Chromebook Pixel – Review

The Chromebook Pixel comes with a third generation Intel Core i5, 1.8GHz dual-core processor, 4GB RAM and 32/64GB hard drive. It also boasts of high resolution Retina touch screen display usually found in Apple MacBook products. The Chromebook Pixel weighs 3.35 pounds and it sports a 12.85-inches display. The design is flawless, the touchscreen functions brilliantly and the Chrome OS is just as smooth as it looks. In terms of performance, the Chromebook Pixel will not give you any reason to complain.

On the flip side though, $1300 is a hefty price to pay for an ultrabook that runs on a cloud based OS. The Chrome OS comes with its share of limitations – you can’t use regular programs like Microsoft Office and Photoshop. Sure enough, there are alternatives like Google Drive and Pixlr but it can take a while to get used to them. Additionally, they might not compare to Microsoft programs in terms of performance and productivity.

As a result of these limitations, the Chromebook Pixel caters to a very select audience i.e. people who primarily use their laptops for online browsing or who are comfortable using Cloud based alternatives for traditional programs. Additionally, one has to be willing to pay quite a lot of money for an ultrabook that might not meet his or her basic technical requirements.

How does it compare with its competitors?

As soon as the Chromebook Pixel was launched, comparisons were made with MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. The Apple MacBook Pro comes with high resolution Retina display which makes for unbelievable clarity and sharpness in terms of display. In terms of technical specs, MacBook Pro is way ahead of Chromebook Pixel with a third generation Intel i7 2.3 GHz quad-core processor, 8/16GB memory and 256 GB hard drive. Additionally, one gets to use the iOS which is a full-fledged operating system with an array of programs as opposed to cloud based Chrome OS. However, these features come at a high cost as the MacBook Pro with Retina Display is priced close to $2000.

One can also compare Chromebook Pixel to Acer Aspire S7, an ultrabook which runs on Microsoft Windows 8. This ultrabook from Acer ships with Intel i7 1.9GHz dual-core processor, 4GB memory and 256 GB hard drive. Microsoft has made a very conscious effort to ensure that the Windows 8 OS supports a touch-friendly experience and the results are evident. The touchscreen is more receptive than other operating systems and the ultrabook performs without any glitches. Again, this ultrabook doesn’t come cheap either. Priced at close to $1600, it is a few hundred dollars expensive than the Chromebook Pixel.

Due to the same reasons, the Microsoft Surface Pro is often compared to a variety of products including tablets, ultrabooks and hybrids. For instance, the device from Microsoft is usually pitted against the Apple iPad and the MacBook Air simultaneously. At alaTest, we will do a comparative analysis of three gadgets – Microsoft Surface Pro, MacBook Air and Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13.

1. Microsoft Surface Pro – Once you examine the specs of Surface Pro, you will be more inclined to slot it among ultrabooks. It ships with a dual core, 1.7GHz Intel i5 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage and 10.6-inch display. Additionally, it also has a few USB 3.0 ports along with a micro-SDXC slot. It weighs close to 2 pounds which is a tad bit heavy for a regular tablet. At the same time, it is lighter than any ultrabook on the market. All in all, the Microsoft Surface Pro makes for a powerful ultrabook(when used with a portable keypad) with a high quality processor. It is ideal for frequent flyers who want to get some business done while travelling. It could also double up as a tablet with a touch screen if you are comfortable with the weight and the size.

2. MacBook Air - The Microsoft Surface Pro is often compared to MacBook Air as both of them have very similar specifications. The Surface Pro can be easily used as an ultrabook by attaching a portable keyboard. Both the Surface Pro and MacBook Air have the same processor specs i.e. dual core Intel i5 1.7GHz and both of them come with 4GB RAM. MacBook has a bigger display and it is also slightly heavier than Surface Pro. The major difference boils down to the operating system – Windows 8 versus iOS. In terms of performance, there isn’t a lot separating the two and the choice comes down to personal preferences.

3. Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 - The Lenovo IdeaPad is a hybrid which promises to give you the best of both the worlds i.e. a tablet and an ultrabook. The Lenovo hybrid boasts of a 360 degree hinge feature, using which, you can convert it from a laptop to a touch-friendly tablet. It ships with an Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB RAM and 128GB storage space. The hybrid promises to give you a high quality experience, both as a tablet as an ultrabook. Just like the Surface Pro, Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 runs on Windows 8 but the former has a stronger processor. However, Lenovo’s battery life is comparatively better than Surface Pro. Clearly then, the differences are minor and you will have to make a choice based on your priorities.

What to look for in a netbook?

While looking for a netbook, the criteria are markedly different from a laptop. For one, you will have to lower your expectation in terms of technical specs. After all, there is only as much as a small netbook can offer. Among other things, look for a good battery life since you will be using a netbook on the go. Additionally, check if a netbook has sufficient number of USB ports, an HDMI port, a full sized keyboard and a competitive processor.

Which are the best netbooks as of now?

Taking into account all these criteria, we have put together a list of some of the most impressive netbooks available as of now:

1. Asus Eee PC 1015PN – The Asus netbook boasts of a dual core 1.5GHz Atom processor, 1GB RAM, 250GB hard drive and a 10.1-inch display. The USP of this netbook is the Nvidia Ion Graphic card which translates to better video and audio performance. Hence, the netbook is good for much more than just typing e-mails while you are travelling. You can also use it to watch a movie, listen to music or play some games.

2. Acer Aspire One D270 – This netbook from Acer ships with a dual core 1.6GHz Atom processor, 1GB RAM and a 320GB hard drive. The display size is standard i.e. 10.1 inches and the netbook has multiple USB 2.0 ports along with Blutetooth 4.1. With this model, Acer decided to focus on the core features of a netbook. Hence, even if it doesn’t have any extraordinary features, it does function well as a traditional netbook.

3. Toshiba NB 550D – This netbook from Toshiba makes the switch from Atom to AMD processor. It performs much better than an average netbook with improved graphic features. On the flip side, the memory is rather low (1GB) for the performance it delivers and the battery life isn’t that impressive either.

4. Acer Aspire One Happy 2 – The Acer Aspire One Happy 2 instantly catches your attention due to its design and vibrant colors. It operates on an Atom processor and runs on Windows 7 Starter edition. At the same time, you can also use Android 2.3.1 on this netbook. So, if you want to use the netbook to finish a quick, easy task, you can use the Android version. Alternatively, if you want to do some serious work, you can revert to the Windows OS.

In this day and age, no office functions without tech gadgets. Right from the elementary laptop to the fancy Walkstation, an office is heavily dependent on electronic gadgets. These gadgets increase your productivity by speeding things up and keeping them organized. So, if you have been missing out on the advantages of office gadgets, it is time to do some shopping. Here is a list of some of the most essential gadgets for your office:

1. HP EliteBook 8460p- When it comes to must-have gadgets for an office, a laptop is a no-brainer. However, what matters is the choice of laptop. The HP EliteBook 8460p is ideal for office use. It ships with a powerful Intel Core i5, 2.4 GHz dual core processor. Additionally, it has 320GB RAM and 4GB memory. At the same time, it has some additional features which add to its functionality in the workplace. For instance, it is equipped with the HP Quick Web function, which allows you to access the internet without re-booting Windows. These features, along with a decent battery life, make this laptop fit for business use.

2. HP Officejet Pro 8500 – This multi-function printer is the answer to all printing, copying and faxing requirements. A stand alone printer is a thing of the past. Modern multi-purpose printers combine several functions in one, saving money and office space simultaneously. The HP Officejet Pro 8500 comes with a variety of networking options, an LCD touch screen and fast output in terms of printing. All in all, it makes for an excellent office gadget.

3. Seagate Replica Hard Drive - Irrespective of the scale and size of a business venture, official data holds the business together. If all your official data is stored in your laptop, you can lose some or all of it if your laptop crashes due to some reason. Therefore, you must have a back-up of all your data on a hard drive. The Seagate Replica Hard Drive comes with 500 GB storage space and the best part is that the moment you connect it to your laptop, it automatically makes a back-up of everything, including your laptop’s OS. This means that you don’t have to manually drag and drop or copy and paste, just connect the drive and thats that.

4. Keurig Platinum Brewing System – If someone was to calculate the daily consumption of coffee in any office, it would come out to be a quite an astounding figure. Coffee is the fuel which keeps offices running. Hence, it is important to invest in a high quality coffee machine. The Keurig Platinum Brewing machine offers a lot of options, it allows you to adjust the cup sizes and the temperature of the coffee. Additionally, it comes with an LCD touch screen, a digital clock and an auto program feature. Get this machine and kickstart your day with a brisk cup of coffee.

So, if your resolution was losing weight or making more money or getting things organized or managing time efficiently, the following gadgets can help you immensely. Let’s quickly run through some of these:

1. Samsung Chromebook – The Samsung Chromebook is one step further in the drive towards a web-based, Cloud centric OS. As opposed to traditional operating systems which run on installed software, the Chromebook operates on a web-based software. It comes with a dual core Cortex A15 processor and 2GB memory. The Chromebook is thin and lightweight, and the best part is that it is priced at just $249. While it is definitely not meant for users who want to use multiple applications at once, it is ideal for travellers on the go. Unlike a tablet, it has more functionality and flexibility, which means that you can save both time and money without compromising on the efficiency aspect. Sounds like a win-win situation.

2. Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 – 2012 was definitely the year of hybrids, it was the year when giant strides were made in resolving the tablet v/s laptop dilemna. The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 is one of the many hybrids that were launched this year. More importantly, it was one of the better hybrids that we saw in the past year. This hybrid comes with Windows 8, one of the many features which sets it apart from others. It comes with a 1.7GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB memory and 500GB hard drive. Finally, it manages to preserve the best of both the worlds i.e. it functions equally well as a laptop and a tablet. So, if you have resolved to declutter your life and make it more organized, this might be the place to start.

3. iPhone 5 – Any recap of 2012 is incomplete without the mention of the iPhone 5. It was, by a huge margin, the gadget of 2012. It had everything that you could ask for, a faster A6 processor, 4G and a bigger screen. So, how can you use an iPhone to stick to your resolutions. For starters, it is almost like a mini organizer. You can design your daily schedules, set reminders and check your progress. Additionally, there are thousands of apps for everything you can think of, right from losing weight to acquiring new skills.

Besides these gadgets, there were others like the Samsung Galaxy Note II, iPad Mini, Windows Surface and Nokia Lumia 920 which created quite a stir in the gadget world. It is time to explore these gadgets and get creative with their applications. You will be pleasantly surprised by what your discover!

Here is a list of some of the most exquisite gadget gifts for your friends and family:

1. Samsung DA-E750 – The Samsung DA-E750 is the most beautiful set of speakers you are ever going to set your eyes on. With the wooden exteriors, they have a distinct old school charm about them, which will work perfectly well with your Christmas decorations. On the technical front, the speakers are compatible with AirPlay, iOS devices, and some Android devices as well. Did we forget to mention that the audio quality is phenomenal. The Samsung DA-E750 is the gift of a lifetime, it will sit perfectly in your living room, adding to the beauty of your home.

2. MacBook Air – The MacBook Air needs no introduction. Its only the most perfect combination of aesthetic design and technical performance. The ultra thin 13-inch laptop comes with a 1.8 GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 4GB memory. The ultrabook weighs less than 3 pounds and it is an absolute pleasure to work on it. It is thin, it is light and it is simply an epitome of luxury. Go the Mac way this holiday and surprise your friends and family.

3. Nikon D4 – The best memories belong to the holiday season. Therefore, a high quality DSLR camera makes for an ideal holiday season gift. The Nikon D4 is one of the most impressive cameras in the market as of now. Besides producing excellent photographs, the Nikon D4 is the one of the fastest cameras you will ever work with. That means no time lags at all. Additionally, it comes with a high resolution sensor and better video quality.

4. Grado PS1000 – Headphones are available for as cheap as $20. But any music enthusiast knows the difference between these headphones and the high end ones. The latter will alert you to the presence of beats in a song that you had never heard before, transporting you to a different world altogether. The Grado PS1000 is one such pair of headphones. These are extremely comfortable to wear and the ear cups are made of wood and solid metal. The sound quality is excellent as well. All in all, they make for the perfect gift for anyone who likes listening to music.

The following is a list of some the best budget laptops out there:

1. Acer Aspire V5 – Don’t be fooled by the size of this 11-inch ultraportable. The Acer Aspire V5 packs the power of a full fledged laptop with an Intel Core i5 processor, a 500GB hard drive and a 6GB RAM. All this makes for a high performance laptop, one you can use with equal ease at your office or at a coffee shop. Having said as much, there are a few limitations primarily due to its small size- the keypad is a tad bit uncomfortable to use and the same goes for the touch pad. Both of these need a little getting used to. Nevertheless, the Acer Aspire V5, priced at under $500, offers complete value for money.

2. Sony Vaio E Series – The Sony Vaio E Series SVE11113FXW is also an 11-inch ultraportable, ideal for the frequent flyer. It is powered by a 1.2 GHz AMD E2-1800 processor and comes with 500GB hard drive and 4GB RAM. Again, the size might be a bother initially but once you get used to it, it stops being a problem at all. The laptop is available for $449 and has a surprisingly decent battery life.

3. HP Envy Sleekbook 6 - Price wise, the HP Envy Sleekbook falls somewhere around the margins of the category we are discussing as it is priced as close to $600. On the bright side, it is the best looking laptop you will find for that price. It boasts of a 2.1 GHz AMD processor with 4GB memory and 500GB hard drive. As added benefits, it comes with decent graphics and audio output as well.

4. Dell Inspiron 14z- The biggest USP of the Dell Inspiron 14z is the second generation Intel Core i3 processor which is difficult to find in this price category. Just like all the other laptops mentioned here, it comes with 500GB hard drive and 4GB RAM. As the name indicates, it is a 14-inch laptop which means that the size should not be a problem. At the same time, it is not a bulky laptop and can be carried around pretty easily. Just like the previous model, it is a little towards the expensive side and is available for close to $600.

MacBook Air is undoubtedly the pioneer of this niche. In fact, one can even go to the extent of saying that ultrabooks are modeled on the prototype established by MacBook Air. Over time, all major gadget companies have come up with state of the art ultrabooks making way for intense competition in the market. Rumor has it that Intel has invested $300m million in developing this category. The way things are going, ultrabooks might just replace laptops entirely in the near future.

At alaTest, we have put together a list of the best ultrabooks launched in the year 2012.

1. Acer Aspire S5- As of now, this ultrabook from Acer is one of the slimmest ultrabooks in the market. It is only 15mm thick and it weighs a mere 1.2 kgs. Simultaneously, it comes with several “ultra abilities” as well; it is powered by 1.9 GHz Intel Core i7 and 500 GB RAM, USB 3.O and HDMI. The CPU performance is great, the keyboard is comfortable to use and it is a treat for the eyes. On the flip side, physical durability of the Magic Flip feature is somewhat suspect.

2. Sony Vaio T13- Sony took quite a while to enter the ultrabook niche. Having said that, the wait was quite worth it since Sony Vaio T13 successfully packs performance with portability. At 1.6 kgs and 17.8 mm thickness, Vaio T13 is definitely not the slimmest or prettiest ultrabooks around. However, it is very competitive for its price. It comes with a 1.4-1.7 GHz Intel i3 or i5 processor and 4 GB memory storage. Even as the ultrabook is strong and durable, there are a few problem areas in the form of battery life and performance.

3. Samsung Series 9- Samsung Series 9 ultrabooks were some of the earliest to hit the market and therefore, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to state that they became the face of ultrabooks in the initial stages. The latest Samsung Series 9 900X3B weighs 1.2 kgs and thickness is just about 13.3 inches. On the technical front, the ultrabooks of this series boast of 1.4-1.7 GHz Intel Core i5 or i7 processor. The performance is not compromised due to the light weight of the ultrabooks. At the same time, these ultrabooks are physically resilient and durable.

4. Lenovo Idea Pad U510- If one were to go strictly by first appearances, Lenovo Idea Pad U510 might not even qualify as an ultrabook. At 2.2 kgs, it is almost a kilogram heavier than other ultrabooks and its thickness is also on the higher side(21mm). Lenovo has taken a different approach altogether as it is focusing on offering the positive features of a laptop even if this means a little more weight. On the bright side, you get better performance and higher battery life and it is still lighter than an average laptop. Additionally, you can also play DVD and Blu Rays, a feature usually absent in lighter ultrabooks.

We are giving you a list of the best laptop alternatives for working on the go:

1. Samsung Galaxy Note- Commonly known as a phablet, the Samsung Galaxy Note remains a class apart in terms of features and performance. Now, if you are looking to do some serious typing, this might not be the ideal laptop alternative for you. However, if you simply want to read something or a watch a movie or browse the internet, the Galaxy Note can be a perfect little replacement for a heavy, bulky laptop. It comes with a 5.3 inch HD screen, a Stylus pen and is powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread. The large screen coupled with the pen feature ensures that you navigate things smoothly.

2. Apple iPad 3- We could have chosen any other tablet but we are going for the finesse offered by the iOS. Quite clearly, in terms of a laptop alternative, the iPad has more functional value as compared to a smartphone. It comes with a larger screen, a more powerful operating system and a wider range of features. Again, a lot depends on what you are looking to achieve with your laptop alternative. Having said that, the Apple iPad 3 will not disappoint you as long as your expectations are not extremely hard core.

3. Acer Aspire S5- The crucial difference between an ultrabook and a laptop is the weight. An ultrabook is significantly lighter than a laptop even as it offers similar performance. The Acer Aspire S5 is even lighter and thinner than the MacBook Air which is often considered the pioneer of this category. This promising ultrabook is power packed with Intel Core i7 1.9 GHz processor and 4GB memory. The only problem is the slightly high price.

4. Toshiba NB550D- Finally, if you are looking for something even smaller than an ultrabook, a netbook might be ideal for you. The reduced size comes at a price though as the configurations are not comparable to an ultrabook. The Toshiba NB550D comes with a 1 GHz processor and 250 GB hard drive. Normally, netbooks don’t boast of quality video or audio output even as they have a pretty impressive battery life. However, this Toshiba netbook has managed to go past these shortcomings. For a netbook, it delivers quite incredibly.

While buying a regular laptop, you might look for features like processor speed and storage memory. However, when it comes to gaming laptops, the parameters involved undergo some major changes. To begin with, the audio and video specifications of the laptop assume prime importance since they have to support complicated features like dynamic lighting, landscapes and explosions which are commonplace in the gaming world. A good gaming laptop must have a 1 GB video card even as dual video cards have become the rage currently. The power of these dual video cards is harnessed by the NVidia SLI technology, taking the gaming experience to another level altogether.

After you have taken note of the video card, the next feature that you must consider is the processor. A quad core processor with a minimum speed of 2.0 GHz is standard for a gaming laptop. You can find these specifications in a Core i5 or an i7. Additionally, look for a laptop with hard drive storage of no less than 320 GB as the games can occupy a lot of storage space. Finally, the battery life of the laptop must be quite strong because constant gaming can take a heavy toll on the battery.

Based on these considerations, we have put together a list of the best gaming laptops.

1. Alienware M18x – Alienware has been associated with PC gaming for ages now and they have produced some of the very best gaming laptops till date. The Alienware M18x is no exception. This gaming laptop delivers on all fronts, right from design to performance to ease of use. It comes with an 18.4 inch display, a Core i7 processor which runs at 2.7 GHz with a turbo boost that reaches 4GHz. Moving on to the most crucial factor in a gaming laptop, the video card. The Alienware laptop boasts of a pair of SLI-enabled Nvidia GeForce GTX 580M graphics cards and each of them has a memory of 2 GB. The only flip side is the steep price.

2. Asus G74SX- If you are looking for a more affordable gaming laptop without compromising on the performance, the Asus G74SX is ideal for you. This Asus laptop is powered by a 2.2 GHz Core i7 processor with 8 GB RAM. In the graphics department, it is equipped with one of the best graphic processors i.e. Nvidia GeForce GTX 560M. The battery life isn’t exceptional, but that is a common feature in all gaming laptops.

3. MSI GT683- The MSI GT683 is a whole series of gaming laptops, all of which perform exceptionally well. The MSI GT683R-289US runs on a Core i7 processor with 12 GB RAM and is powered by a Nvidia GeForce GTX 560M. The processor speed is not exceptional, but it won’t give you many chances to complain either. The screen is 17.3 inches and the laptop is lighter than the average gaming laptop.

These were just some of the most popular gaming laptops as of now. Besides these, there are others which have their own unique advantages. The MSI GT783R-625US, Toshiba Satellite P755-S5269 and the Alienware 17x come highly recommended in the gaming world.