Rugby Australia officials are adamant it was a pragmatic business decision to kill the Melbourne Rebels; supporters of the Rebels say it was an unfair call and a “premeditated murder”. Read...

Acer has unveiled their new TravelMate laptops mere days ahead of Computex. These business laptops are traditionally known for their slim form factor and long battery life. In fact, the 2023 version of the TravelMate P6 nabbed a top spot on our best laptops roundup, earning the title of “Best Ultraportable.” The new models announced today come loaded with more power-efficient Intel Core Ultra CPUs as well as useful AI capabilities. There’s also a 2-in-1 version and a clamshell with a bigger 16-inch display, and they all use recycled materials in both design and packaging. Heck yeah. Configurations, hardware, and availability Acer Acer Acer Acer puts forth three offerings on the table: Acer TravelMate P6 14, Acer TravelMate P4 Spin 14, and Acer TravelMate P4 16. Acer TravelMate P6 14 The Acer TravelMate P6 14, a traditional clamshell and the first to lead the charge, is powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and comes with up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage. The 14-inch touch-optional display is a real stunner with its 2880×1800 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, and 100 percent DCI-P3 color gamut support for sharp-looking pictures with rich colors. It even comes with Wi-Fi 7 (gotta go fast!) and Thunderbolt 4 support — both ideal if you’re connecting high-performing devices. It has a starting price of $1,429.99 and will be available to purchase in July 2024. Acer TravelMate P4 Spin 14 The Acer TravelMate P4 Spin 14 is the convertible version of the business lineup. That means you can swing the screen around a full 360 degrees and use it in various positions, like tent or tablet mode. It weighs 3.29 pounds, making it super travel-friendly. The machine also comes with up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, a 14-inch touch-optional 1200p display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. The taller aspect ratio makes scrolling through web pages a much more comfortable experience. This versatile device has a starting price of $1,329.99 and is expected to launch in July 2024. Acer TravelMate P4 16 Looking for a laptop with a bigger screen? The Acer TravelMate P4 16 is your girl. Like the other models above, it’s packing the latest Intel Core Ultra processor. However, you can load this one up with up to 64GB of RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage. 64GB is a lot of RAM — and that’s a good thing, especially if you typically work with video editing software. The 16-inch display has a 1920×1200 resolution and 100 percent sRGB, so the picture and color quality should be quite good. The starting price is $1,229.99 and you can start ordering it in July 2024. New AI capabilities Everybody’s embracing AI these days, so it’s no surprise to see Acer jump on that bandwagon. You’ll find a number of AI features in the Acer Experience Zone on the TravelMateSense application. Need to remove something in the background of a photo? Acer LiveArt has you covered. You can also generate “depth maps on 2D images,” according to Acer. The TravelMate laptops also come with Acer PurifiedView 2.0, which uses the CPU’s neural processing unit to create more seamless, free-flowing AI experiences. This is useful for when you need to blur your background during a videoconferencing call. Enterprise Chromebooks Speaking of business laptops, Acer’s got two new business Chromebooks on tap: Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 515 and Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise Spin 514. Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 515 The Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 515 has a spacious 15.6-inch 1080p display and an equally spacious keyboard with a number pad. The number pad is key for both workers and students alike, especially if your day-to-day consists of punching in numbers (data entry is no joke). The Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 515 has a starting price of $649.99 and will be available in June. Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise Spin 514 The Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise Spin 514 is the convertible model, meaning you can prop it up like a tent or flip the screen around and use it like a handheld tablet. It also has Google AI-powered video call tools, which automatically enhances the webcam picture. The Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise Spin 514 will hit the market in August with a starting price of $749.99. For regular customers, there’s also the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. It comes with up to an Intel Core 7 150U processor and 16GB of RAM. It has a starting price of $549.99 and will become available in August. Laptops Read...

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Don’t let your favorite music and movies go to waste as you play them through your laptop’s built-in sound system. Your audio can come out sounding weak and lifeless with even the best laptop speakers. External PC speakers — along with a good set of headphones — are essential for getting the best fidelity from your media files. Luckily, you don’t need to buy a complete 7.1 surround sound system to make up for it. For less than $100, you can find some affordable speakers that provide quality audio. It’s true that at this price point you will need to make a few compromises, but the best budget computer speakers can still offer a satisfying listening experience while saving you money, and that’s what we call a win-win. Why should you trust us? Because our PC speaker reviewers have tried most of the budget speaker models on the market, so they know the ones that stand out from those that don’t quite hit the mark. Our testing criteria is also as thorough as it gets. To test each speaker, we set it up in a typical environment — on a desk in a home office — and play a variety of audio tracks while pushing a speaker system’s sound capabilities to the limit. We consider everything from how practical the design is, to the audio fidelity. We also compare and contrast models to make recommendations based on our findings. To get insight into our extensive testing process, you can read our article “How we test PC Speakers at PCWorld.” Creative Pebble – Best overall budget speakers Pros Extremely affordable Excellent audio quality Space-saving design Cons No Bluetooth connectivity for mobile devices Best Prices Today: $17.69 at Amazon$19.99 at Creative Labs Why we like the Creative Pebble We wouldn’t have thought a set of $20 speakers could impress us much, let alone turn out to be our favorite. But Creative Pebble’s simple USB-powered 2.0 system defies all odds, producing richer, more immersive audio than you commonly find in speakers at twice the price — and twice the size. Though we wish these offered Bluetooth connectivity for mobile devices, the Pebble is still a top-notch choice. Who should buy the Creative Pebble If you’re strapped for cash and still want decent audio, then the Creative Pebble is a no-brainer. You just need to have a USB-A port and a 3.5mm audio jack handy in your PC. You’ll also need to be cool with the fact that your speakers will be tethered, so you’ll need to unplug them if you want to move your rig. Read our full Creative Pebble review Sound BlasterX Kratos S3 – Best budget 2.1 system Pros Wooden construction enables natural, warm sound Small footprint Deep, rich bass Cons No extra audio inputs for mobile devices Best Prices Today: $59.99 at Amazon Why we like the Sound BlasterX Kratos S3 Though the Sound BlasterX Kratos S3 is marketed for gaming, we like how its wooden construction enables warm, natural sound and beefy bass for all of our media. At just $80 it’s an inexpensive entry point into 2.1 speaker systems, without taking much space at all. Who should buy the Sound BlasterX Kratos S3 If you like a warm, resonant sound and punchy bass in your games or other media — the kind of sound you often get with a larger 5.1 multi-channel system — but have limited space, then the Sound BlasterX Kratos S3 will suit you to a tee. Read our full Sound BlasterX Kratos S3 review Creative Pebble Pro – Best speakers for multiple devices Pros Clear, detailed audio Can get very loud No distortion at high volume Noise cancellation through Creative’s software Cons Volume adjustments are more minimal at higher volumes Best Prices Today: $49.99 at Amazon$56.99 at Lenovo Why we like the Creative Pebble Pro Imagine our top overall pick, and then soup it up with more features — namely, much more connectivity and sweet RGB lighting. If you have multiple devices (plus a headset and microphone), these speakers let you centralize everything. You can connect devices via USB, a 3.5mm aux cable, and Bluetooth, and there are jacks for a 3.5mm headset and a dedicated 3.5mm microphone, too. It’s a great upgrade option if you want the Pebble’s great sound but want just one set of speakers for your gear. Who should buy the Creative Pebble Pro Anyone who wants the versatility of being able to use their speakers with more than just their PC — so a smartphone, tablet, or other device. These speakers are also ideal if you use a 3.5mm microphone and like the idea of using the Creative Pebble Pro’s software to do things like muting or unmuting your calls or filtering out unwanted noise. Read our full Creative Pebble Pro review Monoprice DT-3BT – Best premium Bluetooth option Pros Clean audio TRS, RCA, and Bluetooth connectivity Capable of very loud volume Easy access to aux input and headset output jacks Cons Audio will sound a little hollow to some ears Audio distortion at higher volumes Best Prices Today: $99.99 at Amazon Why we like the Monoprice DT-3BT For years, Monoprice has sold affordable, quality tech gear without fanfare or frills. It continues this tradition with its 50-watt DT-3BT desktop speakers, which sport clear audio and support the most common kinds of connections. There’s of course Bluetooth 5.0 for clean, wire-free setups, but TRS and RCA jacks are available, too. Combined with the understated appearance and tidy $100 price tag, they’re an excellent option for speakers with good sound and simple setup straight out of the box. Who should buy the Monoprice DT-3BT If you like to hear layered elements in your music, then you’ll really like the Monoprice DT-3BT’s emphasis on higher and lower tones. These speakers also project sound very well, so choose them if you like to fill up your living room with the sound of your tunes or media. Read our full Monoprice DT-3BT review Logitech Z207 2.0 Stereo Computer Speakers – Best multi-source option Pros Impressive audio quality Allows you to switch between three connected devices Easy setup and operation Cons Larger than many other desktop speakers No audio controls other than volume Best Prices Today: $59.39 at Amazon$59.99 at Lenovo Why we like the Logitech Z207 2.0 Stereo Computer Speakers These speakers support both a wired connection via a 3.5mm audio jack and wireless connections via Bluetooth. They produce an impressive sound that’s clear and defined, with a surprisingly impressive bass considering they don’t have a subwoofer. At 9.5 x 3.5 x 4.9 inches (HWD), they’re on the larger size, and thus aren’t the most discreet speakers, but they deliver good performance. Who should buy the Logitech Z207 2.0 Stereo Computer Speakers The best feature of the Logitech Z207 2.0 Stereo Computer Speakers is that they can support three simultaneous connections at once. So, if you’re a multi-device user and like the idea of switching between different audio sources, these speakers are ideal. Read our full Logitech Z207 2.0 Stereo Computer Speakers review Cyber Acoustics CA-2890 Speaker Bar – Best space-saving option Pros Clip mount keeps it off your desk Clear, distortion-free audio Can get very loud Cons No bass Weak stereo audio Best Prices Today: $24.99 at Amazon Why we like the Cyber Acoustics CA-2890 Speaker Bar This basic speaker bar may be outclassed by other extremely affordable rivals in some ways, but it has a feature that keeps it in the running — you can clip it to a monitor. That gets this speaker off your desk, a plus for anyone that loves minimalism. Add in clear audio reproduction, and lack of distortion at high volume, and those seeking a good compact option can forgive it for its lack of bass and proper stereo output. Who should buy the Cyber Acoustics CA-2890 Speaker Bar Anyone super tight for desk space or who just likes a clean, uncluttered place to plant their PC. If that’s you, then you’ll love the speaker’s clip-on functionality that will win you back some much-needed real estate. Read our full Cyber Acoustics CA-2890 Speaker Bar review AmazonBasics USB-Powered Computer Speakers with Dynamic Sound – Best dirt-cheap option Pros Well-rounded sound Plug-and-play setup Low price Cons Can’t turn off accent lighting Best Prices Today: $16.19 at Amazon Why we like the AmazonBasics USB-Powered Computer Speakers with Dynamic Sound These AmazonBasics USB-powered computer speakers get you well-rounded audio for a rock-bottom price. They’re easy to use with simple plug and play USB connectivity. They also feature attractive glowing blue LED accent lights below each speaker’s bottom radiator. Who should buy the AmazonBasics USB-Powered Computer Speakers with Dynamic Sound If your budget consists of just loose change and your goal is simply to release the sound from your PC without it sounding terrible, then these speakers will do nicely. Read our full AmazonBasics USB-Powered Computer Speakers with Dynamic Sound review Creative Pebble X Plus – Best for less than $150 Pros Compact design Good sound quality for the money RGB effects, if interested Support for many audio sources Cons Fixed, short cables Limited control from mobile No software for Mac Why we like the Creative Pebble X Plus With USB, Bluetooth, and 3.5mm auxiliary input, the Creative Pebble X Plus offers more than just plug-and-play speaker functionality. Indeed, you can connect it up wirelessly to your phone or wire it up to create a complete audio solution for your bedroom, dorm room, or home office. Two speakers and a woofer draw a peak 60 watts of power to comfortably fill a room with sound. They produce a clear soundstage with good level of detail in the mids and treble range. A plastic film under the woofer was a small quirk that softened the bass in our playtesting, but removing it fixed that issue. The device makes a stylish presence on a desktop or near a PC. The two speakers, which are shaped like spheres measure a compact 5.48 inches, while the cube-shaped woofer is only slightly larger at 6.24 inches. The speakers also sport RGB lighting, which you can personalize in Creative’s companion app. Who should buy the Creative Pebble X Plus Anyone who wants a complete audio solution for their bedroom, dorm room or home office. These speakers may be compact, but they sound great, feature both wired and wireless connectivity options, and are also powerful enough to fill up a room. Plus, the RGB lighting will liven up your personal space. Read our full Creative Pebble X Plus review FAQ 1. What type of speaker should I get? Ex: Should I aim for a 5.1 setup? And are 2.1 speakers better than 2.0 speakers? In this price range, a 5.1 multi-channel speaker setup (five speakers, one subwoofer) won’t sound as good as better models. The same amount of money can buy a much better quality two-speaker system. These basic 2.0 stereo setups, which are comprised of just a left and right speaker with a single driver (the actual loudspeaker) in each, abound in this price range. Occasionally you can also find a decent 2.1 system—a pair of speakers to handle the higher frequencies and separate subwoofer for the bass—for not much more. These take up extra space but often produce more balanced sound. 2. How do I pick a speaker that sounds good? Don’t lean too heavily on manufacturers’ specs when making a decision. Even if you can parse frequency response numbers, they are often exaggerated. Let your ears be your guide instead. Listen for a good balance between the high (treble), mid, and low (bass) frequencies. Often, speakers will exaggerate one—usually the treble or the bass—at the expense of the others. Good speakers will produce full, detailed audio that sounds as the creator intended it. Be aware, though, that finding strong bass response in this price range can be challenging. Without a subwoofer, 2.0 systems have trouble reproducing low frequencies. The manufacturers often use technological tweaks to amplify the bass notes, but these can sound boomy, and distort the overall mix. If a deep, controlled bottom end is a priority, a 2.1 system might be a better investment. 3. Should I get speakers that use AC power? Or is a set that uses USB power okay? Both these options are prevalent in the sub-$100 price range. USB-powered speakers reduce cord clutter, as they don’t need a separate power cable. However, they can’t supply as much juice as the AC variety, so they tend to produce lower volume and less bass. Business, Computer Accessories, Speakers Read...

If you’re in the market for an inexpensive laptop for day-to-day tasks, you’re in luck. We’ve got a list of our top picks below. That said, it’s important to be smart about your choices. Although you may need to deal with a couple of minor drawbacks like a dim display or short battery life, it’s still possible to score a sub-$500 laptop with strong performance. Why you should trust us: It’s in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We’ve been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who’ve applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We’re also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget. If you can manage to stretch your budget a little bit further, check out our best laptops roundup for even more suggestions. Updated May 30, 2024: We updated our list of recent laptop reviews to include the Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight, a remarkably thin and lightweight machine, and the HP Envy x360 14, which features a beautiful OLED display. Make sure you check those out near the bottom of the page! The best laptops under $500 Acer Aspire 3 – Best laptop under $500 overall Pros Reliable performance 1080p display HD webcam Solid build Cons Speakers sound tinny when playing music A little heavy Best Prices Today: $299.99 at Amazon Why we like the Acer Aspire 3 The Acer Aspire 3 laptop is a great machine that offers solid performance and a durable build at a reasonable price. It’s plenty zippy for day-to-day tasks like watching Netflix, writing email, and so on. You’re also getting a full-sized keyboard as well as a 1080p screen. Who should buy the Acer Aspire 3 Anyone who’s on a budget! To narrow it down some, we feel as though the Acer Aspire 3 is a good option for students and remote workers. You can’t argue with the price and the HD webcam produces “clean, crisp video” according to our review. That means you’ll always look sharp on video calls. Read our full Acer Aspire 3 review Acer Aspire Go 15 – Best laptop under $300 Pros Affordable Decent battery life Good display visibility Cons Big and bulky Cheap build Limited performance Why we like the Acer Aspire Go 15 For just $300, the Acer Aspire Go 15 offers speedy day-to-day performance, good battery life, and a clear-looking 1080p display. In our testing, the 53.9 watt-hour battery lasted almost 12 hours on a single charge, which is more than a full workday. The 15.6-inch display has a resolution of 1920×1080 and a modest brightness level of 284 nits. In use, the reviewer was still able to see the screen even with a light beaming down onto it. While the Intel Core i3-N305 CPU lags a little behind other laptops in its class, it’s suitable for everyday tasks like listening to Spotify, watching Hulu, and so on. Who should buy the Acer Aspire Go 15 Anyone that’s on an ultra-strict budget. The Acer Aspire Go 15 is about $30 cheaper than our top pick (as of right now) and offers better battery life. It also has a nice keyboard that the reviewer was able to comfortably type “around 110 words per minute” on and the trackpad is nice and smooth. There’s even a decent array of ports available. You’re getting one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 with Power Delivery and DisplayPort, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, one HDMI, one 3.5mm audio, one Kensington lock slot, and one DC barrel jack. Read our full Acer Aspire Go 15 (2024) review Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus – Best Chromebook under $500 Pros Snappy day-to-day performance Versatile 2-in-1 design Good typing experience Cons Stylus not included Heavier than expected What we like about the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus packs in a lot of features for the low price. The 2-in-1 form factor allows you to flip the screen around and use it like a tablet or you can prop it up like a tent for watching movies or sharing information. You can also expect peppy everyday performance and blazing fast boot-up times. Who should buy the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus If you need the versatility of a convertible laptop but want to stick to a more modest budget, then the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is the one to pick. It stands apart from the rest of the pack with its durable construction, affordable pricing, and versatile convertible design. Read our full Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus review Acer Chromebook Plus 515 – Best audio Pros Solid audio quality Fast general performance Includes a 1080p webcam Good typing experience Cons Boring design Thick bezels Why we like the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 has good audio for a laptop. The positioning of a laptop’s speakers can really impact the sound. Thankfully, the speakers on the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 fire upwards, which means the sound is coming at you. Highs and lows sound pretty darn crisp! This machine also provides a nice typing experience as well as fast general performance. Who should buy the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a good option for the casual user, especially if you like watching movies or listening to music. The audio is impressive and performance is good enough for day-to-day activities. The 15.6-inch display is quite good as well because of the 1080p resolution. Read our full Acer Chromebook Plus 515 review HP Laptop 14-ep0865no – Best battery life Pros Compact form factor Good everyday performance Long battery life Great keyboard and mouse Cons Screen quality is mediocre Noisy fans Why we like the HP Laptop 14 Although we love the HP Laptop 14’s compact form factor and comfortable keyboard, it’s the battery life that’s the real star of the show. It lasted about 15 hours on a single charge with light use, which is an incredible result for a sub-$500 Windows machine. This laptop also weighs just over three pounds, so it’s light enough to take with you from class to class or meeting to meeting. There’s even a 1080p webcam and, thanks to the Intel Core i3-1315U CPU, performance is zippy enough for day-to-day tasks. The subdued midnight blue color scheme is gorgeous, too. Who should buy the HP Laptop 14 Anyone that needs a long-lasting, sub-$500 laptop! The 15 hours of battery life is more than a full work day (or school day), which means you don’t have to go hunting for an outlet. It’s also lightweight and slim, so you can easily stick it in a backpack or messenger bag and be on your merry way. While day-to-day performance is fine, it’s not the best machine for multimedia tasks and the fan noise is a bit annoying to deal with. That said, those are reasonable compromises given the price. Read our full HP Laptop 14 review Recent laptop reviews We’ve reviewed several new laptops recently, though many cost more than $500. Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Dell’s Latitude 7450 Ultralight is the lightest and thinnest of the three Latitude 7450 models. It’s a real go-getter in the performance stakes and ideal for mobile professionals. Alienware x16 R2: The Alienware x16 R2 is a premium 16-inch gaming laptop at a premium price. But its mechanical keyboard and the highest-end hardware will cost you extra. HP Envy x360 14: The HP Envy x360 14 has a gorgeous OLED screen and great build quality, but performance could be better. Dell XPS 13 (2024): The Dell XPS 13 has been a force to reckon with some years, but this isn’t one of them. It’s performance lags behind its cheaper competitors, and it doesn’t lead them in the battery department either. It may be thin and light, but by a narrow margin that doesn’t make up for its shortcomings. How we tested The PCWorld team puts each and every Windows laptop through a series of benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and so on. The idea is to push the laptop to its limits and then compare it against others we’ve tested. Chromebooks, on the other hand, go through a series of web-based tests. It wouldn’t be fair or possible to run the same kinds of tests on a Chromebook, as they’re Chrome OS-based machines. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of each test and the reasons why we run them. For a much deeper look at our review methodology, check out how PCWorld tests laptops. Windows laptops PCMark 10: PCMark 10 is how we determine how well the laptop handles lighter tasks like web browsing, word processing, spreadsheets, and so on. HandBrake: HandBrake is more intensive than PCMark 10. It basically measures how long a laptop’s CPU takes to encode a beefy 30GB file. Cinebench: Cinebench is a brief stress test of the CPU cores. It does this by rendering a 2D scene over a short period of time. 3DMark: 3DMark checks if 3D performance remains consistent over time by running graphic-intensive clips. Video rundown test: To gauge battery life, we loop a 4K video using Windows 10’s Movies & TV app until the laptop dies. Chromebooks CrXPRT 2: The CrXPRT 2 benchmark tests a Chromebook’s battery life. Speedometer 2.0: This test determines a Chromebook’s web browser performance. It simulates this by adding, completing, and removing a to-do list. Basemark Web 3.0: This benchmark gauges how well a Chromebook can handle web-based applications. Kraken 1.1: Kraken 1.1 is a JavaScript performance benchmark. Jetstream 2: Jetstream 2 is a combination of WebAssembly and JavaScript benchmarks. This is a way to gauge how well a Chromebook runs advanced workloads. What kind of laptop should you get? Ah, here we are at the billion dollar question. Do you spring for a basic Chromebook or go for a Windows laptop with more features? Well, it really depends on your lifestyle and your expectations of a sub-$500 machine. At this price point, you’re not going to find a powerful workhorse. However, there are plenty of affordable laptops out there for those who need the basics. Chromebooks, for example, are a great low-cost option and offer phenomenal battery life. I use a Chromebook as my primary work laptop, as it has everything I need for both editing and writing. If you travel for work, it’s probably a good idea to invest in a laptop that weighs less than three pounds. If you’re still unsure, don’t sweat it. I’ve put together a list of quick buying tips below. Laptop type: There are many different laptop types that fall in the sub-$500 category: clamshells, 2-in-1’s, Chromebooks, and much more. The displays on convertible laptops (aka 2-in-1’s), for example, can swing around 360 degrees. This allows you to use the laptop like a tablet. They can also be propped up like a tent for viewing movies or participating in video calls. Chromebooks come in various shapes and sizes, and exclusively run Google’s web-focused Chrome OS. With a Chromebook, all you need is a Gmail account and, boom, you’re in. CPU: When it comes to the sub-$500 Windows laptops, you can expect to find Intel Core i3 or i5 processors. An i5 processor obviously provides a little more oomph. That said, basic office and web work does just fine on a Core i3. As for AMD options, the Ryzen 3 is good for basic productivity and web browsing, while Ryzen 5 chips rival Intel’s Core i5 as solid all-arounders. For Chromebooks, Snapdragon and Pentium processors are more powerful than MediaTek chips. Graphics: At this price range, you probably won’t find a laptop with a powerful discrete graphics card. Instead, you’ll encounter laptops with integrated graphics, which are integrated with the CPU and use less power as a result. This is perfectly fine for everyday tasks, especially if you’re not doing anything that’s graphics-intensive—like 3D gaming. RAM: Always go for 8GB of RAM. That’s plenty enough for firing up applications and loading web pages. Most Chromebooks are equipped with 4GB of RAM, which is the bare minimum. You need a decent amount of memory on these machines, as they’re primarily web-based. If there’s an 8GB RAM option, I’d recommend springing for that. Display size: If you’re a video editor or someone who does a lot of multimedia work, you’ll want a display that’s anywhere from 15- to 17-inches (but these machines usually cost far more than $500). The sweet spot for budget laptops is really anywhere from 13- to 14-inches. The bigger the display, the heavier your laptop is going to be. A 13- or 14-inch display is the best in terms of portability and value. Resolution: I wouldn’t go for anything less than 1080p, as there’s nothing more annoying than a slightly fuzzy image. 1080p produces a picture that’s sharp enough for watching Netflix or working in Excel. At this price range, you won’t really find many (if any) laptops with 1440p resolution or higher. Battery life: If you plan on taking your laptop anywhere with you, aim for something that can last 10 to 12 hours on a single charge. That’s more than a full work day, so it should theoretically get you through long flights or a day of classes. Obviously, more is always better. Just know that the bigger the battery, the heavier the laptop. Price: The price really depends on your budget. If you’re strapped for cash (been there, trust me), go for a Chromebook or an entry-level business laptop. These laptops are a good choice for students or young professionals. If you shop smart, you can even find 2-in-1’s in the $500 range. Ports: A wide array of ports is always a plus, as it eliminates the need for an adapter. I’d recommend a laptop that has both USB-C and USB-A. An HDMI port is good, too. This is especially useful for hooking up to an external monitor. FAQ 1. What is the difference between a regular laptop and a Chromebook? When people talk about regular laptops they usually mean a PC or Mac. A Chromebook is still a laptop, but it differentiates itself from either of those two by using a unique operating system called ChromeOS, which was created by Google. Think of it like this: All Chromebooks are laptops, but not all laptops are Chromebooks. Unlike other operating systems such as Windows or macOS, ChromeOS are optimized to run Google apps such as Google Drive, Google Docs, YouTube, and other Google services. Because most Google apps are online, Chromebooks generally require an internet connection to use most of their important features. Finally, Chromebooks have historically been designed with portability, ease of use, and affordability in mind rather than top performance. They typically forego the faster high-end hardware that PCs or Macs use for a more minimalist, lightweight approach to computing. 2. Can you use integrated graphics for gaming? Yes, some of the latest processors with integrated graphics can run modern PC games at decent enough settings. For example, we found that in our tests, Intel’s latest Iris Xe line of processors with integrated graphics can run some of the latest games at 1080p and 30fps. Unfortunately this is not the case for all integrated graphics and your mileage may vary drastically with older tech. Intel and AMD’s integrated graphics have made huge leaps in recent years with regard to gaming performance. If you’re on a budget or looking for an ultra-thin laptop with integrated graphics you need not worry, you can still game on. We recommend checking out Intel’s Core 12th-gen Iris Xe or AMD’s brand new Ryzen 6000 RDNA 2. 3. What’s the difference between a budget laptop and a tablet? More and more the line between what is a laptop and what is a tablet blurs as companies integrate the features of both into their latest devices. But there are still a few key distinctions between the two. Laptops generally are larger, come with more storage, have better performance and productivity features, and may or may not feature a touch display. Tablets on the other hand are smaller and more portable, have longer battery life, feature a touch display, and are usually a bit more affordable. When choosing between a budget laptop and a tablet you should first ask yourself what the primary use of the device will be. Do you need something for productivity with lots of storage? Then a laptop—even a budget model—will probably be the way to go. Or do you need something that is small, travels well, and has a long battery life? Then you might consider a tablet. 4. Do Chromebooks make good gaming laptops? Unfortunately, if gaming is your main concern, you may want to look elsewhere. Chromebooks can handle web games and Android games without any issues. But in their current state they simply aren’t designed to handle high-powered 3D games. This mainly comes down to the fact that they don’t run Windows and most Chromebooks don’t have sufficient graphics power.With that said, cloud gaming services allow a remote PC or console to play games streamed from a remote server using more powerful hardware. But these are early days still, and the true viability of this option will depend on the health and survival of cloud gaming services, as well as Chromebook makers offering more options expressly designed with gaming in mind, like this Asus Chromebook Vibe CX43 Flip. Budget Laptops, Chromebooks, Laptops Read...

For many years, Microsoft sold its productivity software Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and so on in a bundle called Microsoft Office. In 2013, the company saw where the software industry was heading and began a transition to a subscription-based model. The suite of applications and a growing set of services continued to be called Office 365 until 2020, when it was given its current name, Microsoft 365. The company would like to see all Windows users have a subscription, and is doing its best to entice them with advertising in Windows. This seems unnecessary, as the service is one of the most affordable subscriptions on the consumer market. In this article, I’ll go through why this is the case, what’s included, and which subscription you should choose. Further reading: Outlook: How to set up breaks between your meetings Ed Hardie Ed Hardie Ed Hardie Everything included in Microsoft 365 From being basically just the three basic Office programs and a few helper functions, Microsoft 365 has grown to consist of around 10 programs and a number of services. Some are also available as free versions without much difference, but most are significantly more powerful in the paid version. Here are the programs and services that are only included with a subscription. WordMicrosoft’s advanced word processing program has hundreds of features and can do most things with text, except possibly make it look good in print. ExcelThe world of finance would stand still without Microsoft spreadsheet software. There are alternatives, but the Windows version of Excel is by far the most capable of working with huge amounts of numbers. PowerPointPresentations may not be as important to home users, nor as common in businesses as they once were, but they still have a place and a tool to create them: PowerPoint. OneDrive with 1TB of spaceMicrosoft’s OneDrive cloud storage service can be used either like Dropbox to sync data between different devices and the cloud, or as a fully cloud-based storage for files you don’t want to offload from your computer. With a subscription, each account gets 1TB of space. OutlookTired of webmail and prefer a real email program? Microsoft Outlook is one of the best, even for home users. Confusingly, subscribers also have increased storage space on the separate Outlook.com email service — 50GB instead of 15GB. Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft OneNoteIf you’ve never tried OneNote, it can be hard to understand what it’s for, but it’s widely used in schools and elsewhere. The program is a kind of digital bulletin board where you can collect text, images, and other things. ClipchampMicrosoft’s equivalent of Apple’s iMovie — a simple video editing program that allows you to do a little more with all the videos you record with your mobile phone. For example, you can edit a holiday film. PublisherThis desktop publishing program is a better way than Word to produce printed materials such as posters, leaflets, and more, although it’s not in the same league as Adobe Indesign or Quarkxpress. Available only as a Windows program. AccessDatabases. You might think it’s just for businesses, but in fact a database program like Access can serve as a relatively easy way to create your own applications. Like Publisher, Access is only available as an old-fashioned Windows program. Foundry Foundry Foundry Microsoft EditorA new AI-based tool embedded in Word and Outlook and available as a Chromium extension. Editor helps you write better by suggesting language improvements and spelling and grammar corrections. Microsoft FormsHelps you create and distribute surveys. Very useful for some, completely uninteresting for others. SkypeSkype is not nearly as popular today as it was 10 to 15 years ago, but in one area it is hard to beat: international phone calls. A Microsoft 365 subscription includes 60 minutes of calls to many countries every month. pch.vector / Freepik pch.vector / Freepik pch.vector / Freepik Individual or family Microsoft 365 for consumers comes in two flavors: Personal and Family . Personal costs $69.99 a year or $6.99 a month, Family costs $99.99 a year or $9.99 a month. Paying annually gives a 16.7 percent discount. But see below for a tip on how to reduce the price further. The difference between the two subscriptions is that Family includes up to six separate accounts, each of which gets 1TB of OneDrive space and 60 Skype minutes. Each account can also activate the Office programs on up to five devices. In other words, you get six accounts for the price of 1.43 accounts. For those who don’t have a family to share the subscription with, it might seem natural to choose Personal, but it’s not quite that simple. 5TB more cloud space for $30 extra a year is nothing to sneeze at, although it does require a bit more fiddling to utilize than a cloud storage service that provides all the space in one account. Further reading: How to get Microsoft Office 365 for cheap I can give a personal example that illustrates the benefit of choosing Family even for a single user. I use two of my six Family accounts solely for backing up my computer; one account each for two 1TB SSDs. I use the Arq Backup software, which is sold as a one-off license, and the cost per year is much lower than with Backblaze, for example. It won’t work for everyone, but is definitely worth considering. Another option is to get a Family subscription with some friends or relatives you don’t live with and share the cost. Each account is its own, separate account and the ‘administrator’ — the one who pays for the subscription and invites the others — does not have access to any other members’ data. So no one has to worry about being spied on. Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Buy discounted activation codes When you subscribe to Microsoft 365, the company will activate auto-renewals that each month or year will deduct the regular price. But there’s another way to renew your subscription — with activation codes you buy from other stores. Activation codes are often sold at a discount, especially around Black Friday but also during the rest of the year. You can activate for up to five years, so if you find a really good price, you can grab several codes at once, as long as you know you’ll want the Office programs for that long. Marvin Meyer Marvin Meyer Marvin Meyer Business subscriptions Businesses and other organizations have a different set of Microsoft 365 subscriptions to choose from: Business Basic – $6 per month per user, web and mobile versions of Office applications only (not including Windows or Mac applications). Business Standard – $12.50 per month per user, same as Basic but with the desktop programs. Business Premium – $22.00 per month per user, same as Standard plus advanced security features. Business Applications – $8.25 per month per user, just the desktop applications for Windows and Mac plus 1TB of OneDrive storage. In addition to the above programs and services, a number of business-oriented features are also included that are not available in personal subscriptions. These are mainly SharePoint, Exchange (email) with support for your own domain, the web version of the powerful Visio visualization tool, and the “real” version of Teams. These prices are exclusive of VAT as it is aimed at businesses. In practice, there is nothing to stop self-employed people buying a private subscription and using it at work, for those who don’t need their own domain for email or have it otherwise, and don’t need any of the other unique features. Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Standalone license – usually a bad choice For those who refuse to pay for subscriptions, Microsoft actually still sells a standalone Office package on license, called Microsoft Office Home & Student. It costs $149.99 and the last update came in 2021 so the programs are not the latest versions. However, Microsoft has announced that it plans to release a new version towards the end of 2024. What is included is Word, Excel, and PowerPoint — no other programs, nor any services. For most people, this is a worse buy than the subscription, as the programs are not updated with new features and functions like OneDrive are not included. But there are situations where it’s still better, for example for a computer that won’t have internet access and where you want to be able to use the basic programs without restrictions indefinitely. Slash RTC Slash RTC Slash RTC Extended support Free users will have to make do with support documents and Microsoft’s support forums, but Microsoft 365 subscribers will have access to manned support via chat or phone. That can make a big difference if something goes wrong. This extended support applies not only to the components of Microsoft 365 but also to Windows 10 and 11, so you can get help from a human being if Windows updates are failing, if you’re worried you might have been hit by malware, or anything else. Customers who buy a standalone license for the Office programs also get support via chat but not by phone. Ed Hardie Ed Hardie Ed Hardie Stingy? What’s included in free accounts Some of the features included in Microsoft 365 are also available for free to anyone who gets a Microsoft account. Here’s what’s included even if you don’t want or can’t afford to pay. Web and mobile apps for Word, Excel, and PowerPointHas all the basic features of the three main programs in the old Office suite, but only via a web browser. OneDrive with 5GBFree accounts don’t get a lot of room to move around, but the Windows program to sync files and folders is included and it works great for those who, for example, have a folder of important files they want to access on all devices. Outlook on the web and for mobilesMicrosoft has not made it easy to understand the jungle of different versions of Outlook, but for free users there are two completely separate Outlooks. The web mail client and email service Outlook.com is free and gives you an @outlook.com address with 15GB of space, and the Outlook mobile app for Android and iOS is free and works with most email services such as Gmail, Apple iCloud, and Yahoo Mail. Skype and TeamsYou don’t have to pay anything to use Skype or Teams for individuals, although Skype does have a bonus for subscribers. Skärmdump Skärmdump Skärmdump Options – full office suite or individual programs and services Don’t like subscriptions, or just tired of Microsoft’s programs? There are plenty of alternatives, both free and paid programs. What’s right for you depends a lot on what you’re actually looking for. There’s so much included in Microsoft 365 that you can’t replace the whole package with a single option from another developer. If you’re mainly looking for something to replace Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, the best options are free and open source, like Libreoffice and Freeoffice. For OneDrive, there are many options, from Google Drive and Apple iCloud to smaller players like Shadow Drive and pCloud. You can also create your own cloud storage service that synchronizes folders between different devices using tools such as Syncthing and Seafile. Further reading: Best cloud backup services The best thing to do is to look for alternatives to the particular program you want to replace, and to think about what you need it for. If you use Word to write books, you have very different choices than if you use it to write emails and need features like Mail Merge. Personal Software Read...

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The business case for a third medical school at the University of Waikato is not expected until next year. Read...