This comprehensive kit includes a demonstration board that uses the MC9S12NE64 on chip EMAC and EPHY to demonstrate typical MC9S12NE64 applications ...
With the relaxation of lockdown norms in green and orange zones, launches of new electronics have resumed in India. Fujifilm has launched a new camera while Motorola has announced the new flagship phone Edge+. Now Asus has rolled out two new gaming laptops A15 and A17 in the TUF series.
Starting at ₹60,990, the new laptops run on AMD's new 7 nanometer based Ryzen 4000 Series mobile processors.
Here is our first impressions of the A15.
Available in Fortress Gray and Bonfire Black design, the notebook has a lustreless metal finish and honeycomb pattern at the base for better grip while carrying it.
We have seen an almost similar honeycomb pattern in Alienware Area 51m notebooks.
The A15 tips the scales at 2.3kg, which is what most gaming laptops with 15-inch screens do. It's neither too heavy nor too light and would fit into small to medium sized bags comfortably. True to the TUF series, the A15 feels solid without feeling wobbly at any point.
It's well endowed in terms of connectivity and even has a LAN port. It also has HDMI, USB 3.2 type A and USB type-C connectors.
The 144Hz display, available in higher variants, is a big boost for gamers. It will keep frame drops and screen tearing in check, leading to better gaming experience.
Purring inside the A15 is AMD's Ryzen 5 4600H (in base variant) and Ryzen 9 4900H (in top variant). The top of the line Ryzen processors are quite powerful and several benchmark tests reported online have put them on par with Intel's 10th gen Core i9 processors.Ryzen 9 4900H has 8 cores and 16 threads.
Asus has coupled it with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (4GB) graphics in base variant and GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB) graphics at top. The latter is available only in A15 models.
Gaming laptops can heat up very quickly. To keep the heat in check during gaming, Asus has used multiple heat pipes and 3 heatsinks to draw heat away from core components and distribute it evenly.
The laptop has also been designed to accommodate more vents and increase airflow through it.
An important part of the new design is the easy to open chassis, so users can access the innards and upgrade
RAM and SSD capacity by themselves. The screws on the base of the chassis can be removed easily with a standard screwdriver. The laptop gives the option to add an additional SSD drive and increase storage.
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THIS ISN'T REVIEW of ASUS TUF Gaming A15 | Our First Impression Of The New Inexpensive Gaming Laptop
Tens of thousands of unemployed Oregonians are spending a lot of time on their phones right now.
But this isn't mindless scrolling. These Oregonians are waiting, and waiting, and waiting -- on hold trying to get through to the state Employment Department.
On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, reporter Mike Rogoway outlines the many woes facing the department.
Those issues culminated in the busiest few days in the department's recent history – two legislative hearings, one without questions from lawmakers, Sen. Ron Wyden calling for director Kay Erickson's firing and Gov. Kate Brown eventually asking for Erickson's resignation Sunday.
I spoke with Mike twice in the span of a few days about this crisis, but much of this episode was recorded before Erickson was fired.
The issues are still the same -- Rogoway details the persistent woes at the department, including those absurdly long waiting times, the incredible backlog in payments, and – until just a few days ago – what's essentially been silence from Brown and state employment department leaders.
We talked about this crisis, how the Great Recession played into these failures and what other states are doing differently.
We spoke on Saturday afternoon, moments after Erickson testified before a state legislative committee for the second time in the span of a few days, and immediately after Wyden called for her firing.
The second part of the show comes from a Thursday interview.
Here's the full episode:
-- Andrew Theen; atheen@oregonian.com; 503-294-4026; @andrewtheen
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DETROIT – More people are taking part in virtual racing during the pandemic.
For many, it can be fun seeing so many people on the screen. Runners are competing against others and doing it virtually.
While vacations and plans have been canceled during the pandemic, running continues and remains a priority for many.
A lot of people are racing, staying safe and getting the group interaction safely.
Typically when runners show up at a race they go to the start line to run a 5k to a 10k against the hundreds or thousands.
Now they are racing virtually. Here's how it works. Runners grab their laptops, many while they are on their front steps, and join a Zoom while waiting for the race announcer. Once they get the green light from the race announcer they hit the streets by themselves to start the race.
Melissa Fury, a virtual race runner in South Lyon, is getting ready for her next competition. The 54-year-old runs 10k races and half marathons.
However, once the stay-at-home order was handed down, all of her races were cancelled.
RELATED: Michigan Gov. Whitmer extends stay-at-home order until June 12, state of emergency until June 19
"At first your motivation kind of went away," said Fury.
She didn't lose all of her motivation. Fury decided to take part in virtual racing. She showed Local 4 photos of herself in different racing T-shirts representing all the races she has competed in during the quarantine.
In one clip from a recent virtual epic race, you can see the race announcer who gets things going on Zoom, then runners head out to run by themselves.
"Having a group together, seeing their faces enjoying their goals makes me feel like I am doing what I am supposed to be doing," said Race Director for Epic Races, Eva Soloman.
She starting promoting virtual racing, which can offer flexibility, after all her races were canceled due to the coronavirus.
"A virtual race is a race you do on your own course, your own time, usually within a parameter of dates," said Soloman.
Ken Monash is a virtual race runner and trains and competes in his Saline neighborhood.
"Running is my salvation. It helps me maintain my sanity at this time," said Monash.
Monash says he misses the group runs, and seeing his runner friends at the start line, but the Zoom interaction is helping him get through the pandemic.
"It's fun seeing everybody on the screen," said Monash. "I feel connected."
There are all sorts of competitions including a yoga, run, and meditation race.
Many are participating as first timers who say they like challenging themselves this way and avoiding the crowds.
"For most people it works, they have that accountability. They know they signed up so they better do it by this date," said Soloman.
It's not the way they like to race, but it gets them out and motivated and in shape for when racing will return to what they once knew.
For more information on virtual racing, here here.
Copyright 2020 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers 2020 State of the State
Apple's MacBook has long been viewed as the go-to laptop for students, designers, and those in the creative industry, but Dell's XPS lineup doesn't lag far behind.
With the introduction of the XPS 17, the XPS lineup has its sights set on Apple's high-end MacBooks. Featuring Intel's latest 10th-gen H-Series processors and up to Nvidia's RTX 2060 GPU, it's one seriously powerful laptop. Here's a look at how XPS 17 stands up against the MacBook Pro 16-inch.
Price and design
Dell's XPS 17 starts at $1,500, and Apple's MacBook Pro 16-inch starts at $2,399. That sounds like a big difference, but these base models can't be compared on an apples-to-apples basis. The XPS 17 starts with a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution screen, a 256GB SSD, 8GB of RAM, a Core i5-10300H, and integrated graphics. From there, it can be configured up to a 4K+ screen, RTX 2060 graphics, a Core i9-10885H, 64GB of RAM, and 8TB of storage. We'll know more about the exact configuration options of the XPS 17 when it launches later this summer.
Meanwhile, the MacBook Pro 16-inch starts with its higher-resolution screen, discrete graphics, 512GB of SSD, and 16GB of RAM.
Price difference aside, both of these laptops are crafted out of premium materials but end up looking and feeling different from each other. That's because you'll find carbon fiber palm rests on the XPS, and an all-aluminum finish and design on the MacBook Pro.
Dell's XPS 17 takes a lot of design cues from the rest of the XPS lineup. It is cut from a block of aluminum in two pieces and features diamond-cut sidewalls. There's also aerospace-inspired carbon fiber used in the design of the black palm rest. It comes in at 0.77 inches in thickness and weighs 4.65 pounds. There's only one interior color option: Classic black.
In terms of weight and thickness, Apple's MacBook is slimmer than Dell's XPS 17, mainly because of the smaller 16-inch screen. It comes in at 0.64 inches in thickness, and 4.3 pounds. That's a subtle difference you're not likely to notice unless you're picky.
The XPS 17 sports four Thunderbolt 3 ports, a full-size SD card reader, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. It is a very well-connected modern machine, though there is no USB-A, as there has been in previous XPS laptops. Dell is kind enough to include a USB-C to USB-A 3.0 cable and HDMI dongle in the box, however. If you're considering differences in ports when looking at the two laptops, there's just one. The MacBook has four Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, as well as a headphone jack, but there is no SD card slot. That means you'll need to dongle up with the MacBook.
The MacBook has the Touch Bar, which isn't on the XPS 17. This OLED strip gives you access to function keys and other shortcuts in MacOS via touch. Both laptops feature a fingerprint scanner located in the top right of the keyboard layout.
Display
The signature feature of Dell's modern XPS laptops is the "Infinity Edge" display, with its iconic ultra-thin bezels. If you're all about screen space, the XPS 17 dominates the MacBook Pro. Both devices have slim displays, but the XPS 17 has a huge edge over Apple, with a larger screen in a body that's only marginally bigger.
Dell claims the display on the XPS 17 has a 93.7% screen-to-body ratio. It also comes in at the 16:10 aspect ratio, which allows for a bit more vertical room when multitasking. Screen options include a 4K Ultra HD+ (3,840 x 2,400) resolution touch panel, or a FHD+ (1,920 x 1,200) resolution panel. For content creation, the 4K option is best, as it sports an anti-reflective coating, 1,600:1 contrast ratio, and 500 nits of brightness. The 4K model covers 100% of Adobe RGB and 94% of DCI-P3 color gamut.
If you're looking at the display on the MacBook Pro 16-inch, you still won't be disappointed. It has thin bezels, but they're not as marrow as the XPS 17's. Compared to the older 15-inch MacBook models, the display picks up 0.6 more inches of space, but there is still a thin strip and bottom "chin" on the MacBook that you won't really notice on the XPS 17.
Specs-wise, the MacBook Pro 16-inch offers a single option — a 3,072 x 1,920 resolution panel. That's less resolution than the 4K model of the XPS 17, but it's still plenty vibrant and bright, especially in office settings. There is no touchscreen option, however, as Apple would rather you buy an iPad if you're looking for a touch-centric experience.
Apple's MacBook also has the same 500 nits of brightness as the XPS 17, but it sports support for Apple's P3 Wide color gamut and true-tone technology, which can adjust the color temperature of the screen based on how you use it. Both are fantastic devices for photography, graphic design, and video editing thanks to the fantastic color accuracy.
Performance and battery life
Of course, performance is key for laptops, and this is an area where the MacBook and the XPS 17 converge a bit. Both laptops are quite powerful, and it's hard to choose a winner in this category as we haven't tested the XPS 17 yet. Your choice might come down to operating system preferences, as the XPS 17 is powered by Windows 10 and the MacBook by Apple's MacOS.
With the XPS 17, Dell has opted for Intel's latest 10th Generation H-Series processors. There are options for either 4-core, 6-core, or 8-core processors. That includes the Core i5-10300H, Core i7-10750H, Core i7-10875H, and the Core i9-10885H. RAM options start at 8GB and go up to 64GB. The SSD starts at 256GB and can be configured up to 2TB.
Apple, meanwhile, opts for a 2.6GHz 6‑core Intel Core i7 processor or a 2.3GHz 8‑core Intel Core i9 processor. Configurations can be pushed up to s 2.4GHz 8‑core Intel Core i9, with Turbo Boost of up to 5.0GHz.
Storage starts at 512GB but can be increased to as much as 8TB if needed. RAM options start at 16GB and reach up to 64GB. Apple is more aggressive with the storage options when compared to Dell, hence the higher price.
In the GPU department, Apple offers options for the AMD Radeon Pro 5500M with either 4GB or 8GB of GDDR6 memory. These AMD parts are all custom chips designed for Apple's devices. Based on AMD's next generation of Zen 2 7nm graphics architecture, we found these GPUs help make the MacBook a video-editing workhorse, with the ability to complete a video in 4 minutes, twice as fast as last year's MacBook Pro 15-inch.
With the XPS, Dell has gone with Nvidia, which provides a lot more choice. Base models come with options for Intel's UHD graphics. There's also the GTX 1660 Ti with 4GB of GDDR6 memory as a midrange option or the powerful RTX 2060 graphics card with 6GB of GDDR6 memory.
We didn't test it yet, but the model with RTX graphics can also be a workhorse. It will be able to take advantage of ray tracing and dedicated A.I. cores. Dell also says it has tweaked the thermals to ensure the laptop can keep up. It delivers 90 watts of power in a thin form factor.
On models with Nvidia graphics, the XPS 17 has dual-opposite outlet fans to increase fan airflow by approximately 30% and drive cooling airflow in both directions. There's also a massive vapor chamber that spans the entire width of the laptop to keep the processor cool.
Battery life is currently an unknown for the XPS 17. Apple's MacBook lasted around five-and-a-half-half hours with general usage. That's thanks to the 16% larger 100‑watt‑hour battery. Dell's XPS 17 has options for either a 97 watt-hour or 56-watt hour battery.
Keyboard, touchpad, and audio
The keyboard, touchpad, and audio experience are important aspects of any laptop. In these areas, the XPS 17 and the MacBook Pro do not disappoint. Apple makes up for its issue from the past with its Magic Keyboard, and Dell has supersized its keyboard to help make the XPS lineup great.
Looking at the XPS 17 keyboard, it has something its younger sibling, the XPS 13, does not. Instead of sporting an edge-to-edge keyboard, the keyboard is in the middle of the laptop on the XPS 17, surrounded by speaker grills. The keycaps are also much larger than before, and there is the addition of larger left and right arrow keys. As for the touchpad, it is much larger than the ones found on the XPS 13 and XPS 15. It's also centered right in the middle for ease of access and to guard against accidental clicks when resting your hands on the palm rest.
The speakers on the XPS 17 are upward-firing, like on Apple's MacBook, and are tuned by the Waves Nx 3D audio experience. There are also two tweeters in the base for a truly immersive quad-speaker setup.
As mentioned, you'll find the newly improved "Magic Keyboard" on the MacBook Pro 16. This keyboard moves away from Apple's controversial butterfly switch mechanism over to the classic scissor one instead. It also has an inverted T-arrangement for the arrow keys and a physical escape key. We found it was one of the best ever released, with larger keycaps and a snappier feeling.
Of course, this keyboard is flanked by Apple's Force Touch trackpad on the bottom. This is different from the XPS 17 since there isn't a dedicated area to do your clicking. The entire surface allows you to click anywhere and offers haptic feedback that provides a responsive and uniform feel.
Apple's MacBook also features impressive speakers. It has a high‑fidelity six‑speaker system with force-canceling woofers. It has two more speakers than the XPS 17 and support for wide stereo sound. If audio is important for you, then the MacBook might be the way to go, though until we test the XPS 17, we can't say for sure.
The XPS wins — on paper, that is
Looking at just the specs, the XPS 17 is the winner of this battle of the laptops. The RTX 2060 adds a lot of power that the MacBook Pro 16-inch can't compete with. The slim-bezel display also makes it a better buy over Apple. However, until we can test the XPS 17 in full, the MacBook Pro 16-inch remains the only option you can buy today.
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16 MacBook Pro vs BEAST PC Laptop for Video Editing!
Apple's latest souped-up iPads, along with accessories like the Magic Keyboard and software enhancements in iPadOS, have turned the company's tablets into bona-fide desktop and laptop replacements.
But if you really want to use your iPad as your primary computing device, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Here are five tips for replacing your PC or Mac with one of Apple's tablets, whether for work, school, or just day-to-day usage.
Get a real keyboard (and a mouse)
Lack of mouse support was long the main hurdle preventing the iPad from operating as a PC replacement. But Apple's latest iPadOS update gives the iPad external mouse and trackpad support, giving you a desktop- or laptop-like cursor for the first time.
But before you get a mouse to go clicking away, you should probably get a keyboard, too. You can pair your own Bluetooth keyboard to your iPad and get your typing done that way, but you can also get yourself a keyboard cover that doubles as a case, and makes your iPad look more laptop-like than usual. Apple makes its own keyboard covers with different features depending on the iPad you're using: iPad Pro users can grab the trackpad-free Smart Keyboard Folio, or the trackpad-equipped Magic Keyboard Cover. iPads lacking the Pro moniker have an Apple-provided option when it comes to keyboards: the Smart Keyboard uses the tablet's embedded Smart Connector, and doubles as a cover when not in use, but doesn't feature any flexibility in terms of viewing angles.
You can also look to third-party keyboards for added functionality. Keyboards like Logitech's backlit Combo Touch turn your iPad into the closest thing to an iPad Pro without the added cost. It adds a detachable keyboard and trackpad cover to the iPad, along with an adjustable kickstand akin to the Microsoft Surface — arguably more useful than Apple's own Magic Keyboard and its inflexible posture. There's also the series of wireless keyboards from Brydge, which affix to your iPad to turn it into a facsimile of a laptop. The new Brydge Pro+ works with the iPad Pro and includes an integrated trackpad, while the Brydge Pro fits on the lower-end iPad, but lacks a trackpad.
Find substitutes for your go-to apps
Some things are just easier to do on a PC—but that doesn't mean they're impossible to do on an iPad.
Need to send specific files or open certain links in particular apps and web browsers? Check out Opener, an app that lets you take advantage of the iOS share sheet (indicated by the box with an arrow sticking out of it). Use an app like 1Password to access your protected online accounts on any device, on iOS, Mac, or PC. TextExpander can save you time typing repeated email responses, names, addresses, or forms by creating shortcuts corresponding to their longer stored sentences and paragraphs.
Need a more powerful to-do list? Apple's integrated Reminders app is free and suitable for day-to-day tasks, but apps like Todoist or Omnifocus offer multiple ways to restructure your priorities and projects you want to accomplish whether on the job or around the house. What about a word processor? Google Docs, the minimalist iA Writer, and the organization-friendly Scrivener all offer different takes when it comes to writing, drafting, and organizing text. For a more powerful text editor, check out Drafts, which can send the text you write to other apps, boosting your productivity and saving you time in the process.
Learn how to manage your "windows"
Understanding how to manage your app windows is perhaps the most frustrating part of using an iPad as a replacement for your PC.
Whereas window management is a snap on a PC, on an iPad, you'll be dragging apps, holding them in place, and swiping them to certain parts of the screen to keep your multitasking habits alive. The iPad's Split View feature puts two apps side-by-side, while its Slide Over feature will overlay an iPhone-shaped version of your app on a section of either your home screen or atop the app you're already using. You can operate up to three apps at a time, and drag and drop items like photos and email attachments between them.
To start using the iPad's multitasking feature, open an app or place it in your iPad dock. From there, you can select another app in the dock, long press it, and drag it up either on top of the current app, or next to it, enabling its Split View mode. You can adjust the real estate each app takes up by sliding the central divider left or right. By repeating the process with a third app, you can layer it on top of either of the two apps, letting you have a word processor on one side, a calendar on the other, and your messaging app of choice on top of that.
While slick, it's still not perfect. Using the keyboard in Split View gets a bit frustrating if you keep switching between apps, and not every app supports every multitasking mode.
Get a stand, too
If you're using your iPad as your primary machine these days, you're probably suffering from some pretty poor posture—you're more hunched over with your neck tilted downward, perhaps. Working that way for a few days might be well and good, but for longer periods of time, you're just asking for a strained neck, uncomfortable back, and generally unpleasant feeling.
But an iPad on a stand? That's a game-changer. Not only will a stand help correct your bad posture, but with the right model—either one attached to an articulated arm or with a swiveling head—you can use your iPad in either portrait or landscape mode, and pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse (or trackpad) to gain even more control.
For more versatility, you need a hub
If you need to connect lots of devices to your iPad, you've probably already encountered a problem: it only has one port. The solution? A USB-C hub, which allows you not only to connect devices like flash drives or digital cameras to your iPad, it also supercharges your tablet when paired with the right external accessories.
Streaming video for a conference call? Connecting your iPad to a hub with an Ethernet port gives you a wired connection for lag-free calls. Need to offload some photos from your digital camera? A hub with an SD card slot, combined with Apple's Files app, makes short work of getting your pictures off the card and into your app of choice (or the cloud). You can even connect your favorite wired keyboard rather than spend money on a wireless model.
A hub can also give you some much-needed screen space by connecting your iPad to a second display. Depending on the app you're using, your iPad will either mirror your screen or offer you a secondary monitor to display images, keynote presentations and more unencumbered by your user interface or editing tools. Apps like Photos, Keynote, and Procreate can use a second display to show off larger versions of whatever you're viewing on your iPad, too—it's great for displaying presentations or photo slideshows.
Still, iPad second screens aren't perfect. When viewing a photo in an app like Photos, the image itself will be showcased in an awkward 4:3 aspect ratio, with the image taking up the entirety of the monitor only after you do a little zooming in with your fingers.
Even better is the ability to send video to your second, larger display when connected. The iPad retains its 4:3 aspect ratio when plugged into an external display, even if it's a widescreen monitor. But when watching video from, for example, your favorite streaming app, the iPad will take advantage of the entire monitor, providing you with a proper 16:9 aspect ratio and viewing experience.
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Write to Patrick Lucas Austin at patrick.austin@time.com.
iPad vs Macbook for Students - Can an iPad replace your Laptop
Even as the COVID-19 pandemic has further transitioned education towards electronic devices, computer science education in K-12 public schools around the country faces a number of daunting challenges, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute.
BOSTON, May 27, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Issues include teacher shortage; certification process; whether subject should be mandatory; and lack of participation among girls, low-income, minority, and urban students
Even as the COVID-19 pandemic has further transitioned education towards electronic devices, computer science education in K-12 public schools around the country faces a number of daunting challenges, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute. These include insufficient access to computer science classes and clarity about computer science curricula, inadequate teacher preparation, and uneven interest on the part of institutions of higher education.
"Even though computer science is a topic that K-12 policymakers and business groups often claim is a priority, our authors have unearthed a variety of surprising findings," said Jamie Gass, director of education policy at Pioneer Institute. "Specifically, there is a lack of clarity about how computer science is defined, how teachers are prepared to teach it, as well as the academic background higher education expects for incoming students who want to major in computer science."
Inadequate Access
Computer science has a surprisingly small footprint in the nation's public schools. Just 45 percent of public high schools offer it, 34 states have established CS academic standards, and only 26 offer state funding for professional development in the discipline.
Participation in CS is lower in urban and rural public schools than in the suburbs, and low-income students, and students of color are under-represented in the classes.
The subject is more common in Massachusetts, where 85 percent of public high schools offer CS. But only 44 percent of elementary schools do, and less than a third of course offerings are aligned with the Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science standards.
Lack of Clarity About What Computer Science Is
"Computer science" can mean anything from basic computer literacy skills to fundamental concepts of computing. In 2017, the Computer Science Teacher Association (CSTA) produced CS standards that could provide the foundation for a K-12 curriculum.
That same year, Massachusetts introduced the "Massachusetts Curriculum Framework for Digital Literacy and Computer Science," which has four strands of core concepts: Computing and Society, Digital Tools and Collaboration, Computing Systems, and Computational Thinking.
Insufficient Teacher Preparation
Schools also face a shortage of qualified computer science teachers. One reason is a certification process that CSTA described as "confused, disparate and sometimes absurd." Another is that the teachers can earn so much more in the private sector.
There has been progress recently in engaging girls, low-income, and minority students in the field. The AP Computer Science Principles course launched by the College Board in 2016 is a college introductory-level course designed to broaden participation in CS by involving the ideas behind computing such as algorithms, data, and their ethical use instead of programming languages.
This less technical approach is proving to be more welcoming to students. Female participation in AP computer science exams jumped 135 percent between 2016 and 2017. Among under-represented minorities, the increase was 170 percent.
Interest from Institutions of Higher Education
Interviews with officials at both MIT and Worcester Polytechnic Institute revealed that the universities are far more interested in students with strong foundations in math and science than in backgrounds in computer science. Neither school will allow AP computer science credit to substitute for required courses, but the credit may make it possible for students to skip introductory-level electives.
"Most colleges are more interested in students having strong foundations in math and science than a deep background in computer science," said Ze'ev Wurman, who authored "Breaking the Code: The State of Computer Science Education in America's Public Schools" with William Donovan. "If computer science were to become a requirement, it would have to replace another traditional academic discipline. It's a question parents and policymakers should review very carefully."
Story continues
Recommendations Wurman and Donovan urge state education officials to more clearly establish the purpose for CS education, whether it be computer science literacy for all or to provide specialized training for careers in programming or software engineering.
They recommend that states earmark CS teacher training funds and address the scarcity of programs that prepare computer science teachers; and adjust salary scales for teachers in high-demand areas. Finally, they advocate for more K-8 computer science courses so students aren't already focused on another course of study by the time they're introduced to the subject.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
William Donovan is a former staff writer with The Providence Journal in Rhode Island where he wrote about business and government. He has taught business journalism in the graduate programs at Boston University and Northeastern University. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston College and his master's degree in journalism from American University in Washington, D.C.
Ze'ev Wurman is a senior fellow with the American Principles Project. He participated in developing California's education standards and the state assessments in mathematics between 1995 and 2007. Between 2007 and 2009 he served as a senior policy adviser with the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development at the U.S. Department of Education. In 2010, Wurman served on the California Academic Content Standards Commission that evaluated the suitability of the Common Core standards for California and was one of its two members who voted against their adoption. He is an executive in a semiconductor start-up company in the Silicon Valley and holds over 35 U.S. patents.
ABOUT PIONEER
Mission Pioneer Institute develops and communicates dynamic ideas that advance prosperity and a vibrant civic life in Massachusetts and beyond.
Vision Success for Pioneer is when the citizens of our state and nation prosper and our society thrives because we enjoy world-class options in education, healthcare, transportation and economic opportunity, and when our government is limited, accountable and transparent.
Values Pioneer believes that America is at its best when our citizenry is well-educated, committed to liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise, and both willing and able to test their beliefs based on facts and the free exchange of ideas.
HP is unveiling its spring lineup of computers for work-from-home employees, with products including a 3.1-pound workstation laptop and low blue-light monitors to keep workers happier.
The idea is to give employees the technology they need to be more productive at home. HP is targeting companies that are trying to make the home office into a connected, collaborative, and secure experience, said Mike Nash, chief technologist for personal systems at HP, in a press briefing.
HP said its data shows that 50% of remote workers say they don't have what they need to be efficient at home. Meanwhile, information technology (IT) managers worry about security as the line between work and life blurs. But HP's own survey says that 87% of its employees believe they can be successful working at home, Nash said.
"We've realized the line between work life and home life has blurred, and we're now moving from a world where we're working at home to now working from home," Nash said. "Seventy-six percent of workers are working from home right now. I think it's interesting to see that the PC is transitioning from being super important to now being very essential."
VB Transform 2020 Online - July 15-17. Join leading AI executives: Register for the free livestream.ZBook workstation laptops
Above: HP ZBook Firefly 14 workstation
Image Credit: HP
Whether you're working at the kitchen table or on the sofa, HP touts the ZBook Firefly 14 as the world's smallest and lightest mobile workstation. It has professional-grade graphics, with an option for Nvidia Quadro graphics chips, and weighs 3.1 pounds.
As workforces adapt to remote work, 56% of companies say they are considering deploying a higher proportion of portable devices.
"The feature improvements that we're making … are incredibly relevant in today's world," said Cory McElroy, director of product management at HP, in a press briefing. "We need to acknowledge that the world that we're living in today is far different [from] the world that we designed the products for 16 or 18 months ago. Our personal lives and our work lives are blended together in a way that is truly unprecedented. Those lines are essentially gone."
The company calls the ZBook Firefly 14 the world's brightest 14-inch mobile workstation. It is built with sustainable ocean-bound plastics and is 8.8% smaller and 5.2% lighter compared to the previous generation, with an 84% screen-to-body ratio. It also has HP Sure View Reflect and defends against firmware and malware attacks with HP Sure Start Gen6.
The ZBook Firefly 15 is HP's lightest-ever 15-inch mobile workstation. It is 9.5% smaller and 1.8% lighter compared to the previous generation and has an up to 86% screen-to-body ratio.
The new ZBooks have options for Nvidia Quadro P520 graphics with 4GB of RAM and up to 10th Gen six-core Intel Core processors so users can stay productive.
The HDR 400 4K UHD display has 500-nits brightness so it can be used outdoors in high ambient-light environments.
EliteBooks commercial laptops
Above: HP EliteBook x360 1030 G7 laptop.
Image Credit: HP
HP is launching its seventh generation of EliteBook laptops that feature long-lasting battery life and Advanced Micro Devices processors. The EliteBooks have options for 5G or gigabit-class 4G LTE wireless networking.
The HP EliteBook x360 1030 G7 and HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 are high-end laptops that are 6.3% smaller than the previous generation and boast up to an 89% screen-to-body ratio, the highest in a business convertible. They have the Intel 10th Gen six-core Core vPro processors.
The HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 gets up to 29 hours of battery life. The HP EliteBook 805 G7 and HP EliteBook 800 G7 Series PCs are designed for multi-task, multi-place workdays – with both AMD and Intel-based processor options. Available with 13.3-inch, 14-inch, and 15.6-inch diagonal screens, users get a powerful, highly secure, and durable laptop that keeps them connected and productive in any setting.
The HP EliteBook 835 G7 gets up to 24 hours of battery life.
They all sport wide-angle cameras with an 88-degree field of view. HP has AI-based audio that reduces background noises such as slamming doors and barking dogs, allowing your voice to come through better.
Tapered edges make the devices easier to open, the redesigned keyboard with rubber dome keys provides a quiet typing experience, and the integrated webcam privacy shutters physically block the camera for immediate privacy.
E-Series Monitors
Above: HP E22 G4 Monitor
Image Credit: HP
And HP's E-Series Monitors are the world's first ergonomic monitor series with always-on low blue light to support workforce wellbeing.
HP recently conducted a study that showed 56% of companies are focusing more on well being, with 38% focusing on such features as low blue-light and ergonomics, the company said.
The HP E-Series Monitors featuring HP Eye Ease helps protect tired eyes after staring at a monitor for 12 hours and addresses blue light without affecting color accuracy or introducing any yellow shift.
"You can have great health and wellness as you're spending a lot of time in front of the screen," Nash said.
These are the world's first monitor series to receive the TUV Low Blue Light Hardware Solution certification, the first certification of its kind from the industry leader in low-blue-light certifications. This means that there is no longer a compromise between accurate color and limiting low blue light, which can cause eyestrain and affect your sleep, HP said.
The HP E14 G4 Portable Monitor brings the power of dual-screen productivity and gives users the freedom to work anywhere – whether it's from the kitchen table or the outdoor patio. The world's brightest 14-inch portable monitor weighs only 1.4 pounds and is less than 4.75 millimeters thick, or 36% lighter and 25% thinner than the previous model.
The HP U27 4K Wireless Monitor is the world's first 4K wireless sharing PC monitor. Users can seamlessly connect their PC with the HP Quick Pair Bluetooth App or by pressing the Windows Key + K on their keyboard.
EliteDesk and EliteOne desktops
Above: HP EliteOne 800 27 AiO G6
Image Credit: HP
The latest EliteDesk 800 Series PCs include upgraded chassis with added flexibility and expandability, are quieter compared to previous generations, and are future-proofed with virtual-reality-ready capabilities.
The HP EliteOne All-in-One G6 PC features a modern space-saving design, and it is the world's most powerful commercial All-in-One, powered by 10th Gen Intel Core processors with a 23.8-inch or 27-inch diagonal screen, HP said. It has options for Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super graphics.
And it has a low blue-light, anti-glare display with micro-edge bezels on three sides. It supports several stand options to adapt to user workstyles.
The HP Collaboration All-in-One G6 with Zoom Rooms is an integrated desktop with a dedicated Zoom Room appliance, targeted at executive home desks.
With 54% of companies planning to cut back on travel permanently due to the pandemic, this Zoom appliance makes it easy to join meetings with one-touch start and participate in a face-to-face video calls without need of carrying headsets. It runs Windows 10 IoT and features a 5MP pop-up camera with an 88-degree wide viewing angle, integrated speakers and microphones for easy collaboration and video conversations.
The HP EliteDesk 800 G6 Desktop Mini PC is the world's smallest and most powerful Ultra Small Form Factor (USFF) business PC.
Pricing and availability
The HP EliteBook x360 1030 G7 and HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 are expected to be available in July. Pricing will be available closer to product availability.
The HP EliteBook 835 G7, HP EliteBook 845 G7, and HP EliteBook 855 G7 are expected to be available in August. Pricing will be available closer to product availability.
The HP EliteBook 830 G7, HP EliteBook 840 G7, and HP EliteBook 850 G7 are expected to be available in June for a starting price of $1,400.
HP EliteBook x360 830 G7 is expected to be available in July for a starting price of $1,420.
HP EliteOne 800 G6 All-in-One PC is expected to be available in September for a starting price of $1,250.
HP Collaboration All-in-One G6 with Zoom Rooms is expected to be available in September. Pricing will be available closer to product availability.
HP EliteDesk 800 G6 Desktop Mini PC is expected to be available in July for a starting price of $930.
HP EliteDesk 800 G6 Small Form Factor PC is expected to be available in September for a starting price of $940.
HP EliteDesk 800 G6 Tower PC is expected to be available in September.
HP ProDesk 600 G6 Series is expected to be available in the fall for a starting price of $720.
HP ProDesk 400 Series is expected to be available in August for a starting price of $590.
The ZBook Firefly 14 G7 and ZBook Firefly 15 G7 are expected to be available in August for a starting price of $1,100.
HP E Series Monitors are expected to be available in August for a starting price of $160.
HP E14 Portable Monitor is expected to be available in September for $250.
HP U27 4K Wireless Monitor is expected to be available in June for $480.
HP Device Provisioning Services is available to customers now and is expected to be available for channel partners in the second half of 2020.
Meanwhile, Nash said HP has made 1.5 million 3D-printed parts for face shields, face masks, swabs, and ventilators. HP has also donated millions of dollars worth of laptops so students can work at home.
