CHUWI AeroBook Pro 15.6 review: Budget 4K laptop could be great if not for some glaring flaws

CHUWI is back with another crowdfunded laptop on Indiegogo, this time a 15.6-inch AeroBook Pro with 4K display and all-metal chassis. A lot like the LapBook Plus that we previously reviewed, the AeroBook Pro trades modern performance, and some features for a rather brilliant display and sleek design. I've been using the laptop for the last week for general productivity work and some movie watching to see where it excels and, ultimately, whether or not it's worth a buy.

CHUWI AeroBook Pro 15.6 at a glance

CHUWI provided Windows Central with a review unit of the 15.6-inch AeroBook Pro. It's the baseline offering, with 6th Gen Intel Core i5-6287U processor (CPU), 8GB of LPDDR4-2133MHz RAM, 256GB M.2 solid-state drive (SSD), and 4K display. This model is priced at about $510 at Indiegogo, with a number of upgrades and config options available.

Doubling RAM up to 16GB costs about $90, bringing the total up to $600. RAM is soldered, so you might want to get as much as possible from the get-go. There are two SSD slots inside the laptop, so an upgrade after purchase is possible.

If you'd like to upgrade to a more powerful CPU, an AeroBook Pro with 6th Gen Intel Core i7-6567U, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD costs about $850. Here are the exact specs found in the review unit I received for testing.

Category Spec OS Windows 10 Home Processor 6th Gen IntelCore i5-6287UDual-coreUp to 3.5GHz RAM 8GB LPDDR4-2133MHz Graphics Intel Iris Graphics 550 Storage 256GB M.2 SSD Display 15.6 inches3840x2160 (UHD)IPS, glossy Ports Two USB-A 3.0USB-CHDMImicroSD card reader3.5mm audio jack Audio Top-firingDual speakers Wireless 802.11acBluetooth 4.2 Camera Front-facing 2MP Battery 55.9Wh Dimensions 14.25 x 9.53 x 0.63 inches(362mm x 242.1mm x 15.9mm) Weight 3.75 pounds (1.7kg)

What I love about the CHUWI AeroBook Pro 15.6

Like most of CHUWI's latest creations, the AeroBook Pro has a rather fancy all-metal chassis with shiny beveled edges. It looks like a premium device from the outside, and inside you're treated to a full keyboard with number pad and monstrous Precision touchpad. It certainly apes the MacBook look. Weighing in at 3.75 pounds (1.7kg) for a 15.6-inch 4K device isn't bad, and it's just 0.63 inches (15.9mm) thin. If you'd like to take it with you when you leave your home or office, it shouldn't pose much of a problem.

CHUWI's svelte AeroBook Pro is an affordable way to land a 15.6-inch 4K display.

The thin lower portion of the chassis houses a generous number of ports, including two USB-A 3.0, USB-C, HDMI, 3.5mm audio, and a microSD card reader. There's also a barrel-style charging port on the left side. The power button is placed in the top-right corner of the keyboard, so not much risk of hitting it when picking up and walking around with the device.

The full keyboard with number pad stretches almost edge to edge, with a bit of space on either side for top-firing speakers. Despite appearing to run the entire depth of the keyboard, the speakers and punched grill only make up a small portion; the rest of the "grill" is just painted on. It's not a big deal, and the audio is pretty good. The sound gets loud and doesn't distort, but I wish it had more bass. It's good enough that I didn't mind leaving headphones aside when watching a movie.

The best feature of the AeroBook Pro — especially at the price point — is the 15.6-inch 4K display. It has a glossy finish, but it does hit a maximum of 349 nits to help counteract glare. At its lowest, it only gets down to 88 nits, which can be a bit of an issue if you often use your laptop in the dark. Even with the Windows 10 Night Light enabled, it is a bit hard on the eyes.

Testing color with the DataColor SpyderX Pro, I got back 94% sRGB, 73% AdobeRGB, and 76% DCI-P3. Those are respectable numbers, but a bit lower than the 100% sRGB CHUWI claims. Using the display for media and productivity is no problem. The raised plastic bezel isn't too thick to be unsightly, though it is noticeably larger than on other premium 15-inch laptops.

The AeroBook Pro is packing a 6th Gen Intel Core i5-6287U, which is more than a few years old. CHUWI advertises it as the same CPU used in the MacBook Pro, which is technically true — it was the late-2016 MacBook Pro that used it. Despite its age, this dual-core CPU puts up performance close to a modern 10th Gen Core i3 CPU and much more performance than the Atom chips we've seen in other CHUWI laptops. If it weren't for the terrible keyboard and touchpad, this would be a great laptop for office work.

The 55.9Wh battery is a significant upgrade compared to the 36.5Wh battery in CHUWI's other 4K LapBook Plus laptop, but life is about the same due to the beefier CPU. I tested with PCMark 10's Modern Office battery rundown test and saw three hours and 28 minutes with 60% display brightness and power set to maximum performance. Lowering brightness to 40% and changing to a better battery power plan will extend that time to somewhere around five hours of regular use. It could be better, but for a 4K laptop, this price it's a decent life. You can expect about 50% battery life in an hour when charging from dead, though the second half takes quite a bit more time.

I ran some synthetic benchmarks to see how well the AeroBook Pro compares to other laptops we've reviewed.

CPU PCMark Cinebench SSD CPU Geekbench 5.0 Benchmarks (Higher is better)Device CPU Single core Multi core CHUWI AeroBook Pro i5-6287U 925 2,049 Lenovo Yoga C640 i3-10110U 1,015 2,111 Lenovo Yoga C740 15 i7-10510U 1,229 3,531 Lenovo Yoga C740 14 i5-10210U 1,094 3,767 Dell XPS 13 (9300) i7-1065G7 1,284 4,848 LG gram 17 (2020) i7-1065G7 1,208 3,349 Acer Swift 5 (SF514-54T) i7-1065G7 1,202 3,600 Surface Pro 7 i7-1065G7 1,205 4,852 Surface Laptop 3 13.5 i5-1035G7 1,177 4,413 Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 i7-1065G7 1,209 3,571 Dell XPS 15 7590 i9-9980HK 1,176 7,624

Performance from the dual-core 6th Gen Intel Core i5-6287U CPU is just less than you'd get from a 10th Gen Intel Core i3-10110U, as seen in the benchmark result above. It's enough to handle standard productivity work, but don't expect it to perform miracles with anything specialized or intensive.

PCMark PCMark 10 ExpressDevice Score CHUWI AeroBook Pro 3,780 Lenovo Yoga C640 4,008 Lenovo Yoga C740 15 5,302 Lenovo Yoga C740 14 4,941 Dell XPS 13 (9300) 4,524 LG gram 17 4,157 Acer Swift 5 (SF514-54T) 4,415 Surface Pro 7 (i5) 3,992 Surface Laptop 3 15 (AMD) 4,006 Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (7390) 4,427 Dell Inspiron 13 7390 2-in-1 3,764 Dell XPS 15 7590 5,521 Dell Precision 3541 3,906

Again we can see how a system with 6th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU is slightly less powerful than something with a 10th Gen Intel Core i3 CPU. Still, everyday tasks feel snappy and responsive.

Cinebench Cinebench (R20) (Higher is better)Device CPU Range CHUWI AeroBook Pro Core i5-6287U 845 to 862 Lenovo Yoga C640 Core i3-10110U 924 to 929 Lenovo Yoga C740 15 Core i7-10510U 1,415 to 1,613 Lenovo Yoga C740 14 Core i5-10210U 1,450 to 1,535 LG gram 17 i7-1065G7 1,079 to 1,199 Acer Swift 5 (SF514-54T) Core i7-1065G7 1,361 to 1,400 Lenovo ThinkPad P53 Xeon E-2276M 2,686 to 2,701 Surface Laptop 3 13.5 Core i5-1035G4 1,584 to 1,606 Surface Laptop 3 15 Core i7-1065G7 1,703 to 1,745

Running the Cinebench R20 render test multiple times in a row can show how well a laptop deals with heat and thermal throttling. The laptop keeps cool under load, no doubt, thanks to the metal chassis dispersing a lot of heat. The fan does get loud at times, but for the most part, it runs quietly.

SSD CrystalDiskMark (Higher is better)Device Read Write CHUWI AeroBook Pro 556.38 MB/s 416.27 MB/s Lenovo Yoga C640 1,906.78 MB/s 970.69 MB/s Lenovo Yoga C740 15 1,442.30 MB/s 357.40 MB/s Lenovo Yoga C740 14 3,408 MB/s 2,982 MB/s LG gram 17 (2020) 3,477 MB/s 2,900 MB/s Surface Laptop 3 15 2,028 MB/s 806 MB/s Surface Laptop 3 13.5 2,338 MB/s 1,583 MB/s Acer Swift 5 (SF514-54T) 1,641 MB/s 1,025 MB/s Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 2) 3,416 MB/s 3,016 MB/s Lenovo ThinkPad P53 3,567.23 MB/s 2,813.25 MB/s Lenovo ThinkPad P52 3,120 MB/s 1,551.5 MB/s Dell XPS 15 7590 3,000 MB/s 2,796 MB/s MSI PS63 Modern 3,300 MB/s 1,875 MB/s

The HikVision SATA SSD used here is comparatively slow but performs as it should. I ran a PCMark 10 System Drive benchmark as well and got a score of 722.

What I dislike about the CHUWI AeroBook Pro 15.6

A lot of minor issues can be ignored, especially when a laptop is priced at around $500. SATA storage really isn't a big deal, older Intel hardware still performs well for office work, and the average webcam is passable. These issues don't interfere with the overall package.

The biggest issue with the AeroBook Pro — and one that is noticeable as soon as you start using the laptop — is the keyboard and touchpad. At first glance, it looks like the combination is going to be a winner. Keys are large and spaced well, it has a bright backlight, and the enormous touchpad uses Precision drivers. But typing and pointing is a pain.

While typing, the spacebar won't work unless you hit it directly in the middle or very hard along the outer edges. This immediately makes the typing experience miserable, and it's not helped by some other keys feeling a bit sticky. Anytime you want a space, you must consciously tap your thumb instead of plowing along at your normal speed. I lasted about an hour before giving up and returning to my regular keyboard.

The touchpad, with Precision drivers, is huge, and I was excited to test it out. Unfortunately, it tracks poorly and has inconsistent clicks. Pointing and clicking will often result in the cursor teleporting to the bottom corner of the screen or not clicking at all. Even after adjusting cursor speed and sensitivity, the issues remained.

It's a shame about the keyboard and touchpad because this laptop would otherwise be an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a budget 4K laptop for general use. As it stands, it's really not good for anything other than watching TV or movies on the high-res display.

Should you buy CHUWI's AeroBook Pro?

CHUWI's AeroBook Pro is a great budget laptop turned into a poor budget laptop because of the keyboard and touchpad. Using the device for anything but setting up something to watch or browsing the web often results in frustration because of the sticky keys and inaccurate pointing. Those issues are solved with an external mouse and external keyboard, but they shouldn't be necessary.

3 out of 5

Considering the price, the 4K display, port selection, and overall all-metal design are stellar. A 6th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU puts up performance close to a 10th Gen Intel Core i3 chip, which is enough to handle office productivity. Altogether, though, I'd only recommend this laptop to anyone who needs a secondary device strictly for media. Trying to type or otherwise be productive all day with the built-in inputs is just not worth your time.

Budget 4K Laptop CHUWI AeroBook Pro 15.6

Affordable 4K laptop with some flaws

It's an exceptional device for watching movies and TV, but the keyboard and touchpad make productivity a painful experience.

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Teclast F15 Unboxing & Hands-On Review 15.6 Gemini Lake Laptop

Computer Vision Market Share Scope Revenue Trade Analysis Trends Drivers 2018-2023

The MarketWatch News Department was not involved in the creation of this content.

May 03, 2020 (AmericaNewsHour) -- Global Computer Vision Market Research Report Information by By Component, By Application, By End-User and By Region Forecast Till 2023

The computer vision technology landscape continues to undergo relentless transformation, concurrently creating new application opportunities. In 2017, the global market for computer vision stood at over USD 9,200 Mn and is expected to surpass a valuation of USD 48,300 Mn by 2023, reflecting a steady growth. Vision computing is viewed as a technology with high potentials, and from the current standpoint the future looks bright. Though we are still a long way from getting computers view, picture and identify real-world objects with high accuracy, advent of computer vision has been a steppingstone in moving towards that direction. Moreover, integration of deep learning and artificial intelligence with computer vision has significantly increased the level of efficacy of the technology. This has also prompted a fast adoption of computer vision systems in various industrial verticals.

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The post Computer Vision Market Share, Scope, Revenue, Trade Analysis, Trends, Drivers 2018-2023 appeared first on America News Hour.

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The Hidden Value In Crypto (w/ Ari Paul) | Skin in the Game | Real Vision™

The best gaming laptops for 2020

This article was last updated by Digital Trends computing editor Luke Larsen on 5/2/2020.

is the best gaming laptop we've ever tested. It's sleek, powerful, and looks the part, with a fantastic display to boot. But it's not the only gaming laptop we love.

We've tested nearly 400 laptops, carefully deliberating how each performs against one another in key areas such as performance, display, battery life, and build quality. We've even included options for the best G-Sync laptops, serious desktop replacements, and even budget offerings.

Why you should buy this: You want a gaming powerhouse with a MacBook-like sense of style.

Who it's for: Gamers who need something small and light that can still pack a punch.

The Razer Blade offers serious gaming performance in a slim package. The system bolsters its slim design with an attractive, matte black, unibody aluminum exterior. The result is a system that looks a lot like the black MacBooks of yore (that's a compliment). With its slick design and impressive, Chroma-lit keyboard and touchpad, it stands out in the crowd.

Knowing which to pick up can be difficult, though, as Raze offers a wide assortment of configurations, ranging all the way up to a Studio model with the RTX Quadro 5000. The Blade will soon be available with 10th-gen H-series processors, up to 300Hz screens, and RTX Super graphics. There's even a wild 4K OLED model, even if that's not the best option for gamers.

Though it has many strengths, the Blade does fall victim to the limitations of its own footprint. Historically, they've run hotter and louder than competitors with a thicker chassis, and it's not as powerful as some laptops with larger frames. The price is also quite high, but if you're willing to pay it, you get an amazing gaming machine that doubles as a standard laptop just as well.

Why you should buy this: You want to play the latest games on a laptop at the highest settings and resolutions.

The Alienware Area-51m is unlike any gaming laptop you've seen. Not only does it have a bold look with its light grey exterior and sci-fi logos, but it's also a true desktop replacement. We mean that in terms of the power this thing enjoys, as well as the actual components inside. The Area-51m comes with CPU options up to an actual desktop-class processor, the Core i9-9900K.

That's an eight-core, 16-thread CPU that makes this laptop considerably more powerful than anything else out there.

But the best part? All the components, including the GPU and CPU, can be replaced. In our review, we found that getting access to those parts wasn't as easy as the marketing may have alluded to. All the same, it's an insanely powerful laptop that can run nearly everything at high framerates on its 1080p 144Hz screen. Even if you plug it into a 4K monitor, you'll be impressed by how well games run.

It's not the gaming laptop you want if you're taking it on the go, especially given its low battery life and hefty chassis, but if true power is what you want, look no further.

Read our in-depth Alienware Area-51m review

The best budget gaming laptop: Dell G3 Gaming Laptop

Why you should buy this: It's the best gaming machine you can buy for less than $1,000.

The Razer Blade

Who it's for: Students, gamers, anyone who wants a gaming laptop but doesn't want to break the bank.

Why we picked the Dell G3 Gaming Laptop:

This budget-friendly laptop may not seem like a gaming powerhouse, but as one of the cheapest systems with a dedicated GPU, it can't be ignored. It's more modest than the other systems here, coming standard with an Intel Core i5-8300H and 8GB of RAM.

The real star of the show is its graphics card, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics card. During our tests, it nearly kept up with more expensive laptops like the Razer Blade. It doesn't look quite as sharp, but it has more than enough horsepower to run the latest games at high detail settings.

Our review unit handled games like Battlefield 1, Fortnite, and Civilization VI at around 60 frames per second — and that's with settings maxed. It has a harder time with gaming in higher resolutions, but there are configuration options for the GTX 1060, which would fare better. A new version is even available, which includes 9th-gen processors and new 16-series Nvidia graphics cards.

The G3 does look like a budget system, though it's not as bad as you might expect. It's a bit heavy, clad in plastic and numerous shades of blue. The screen's bezels are thick, the touchpad feels cheap, and the display is pretty dull. But if you can look past some of those compromises, you'll find a very capable gaming laptop that delivers impressive framerates — and for most people, that's what matters.

Our in-depth Dell G3 Gaming Laptop review

The best portable gaming laptop: Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

Why you should buy this: It has great 1080p gaming performance in a surprisingly tiny package.

The Razer Blade

Who it's for: Gamers and content creators.

Why we picked the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14:

The G14 is unlike any gaming laptop you've used. It's incredibly lightweight, at just 3.5 pounds — and uses just a 14-inch screen rather than the typical 15-inch variety. The result is the smallest gaming laptop ever made, especially given how powerful this thing is.

The heart of it is AMD's Ryzen 4000, eight-core processor. It's a beast. Multi-threaded performance is off the chart for a laptop this small, making it a capable option for video editors, 3D modelers, and content creators of every kind.

It's also provides excellent gaming performance, of course. You have options for either a GTX 1650, a GTX 1660 Ti, or an RTX 2060. If you can opt for the 2060, you'll be able to play most games over 60 frame per second. You'll have to pay an extra $500 for the fancy programmable LEDs on the lid, but the $1450 RTX 2060 model (without LEDs) is a great value.

Read our in-depth ROG Zephyrus G14 review

The best G-Sync gaming laptop: Acer Predator Triton 500

Why you should buy this: It's a powerful gaming laptop with a thin and light design at an affordable price.

The Razer Blade

Who it's for: For gamers who want G-Sync above all else.

Why we picked the Acer Predator Triton 500:

G-Sync might kill battery life, but when it comes to smooth gameplay, it's a must-have for many gamers. The Predator Triton 500 is a fantastic gaming laptop that just happens to include Nvidia's important display technology.

Starting with a Core i7-9750H and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU and topping out with an RTX 2080 Max-Q upgrade, the Triton 500 can stand toe to toe with many of the other laptops on this list for significantly less cash. Like many gaming laptops right now, the Triton 500 has been announced to include support for 10th-gen Intel processors and RTX Super graphics cards, but those configurations are not yet available. This new version of the Triton 400 will also include a 300Hz screen.

There are some caveats. The Triton 500 doesn't look like a standard gaming laptop, but it also lacks the eye-catching build of other thin and light gaming laptops like the Razer Blade 15. Like its aesthetics, the Triton 500's battery performance is also underwhelming. But if you're looking for the best gaming bang for your buck with a G-Sync screen, it's hard to do better than this.

Our in-depth Acer Predator Triton 500 review

Research and buying tipsHow much is a gaming laptop?

Gaming laptops tend to be more expensive than more general-purpose laptops because they generally include a dedicated graphics chip for better game visuals and frame rates. But they needn't cost the Earth.

Our favorite budget gaming laptop, the

The Razer Blade

can be found for under $1,000. There are some alternative budget laptops that we like, although you'll struggle to find something that's great for gaming once you edge towards $500. On the higher end, you can end up spending well over $2,000 if you want the latest components and fastest screens.

What should I look for in a gaming laptop?

If you're going to play anything other than classic games or very low-intensity indie games, you want a dedicated graphics chip. It doesn't need to be something amazing, and AMD APUs with Vega graphics on board are worth considering at the low-end. Either way, you'll want something more than Intel integrated graphics if you want decent frame rates in most games.

It's also worth looking out for a high refresh rate display. We consider them more important than higher resolutions when it comes to gaming and they typically aren't too costly an extra either.

You might also want to consider battery life if you plan to play away from a power socket, although you won't find many gaming laptops that can last more than a few hours in intense games.

Are gaming laptops good for work?

Usually, yes. You don't need a dedicated graphics chip for working, but the fast processors and high-speed RAM that gaming laptops are typically equipped with are just as good at handling spreadsheets and Word documents as they are crunching the numbers for the latest games.

Then again, a larger, thicker gaming laptop with RGB lighting might not be appropriate for every job setting. A more subdued design like the Razer Blade or the G-series Dell gaming laptops fits in much better, though it's an issue to be aware of.

Are Mac laptops good for gaming?

Some aren't bad, but most of them aren't great. Apple only puts dedicated graphics chips in its 15-inch MacBook Pro models, and even they are underpowered compared to far more affordable Windows laptops. There's also software compatibility to consider, as many more games are available on Windows than MacOS, even with the addition of Apple Arcade.

If all you want is a little Fortnite on the side, a 16-inch MacBook Pro will get you by, but these are not gaming machines by any means. That being said, if you really want to stick with a Mac, there's always the option to dual-boot in Boot Camp, which lets you run Windows 10 games on your MacBook hardware.

Top 10 Best Gaming Laptop to Buy in 2020

How to connect your laptop to your TV wirelessly or with HDMI

If you're getting bored or annoyed with your laptop's tiny screen during the coronavirus lockdown, maybe you should try using your big TV as a monitor instead. It's great being able to sit back on your sofa and surf the web, play PC games or stream video from apps not available on your TV. Or maybe you just want a bigger view for video chat while you're stuck at home.

Using your TV as a monitor has downsides too. Text might be too small to see, input lag might ruin your gaming scores, and while the couch may seem comfy, it may turn into a neck ache when put into service as an office chair. And then there's the mouse, trackpad and keyboard to worry about. But going PC-to-TV works well in many situations, and the best part is that it's cheap (or free) depending on what gear you already have.

Read more: How to cast and mirror an Android phone screen to a TV

Mirroring vs. extending

Mirroring means putting the same content on both your laptop's screen and the TV. It's more common and generally easier than screen extending -- where you see different content on both, making the TV an extension of your laptop's screen. Extending is useful for things like having a YouTube video running on the TV while you're working on a spreadsheet on your laptop. It's a bit more involved but still possible depending on your equipment. Mostly we'll be talking about mirroring in this article.

The easiest way: Wired HDMI

The most basic PC-to-TV connection consists of running a wire from your computer to the HDMI input on your TV. If you have an older TV and an older laptop, there are options like VGA, but that's basically the Dark Ages at this point.

Laptops and PCs have a bunch of different connections, so which wire or adapter you'll need to run depends on what computer you have. If you're not sure, check the manual or Google the model to determine its specs. Here's the rundown.

Full-sized HDMI: If you're lucky, your laptop has a full-sized HDMI output, so you can use a standard HDMI cable to run to your TV. 

Mini- or micro-HDMI: These smaller versions of HDMI just need an adapter, or a cable that has a regular HDMI at the other end, to connect directly to your TV. 

Thunderbolt, DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort: All of these usually work with HDMI as well. Thunderbolt is found on many laptops. The first two versions of the connector were the same as Mini DisplayPort, so Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI cables or adapters should work. Newer versions use the same connectors as USB-C (see the next section). Full-sized DisplayPort is common to Windows PCs. Again, you'll need an adapter or cable with this type of connection on one end and HDMI on the other. 

USB-C port: Many modern laptops have only this kind of connection. Usually you'll just need an adapter (USB-C to HDMI) and it will work fine, but sometimes it might not work at all. MacBooks from the last few years should work, as will Microsoft Surface laptops and many others. Note that USB-C uses the same physical connection as Apple's Thunderbolt 3. Check your computer's specs to double check what connector/adapter you might need.

More wired tips: There are so many varieties of laptops out there, we can't make a blanket statement that a particular adapter will work for your PC. If you're not sure, Google your brand and model before you buy any kind of adapter.

Also, in some cases the quality might be diminished. You also won't likely get HDR or 4K resolution, for example, so if you want the best image quality for videos, you should use a different method to get the videos to your TV, like a Roku or Blu-ray player.

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Wireless connections

There are a few options to skip the wires completely. Again, it depends on what computer you have, as well as the capabilities of your TV (or the streaming device connected to your TV).

If you have an Apple computer: The easiest way is to use AirPlay. But you'll need a device that supports it, namely:

If you have a Windows PC: There's something called Miracast, though it's not as widespread as "all recent Apple products" like AirPlay. Your Windows 10 laptop should have the tech built-in. On the TV side, devices that support Miracast include:

If you have a Chromebook: Computers that run Google's Chrome OS can send content to a TV wirelessly too. To use it you'll need:

Casting from a Chrome browser: If you don't have a TV device with AirPlay or Miracast compatibility you can still mirror your screen from the Chrome browser on any laptop. It works with any of the devices from the Chromebook list above. Only content on the browser will be visible, and certain websites won't work.

You can also "cast" content from a variety of mobile apps, like Netflix or YouTube, to most smart TVs. This isn't screen mirroring, but if you're just looking to get some content from your phone to a bigger screen, this is an easy way to do it.

If your intention is to play games, the lag from a wireless connection is probably going to prohibit any fun with games that require fast and accurate clicking, like with first-person shooters and racing games.

Accessories

If you want to up your game a bit, consider a few optional accessories. A wireless keyboard or mouse can go a long way toward making your PC-on-TV experience easier. Here's a couple inexpensive options.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Put your laptop someplace to charge, and just keep a small, light keyboard on your lap. We like the Bluetooth Logitech K380 not least for its long battery life, but also its ability to toggle between devices, like from your laptop to your tablet.

Logitech

There are a lot of wireless mouse options, but I like this one because it's comfortable, and more importantly, quiet. Instead of click-click-click, it sounds more like a light tapping on a table. 

Settings tips

Your TV and your laptop's screen are probably different resolutions. In theory this won't be an issue, but if you're finding text hard to read, or overall the image looks poor, make sure the laptop's output matches your TV's resolution. 

It's easy to do on both Windows and Mac. If you're also trying to send audio, that might need to be switched on as well, either by clicking the speaker button in the lower right on Windows, or in System Preferences on Mac.

On the TV side, make sure you disable your TV's overscan. It might be disabled automatically, but if the edges of your desktop are cutoff, dig deep into your TV's menus for something like "size" or "zoom." If you're gaming, also see if your TV has a game mode. This should help reduce input lag, the delay between you pressing a button and that action showing up on screen. It's also a good idea to lower the sharpness control. I mean, in general this is a good idea, but here specifically it should help you make out fine details better, like text.

Speaking of text, if you're trying to work from your couch it's likely that despite the extra screen size, text is still too small. If that's the case, you can adjust text size on Windows and Mac. You can also use the zoom controls in certain apps, like Chrome browsers.

If you're not getting an image on screen at all, try unplugging the HDMI and plugging it back in (with the TV on), and if that doesn't work, leave it all plugged in but turn the TV off then on. This is trite advice for a reason: it solves so many issues.

Good luck, and if you have any favorite PC-to-TV tips, let us know in the comments.

Got a question for Geoff? First, check out all the other articles he's written on topics such as why you shouldn't buy expensive HDMI cables, TV resolutions explained, how HDR works and more.

Still have a question? Tweet at him @TechWriterGeoff, then check out his travel photography on Instagram. He also thinks you should check out his best-selling sci-fi novel and its sequel.

how to screen mirror your laptop/ PC screen to your television WIRELESS [EASY]

Flow Computer Market is expected to grow USD 1474.13 million by the year 2024 Influence of COVID-19

The MarketWatch News Department was not involved in the creation of this content.

Apr 30, 2020 (AmericaNewsHour) -- Flow Computer Market Research Report - Global Forecast to 2024Global Flow Computer Market Research Report: by Component (Hardware, Software and Services), by Operations (Single Stream Flow Computers and Multi-Stream Flow Computers), by Connectivity (Wired Flow Computers and Wireless Flow Computers), by Equipment (Pressure Gauges, Temperature Probes, Gas Composition Sensors, Meter Prover, Sampling System, Density Measurement Equipment and others), by Applications (Fuel Monitoring, Liquid & Gas Measurement, Wellhead Measurement and Optimization, Pipeline Transmission and Distribution and others) and by Region (North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa and South America) - Forecast till 2024

Market AnalysisThe Global Flow Computer Market is expected to register a CAGR of 8.49% during the forecast period 2019-2024. A flow computer is a dedicated computer that works on algorithms and complex calculations to calculate and record the flow rate of a flowing substance as per the industry standards at a definite point of time. It provides precise and reliable results using advanced programming, damage-resistant hardware components, and graphical user interface to display the readings. Flow computer manufacturers make flow computers that use either wired or wireless networks to connect to its various hardware devices for instance pressure gauges, temperature probes, gas sensors, and distributed control systems.

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The global flow computer market created a revenue of USD 925.69 million in the year 2018 and is projected to attain a market value of USD 1474.13 million by the year 2024, registering a CAGR of 8.49%. The growing improvements in flow computers and increasing demand for flow computers for wastewater treatment products are the primary factors pushing the growth of the global flow computer market. Based on component, the global flow computer market has been fragmented into hardware, software, and services. The hardware component comprises of field-mounted devices and panel-mounted devices.

These hardware devices are categorized based on the type of mounting flow computer is using. A software component is established on the user's devices for example laptop, tablet, mobile, or computer to connect with the flow computers. Different services for the flow computers include technical support, repair and maintenance, product training, parts replacement, and consulting services.

Market SegmentationFlow Computer Market can be segmented into different segments. On the basis of component, the market can be segmented into Hardware, Software, and Services. On the bases of operations, the Flow Computer Market can be divided into Single Stream Flow Computers and Multi-Stream Flow Computers. Based on connectivity the market is divided into wired Flow Computers, and Wireless Flow Computers. Based on equipment, the market is divided into different parts like Pressure Gauges, Temperature Probes, Gas Composition Sensors, Meter Prover, Sampling System, Density Measurement Equipment, and Others. By application, Flow Computer Market is divided into Fuel Monitoring, Liquid & Gas Measurement, Wellhead Measurement and Optimization, Pipeline Transmission and Distribution, and Others.

Regional Analysis:The flow computer market on the basis of region, has been segmented into the different regions like North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and South America. In the year 2018, the largest market share 35% was held by North America with a market value of USD 321.74 million. The market is expected to register a CAGR of 7.33% during the forecast period. European market was the second-largest market in the year 2018 that was valued at USD 237.48 million; the market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 8.74%. Middle East & Africa market is anticipated to register the highest CAGR of 10.19%. In terms of market share due to the existence of various key players who are emerging new and improved flow computers, the North America region is the leading region systems.

The growing demand for developed and consistent computing in industries is one of the main factors influencing to the development of the market in the region. Due to the early adoption of the flow computer technology/systems the US is responsible for the major share in the flow computer market in North America. Furthermore, the existence of different oil & gas companies in the US, such as Abraxas Petroleum Corp., Adams Resources & Energy Inc., California Resources Corp., ExxonMobil Corp. and Chevron Corp., which use flow computers for the volume of substances such as liquid and gas, provide substantially to the growth of the market in the country.

The geographic analysis in Europe has been performed for numerous countries such as UK, Germany, France, Russia, Italy, and the rest of the European countries. Europe has different industries, including chemicals, petrochemical, and oil & gas, that use flow computer systems. The growing awareness for wastewater treatment is another factor driving the growth of the flow computer market in this region.

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Major Players:

Honeywell International Inc, Schneider Electric SE, Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Emersion Electric Co, Schlumberger Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, Contrec Ltd, Dynamic Flow Computers, Inc, Flow Systems, Inc, Kessler-Ellis Products, Co, TechnipFMC PLC (FMC Technologies Measurement), and Flowmetrics, Inc., ABB Ltd, OMNI Flow Computers, Inc, ProSoft Technology Inc. (Belden Inc.), KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH (KROHNE Group), Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley) are some of the key players of global flow computer market.

About Kenneth Research:

Kenneth Research provides market research reports to different individuals, industries, associations and organizations with an aim of helping them to take prominent decisions. Our research library comprises of more than 10,000 research reports provided by more than 15 market research publishers across different industries. Our collection of market research solutions covers both macro level as well as micro level categories with relevant and suitable market research titles. As a global market research reselling firm, Kenneth Research provides significant analysis on various markets with pure business intelligence and consulting services on different industries across the globe. In addition to that, our internal research team always keep a track on the international and domestic market for any economic changes impacting the products' demand, growth and opportunities for new and existing players.

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The post Flow Computer Market is expected to grow USD 1474.13 million by the year 2024, Influence of COVID-19 appeared first on America News Hour.

COMTEX_365155733/2606/2020-04-30T09:38:12

The MarketWatch News Department was not involved in the creation of this content.

Imports, Exports, and Exchange Rates: Crash Course Economics #15

Coronavirus: Got over 3.5 lakh requests for laptops mobile phones consumer electronics says Paytm Mall

Paytm Mall, the ecommerce arm of Paytm, announced that it has received an overwhelming number of requests for non-essential items since the start of the lockdown, with the searches on its platform for mobile phones, trimmers, and laptops surging more than 200 percent. With work from home and online education becoming the new normal, citizens are also wish-listing non-essential products like consumer electronics.

Consumer electronics topped the wishlist with over 1.3 lakh requests. A positive indicator for mobile phone companies, people wish-listed mobile phones upwards of 75,000 requests, says Paytm Mall.

This is closely followed by people wish-listing to buy laptops as the ecommerce company received a total of 50,000 requests. Demand for laptop charging cords, phone chargers, headphones, desktop computers, and study tables are also on an all-time high.   

In a statement released by Paytm Mall, the company said: "Lakhs of customers over the last five weeks have earmarked their 'wishlist' on Paytm Mall, in hopes of buying them immediately after the end of lockdown."

The company also says that it has received requests over email and through comments from its users to deliver laptops, mobile phones, headphones, trimmers, chargers, academic books, and other study materials, consumer electronics, as well as white goods since the lockdown was announced.

As per the company statement, if the "government expands the list of essential items and introduces work and study from home products as part of the list, it would help people function properly during the lockdown and not cause unnecessary delays in work which can affect their personal and professional productivity."

Srinivas Mothey, Senior Vice President, Paytm Mall, added, "We believe that the ambit of essential goods should be increased. India is mostly working from home at the moment but many are finding it difficult as they are running low on certain items necessary to effectively operate under lockdown. Laptops, mobile phones, and accessories, computer hardware, webcams, all these things should be allowed to be part of essential goods. If the lockdown continues, lack of proper technical support would hinder the efficiency of employees which in turn would affect a company's operations."

Post the lockdown, the company plans to take several measures to help its partners and citizens fight COVID-19. Earlier, Paytm Mall decided to help its merchant partners who are facing issues with stocking up on inventory and fulfilment of orders, by waiving off service level agreement (SLA). It also partnered with several suppliers and brands of FMCG goods to help its merchant partners stock up.

How has the coronavirus outbreak disrupted your life? And how are you dealing with it? Write to us or send us a video with subject line 'Coronavirus Disruption' to editorial@yourstory.com

UK Rejects Chinese Test Kits For Coronavirus; 35 Lakh Kits Declared Faulty

Best Laptops (Updated 2020)

Whether you are a student, a business professional, or looking to play games on the go, a laptop is an essential part of your daily tech. While many people can get by with their smartphones or tablets, there are still those that need a dedicated yet portable computer. Laptops have made major strides in the past several years, and the best stand toe to toe with their desktop counterparts. There are also more unique options on the market, which means anyone can find a laptop that perfectly suits their needs. With so many options, though, it can be difficult to choose which one is best for you. We've done the work for you, though, and compiled the best laptops of 2020 for anyone to use.

Microsoft has been fleshing out its Surface line of products for years, and now the family has gotten rather large. After experimenting with and fine-tuning 2-in-1 products through the Surface Book and Surface Pro series, Microsoft finally released a dedicated Surface laptop a few years ago. The laptops were heralded for their beautiful design and solid specs that made them ideal for students and mainstream consumers.

With the Surface Laptop 3, Microsoft has done some major fine-tuning while still maintaining what makes their laptops so great. There are still the Alcantara fabric models that have a unique and comfortable feel to them, along with the more premium aluminum models. The displays are as vibrant and beautiful as ever with a 3:2 aspect ratio and 2256 x 1504 resolution. While it all looks beautiful, it also isn't really that different from what was found on the Surface Laptop 2.What makes this model different is what's underneath the hood. The Surface Laptop 3 runs 10th generation Intel processors, which gives a significant boost in performance from the year before. While it isn't optimal for these tasks, the Surface Laptop 3 can be used for light gaming, mild video editing, and maybe a touch of Photoshop. Users will see improved performance with the i7 variants, but these still aren't the ideal tasks for heavy users.

The Surface Laptop 3 is the perfect laptop for students and business professionals looking to do light work. Their signature aesthetic is just the icing on the cake of this solid and dependable machine.

Read More Key Features

Alcantara surface

Touchscreen

2.79 pounds

Specifications

Screen Size: 13.5 inches

Memory: 8GB/128GB

Battery Life: 11.5 hours

Operating System: Windows

Brand: Microsoft

Pros

Sleek and elegant design

USB-C

Improved performance from Surface Laptop 2

Cons

USB-C does not support thunderbolt

Razer has been a leader in the PC gaming industry for years. At first, they fine-tuned accessory products and peripherals, particularly their impressive line of mechanical keyboards. A few years ago, they launched full force into the computer world with their Razer Blade series. Since the first iteration, Razer has continued to fine tune and improve the laptop line, and it has culminated into the elegant and understated Razer Blade 15 Advanced. This is an impressive laptop that has all the power of a gaming machine without all the flash and gaudiness commonly associated with those devices. It is a gaming machine you could take to the office without blushing.The Blade 15 Advanced has a lovely display. There are two options, a 1080p and a 4K option. Combined with the 144hz display, and the user experience for the Razer Blade 15 is buttery smooth no matter what task you throw at it.That's also because of the added horsepower in the computer. The Advanced model is refreshed with the RTX Super cards, which means they can handle even modern games at high settings. Combined with the 144hz display, and you have a top tier gaming experience period, let alone one for a laptop. However, all that power comes with a drawback. Battery life on the Razer Blade 15 Advanced is mediocre, topping at six hours. That means you will want to lug your charger around all day, which makes it less than ideal for professionals on the move a lot.Still, for a gaming laptop that can also do lots of video editing and other intense tasks, the Razer Blade 15 Advanced is a tough one to beat.

Read More Key Features

Windows Hello

RBG backlit keyboard

Powerful RTX graphics cards

Specifications

Screen Size: 15 inches

Memory: 16GB/512GB

Battery Life: 6 hours

Operating System: Windows

Brand: Razer

Pros

Powerful graphics card makes it great for games and editing

All the power of a gaming laptop without the gaudy aesthetics

Lightweight for a gaming laptop

Cons

Battery limits how far you can go with it

When Chromebooks were first introduced on the market, they were considered novel but not overly functional. However, as technology and the industry has shifted to cloud-based work, Chromebooks are beginning to make their case as legitimate computing devices. Now that some Chromebooks can also run Android apps, it is now more justifiable than ever to invest in a Chromebook.

The Pixelbook Slate was Google's latest foray into the premium laptop market. Although it was impressive, there were some problems that held it back from being one of the best laptops on the market. That honor goes, instead, to its toned-down cousin, the Google Pixelbook Go M3 Chromebook. It isn't as sleek or flashy as the Slate, nor can it use the solid Pixelbook pen, but the Go is a dependable and entirely impressive machine.

Chromebooks are most ideal for students, who spend a lot of their time doing emails, taking online classes, and writing papers. Google's suite of apps like Docs, Sheets, and Slides are more than sufficient for most students. Many business professionals are also making the jump, since Chromebooks are dependable and often a more affordable option.

However, there is nothing cheap about the build quality of the Pixelbook Go. While its design isn't anything inspiring, it is well built. The display is also impressive, despite the thick bezels. The Pixelbook Go also has impressive speakers that go toe to toe with all the best laptops. If your work is primarily done online and you need a dependable laptop with a solid build quality and long battery life, this Pixelbook Go is tough to beat.

Read More Key Features

Titan C security chip

Intel Core m3-8100Y processor

2.33 pounds

Specifications

Screen Size: 13.3 inches

Memory: 8GB/64GB

Battery Life: 12 hours

Operating System: Chrome OS

Brand: Google

Pros

Impressive battery life

very lightweight

Impressive speakers

Cons

Can't use Pixelbook pen

Big bezels

Dell's XPS series has been the leader of the business professional laptop industry for several years. The laptop line has been known for having impressive specs and performance in a thin and powerful form factor. Dell puts all of that and more into their latest XPS 13. Unlike prior XPS models, though, this laptop is also a -2in-1 with a 1900x1200 touchscreen. This model also comes loaded with the latest 10th generation Intel Core i7, making it one of the most powerful ultrabook 2in1s on the market. The XPS 13 2-in-1 can also get the most out of its powerful process thanks to its advanced cooling system. It also has integrated Intel Iris graphics, which isn't superb but more than enough for some light video editing and photo editing. If you are looking for the best in class screen, the Dell XPS 13 2in1 can be upgraded to a vivid 4K panel, all without sacrificing the fluidity and smoothness of their other display. Just expect the upgrade to take a hit on battery life.

With its small form factor and 2-in-1 functionality, the XPS 13 2-in-1 is great for professionals on the go. It's ideal for coffee shops, laps, and any other nook and cranny that the traveling worker might expect. And with two Thunderbolt compatible USB-C ports, it is easy to hook up to a dock or monitors for more comprehensive work. If that sounds like the work you do, then the XPS 13 2-in-1 is the device for you.

Read More Key Features

2-in-1 w/touchscreen

4K resolution

Two USB-C thunderbolt ports

Specifications

Screen Size: 13 inches

Memory: 16GB/1TB

Battery Life: 10 hours

Operating System: Windows

Brand: Dell

Pros

Powerful specs in compact form factor

Beautiful display

Wi-Fi 6 technology makes it fast and snappy

Cons

Can't upgrade memory or storage after purchase

Apple has a longstanding reputation as the top manufacturer for workhorse laptops, and for good reason. The MacBook Pro series has been heralded by creatives and professionals for its next-gen aesthetics, vivid displays, and powerful specs. The latest generation of Macbook Pros has seen some fumbling, mainly due to the butterfly switch keyboard that was prone to failure. In their latest iteration, though, Apple has returned to form with the MacBook Pro with a 16-inch display. It is sleek, powerful, and, without a doubt, one of the best laptops on the market.

One of the most notable things about the Macbook Pro 16" is the keyboard. Apple has ditched the problematic butterfly switches for the scissor switches found in their incredible magic keyboard lineup. Everything is well spaced and travel distance is incredible, making it one of the single most enjoyable typing experiences on the market right now.

Apple has also improved the speakers of the traditional MacBook. Apple has always been one of the leaders in creating loud onboard speakers with decent bass, and the latest iteration only improves that reputation. The six speakers have force canceling woofers, which stops the bass from blowing out the rest of the sound and ruining the sound quality. It is really impressive to hear.

Now combine all of that with this MacBook Pro's gorgeous display, which is larger without making the computer clunky. That's because of the thin bezels along the side. Under the hood, you can get up to a 10th-gen Core i7 and up to 8TB of SSD storage.

With the Macbook Pro 16", Apple has delivered another stellar laptop that is difficult to beat.

Read More Key Features

Six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers

TouchBar

4 USB-C ports

Specifications

Screen Size: 16 inches

Memory: 16GB/512GB

Battery Life: 12 hours

Operating System: macOS

Brand: Apple

Pros

Improved keyboard over previous models

Thin bezel display

Loud and powerful speakers

There is a lot of stiff competition in the premium laptop market. So the fact that HP can create a laptop that stands above its own impressive line of products along with everyone else's is truly impressive. The HP Elite Dragonfly Notebook has a beautiful and distinct design without being gaudy. And beneath its beautiful exterior is a powerful machine that can handle just about anything you throw at it.

The design is truly unique with the Elite Dragonfly. It's stunning blue chassis is made of magnesium and recycled ocean plastics. In fact, the whole thing is made of recycled materials. That makes for a computer that is both beautiful and eco-friendly.

HP has several options for a display, with the 1080p panel with 400 nits of brightness, a Sure View 1080p panel with 1,000 nits, or a stunning 4K display with 550 nits. The Elite Dragonfly also has robust security features like a fingerprint scanner, Windows Hello, and a Tile tracker if the laptop is lost or stolen. Combine that with the laptop's 5G connectivity and robust series of ports, and this is truly a laptop designed for traveling professionals.

The Elite Dragonfly is also a workhorse, with the top models boasting 16GB of RAM and powerful 10th-generation Intel processors. No matter what you do for work, the Elite Dragonfly can handle it.

For a laptop meant to go anywhere and do anything, the HP Elite Dragonfly is best in its class.

Read More Key Features

Fingerprint scanner

Tile tracker

5G compatible

Specifications

Screen Size: 13.3 inches

Memory: 8GB/128GB

Battery Life: 12 hours

Operating System: Windows

Brand: HP

Pros

5G connectivity means you can take work anywhere

Recycled materials are elegant and eco-friendly

Lots of ports

Cons

Video drains battery quickly

Lenovo has been the top dog in the business-class laptop industry for a long, long time. That's thanks to its X1 Carbon series, with its no-nonsense aesthetics, top-in-class keyboard, and incremental improvements in display quality and weight. However, with so much competition these days, will the X1 Carbon still make a mark?

The answer is "yes." While Lenovo is slow to update the design of the X1 Carbon, there also isn't much to fix. The carbon fiber chassis looks good enough, and business professionals more concerned with performance aren't going to sweat it over a bland aesthetic. Lenovo has instead made improvements where it counts most.

One of those improvements comes in the display. With a 4K model available, the X1 Carbon now has HDR400 support, which improves the contrast and color the display. That makes the screen pop, perhaps letting users forget the boring design. Combine that with the powerful Intel processors, and the X1 Carbon is still a staple device for most business professionals. It also has plenty of connectivity options with 2 USB-C ports, 2 USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, and an ethernet jack. That's the type of I/O serious business professionals are looking for. The only true drawback is battery life. On the 4K model, battery life tops out at seven hours. Though, if you get the FullHD option, that doubles to fourteen hours.

When it comes to being the best laptop for professionals, Lenovo is taking a "if it isn't broke, don't fix it" approach. And that approach works here in spades.

Read More Key Features

Anti-glare display

Fingerprint reader

HDR400 support

Specifications

Screen Size: 14 inches

Memory: 16GB/512GB

Battery Life: 7 hours

Operating System: Windows

Brand: Lenovo

Pros

Impressive and spacious keyboard

HDR400 makes display vibrant and impressive

Lightweight carbon fiber design

Cons

Weak audio

4K display reduces battery life

LG came out with a surprising device last year with the LG Gram. It was lightweight and had an impressive processor making it ideal for heavy workloads. The 2020 Gram is a refinement of last year's model. While there aren't any dramatic changes this year, it is hard to do a major upgrade on a device that was already exceptional.

The LG Gram earns its name. It is incredibly lightweight at 2.5 pounds, and its thin profile makes it perfect for travel or working on an airplane or in a coffee shop. While it is still lightweight and the build is solid, it does already look little dated. The bezels are thick on the display and LG still didn't beef up the speakers, which sound thin and tinny.

However, minor drawbacks aside, the appeal for the LG Gram comes in performance and battery life. The LG Gram has been updated to 10th-generation Intel processors. While the base clock speeds aren't significantly different from the 8th-gen counterparts, that is nothing to scoff at. These are incredibly powerful processors that can handle video and photo editing with a breeze.

The battery life is also impressive. While most of the competition averages around 10-12 hours of battery life, the LG Gram tops out at 18.5 hours. That makes the LG Gram a must have for professionals on the go who don't want to pull out their charger constantly.

If battery life and performance are your top priorities, the LG Gram is a must have.

Read More Key Features

2.5 pounds

Wi-Fi 6

2in1 design with touchscreen

Specifications

Screen Size: 14 inches

Memory: 16GB/512GB

Battery Life: 18.5 hours

Operating System: Windows

Brand: LG

Pros

Insane battery life beats the competition

Incredibly lightweight and portable

Wi-Fi 6 give impressive data performance

Cons

Speakers are tinny and underwhelming

Ultrabooks are great for professionals who don't want to lug around a heavy backpack all day, but they aren't always ideal for everyone. That portability usually comes with a sacrifice in performance, particularly when it comes to thermal throttling. Those thin designs usually lack the fans for proper cooling. That can make it difficult to do heavy duty work without the computer overheating. In this sense, sometimes it is nicer to have something more heavy duty.

Introducing the Acer Aspire 5. It isn't as thin and light as other laptops on the market, but it easily holds its weight in performance. That's because of the impressively fast 10th-gen Core i5 processor and the discrete Nvidia MX250 graphics card. The added horsepower of a graphics card makes the Aspire 5 great for creatives who need to render videos or do some photo editing.

The Acer Aspire 5 also comes with an impressive array of ports. Many ultrabooks sacrifice these ports to be thin and light, but many professionals are frustrated by the amount of dongles they have to lug around to make them functional. The Acer Aspire 5 doesn't have this problem. It has a host of USB ports, including one USB-C. It also includes an HDMI port.

The Acer Aspire 5 may not be as lightweight, nor is it as elegant as some other options. However, impressive specs combined with robust port options makes it a compelling option for creatives and professionals alike.

Read More Key Features

Nvidia MX250 graphics

WiFi 6

Robust I/O

Specifications

Screen Size: 15.6 inches

Memory: 8GB/512GB

Battery Life: 9.5 hours

Operating System: Windows

Brand: Acer

Pros

Discrete graphics card improves performance for creatives

Connectivity options is ideal for professionals

Memory and storage are upgradable

Cons

Heavier than other laptops

If there is one thing HP does exceedingly well, it is making business-oriented laptops look beautiful. In the case of the HP Spectre x360, it does that and everything else very effectively. The Spectre isn't only a beautiful looking 2-in-1, but it is uncompromising in its quality and performance. The Spectre x360 gets its name from the hinge that converts it into a tablet when flipped completely around. This has been a standout feature for HP for several years, which made them one of the first major names in the 2in1 market. The x360 also has the added benefit of being one of the best looking 2in1s around. Its gold trim and futuristic angled edges make it an appealing and eye-catching device.

That beauty continues with the updated display. The 4K panel is AMOLED. With a nearly bezel-less screen, the blacks are black and the whites are white, and every color between is as vibrant as they possibly could be.

On other devices, this type of screen quality would greatly reduce battery life to below ten hours. But the HP Spectre can last as long as eleven hours with the right settings and conditions.

In terms of performance, the x360's 10th gen Intel processors are just as powerful as anything else in the top tier. It doesn't have a discrete graphics card, so it isn't ideal for gaming. But this device isn't aimed at gamers on the go. The HP Spectre x360 is meant for business professionals who want the most powerful and best looking device available.

Read More Key Features

2in1 360 degree hinge

Fingerprint scanner

HP Imagepad

Specifications

Screen Size: 15.6 inches

Memory: 16GB/1TB

Battery Life: 11 hours

Operating System: Windows

Brand: HP

Pros

Beautiful and eye-catching design

Display is beautiful without overly draining battery

Powerful specs put it in stiff competition with other brands

How We Choose

There are a lot of things to consider when deciding what the best laptop is for you. Everyone's needs and lifestyles are different, and you need to find a device that appropriately suits the work and environment you will be using it in.

Not all laptops are built the same, and as such not all of them are optimized for the same tasks. If you are looking for a basic device to stream Netflix and shoot off some emails, you don't need a powerhouse computer. On the flip side, if you plan on doing any video rendering or photo editing, you don't want to skip out on a computer with a beefy processor. Before you make any decisions, you need to think long and hard about the daily uses you expect from your new computer.

Once you have determined how you will use your new laptop, it is time to determine what specs you will need in the device. There are several things to consider, and it can seem kind of overwhelming. Without getting too technical, here are some things to consider.

Size and Weight

All laptops are portable, but some are more so than others. If you will be using your laptop in one place, getting a small and lightweight device isn't as necessary. However, if you travel a lot or work in cramped quarters, getting something smaller and more lightweight is preferred. This also applies to screen size. The most common screen sizes are between thirteen and fifteen inches, with some gaming laptops reaching seventeen inches. As the size of the screen goes up, so too does the size and weight of the rest of the computer. Think long and hard about how you plan on carrying your device around and how often you will be doing it.

RAM and Storage

Random Access Memory (RAM) is effectively the short-term memory of your computer, as it determines how many tasks you can run at once. Most laptops have at least 4GB of RAM, though it is becoming more common to start with 8GB. If you plan on doing heavy video editing or gaming, 8GB is the minimum you should have, though you should aim for 16.

Storage is not the same as memory. Storage is the actual hard drive that houses the data from your computer. Most laptops use solid state drives (SSDs), or M.2 now, which are faster and lighter in weight than disk drives. This switch is why most laptops can be so thin and light now. 128GB is usually the base size for SSDs, though it is rarely enough for even moderate users. It is recommended to get at least 256GB of storage.

GPU

Most laptops do not have a graphics processing unit (GPU). They usually rely on integrated graphics through the CPUs, which allow for light gaming and editing. However, if you want to play the latest games or get the most powerful experience, you will want to look for a computer that has a dedicated graphics card.

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