flat chiclet keys, are pretty nice to type on, just the right amount of clicky-ness.

The Helios 300 doesn’t skimp on RGB lighting, featuring customisable lights in four zones of the keyboard.

All the I/O ports are on the side, but closer to you since both sides have working vents. It’s a bit cramped, but workable nonetheless.

Software

The software suite is as you’d expect from Acer- pretty good. The Predatorsense app remains solid, offering performance and thermal monitors, the ability to change fan speeds and RGB customisation. But this is one isn’t the one with phone app integration, which the more expensive Predators are getting.

You also get Killer Pro Wireless, which not only improves your Wi-Fi connection, but also allows for monitoring, prioritising your games for all network activity, and even the ability to set the laptop as a Wi-Fi extender, which is pretty cool. There’s Xsplit as always for you budding streamers and content creators too.

Gaming Performance

Here are the specs for the specific review model of the Predator Helios 300 – the PH315-52-76CQ

CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H

GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060

RAM: 8GB

Storage: 256GB SSD

Display: 1080p IPS 144Hz refresh rate

As you can see, this is a pretty standard for a gaming laptop of this price point, bar one exception. As it is, gaming performance is on-point as you’d expect. The latest 9th-gen Intel Core i7 is as good as it gets, AI turns for Civilization VI are pretty quick. The RTX 2060 card is powerful as a normal GPU for non-ray-tracing games.

Last year’s AAA games like Monster Hunter: World and Forza Horizon 4 can be run on Ultra with stable enough framerates at the 60fps cap. Older games like Hitman 2016 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has no issues running at 60fps on Ultra. Any other modern games from this year should also be running silky-smooth based on previous laptops of similar specs we reviewed before.

And on games that do (like Quake II RTX), it runs well.

The IPS 1080p display is nicely bright with good viewing angles. And the 144Hz refresh rate should serve well for esports games that needed that fast response time advantage.

The big Achilles’ heel here, as you might have seen, is the storage space. Good on Acer for keeping up with the times as we move toward an SSD-first future. Which means game loads and more importantly, performance of Windows 10 itself, should not be an issue.

But now we are facing a storage shortage- 256GB is not enough! A lot of the time in the review has to be spent on downloading, installing and uninstalling games for benchmarking because 256GB is so meager of a space to work with. And we are using it as a dedicated gaming machine, if you’re looking for normal, daily use as well as gaming, you’re screwed.

However, Acer has always allowed storage and RAM upgrades. And this is the same for Helios 300, there’s even a SATA cable included if you wish to plug in a hard disk. But coming with this amount of storage as stock is sinful- surely you can add a few hundreds of ringgit on the price to include a normal hard disk, yes?

As much as Acer is touting its 3D Aeroblade fans, this laptop can still get pretty hot. But it’s not because the fans are terrible- put this on the lap on full load and it’s breezy cool on the bottom vents. But you will feel noticeable heat on the keyboard surface- thankfully it’s more concentrated on the right side rather than on the WASD keys. It can go up to 90 degrees Celcius, with a lot of the heat concentrated on the right side vent.

You can beat the hotness somewhat by cranking the fan speeds to the max. There’s also a one-button overclock, the Turbo mode. But apparently, not many games play nice when you put the Helios 300 into overdrive- many games we tested including Hitman (2016), Shadow Of The Tomb Raider and Forza Horizon 4 ran unstable and crash.

Value

At RM6,199, the Predator Helios 300 is still a pretty good deal. Though there are cheaper laptops with an RTX 2060, this one is fully featured with your usual Acer software bundles, sturdy build quality and RGB lights.

That said, the lack of storage space is making the price edging closer to the more affordable-looking RM6,000 mark. I would still implore you to invest in a hard disk, which should at least another hundred ringgit on the price point, so you could actually use this laptop as a daily driver. Or have an external hard disk at the ready.

There is another variant of the Helios 300 in Malaysia with a Core i5 instead of an i7 and priced at RM5,399. Now, if you don’t mind having a weaker CPU (which means some reduced performance) that’s a better value in our opinion. It still lacks the HDD, but adding one still makes the price sounds so worth it.

Verdict

All in all, the new Acer Predator Helios 300 is a great step up from last year’s model. It may still be an entry-level Predator but it has all from what you’d expect a gaming laptop at this price point should have. Bar one major flaw.

The storage is upgradeable, yes, but having only a meager SSD as stock is a bit disappointing. And despite all the big promises, cooling is not as great as advertised.

Nevertheless, these quirks do have workaround and fixes, and if you can deal with that, this brutish laptop is a solid choice for your gaming needs.

Acer Predator Helios 300 (2019) Gaming Laptop – Review published first on https://touchgen.tumblr.com/

0 notes

netunleashed-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Best business laptops 2018: top laptops for work

http://www.internetunleashed.co.uk/?p=22026 Best business laptops 2018: top laptops for work - http://www.internetunleashed.co.uk/?p=22026 If you're looking to buy a new laptop for work, then this list of the best business laptops will help you choose. The best business laptops combine cutting edge productivity features with slimline designs and long battery life that provides mobility and productivity - essential functions for the modern workplace.While compiling this list of the best business laptops, we've taken into consideration a number of key factors including power, battery life, feature set and sheer value for money.This means that we've selected a wider range of laptops to suit most (if not all) budgets and hopefully all tastes; there's a mix of cutting-edge products and old favourites here.Almost all of them come with the professional version of Windows 10 to enhance their business credentials.We also have our very own price comparison tool that will compare prices and make sure you're buying the very best business laptop for the very best price.If you're looking for a bit more power, then check out our list of the best mobile workstations, as well as our pick for the best business desktop PC. Where to buy business laptops Apple MacBook ProLenovo Yoga, ThinkPad and IdeapadHP ZBook, Elitebook, Pro and ElitePadToshiba Portege, Tecra and Satellite ProFujitsu Lifebook and CelciusDell Latitude, Precision and Vostro Previous versions of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon have been the absolute best-in-class when it comes to business laptops, and this year's model is no exception, with Lenovo delivering a thinner and smaller design with practically no trade-offs. Despite its small size, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon comes with pretty much every feature you need in a productivity machine, making it the best business laptop money can buy. Thanks to a battery life of up to 15.5 hours, and a rapid charging feature that brings the battery back up to 80% capacity in only an hours, the X1 Carbon is an ultrabook that lets you keep on working while you're on the move. Huawei may not be the first name you think of when looking to buy a new business laptop - whereas Dell and Lenovo are two names you'd more likely associate with notebooks for work, but the Chinese company has proved to be an excellent laptop manufacturer with its new MateBook X Pro. It has a beautiful design that will get appreciative looks in the boardroom, it's light enough to carry around with you, and it has powerful components and excellent battery life. It's also one of the cheaper ultrabooks on the market. Believe it or not, Dell classifies the XPS 13 as a business laptop, albeit one that is geared towards a home office environment but businessmen (and women) will love the design. This ultraportable laptop – as Dell puts it – punches above its weight with Windows 10 Pro across the entire range as well as rather attractive pricing.This award winning laptop (it won best laptop of the year from us and many others) manages to pack a 13.3-inch display into the chassis of an average 11.6-inch model. It was also refreshed in 2017 with even better components, for a much improved business laptop experience.The laptop can be upgraded to 16GB of RAM and a 1TB M2 SSD drive. Battery life is exceptional as well with almost 22 hours of continual use when using productivity applications.With the 2018 refresh, the Dell XPS 13 is a slimmer, more powerful version with a stunning 4K display and a gorgeous Rose Gold on Alpine White color option. It's powered by an 8th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 CPU to boot. The 2018 model of the 13-inch Macbook Pro with Touch Bar is a brilliant upgrade to Apple's formidable laptop range, and it's one of the best business laptops money can buy. While Microsoft had the performance edge over last year's MacBook Pro, with the Surface Book 2, Apple has come out swinging with some seriously beefed up specs for the 13-inch MacBook Pro 2018. The 13-inch model can be configured with the latest Intel Core processors, all USB-C ports are not Thunderbolt 3, and you can have up to 16GB of RAM. If you want even more performance, the 15-inch version is worth considering, as it bumps the specs up even more. HP was the only one of the three big laptop vendors who didn't have a flagship thin-and-light laptop: Dell has the XPS 13 and Lenovo, the Yoga 900.That is now no longer the case with the introduction of the HP Spectre Pro 13 G1. This is a device that not only oozes luxury with a combination of colours and a clever design but also one that packs some incredible components.Despite being just over 10mm thick and weighing just over 1.16Kg, it manages to pack a proper Core i7 CPU with a full HD 13.3-inch display, a massive 4-cell 38Whr battery and three USB Type C connectors. Lenovo took an existing form factor and refined it to deliver the new 2016-2017 ThinkPad E470. Powered by the 7th generation Intel Core processors, this particular SKU has a 14-inch FHD anti-glare display, powered by a discrete Nvidia Geforce 940MX 2GB GPU.Equipped with a spill resistant keyboard, a TrackPoint and a 3+2 buttons click pad, the E470 has more than enough ports and expansion capabilities to keep the average user happy. Shame that it doesn't do DisplayPort, so no 4K output. Last year’s Dell XPS 15 was already one of the best laptops you could buy, but now that Dell has taken the beautiful redesign of the Dell XPS 13 and applied it here – while also making it a convertible. This makes it easily one of the best business laptops money can buy in 2018. It looks fantastic, feels great to use and it packs one of those new Intel Kaby Lake G-series CPUs featuring ‘discrete-class’ Radeon graphics. This means that this laptop packs serious power – even if it can get a little loud.Read the full review: Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 If you're after a cheap laptop that offers something a bit special, look no further than the Lenovo Yoga Book. As with all Yoga devices, the screen folds flat so you can use it either as a tablet or a laptop, and it comes with a choice of Windows 10 or Android as its operating system. For business users, the Windows 10 option is a no-brainer. It has a fantastic touchscreen that makes jotting down notes or diagrams a cinch. The Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch) is another new entry to our best business laptop list, and it's worthy of its spot, as Microsoft has crafted one of the most powerful 2-in-1 laptops in the world. The Surface Book 2 has some powerful enough components to handle most day-to-day tasks, and even some light gaming and video editing if you go for a model with a dedicated graphics card. If you want a bigger screen, then there is also a 15-inch version of the Surface Book 2, which comes with more powerful components.Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch) Chromebooks might not be the most obvious devices for business laptops, but the Asus Chromebook Flip proves that they can be excellent work tools. It comes with a full-fat Intel Core processor, full HD 1080p display and backlit keyboard. ChromeOS is now a more robust operating system with plenty of tools, and if you rely on web-based CMS or Google Docs to do your work, then the Asus Chromebook Flip is an affordable, well built and handy business laptop. Here's our full list of the best laptops of 2018 Source link

0 notes

straourgtech-blog · 8 years ago

Text

Audit: Battery life and console issues obstruct HP Envy 13 Ultrabook It's a decent portable PC, however it's going up against some extraordinary laptops.

The Asus Zenbook UX305C and Dell XPS 13 are two of our most loved thin-and-light tablets at this moment, the previous on the grounds that it speaks to a decent incentive at $700 and the last since it's a smooth, lightweight machine with a lot of top of the line highlights.

In any case, there's some room in the middle of those two, and that is the place HP's Envy 13 comes in. The $799 display incorporates a large portion of an indistinguishable specs from the ZenBook we like yet tosses in an illuminated console and undeniable Core i5 and i7 CPUs. There are a couple of things about it that shield it from unseating our top choices, yet regardless it offers some engaging components for individuals troubled with a couple of the UX305C's tradeoffs.

Look and feel

The Envy 13 is another Ultrabook in the post-MacBook Air shape, so you ought to definitely realize what you're getting into: thin and light with respectable however not pivotal processing force and few—assuming any—upgradeable parts.Dell, Lenovo, Asus, and others each of the tend to work with a darker shading palette in their tablet plans (even Apple utilizes dark consoles), yet the Envy is transcendently silver. Except for the show bezel, everything from the cover to the base to the palmrest to the keycaps are altogether made of uncolored aluminum. The keys and the bezel are both plastic, yet whatever remains of the PC is metal, and it figures out how to be stunningly thin (0.5 creeps at its thickest point) while as yet feeling durable.

It might be thin, however the portable PC isn't particularly little when contrasted with the XPS 13. Its screen is flanked by a somewhat substantial bezel, generally practically identical to the one Asus is utilizing. There's a wide, generally unused segment of space between the highest point of the console and the base of the screen, yet on the in addition to side there's space for an upward-confronting speaker on either side of the console. These get genuinely boisterous without much twisting, and, beside the standard absence of bass, they really don't sound half terrible.

The 1080p IPS show board in our base model survey unit is additionally pretty much the same as the one in Asus' UX305 arrangement, directly down to the slight backdrop illumination seep along the edges. All in all, it's a decent screen, and you can update it to an even more pleasant 3200×1800 show on HP's site for an extra $50. Neither show choice is a touchscreen, in any case, so in case you're searching for that element this tablet won't not be for you.

Like the Zenbook, the base of the Envy's top leans against your work area when completely open, calculating the console toward you marginally. Not at all like the Zenbook, the Envy has little elastic feet that shield the portable workstation from sliding around while in this position.

The port determination is great yet not awesome: there's a SD card peruser, a sum of three full-estimate USB 3.0 ports and a HDMI port, yet no USB-C or DisplayPort. Oddly, the USB ports feel tight—I truly needed to pull on USB drives that I had associated with get them out of the framework. Absence of DisplayPort likewise constrains the portable workstation's support for 4K shows—HDMI can do 4K at an invigorate rate of 24Hz, however you require DisplayPort 1.2 or better to drive one at 60Hz. It's not a major issue, but rather it's something the XPS and Apple's MacBook Airs and Pros can do that the Envy can't.

One thing the Envy has that the UX305C doesn't is an illuminated console. Be that as it may, as we noted when we surveyed HP's Specter x360, a white backdrop illumination combined with silver keys can really exacerbate perceivability in a few conditions, limiting the differentiation between the key and the character imprinted on it. I'd preferably have an illuminated console than not, but rather white content on dark keys is significantly more lucid (and HP unquestionably knows this as of now).

The console itself is for the most part fine, decipherability issues aside. It has shallower key go than the ZenBook, the XPS 13, or the MacBook Air, however it has as much as it needs, and the design and key dividing are both great. My one noteworthy fuss would be the full-tallness left and right bolt keys combined with half-stature all over bolt keys, which now is by all accounts the way console configuration is going as opposed to a special case to the run the show. The top line of capacity keys is littler than in the generally fundamentally the same as Specter x360, and keeping in mind that it's not clear why they're littler (there truly is a great deal of additional space), it doesn't generally have any kind of effect for ordinary utilize.

The more extensive than-regular trackpad gives off an impression of being a similar one utilized as a part of the Specter, and, similar to the console, it's neither repulsive nor at the highest point of its class. The Microsoft Precision Touchpads utilized as a part of the Surface's Type Covers and in the new XPS lineup are the best trackpads you can get on a PC, and HP's Synaptics-made trackpad is more inclined to misreading enter. Windows 10's multifinger trackpad signals are bolstered, however now and again I expected to attempt more than once to get the PC to remember them, and two-finger looking over can be jerky and somewhat flighty. It's fine, yet that is as much acclaim as I can give it.

Another pleasant esteem include is the nearness of a unique mark peruser that is completely perfect with Windows 10's Windows Hello highlight. It's a basic swipe unique mark sensor that works dependably well the length of your hands are dry, and Windows 10 makes it simple to enroll at least one fingers with the gadget. The more propelled iris scanner highlight isn't accessible, however cell phones have made unique mark based opening so typical that I'm planning to see it in more shopper portable PCs going forward.Software

The base model Envy runs Windows 10 Home with a storing aiding of pre-introduced programming, including Shockwave Player (truly?), a few CyberLink photograph and media projects, Dropbox and Evernote, a bundle of HP utilities, and the universal McAfee antivirus (which we'd prescribe uninstalling for a free bundle or, in case you're OK with it, the inherent Windows Defender). There's a 3GB-ish envelope of drivers and applications in a "SWSetup" organizer, as well.

When all Windows 10 updates were introduced and we had run Disk Cleanup to dispose of old refresh records, HP's loadout took up 31.8GB of circle space, significantly higher than a base Windows 10 establishment. You can recoup a considerable amount of space by erasing that driver envelope and uninstalling applications you don't require, however. At any rate with Windows 10 you don't have to surrender different gigabytes of space to a huge OEM recuperation parcel.

Internals and execution

The Envy 13 incorporates Core i5 or Core i7 processors in light of Intel's new Skylake engineering, combined with the Intel HD 520 coordinated GPU. This is one zone where the Envy unquestionably has an unambiguous edge on the Zenbook. As much as Skylake enhances the low-voltage Core M processor lineup, the Core CPUs and their GPUs are still considerably quicker.

Different segments incorporate 8GB of 1600MHz DDR3 RAM (1866MHz RAM assists with coordinated design execution, however HP selected not to utilize it), a 867Mbps 802.11ac Wi-Fi connector, Bluetooth 4.0, and SATA III SSDs (not PCI Express).

Our survey unit has a 2.3GHz (2.8GHz Turbo) Core i5-6200U, a tad slower than the CPU in our Surface Pro 4 audit unit. It benchmarks pretty comparably, however the slower memory hurts its GPU execution a bit.At this point we truly wish more OEMs would get energetic about PCI Express SSDs, particularly once we're up in this value go. The Envy's SATA III SSD performs about the same as different portable workstations that utilization a similar interface. Remember that 256GB and bigger drives for the most part perform superior to 128GB drives in light of the fact that there are more NAND chips to peruse from and write to on the double, which is the reason the compose execution is lower—redesign the SSD and things will get quicker.

Battery life

Tragically, battery life is a feeble point for the Envy. It kept going around seven hours and 20 minutes in our light Wi-Fi perusing test, which is still quite great in case you're supplanting a more seasoned tablet, however it's fundamentally lower than other Skylake and Broadwell portable PCs and convertibles we've tried in the most recent year.

Conclusions

HP's Envy 13 is a decent portable workstation, however not adequate to enter that top level of Windows Ultrabooks. It offers great execution, a pleasant screen, and the cost isn't terrible. Yet, Asus' UX305C offers twofold the capacity, a somewhat better console, much better battery life, and comparable screen choices for $100 less. You do surrender a considerable measure of CPU and GPU execution with the Asus portable workstation, and the HP tablet's unique finger impression peruser is pleasant, yet it's sufficiently quick for most things, and it's fanless, which is decent.

On the excellent end of things, the most up to date form of the XPS 13 has a more amazing screen, a touchscreen, an awesome trackpad, Thunderbolt 3 (and in this way, DisplayPort and better 4K bolster), and PCI Express stockpiling alternatives. It can get considerably more costly, however in the event that cash's no protest, it's certainly the better portable workstation.

In case you're in the market for a Ultrabook at this moment, the Envy 13 has its charms, however tragically it's not one of the initial ones we'd suggest.

0 notes

soulcrazy2017-blog · 8 years ago

Text

Alienware Alpha R2 review: PC gaming in a compact package

New Post has been published on https://soulcrazy.org/alienware-alpha-r2-review-pc-gaming-in-a-compact-package/

Alienware Alpha R2 review: PC gaming in a compact package

TA-scores-79There are console gamers, and there are Laptop game enthusiasts. At the same time as each has their advantages and disadvantages, there’s no argument that gaming rigs can soak up plenty greater space than consoles. Our Alienware Alpha R2 evaluate takes a examine a small console sized container that brings Computer gaming to those who don’t have quite a few space for a massive gaming rig.

Alienware

Specifications

Our Alienware Alpha R2 assessment unit had the subsequent Specs:

Processor: Intel Core i7 6700T Qc CPU @ 2.80GHz, 8MB cache, up to 3.6GHz (Intel Center i3 6100T and i5 6400T Quality control options to be had) Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 w/ 4GB GDDR5 RAM (AMD Radeon R9 M470X with 2GB DDR5 option to be had) RAM: 8GB DDR4 @ 2133MH (4GB or 16GB options to be had) Tough Drive: 1TB 64MB Cache 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 2.five″ Internal Pocketbook Hard Drive (500GB SATA, or 256GB/512GB/1TB M.2 PCIe SSD options available) Ports: 4x USB three.Zero (2 in the front, 2 in lower back), DC in, Pix Amplifier Port, HDMI In 2.0, HDMI Out 2.zero, 1x RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet, Toslink Optical Audio Out, 1x USB 2.0 (bottom) Wi-fi: Intel Twin Band Wi-fi-AC 8620 2×2 + Bluetooth four.2 (Wi-fi AC 3165 1×1 option to be had) Working System: Windows 10 Home (64-bit) Dimensions: 2.2″ x 8″ x eight″ Weight: 2kb (four.4lbs) WHAT’S In the field

Alienware Alpha R2 Alienware keyboard Alienware mouse DC energy adapter Alienware-Alpha-R2-evaluate-02 Alienware Alpha R2 with consisting of mouse and keyboard.

Alpha R2

Design The Alienware Alpha R2 is compact in size. It’s smaller than an Xbox One or Ps four and is roughly the scale of a Nintendo Wii. The square Alienware Alpha R2 is only eight″ deep and wide and is also only 2″ high. While looking on the front, the lowest left-hand nook is cut in a triangle shape with a LED light alongside each side. To the right of this are a pair of USB 3.0 ports and approximately 1/3 of the gap from the proper hand edge of the front is where you’ll discover the enduring Alienware emblem which glows as appropriately. All four aspects have a gloss black end.

Alienware-Alpha-R2-evaluation-06 Alienware Alpha R2 front view.

The back of the unit is where a maximum of the opposite ports are along with (from left to proper) the DC in port, Portraits Amplifier Port, HDMI In, HDMI Out, RJ-45 jack, two greater USB three.0 ports, and sooner or later the Toslink optical audio out port. Of an exciting word, which we’ll talk further Inside the overall performance segment, is the guide for the Alienware Images Amplifier allowing you to externally upgrade your video card. Simply above the connectivity ports are vent ports.

Alienware-Alpha-R2-review-08 Alienware Alpha R2 returned a view.

Flipping the Alienware Alpha R2 the wrong way up, you’ll observe a little door that is effortlessly detachable. As soon as eliminated, you’ll discover a hidden USB 2.0 port which has to in shape most USB keys in case you need some expandable removable storage. Because of its compact length, I found the hidden USB port as an alternative neat as you’re now not extending the intensity of the unit via a couple of inches when you have a USB key semi-permanently connected. The lowest also has four small rubber feet to save you the unit from sliding around.

Alienware-Alpha-R2-evaluate-10

On the bottom, you’ll discover a hidden USB 2.0 port that may without difficulty accommodate maximum thumb drives.

My first question upon receiving the unit become thinking how smooth it would be to improve, as that could be a foremost advantage of Desktops over consoles. Because it turns out, you could easily improve the CPU, RAM, and Tough drives as may be seen Inside the video under. Alas, you may upgrade the GPU, but as formerly noted the Alpha R2 does have a Pics Amplifier Port. The nice factor about the compact size and the reality that it has HDMI 2.0 in is that you may effortlessly join it and set it close to your tv and join your DVR, Home Theater receiver, cable field, or another HDMI connected tool to it. Via connecting any other tool to the Alienware Alpha R2, you don’t lose an HDMI port on your Tv, and you may easily transfer between the Alienware and the opposite device through using the CTRL+SHIFT+H keyboard shortcut or from the Alienware Command Center itself. This worked as predicted throughout our testing, and without a doubt showcased that the Alpha R2 may be placed pretty much everywhere.

The Alienware Alpha R2 also ships with an Alienware keyboard and mouse, and to be sincere, I used to be a piece disappointed as they didn’t clearly strike me as “gaming excellent.” Typing on the keyboard worked properly sufficient. However, the keys felt a bit soft. As far because the mouse goes, it felt greater like your normal workplace mouse greater than a gaming mouse. In the end, though, I mostly ended up the usage of an Xbox One controller for gaming on the System, but it might still be exceptional to peer a better satisfactory gaming orientated mouse and keyboard blanketed.

Software

The Alienware Alpha R2 comes with Window 10 Home (64-bit) set up, and as we’ve noted in lots of previous critiques, Windows 10 works pretty nicely. As far as more pre-established packages, the Alienware Alpha R2 comes with the typical Windows 10 apps and no longer a great deal else.

If you plan on connecting your Alpha R2 to a Tv or projector and leaving it permanently attached there, you could want to look at the Alienware HiveMind Interface. HiveMind, which is largely a skinned model of Kodi, permits you to get admission to your Steam video games, videos, photographs, and programs from an important hub with a controller. After you’ve mounted and released HiveMind, you’ll be asked if you need to run the Alpha R2 in Laptop or Gaming mode. While you pick out Gaming mode, it’ll reboot and start with the HiveMind Interface.

The HiveMind Interface is navigable with both a mouse or a sports controller. It functions six main sections: video games, Tune, programs, Photographs, motion pictures, and Settings. in case you’ve ever used Kodi, you’ll be pretty acquainted with the HiveMind Interface. Inside the games section, which you’ll absolute confidence hit first, you have the option of adding some of the HiveMind launchers which include Conflict.Internet, Steam, Starting place, GOG Galaxy, and some others. There are quite a few options available, and the interface is quite sleek in assessment to some different Kodi interfaces. Even though the video beneath is over a year old, it does come up with a terrific concept of what you could assume While the usage of the HiveMind Interface. At the same time as you may do most of this stuff directly from the Windows Laptop, the HiveMind Interface clearly adds that simplified console-like interface to be used with TVs or projectors. One component to notice however is that the HiveMind Interface launches as a separate Windows 10 user — Alpha Console, so When you’re installing video games, you’ll make sure to put in them for all customers to get admission to. The HiveMind Interface isn’t too difficult to setup when you have previous Kodi revel in however might be a piece trickier for those who haven’t used Kodi before.

Overall performance

Our evaluate unit became an interesting configuration. With the top CPU you may get — Intel Center i7 6700T Quality control CPU @ 2.80GHz and an 8MB cache, it got here with the 1TB SATA Hard Force (in place of the PCIe SSD), and 8GB of RAM (you may order them with 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB). As such, out of the box performance changed into mediocre at quality, especially thinking about the exceptional video card option you may get is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 with 4GB of GDDR5 RAM. For gamers global, the lots predicted newly advanced Xbox One S is now on sale. For the more avid gamer that needs more area, the Xbox One S 2 TB edition is to be had now. With a plethora of capabilities designed to make this the high-quality Xbox ever made, it’s miles the freshest Gadget available on the market presently to house this yr’s onslaught of slicing side 4k tv structures. The delivered Design and specs beneath the hood of this game Device by using a long way brings amazement and appeal to this a whole lot anticipated gaming revel in.

gaming

Design

The Design of the Xbox One S is derived with the idea of being less complicated to handle. Using this idea, they made this Xbox One S forty% slimmer than the modern Xbox One’s which have been released. In conjunction with the smooth Design comes the trimming down of accessories along with the electricity wire for the Xbox One that had a massively ended energy supply. This strength delivers now been integrated internally Inside the console instead of being harnessed on the external power wire. To make things extra aggressive, the brand new Xbox One S has the capability to stand horizontally much like its competitor, the Playstation 4, making an immediate mark towards this logo. The shade of the Xbox One S is in a “Robot White” to deliver a cleaner sense to this stylish Layout.

For Kinect users, which can be used to the Xbox one having their Kinect port as part of the console, this has been the main exchange. The Xbox One S has no Kinect port and customers that want to apply a Kinect will should purchase an adapter in order to use this game revel in on the Xbox One S. but, to update this port, there’s now a USB port at the front, with two Within the lower back, and an IR blaster port Inside the front. For this reason, Xbox is presently supplying a unfastened Xbox Kinect Adapter for users that wish to attach their Kinect device.

Big Characteristic – 4K Ultra HD Compatible

The most important Characteristic improvement except the glossy Layout is the guide for 4K which previous models of the Xbox One did no longer support. Now not simplest can you circulation your favorite streaming networks on the Xbox One S, but you could additionally use its 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Playback. For more human beings looking for a 4K Extremely HD Blu-ray player, the participant by myself prices between $a hundred and fifty-500. This console with all its capabilities comes in at $399 that’s best approximately $one hundred difference between the currently selling Xbox One this is on sale. To absolutely see the 4K Extremely details, the handiest missing element is a 4K Ultra tv to view the information of the Snapshots.

Hardware info

The Xbox One S boasts its capability to address 4K HDR visuals together with a 2TB Hard Drive. Later models will include the ability to buy a 500BG or 1TB garage alternative which in essence may also alternate the pricing of this Device While you cross down in Hard Pressure space. For customers that care to minimize the Internal Tough Pressure and scale up on an external Difficult Power, that option continues to be available for the Xbox One S which has a USB three.0 HDD port, that is fashionable on cutting-edge Xbox One fashions.

The Wi-fi controller additionally receives a replace with an advanced grip Function which allows users to higher maintain the driver and take care of recreation accuracy throughout gameplay. Those controllers now run on Bluetooth technology.

0 notes