Think about some of your hobbies and interests. Do you think you’ll be streaming a lot of video or music, or are you the downloading type? If the latter is true, maybe you’ll want a laptop with enough storage (or external drives) to accommodate. Getting a laptop with an SSD is a great idea — it will be fast and boot quickly — but high capacity SSDs can be pricey, so take that into account.

Working from a laptop is convenient when you’re out and around, but back home, at your desk, you’ll probably want an external monitor and keyboard, just to save your neck and back. Even if they’re cheap, budget for peripherals that will keep you comfortable when you sit down to work and give you a nice, ergonomic workspace at home or in your room. That includes things like laptop stands, laptop bags, chargers, and so on. Also, make sure the laptop you buy has the ports to connect what you need to plug in!

A "yes” answer here will have a huge impact on the specs of your laptop. We’re not saying you should buy a gaming laptop, though. Gaming laptops are notoriously expensive, big, and heavy. However, you might want to look at higher-end models than you would have considered otherwise. Consider laptops with discrete graphics, speedy SSDs, crisp, high-resolution screens, faster processors and more RAM.

When you find one you like, make note of the laptop’s graphics card, and then head over to sites like Passmark’s benchmark database and Anandtech’s GPU bench and see how that model performs in your favourite games. On the other hand, this is one situation where buying two computers might be better than trying to cram everything into one. A portable, affordable laptop may be ideal for work on the go, and maybe a budget gaming desktop would be better for your wallet and your gaming experience.

Those are the basics to get you started. If you have specific needs, you’ll have a longer list of questions. In every case, find your own power-to-portability sweet spot. If you don’t expect to tote your laptop around from class to class and prefer to use a tablet (or heaven forbid, take paper notes), then portability may not be a huge factor for you. Taking a laptop from your room to the library and back doesn’t demand the latest in thin, light hardware. However, if you plan to carry your laptop around with you to every class, you won’t want a back-breaking brick in your bag.

Spend Where It Matters Most
Even if money is no object, it’s probably not a good idea to just max out all of the available specs on whatever laptop you’re looking at. You’ll have to make some compromises to save money, but also to avoid buying more than you need. Go back to your list of things you’ll do with your laptop, and put your money into features that make those things easier. If you can find a laptop with 8GB of RAM that’s a little more than one with 4GB, that’s a good place to stretch your budget. If you can find a laptop with an SSD that’s close to the same price as one with a traditional hard drive, that’s also a worthwhile upgrade. On the other hand, a laptop with a top-end processor or graphics card doesn’t make sense if you don’t use resource-hungry programs or play games.

Similarly, don’t step down too far just to save money. If you’re looking at laptops with last-generation or low-end processors or low-resolution screens, the money you’ve saved will come at the cost of a more frustrating user experience. Remember, it’s always better to have a little too much feature-wise and keep your laptop a year or two longer than too little and need to upgrade too soon.

Pay for Superior Build Quality
Build quality usually includes things like how sturdy the hinges on the screen are, how the keyboard feels when you type on it, how sturdy the chassis is, the type of plastic (or metal) used in its construction, how the trackpad feels under your fingers, and so on. You know flimsy when you feel it. Don’t be afraid to pay for the things you like. If you want a matte screen or a backlit keyboard, look for those features, and spend a little more if they make you happy. You’re buying a device you’ll probably use for a few years, so make sure you’re content with your purchase.

• Apple A1245 Battery
• Apple A1189 Battery
• Apple A1175 Battery
• Apple A1280 Battery
• Apple A1045 Battery
• Apple A1148 Battery
• Apple A1080 Battery
• ASUS M70V Battery
• Asus X52J Battery
• Asus Eee PC 1008P Battery
• Asus K52J Battery
• Asus K52N Battery
• Asus X52F Battery
• Asus X52D Battery
• Asus X72DR Battery
• Asus X72F Battery
• ASUS Eee PC T91 Battery

To that point, don’t stick to "student” or other designer laptops when you search. Laptop Magazine explains that "business” laptops often come with solid specs, long battery life, and tons of ports at a wallet-friendly price. Build quality is important, as is the design and feel of the laptop you buy — and you shouldn’t feel bad for those things being part of your purchasing decision.

Even so, make sure you read reviews of the laptops you consider. You don’t want to sacrifice something you actually need for a shiny feature you might want. We have a few Windows 10 laptop suggestions here, and our friends at Gizmodo have great in-depth laptop reviews. Even better, get out to electronics stores like the Apple Store, the Microsoft Store, Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi to get hands-on with them (or similar laptops from the same manufacturer). There’s really no substitute for actually playing with a laptop before you buy one.

Make Use of Educational Discounts and Bundles
When you have your specs set and a few candidate laptops to consider, shop smart and save some money. Look around online to see if any manufacturer’s are offering back-to-school discounts. Before you buy any required software on the open market, check for student deals from manufacturer’s web sites. For example, you can check your eligibility for free Microsoft Office here. It’s definitely worth exploring all the ways you can save money on your setup. (Trust us, you’ll need the money for textbooks.)

Service Plans and Warranties: Don’t Forget the Details
Finally, don’t forget a warranty or service plan. You may never need it, but when you’re taking a laptop off to university, you’ll want at least some kind of purchase protection. We’ve mentioned in the past that extended warranties are rarely worth it, but those rare times usually involve laptops. Considering how difficult modern laptops are to repair and get into, it makes sense to just let someone else handle tricky things like screen replacements and motherboard repairs.

If you’re the hands-on type, head over to iFixit and see if your laptop is listed. You’ll get an idea of how difficult it is to open up and repair yourself. Then, set aside the money you’d spend on the extended warranty as a "repair fund” in case something does happen.Finally, if you already have a laptop, even if it’s not great, you might want to wait a few months and see how it works for you. We know, the lure of a shiny new machine is strong, and you’ll miss back-to-school deals if you wait. However, there are always a new deal just around the corner. Plus, if this is your first semester at university you don’t really know what you’ll need until you actually get there. Once you find out, you’ll be better equipped to buy the best laptop for you.

For most students, your laptop will pull double duty for work and play. You’ll also need to be able to take it with you to class or to the library. That makes it even more important to be really happy with the one you buy. With a little research, you’ll make sure you have a laptop that will meet your needs at school whether you’re writing a paper, studying, or relaxing with music, gamer, or a movie.
Apple appears to be finally improving the battery life of its products which could see devices lasting for days - or even WEEKS.

The tech company is set to trial a new 'fuel cell system' to replace the old batteries found in its Macbooks, but the innovative new technology could be used in its range of phones and watches.Not only could the new batteries last for weeks - they will also be more environmentally friendly and compact.The fuel cell system was awarded by the US Patent Office and works by converting fuel to electrical power.Although the cell system seems to have been specifically designed for laptops, the tech can be made smaller making it suitable for iPhones, the Daily Mail reports.The news follows reports last week that that Amazon is working to create a new Kindle which wouldn't need charging for two years.It's unlikely Apple's latest technology will feature in its new iPhone 6S, however.

We reported last week how Apple is heavily rumoured to reveal the new phone in under a week's time.The invitations have been sent out and the internet rumourmill has gone into overdrive.There's a big event happening on Wednesday, September 9, and although Apple hasn't revealed specifically when it's taking place, seasoned tech experts believe it will take place at 10am in San Francisco.

Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesApple CEO Tim Cook shows off the new iPhone 6 and the Apple Watch during an Apple special eventTechnology: Apple CEO Tim Cook shows off the new iPhone 6 and the Apple Watch
As in previous years, we expect Apple to reveal two versions of the new iPhone at the same time.

Like it did with the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, we could see two different sizes to appeal to two different types of customer.

Apple's Force Touch feature was developed for the Apple Watch and works as a wholly new type of input method.

You press down on the screen with a little more force, and it activates a different action.

• ASUS G71G Battery
• ASUS Eee PC T91MT Battery
• ASUS G71 Battery
• ASUS G71Gx Battery
• ASUS G71V Battery
• ASUS G72GX Battery
• ASUS M70 Battery
• ASUS X71 Battery
• ASUS X71Q Battery
• ASUS X71SL Battery
• ASUS X71Vn Battery
• ASUS n82jq-b1 Battery
• Asus n82j Battery
• Asus A42J Battery
• Asus A52F Battery

The company usually has its latest wares out in the shops in under a month, meaning we could all have our hands on a new iPhone before October rolls around.

Of all the ways tech companies are gunning to drive virtual reality, Google may be working on something no one else has done yet: make the experience self-sufficient.

The search giant is developing a stand-alone headset, which would be the first VR goggle that isn't powered by a smartphone, laptop or gaming console, according to a report Thursday by The Wall Street Journal that cited unnamed sources.

The move would represent a novel approach as a scrum of tech companies, including Facebook, Samsung and HTC, jostle to bring the nascent technology to a mass audience. Facebook's $599 Oculus headset, available starting next month, requires a PC, while the offerings from HTC and Sony are also tied to a PC or game console. Samsung's Gear VR requires a Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

Google's device will reportedly have its own screen, outward-facing cameras and a high-powered processor based on chips from Movidius, a San Mateo, California-based startup that specializes in machine vision.

A Google spokeswoman declined to comment. Movidius acknowledged it has a "business relationship" with Google but wouldn't say anything else.

Once mostly the dream of video game makers, VR now has the tech industry taking a wider view of the experiences it can offer, from virtual trips to the Alps and walks through the world's most famous museums to visits to digital doctor's offices.

Google's attempt at something new shows how seriously it's taking virtual reality. Last month, the tech titan created its own VR division, putting vice president Clay Bavor at the helm. Bavor used to be in charge of Google apps as well, but the company cleared away all his other responsibilities to focus squarely on virtual reality.

It's a far cry from Google's first foray into VR two years ago with Cardboard, a no-frills, made-of-paper headset design that uses a smartphone as the screen. Cardboard, developed by Bavor and his team, isn't sold by Google -- it licenses the design to others who create the $20 to $25 headset. Google will also release an updated version of that product to be made of plastic, according to the Journal. The headset is also expected to include chips and sensors.

Glass, Tango and beyond

If the reports are true, it seems as though Google's approach could be similar to what it did with Google Glass, in the sense that this will be a fully formed piece of standalone hardware. Glass, experimental eyewear with a high-tech flourish, could connect with a phone but also worked on its own over Wi-Fi, avoiding a need to be tethered to any other device.

It's an unusual approach for VR at the moment, especially since it feels like both mobile and PC-based VR efforts are aiming for a level of industry consistency. Would a stand-alone unit run Android, Google's mobile software? Or would it be more of a head-mounted display that interfaces with phones, tablets and computers wirelessly?

There are reasons for Google to pursue this type of product. Cardboard needed to work with several types of smartphones, which meant screen sizes, resolutions and processors were inconsistent. Having all those things built into the headset itself would let VR content makers all step up to the same standard. That could help the whole experience look and feel a lot better.

google-cardboard.pngEnlarge Image
Google's next VR device may ditch the requirement of a smartphone.
James Martin/CNET
Facebook's Oculus is intended to work with higher-resolution screens with greater pixel density than most of the phones that Google Cardboard supports, allowing for crisper, sharper images and more impressive 3D graphics.

An optimized device might also reduce lag, allowing for a smoother, more immersive viewing experience. In contrast, Cardboard didn't have a head strap for a reason -- it's laggier, lower-powered feel means it's not intended to be used for extended sessions.

A new device would also help Google adopt position tracking, something missing from mobile VR right now. Current phone-based VR headsets let you turn your head, but they can't track movement across a room. Cameras on the outside of the headset, in the manner of what Google is reportedly building, could be depth-sensing ones like those used by Project Tango, another next-gen Google effort that tries to pack more sensors into phones and tablets. (Movidius also worked on Project Tango, which makes position tracking the likeliest reason for this specific hardware redesign.)

Cameras can help map out a room in 3D, help someone walk around in virtual reality without hitting a wall in real life (HTC's Vive headset uses an external camera like this), or help boost the reality of VR. It's a key step to developing next-level virtual reality applications, and the hardware to make that possible simply doesn't exist on everyday phones. A specially-built headset would be a logical move.

A stand-alone device does raise questions about what sort of processor it will require or how much battery life it will have.

Last week I gave a quick first impressions of the D13 from Artisul, a new creative-focused company building drawing tablets and accessories that can attach to PCs and Macs. The D13 is a 13.3-inch external drawing tablet monitor that is a direct competitor to Wacom’s Cintiq 13HD, which currently retails for $200 USD more.

Posted by: akkusmarkt at 04:14 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 2652 words, total size 19 kb.