Connect with us

Technology

Best student laptop deals: Laptops for college from $200

Published

5 hours ago

on

Best student laptop deals: Laptops for college from $200

If you’re going to university or school, then you’ll probably want to aim for some solid budget laptops that are also pretty portable. Luckily, there are a lot of great options out there, and while you could absolutely aim for some of the best laptops on the market, you’re better off going for something that fits your needs and your budget. For example, there are a lot of great Chromebook deals you can take advantage of that are a lot cheaper than Windows laptops, although if you do need Windows, then there are a lot of great laptop deals for that, too.

Whatever you’re looking for, we’ve collected some of our favorite student laptop deals from that include HP laptop deals, Dell laptop deals, Acer laptop deals, and Lenovo laptop deals.

HP Laptop 14 — $200 $250 20% off

Front angle of the HP 14-inch Chromebook.
HP

The HP Laptop 14 is a popular choice among students because of its entry level price point. It’s specs aren’t going to blow anyone away, but they’re good value for the price and are plenty to get the job done. This build of the HP Laptop 14 has 4GB of RAM and a quad-core Intel Celeron processor. It does check in with just 128GB of storage space — this may not be enough for some users, but if you aren’t planning on loading your laptop up with media this is one that will accompany you well around campus.

ASUS Vivobook 14-inch — $280 $430 35% off

The ASUS Vivobook 15.6-inch version with a menu open.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The ASUS Vivobook 14-inch is a great study companion due to quirks that make it perfect for late-night usage. Like other ASUS laptops (just one reason ASUS is featured among the best budget laptops) it sports a quiet keyboard with slender-pressing keys. And, in this case, they’re also backlit, meaning you can find the right keys easily even in the dark of night. Its 180-degree hinge, when fully opened, means the ASUS Vivobook can lie flat, allowing for multiple comfortable positions for in-bed studying. The ASUS Vivobook 16-inch features 8GB of RAM, 126GB of SSD storage, and an Intel Core i3-1215U processor.

IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook — $420 $550 23% off

The IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook is a great option if you often work unplugged for long periods of time.
Lenovo

Fitting in as one of the best Chromebooks for students, the IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook runs on 8GB of memory and an Intel i3 processor. The 14-inch FHD screen has a 100% sRGB color gamut and sides of the keyboard contain speakers, making it a serviceable video lecture companion. The IdeaPad Slim 3’s WiFi 6 allows for quick downloads and a solid internet connection. This, combined with the laptop’s 13-hour battery life, solidify it as the perfect laptop to throw in your bag and take notes with at class. You can still watch (purely educational, of course) YouTube videos, but the machine isn’t designed to be overly distracting.

IdeaPad Slim 3 — $430 $750 39% off

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i laptop on a desk.
Lenovo

When we look at 15 inch laptops we shouldn’t ignore the IdeaPad Slim 3, which comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 7530U processor and Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics. Behind its 1080p, anti-glare screen is the 8GB of memory and a 512GB SSD storage drive. What makes the IdeaPad Slim 3 special is its tough exterior, made for withstanding harsh drops. This, along with its slim build, make it perfect to throw in the backpack and tug along with you wherever you go. Take even 15 minutes between classes for a charge session and you’ll get two full hours of usage out of your IdeaPad Slim 3, it is a truly versatile machine that is ready to go when you are.

HP Pavilion x360 Laptop 14t — $450 $709 36% off

The HP Pavilion 15t-eg300 laptop against a white background.
HP

If you’re willing to spend a little bit more, the HP Pavilion Laptop 15t really starts to ramp up the stats. The 8GB of RAM can be especially useful if you need to use advanced creative software, for example, and competes with the very best business laptops. Of course, the Intel Core i3-1315U processor won’t hurt either. Store you projects and PowerPoints locally on the 128GB SSD contained within, as you don’t want poor reception in the depths of the philosophy building keeping you from getting your points across. Overall, this is one of the best student laptop deals for those that need a little extra power but aren’t ready to break the bank on luxuries like an ultra-advanced display (the HP Pavilion Laptop 14t is 1080p).

ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 — $799 $1,331 40% off

The ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 turned to its side, open, and with a menu open.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When we think of the best Lenovo laptops, one line always comes to mind: ThinkPad. They have a reputation for high durability and good keyboards. While we’ve warned in the past that the latest laptop model isn’t always the best, there is something to be said about the ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 being a new arrival to the Lenovo store. It’s got the latest features that you’ll want for the long term, in abundance. For example its got both USB-C ports and WiFi 6, which are becoming increasingly useful. Furthermore, the ThinkPad E16 has a 16-inch 1920 x 1200p screen, 1 TB of storage, and a whopping 24 GB memory.

Dell XPS 14 — $1,010 $1,560 35% off

Dell XPS 14 laptop - 2024 for Dell's Summer Specials
Dell

Consistently one of the best laptops around, the Dell XPS 14 is a dream in almost every way. The thinnest and lightest 14-inch XPS laptop yet, it’s powerful too. It has a Ultra 7 Processor 155H processor, 16GB of memory, and 512GB of SSD storage. Its 14.5-inch full HD+ display with a 1920 x 1200 resolution is a delight to look at with 500 nits of brightness ensuring it can handle all lighting situations too. An impressive battery life of up to 12 hours means it’ll handle the busiest days of classes while you can enjoy streaming your favorite shows in style later in the day thanks to the great display and bigger internal speakers than previous models.

HP Envy Laptop 17t — $1,250 $1,500 16% off

A side profile of the HP Envy 17-inch laptop against a white background.
.

Featured among our best HP laptop deals as well, the HP ENVY Laptop 17t is praised for its photo connectivity features. By using HP Palette, you can search through the images of your college memories with photo recognition software. (Yes, the guy you went to chemistry with was also the awful karaoke singer last night.) The HP ENVY Laptop 17t also has quick file sharing between connected devices. Another thing to note about this laptop is how bit it is. It has a 17.3-inch, 1080p screen, so be sure to check out our favorite 17-inch laptop bags if you pick up this offering, as your current one might not be able to handle it. And that big size won’t go to waste at all, as it will not only help you see your pictures better, but also see yourself better from its 5MP built-in webcam. The HP ENVY Laptop 17t uses an Intel Core i7 processor, gets 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.



Advertisement




Source link

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Technology

Look for the AI disclaimer from Google on photos that look a little too good to be true

Published

7 mins ago

on

October 25, 2024

By

Google Photos AI

We’ve all been using photo filters and related tools for years to make our faces, food, and fall decor look their best. AI tools arguably manipulate photos in fundamental ways well beyond better lighting and removing red eyes.

Google Photos has several generative AI features that can alter an image, but Google will now mark on a photo that you’ve used those tools in the name of transparency.

Source link

Continue Reading

Technology

Why the feud matters to the internet

Published

28 mins ago

on

October 25, 2024

By

Why the feud matters to the internet
Perthshire Picture Agency Blonde woman with her arms folded looking up at the cameraPerthshire Picture Agency

Tricia Fox’s small business in Scotland has been affected by the row between two major US companies

One of the world’s biggest web publishing platforms – used by a large chunk of the internet – is locked in a spat which is affecting thousands of businesses worldwide.

While most of the work WordPress does is not seen by internet users, it says its behind-the-scenes web-building tools power 40% of the world’s websites.

That means its disagreement with a company called WP Engine is causing disruption to the huge number businesses that rely on the two organisations to keep their websites running.

Tricia Fox, who runs an agency that manages about 70 websites – and is caught up in the row – told the BBC: “I can’t run a business on this level of uncertainty.”

Advertisement

The very wide use of WordPress makes it “crucial to the internet”, according to Daniel Card, fellow of BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT.

But that also means “its actions definitely have a big ripple effect online”, he says – a ripple effect firms like Tricia Fox’s are starting to really feel.

Source of the row

The row between the companies begins with the fact that WordPress has two sides: its non-profit organisation, called WordPress.org, and its profit-making arm, called Automattic.

Advertisement

WordPress.org makes its source code open, which mean anyone can use it to create and redistribute their own tools for free.

That’s what WP Engine does to run a web hosting service.

But in return for the source code, WordPress expects those who use it to contribute to its maintenance, for example by fixing bugs and testing new features.

The boss of WordPress accuses WP Engine of failing to do so, going so far as to call it “a cancer to WordPress.”

Advertisement

As a result, in late September, he banned WP Engine from using key parts of WordPress.

WP Engine rejects these claims.

“We are proud of our extensive contributions to the WordPress ecosystem,” WP Engine wrote in a post on X/Twitter.

Counting the cost

Advertisement

Caught in the middle of this row are the countless websites and blogs that rely on the two companies services.

People like Tricia Fox, who uses a WP Engine subsidiary to host the websites her company serves.

She now says she is “almost certain” to migrate her websites to a different host – a decision which she says is worth “tens of thousands of pounds” over the next few years.

She wants to move away from WP Engine because the fallout has resulted in dozens of hours of extra work for her staff – increasing costs for her business.

Advertisement

“The team don’t know if it’s going to work today or not,” Ms Fox told the BBC.

But she worries even a costly move away from WP Engine may not solve her problems, as she would still be using another host based on the WordPress code.

“What’s to stop WordPress from doing this again [to another company]?” she asks.

“Right now we are currently focused on resolving our dispute with WP Engine,” WordPress said when the BBC asked if it would go after other companies in a similar manner.

Advertisement

Wiring the web

The row also underscores how important the open source principle is to the online economy.

While big tech might attract the headlines, for many people and businesses it is something much less eye-catching that keeps them afloat.

“Open source is all about sharing code and standards so everyone benefits, and it’s a huge part of what makes the internet work,” says Daniel Card.

Advertisement

And with WordPress being such a big player in that world, if it makes changes to its tools, he adds, “it’s felt by users everywhere and often impacts hosting, plugins, and web standards across the internet.”

WordPress A screenshot of the WordPress website which shows a tick box which says: "I am not affiliated with WP Engine in any way, financially or otherwise."WordPress

Users on WordPress.org now have to click a box saying they are unaffiliated with WP Engine when they log in

Here come the lawyers

While much of the spat between the two sides has taken place through official social media accounts and blog posts, it has also entered the courtroom.

WordPress.org cannot force WP Engine to contribute to its open source project – but it does have control over its trademarks.

Advertisement

It argues that WP Engine mentions WordPress in its marketing tools to help sell its product – and therefore should pay to use the trademark.

“Any business making hundreds of millions of dollars off of an open source project ought to give back, and if they don’t, then they can’t use its trademarks,” Mr Mullenweg wrote in a blog post.

The trademarks do not cover the “WP” abbreviation, but the WordPress Foundation says: “please don’t use it in a way that confuses people”.

WP Engine has meanwhile filed a legal case against Mr Mullenweg and Automattic, with accusations of attempted extortion, libel and a violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act among its complaints.

Advertisement

It claims Automattic told WP Engine they would have to pay “tens of millions of dollars” in order to continue using the WordPress trademarks.

WP Engine has since asked for the legal process to be sped up as its businesses are suffering.

Its recent filing claimed the number of cancellation requests it receives have increased by 14% compared to normal trading, as a result of the disruption.

It said it it is also losing out on potential new customers due to uncertainty over its future access to WordPress products.

Advertisement

Automattic has called the lawsuit “baseless” and “flawed, start to finish.”

“We vehemently deny WP Engine’s allegations – which are gross mischaracterizations of reality,” it said in a statement, adding that it would “vigorously litigate against this absurd filing”.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Technology

ISRO’s new system to detect space junk- The Week

Published

49 mins ago

on

October 25, 2024

By

ISRO's new system to detect space junk- The Week

The ISRO has developed a system to track active and dead satellites, said ISRO chairman S Somnath. He added that Safe and Sustainable Operations Management will detect space junk formed due to the collision of objects in space.

Somnath was speaking at the National Space Day celebrations held on Friday in Delhi. The National Space Day fete is held to mark the first year anniversary of the Chandrayaan-3 moon mission.

Detailing ISRO’s policy against littering in space, Somnath said the system also tracks the movement of unwanted satellites and anything that is above 10 cm in size. “We have created a mathematical model for the same. We can model them, we can understand them, we can predict their movement. We already have certain observational capabilities. And are now trying to expand it,” he said. ISRO has vowed to bring satellites back to Earth after the completion of their mission life.

The ISRO chairman reminisced about the Chandrayaan-3 mission and the impact the mission had on the country. He also briefed on the National Space Day celebration held with the participation of departments, ministries, educational institutions, science organisations, NGOs, and the general public. 

Advertisement

The event held at Bharath Mandapam Convention Centre in New Delhi also saw President Droupadi Murmu sharing her concern over the space debris as a result of numerous satellites being placed in orbit. “Space debris can cause problems for space missions,” she said while lauding ISRO for setting itself a target to make future space missions debris-free by 2030.

The President also appreciated the ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Operations Management Facility, which ensures continuous progress of space research activities. 

The event was also attended by Minister of State for the Department of Space, Dr Jitendra Singh. The minister said that the government has set a target of $ 44 billion in revenue by 2032. As per the new report released by a European consulting firm, the space sector generated $60 billion in revenue in the last ten years against an investment of $13 billion.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Technology

AI models fall for the same scams that we do

Published

1 hour ago

on

October 25, 2024

By

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.
New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Scams can fool AI models

Wong Yu Liang/Getty Images

The large language models (LLMs) that power chatbots are increasingly being used in attempts to scam humans – but they are susceptible to being scammed themselves.

Udari Madhushani Sehwag at JP Morgan AI Research and her colleagues peppered three models behind popular chatbots – OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 and GPT-4, as well as Meta’s Llama 2 – with 37 scam scenarios.

Advertisement

The chatbots were told, for instance, that they had received an email recommending investing in a new cryptocurrency, with…

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Technology

Roborock Qrevo Curv vs. Qrevo Master

Published

2 hours ago

on

October 25, 2024

By

Roborock Qrevo Curv vs. Qrevo Master
Qrevo Curv climbing a threshold.
Roborock

The Roborock Qrevo Curv was one of many new devices shown off during IFA 2024. Offering a shocking amount of suction and an updated vacuuming setup, it’s poised to be one of the best robot vacuums of the year. But how does it stack up with the existing Roborock Qrevo Master? More importantly, should owners of the Qrevo Master make the jump to the Qrevo Curv? Here’s a closer look at both robot vacuums to help you decide.

Pricing and design

The Qrevo Curv next to a plant.
Jon Bitner / Digital Trends

The Roborock Qrevo Curv is priced at $1,600, making it one of the most expensive robots on the market. It offers a striking dome-shaped docking station and is a stark departure from the rectangular shapes of the competition. Most shoppers should find it to be a well-designed device.

The Roborock Qrevo Master was originally priced at $1,600, but it seems to have been permanently slashed to $950 following the arrival of the Curv. It boasts a traditional rectangular docking station. It looks great — but after seeing the Curv, it definitely seems a bit dated. Still, at under $1,000, it’s a better choice for frugal shoppers.

Winner: Roborock Qrevo Master

Vacuuming

The FlexiArm on the Qrevo Curv.
Jon Bitner / Digital Trends

Churning out 18,500Pa of suction, the Qrevo Curv is remarkably powerful. Combined with its new DuoDivide Brush that’s built to avoid tangles and a redesigned FlexiArm swinging side brush, it cleans thick carpets as well as some cordless vacuums. Its brushes can also lift while mopping to ensure they don’t get wet.

The Qrevo Master can also lift its brushes and uses a FlexiArm swinging side brush, but its bristles don’t use the new design — making it a bit more prone to tangles. The same goes for its older DuoRoller Brush on the bottom. The biggest difference, however, is when it comes to suction levels. The Qrevo Master tops out at 10,000Pa.

Both docking stations can hold up to seven weeks of dust, making them incredibly hands-free when it comes to vacuuming operations.

Advertisement

Winner: Roborock Qrevo Curv

Mopping

The Qrevo Master mopping.
Roborock

Mopping specs are largely the same across both robots. They use dual rotating mopping pads that spin at 200 rpm, offer a variety of different water flow levels, and feature a swinging mop to clean near baseboards. Once a cleaning run is completed, it’ll head back to the dock.

Here, its mops will be rinsed with hot water until no dirt is detected. The docking station will then automatically clean its own washboard to ensure all the debris knocked off the mops is washed away into its dirty water reservoir. Mops will then be dried with warm air to ensure nasty odors don’t develop.

Winner: Tie

Additional features

The Qrevo Curv and its mobile app.
Roborock

Both robots are packed with additional features. This includes a built-in voice assistant, a powerful mobile app to customize your settings, premium obstacle detection, and the fun ability to capture snapshots of your pets. The Qrevo Curv also features a liftable chassis to climb over thresholds up to 4cm and the ability to heat its water up to 75 degrees Celsius compared to just 60 degrees Celsius on the Master.

Winner: Roborock Qrevo Curv

Advertisement

Verdict

The Roborock Qrevo Curv is undoubtedly the better robot vacuum and mop combo. More suction, better roller brushes, a bold new dock design, and the ability to climb over thresholds make it superior to the older model. Of course, it’s also much more expensive, clocking in at a cool $1,600.

If you need the absolute best robot vacuum, however, it’s an easy recommendation. It offers nearly double the suction of the Master, allowing it to give even the thickest carpets an impeccable clean.

On the other hand, if you already own the Master, don’t feel the need to rush out and buy the Curv. Mopping performance is largely the same across both devices, as are many of the additional features. So unless you need the extra suction for plush carpets, you can probably pass on an upgrade.


Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading

Technology

8BitDo makes a mobile controller with Hall Effect sticks now

Published

2 hours ago

on

October 25, 2024

By

8BitDo makes a mobile controller with Hall Effect sticks now

The ultimate mobile gaming controller is one that you enjoy using the most, and 8BitDo thinks its new controller for mobile games is going to be that controller for you. And, you know what it just might be. It’s called the Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller and based on the features, it’s quite possible that it will live up to that title.

For starters, 8BitDo is coming out of the gate strong with two very sought-after features. Hall Effect sticks and triggers. While it’s nice that triggers are Hall Effect, it’s much more important that the stick use this technology. Hall Effect joysticks mean that the joysticks on this controller are essentially drift-proof. Stick drift has been a big problem for many users across all platforms, but it seems to have been the biggest issue for Nintendo Switch and PS5 owners. Where the sticks on the JoyCon and the DualSense have encountered this problem on a pretty large scale.

8BitDo wants you to avoid running into this problem.

The 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller is $50

The other big thing that 8BitDo has going for it is the controller’s price. It’s only $50. Compare that to the $100 Backbone One which is a favorite of many, and the $78 Razer Kishi V2 Pro and $150 Razer Kishi Ultra, the latter of which has been our favorite. Even with the regular Kishi V2 is still more expensive at $60. And while it’s a fine controller, we have loved ours, 8BitDo’s entry into the market has a considerable advantage in size.

Advertisement

The Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller appears to be a full-size controller and it comes with an enhanced grip. So you should have more for your hands to hold onto. This was one of the main reasons why we love the Kishi Ultra. It’s a full-size mobile controller in this Nintendo Switch-like style where the phone sits in the middle. That being said, it does cost $150. So it’s expensive, and for many, the cost may not be justified.

This is where 8BitDo has a chance to carve out a real piece of the market. It can offer a full-size or nearly full-size mobile controller with loads of features at a reasonably low price. And that will probably be hard to beat.

It’s compatible with nearly every device

8BitDo says the controller is compatible with nearly every phone out there. That’s partially due to the Bluetooth connection, as there’s no direct USB-C connection to plug your phone into. It’s also due to the controller’s extendable body to fit larger devices. There is still a limit of course. The controller will only support phones from 100mm to 170mm in length. If your phone (or tablet perhaps) fits into those measurements then you should be fine.

In addition to the wide range of phone compatibility, the Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller offers a lot more. There are two pro-style back paddles, tactile bumpers and d-pad, a turbo button, a macro button, and the controller works with 8BitDo’s Ultimate software.

Advertisement

You can use this software to remap controls and adjust different settings. This is also where you can set up and customize profiles. Which is useful since the controller has a profile button too. Now since this is powered by Bluetooth it does have a battery. That battery should last up to 15 hours though, and it only takes about 1.5 hours to recharge.

The Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller is available for pre-order today through Amazon. 8BitDo says it begins shipping out on November 29. it comes in black and white.

Buy at Amazon

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 WordupNews.com