Reviews – Laptop for Programming http://www.laptopforprogramming.com Wed, 24 May 2017 21:22:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.5 http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/cropped-icon-32x32.png Reviews – Laptop for Programming http://www.laptopforprogramming.com 32 32 Lenovo Ideapad 310 80SM00JSUS Review | 15.6″ Multimedia Laptop http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/lenovo-ideapad-310-80sm00jsus-review/ Fri, 05 May 2017 13:44:27 +0000 http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/?p=732 Lenovo Ideapad 310 80SM00JSUS is a decent laptop but not perfectly on par with the current market standards. However, if you are looking for a laptop an Intel Core i7 processor (U series) along with an SSD drive and a decent amount of RAM, then this is a great laptop to have. Design Lenovo chose […]

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Lenovo Ideapad 310 80SM00JSUS Review

Lenovo Ideapad 310 80SM00JSUS is a decent laptop but not perfectly on par with the current market standards.

However, if you are looking for a laptop an Intel Core i7 processor (U series) along with an SSD drive and a decent amount of RAM, then this is a great laptop to have.

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Specs at a Glance

  • Screen: 15.6″ HD (1366×768), Matte
  • Processor: (Intel Core i7 6500U
  • RAM: 12 GB DDR 4 RAM
  • Graphics: Intel HD
  • Storage: 256 GB SSD
  • Optical Drive: DVD/CD-RW drive
  • Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit)
  • Ports & Connectivity: 1 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, 3.5 mm Combo Audio Jack, 1 x VGA, 1 x HDM, 1 x RJ45 Gigabit LAN, 4-in-1 Card Reader (SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC)
  • Dimensions (inches): 0.9 x 14.92 x 10.24 in
  • Weight: 4.84 lbs
  • Battery: 4 hrs Rated

Pros

  • Great combination of processor, RAM and storage
  • Sleek and professional design makes it ideal for office

Cons

  • No FHD resolution; only HD resolution
  • Only integrated graphics card

Lenovo Ideapad 310 80SM00JSUS Review

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Design

Lenovo chose to go with a all black color scheme for this model. The outside feature a miniature dappled dot design to switch it up a bit.

Overall this monotone 15.6 inch has a pretty plain design. It is super thin though and weighs in at an appropriately light 4.84 pounds.

All the ports and drives are on the sides like most models. Not for the style but most people buy laptops for the interior. Lenovo took that to heart.

Hardware Configuration

Lenovo Ideapad 310 80SM00JSUS Review

The hardware for Lenovo Ideapad 310 80SM00JSUS is only for professional office work. In terms of programming and development work, you should be carry those at moderate level so long as you are not working with graphics.

Processor

Here we have an Intel i7 6500U processor. A 6th generation model with considerable power. 2.5 ghz makes for a nice mid range speed with possible boosting up to 3.1 ghz.

The U series is great for an efficient low energy model which is great for the battery life. The processor has 2 cores and 4 threads so multitasking is not its best aspect but you won’t be lagging behind for basic applications.

A pretty good speed for some mid range gaming but unfortunately, this laptop does not have a good enough graphics card to go along.

Graphics

Don’t get confused this machine is only made for casual gaming or graphics design. I want to stress casual because the graphics card is an integrated Intel HD 520 which won’t be breaking any power records.

For something like League of Legends you should get really good frame speeds. You should expect some slow down if slaying in a game like Witcher 3 is your forte.

Lenovo stresses this models streaming capabilities but that will depend on the game because higher end games with the added streaming tax will probably leave you extremely frustrated with your purchase.

RAM

This model should have 12 GB of DDR4 RAM though so if you get anything different you should talk to Lenovo.

There are a few variations for this model make sure you figure out whether you are getting the 8 gig with DDR4 or the 12 gig with DDR3 RAM either way you are forgoing a superior model for more RAM or vice versa.

With that said, the difference is not too large but 12 gigs will give you better performance if you are into video editing. 8 gigs is surely fast enough and should complement the rest of the hardware quite well.

Thanks to the limitations of the graphics card, an upgrade won’t do too much for you. The DDR4 runs at a lower voltage for faster speed so most people will be good either way.

Storage

I feel one of the major selling points for this model is the 256 gigabyte solid state drive.

This drive gives up capacity for a much faster overall speed for your computation. In comparison to a mechanical hard drive the speed is like a high school cross country runner against an olympic runner.

Along with the other components the drive makes this model incredibly energy efficient. You should get better battery life than the majority of other laptop models.

256 gigs is a decent amount of space to have and you should be able to store most of your programs and files since the overall limitations on the hardware should also limit the size of the programs you run to a point.

Screen

Lenovo went with the pretty standard 15.6 inch screen with full HD capabilities.

Nobody will ever say the screen stands out but it delivers what you would expect. The maximum resolution is only 1366 x 768 but the detail is still pretty nice for what it is.

This is not the laptop that I would recommend for people who have a primary requirement for a great screen.

Additional Features

Lenovo brought their briefcase for this laptop. We have three USB ports one 3.0 and two 2.0’s which is kind of poor for the price point.

There is an HDMI and VGA point for connecting your extra monitors or tv screen. A RJ45 port for high speed lan connectivity along with a 802.11 a/c wireless card for your Wi-Fi.

We have a decent camera for middle of the road resolution web camming. Running Windows 10 home edition their’s thankfully not too much bloatware installed.

There is a decent Dolby digital stereo system that doesn’t sound quite like the name would suggest.

A media card reader and a DVD/CDRW re writable optical drive round out the list of this models features.

Value for Money

I’m not quite sure what Lenovo was thinking with this model when you look at the price, though I guess people are buying it so I’m not sure how mad to get.

Actually I know, pretty mad makes the most sense at about $750 you would expect a laptop to do something really well but this one is pretty average.

You could say you are paying for the extra 4 gigs of RAM or the i7 processor and the SSD hard drive but none of these thing are big enough to make the entire picture worth it.

It wouldn’t be hard to find a computer a step more powerful than this one for a hundred or even two hundred dollars less. Anyone with a bit of computer savvy would be able to find a cheaper model and upgrade it to a much more powerful model spending the same amount of money.

Some examples of great values laptops include ASUS F556UA-EB71, and Acer Aspire VX VX5-591G-75RM.

Lenovo Ideapad 310 80SM00JSUS Review Conclusion

As you probably guessed from the last section the answer is not great. Lenovo in this model chose to play a game many people aren’t a big fan of. The game of flashy numbers.

The i7 and the 12 gigs of RAM might make people think they’re getting a nice upgrade over a 500 dollar range competitor, and that’s criminal considering anyone with decent know how can pick up and install 12 gigs of RAM pretty easily.

One good thing though is the model is extremely energy efficient. Overall though this laptop is a decent low mid tier unit. Those who are developers and work especially with video editing would appreciate the overall specs of this laptop.

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Acer Aspire ES1-572-31XL Review | 15.6″ Budget Laptop http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/acer-aspire-es1-572-31xl-review/ Fri, 05 May 2017 06:44:37 +0000 http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/?p=728 If you are looking for a budget laptop, then this Acer Aspire ES1-572-31XL should be top in your list. Why? because within the Ultra budget range, this laptop manages to fit an Intel Core i3 processor. Now, there are many other laptops in this price range. However, most of them either feature an Intel Pentium or […]

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Acer Aspire ES1-572-31XL Review

If you are looking for a budget laptop, then this Acer Aspire ES1-572-31XL should be top in your list. Why? because within the Ultra budget range, this laptop manages to fit an Intel Core i3 processor.

Now, there are many other laptops in this price range. However, most of them either feature an Intel Pentium or a low end AMD processor.

Unfortunately, those processor are lacking even for the most basics of tasks. Therefore, for anyone who is remotely serious about work like a beginner programmer should at least invest in a Core i3 processor.

Let us explore this laptop further in this Acer Aspire ES1-572-31XL review.

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Specs at a Glance

  • Screen: 15.6″ HD (1366×768), Matte
  • Processor: Intel Core i3-6100U
  • RAM: 4 GB DDR3
  • Graphics: Intel HD
  • Storage: 1 TB HDD
  • Optical Drive: 8X DVD-Super Multi Double-Layer Drive (M-DISC enabled)
  • Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit)
  • Ports & Connectivity: 1 x USB 3.0 Port, 2 x USB 2.0 Ports.
    1 xHDMI Port with HDCP support, (1) 3.5mm combo jack, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, Card Reader
  • Dimensions (inches): 15.3 x 10.4 x 1.1 inches
  • Weight: 5.5 pounds
  • Battery: 6.5 hrs Rated

Pros

Cons

  • Not built for strenuous tasks
  • RAM is a bit lacking in capacity

Acer Aspire ES1-572-31XL Review

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Design

Acer Aspire ES1-572-31XL Review

This Acer says I am all about business and by that I mean it’s not going to astound anyone by its look.

With a 15.6 inch screen on an all black body this model is not going to win any beauty contest. With a matte finish the design is quite basic made for someone who doesn’t want to stand out when they are handling their business. Weighing 4 pounds, Acer only deviates from black for the keyboard letters and it’s brand logo.

That type of dedication to a motif is cool in one way because it stands out by being so plain in a world of multicolored designs. Many of the input’s are on the back which might be inconvenient to people used to them on the sides.

Hardware Configuration

Being an ultra budget laptop, your expectations from Acer Aspire ES1-572-31XL should be fair. You cannot expect this laptop to function like Acer Aspire VX5-591G-75RM or any other high end laptop.

This is a basic laptop built for light tasks. If you are beginner developer, programmer or even a beginner designer, then this is a perfect laptop.

I would say the hardware configuration for this laptop is fit for any student.

Processor

This model runs an Intel i3 6300-U processor with the U series being known for efficiency over performance. Despite that, we still have a nice 2.3 Ghz dual core processor that can go toe-to-toe with some of the lower end i5 processors.

Here we have the little engine that doesn’t have crazy power or speed but it shouldn’t disappoint anyone willing to quell their expectations. With a 3 mb cache Acer has created a good low end machine.

Graphics

With an integrated Intel HD 520 video card don’t expect to impress your friends with high speed graphics.

This will run fine with lower end games such as league of legends but with the cards limitations along with the other specs on this model you won’t be able to run many high end games even at their lowest settings.

This Acer is not recommended for any type of graphics work but can still handle some simple applications. In a nutshell, we have a machine that will do well until it reaches programs made for hardcore enthusiasts or professionals where the ground gets shaky.

RAM

Listed with only 4 gigabytes of DDR3L RAM lets you know that this isn’t the fastest computer you’ll ever use. Most laptops have moved on to DDR4L by now.

With that said the only major difference between 3L and 4 is the 3L has a lower voltage requirement so it’s more efficient and therefore doesn’t run as hot. Most people won’t be able to notice the difference however since it is only 4 gigabytes of RAM it will still experience some slow down depending on what you are doing.

It should be fine for the basics such as web surfing and word processing though. You can add more RAM should you need, but for basic work, this should suffice.

Storage

Acer did not skimp on the hard drive. As I said earlier, this model is all about business so they packed in a large 1 terabyte hard drive. This ensures that you will be able to store all your files for a long time making this a great laptop for someone who works on the go.

It’s a classic hard drive so it will cut into your speed and battery life a bit but shouldn’t be too much of an issue with the U series processor. This hard drive is perfect for someone who want’s to store plenty of songs and movies to keep them entertained between work projects.

Screen

Here we have a 15.6 in full HD LED lit screen. Pretty standard for most laptops till you get to the higher end so their shouldn’t be many problems here.

The max resolution is only 1366 x 768 which is fine for most people. Applications are a nice size at that resolution on a 15.6 inch screen. Watch out when using this computer in high sunlight because it is pretty reflective and you might struggle a bit to find the right brightness level.

Additional Features

It’s clear Acer looked around the block at it’s competitors when it made this model because it has just about everything you would expect. We have one 3.0 USB and two 2.0 ports with the 3.0 being located on the back of the model.

The RJ45 LAN connection is also located on the back. This model has a decent 8x DVD RW burning optical drive which should average around fifteen minutes to burn a CD with 80 minutes of music. A media card reader and webcam are also included.

Their is also an HDMI input for connection with other electronics. Acer adopted a just enough philosophy for this model.

Value for Money

This is by no means a perfect laptop and might require a bit of tinkering by someone who knows about computers before you will be really happy with it.

It runs kind of slow out of the box but with little upgrades like adding some RAM and maybe switching over to a SSD we have a really nice well performing computer.

However as it is at $299 dollars, this model will still suffice for anyone who just wants to do the simple things like web surfing, spreadsheets, and video watching.

The highlight of this laptop is the fact that it has a core i3 processor at an Ultra-budget range.

The value is there for anyone on a budget who will be happy with a laptop for basic activities before any upgrades. Just don’t expect a super hero when your paying for a repair man.

Acer Aspire ES1-572-31XL Review Conclusion

I hope you don’t get too angry with me using the word business again because that’s what this laptop is for a business on a budget. Upgrades are required if you want to operate at a high speed.

Though that shouldn’t matter much if you only plan to use it to write up documents, write beginner level codes, and watch movies. The ports on the back might be weird for some and hard to reach but anyone used to using a desktop shouldn’t mind too much.

This is especially true if you are working from a desk. All your cords will look less junky than most laptops with side ports. It’s a plain yet somehow unique laptop where you get exactly what you pay for in terms of efficiency on a budget with a lot of space.

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Acer Aspire VX5-591G-75RM Review | Gaming Workstation Laptop http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/acer-aspire-vx5-591g-75rm-review/ Fri, 21 Apr 2017 11:18:37 +0000 http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/?p=704 Winning #1 New Releases is not an easy achievement to have on Amazon.com. Yet, Acer Aspire VX5-591G-75RM has swept the market with great top of the line and up to date hardware. This is a gaming laptop. For most you out there, when you hear about a gaming laptop, the first thing that comes in […]

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Acer Aspire VX5-591G-75RM Review

Winning #1 New Releases is not an easy achievement to have on Amazon.com. Yet, Acer Aspire VX5-591G-75RM has swept the market with great top of the line and up to date hardware.

This is a gaming laptop. For most you out there, when you hear about a gaming laptop, the first thing that comes in your mind is a big, bulky, and an expensive machine. However, that is far from the truth when it comes to this laptop.

This laptop has on of the best price point in the market. Needless to mention, being a gaming laptop, it can handle not just all sorts of AAA titles, but also hardcore professional work.

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Specs at a Glance

  • Screen: 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080), Matte
  • Processor: Intel Core i7-7700HQ
  • RAM: 16GB DDR4
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti w/ 4GB VRAM
  • Storage: 256GB SSD
  • Optical Drive: NA
  • Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit)
  • Ports & Connectivity: 1 xUSB 3.1 Type-C port, 2 x USB 3.0 ports, 1x USB 2.0 port, (1) HDMI, (1) 3.5mm combo jack, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 1x HDMI, Card Reader
  • Dimensions (inches): 15.3 x 10.4 x 1.1 inches
  • Weight: 5.5 pounds

Pros

  • Thin and light gaming laptop
  • Features all the current-gen hardware
  • Cheaper than its competition

Cons

  • No optical drive
  • No VR compatibility

Acer Aspire VX5-591G-75RM Review

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Design

Welcome to warp stage 9 this Acer Aspire VX5-591G-75RM model looks like it came from a planet inhabited the aliens that you want to be friends with for your own safety.

A sleek black and red outside with a silver hatch makes you wonder what they did with the rest of the Cylon spaceship.

If you don’t get that reference you should of watched Battlestar Galactica long ago but Acer has you covered with this sharp edged 15.6 inch screen. At 5.51 pounds with fan exhausts that belong on a Corvette and a red back lit keyboard that is nearly inaudible the design is gorgeous.

Hardware Configuration

It goes without saying that gaming laptops are the cream of their brands. They are the most powerful portable machines that you can get. Of course, some would argue that workstation laptops are great, but unfortunately, they are not as great for gaming.

Acer Aspire VX5-591G-75RM is one of the latest gaming laptops to have hit the market. Therefore, it features all the up to date hardware including seventh generation processor, 1000 series NVIDIA graphics and even an SSD.

Acer Aspire VX5-591G-75RM Review

Processor

Acer follows up the style with a powerful 7th generation Intel i7-7700HQ processor. Clocking in at 2.8 Ghz with a max boost of 3.8 Ghz we have a super fast performance tuned processor focused on power.

With 4 cores and a 6 mb cache move over Superman the Flash has a new challenger and I just might bet on this processor. At the lower end of Intel’s HQ processor line this machine still packs a pretty considerable punch that all except the most stringent of perfectionists should appreciate.

This processor answers the question of multitasking with what’s next?

Graphics

Here we have a top of the line NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 4 GB GDDR5 VRAM that will make any videophile cry at the beauty. You can’t do much better for a laptop.

Whatever game or graphics program you want to run on the market this card will be able to run it and run it well.

The card has it’s own source of RAM guaranteeing high performance even when the on board RAM is severely taxed. GDDR5 VRAM is also in the top tier of RAM. In short, expect greatness from this card and you won’t be disappointed.

RAM

Acer Aspire VX5-591G-75RM packs 16 gigs of DDR4 RAM which is really fast and ample when it comes to laptops. DDR4 runs at a lower voltage and reaches higher speeds than the more common DDR3  and with 16 gigs you probably won’t have to worry about any upgrades.

With the RAM and video card combined this laptop will run games at least five times better than a laptop with a intel HD card. Any avid gamer or graphics designer will enjoy putting the RAM through it’s paces and seeing just how far they can go.

Storage

This model comes with a 256 GB solid state drive ensuring super fast load times along with a pretty good amount of space. 256 Gigs is enough for most people as that will allow you to store a bunch of games packed with mods without needing an external hard drive.

Loading from a SSD also allows this laptops drive to read date ten times faster than a standard mechanical hard drive would allow. You will have to put a decent amount of effort into filling up this drive so all but the most compulsive down loader’s should find this laptop to be just fine.

That being said you might want to pick up an external hard drive since high quality software often demands a lot of space.

Screen

Acer created a 15.6 stylish screen with excellent visibility. The full HD widescreen display looks great at 1920 x 1080 resolution everything is very crisp. The IPS display offers a super fast response time and vibrant colors.

You might see some colors you’ve never seen before thanks to the high quality display. Definitely made for professional level graphic design.

Additional Features

I hope you haven’t eaten recently because this laptop is packed full of goodies. Dual fans ensure a cool run for the powerful parts. Acer True Harmony technology and two built in stereo speakers mean superb sound.

We have four USB ports one 3.1 type C two 3.0’s and a single 2.0 for whichever speed you require. There is an HD 1280 x 720 webcam along with a built in digital microphone for streaming.

A 802.11 ac Wi-Fi card with 2×2 MU-MIMO technology for connection speeds up to 5 Ghz along with a 10/100/1000 gigabit ethernet RJ45 port for ultra high speed LAN connection. An HDMI port and  4.0 Bluetooth technology round out this machines extensive list of features.

Value for Money

At about a $1,000 retail Acer has created a product that is well worth it’s decently high tag. A high quality laptop for anyone who is serious about gaming or graphic design who doesn’t want to break the bank.

The stylish design, power, speed and extras make a complete package that feels pretty right at that price point. One issue is it doesn’t come with an HDD cable which you might need if you want to play games that are installed on a separate hard drive. I don’t think that’s a big enough issue to discount the value though as it’s pretty amazing to have this much power in a laptop.

It compares favorably to many of the Alienware laptops at their higher price points which should please anyone looking for a mid tier gaming laptop that’ll play the most modern games at medium – high settings without issues.

When it comes to using this laptop as a workstation, you will not be disappointed. It is suitable for intense development work including game development.

Acer Aspire VX5-591G-75RM Review Conclusion

Acer’s attempt at a high quality gaming laptop is a valiant effort at the very least. For the price you couldn’t build a much more powerful desktop which is impressive in it’s own right considering the monitor is built in.

Perfect for the gamer on the go who doesn’t mind sacrificing a bit of power for maneuverability. It’s rare to find a laptop that will suffice for streamer but Acer has done it with this model.

You won’t be able to run absolutely everything at high specs or store all the data that high quality games might demand but you can’t do much better for a grand.

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Asus F555UA-EB51 Review | Multimedia Laptop http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/asus-f555ua-eb51-review/ Fri, 21 Apr 2017 10:51:24 +0000 http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/?p=698   ASUS is not stranger to making some of the highest quality laptops in the market. Asus F555UA-EB51 is yet another example of a great mid range multimedia laptop. It is great for mid-level professional work. You can surely perform coding, graphic designing, and even video editing but to a limit. Let us find out more about […]

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Asus F555UA-EB51 Review

 

ASUS is not stranger to making some of the highest quality laptops in the market. Asus F555UA-EB51 is yet another example of a great mid range multimedia laptop.

It is great for mid-level professional work. You can surely perform coding, graphic designing, and even video editing but to a limit.

Let us find out more about this laptop in this Asus F555UA-EB51 review.

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Specs at a Glance

  • Screen: 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080), Matte
  • Processor: Intel Core i5-6198DUU 2.3GHz
  • RAM: 8GB RAM
  • Graphics: Integrated Intel Graphics
  • Storage: 1TB 5400RPM
  • Optical Drive: DL DVD±RW/CD-RW
  • Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit)
  • Ports & Connectivity: 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, 1x Headphone-out & Audio-in Combo Jack, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 1x HDMI, Card Reader
  • Dimensions (inches): 15 x 1 x 10.1 inches
  • Weight: 5.1 pounds

Pros

  • Powerful Intel Core i5 processing for versatile experience
  • Runs cool even under intense load

Cons

  • Lacking in graphics power; integrated graphics card not suitable for gaming
  • No SSD Drive

Asus F555UA-EB51 Review

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Design

ASUS chose to use it’s standard reflective black spiral for this model. I like the look as it looks great when light hits it but sadly it doesn’t extend to the inside where we have the traditional gray and black. There is a nice little pattern around the keyboard though.

With a 15.6 inch screen and rounded edges ASUS stays consistent with their design choices. Weighing in at 5.1 pounds with a smart gesture multi-touch touchpad we have something kind of generic.

Generic isn’t always bad though as the body is fingerprint resistant.

Hardware Configuration

Being a mid range laptop, it is suitable for a multitude of work. If you are looking for a laptop for low level tasks like word processing, internet surfing, this isn’t the right laptop for you because it can do so much more.

If you are looking to perform moderate levels of professionals tasks like using Photoshop, editing videos etc, then this is the right laptop for you.

Asus F555UA-EB51 Review 2

Processor

This model comes in with a 2.3 Ghz Core i5-6198DU processor. With a twin core we have the best performing i5 processor in it’s range though it is also the worst as far as value for the price.

So we basically have the Avatar of i5 processors. A 3 Mb cache and four threads this processor is geared for efficiency over performance.

It can be boosted up to 2.8 Ghz and with two cores is pretty decent for multitasking. However if you are like me you probably don’t want to over pay for decent.

Graphics

Here we have a dedicated integrated graphics card which is not something the serious gamer wants to hear.

You shouldn’t have too many problems playing low end games thanks to the processor and ram but anything high end will have frame rate issues if you can even install it. The card is basically a Intel HD Graphics 520 which is merely serviceable with no room for upgrade.

Definitely not a gazelle more like a possum some might consider it cute but you aren’t far off from a skunk.

RAM

ASUS gave this model 8 gigabytes of RAM which is pretty much the industry standard for laptops in the 400 to 600 dollar price range. The RAM is of the older DDR3L kind which has low voltage requirements so it runs well with the efficient i5-6198DU processor.

Because of the graphics card this laptop is not really for gaming so this should be fine for all of your web searching, video watching, and word processing needs. You might want to upgrade if do intense video editing.

Storage

This model has a huge 1 terabyte mechanical hard drive, perfect for storing humongous amounts of date. The mechanical hard drive as usual will cut into you computers overall speed in comparison to a emmc or solid state drive.

That is a small sacrifice to make if you are interested in storing anything and everything for a long time.

Great for anyone who really enjoys downloading videos and applications. We have to trade all that space for some battery life though this model tops out around six hours off charger.

Screen

A 15.6 inch screen with a 16 by 9 ratio we have a screen that looks bright and clear in low light. The resolution however is 1366 x 768 by default with a maximum of 1920 x 1080 which sounds nice but you will probably want to run at the native resolution to avoid slowdown.

We have full HD capabilities in the screen so it is nice for watching any 1080p movies without much drop off. The backlit LED screen shouldn’t disappoint unless you are dealing with a lot of sun because it is quite reflective.

Additional Features

ASUS went in a interesting direction when it comes to special features on this model. We thankfully have two 3.0 USB ports for the ten times speed over the singular 2.0 USB port.

A VGA for connecting an additional monitor along with an HDMI which I love for watching movies on my TV. A DL DVDR/CD RW optical drive which is really nice for reading and burning media quickly.

A VGA web cam along with your RJ45 for LAN connectivity and a 802.11 AC wireless card for high speed connection. Here it gets interesting as ASUS makes a big deal about their IceCool technology that keeps the area around your touch pad cool and under body temperature which doesn’t seem like a big issue to me but to each its own.

ASUS Sonicmaster also promises customizable high quality sound for clarity and volume which also depends on the buyers preferences. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the ASUS 1 year accidental damage warranty.

Value for Money

Now having reviewed many laptops this one having a price point at almost $600 is pretty interesting. We have a product that has comparable specs with other laptops in that range but it is kind of on the lower end.

I feel you are paying a bit more for the processor and the ASUS exclusive features than I would like. All that aside the price isn’t horrible for a mid range machine. The speed, efficiency, and hard drive space are all really nice though you could pay a little bit more and possibly get an i7 processor.

When I think of this laptop I flashback to grade school when you get a test back and you wanted that one more point to bump up your B to an A but alas it wasn’t to be. Here we have a model that feels like maybe it should be a bit less but you still can’t really say its bad for the price.

HP 14-an013nr Review Conclusion

Once again ASUS delivers a solid product. It’s not something any professional gamer would want to stream on but for the every man who just wants a stable machine to get some work done it doesn’t disappoint.

The high quality sound and cool wrist rest area are interesting ideas that will probably appeal to niche consumers though many won’t really care.

Overall though there isn’t much to complain about we have a good mid range model maybe it could be twenty bucks less but I don’t know if that is worth making a big fuss over.

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HP 14-an013nr Review | Ultra-Budget Laptop http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/hp-14-an013nr-review/ Fri, 21 Apr 2017 10:28:01 +0000 http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/?p=693 If there is such thing as an Ultra-budget laptop, HP 14-an013nr is it. It is one of the cheapest conventional laptop that you can get in the market. Of course it is not a very powerful system. However, for all the essential tasks like word processing or internet surfing, there is nothing better. Is this laptop […]

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HP 14-an013nr Review

If there is such thing as an Ultra-budget laptop, HP 14-an013nr is it.

It is one of the cheapest conventional laptop that you can get in the market. Of course it is not a very powerful system. However, for all the essential tasks like word processing or internet surfing, there is nothing better.

Is this laptop suitable for programming or other professional tasks? Not at all.

Read this HP 14-an013nr review to learn more.

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Specs at a Glance

  • Screen: 14″ FHD (1920 x 1080), Matte
  • Processor: AMD Quad-Core E2-7110 APU
  • RAM: 4 GB DDR3
  • Graphics: Radeon R2 graphic
  • Storage: 32 B eMMC
  • Optical Drive: NA
  • Operating System: Windows 10
  • Ports & Connectivity: 2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0, 1x Headphone-out & Audio-in Combo Jack, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 1x HDMI, Card Reader
  • Dimensions (inches): 9.5 x 13.6 x 0.9 inches
  • Battery: Upto 5 hours
  • Weight: 3.9 pounds

Pros

  • Ultra-budget.
  • Ample RAM for multitasking

Cons

  • Lacking in terms of performance
  • Insufficient storage

HP 14-an013nr Review

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Design

In this laptop HP has created a stylish affordable machine with a streaked silver color. The styling reflect a shine HP seems to like in their laptops.

The design on the outside flows into the inside giving you an overall feel like you are working on something special which you wouldn’t expect from something so conveniently priced. Coming in at pretty light 3.86 pounds with a 14 inch screen in the design aspect this laptop is a clear contender.

Hardware Configuration

Here is the thing, you cannot expect wonders from this laptop. This is an ultra-budget laptop so you must keep your expectations low.

With that said, it is the best seller laptop for a reason. The hardware that it features for the price is one of a kind in the market.

HP 14-an013nr Review

Processor

This laptop sports a AMD 1.8 GHz E2-7110 quad core processor. However the 1.8 Ghz is the top end so it can’t be boosted any further. With four cores this laptop should be made for multitasking except with the low top speed that’s going to depend on what you are multitasking.

This processor is a slight upgrade over the 6110 model focusing on high performance for programs that run on the low end of the spectrum. It’s great for bragging to your friends about how you have a quad core but you might not want to actually let them use it because the limitations will become apparent. Nonetheless the processor will suit you just fine for basic work like web surfing.

Graphics

Here we have an integrated Radeon R2 graphics card. Your eyes might light up like oh name brand that is great, so I have to stop you right there. While it is name brand, the Radeon R2 is among the slowest of all name brand cards.

It will reliably work on many open source games and a few on the low end like League of Legends or DOTA 2, but as you ramp up the settings the frame rate will drop.

At 128 units of stream processing you could multiply that by 4 and still not reach the average for many cards on the market. So temper your name brand expectations and look for decent not excellent results.

RAM

With 4 Gigabytes of DDR3L – SDRAM you might want to take the tortoises approach to winning and races when comparing to the competition. It kind of makes me tear up as someone who grew up in the nineties but 4 gigs of RAM isn’t much these days.

It will suffice for basic tasks like watching videos but you may want to upgrade to 8 gigs. This model maxes out at 16 gigs which is pretty good if you are willing to spend a bit extra to get some RAM when you purchase. Otherwise don’t expect to move ultra fast although in conjunction with the quad core and the price you can’t get too mad.

Storage

Depending on the person this could be a deal breaker as this model comes with a 32 gb EMMC drive. That’s extremely small by today’s standard though it does have some benefits. EMMC are faster than standard hard drives but slower than a solid state drive so that’s always nice with the processor.

The 32 gigs will actually end up being a bit lower with the operating system installed so it depends on what type of files you’ll be saving. That is only enough space to fit about 10 movies at a decent resolution.

I would probably recommend purchasing an external hard drive with this model if you are serious about not having to uninstall things often.

Screen

14 inches of full HD WLED goodness, the screen is not one of the places they skimped on in this model. Running with a max resolution of 1920 x 1080 this laptop will be as clear and crisp as it much higher priced brethren.

You might still want to run it at 1366 x 768 as on a 14 inch screen the max resolution might require binoculars or at least 20/20 vision to see everything you need to. However, using the FHD will significantly improve your multi-tasking experience.

One thing to keep in mind though is to be wary of glare, Brightview screens are great for low light but extremly reflective in the sun.

Additional Features

Here we start to see the price point come into play a little bit but this little guy isn’t devoid of features. We have a USB 3.0 along with two USB 2.0 connections so their is a little room for that one thing where you need the high speed.

There is a VGA port for connecting an extra monitor along with an HDMI port for everything that provides. Theirs a cleverly placed media reader on the front along with a light up RJ45 for LAN connectivity.

A wireless 802.11 A/C is also installed for high speed wireless. We even have a camera for web camming. The big thing were missing though is an optical drive or even a DVD rom drive at all, their was simply no space on the motherboard to include on so I think we know what we will probably use one of those USB ports for.

Value for Money

Gotta give a hats off to HP for this one because they have made a nice functional laptop for only less than $250. The idea that you could throw another hundred dollars into upgrading it and end up with a laptop that could compete with some of the models in the $400 dollar range is pretty astounding.

I can’t think of a better cheap model for sending with your kid off to college. It would be perfect for all the work they need to be doing and still limit them from just using it to play games like they probably want to. I’m sorry kids I was there too but I have to say it.

HP 14-an013nr Review Conclusion

This HP isn’t for the people who want top of the line performance, but it is great for someone who just wants a cheap quality laptop good for getting basic work done.

An excellent starter laptop for anyone on a tight budget. Word processing, web surfing even a bit of graphics work, this laptop can not be recommended enough for someone who just want’s a light laptop for handling standard business.

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HP 15-ay013nr Review | 15.6″ Full-HD Laptop http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/hp-15-ay013nr-review/ Fri, 14 Apr 2017 18:05:52 +0000 http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/?p=687 HP 15-ay013nr is one of the many laptops out there that promise a great performance/dollar value. These laptops have literally changed the way we perceive the mid-range laptop market. A few years back an i3 would have sufficed at this price range. However, now you are getting a Core i5 processor for almost the same […]

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HP 15-ay013nr Review

HP 15-ay013nr is one of the many laptops out there that promise a great performance/dollar value. These laptops have literally changed the way we perceive the mid-range laptop market.

A few years back an i3 would have sufficed at this price range. However, now you are getting a Core i5 processor for almost the same price.

HP 15-ay013nr is a complete package. If you are looking for a machine that perform almost everything, minus gaming, then this is a great machine for you.

Let us explore this laptop further in this HP 15-ay013nr review.

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Specs at a Glance

  • Screen: 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080), Matte
  • Processor: Intel Dual-Core i5-6200U
  • RAM: 8 GB DDR3
  • Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
  • Storage: 128 GB HDD
  • Optical Drive: DL DVD±RW/CD-RW
  • Operating System: Windows 10 (64 bit)
  • Ports & Connectivity: 2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0, 1x Headphone-out & Audio-in Combo Jack, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 1x HDMI, Card Reader
  • Dimensions (inches): 10.02 x 15.12 x 0.95 inches
  • Battery: Upto 7 hours
  • Weight: 4.65 pounds

Pros

  • The core hardware is excellent for medium level tasks
  • The solid state drives provides great performance improvement.

Cons

  • Lack of USB 3.1 is a disappointment
  • Does not offer a dedicated graphics card.

HP 15-ay013nr Review

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Design

This laptop comes in a rippled silver color for a little style with substance as the ripple helps make it easier to grip while making it attractive to view. I also like how the design is still apparent when you open the laptop up adding character to usually boring monotone interiors.

Weighing in at 4.7 pounds with a full HD 15.6 inch screen this laptop is light for the screen size and ready to rumble. It has a standard sized responsive touchpad yet no touch screen so this is your classic style laptop for anyone who want’s to look good but is really about getting the work done.

Hardware Configuration

The overall hardware configuration of this laptop is suitable for all tasks except gaming. You can perform low – mid level development with relative ease.

The only issue you will have with this laptop is when you start using it for professional level work. That is when this laptop will start revealing its limitations.

HP 15-ay013nr Review

Processor

With a 6th Generation Intel i5-6200-U we have a 2.3 Ghz processor that can boost itself up to to 2.8 Ghz during strenuous work. With 2 cores we have a processor that is sufficient for most people but won’t be winning any speed records.

For an average programming student the 6200-U is very efficient and lighter on the wallet. Overall if you are looking for great efficiency with decent speed without spending a buck this processor will do well for you.

Graphics

Here we have a standard integrated graphics card. Most gamers and graphics designers will run for the hills as soon as they hear integrated and that remains the case. The graphics co-processor is shared with the RAM so intense graphics will sap away power from other processes.

You won’t have any problems doing most basic computer functions. It’ll work for surfing the web or any basic flash games but when you step into the really flashy stuff you will be disappointed if you are expecting a good performance.

It will probably suffice for older games like League of Legends but integrated alone on a graphics card is a death sentence for any serious gamer or graphics designer looking to keep up with the times.

RAM

Here we have 8 Gigabytes of random access memory which is pretty much the standard at this price range. That being said this 8 GB DDR3L is really good for performance and speed. This RAM makes this laptop beefy enough to handle many of the heavy duty tasks that the graphics card will leave behind.

Coinciding with the processor, this RAM is more power efficient than normal DDR3. With less voltage consumption it’s also slightly quicker because it takes less time to power up. This works well with the energy efficient 6200-U processor.

Storage

This HP comes with a 128 Gigabyte solid state drive so while we are giving up some space it makes it up for it in speed since SSD is like pulling up a book on a kindle where HDD is your classic librarian. That being said you can’t ignore how much space you miss compared to an average terabyte of hard drive..

128 gigs will still be enough for most people especially since this laptop isn’t especially made for gaming or graphic design which create some of the biggest file sizes you see. Another nice thing is the SSD allows for a longer battery life.

Screen

A 15.6 inch full HD screen will give you superb visibility and is the standard size screen for most laptops. Vibrant backlit LED makes all the visuals nice and crisp.

A good 1920 x 1080 resolution makes this laptop an excellent choice for multi-tasking. HP 15-ay013nr features a matte screen so it’s easy on the eyes and adjustable brightness to suit your fancy.

Additional Features

Here we shine, out of the box with Windows 10 home edition.  Furthermore, we have a DVD-RW optical drive for all your burning desires; an advanced HD camera for quality web-camming or picture taking; a DTS studio sound audio system to set the mood; two USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 port for the real important stuff; an HDMI port, media card reader and a ethernet jack; built in 1×1 802.11ac WLAN and Bluetooth for connecting wireless style.

It also includes your standard HP limited warranty. So pretty much everything you need and a little bit more to make you blush.

Value for Money

The HP 15-ay013nr is currently available at less than $550. The price is actually really nice though when you look at it’s competitors. It comes in around the middle but it depends what your looking for.

For a bit more money you can get a gaming pc but that is not protable. Plus you have to think of investing in a nice screen and the peripherals.

For a bit less you can get a comparable model without a solid state drive. With that you are trading a lot more space for slower speed and less battery life. Instead of this computers 7.5 hour life you are looking at 4 to 6 hours. HP Notebook 15-ay011nr, is the variant that comes with 1 TB instead of SSD drive and costs much cheaper.

When you look at the additional features you can see that the value is there.

HP 15-ay013nr Review Conclusion

This laptop in a word is solid. For anyone looking to buy a laptop mainly for work including office work, low level development, and editing work. With that said, if you are looking for laptop creating simulation, large graphics or videos, this isn’t really the right laptop for you.

The real standout aspects of this laptop are the performance/dollar value. Though if you are willing to spend a bit more money you can find a comparable model with double the SSD space.

The design aspects of this model are also some of the coolest parts. This laptop looks and feels like some type of next generation technology straight off an alien space ship. Here we have an extremely energy efficient laptop perfect for an on the go businessman or woman and also students and beginner developers.

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ASUS F556UA-EB71 Review http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/asus-f556ua-eb71-review/ Thu, 13 Apr 2017 22:27:20 +0000 http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/?p=683 If you are looking for a reasonably powerful laptop with a Core i7 processor, then ASUS F556UA-EB71 has one of the best value in the market. In fact, for the short time that it has been in the market, it has won quite the happy customer base. This is a laptop that is suited to […]

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ASUS F556UA-EB71 Review

If you are looking for a reasonably powerful laptop with a Core i7 processor, then ASUS F556UA-EB71 has one of the best value in the market.

In fact, for the short time that it has been in the market, it has won quite the happy customer base. This is a laptop that is suited to carry out advanced level of tasks.

If you are a programmer who is serious about his/her work, then you need to have at least this Dual Core i7 processor. It is not as powerful as the Quad Core i7 processor, but for the money, it has the best performance.

In this ASUS F556UA-EB71 review, we will look further into what makes this laptop a bargain.

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Specs at a Glance

  • Screen: 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080), Matte
  • Processor: Intel Dual-Core i7-6500U
  • RAM: 8 GB DDR3
  • Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
  • Storage: 1 TB HDD
  • Optical Drive: DL DVD±RW/CD-RW
  • Operating System: Windows 10 (64 bit)
  • Ports & Connectivity: 1x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB3.1 Type C (gen 1), 1x Headphone-out & Audio-in Combo Jack, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 1x VGA Port (D-Sub), 1x HDMI, Card Reader
  • Dimensions (inches): 15 x 1 x 10.1 inches
  • Weight: 5.1 pounds

Pros

  • Intel Core i7 at a very reasonable price
  • Thin and elegant

Cons

  • Does not offer latest generation hardware
  • You might need to upgrade the RAM in order to utilize the processor to the fullest

ASUS F556UA-EB71 Review

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Design

This ASUS notebook comes in a smooth dark blue finish that looks like some type of space age material that radiates cool even though it’s only plastic. When you open it just looks like your run of the mill laptop.

Smooth rounded edges surround a 15.6″ inch screen and a 5.1 pound weight, that efficiently masks this machines power. You have a standard notepad touch pad with no other touch screen capabilities. Nice and slim about one inch when closed.

Screen

15.6 inches a full HD LED lit technology ensures crisp visuals with a max resolution of 1920 x 1080. This is much better than using an HD screen as it gives more real estate. The screen is very responsive with all of the standard tools to adjust it for your viewing pleasure. Everything is super clear like the waters in the tropics.

Hardware Configuration

ASUS F556UA-EB71 Review 2

Overall, the configuration of ASUS F556UA-EB71 is fit for moderate to heavy level tasks. For professional level video editing and graphic designing you may need to upgrade the RAM; however, as it stands, this laptop has a great hardware if you can live without a graphics card.

Processor

This ASUS laptop has a Intel Dual-Core i7 6500-U processor with a 4 Megabyte cache at 2.5 ghz that can be boosted up to 3.1 ghz. That’s pretty fast with decent multitasking and since it’s the U series it’s made for power efficiency over performance.

The i7 is a nice upgrade over the i5 you’ll see in many laptops at this price range. It doesn’t quite feel like an i7 when running on the high end. Here we have a young roadrunner not quite moving at it’s full potential but hey at least it fits comfortably in your lap.

Graphics

The graphics card is integrated so it’s not for any high end gaming but thanks to the processor it balances out this drawback. As a result, ASUS F556UA-EB71 is still pretty good for audio or video editing.

We can run any low end game at high settings and many of the high end games at low settings which is about the best you can ask for around $600 dollars. Great for anyone looking to do the standard things like web surfing and video watching just don’t expect it to wow people with top of the line visuals.

You will probably experience some serious slow down at the higher resolutions. This model can still walk the walk at your local fashion show but don’t expect it to make it to Paris.

RAM

Here we have 8 gigabytes of DDR3L RAM which is the industry standard for laptops in this range.

Their is room to upgrade but this RAM is very energy efficient and quick. Just enough for most gaming but you will likely have to upgrade for the higher end stuff but with the integrated graphics card their isn’t much reason to. Except of course, you want to do some next level professional work.

Like most laptops with the DDR3L and 6500-U processor combo we are geared more towards power efficiency over performance. We would all like a Ferrari but a nice Hyundai can still get the job done at much more affordable price tag.

Storage

This laptop offers a large 1 terabyte HDD hard drive for mountains of storage capabilities. Sacrificing the speed of a solid state drive in order to store a boat load of information. The typical consumer will have no worries about running out of space with a terabyte.

The hard drive will cut into your battery though so don’t expect more than six hours when you are not plugged in. Perfect for anyone who want’s to download hulking file sizes and isn’t worried about the performance issues that a solid state drive might help avoid.

So yes you can store your complete collection of limited edition Star Trek DVD’s.

Additional Features

This laptop is loaded with extra features you will not find in many laptops. Three USB inputs, a standard 2.0, the upgraded ten times faster 3.0, and also the improved USB3.1 Type C generation 1 which combines power and connectivity for a reversible input that takes the standard 3.0 and adds all of the performance boosts we have discovered over the years.

We have a DL DVDRW for rewriting dvd’s at extremely high speeds effectively doubling the space of a standard DVDRW drive. Their is also an HDMI port, your standard RJ45 port for lan connectivity and a VGA port for connecting an additional monitor.

This laptop also sports a 802.11 ac for superfast wi fi connectivity along with a VGA camera for your webcam needs. Rounding it all out we have a media card reader and 4.0 Bluetooth technology. A 1 year international warranty is also included with purchase.

Value for Money

At less than $700 we have a very efficient decently powerful work station with some nice extras. The ability to connect multiple screens should not put too much pressure on the powerful processor.

Unfortunately, the average gamer would not appreciate this laptop as it lacks in graphics performance. However, gaming is not the point of this laptop.

When comparing this model to others around this price point we find that it’s pretty much middle of the pack on specs but makes up a bit when you look at all of it’s additional features. There is a pretty cool Eye care function for adjusting the look if you have sensitive eyes. ASUS has created a really nice product for the price.

ASUS F556UA-EB71 Review Conclusion

This computer isn’t going to get you a tryout for the Avengers but it’s a really solid machine. ASUS seems to have made this computer with the more advanced consumer in mind. Great for people who work hard processing loads of information be it for programming or graphic designing.

The increased connectivity makes it a really nice workstation for editing audio or video though you will probably need to upgrade the memory.

Definitely not for the hardcore though as that demographic is more suited for laptops that are about a $1,000 more expensive.

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Dell Inspiron i5378-2885gry Review http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/dell-inspiron-i5378-2885gry-review/ Thu, 13 Apr 2017 19:20:28 +0000 http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/?p=678 In this Dell Inspiron i5378-2885gry review we have a 2-in-1 convertible laptop that offers an average hardware suitable for most tasks. Since it has a mid-range processor, you can expect to run advanced software given that they are used at a reasonable level. If you are a hardcore professional, this many not be the best laptop […]

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Dell Inspiron i5378-2885gry Review

In this Dell Inspiron i5378-2885gry review we have a 2-in-1 convertible laptop that offers an average hardware suitable for most tasks. Since it has a mid-range processor, you can expect to run advanced software given that they are used at a reasonable level.

If you are a hardcore professional, this many not be the best laptop for you. However, if you are a beginner developer, programmer, or editor it is perfect for you. Plus, it does not cost much so you don’t have to plan a huge budget out.

Let us talk more about this Dell Inspiron i5378-2885gry and find out what sets it apart from the rest and the reason why you should consider this laptop.

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Specs at a Glance

  • Screen: 13.3″ IPS FHD (1920 x 1200), Touch, Glossy, Convertible
  • Processor: Intel Core i5-7200U
  • RAM: 8 GB DDR3
  • Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
  • Storage: 1 TB HDD
  • Optical Drive: NA
  • Operating System: Windows 10 (64 bit)
  • Ports & Connectivity: SD Card port, HDMI, 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, Audio, Wifi, Bluetooth
  • Dimensions (inches): 8.85 x 12.75 x 0.76 inches
  • Weight: 3.4 lbs
  • Battery: Up to 6 Hrs

Pros

  • A compact and convenient 13.3″ touch laptop
  • An Ultrabook in form factor
  • Offers powerful processor for the price

Cons

  • Does not have a dedicated graphics card; not suitable for gaming
  • Battery life is a bit lacking compared to ultrabooks.

Dell Inspiron i5378-2885gry Review

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Design

Dell Inspiron i5378-2885gry Review

This laptop features a 13.3-inch screen and a compact design. With a full 360 degree rotating screen locking in for use as a laptop, tablet, or free standing video screen. The screen features a high resolution and wide viewing angles.

The touchpad is highly responsive acting as a miniature touchscreen. It comes in a silvery gray color titled as theoretical gray. It looks smooth and sleek yet sturdy. Weighing about 3 1/2 pounds it’s around the middle of the road for laptop weight.

The touchpad is highly responsive acting as a miniature touchscreen. It comes in a silvery gray color titled as theoretical gray. It looks smooth and sleek yet sturdy. Weighing about 3 1/2 pounds it’s around the middle of the road for laptop weight.

Screen

With a 13.3 inch screen that’s kind of small for a laptop but extremely large for a tablet so depending on what you want to use it for it is either a great portable laptop or a conveniently large screen tablet.

With a maximum resolution of 1920×1080, your visuals will be extremely crisp but also pretty small at that resolution. So even with that max most people will probably run a slightly lower resolution. The screen also has built-in touchscreen capabilities. This adds an other dimension to how you can interact.

Hardware Configuration

Let us now look at what is inside this Dell Inspiron i5378-2885gry. As mentioned earlier, it offers a mid-end hardware. With that said, it can handle almost anything you throw at it given that the level of work is reasonable.

Unlike the Celeron, Pentium or even i3 processor, Core i5 are pretty respectable in terms of work efficiency.

Processor

The Dell Inspiron features a 3.1 Ghz 7th Generation Intel Core i5 7200u. This i5 core has a 3 megabyte SmartCaches 2 cores and 4 threads. Which means it’s pretty average by current standards.

It will quickly perform most tasks at a reasonable level. It will work great for most people but isn’t recommended for professional level processing like creating large graphics that require heavy processing and RAM.

Graphics

This laptop has an Integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 card. Integrated chips are usually poor for gaming but this one will allow you to play many of the latest games like GTA V or The Witcher 3 on low resolutions and low settings.

Older games such as League of Legends or DOTA 2 should run extremely smooth for an integrated card. This card will not cut it for any high-end graphic design that requires high amounts of rendering. Overall the card should be fine for anyone but serious gamers and designers.

RAM

The Dell Inspiron features 8 gigabytes of DDR4 2400 Mhz RAM which is once again pretty average. In this case average is a pretty good though. This amount of RAM will allow you to perform most tasks quickly.

Booting should take no more than 30 seconds and loading individual applications should be pretty fast as well. The DDR 4 isn’t much better than the DDR3 but that shouldn’t matter much. It is always good to have the latest hardware.

The RAM is sufficient for normal tasks and won’t limit your gaming as much as the graphics card will. There is space to install an additional 8 gigabytes if necessary.

Storage

With 1 terabyte of storage space it will take a long time to run out of space. A terabyte breaks down into about 17,000 hours of music or over 2 years of continuous listening. A terabyte is about a thousand hours of video or 40 days of continuous viewing.

That’s over 300,000 photos. Even for high-quality 1080p videos, a terabyte will handle about 500 hours. Most people won’t be able to find enough stuff they like to fill up a terabyte of space.

Switching over to a solid state drive will give you quicker load times and increase your battery life though.

Additional Features

This laptop has three USB ports one 2.0 and two 3.0’s. USB 3.0’s are ten times as fast as 2.0’s so that’s always nice. It also has an HDMI port. The keyboard is a crisp, resilient, and responsive. It is also backlit for any typing in the dark.

It is possible to replace the hard drive with a solid state drive as well. There is built-in Bluetooth and a built-in SD card reader. The battery life at full charge should last between 4 and 6 hours. The screen is a touchscreen for use as a tablet. There is also a built-in infrared camera for webcamming.

Dell Inspiron i5378-2885gry comes with Windows 10 Home Edition installed. There is no stylus included but they do work with the screen. There is also no optical drive included.

Value For Money

When comparing this laptop to others in a similar price range I found that this is a pretty good value. You can find a faster processor but it will probably cost another extra hundred dollars or so.

The specs are really nice for the $500 dollar price range. It can go upto 3.1 Ghz processor when needed automatically. Most people will only get at the least a 2.5 Ghz processor even still that’s about the average for a laptop in this range.

The audio isn’t anything special though so if you are an audiophile you may want to look elsewhere. For some people, even max volume won’t be enough. The weight is a little heavy for the size, but this isn’t entirely an ultrabook. If it were, it would be a lot more expensive.

Dell Inspiron i5378-2885gry Review Conclusion

Dell Inspiron i5378-2885gry is a pretty nice buy for people looking to do all kinds of work with a 2 in 1. If you just surf the web occasionally try out new applications and watch videos on Youtube this laptop isn’t something for you as that can be accomplished even by much cheaper laptops.

This is a laptop that lies in between casual laptops and professional laptops. It is basically an entertainment/multimedia laptop.

If you are trying to play computer games at a high visual quality you may want to look elsewhere or even at a desktop if you are trying to stay in this price range.

However, in terms of portability and value for money, there is little competition to this 13.3 inch laptop.

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ASUS Transformer Book CHI T100CHI-C1-BK(WX) Review http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/asus-transformer-book-chi-t100chi-c1-bkwx-review/ Sun, 19 Feb 2017 19:57:05 +0000 http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/?p=523 If you are looking for a good and affordable 2-in-1 tablet/notebook, then ASUS Transformer Book CHI T100CHI-C1-BK(WX) is just the right choice for you. Price wise, it is much cheaper than its other counterparts in the tablet market. It is stylish, fast and comes with a detachable keyboard so that you may have the experience […]

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Asus ASUS Transformer Book CHI T100CHI-C1-BK(WX) Review

If you are looking for a good and affordable 2-in-1 tablet/notebook, then ASUS Transformer Book CHI T100CHI-C1-BK(WX) is just the right choice for you. Price wise, it is much cheaper than its other counterparts in the tablet market. It is stylish, fast and comes with a detachable keyboard so that you may have the experience of both worlds.

Before you continue looking into this laptop, know that this is a very basic laptop. It is intended to be used for only the most essential tasks like web surfing or word processing.

It is not to be even remotely used for professional work. The hardware does not get any more entry level as the hardware in this convertible laptop.

With that said, this is a very affordable laptop. It costs less than a tablet. Therefore, it is worth looking into.

Let us further explore this convertible machine in this ASUS Transformer Book CHI T100CHI-C1-BK(WX) Review.

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Types of Convertible Laptops

Although there are a handful of convertible laptop types, there are two that stand out the most: hinge rotate and detachable.

Hinge Rotate

With these convertible laptops, the screen rotates 360 degrees and goes on top of the keyboard to act like a tablet. They keyboard gets disabled once in the tablet mode.

These convertible laptops generally offer better specs at a given price because the hardware is located in the base and therefore easier to manufacture. However, they are less portable and heavier. Therefore, their primary use is not as a tablet.

Detachable

With these convertible laptops, the screen detaches from the keyboard to act as a tablet. ASUS Transformer Book CHI T100CHI-C1-BK(WX) is an example of a detachable type convertible laptop.

They generally have weaker hardware; however, they are highly portable. They can be easily used in tablet mode.

Specs at a Glance

  • Screen: 10.1″ IPS WUXGA (1920 x 1200), Touch, Glossy
  • Processor: Intel Atom Z3775 (1.4 GHz- 2.39GHz)
  • RAM: 2 GB DDR3
  • Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
  • Storage: 64 GB eMMC
  • Optical Drive: NA
  • Operating System: Windows 10 (32 bit)
  • Ports & Connectivity: Micro SD Card port, micro HDMI, Micro USB 2.0, Micro USB 3.0, Audio, Wifi, Bluetooth
  • Dimensions (inches): 6.9 x 10.1 x 0.5 inches (0.3 inches in Tablet mode)
  • Weight: 2.4 lbs
  • Camera: 2MP Front & 5MP Back
  • Battery: Up to 10 Hrs

Pros

  • Detachable laptop that handles perfectly as a tablet
  • Thin and light makes it very portable.
  • The WUXGA IPS Touchscreen offers rich color and a lot of real-estate

Cons

  • Entry level hardware; one of the weakest system for Windows.
  • Only has micro variants of the ports.
  • Windows is not the most desirable system for tablets.

Asus ASUS Transformer Book CHI T100CHI-C1-BK(WX) Review

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Hardware Configuration

Let us not beat around the bush and address the elephant in the room, this is not a laptop with a strong hardware. Therefore, if you are wondering whether you can develop a software that you have always dreamed off, forget about it.

That is not to say you cannot program. Sure you can do simple coding. However, other than that, do not expect anything else. You get what you pay for.

The point of this laptop is not to be a workstation. This is a convertible laptop that is more inclined towards being a quality tablet. It is thin, light, has great connectivity and a powerful hardware if compared to a standard tablet.

Processor

This convertible laptop is run by Intel Atom Z3775 Quad Core processor that has a clock speed of 1.46 GHz per core with turbo boost up to 2.39 GHz. I understand that a quad core processor with 2.39 GHz looks awesome on paper; however, that is not the case. Read more about it here.

This is an entry level processor that is weaker than Intel Celeron or Pentium processors. However, this is the most feasible choice for mobile devices such as this convertible laptop. It consumes only 2W making it suitable for ASUS Transformer Book CHI T100CHI-C1-BK(WX).

Compared to the previous version of the atom processor, this processor is significantly faster and can give a great performance for everyday tasks; however, it is not quite suited for heavier applications. For a tablet, though, this processor is phenomenally good.

Graphics

The graphics of this tablet/notebook are integrated with the atom processor. The graphic card has enough power to run browser based games like Candy Crush.

It will show a lack of performance even when running Minecraft. This is not a laptop for gaming by a very long shot.

RAM

The laptop offers 2 GB of RAM. This is quite reasonable given the price. There are tablets that feature 3 GB of RAM, like Galaxy Tab S2, but they are also more expensive.

The amount of RAM goes perfectly well with the processor on this laptop.

Storage

ASUS Transformer Book CHI T100CHI-C1-BK(WX) offers 64 GB eMMC along with support for 128 GB SD card.

This is a reasonable storage size and the fact that you can expand it gives you a lot of flexibility.

Screen

One of the greatest attraction of this convertible laptops is the screen. It boasts a 10.1″ FHD+ IPS touchscreen. The IPS panel ensures great colors along with widest viewing angles.

The resolution is on par with some of the high-end tablets in the market. The screen is glossy, which enhances the colors but also produces light glare.

Additional Features

ASUS Transformer Book CHI T100CHI-C1-BK(WX) has a micro SD card slot with maximum support for 128 GB. Furthermore, it also has micro HDMI, Micro USB 2.0, Micro USB 3.0, Audio, WiFi, and Bluetooth.

The tablet measure at about 0.3″ when detached and the laptop as a whole measures at 0.5″ thickness. This makes it one of the thinnest laptops in the market.

The keyboard dock is wireless and can be used from a distance. It has a magnetic latch making attaching and detaching simpler.

Should you choose, you can also get a stylus for writing or drawing.

Further features of this beautiful machine include a rear and a front camera and a battery that can last for 10 hrs.

Value of Money

As far as the price is concerned, this laptop has one of best values in the market. It is one of the cheapest with this hardware configuration.

Take Acer Aspire Switch 10 SW5-015-198P as an example. This has almost the same hardware but costs more. Take also HP Pavilion x2 12-b010nr. This is more or less a laptop with a similar hardware but with a larger screen. However, costs significantly more.

Therefore, it is quite safe to say that ASUS Transformer Book CHI T100CHI-C1-BK(WX) has one of the best values in the market.

Conclusion

All in all, if you are looking for a powerful all-rounder tablet that can double as a laptop and does not cost much then ASUS Transformer Book CHI T100CHI-C1-BK(WX) is the right purchase for you.

It is ergonomically friendly, has a beautiful design, an extremely thin profile, and a decent hardware. This machine has the potential to take your Windows experience to the next level.

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Acer Aspire E5-575-33BM Review | 15.6″ Budget Laptop http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/acer-aspire-e5-575-33bm-review/ Sun, 12 Feb 2017 14:02:24 +0000 http://www.laptopforprogramming.com/?p=470 To simply define this laptop, Acer Aspire E5-575-33BM is a budget laptop built for seamless performance. Note that I use the word seamless, which is a relative term. For a gamer, the seamless experience would be getting 60 frames per second at ultra high graphics. For a designer, a seamless experience would be working with high-resolution […]

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Acer Aspire E5-575-33BM Review

To simply define this laptop, Acer Aspire E5-575-33BM is a budget laptop built for seamless performance.

Note that I use the word seamless, which is a relative term. For a gamer, the seamless experience would be getting 60 frames per second at ultra high graphics. For a designer, a seamless experience would be working with high-resolution pictures without any lag.

Similarly, for a beginner programmer, a seamless experience would be lag free coding experience. Although beginner coding does not require a lot of processing power, the hardware in this laptop is the bare minimum that you should settle for.

Other than programmers, Acer Aspire E5-575-33BM is an extraordinary laptop for casual work. It does offer an Intel Core i3 processor; however, it is by no means an entry level laptop. That title is reserved by laptops featuring Intel Pentium or Celeron processors.

It is also worth nothing that this laptop offers the latest gen hardware. From the processor to the port configuration, everything is latest.

Let us explore this laptop further in this Acer Aspire E5-575-33BM review.

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Specs at a Glance

  • Screen: 15.6″ FHD (1920×1080),
  • Processor: Intel Core i3-7100U (upto 2.8 GHz)
  • RAM: 4 GB DDR4
  • Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
  • Storage: 1 TB HDD
  • Optical Drive: DVD-RW
  • Operating System: Windows 10 (64 bit)
  • Ports: USB 2.0,2 x USB 3.0, USB3.1 Type C (gen 1), Audio Jack, RJ45, VGA, 1x HDMI, Card Reader
  • Dimensions (inches): 10.2 x 15.02 x 1.19 inches
  • Battery: Up to 12 hours

Pros

  • The laptop has the bare minimum hardware needed for seamless work experience.
  • Full HD display means that you get a decent real estate to work on. This common in high-end laptops, but to find on an ultra budget laptop is a much welcome feature.
  • Offers all the current gen hardware for future compatibility.
  • Offers a long 12 hours of battery life.

Cons

  • Lacks a dedicated graphics cards, therefore it is not suitable for gaming or game development
  • The laptops is thicker than most laptops in this price category.

Acer Aspire E5-575-33BM Review

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Hardware Configuration

Acer Aspire E5-575-33BM Review

The hardware on this laptop is not unique; however, it is available at perhaps the best value in the market. You will not find latest gen hardware at such a low price point.

In terms of performance, the laptop is suitable for most tasks at a low level. The thing is, there are cheaper laptops available; however, those laptops show lag even with lightest use.

An i3 processor is a minimum you should aim for if you are remotely going to work.

Performance

Coming to the processor, the 2.4 GHz Intel Core i3-7100U is the not the normal i3 processor that you would expect on a desktop. It is, in fact, slower than the Intel Core i3s that you find on desktops.

Why? Because, unlike with desktops, laptops need to take into consideration the battery life and heat dissipation. Therefore, this processor is to be efficient for a mobile device like the laptops. Note that this is a ‘U’ designated processor. This refers to the low power series of processors.

They not only run cooler but also promise a much longer battery span.

The Core i3 processor is a 7th gen processor meaning it hails from the latest series. These are marginally better than the previous gen i3 processors.

Graphics

The Intel Core i3-7100U does offer an integrated graphic card – the Intel HD 620. This, of course, is not a dedicated graphic card. Meaning, it puts the graphics processing burden right on the system collectively as it does not have its dedicated RAM.

Furthermore, the fact that this laptop comes with only 4 GB of RAM, the burden of running graphic intensive tasks will be quite taxing on the overall system.

Yes, you can enjoy Minecraft and DOTA 2 or other MMORPGs online at low graphics and low FPS, but you should not expect anything more or you will find yourself quite disappointed. Do not expect to play AAA title on this laptop.

RAM

Since this laptop is a bare minimum work laptop, it offers the least amount of RAM that you should settle for. It offers 4 GB of RAM. The only good thing about the RAM is that it is DDR 4.

It is great to see DDR 4 finally coming into ultra-budget laptops like this Acer Aspire E5-575-33BM.

Screen

The screen on this laptop is 15.6″ FHD. The Full HD screen means you can multitask easily. It is a most welcome feature for professionals out there.

The larger the resolution, the more windows you can fit side by side comfortably.

Additional Features

There are a few drawback to Acer Aspire E5-575-33BM , the first of which is that this laptop does not feature a backlit keyboard. Although not entirely necessary, it is quite an attractive feature for someone like me who likes to work in dark rooms. But hey, what more can you expect from a laptop that is less than $400.

Coming to the profile of this laptop. It is neither the lightest nor the slimmest in the price category. In fact, this is the only possible drawback to note down. The laptop measures a 1.2 inches in thickness. The average thickness for laptops in the market is about 1 inch.

Value for Money

What ASUS V551LA-DH51T promises is a one of a kind hardware. You see budget laptops that are below $350 price point do not offer powerful current gen hardware.

That is where this laptop differs. Not only does this laptop offers the latest Core i3 processor, but it also offers USB C port and DDR 4 RAM.

On top of that, you are getting a hardware that is most suited for carrying out professional work.

Acer Aspire E5-575-33BM Review Conclusion

I hope by now you can see in this Acer Aspire E5-575-33BM review that this is one of the best budget laptops available in the market.

The performance/dollar value of this laptop is unmatched, and therefore, it is very tough to highlight any potential competition to it. It offers the latest hardware at a very cheap price tag.

In terms of performance, this laptop is suitable for beginner programmers or for general usage.

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