We made a lot of tools and batteries. My example is the DEWALT flexvolt technology and Milwaukee 9 Ah batteries. But what is a battery charger that complements the energy of the battery? It turns out that there may be more differences between battery chargers than the package itself. Although we do not think someone will jump from one platform to another just because the charger technology, well know who stands out. For this article, we require the best battery charger from the major tool manufacturers. Most responses and participation. Then we took a closer look at how they did it. The following is our evaluation of the best battery charger for electric tools.
What Makes the Best Battery Charger?
Notice we said WHAT makes the best battery charger, not WHO. Answering the first question really depends on your needs and how you use your power tools. As you go through this article, realize that we don’t expect anyone will shift their tool platform of choice based on a charger. What we do want to communicate are any standout features for each platform. Some manufacturers have really done something special with their tool battery charger technology. That deserves some recognition. By the end, you should know which charger offers the best benefits for your tool platform.
Also, there are chargers that exceed the capabilities of the basic models included with tool kits. Knowing that can decrease your charging time should you choose to purchase a more advanced model. For any Pros and power users wanting to increase productivity, this could rock your world.
Air Cooling = Speed
No lithium-ion battery pack can be recharged until the temperature is down to a safe level. This is an issue as many packs hit the charger immediately after use. If you just completed a high torque/high speed application, that battery pack may not truly start charging for as much as 10-30 minutes. Yes, even though that light is on, your battery is just sitting there. Some manufacturers employ heat sinks and other physical technologies to help dissipate heat in packs.
Some of the fastest chargers on the market, however, use fans to pull air through the battery packs. Obviously, the packs need to be designed with venting to facilitate this. Running air over a sealed battery pack doesn’t do much. Consequently, chargers with fans that don’t actually circulate air through a pack aren’t really doing much to speed the charging process. Packs and chargers that use air cooling efficiently include Makita, Metabo, Hitachi, Husqvarna, EGO, and the pending Bosch Eneracer battery packs.
Wall-Mounting the Chargers
Since we do literally hundreds of hands-on power tool reviews each year, having access to every charger was critical. When we started collecting them all, we decided the best way to serve our particular needs was mounting them to a piece of 3/4-inch plywood. On the back of the plywood we mounted two industrial power strips which we connected to two separate 20-amp circuits. This gave us plenty of current for simultaneously recharging multiple packs from different manufacturers. We can’t run them all at once—but we’ve never needed to.
It also revealed some serious flaws. As it turns out, many of these battery chargers don’t include keyhole mounts for wall-mounting. It’s an almost unconscionable oversight. Here are the notable offenders (That’s right, we’re calling you out!):
Bosch
Makita
DeWalt DCB102 (the DCB132 has them)
Porter-Cable
Hitachi
Hilti
Metabo
In order to mount these charger we did a combination of “tricks”. For some, we actually took them apart and drilled our own keyhole mounting points. This further solidified the fact that a small manufacturing tweak could have added this feature. On others, where the circuitboard was too close, we used a Southwire heavy duty cable tie to secure them to our plywood.
Annoying Blinking Lights
One thing we noticed once all the chargers were together was that some were…really annoying. There are, apparently, no standards with respect to LED lights on battery chargers. Some manufacturers decided to initiate solid or blinking lights for no reason at all. Hilti, Ridgid, and Bosch have green lights on at all times (with no battery inserted). This strikes us as backwards, since I want to only see a light when a battery is inserted. Preferably, I’d only see a solid green light when a battery is fully charged.
It gets worse…
Hitachi decided that a flashing Red light would be a good standard of operation with no battery inserted. When you look at the charger you instantly think something must be wrong…Makita isn’t much better—but at least their flashing light is green.
Our LED Light Recommendation
Here’s what we recommend for ALL manufacturers. If they would adopt these standards we think the world might be a better place:
No battery inserted: NO LED light
Cooling mode (pre-charge): Solid Red Light
Charging: Blinking Yellow light
Battery near full charge: Blinking Green light
Battery charged: Solid Green light
Bad Battery, error, etc: Flashing Red Light
Any variation on blinking speed would be fine, but the above general guidelines would make a whole lot more sense than the hodgepodge of systems we see currently.
USB Charging
One nice feature we noticed with some chargers was the integration of USB charging. The best integrations include 2.1A fast charging for tablets and phones, but even a 1.0A charging port is better than nothing. Models that had this feature included:
Hitachi UC 18YSL3 (2A)
Makita DC18RD (1.5A)
Ridgid R840094 (2 x 2A)
DeWalt DCB102 (2 x 1.5A)
RYOBI Supercharger (2A)
Charger by Charger
Milwaukee M18 & M12 Rapid Charge Station (48-59-1807)
Big Picture: We actually reviewed the Milwaukee Rapid Charge Station, so look there for a more in-depth take in this battery charger. The unit provides simultaneous charging of up to 3 batteries. You can change either an M12 or M18 battery in each of the three banks—at the same time. But, you can load up the Rapid Charge Station with six packs, and they’ll get them all done—three at a time. This is, in our opinion, the best battery charger on the market for handheld power tools.
Highs: Charging three packs at once is a big deal if you need maximum productivity. Wall-mounting this charger is made simple by divots in the frame which help locate the keyholes. This is also a Rapid Charger, so it charges batteries up to 40% faster than a standard charger. At 80% charge, you also get a slow blinking green light that tells you can grab and go if you need to wrap up some work before the pack is topped off. Finally, Milwaukee added a pass-through plug to help you maximize your available outlets.
Lows: While the handle is cool for floor-use, it’s a tad bulky when wall-mounted. A recessed collapsible handle would make this charger almost perfect. No USB charging.
Makita DC18RD 18V LXT Lithium‑ion Dual Port Rapid Optimum Charger
Big Picture: Makita has some of the fastest charge times in the industry. Part of that is due to the fact that they are one of several manufacturers who pull air through the battery during charging. This allows the charging process to begin sooner, and execute more quickly. Sealed battery packs don’t promote air flow and, in general, take longer to recharge. Makita is close to the best Makita 192681-5 Battery charger and certainly the best dual-charger on the market.
Highs: The DC18RD charges two 18V XLT packs simultaneously. In addition, recharge times are really quick. The DC18RD can charge two 18V compact Lithium-ion 2.0Ah batteries in just 25 minutes and two 5.0Ah battery packs in 45 minutes. This charger also has a 1.5A USB port for charging a phone or tablet.
Lows: Blinking green light with no battery inserted. No wall or keyhole mounts. Would love to see 2.1A USB output on a future model.
Makita DC10WD 12V max CXT Lithium‑ion Charger
Big Picture: This is a basic 12V charger for Makita, but it gets the job done.
Highs: The DC10WD can charge a 1.5Ah 12V CXT battery in 50 minutes or a 4.0Ah battery pack in 130 minutes.
Lows: Blinking green light with no battery inserted. No wall or keyhole mounts. No USB port for charging.
DeWalt DCB132 Dual Port Charger
Big Picture:DeWalt has almost as many chargers as it has battery voltages…almost. With that said, it was difficult to know which one to choose for best performance. This model can charge Flexvolt 54V (at 20V), 20V, 14.4V and 12V batteries. That makes it the Swiss Army knife of chargers for DeWalt customers. The DeWalt DCB132 can also charge two batteries simultaneously, so it’s one of the best available chargers for power users.
Highs: The DCB132 will charge a 6.0Ah 20V Max or 2.0Ah FlexVolt (60V) battery in 90 minutes. Includes keyhole mount points.
Lows: Average charging speed. No USB port. Oddly, doesn’t advertise that it will charge 12V Max packs.
DeWalt DCB1800B 1800W Portable Power Station and Battery Charger
Big Picture: You can buy the DeWalt Portable Power Station with (DCB1800M3T1) or without batteries. This system not only recharges 4 batteries simultaneously, it can use those charged batteries to power your corded tools when you’re done. With its 3600W/30A of peak power output, we actually used it to operate a 120V MIG welder! It can put out 15A of continuous output, making it perfect for miter saws, circular saws, rotary hammers, and similar tools.
Highs: Parallel charging of 20V Max or FlexVolt 60V battery packs. Obvious benefits of being a power station. Pass-through power. Excellent form factor with well-placed handles and protection for battery packs. Integrates with the DeWalt ToughSystem.
Lows: Slow (2A) charging speed (per battery—but you do get 4 at once). No USB port.
Ridgid AC840094 18V Dual Port Sequential Charger
Big Picture: This dual sequential charger from Ridgid is much nicer to have than the basic chargers which come with their kits. It combines the dual chemistry charger technology (AC840093) with two slots for charging two batteries (one at a time). You can Rapid charge up to a 4.0Ah battery pack in less than 60 minutes.
Highs: Ridgid included two handy non-grounded pass-through outlets on the front as well as twin 2.0A USB charging ports.
Lows: Charging speed isn’t the fastest, and we know a lot of Pros who would appreciate an option for simultaneous charging two or more batteries.
Ridgid AC86049 12-Volt Battery Charger
Big Picture: There is nothing special about this charger, and it’s currently the only model that can charge Ridgid 12V stem batteries.
Highs: Recharges a 12V 2.0Ah battery in 30 minutes or less. Wall-mountable.
Lows: No USB charging.
RYOBI 18V ONE+ 6-Port SuperCharger P135
Big Picture: The original RYOBI 6-port charger allowed sequential charging of six batteries. One problem with that model was that dust and debris could easily make its way into the openings. The new RYOBI 18V ONE+ 6-Port SuperCharger angles the batteries and adds new features like a 2A USB charging port.
Highs: This charger can bring a RYOBI 2.oAh battery back to full charge in just 30 minutes. It can charge any ONE+ Ni-Cd or Li-ion battery pack. Like all RYOBI ONE+ tool, the P135 is fully backwards-compatible. Charging is sequential, so when one battery is fully charged, the next battery begins. It continues this way until all batteries are at 100% charge.
Lows: Would love at least dual charging instead of sequential.
Hilti C 4/36-MC4 115V Multi-bay Charger
Big Picture: This is a sequential 5A charger for Hilti 12V-36V battery packs. If you use it with 12V packs, Hilti says you’ll need the CA-B12 charging adapter. It will charge the batteries in the order they were inserted.
Highs: Since this is a 5A charger, charging speed is actually very respectable. Hilti claims you can get one of their 5.2Ah HITACHI EB 2420 Battery packs up to 75% charge in just 20 minutes. We also love that you can use one multi-port charger to handle all of your Hilti lithium-ion batteries. Our 12V, 18V, and 36V Hilti tools are all taken care of on a single platform.
Lows: There’s no keyhole or wall mount option for this charger. Green light stays on with no battery inserted. No USB charging.
Metabo ASC Ultra 14.4-36 V Air Cooled Charger (627265000)
Big Picture: Metabo has perfected air cooling in its chargers and batteries. The ASC Ultra 14.4-36 V charger tackles anything from 14.4V to 36V battery packs. It also draws up to 6.5A, so it’s one of the more powerful quick chargers on the market. When it comes to recharging 36V packs, this additional current will come in handy. If it had two ports it would be a contender for best battery charger.
Highs: This is a snappy 6.5A charger that can fill up a 4.0Ah pack in just 35 minutes. It can charge nearly all of Metabo’s slide pack batteries, from 14.4V to 36V. Air-cooled.
Lows: No keyhole for wall mounting. No USB charging. We’d love to see a dual charger on this platform.
Big Picture: Hitachi can, using the UC18YSL3 battery charger, top off one of its new 6.0Ah packs in just 38 minutes. It will do a 3.0Ah battery in just 20 minutes. This charger features air cooling to ensure quick and safe charging. You’ll need to pick up the Hitachi UC10SFLP charger if you want to recharge your 12V batteries.
Highs: Love that the charger has a 2.0A USB charging port built right in. Our only pet peeve on this charger is that it has a red blinking light that never stops. If it’s plugged in, that light is blinking. We don’t know about you, but a blinking red light usually indicates some sort of fault. In Japan, it apparently means “A-OK.”
Lows: No keyhole mount. Blinking red light.
EGO POWER+ Rapid Charger CH5500
Big Picture: The EGO CH5500 Rapid Charger took a 7.5Ah 56V battery to full in less than an hour. It will do a 2.0Ah battery in 25 minutes. That’s really quick. It easily mounts to a wall, and it features air cooling. This is likely how it can recharge even the highest capacity batteries quickly. Most EGO tools are sold as kits, so you can collect the standard chargers for smaller batteries. Then, the CH5500 can be dedicated to tackling your larger 5.0Ah and 7.5Ah packs. This may be the very best battery charger we’ve used for a single pack.
Highs: Very quick charging. Did we mention that it’s fast?
Lows: Would love to see a couple USB charging ports.
Festool Battery Charger TCL 3 (499412)
Big Picture: Festool could use an update of their battery chargers, but the TCL 3 will get it done. It take about 70 minutes to recharge a 4.0Ah pack. The Festool TS 55 REQ plunge cut track saw runs on dual battery packs. Given that and their push into cordless, a faster dual-charger would be welcome. Festool has announced the new SCA 8 Airstream charger, but it has yet to come to market. When it does, it may cut charge times in half.
Highs: Works with all slide-on Festool NiCD, NiMH and Li-ion batteries. Wall-mountable.
Lows: Slow charging. No USB ports.
Bosch BC3680 18V/36V Lithium-Ion Fast Charger
Big Picture: Bosch is benefiting from the use of “hybrid” chargers. The BC3680 charger is nearly identical to the BC1880 charger, but it can handle both 18V and 36V packs. Charge time is not bad. It can charge a Bosch 36V 4.0Ah battery in just 45 minutes. Bosch has yet to introduce a multi-port charger. We hope that’s in the works. Of course, there’s also Bosch wireless charging (WC18C) which is great for benchtop tool users. For their 12V tools, you’ll need the BC330. We’re looking forward to the new Bosch Eneracer packs which should include all-new chargers as well.
Highs: Fast charging. Works with 18V and 36V Bosch Li-ion batteries.
Lows: Not wall-mountable. No USB ports. Obtuse LED light codes.
Fein Rapid Charger ALG 50 (92604154010)
Big Picture: Fein is well-known for its high performance grinders and oscillating multi-tools. The ALG 50 charger works for all Fein Lithium-ion batteries. While this is billed as a rapid charger, we found the charging speeds to be average. Fein has yet to develop or release a multi-port charger.
Highs: Works with all Fein Li-ion batteries. Includes keyhole mounts.
Lows: No USB ports.
Kobalt 24V Max 110W Battery Charger KRC 2490-03
Big Picture: The new Kobalt 24V brushless tools have impressed us with their power and features. They seem committed, and the line has seen regular updates since its debut. The 110W charger is an upgrade from the standard charger sold with most of their kits. It will recharge a 2.0Ah battery pack in less than 30 minutes. Like many manufacturers, Kobalt has yet to release a multi-battery charger.
Highs: Inexpensive fast charger. Relatively quick charging speeds. Wall-mountable.
Lows: No USB ports.
Porter-Cable 20V Max Lithium-ion Charger PCC690L
Big Picture: Porter-Cable’s PCC690L charger isn’t much quicker than the one included in their tool kits. It will recharge a 1.3Ah pack in around 40 minutes. It also lacks a keyhole mount for hanging it on a wall. As Porter-Cable expands its line perhaps we’ll see a rapid charger.
Highs: Inexpensive charger.
Lows: No USB ports. Not wall-mountable. Slow charging.
Husqvarna Battery Charger QC330
Big Picture: As with many things from Husqvarna, we’re at the mercy of Sweden to release some of their products in the U.S. market. Case in point is the 500W version of this charger, the QC500. For now, the 330W QC330 will have to do. This is a very intelligent charger that is equipped to not only recharge Husqvarna’s battery packs but also their backpacks. It will charge a 4.2Ah 36V BLi150 pack in around 50 minutes. If you have a BLi940 backpack—it will take up to 4 hours to top it off. Since this is an OPE solution, USB ports were not a consideration.
Highs: Intelligent, fast charging that can handle anything from small packs to large backpack batteries.
Lows: No USB ports. QC500 not yet available in the U.S.
Conclusion
We don’t expect you to jump ship at any point just because we identified the best battery charger. Hopefully, this article helps you now which charger is the best on your platform. Kits often come with only the most basic battery charger. Knowing how to increase your productivity with the best battery charger for your power tools could be the key to saving you time and money.
We’re most excited to see a shift towards air-cooled systems. With the integration of newer battery cells (20700 cells in particular), cooling is going to be key. It will allow for greater use of the cells, higher torque and speed in power tools, and faster charging. You can also tell a charger will be faster by the current load. If it has less than a 4A draw, it’s not a rapid charger regardless of what it may say on the box. What charger(s) have you been most impressed with? Let us know in the comments below.
If you are a high-end portable computer, can continue all day after Toshiba said its new port G X30 notebook and advertising will be up to 18 hours of battery life work.
How it performs in the real world remains to be seen. ZDNet’s review of the recently launched Portégé X20W-D ultrabook found its advertised 14.5 hour Toshiba pa3534u-1brs notebook battery to be “ambitious”.
Nonetheless, the enterprise-class Portégé X30 is likely to appeal to business users for its performance, security, and sturdiness. The Japanese tech giant focuses on the enterprise these days, which helps explain the Portégé X30 features and starting price of $1,450.
The magnesium-alloy body notebook weighs 2.31lb (1.05kg) and is 0.59-inches (15.99mm) thick, which is 13 percent lighter and 11 percent thinner than its predecessor.
It features a 13.3-inch Full HD touch display at a 1,920 x 1,080-pixel resolution and comes with Windows 10 Pro. The notebook is available in three standard configurations, as well as built-to-order options.
The entry level model comes with Intel’s Kaby Lake Core i5 processor, 8GBRAM, and a 256GB SSD storage, while the $1,900 model offers a Core i7 processor with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage. The mid-tier $1,600 model has a Core i7 processor with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD.
Connectivity options include one USB 3.0 port, two USB Type-C ports, an HDMI port, a microSD slot, Thunderbolt 3, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.
According to Toshiba, the laptop has passed the so-called US Military Standard Mil-SPEC-810G for extreme temperature, vibration, shock, humidity, drop, and dust. The backlit keyboard is also spill resistant.
The laptop offers a number of extra security features, including password-free login courtesy of the fingerprint sensor in the touchpad, Windows Hello face authentication, Microsoft’s BitLocker Drive Encryption and Windows 10 Device Guard and Credential Guard.
DELL and Hewlett are indeed two of the most trusted laptop makers in the! In fact, the two companies are doing desktop devices, but the market share is not based on this, you know. Therefore, when you need the best laptop, if you doubt the relationship between DELL and HP, it is very natural. In fact, there are a lot of similarities between these brands. On the one hand, the budget friendly laptop is the same as the high-end. From the customer’s point of view, you should have a clear view of the choice of better laptop transactions.
In this HP vs Dell comparison, we will talk about both laptop brands. We can also go through aspects like pricing, support, features etc. In the end, we assure you something: you can pick the right laptop for your needs. We do understand that selection is tough, even when you are within a brand. So, we will also suggest two laptops from Dell and Laptops. So, shall we start?
To start with, we will have an introduction to both Dell and HP, as laptop manufacturers.
Dell vs HP Laptops – An Intro
Dell Inc. is a multinational computing company, based in Texas, United States. It started 32 Years back, for providing both hardware and software services, particularly coming up with new devices. On September 7, 2016, it was merged to form Dell Technologies. Now, officially, Dell Technologies is into a variety of products such as Personal Computers, Smartphones and Networking and Hardware devices. Nevertheless, Dell is still noted for its varying range of Laptops and Desktops – not to mention the other hardware components. And, YES, you can find Dell laptops for almost all kinds of budgets.
Now that you have an idea about HP and Dell, we will move onto other aspects of this brand duo. Before that, however, we think it’s better to take a look at two of the popular devices from Dell vs HP.
Some of the Best Laptops from Dell and HP
1. From Dell
We have chosen the two different laptops from Dell, belonging to two various budget ranges. These devices don’t just come with best-in-class hardware but also are loved by different users out there.
Dell XPS 13
Dell XPS 13 is one of the most popular and expensive laptops you can purchase from Dell. It packs in high-performance hardware specifications and the great support. At 2.6lbs, the weight isn’t a problem at all. If you are looking for a quite portable laptop for official use, Dell XPS 13 is the optimal choice. Let’s have a look at the specifications too.
Processor: Intel Core i5 or i7, at 2.2GHz
RAM: 8GB DDR3
Storage: 256GB SSD
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 5500
Display: 13.3” WQXGA+ LED-lit Touch Screen Display with 3200*1800 Resolution
Are you looking for a mid-range laptop that can fulfil your day-to-day digital requirements? Then, you should have a look at Dell Inspiron 3000, which is a budget-friendly choice. For the price you pay, you are getting standard processing speeds, connectivity options. Although not the lightest device in market, Inspiron 3000 is somewhat portable.
Processor: Intel Core i3 at 2.1GHz
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 1TB HDD
Screen: 15.6” HD LED-backlit Display
Graphics: Intel Integrated Graphics
Operating System: Windows 10
Weight: 7.2lbs
Battery Life: Unspecified
These are the products you can buy with confidence, from Dell. As you can see, the two choices are from premium as well as budget-friendly categories.
2. From HP
Here are the two selections from Hewlett Packard laptops. Of course, one is for the expensive budgets and another is for those who are budget-conscious. We hope it helps you select things better.
HP Spectre 13-v021nr
HP Spectre 13-v021nr is perhaps the best HP laptop you can purchase, if you have a huge enough budget for that. And it is the world’s thinnest laptop and the lightweight one, at just 2.45lbs. HP hasn’t compromised features or hardware richness to reach that state. It’s also one of the performance-oriented devices around.
If you are looking for the budget-friendly alternative for performance-based laptops, HP 15-ay018nr is the choice. It is packing in a bunch of high-end specs, but the pricing is just around $600. As it turns out, we found the HP 15-ay018nrto be an excellent choice for students and basic-level professionals. Its hardware specifications are impressive too.
You can consider these two products when you have sure to stick onto HP Laptops.
Now, we will move onto different aspects like performance, appearance etc.
Dell vs HP Laptops – Performance
Let’s keep things simple. In comparison, Hewlett Packard laptops are more suitable for performance. You’ll understand that by looking at the common specifications of HP laptops, even in the budget-friendly sector. You can surely find 4 GB of RAM in even the sub-$500 budget. Also, there are some other factors like the less amount of bloatware. HP does not put much complementary stuff in their laptops. So, in the end, when comparing, Dell lags a bit behind. If you are expecting the best-in-class performance for the price you pay, you should go for HP.
Design and Appearance
Dell laptops are always noted for its varying designs and aesthetics. Depending on your budget, you can find a wider variety of compact designs within the brand. There are thin-profile ones and the thicker ones, subject to the types of hardware requirements you have.
Except a few cases, HP follows the rudimentary laptop designs. They are not, though. However, it’s hard to choose an impressive colour of pattern when you are into HP. If you need the answer in a few words, we will say HP is utilitarian when it comes to laptop designs and customization options. HP Spectre series can be included in the exceptional set of cases, by the way.
So, if you are concerned about different designs and patterns, you should go for Dell. But, there is another aspect too.
Customer Support
This is where Dell goes a lot ahead of Hewlett Packard. It could have been a tie between Dell vs HP, but Dell seems to be the upper-hand here. First of all, the customer support from Dell is timely. You can expect the replacement in the least time possible. There is also the fineness of quality and perfection. We have sometimes been amazed at the speed and perfection of Dell repairs and the courtesy.
This does not mean that HP is offering quality-less service for its laptops. They are also quick and very times. And, if you can use the web-based system, it’s pretty amazing too. That having said, the quality isn’t par with that of Dell. In fact, Dell is supposed to be the laptop brand with the best customer support — ever.
We hope that’s a good reason.
HP vs Dell Laptops – Pricing
Pricing is another area where HP has the upper-hand. As we mentioned earlier, HP laptops always come with the up-to-date set of hardware stuff. Even then, the retail purchase prices are very lower. in addition, you can get some extra discounts if you use one of the available discounts. The rates are even lower when compared to Dell. If we take some of the examples from hardware specification range, you will surely spot a difference of $100 or so. We suppose that’s an important factor for most of you people.
Dell vs HP Laptops – The Final Word
Now that we have compared the different aspects to decide which is better, Dell or HP. And, we can share our ultimate opinions now.
HP would be the better choice if you are concerned about high-class performance. Even in low-budget devices, you’ll spot the best performance. Also, we found out that, if running Windows 10 OS, the total usability of HP devices are something superb. There aren’t many bloatware to be mentioned, either. If you travel with laptop and looking for a a portable laptop then you can go for HP. The only problem with HP is the lack of new and innovative designs. Also, in comparison with Dell, the customer service may not be up to the mark.
On the other hand, Dell is for you when you need best-in-industry customer support. With Dell, you don’t have to be worried about replacements or repairs. You also get an ample amount of warranty with ever laptop purchase. Also, it offers better designs and features like Biometric access. The presence of bloatware may be a problem, though. When compared to HP, however, the pricing is a bit higher.
That’s how you make the selection from HP or Dell. We hope this article helps you choose the best laptop from Dell vs HP duel.
Academics and companies are competing for the next big breakthrough in battery technology.
“The problem with existing batteries is that they suck,” Elon Musk famously. And the tech entrepreneur, in his eloquence, has a point – how long has your smartphone died a day or your laptop screen has faded to black? Not to mention promising green technologies that are being prevented from being strong enough for batteries ranging from long-range electric vehicles to electric vehicles.
This could all be about to change if 94-year-old John B Goodenough has his way.
Goodenough is considered by many to be the grandfather of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. During his time as head of the inorganic chemistry laboratory at the University of Oxford in the 1980s he identified and developed Li2CiO2 as a cathode material for Li-ion rechargeable Acer as07b72 batteries. It is almost certain that the same cathode material is used in your smartphone battery.
In March this year Goodenough announced what many have been quick to say is the next big breakthrough in battery technology: a fast-charging, non-combustible solid-state rechargeable battery. The technology could unlock the potential for handheld mobile devices, electric cars and energy storage.
Solid-state batteries are a fairly new concept, also being explored by Samsung, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Hyundai to name a few. The batteries have both solid electrodes and solid electrolytes which makes them excellent conductors of ions, improving their performance. They also have low internal resistance, so they can have higher power densities. In fact, Goodenough, along with University of Texas senior research fellow Maria Helena Braga, have shown that their new battery cells have at least three times as much energy density as today’s lithium-ion batteries.
“Cost, safety, energy density, rates of charge and discharge and cycle life are critical for battery-driven cars to be more widely adopted. We believe our discovery solves many of the problems that are inherent in today’s batteries,” Goodenough said in an announcement about the technology.
For the public, the promise of better batteries would solve some of modern life’s everyday frustrations. But for companies and academics the chance to be the first to create the next big breakthrough in battery technology is a race towards cornering a valuable market. Global Market Insights says that the Li-ion battery market alone is forecast to grow to more than £43 billion by 2024.
This market pressure can lead to technology being developed and sold too quickly – and with dangerous results. The most talked about in recent months is Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 batteries exploding and setting on fire.
Similar incidents were caused by short-circuits, which made the batteries overheat and in some cases explode. One of the causes of short-circuits is things known as “dendrites,” metal whiskers that can spontaneously form and poke through the electrolyte barrier separating the battery’s cathode and anode. However, in Samsung’s case, it was said to be manufacturing defects that caused the problems and not dendrites.
Instead of liquid electrolytes, Goodenough and Braga’s batteries rely on glass electrolytes that enable the use of much a more stable alkali-metal anode (using either lithium, sodium or potassium). “No dendrites form and no short-circuits inside the battery will take place that could cause the elevation of the temperature and fires or explosions,” says Braga.
Braga explains that the energy density of the solid-state battery cells is “drastically increased” because the cathode capacity is no longer limited by the amount of Li-metal on the anode. “It is only dependent on the capacity of the anode,” she adds.
Tests of the batteries in the lab have shown that the cells can run for more than 1,200 cycles with low cell resistance. Until now, Braga says that solid-state batteries have had a short life cycle, low energy density and can only be used at 60°C. However, the solid-glass electrolytes can operate at -20°C, which would make this type of battery perform well in a car even in very cold weather.
The glass electrolyte is also made of cheap materials. For example, sodium can be extracted from seawater. The use of such environmentally friendly, “abundant” materials means the batteries can be recyclable. It also allows for the construction of “new battery architectures,” says Braga.
Braga began developing solid-glass electrolytes with colleagues while she was at the University of Porto in Portugal. About two years ago, she began collaborating with Goodenough and researcher Andrew J Murchison at the University of Texas at Austin. Braga says that Goodenough brought an understanding of the composition and properties of the solid-glass electrolytes that resulted in a new version, now patented through the university’s Office of Technology Commercialization. Braga hopes that the first and simplest designs of the solid-state batteries will begin to be used commercially in two years’ time.
This is an ambitious timeline, according to Gregory Offer, expert in fuel-cell, battery and supercapacitor technology at Imperial College London. Typically, he says, battery technology takes 20-30 years to be integrated into everyday products. “That is how long it took to develop the lithium-ion battery from when it was first invented in Oxford to when it first started having an impact in a large number of devices and products,” he says.
That is not to say that solid-state batteries do not offer a great deal of promise – just that it will take a while for that promise to be fully realised. This is because every time you move up an order of magnitude in battery technology, says Offer, there is a huge amount of science and engineering to be done in the manufacturing and design of the product.
However, niche uses could crop up in the next decade. For example, the first generation of solid-state batteries, which only produce around 0.7 microamperes, are used to power radio-frequency identification tags. “These tiny cells power tiny sensors and are enabling the Internet of Things,” says Offer. “They are having an impact in a niche that you couldn’t have predicted.”
For Offer, we should be getting more excited about developments coming out of papers written in the past decade. Some researchers are working on solid electrolyte-style additives and coatings to make Li-ion batteries safer, while still being manufactured on existing production lines. Research carried out on high-voltage cathodes will start filtering through into the commercial market over the next few years, which Offer says will add “20 to 30% to the energy density” of batteries. Meanwhile, the use of lithium sulphur also promises a “step change” and is close to commercialisation,” says Offer.
Martin Bazant, head of a research group at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that specialises in battery chemistry, shares Offer’s view that patience is the key when developing the technology. He says it can be frustrating to see people expect the same “massive leaps and bounds in performance” as they do in the computer chip industry. Batteries do not operate by Moore’s law, he says.
Bazant’s research group seeks not only to discover new and better materials for improving battery performance, but also how to get more out of existing materials. “Things we are doing with lithium-ion today were unimaginable 10-15 years ago,” says Bazant.
His work at MIT is focused on developing a “deeper theoretical understanding” of how lithium enters the active particles in the cathode and anode materials. The process all depends on the size and shapes of the particles and their “phase transformation characteristics (transitions between solid, liquid and gaseous states of matter) and interfaces,” he explains.
For years, the main focus on electric vehicles has been on the energy density of batteries – which determines how heavy the battery is. Bazant explains that, while this is an important stumbling block to overcome, there are “other metrics” blocking Li-ion that have received much less attention and are not well understood. For example, the main source of degradation in batteries comes from recharging them. “Why is it that you can’t charge batteries in minutes instead of hours?” he asks. His research team is starting to find out why.
One thing they have discovered from computer models is that graphite, which is the standard anode material, undergoes phase separation into distinct stages. This leads to a “very heterogeneous” (diverse) distribution of lithium in the electrode. Previous models of graphite electrodes had not taken into account this phase separation property, explains Bazant. Instead it was assumed that there was a “simple diffusion of ions” through the electrode that led to predictions of more uniform concentrations of lithium.
Bazant’s models do take into account the non-uniformity of lithium in the electrodes, which can be blamed for triggering side reactions that can degrade the battery. “Essentially you get hot spots in the electrode,” says Bazant. This can, for example, decompose the electrolyte to form a solid electrical interface. This “eats up” the lithium in the battery. Or, worse, it can turn into lithium metal when charging – an irreversible process that causes lithium to break away or cause dendrites that lead to fires, explains Bazant.
Understanding this process better could lead to finding better ways to charge batteries and avoid such reactions. “We might want to do pulses of charging, from fast to slow,” says Bazant. “Or you might raise or lower the temperature at a specific point.”
Toyota Research Institute (TRI) is also trying to discover better materials to boost battery performance. At the end of March it launched a
$35 million, four-year research project that will use artificial intelligence (AI) to help accelerate the design and discovery of new battery materials. It will also look at ways to improve current materials used. The hope is to not only create better performing batteries but also fuel-cell catalysts that can power zero-emission and carbon-neutral vehicles.
Three MIT-affiliated research teams will receive $10 million in funding as part of the TRI project. Bazant, along with colleagues at Stanford University and Purdue University, will lead an effort to develop a “novel, data-driven design” of Li-ion batteries. They will undertake large-scale cycling of batteries, and use machine learning and AI guided by Bazant’s previous models and theories.
“Our goal is to understand the fundamental processes that lead to degradation,” he says.
They will take movies of scanning X-ray images of lithium entering a particle and watch transition states of lithium that have previously not been seen. This will allow them to prove theories and give them properties that have not been able to be measured before. The use of AI should help to speed up the research.
While it may take 30 years for Goodenough’s miraculous solid-state battery to enter the mainstream, it looks as though existing battery technology will continue to improve by small increments in the meantime. Although perhaps not quickly enough for Elon Musk.
A new life for an old mining town
The huge demand for lithium for use in batteries has led to the revival of a centuries-old Czech mining tradition. The small town of Cinovec on the Czech border with Germany mined tin and tungsten as far back as 1378. But the mines have stood unused since 1991. However, the fortunes of the old mining town could soon change as around 1.2-1.4 million tonnes of lithium have been discovered, mostly in the Cinovec area. Australian company European Metals Holdings has an exclusive licence to mine the area and hopes to produce more than 3,800 tonnes of lithium a year. This would transform Cinovec into one of the top five lithium producers in the world.
Musk’s bid to boost battery production
Elon Musk hopes to set up a ‘Gigafactory’ to produce lithium-ion batteries in Europe, and has already begun building a $5 billion plant in Nevada (artist’s impression below), due to open in 2018. The name Gigafactory comes from the plant’s planned annual battery production capacity of 35 gigawatt-hours.
The project is being undertaken in order to produce enough batteries for the 500,000 electric cars per year that Musk’s company Tesla is expected to produce in the latter half of this decade. According to Tesla, the Gigafactory will produce more lithium-ion batteries annually than were made worldwide in 2013.
The batteries in the laptop is expensive (a quick review of the price of Lenovo.com shows that they range from $119 to $179), just like any battery, they have a limited life. When you want to replace your laptop battery, you may want to save a few dollars to buy an alternative to a computer outside of the company.
Don’t
In a widely reported story, someone in Ohio purchased a battery for their ThinkPad laptop from a company called Shentech rather than directly from Lenovo or IBM (in 2005, IBM sold the ThinkPad line of laptops to Lenovo). No doubt they paid less than IBM or Lenovo would have charged. When I checked today, a battery for a T40 ThinkPad that Lenovo sells for $119 is only $65 at Shentech. Was it a bargain? Not at all; the battery caught on fire.
The story made news not because of the fire but because the battery, bearing an IBM logo, was a fake (allegedly). After examining the faulty battery, IBM purchased additional batteries from Shentech, and they too were (allegedly) fakes. Needless to say, IBM is suing Shentech (that they list a Post Office box and no phone number on the Contact Us page of their Web site doesn’t inspire confidence).
Unfortunately, the laptop battery igniting in flames was not, in and of itself, newsworthy. After all, last year there were a slew of battery recalls. The big story was Dell recalling 4.2 million Dell inspiron 1545 laptop batteries made by Sony, but overall approximately 10 million Sony batteries used in machines from Apple, Sony, Lenovo/IBM, Panasonic, Toshiba, Hitachi, Fujitsu, Sharp, and Dell were recalled. In May of 2005 Apple recalled iBooks and PowerBooks with batteries made by LG Chem of South Korea. Lenovo/IBM has also recalled Sanyo batteries. It must be hard to make a safe lithium ion battery.
The lesson here is to only buy replacement batteries from the company that made the computer. Off-brand batteries are more likely to scrimp on safety features.
And, should there be a recall of the battery in your laptop, make it easy for the manufacturer to contact you–register your computer purchase.
Your Battery
If you are curious about the battery in a laptop computer running Windows XP, go to the control panel, open Power Options, click on the Power Meter tab and, finally, click on the battery icon. In the screen shot above, you can see the battery was made by Sanyo.
ThinkPad owners should have a ThinkPad configuration program installed (available from Start -> Programs -> ThinkVantage, at least in Windows XP, I’m not sure about Vista) that shows additional information about the battery. As you can see above, this includes the manufacture date and the first-used date.
The Status Detail tab (see above) also shows, among other data, the current temperature of the battery, which might bear watching every now and then.
Like me, everyone is faced with problems such as laptop and laptop overheating and low battery performance. These are common problems, and everyone is suffering from these ridiculous questions. So, how to overcome these problems by reducing laptop overheating and improve battery performance?
Don’t worry, I’ve faced the same problems until i found some cool tricks from Ubuntu Wiki and Ask Ubuntu sites to get rid of them. I won’t say that these will reduce overheating to zero level and increases your battery performance 100% efficient. But i assure you that these methods will cool down your laptop temperature and you will get a reasonable improvement in your HP MU06 MU09 laptop battery performance.
Try the following three methods and choose the suitable one for you. I suggest you to use any one of the following tools. If not happy with one tool, just remove it and go for the another one.
1. Install TLP To Reduce Overheating And Improve Battery Performance
We already have a detailed document about how to install and configure TLP in our previous article. Just install tlp and forget it. It will be doing the necessary things to cool down your laptop temperature and improve battery life a bit.
2. Install Jupiter To Reduce Overheating And Improve Battery Performance
What is Jupiter?
Jupiter is a Simple, easy to use hardware and power management applet for all i386 and x86_64 Linux laptops, and netbooks. A key component of Fuduntu and the Aurora Linux distribution. It is available from Webupd8 PPA up to Ubuntu 12.10 and is no longer supported for Ubuntu 13.04.
However Jolicloud team has a Jupiter PPA for Ubuntu 13.04 raring and now its working.
Add the Jupiter PPA with command:
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jolicloud-team/ppa
Update Sources list:
$ sudo apt-get update
Install Jupiter with following command:
$ sudo apt-get install jupiter
Usage
Launch Jupiter either from your Dash or Menu. It will be found on the Taskbar or Top menu. Click on the Jupitor icon in the Taskbar and Select Performance -> Power Saving.
You’re done now! You don’t need to do any extra configuration and Jupiter gets the job done with default configuration.
3. Install ‘laptop-mode’ Tools To Reduce Overheating And Improve Battery Performance
Install ‘laptop-mode’ tools with command:
$ sudo apt-get install laptop-mode-tools
Reboot your system to enable laptop-mode. Run the following command to verify the laptop-mode is enabled or not.
$ cat /proc/sys/vm/laptop_mode
2
If you get output as 0(zero), laptop-mode is not yet enabled. Reboot couple of times until it gets enabled. Also make sure that you have removed all your existing previous installed applications like TLP and Jupiter.
Configure laptop-mode
Edit the file ‘/etc/default/acpi-support’,
$ sudo nano /etc/default/acpi-support
and add the following line if it does exist:
LAPTOP_MODE_ENABLED=true
Save and exit the file.
Once laptop-mode is enabled, open up the following file ‘/etc/laptop-mode/laptop-mode.conf’,
$ sudo nano /etc/laptop-mode/laptop-mode.conf
Find the line:
ENABLE_LAPTOP_MODE_ON_AC=0
And change it to 1 as look like below.
ENABLE_LAPTOP_MODE_ON_AC=1
And also make sure the value of ENABLE_LAPTOP_MODE_ON_BATTERY is set to 1.
ENABLE_LAPTOP_MODE_ON_BATTERY=1
Now restart laptop-mode to take effects the saved changes.
$ sudo /etc/init.d/laptop-mode restart
If still having problem with enabling laptop-mode, just do the following as root user:
$ sudo su
# echo 5 > /proc/sys/vm/laptop_mode
Now run the command:
# cat /proc/sys/vm/laptop_mode
5
If you get the above result, you’re done! Now you will find that a little bit improvement in yourHP pavilion dv7 notebook battery life and less overheating in your laptop.
When you get a new computer, it runs like a dream. Sometimes in just six months, it may slow down significantly, depending on how you treat it. The computer needs a spring clean, just like anything else to fulfill its best. That’s why today we’re going to reveal the secrets of how to make your computer run faster. This is something you can do on a regular basis to make sure your computer is still running like it when you bought it.
How To Make Your Computer Faster – Before You Do Anything Back Up!!
Cleaning your computer comes with some risk. Make sure you back up everything on your PC that is important.
Get an external hard drive and plug it into a USB port on your computer. This should prompt windows to begin the option for backup, which you should select.
You can also choose to backup your personal data to a cloud service like Carbonite. You can even use these services to automatically back up your files as you change them, as soon as you have an internet connection.
Some people also back up to a DVD or CD. Just be aware that they can be a little more fragile. Keep the disk safe so it won’t be scratched or broken.
Quick Fix – Restart Your Computer
This is a somewhat temporary solution to a PC that is running slowly, but it may be all that you need. Sometimes the memory on your computer may be full. Restarting the computer allows the memory to refresh and stops whatever process is slowing the computer. Just make sure you save anything you are working on before doing this.
Quick Fix – Check Your Power Plan
To do this go to the Control Panel and navigate towards Power Options. The standard power options are Balanced, Power Saver and High Performance. By putting your PC on High Performance, you can speed it up – but note this will use up your Dell vostro 1520 laptop battery power faster on a laptop.
Check Your Hard Drive
You can do this by navigating to My Computer, right click on local dive and then click properties. This lets you know how much free space you have left after your saved files and programs.
At least 15% of your hard drive needs to be free in order for the computer to run smoothly.
If not, it’s either time to delete or to add an additional hard drive. If your computer will support it, consider adding an SSD. These are much faster than traditional hard drives.
How To Make Your Computer Faster – Clear Out Any Unwanted Stuff
Over time your computer gathers up programs that you aren’t using any longer. These can contribute a lot to the slow down you are experiencing. To clear these out:
Click the Windows button at the bottom left-hand side of your desktop, and then click on Control Panel.
From here, navigate to Add or Remove Programs.
Some of these you will know to be useless and you can uninstall.
For others, you might not be sure.
Right click on the column titles above the list of programs.
From here you can add additional characteristics to allow you to sort between programs. Check the box “Last used on” and you will get a new column that sorts programs by when they were most recently used. If you find a program you haven’t used in months or years, then chances are you can delete it.
How To Make Your Computer Faster – Stop Programs Loading At Start Up
If your computer is particularly slow at getting started, then it may be that too many programs are trying to open. Then they all remain running in the background, using resources when you often don’t need them.
To change this:
Open the start menu and search “msconfig”.
Now click on Startup to display the list of programs that are running from the beginning when you boot your computer. Uncheck any that you don’t want to load at the start.
How To Make Your Computer Faster – Clean Up Your Hard Disk
This can save you hundreds of megabytes of space on your hard drive and make a noticeable improvement to the overall performance.
Go to My Computer and then right-click on Hard Drive and click Properties. From here select Disc Cleanup from the general tab.
This will prompt a window that asks you which files you would like to remove. Select the ones you want to bin and then click run cleanup.
How To Make Your Computer Faster – Disk De-fragment
In order to save you time while you work, your PC sometimes saves your files to the hard drive in an unorganized or fragmented way. When you search again for these files, they are split up into little bits in different areas of the hard drive.
De-fragmenting gives the computer time to organize your data so it is easier to search, and it also frees up more space on your disk.
To do this, go to My Computer and the right click on Hard Drive. After this click on Properties, then Tools and then click Defragment Now.
How To Make Your Computer Faster – Turn Down Those Costly Visual Effects
The visual effects on newer versions of Windows may be using up your computers badly needed resources.
In order to manage these, go to Control Panel, System and then go towards the Advanced System Settings. Here there is an option to “Adjust for best performance” that you should click.
There are also 20 visual effects you can manually turn on or off.
Sure your desktop might not look as snazzy, but your computer should run a little faster.
KUDOS TO ASUS for shrinking down a full Windows laptop shrink into a little 1.8-pound experience, the screen is 10.1. If you want to run Windows and require a fully portable experience, the transformer Mini sounds like an attractive choice. Although it’s peeling and slow as molasses, it’s light in your bag as it is in your wallet. Let’s see if calculus works.
WIRED
At just $399, don’t go into this expecting the world. The specs are decidedly modest—an Intel Atom CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage space can all be considered absolute bare minimums in today’s Windows world (although for a mere $299 you can drop down to 64GB of storage, which you should not do). Connectivity is limited to a micro USB port, a standard USB 3.0, and a micro HDMI port. The micro USB is primarily used for charging.
The screen is a dazzler, the audio is plenty loud, Asus a32-f80 laptop battery life is outrageous (8.5 hours), and even the keyboard—though teensy-tiny to accommodate the mere 10.1-inch screen—has better travel than most ultrabooks. If you can get used to the minuscule size of the keys, you’ll at least find them comfortable to type on. (The rest of you will never, ever find the shift key.) The system converts quickly between laptop and tablet mode, the keyboard attaching via a tough magnet and the screen staying upright with a Surface-like kickstand. A stylus is also included, though fingers work fine here.
TIRED
There’s a fine line between designing for affordability and cutting corners, and the Transformer Mini is right on it. Performance is a major, major problem with this machine, and it routinely suffers from that well-worn problem of “click, wait, click again, eventually find that two instances of the program start running.” Using the Transformer to do anything beyond basic web browsing is frustrating to an extreme. Hell, it’s slow just typing into the Cortana bar.
The ports feel imported from yesterday (what, no USB-C?), and charging is incredibly slow over that micro USB connection. The touchpad is rickety (the touchscreen tracks much better), and while brightness isn’t a problem, resolution is: At 1280 x 800 pixels, the screen is barely HD in a 4K world.
And now I’m going to complain about something I’ve never bitched about before: the length of the power cord. The Transformer Mini’s cord is 35 inches from end to end—not even three feet long, which is absurdly short for a laptop. I had to find an extension cord just to plug it in, unless I wanted to work on the floor right next to the outlet, and that’s not something I figure many of you are keen on doing.
That all adds up to a lot of frustration for not a lot of payoff. I love a bargain as much as the next guy, but this one just has too many strings attached.
While the best laptops on the market usually cost more than $800, the average American consumer spends $450 or less on a new laptop. For our readers, Dante 12 and freiord, post to our forums, ask for help, select a new budget notebook. Freiord posted on looking for any 13 -, – 14 – or 15 inch mainstream laptop at $500 or less, while Dante 12 posted a $two ($300) laptop.
To understand what makes for a good budget consumer laptop, we first need to talk about some of the key components that make a good notebook that sells at a more expensive price. Because if you can find one or more of these features on a low-cost laptop, you’re way ahead of the game. I’ve put these in priority order, from most to least important.
1920 x 1080 (1080p) screen: The vast majority of budget laptops come with 1366 x 768-resolution screens that aren’t very sharp and don’t fit much content on the desktop. If you can get a laptop with a 1920 x 1080 (also known as 1080 or full-HD) resolution display you can see a lot more text on the screen without scrolling. You can also comfortably place two windows side by side for multitasking and see a lot more detail in videos. If you can get a laptop with a 1080p screen, that should be your top priority.
Solid-state storage: Most low-cost laptops use mechanical hard drives, but if you can get a system with a solid-state drive (SSD) or eMMC memory, you’ll see faster boot and application-open times, and better overall performance. In the sub-$500 range, you’ll probably see a few systems with eMMC memory rather than a speedy SSD, but you’ll still get much better performance than you would with a 5,400- or 7,200-rpm hard drive.
Premium build quality: Manufacturers usually economize on the fit and finish of low-cost laptops, using cheap plastic rather than metal or soft-touch materials. If you can get a more premium feel on your budget laptop, that’s a plus.
Core i5 CPU: An Intel Core i5 CPU gives the best balance between price and performance, but you’re not likely to find one of these processors on a budget laptop. However, for users who aren’t doing a lot of productivity work or gaming, a Core i3 or Pentium or Celeron CPU can more than suffice.
Now that we know what to look for, let’s check out some budget laptops that have a few of these features.
Though this laptop is more than a year old, it’s still a fantastic budget choice. The 14-inch VivoBook E403SA ticks off the first three bullet points on our list, with a 1080p screen, a 128GB eMMC storage drive and an aluminum lid. This laptop’s Intel Pentium N3700 processor isn’t top of the line, but it provides more than adequate performance for multitasking, light productivity work and web surfing.
Best of all, the 3.18-pound E403SA laptop lasts over 9 hours on a charge, so it’s light enough and long-lasting enough to go with you anywhere. A USB Type-C port is available for charging and data.
Available for under $350, this configuration of the Aspire E 15 is currently the top-selling laptop on Amazon.com, thanks to the device’s sharp screen, generous storage and relatively powerful CPU. The E 15 meets our top feature request, with a 15.6-inch, 1080p display, and it comes close to meeting our CPU request, with a 7th Generation Core i3 processor, which is much faster than the Pentium and Celeron CPUs you usually see in this price range.
Though we wish the E 15 had an SSD for better performance, this laptop does have a 1TB hard drive with plenty of space for videos, photos and games. It also has a DVD drive so you can watch movies or install software from a disc.
This 15.6-inch laptop has some pretty high-end specs for a system that costs under $500. Not only does the HP Notebook 15-ay011nr have a 1080p screen, but it also features a Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, two specs you rarely see in this price range. A 1TB hard drive and a DVD burner round out this powerful package.
If you want an affordable 2-in-1 with a high-res display, the Inspiron 13 5000 could be your best bet. The $499 starting configuration features a 13-inch, 1080p screen; a 500GB hard drive; and an Intel Pentium 4415U processor. Best of all, you get a design in which the lid bends back a full 360 degrees, so you can turn the Inspiron into a tablet or use it in tent mode.
We tested a more expensive configuration of the Inspiron 13 5000 2-in-1 and were pleased with its snappy keyboard but unimpressed with its 6-hour Dell inspiron 1545 laptop battery life (8 hours is average) and middling color reproduction. However, for under $500, you’re not going to do much better.
If you a want a detachable 2-in-1 for a really low price and don’t mind working with a 10-inch display, the Miix 310 is a great value. For under $300, you get both the tablet and its keyboard. Don’t expect to use the Miix 310 for serious productivity work, because it’s powered by a rather-pedestrian Intel Atom processor. However, with the machine’s 12+ hours of Lenovo ideapad u350 notebook battery life and 2.4-pound chassis, you can carry this Lenovo hybrid all day.
Choosing the right laptop can be a complex process, taking into account the unique differences in the unique design and hardware aspects of the brand. When you buy a laptop, remember that you will use your laptop, are you going to take it from place or simply use it as a cuddle in bed device. There is a good consideration, so let us guide you through the process.
The types of laptops
There are several laptop categories, manufactured with an aim toward a certain use and audience. When shopping for a laptop, decide what you primarily intend to use the laptop for and seek out a category that aligns with those interests. Below are four of the major types, ranging from netbooks to portable gaming rigs.
Entry-level
Laptops can be expensive, but by making some cuts many manufacturers produce solid computers that cost $500 or less. Consumers who need a laptop for the most basic purposes (word processing, internet browsing, etc) and want to save money may find that a budget laptop is all they need. Budget laptops are generally light on hardware such as graphics or RAM; do not expect to run AAA games or bounce easily between a hundred browser tabs.
Budget laptops also tend to cut out non-critical features like solid state drives. The best budget laptops will still be built to last, with competent construction and ergonomically sensible keyboards and touchpads. In general, entry-level laptops are great for people who may not know a lot about computers and simply want a device that can carry out standard tasks.
Chromebooks
Chrome OS is a Linux-based operating system that expands the already-impressive functionality of Google’s free Chrome browser into a full desktop platform. Chromebook laptops excel at web-based tasks performed on light hardware – a Celeron-based Chromebook with half the RAM of a similar Windows laptop can perform quite well in comparison. Since Chrome OS is free and open-source, and the hardware requirements are lower than Windows, it’s often found in inexpensive laptops as cheap as $300 or less. More premium options compete with Windows-powered laptops at the $800 price point and above.
Unlike Windows laptops, which often come with pre-installed “bloatware” that can slow down a system and annoy the owner, Chromebooks are relatively clean. Each Chromebook has software that’s basically identical to the rest (except for a few hardware features like touchscreen support), and Google sends regular updates to all Chrome OS devices directly from its servers so they stay up to date. The cloud-based focus of Chrome OS is especially useful if you rely on Gmail and similar Google tools: log in to your Google account on startup, and all your customization from a Windows or Mac OS Chrome browser will instantly sync over.
Chrome OS has its drawbacks as well. Because it’s a web-focused platform, almost every major app is either a browser extension or a web tool. Some, like Google’s Docs, can run locally, but most require an active internet connection. Recent updates have added Android apps to a few Chromebooks, and they should come to all models eventually, but that’s not enough to overcome the huge advantage that Windows and Mac OS have for stand-alone third party applications.
Thin-and-light
Intel began its “Ultrabook” push as a rigid set of definitions for a premium thin-and-light laptop spec that could compete with the MacBook Air, but lately the term has become generic. This segment of laptops offers a premium option focused on mobility, usually with a 13-inch screen (though slightly larger and smaller models are available). With models starting at around $700 and going as high as $2000, there’s a lot of variety to be had.
Typically what separates a thin-and-light from a budget laptop is material quality and a few premium components. These machines are thinner and lighter, usually with some kind of stronger chassis made of aluminum or magnesium. They’ll have a more stylish look than budget laptops as well. Even cheaper thin-and-lights might come with upgrades like an SSD, a touchscreen, or a backlit keyboard, but none of them are big enough to include a disc drive. Dell’s XPS 13, widely regarded as the best thin-and-light laptop of the last several years, fits into this category.
2-in-1
The 2-in-1, or convertible, laptop combines the convenience and ease of a tablet with the utility of a keyboard. There are two main ways of accomplishing this: either the two are attached but the keyboard can fold behind the touchscreen, or the tablet side can be fully detached from the keyboard.
Convertibles can provide a lot of versatility, however they are not necessarily the best devices available. The uniqueness of their design can come with some notable drawbacks, such as weight (especially from the metal hinges on the keyboard) and price. Convertible laptops can often be more expensive than clam shell laptops with comparable specs.
Newer systems combine the premium build and components of an ultrabook with the versatility of a two-in-one, like the Microsoft Surface line. These designs offer impressive power and performance, though their limited dimensions often mean all-day Dell xps m1530 laptop battery life is not on the table. While some convertible laptops fall in the $6oo range or lower, premium options usually start at around $1,000 or more.
Business laptops
Laptops, like suits and lattes, have become one of the symbols of the modern professional. Of course, a real professional needs their laptop to do more than just serve as a status symbol. The best business laptops often boast impressive hardware designed to run a slew of professional software, whether the user needs to edit video footage, assemble a presentation, or simply host a conference call.
Many jobs require traveling and moving around, it’s also important that a business laptop exhibit long battery life, as well as a sturdy frame that can survive constant traveling. Given their robust features, business laptops tend to fall on the pricier end of the spectrum.
Business laptops typically use a 14 or 15-inch screen, though some can be smaller or larger. They often omit a touschreen and other niceties. Dell’s Latitude series and the Lenovo ThinkPad line are often favored by corporations (and especially IT departments) for durable builds and excellent keyboards. Business laptops start at around $1,000, but prices can climb quickly if they’re configured with powerful hardware or add-ons like spare batteries.
Desktop replacement
There’s no denying the allure of a desktop. They’re powerful, can be hooked up to very large monitors, and a full keyboard is a lot easier to use than the often cramped arrangements common to laptops. However, desktops can take up a lot of space, and they’re not convenient to move around.
For those who want the power of a desktop but also want something that is at least somewhat portable, there is the desktop replacement laptop. Generally equipped with a 17-inch display, desktop replacements are thicker than your average mobile computer. If you plan on carrying your laptop with you on your daily commute, you will probably need a full backpack and a chiropractor. However, some modern designs (like the XPS 15 or the ZenBook Pro) have attempted to combine desktop replacement power and battery life with a smaller, lighter design.
The larger screen of a desktop replacement makes it much better for watching shows and movies than the typical laptop, and great desktop replacements will also have decent speakers. This makes them useful as entertainment devices, like a home theater that can be moved easily between rooms. Indeed, desktop replacements find plenty of ways to take advantage of that extra room, such as incorporating spacious keyboards and touchpads.
Desktop replacements typically start at around $1,400 or more. Adding the latest, fastest processor, more storage space, or 4K resolution screens can drive the price much higher.
Gaming laptops
Graphics keep getting better, levels keep getting bigger and denser, and many games require the ability to hit any of a number of specific keys at the precise moment. Given all this, gaming laptops have to be built to keep up with unceasing march of progress. The best gaming laptops tout high-end processors and video cards, as well as enough RAM to run modern games.
Gaming laptops also tend to be bulkier, typically to accommodate better hardware and larger screens. After all, nobody wants to play something like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on a 13-inch display. All this is to say that gaming laptops are not as convenient for travel, so make sure to have a large enough bag and be prepared for sore shoulders.
Though some larger companies like Dell and Asus offer gaming laptops with their Alienware and Republic of Gamers sub-brands, the segment is dominated by boutique manufacturers like Falcon Northwest and Razer. These dedicated machines start high and go higher in terms of price. For bargain hunters, desktop replacement laptops can sometimes be configured with a high-power mobile graphics card for a less-expensive option that can still run recent games.
What you need to know about hardware
As with any computer, the hardware on a laptop determines what it is capable of doing. Better hardware will naturally be more expensive, so it is important to consider what you are going to use the laptop for and choose hardware suitable for that purpose. A laptop that is only being used for general purposes such as browsing the Internet or writing documents, for example, probably doesn’t need a high-end processor or video card.
CPU/Processor
As with any computer, the CPU carries out all the processes for the laptop. Any time the computer needs to access or change data, the CPU executes that task. Better CPUs will be able to process more data at quicker speeds. Note that the pure clock speed of a CPU doesn’t necessarily give the whole picture – if you’re unsure about your options, copy the processor’s model number (such as “Core i7-6500U”) into a web search to compare your choices.
The latest offerings from Intel are its Core i3, i5, and i7 series in 7th-generation models (with model numbers starting at 7000). Newer CPUs are generally faster and more efficient, though it might take a few months for laptop manufacturers to include them in retail models. Try not to buy a brand new laptop with a processor design that’s two years or older.
Graphics and Sound
A video card generates the images that a program needs to display on screen. With most laptops, the video card will come integrated into the motherboard. Unlike with a desktop, it’s very rare and difficult to upgrade a laptop’s video card. For most users, the video card is not something to worry about in particular. The most important uses for a video card are gaming and modeling, in which figures — often three dimensional — need to be rendered.
NVIDIA and AMD are the primary vendors for discrete mobile graphics. NVIDIA’s latest series is the 10-series, the GTX 1080, 1070, and 1060. These will be in the most expensive, most powerful gaming and business-class laptops, thous some recent models may be using the slightly older 900 series. AMD’s Radeon series is a cheaper alternative often found in more budget options. The R9 and R7 chips are the latest designs: the Radeon R9 M485X is the most powerful, with cheaper, slower models offered at lower price points down to the R7 M270X.
Speakers will also almost always be built into the laptop. Generally speaking, laptop speakers are not going to be amazing. It would be difficult, after all, to fit a subwoofer and all the necessary components for a great stereo experience within the confines of a laptop. Of course, most laptops provide ports to connect headphones or external speakers if you want a more immersive listening experience.
Memory
RAM, often referred to as memory, refers to the computer’s ability to store and access information for immediate use. Any task currently being done on a computer is using RAM. Essentially, the more RAM a computer has, the more information it can call up at any given time, and thus the more processes it can do at any time.
Older laptops, and some new business-class or desktop replacement models, can be upgraded with new RAM by the user for much less money than a pre-configured RAM boost. However, a focus on small, compact laptop designs is making this less common.
Storage
The amount of storage space on a hard drive is how much data it can hold in total. Programs, videos, music: all of these are stored on the hard drive. In contrast to memory, data in storage does not necessarily need to be in use. A program that is installed on the computer but not currently running would take up storage space but not memory. These days, many laptops use solid state drives — aka SSDs — which are faster and sturdier than traditional hard drives at the expense of storage space.
An SSD offers a dramatic performance boost over a conventional hard drive. If you have some room in your budget for an upgrade, pick an SDD first, then RAM, then focus on other components like a faster processor or a high-resolution screen.
Touchscreen capabilities
A few years ago a touchscreen was a novelty only found on high-end laptops, mostly because the hardware and software simple weren’t mature enough to make them useful for most people. But with the explosion of smartphone and tablet users, Microsoft, Google, and laptop makers have made a huge effort to create a quality touchscreen experience. In addition to high-quality capacities screen technology, touchscreens are now optional even on some budget designs.
Windows 10 has gone a long way towards making these touchscreen and combination designs more viable. The interface and software is designed with touch in mind, including conventional programs like Office or the new Edge browser. Third-party software, like Google’s popular Chrome browser, is also being updated with solid touch support. The march forward in both software and hardware has made them much more viable even for expensive, work-focused machines.
That said, Windows and Chrome OS are still designed to be used primarily with a keyboard and mouse (or touchpad). A touchscreen will add a little functionality, but most users won’t lose any critical tools by going for a non-touch option.
Mac or PC?
There are few rivalries more contentious than that of Mac vs. PC. For the uninitiated looking to buy a laptop, there is no need to become a hardcore disciple of either sect. You will, however, have to choose between one or the other. While both Macs and PCs will perform all of the general functions a computer ought to do, there are several differences in design and software that distinguish the two.
Apple has always been protective of its brand, releasing products in very deliberate iterations. Any Apple product will follow its standards, whereas any manufacturer can make a PC with unique specs. As a result, Macs are very user friendly. Apple will tell you exactly what you are getting regardless of which Macbook you purchase, and because all Macs come from the same ecosystem, the company’s resourceful support network can easily help with any problems that arise.
Quality design is one of the hallmarks of a Mac. They are built to look and feel elegant. This extends to Apple’s operating system, MacOS (formerly known as OS X), which is straightforward and intuitive. Macs also come pre-installed with a suite of proprietary software, and each application is well-suited for tasks such editing video or music. Macs utilize fast hardware, too, so those who want a solid computer but do not know a lot about hardware can rest easy knowing their Mac will perform well during everyday use. That said, this also equates to a higher price tag. Apple computers aren’t known for being cheap.
In many ways, Apple’s strict design standards mean that its products are easy for anyone to pick up and use, regardless of a person’s skill level or familiarity with computers. On the other hand, the rigid design of the Mac means less freedom to customize the device. The available hardware is the hardware you get.
Furthermore, Apple only sells a few different models of Macbook at any given time. At the time of writing the thin-and-light Macbook and Macbook Air models are for users who need portability over power, while the larger Macbook Pro models offer high power and capability with larger screens and more ports.
In contrast, PCs are an incredibly diverse category. There are dozens of manufacturers who make PCs and the quality and pricing can vary greatly depending on which model and brand you opt for. The fastest PCs will surpass Macs in terms of performance. And many companies tailor their PCs to a specific purpose, such as gaming or business.
PCs typically run Windows as an operating system, which is far more open-ended than Mac OS, and updated more frequently. There’s also more software available for Windows. In particular, Windows is the standard for game development and many business-related programs.
Windows-powered devices come in a variety of shapes and sizes. A standard laptop with a clamshell design and a keyboard-mouse interface is easy to find – and it’s the only one offered by Apple at the moment. Touchscreen Windows laptops can be found even in the lower price brackets, and more elaborate designs include fold-back screens or even detachable tablet-keyboard combos, such as Microsoft’s own Surface Book. Windows manufacturers have the freedom to experiment with truly wild designs, like Lenovo’s recent Yoga Book and its combination touchpad-keyboard. Apple offers no MacOS hardware with touchscreen options at the moment.
Overall, we recommend Windows or MacOS. Apple’s laptops are extremely expensive for the experience provided, and MacOS is not updated as frequently as Windows. However, those married to MacOS will find it an acceptable option.
