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The Best Tips for Laptop Battery Saving in 2017

The laptop has a good battery backup, and when it’s under new conditions, the battery stays longer. However, over time, wear and tear results in lower battery power. When you work, you have to keep it, and that’s what I and some friends say about moving desktops. At this stage, the power of your laptop is very small, which is not a good habit for your laptop. We’ll discuss some tips for saving tips on laptop batteries. Applying these simple techniques will improve your laptop battery life and make it last longer.

Disable unused stuff of your laptop

Sometimes we may not know that some unwanted stuff keeps on running on our computer. If you want to save your laptop battery, just turn them off. The devices or ports runs with a power function. Now, this consumes a maximum portion of your laptop power. If you don’t use them, kindly disable them.

Battery maintenance tool to save battery

Normally, the manufacturer of the laptop provides the battery maintenance tool. You have to use that particular tool to save your laptop battery. The brands of laptop such as Sony, Lenovo, etc. have their battery maintenance panel. You must utilize the same to the extend your laptop battery life expectancy.

Adjustment with settings

If you operate the laptop, it will be must to use the display and keyboard. This will obviously consume a lot of power. But, there are some settings that can help you and changing those can reduce the power consumption. As a result, your laptop will save some power. You may reduce the backlight and switch off the unnecessary light present in the keyboard.

Turning off application programs (apps)

Some of you may have a view that the computer hardware is extracting battery in your laptop. But, it is not always true. The software applications are equally responsible for the same. They are responsible for extracting your maximum battery life. Thus, you must turn off the apps which you don’t need to keep the Sony vgp-bps9 laptop battery in order.

Keep it cool

It is always important to keep the battery in cool place. In professional organizations, like computer academy, laboratory, etc., laptops are kept in cool place. They are kept in an AC room. This will increase the efficiency of the system. As a result, the battery life will increase.

No full discharge – take care of this thing

Some people have a conception that discharging the laptop once in every fortnight is good for its health. But, expert says something different. You should not discharge the full battery of your laptop ever. This may affect the battery life. It is good to avoid full or complete discharge.

Disconnect Charger from Power when Fully Charged

Some people have the habit of leaving their system on charge even when the system is fully charged, this is not good for your laptop battery because the cells can not charge above their charging capacity and keeping the laptop on charge will only reduce the battery life and increase the rate of discharge.

Use the Right Charger

Most people make the mistake of thinking that all laptop chargers are the same provided they have the same charging pin but this is very wrong because the chargers have different rating and this is one reason why you can not use any and every charger with the same pin as yours. If your charger goes bad, do yourself some good by getting another one with same model with your laptop.

Mind The Power Source

Yes you need to work with your laptop and you need electricity to do that when your Sony Vgp-bps8a Battery is down but the source of power you connect your laptop to can reduce your laptop battery life and result to more expenses in the future therefore, it is very important that you use a source of power with standard rating as specified in your laptop manual. Avoid charging your laptop battery with low voltage and small generators as this will reduce your battery life.

Conclusion

Your laptop is an important electronic gadget and you need to handle with care and one of the most important thing you have to ensure, is the laptop battery retaining charge and applying the guidelines stated above will help you achieve that with less effort.

Just save 6 great laptop deals for up to $299 at school time

Shopping for a new computer can be a time-consuming hassle, so we pick some of the best laptop transactions and reduce your work. In addition to providing like apple and MSI brands discount computer, these hot notebook computer transaction also includes various types, suitable for different needs, to help hardcore games from general use you to find the most suitable for your PC lifestyle.

The budget option: Asus EeeBook

First on our roundup of laptop deals is the budget-friendly Asus EeeBook L402SA. This PC features a 14-inch 1,366 x 768 LED display that delivers a crisp and color-rich HD picture. The Intel Celeron dual-core processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of high-speed flash storage work together to provide sufficient power for work, light gaming, and general use, making the Aspire ES 15 a great choice for an affordable everyday laptop. The Asus a32-m50 laptop battery can last more than six hours on a single charge, giving you enough power for a day’s work on the go. You even get a complimentary one-year subscription to Microsoft Office 365 Personal — a $70 value — totally free.

You can score the Asus EeeBook L402SA for just $189 on Amazon after a $40 discount. This is a great deal on a Windows 10 laptop, as most computers in this price range are either Chromebooks or compact 11-inch notebooks.

For the student: Dell Inspiron

Another budget-friendly option, and one that’s the perfect laptop for college students, is the Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Series. A step up specs-wise from the EeeBook, the Inspiron 15 5000 Series comes equipped with a 2.4Ghz Intel Core i3-7100U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 1TB hard drive. The 15.6-inch widescreen display offers a 1366 x 768 resolution to let you enjoy your games, videos, and pictures in HD, while the integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 is sufficient for graphics work and light gaming. The Inspiron also features USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and HDMI ports, as well as an SD card reader.

The Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Series normally goes for $499, but B&H has it on sale for $150 off, bringing this workhorse laptop down to just $349.

The slimline option: Asus ZenBook

How to Finance Your Notebook: Everything You Need to Know

Although you can buy a good laptop at a bargain price, the high-end models will be very fast. To meet the needs of buyers, many retailers offer financing plans to make expensive laptops cheaper, as long as you can pay over time.

However, when it comes to financing, there’s always a catch. Here’s a list of pros and cons that come with financing a laptop, as well as the financing services provided by large retailers. 

The Good

• You don’t have to drop a lump sum to get your hands on a pricey laptop.
• It’s not necessary to rely on bank loans or traditional credit card services.
• Many retailers offer zero-interest rates, rewards, flexible payment structures and other perks.
• Device upgrades are sometimes included in financing plans. 

The Bad

• Financing is risky; missing a payment can result in a penalty and high interest rates.
• Zero interest can reflect poorly on a credit score:
  • Financing through a retailer means a store credit card is opened in your name for the exact amount of the purchase. The store maxes out the credit limit, which ramps up your credit utilization. Thirty percent of your credit score is based on your utilization ratio. Low payments are attractive, but zero interest is stagnant debt that can drag down your score if you let it sit over 12 months.
  • Financing isn’t just a payment plan given out freely; you’re applying for a new line of credit, which means a hard credit inquiry by a retailer can lower your credit score. More harm is done if you’re requesting new credit several times in a short period of time. These inquiries stay on your credit report for up to two years and can hurt your score during the first 12 months if you’re not careful.
  • Financing means a new account is opened for the amount of your purchase, which, in turn lessens the average age of your credit file. The length of your credit history is about 15 percent of your credit score. This means your credit score will take a dip after your new purchase is reported to credit agencies.
• Limitations apply for those without pre-existing credit or steady income.
• Promotion terms aren’t always transparent, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Laptop Financing Services

Amazon

Amazon provides special 6- and 12-month financing for shoppers making purchases with an Amazon.com Store Card. Laptops that cost over $149 are subject to 6-month financing without interest, while laptops priced higher than $599 are eligible for zero interest if paid off within the year.

Select Amazon-sold items are eligible for 24-month financing. Interest (minimum charge $1.50) will be applied to your account from the purchase date if the promotional balance is not paid within the time frame selected. Monthly payments must be met to receive these promotions. Non-promotional purchases and voided promotions under the Amazon.com Store Card are subject to variable 26.99 percent APR. 

Apple

Apple has various financing plans for business, education and consumers that can be applied to MacBooks. Special perks are included with each financing program, such as two-year device refreshes with AppleCare support for businesses, and flexible cost-sharing that provides upgrades and third-party products for institutions.

Apple also offers zero-interest repayment for consumers, ranging from 6 to 24 months, through the Barclay Apple Rewards Card. Interest (14.99 to 27.99 variable percent APR) will be charged to the account from the purchase date if the balance is not settled by the end of the promotional period. Apple Financial Services also offers customizable financing options for your budget and technological goals, including delayed payment structures, trade-in and recycling services.

Best Buy

Best Buy offers storewide 6 and 12-month financing that can be applied to the laptop of your choice, provided that its price is over $199 or $399, respectively. For these promotions, interest is deferred until the promotional period’s end.

If the balance is paid in full by the end of your financing terms, no interest is charged. But if you fail to do so, the accumulated interest will be charged to your account with a 9 to 28.99 percent APR depending on your creditworthiness. Minimum monthly payments must be met, but you will probably have to exceed the minimum listed on your statement to pay the laptop off completely without interest. 

Dell

Dell provides a number of special financing options for its many laptop brands and series, some of which include Alienware, Inspiron and XPS. The financing periods range from 6 to 12 months for purchases over $599 and $899, respectively. All promotional offers are available for no interest if they’re paid in full prior to the end date.

If the balance isn’t settled by the promotion’s expiration, interest will be charged to your account from the transaction posting date at variable 19.99 to 29.99 percent APR. Dell also offers Preferred Account financing through WebBank for U.S. residents, where charges are 3 percent of the new balance or $20 on a monthly billing statement.

HP

HP has a Premier Upgrade Program in which shoppers can split the cost of an Envy or Spectre laptop within 24 months at zero percent APR via Citizens One. Interest or other fees may be applied to late payments or unpaid balances from the issuer of your credit card based on prior agreements. 

Once your laptop with Hp pavilion dv3500 laptop battery is paid off during the promotional period, you’re free to upgrade to a new device under the same financing terms. The program also includes accidental damage protection, unlimited access to personalized support, hassle-free setup and migration. If you choose to not renew your membership after the 24-month period, you will lose access to damage coverage and HP Premier Support.

Lenovo

Lenovo provides laptop financing through WebBank and Swedish payment servicer Klarna, which offers 12-month, zero-interest payment plans for purchases between $299 and $799, and 9.99 percent APR on purchases over $799. 

Late and returned payment fees are up to $35 depending on tardiness and impending balance. Business customers are also eligible for promotional pricing, but non-promotional purchases are subject to standard 19.99 percent APR (no less than $2 interest per month). Additionally, Klarna allows automatic credit-line increases for those who qualify.

Microsoft

Microsoft is another major brand that’s joined forces with Klarna, in this case to roll out the new Surface Plus program, in which shoppers are provided 24-month financing on all Surface products for zero percent APR. For late payments, 19.99 percent interest is charged, plus a $35 fee.

Through Surface Plus, consumers can get their hands on a Surface device starting at $34 per month, along with personalized support and 18-month upgrades. There’s a pricier and enhanced Surface Plus for Business program that’s financed by LiftForward and provides 18-, 24- or 30-month payment cycles with upgrades available after 12 and 18 months. Microsoft also has a flexible Surface as a Service leasing plan and other financing programs with third-party providers.

Newegg

Newegg has storewide financing that can be applied to the laptop of your choice with the Newegg Store Credit Card. No interest is charged on $199 to $498.99 purchases paid in full by 6 months or purchases above $499 paid in full by 12 months.

On select items, Newegg provides extended financing for up to 18, 24 and 36 months at zero interest. However, if you fail to pay off your balance at the end of the promotion, you’ll have the accumulated interest from the purchase date at 29.99 percent APR (minimum $2). Monthly payments must be met to upkeep your selected promotion, and higher payments may be needed to pay off the balance within the promotional period.

Origin

Origin offers a financing program of up to 36 months on systems above $1,000, which includes all of its EON gaming and professional-grade (NT, NS, N7) laptops, as well as accessories. At a fixed 16.99 percent or variable APR depending on creditworthiness, Origin makes high-end laptops accessible to U.S. residents on a budget via GetFinancing. 

Payment terms are set by participating GetFinancing lenders based on credit amount, limit availability, calculated interest, grace period and balance. Assorted fees are also determined by the lender, including annual membership, late payment, over-the-limit, returned and bounced checks, and more.

Bottom Line

Financing can be helpful, but it works out only if you’re confident that you can pay the balance in full in a timely manner. One slip up, and you’ll be hit with hefty fees, interest and a potentially damaged credit score. If you’re good at scheduling payments, budgeting and appreciate the additional perks retailers throw in, financing can very well be worth the effort, especially when it comes to zero interest.

You also need to determine what kind of laptop you’re getting and whether you’re willing to upgrade within a year or two, which often calls for a new financing plan to shell out cash for. All in all, if you’re going to finance, read your terms carefully before agreeing to anything. It might just save you from the temptation of “buy now, pay later.”

Notebook: Should I Buy a MacBook or a ZenBook?

If you’re looking for a lightweight 13 inch Laptop under $1000, ASUS and apple have an attractive choice. Forum user miguelestevez wants to choose between Zenbook ux303ua and 13 inches MacBook Air.

Both laptops have 13-inch screens, Core i5 CPUs and 8GB of RAM. However, the MacBook configuration he is considering has a 128GB SSD, while the ZenBook has twice that amount of storage.

We strongly recommend that Miguel forget about the UX303UA, which is a discontinued model with an outdated CPU, and consider the Asus ZenBook UX330UA instead. It also has a 1920 x 1080 display, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, but it has a 7th Generation Core i5 processor instead of a 6th Gen one. You can get the UX330UA, our favorite laptop value, for $699.

But how does the UX330UA compare with a Core i5 MacBook Air? Let’s take a look at some key differences between the two.

Design

The ZenBook and the MacBook Air are both very thin and light, but Asus’ laptop is noticeably more compact. The UX330UA weighs just 2.7 pounds and is 0.5 inches thick at its thickest point, while the Air is 2.96 pounds and 0.68 inches thick.

Both systems have an attractive, silver aesthetic, but Apple’s notebook has an all-aluminum unibody design and Asus has an aluminum lid, but a non-aluminum chassis.

Winner: ZenBook UX330UA. The MacBook has a more premium design, but the ZenBook is lighter.

Display

The MacBook Air is stuck in the past with a 1440 x 900 resolution display, while the ZenBook UX330UA offers a full-HD, 1920 x 1080 panel. The ZenBook also covers an impressive 106 percent of the color gamut, while the last MacBook Air we tested (a 2015 model with the same screen you get today) covered just 66 percent of the gamut.

The MacBook Air does have a brighter display, hitting 334 nits on on our light meter, compared with 286 nits for the ZenBook.

Winner: ZenBook UX330UA has a sharper, more colorful screen.

Performance

We haven’t tested the latest configuration of the MacBook Air, which updates the laptop’s processor to a 7th Generation Core i5. However, we can say that the ZenBook UX330UA, which also has a 7th Gen Core i5 CPU, should offer similar performance in every area but one.

The MacBook Air uses PCIe Flash storage, which is much faster than the SATA SSD in the ZenBook UX330UA. The ZenBook’s storage drive copied files at 159 megabytes per second on our transfer test, as compared to 358 MBps for the last-gen MacBook Air.

Winner: MacBook Air by a hair on the strength of its SSD.

Battery Life

The ZenBook UX330UA lasted a very strong 10 hours and 17 minutes on the Asus a32-k52 laptop battery test, which involves continuous surfing over Wi-Fi. However, the last MacBook Air we tested blew it away by enduring for 14 hours.

Winner: MacBook Air

Price

The MacBook Air starts at $999. For that price, you get it with a 128GB SSD, half the capacity the ZenBook comes with. If you want to step up to 256GB of storage on the Air, the price goes all the way up to $1,199. At $699, the ZenBook UX330UA is $300 below the base model Air and $500 less than a similarly configured Air.

Winner: ZenBook UX330UA is a lot cheaper.

The Bottom Line

While the MacBook Air has a slight edge in storage performance and in Apple a1278 notebook battery life, this is really no contest. The ZenBook UX330UA is a much better value, weighs less and has a far superior screen.

The Best Back-to-School Laptops

These days, many children have their own. So, when children start learning in primary school and do homework, they may also need a notebook computer. We offer your child the best affordable student notebook computer in every age, whether you’re looking for one of your primary school children the game is still a senior high school student notebook computer Chromebook. for college students, please see our list of the best college laptops.

6 Quick Buying Tips

• What’s the right age for a laptop? Forgot about age numbers. A good sign that your child needs their own laptop is that they’re already using computers — not tablets or phones — a lot at home or school.
• What’s the school’s laptop policy? Some schools provide students with laptops to take home so you don’t need to buy one. Other districts give kids computers they can use in class only, which means you may want to get a similar software and OS for home.
• Chrome OS, Windows or macOS? Chrome OS is popular with schools, because it’s easy to use and nearly impossible to infect with a virus. However, if your kid is learning how to program, needs to edit media files, requires access to Microsoft Office or wants to play PC games, Windows or macOS is a much better choice.
• Size: For children under 12, get a laptop with an 11.6-inch screen that weighs under 3 pounds. For teens, a 13- or 14-inch laptop that weighs up to 4 pounds is acceptable. Buy larger laptops only if you plan to keep them at home.
• Keep it cheap: Don’t spend over $500 on a laptop for a child under 12, because they may break it and will outgrow it. Even when shopping for a teenager, try to keep the cost under $800.
• Make it durable: Kids are clumsy, so a laptop that can survive bumps, drops or spills is a big plus.

Best Laptops for Kids

Get started with your new Chromebook

Q: My husband was listening to your show a couple weeks ago and he heard you talk about getting a Chromebook for financial stuff exclusively, so we bought one. Now what do we do?? I tried to find the info on your website but couldn’t. Can you send me a link for further instructions on what to do next? -Johanna H., KWRO Southern Oregon coast.

A: That’s a great question, Johanna. Chromebook is a streamlined laptop from Google that has all the functionality that most people need.

But, before I delve deeper into Chromebook’s security features, software programs, pricing and more, I’d like to address something you said about Komando.com. You said you couldn’t find information about Chromebook on my website.

A couple of things: I will send you a link for more information about Chromebook. Plus, if we have written about a topic like Chromebook, you can simply type in your search in the upper-right corner of Komando.com, where you see the little magnifying glass icon.

If we haven’t written about a topic you’re interested in, we’d love to hear from you. You can call my show, send me an email or post a note on one of my social media pages, such as Facebook.com/KimKomando.

Now, on to your question about getting started with Chromebook. The first thing to know is that, unlike Apple making Macs, there is not just one manufacturer that makes Chromebooks. There are several.

Chromebook laptops

Google created the Chromebook operating system. Then, manufacturers like Acer, Asus, Dell, Lenovo and Samsung make the laptops that run Chromebook OS.

So, you have a lot of options when buying one. Of course, when you’re paying $300 or so for a laptop, you’re not getting all the bells and whistles you will with a more costly laptop. But more on price in a minute.

Yet, you can do just about everything on a Chromebook that you would on a more expensive laptop. You’ll want to check each laptop’s specs, though, to compare one to another one.

Specs

Chromebooks are primarily web-based computers. However, you’ll want to make sure your Chromebook has at least 4 GB of RAM. Look for at least 16 GB of storage.

You’ll notice that Chromebooks typically have older microprocessors, like Intel’s dual-core Celeron. Those will suffice for most users.

Note: If you need a lot of functionality, or you’re running intensive games or graphics, you’ll want a more sophisticated (and pricier) Chromebook. Look for Intel’s newer processors, the iCore group of microprocessors.

You’ll want to make sure your Chromebook has USB ports and SD card readers. Plus, look for webcams, speakers, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other functionality that you use.

If battery life is important to you, check the manufacturer specs for that. Most people will need around 10 hours of ACER Aspire 1690 Laptop Battery life.

When it comes to the price for Chromebooks, you can comfortably stay in the $300-$500 range and get a reliable laptop with the specs you need. However, for a more bare-bones model, such as your child’s or grandchild’s first computer, look for models that cost about $200.

Fun fact: Did you know that almost half the laptops purchased by schools in 2016 were Chromebooks?

Software programs

Google designed Chromebook OS to be an internet-based system. The idea is that you’ll save your documents to the cloud and you’ll do your everyday work, like writing letters or reports, on web-based programs such as Google Docs or the FREE Microsoft Office Online.

You’ve probably heard that you cannot download programs like Microsoft Word. That’s true. However, you can use the web-based version of those programs.

You can also run Google programs that you’re probably already using, such as Gmail and its cloud-storage program, Google Drive. There are even more programs, such as Personal Finance, in the Chrome Web Store. Many of these apps are free.

Fun fact: Did you know that more people bought Chromebooks than Apple Macs in 2016?

Security

Google’s Chromebook is similar to Apple laptops in that you don’t have to worry too much about security. Of course, you have to ensure that your laptop isn’t attacked by malware or remotely taken over by a hacker.

However, Google has built into Chromebooks multiple layers of protection. Those include:

1. Automatic Updates: Chromebooks are always running the most updated version of the OS, so you don’t have to download patches

2. Sandboxing: Each webpage runs in a confined area, so if it’s dangerous it won’t affect other pages or programs

3. Verified Boot: Chromebook automatically checks for malware when you start it up, and it fixes any problems before it opens

4. Data Encryption: Most data on Chromebooks are saved to the cloud, but anything saved to the computer is encrypted so it’s nearly impossible to be hacked

5. One-Step Recovery Mode: If anything goes wrong, you can simply revert to an earlier version that was safe

6. Wi-Fi safety – Watch this video for tips

Fixing notebooks that won’t boot

You are likely to find a solution to the problem of your notebook computer. In the way to take it to the repair center before, it will cost you some money, why don’t you consider troubleshooting the problem first and try to see if you can fix you laptop’s problem in booting.

Here are a few things that you might want to check up to know if you really need to bring your laptop to the repair center.

Check the AC Adapter

When you plug in you laptop’s AC adapter for acer , you should see the LED light up. It is usually yellow or red when it is charging the laptop’s battery, or green when it is fully charged or running on AC power.

If the LED is not lit up, and the laptop does not show any sign of starting to boot up when you push on the power button, you should check if your AC power adapter is functioning properly.

If you have a voltmeter, test if the AC adapter that you are using for your laptop is producing the right voltage output, or if it is even producing power at all from its output plug. You would know the correct voltage needed for your laptop to function based on your laptop’s manual. If you cannot find the manual, look for it printed in the laptop itself. It can usually be found at the bottom part where the other product specifications are located.

At this point, It may also be worth to try removing the laptop’s battery and unplugging the AC adapter and leaving the laptop powerless for 1-2 minutes. Then try booting up you laptop again.

If the AC adapter is producing power but not in the right voltage, unplug the AC adapter from the power outlet immediately and stop using it. You may damage your laptop if you continue to use that AC adapter with the wrong power output on your laptop. If you have a universal Dell Studio 1557 AC Adapter, try to see if it can supply the correct power output to your laptop. Usually, it can. And you are in luck if you try plugging in you universal AC adapter with the correct voltage option and the laptop boots up.

 Check the Monitor
Assuming that there is no problem with your power adapter, and the laptop powers up when you turn on the laptop, but just would not continue booting up, and there is no image appearing at the laptop’s monitor, you would have to start checking on other things.

If you have a desktop computer, use the desktop’s monitor in checking you laptop’s video output. Your laptop usually has its port for an external monitor located at the back. Connect your external monitor and verify if you can now see your laptop booting up on the screen of the external monitor.

If the external monitor show that your laptop is ok, then the problem is with you laptop’s computer monitor. Bring your laptop to a service center as fixing your laptop’s monitor already requires opening up the insides of your laptop which might void you warranty if you do it yourself.

Check the Memory Chips
Usually, laptops have at least two memory slots. What you should do is remove the memory chips and install it back. (Refer to your laptop’s manual to locate your laptop’s memory slots and how install the memory chips.) If you have two memory chips, try using only one and try installing it in either of the slots. See if it works. If not, try it on the other slot. If it still does not work, try the other memory chip and do the same. You would have to pinpoint the problem by process of elimination. It could be one of the two memory chips. Or it could be one of the two memory slots. Or worse, it can also be a combination of the four factors. See if trying out the different combinations would solve your laptop’s boot up problem.

If the problem is a faulty memory chip, don’t use that memory chip or buy a new one. If the problem is with one of the memory slots, do not use that memory slot or replace you laptop’s motherboard.

Check the Hard Drive
If you can power up your laptop but it just would not continue booting up, and instead, you hear a repetitive clicking sound or grinding noise coming from the inside, the problem may be traced to your laptop’s hard drive.

If you are capable of removing your Hp 484170-001 laptop battery for hp  hard drive, let the laptop boot up without the hard drive. Listen if the clicking or grinding noise disappears. If it does, then our hard drive must be damaged. Replace your hard drive with a functioning one.

Or if you can run diagnostic tests on your hard drive using a hard drive test utility and see if the problem can still be solved.

If the above solutions are still not enough to pinpoint the problem of your laptop, then it might already be time to bring it to a laptop repair center.

11 notebooks perfect for college and high school students

Heading off to college? You’re going to need the essentials. No, we’re not just talking about shower, caddy and flip flops. We talk about laptops. Now, your computer is as important as your student ID. Not. Where do you start? Well, it really depends on your needs. But we’ve done the hardest part of designing the best laptop for our students, no matter what you care about.

Are you a design student who needs a laptop you can draw on? Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 is a great fit. Want a gaming-ready machine for weekend frag fests? The Dell Inspiron 7000 Gaming edition is perfect. Just need something for writing papers and watching Netflix? The Asus Chromebook Flip C302CA is excellent for casual use.

College is expensive enough already, so it’s important to shop smart. Whether you’re working with a tight budget or you have a little expendable income, we’ve got something for everyone. From sleek ultraportables to traditional clamshell-style laptops, here are the best laptops for students.

HP Spectre X360

The 2017 HP Spectre X360 is, for the right buyer, an almost perfect laptop. It’s lightweight, powerful, has great Hp 364602-001 laptop battery life, and its drop-dead-gorgeous design will definitely turn heads. The 2017 version now includes a stylus, meaning you can easily flip the screen around and take notes or draw diagrams right on the screen.

Though it’s a bit pricier than some of the value-oriented picks on this list, we highly recommend opting for the squeaky clean Microsoft Signature Edition model with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. That’ll set you back a little over $1,000, but that is still hundreds of dollars less than its closest competitor, the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Compared to the Pro, the Spectre x360 gives you far more bang for your buck, and the combination of a 2-in-1 design, included stylus, and touchscreen support is ideal for all students—no matter what your major ends up being.

Asus Chromebook Flip C302CA

The Asus Chromebook Flip C302CA, with its 4GB RAM and 64GB of eMMC flash storage, is a good productivity machine. It’s fast enough to handle most tasks like watching Netflix or surfing the web. The Flip is surprisingly zippy for a Chromebook, which exclusively runs web-based applications.

It genuinely feels well-built, too. The aluminum body is slim and lightweight, but won’t bow under pressure. The convertible hinge design also lets you rotate the lid all the way around so you can use it like a tablet, making it easier to share information in a classroom setting.

It’s pricier than your average Chromebook, but if you’re looking for a sophisticated-looking machine to do your schoolwork on, then you can’t get much better than this. It looks and feels like a premium machine without the premium price tag.

Acer Chromebook 11 N7

If you’re happy with the limited abilities of a Chromebook, the Acer Chromebook 11 N7 is the budget alternative to the Flip. It’s not the prettiest machine, but it’s rugged and affordable. Designed for classroom environments, it should be able to withstand drops up to 48 inches. The keyboard and trackpad are also sealed against small spills, so if you were to spill a can of soda on it, the gutter system would drain that away.

It runs Android apps, too, but it’ll only work in the beta channel. That might be something only advanced users want to deal with, as it’s not stable yet. The Acer has a touchscreen, though, which gives you a little more control over the apps.

The 1366 x 768 display looks okay in low-light, but bright environments wash it out. The colors are accurate enough, at the very least. Even though the display is lacking, it’s not a bad machine for the price. The Acer isn’t as sleek-looking as the Flip, but it gets the job done.

Acer Aspire E 15

The Acer Aspire E 15 is, without question, the most fully featured cheap laptop we’ve ever tested. For just $350 you get a 15.6-inch 1080p screen, a 7th-gen Intel Core i3 processor, a DVD burner, and 4GB of RAM.

It has a slower (but huge) 1TB hard drive, but both the storage and the memory are easily upgradeable. For just $200 you could upgrade to 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD; all it takes is removing a few screws.

Even without upgrading, it’s a $350 machine that outperforms laptops that cost twice as much. The catch? It isn’t much to look at. It’s bulky, it’s mostly plastic, and the screen isn’t great. But if you need a solid all-around laptop that’s basically starting at clearance prices, this is it.

HP 14‑an013nr

The HP 14-an013nr doesn’t have the prettiest name, but it does have the prettiest screen among cheap laptops we’ve tested. And we do mean cheap: this HP regularly retails for just $220 and occasionally dips under $200 (which is why we named it one of the best cheap laptops under $200).

It’s hard to even find laptops this cheap, let alone one that has a half-decent quad core processor and a 14-inch display. It’s not fast by any means, but the included 4GB of RAM is easily upgradeable, and the fit and finish is on par with laptops in the $500 range.

This laptop isn’t good for much other than taking notes, writing papers, or browsing the web, but that’s all most people need. And though a Chromebook would tick all the same boxes, for some people getting a full Windows 10 experience provides a little more flexibility and familiarity—especially if you won’t always have access to the internet.

Dell Inspiron 13 5000

If you want the power and portability of a high-end laptop but want to keep the cost down, the Dell Inspiron 13 5000 is the way to go. Reasonably equipped models start right around $529, with fast processors and just enough storage and memory for handling schoolwork.

We recommend upgrading to a model with at least 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, which will set you back around $700. Though the plasticky body won’t turn heads, it’s lightweight, portable, and the 2-in-1 screen is perfect for watching Netflix.

Best of all, it’s easy and fast to get your laptop fixed if it breaks (we’re big fans of Dell’s service and support). And if you’re the techy type, Dell offers a service manual that shows you how to personally replace nearly every component on the laptop—ensuring it’ll work great for years to come.

Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming

If you want serious graphics power for a low price, the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming is the best budget gaming laptop around. The base model, which comes with 8GB RAM and an Intel Core i5-7300HQ quad core processor, has a starting price of $749. That’s enough juice to handle mainstream titles like Overwatch on medium settings and older games on high or ultra settings.

The thing about this laptop is that it’s ginormous, weighing almost six pounds. Unless you’re teeming with superhuman strength, I doubt you’ll want to lug this thing back and forth to class every day. It’s probably the kind of laptop that lives on your dorm room desk rather than something you take all your notes on, but it’s a pretty good deal if you want a gaming-capable machin; you’re getting loads of power for a phenomenal price.

Microsoft Surface Pro 4

Most “2-in-1” laptops have an attached keyboard that can flip behind the screen, resulting in something that’s basically a big, bulky tablet. The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is the opposite of that: it’s a tablet first and foremost, with a detachable keyboard cover (sold separately) for when the included stylus and on-screen keyboard aren’t enough.

Though typing on the keyboard cover takes some getting used to, the SP4 is perfect if you plan to write a lot of your notes on the screen or need something you can draw on. Its stylus is widely considered to be the best in class and the built-in kickstand gives you plenty of angles to work with.

The Surface Pro 4 comes in a wide variety of configurations, with entry-level models that can handle basic schoolwork starting at $799—not counting Microsoft.com’s 10% student discount. More powerful options exist, but the thin design means those power-hungry machines won’t last quite as long on a charge.

Apple MacBook Air

The MacBook Air, known for its all-aluminum body and ultra-thin design, hasn’t changed much since its 2008 debut. The 2017 version might not have the freshest design, but performance is fast enough for basic tasks like web browsing, photo editing, and word processing. What I like best is the large multi-touch touchpad because it’s easy to use and super responsive.

The 1440 x 900 display is behind the curve, though. You’ll lose contrast if you tilt the screen downward and viewing angles are narrower than we like. It’s fine for everyday tasks like writing e-mails or chatting in Slack, but most laptops offer 1080p displays or higher these days.

Razer Blade (2017)

If you’re looking to replace your aging gaming computer with a high-end powerhouse, then maybe it’s time to spring for the Razer Blade. This machine, with its high-performing specs and cool Chroma keyboard, ticked off a lot of boxes for us—it’s actually the best-performing laptop we’ve ever tested. The Nvidia GTX 1060 graphics chip can handle everything from modern games to virtual reality, if that’s your thing.

The only drawback is the underwhelming battery life. The Blade loses its charge after just a few hours of moderate use. That’s less than a full school day, so you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled for an outlet between classes. It’s also expensive, but for a true gaming experience you can bring on the go, the Blade is perfect.

Asus ZenBook UX330

The Asus ZenBook UX330 is one of the best ultrabooks you can get. Not only will it last all day on a charge, the guts offer great performance for the money. Weighing a little under 3 pounds, this lightweight machine comes with an Intel Core i5-7200U processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD. That’s plenty of power for multitasking, and it’ll feel fast for years to come.

The matte non-touch display is old-school, but in a good way. Most touchscreen displays have a glossy finish, which causes glare in bright environments, but the ZenBook doesn’t have that problem. The screen still provides vibrant colors and a great viewing angle, perfect whether you’re cranking out a last-minute paper or binge-watching Netflix on the weekend.

Top 5 Chromebooks for school or anywhere else in 2017

In 2014, Apple still accounts for nearly half of the school market, but Google has an advantage in their field of vision. 2016, according to Futuresource, a financial markets research firm, Chromebooks has 58% of the education market. Despite the efforts of apple and Microsoft, Chromebooks continues to dominate the school.

Why? Part of it is price. You can get a good Chromebook for a few hundred dollars. Apple has nothing in its price range. Microsoft said it was competing with its new Surface Laptop and Windows 10S, but the price alone, $999, makes it a non-starter.

Besides, Chromebooks as FutureSource pointed out, have a unique combination of virtues. These are: “The strong combination of affordable devices, productivity tools via G-Suite, easy integration with third-party platforms/tools, task management/distribution via Google Classroom, and easy device management remains extremely popular with US teachers and IT buyers alike.”

So, as schools get into session, what should you buy? Here are the five best Chromebooks today for both your eighth grader and for your office. I’ve ranked them in price order, from the most to the least expensive.

ASUS Chromebook Flip C302

At $469, you won’t want to send your kindergartner to school with this high-priced — for a Chromebook — laptop. But, it will be fine for you or your high-school student.

Looking like Apple’s late lamented 11-inch MacBook Air, this is a quality Chromebook for work or school. With a 12.5-inch screen and 1,920 x 1,080-pixel resolution and a 360-degree display hinge, it’s a pleasure to use either as a laptop or a tablet.

For connections to the outside world, it uses 802.11ac Wi-Fi and a pair of USB-C ports. Unfortunately, these ports don’t support the faster Thunderbolt 3 technology. Still, USB-C is more than fast enough for any task a Chromebook is likely to face.

With a 2.2GHz Intel Core m3 processor, it’s no speed demon, but then Chrome OS doesn’t need a fast processor. This is also one of the first Chromebooks that comes with native Android app support.

This laptop comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of SSD storage. Since, like any Chromebook, it relies on Google Drive for storage, 64GB is more than enough.

If you want a good-looking Chromebook with decent performance, it’s hard to do better than the Asus Chromebook Flip.

Acer Chromebook R13

For a bit less money, you can get the Acer Chromebook for a street price of a lick over $350.

What you’ll get for that is a bigger, 13.3-inch touch dual-hinge display with 1,920 x 1,080-pixel resolution. That dual-hinge enables it to be used as a laptop or a tablet. It’s best feature though is its battery life. An ordinary Chromebook has a Acer as07b72 laptop battery life of 8 to 10 hours. The Acer clocks in at an amazing, real-world 13 hours.

That battery life is in part because the Acer uses a 2.1 GHz MediaTek MT8127 processor. This a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, which uses less power than its Intel rivals. It also means, unfortunately, that the Acer is a tad slower than its competition. More battery life or faster speed? The choice is up to you.

For RAM, it has 4GB RAM. You can choose between 32GB or 64GB SSD for storage.

For Wi-Fi, the Acer uses the now ubiquitous 802.11ac. For ports, it includes a USB-C, without Thunderbolt 3 support and a USB-3 port.

The reason to buy this model is simple: Battery life. It’s the best in the market today.

Dell Chromebook 3189 2-in-1

This Dell model is a step down from the Asus, but at $349, it’s more affordable. Since it’s also MIL-STD 810G rated, this Chromebook can take a licking and keep on ticking. This laptop can withstand extreme temperatures, sand and dust, shock and vibration, and drops of up to 30 inches onto a wooden surface. In short, it’s kid-ready.

The 11.6-inch touch display has a low 1,366 x 768-pixel resolution, but that’s sufficient for study or work. It also has a dual-hinge display, so it’s ready to be used in either tablet or laptop mode.

Another nice feature is the keyboard. It has a good, solid feel to it. The laptop also comes with 802.11ac and a pair of USB-3 ports.

The 1.6GHz Intel Celeron N3060 is on the slow side, but again Chrome OS doesn’t require fast processors. This Chromebook comes with 4GB of RAM. For storage, it uses 32GB of fast SSD storage, but there are other Chromebook variants with 16GB ($329) and 64GB ($409) SSDs.

What I like most about this model is its toughness. Schools can be hard on computers, but the Dell Chromebook 3189 is up for the job.

Acer Chromebook 15 C910-C37P

Do you want a solid Chromebook for under $300? What about $289.99, to be exact? Then you want to check out this laptop. It’s not the best looking or the lightest, but it delivers the goods at an affordable price.

At 15-inches, the display — with its 1920 x 1080-pixel resolution– is bigger than the others I considered. That said, it’s not a very attractive screen. You won’t want to watch Netflix on it, but for getting homework or office work done, it does just fine.

It’s hardware for talking to the external world is a generation behind. This Chromebook has a USB 2 and a USB 3 port. For Wi-Fi, it comes with support only up to 802.11n.

With an 1.5GHz Intel Core i5-5200u dual-core processor, an Intel HD 5500 graphics chip, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of on-board SSD storage, it has good internal hardware.

All-in-all, the Acer Chromebook 15 is for people who like full-sized laptops at an inexpensive price.

Lenovo ThinkPad 13 Chromebook

I think for the first time — in the more than 20 years I’ve been using ThinkPads — I have one in front of me that’s the most inexpensive laptop in a round-up. At a street price of $223.99, you’ll never see a cheaper ThinkPad.

This Chromebook comes with a 13.3-inch screen with either HD (1,366×768) or full HD (1,920×1,080) resolution. For more money, you can get this ThinkPad with a touchscreen.

Like any ThinkPad, it has an excellent keyboard. It does not, alas, have a trackpoint. Instead, it uses a standard touchpad.

Another nice feature is that it comes with an abundance of USB ports: two USB 3.0s and two USB-Cs. For networking, it uses 802.11ac.

To keep the price down, it comes with an 1.60GHz Intel Celeron 3855U processor and 4GB of DDR3 RAM and 16GB in the SSD.

The ThinkPad isn’t, with its low-end components, isn’t the best around. You can upgrade it, but then you lose its chief virtue: A great price for a solid Chromebook.

So, which one is best for you? Well, if you’ve been reading along, you’ll see that each has its good features. To sum up: Best in the field is the Asus Flip; Best battery life is the Acer R13; Toughest against wear and tear is Dell; Acer 15 has the biggest screen; and Lenovo is the cheapest. That said, any of them will work well for work in the classroom, home, or office.

PREVIOUS AND RELATED COVERAGE

How to pick the best Chromebook for school

Chromebooks are cheap, fast, secure, work well, and can fit in your eighth grader’s backpack. Here’s what’s going on with Chromebooks in education today and how to pick the right one for you and the students in your life.

The new Surface Laptop is no Chromebook

What were you thinking, Microsoft? The company’s just-released Surface Laptop is meant to challenge Chromebooks, but at a starting price of $999, who the heck will buy it? It sure won’t be schools, which Chromebook dominates now.

How to Choose the Best Notebook Screen for You

When you buy a laptop computer, the screen is one of the most important components. People don’t do a lot of high-end tasks may not be aware of the differences between the core i5 and Core i7 processors, but even the most high-tech illiteracy will appreciate the beauty of the display and the contempt of an ugly one.

 

So, whether you’re choosing between competing models or picking a configuration of the laptop you already want, you need to choose the best possible screen. After all, you will be staring at it all day.

Here are five things to keep in mind when considering your screen options.

Resolution: 1920 x 1080 or Higher

Every display panel is made up of a series of dots called pixels, and the more pixels you have, the more detail you can fit on-screen. Most laptops come with low-resolution, 1366 x 768 screens that show far less content than high-resolution panels with at least 1920 x 1080 pixels.

In fact, a 1920 x 1080 (also called 1080p) display can show as much as 10 additional lines of text on a web page, or in an email or a document you’re editing. You can fit two full-size windows next to each other with 1920 horizontal pixels, but can’t really do that with just 1366 dots to work with. Videos and photos also look a lot sharper at 1080p because the dots are smaller, allowing you to see fine details without the graininess you get on a low-res screen.

If you really want to kick your display quality up a few notches, you can get a screen with an even higher resolution than 1080p. Some laptops are available with panels that are 2560 x 1440, 3200 x 1800 or 3840 x 2160 (aka 4K) resolution. These higher-than-1080p resolutions are sharper, but they also use more power, harming Asus a32-f3 laptop battery life.

When you’re going through spec sheets for different laptops, you may see the same screen resolution referred to with different names. For example, a 2560 x 1440 screen could be listed as a 2K display, or as WQHD. Here’s a helpful table of common resolution names.

Unless you’re buying a dirt-cheap laptop, you should always get a laptop with at least a 1920 x 1080 resolution. You can find a system with 1080p these days for as little as $349, but many $700 and $800 laptops still come with 1366 panels, so spending more doesn’t guarantee a better display.

Touch or Non-Touch?

If you’re buying a 2-in-1, there’s no doubt that you need a touch screen and no option not to get one. However, if you’re purchasing a standard clamshell laptop, you need to weigh the advantages of touch against its downsides.

Though it’s cool, in theory, to be able to reach across your keyboard and poke at the panel, touch screens have three distinct disadvantages:

• Power consumption: Most touch screens use a lot more power, leading to fewer hours of Asus a32-k52 notebook battery life on the same notebook.
• Price: If you’re choosing between different configurations of the same laptop, you can expect to pay $100 to $200 more for touch.
• Glossiness: Almost all touch screens have glossy surfaces that reflect more light back at you, harming viewing angles.

So, if you don’t really need or want a touch screen, don’t get one.

Brightness: 250 Nits Is Best

Though resolution and color quality are more important, having a brighter screen provides a better experience. Brighter panels usually make colors pop (though they can also be washed out) and lead to wider viewing angles. If you plan to work outdoors or near a window, you need a fairly bright panel to see anything in direct sunlight.

Most laptop companies and journalists measure brightness in nits and higher numbers equate to a more luminous screen. The brightest laptops on the market have screens that can reach 300 nits or more, but you can consider any screen with over 250 nits to be above average.

Color Quality: Wide Gamut, IPS and OLED

The more colors your panel can output, the more vibrant it will appear. At LAPTOP, we measure every laptop’s screen’s ability to reproduce all the colors in the sRGB gamut, which is a rather limited set of colors. The best laptops can reproduce over 95 percent of the sRGB gamut, and many exceed 100 percent. Few manufacturers disclose their screen gamuts on spec sheets, but those that do usually use a wider gamut such as NTSC or Adobe RGB. A 72-percent NTSC gamut measurement is equivalent to 100 percent of sRGB.

If you don’t know a laptop screen’s gamut coverage, you can at least see if it is labeled as an IPS or OLED display. Better-quality laptop screens use IPS (in-plane switching) technology, which offers better viewing angles and more vibrancy than standard TN (twisted nematic) panels. If the manufacturer doesn’t disclose that a screen is IPS, assume that it is not.

The most colorful type of screen you can get is one that uses OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology. While traditional screens have a backlight that illuminates all  the pixels, with OLED, each pixel lights itself. That means that colors are truer and blacks are completely black. While many phones have OLED screens, only two laptops have this technology so far: the Alienware 13 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga.

High Refresh Rate, G-Sync for Gaming

If you’re buying a gaming laptop, you’ll want to consider two more factors: refresh rate and response time. Measured in hertz, the refresh rate is the number of times per second that the screen updates itself. Most laptop screens have the standard 60Hz refresh rate, but some high-end gaming models like the MSI GS63VR come with 120Hz panels, which are better.

Response time is the amount of milliseconds it takes for a pixel to change colors. A good response time for gaming is 5 ms or less. With a low refresh rate or a high response time, your screen may not be able to keep up with fast-paced games, which means  you’ll see problems like ghosting and tearing. If you have a game running at 90 fps and your screen is only 60Hz, you may notice this problem.

Some laptops come with Nvidia’s G-Sync technology, which limits ghosting and tearing by synchronizing the panel with the video card. The screen knows that the game is running at 60 fps, for example, and adjusts accordingly. AMD has its own synchronization technology called FreeSync.

Bottom Line

If you do nothing else, make sure you get a screen that has at least a 1920 x 1080 resolution. Think really hard about whether you want touch, and then consider the color quality and brightness. Worry about the refresh rate and response time only if you’re a serious gamer.

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