Laptop Gift Guide for Holiday 2015

The Christmas season is once again fast approaching and as what we usually do, we’ve compiled some of the outstanding gadgets in their respective categories and group them for easy browsing. Here are some laptop selections if you’re looking for a portable PC you can get for yourself or give someone as a gift.

 

2015GiftGuide-LAPTOP

Note: The laptops listed here are all available in the Philippines with accompanying local prices for your browsing pleasure. If you have something to add, simply throw them at the comments section to further expand the list and help more readers in shopping for a new portable PC this holiday. 

Let’s get started!

Budget Laptops

Kicking things off in the list is the convertible device from Cherry Mobile –the Alpha Morph that recently got a dual-boot version. It sports a 10-inch WXGA IPS touch display, is powered by a 1.33GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3735F and Intel HD Gen 7 Graphics, and pairs up with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory with microSD expansion of up to 64GB. The Windows-only variant is priced in the Philippines at Php5,999 with the dual-boot model is available for Php7,999. Both come with free Office 365, storage space from OneDrive, and are USB-OTG ready.

hp-stream-11

For those that have a bit more more cash to spare, you can try the HP Stream 11. It packs some decent specs for its price including an Intel Celeron N2840 dual-core processor, 2GB RAM, 32GB eMMC, and an 11.6-inch LED display. Additionally, it has a claimed battery life of more than 8 hours on a single charge and is priced at Php13,980. There’s also a 13.3-inch variant called the HP Stream 13 which retails for a higher Php15,984.

asus_x200ma

Next up we have the ASUS X200MA. It’s the one packaged by SmartBro in one of its Plans which sports an 11.6-inch HD LCD display, an Intel Celeron dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 500GB of HDD storage. This Windows 8.1-powered laptop is available locally for Php12,995. However, if you prefer similar specs with a bigger 14-inch screen, you can also check out the Dell Inspiron 3442 with a more affordable Php11,999 price tag.

lenovo-laptop-ideapad-s20

Looking for a feature-packed laptop? The Lenovo S20 boasts AccuType keyboard with finger-friendly curved keys and ergonomic spacing so typing is easier. It also has Dolby Advanced Audio, USB 3.0, and an HD webcam for your video calling needs. The S20 is priced at Php14,988 and includes an 11.6-inch display, 2GB RAM, 500GB storage, and runs on Windows 8.1 OS.

Mid-range Laptops

Moving up the price category, we have the Samsung ATIV Book 2 that has a 64-bit Windows 8 installed, 2GB RAM, 500GB storage space, and a lineup of bundled software ready to be used. It has a modest price of Php21,900 which shouldn’t break the bank for a decent device. By adding about Php2K more and you could get a Sony VAIO E Series that has an 11.6- or 14-inch WXGA TFT display, 4GB RAM, 500GB internal storage, and a 1.7GHz AMD accelerated processor.

hp-pavilion-x360

There’s also the HP Pavilion x360 that was launched with other notebooks in SEA countries last May. This totally flexible device flaunts an 11.6-inch HD LED-backlit display, comes with an array of CPU configurations, and could support up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM. It has an SRP of Php23,990 for the base model.

Meanwhile, ASUS has its K401 laptop that possesses a 14-inch Full HD display with 4GB of RAM that can stretch up to 12GB. Storage space is at 500GB with an optional 128GB/256GB solid-state drive. It is priced at Php34,995 with its bigger sibling, the K501, is at Php47,995 and comes with 15-inch display and 1TB of internal storage.

asus-zenbook-ux305

In addition, if you want something that’s guaranteed to turn heads due to its sleek and stylish design, you may check out the ASUS ZenBook UX305FA with a 13.3-inch Full HD display, 128GB M.2SSD, and Bang & Olufsen ICEpower speakers. It is similarly-priced at Php34,995 and you may check out our review by clicking the link.

lenovo-laptop-thinkpad-e450

Saved enough for something better? The Lenovo ThinkPad E450 might be the one for you. It’s equipped with useful functionalities like the three-button trackpad, Dolby speakers, and the company’s cloud storage so you could store and save more files. Specs-wise, you’ll get an Intel Core i5 CPU, 4GB of DDR3L RAM, and a battery that Lenovo claims to have a 9-hour life. It’s locally priced at Php49,992.

And if you’re on that price range, the 5th-gen MacBook Air would also make nice alternatives with the 11- and 13-inch models at Php44,990 and Php49,990, respectively.

High-End Laptops

Now, we go to the big players since investing on a really capable laptop is never a bad thing whether you use for work or even playing.

microsoft-surface-pro-3-2

Headlining this category is the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 (while still waiting for the local availability of the Pro 4) that you can definitely rely on for on-the-go productivity. It has a Surface Pen, a multi-position kickstand, and a Type Cover to fully take advantage of all its capabilities — all for Php60,000.

dell-xps-13-2015

Dell’s XPS 13 features some really thin bezels in what the company calls the Virtually Borderless Infinity Display. Aside from that, it carries an UltraSharp Full HD display spanning 13.3 inches across, edge-to-edge Gorilla Glass protection, Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD to name some of its key selling points. For what it offers, the Php74,990 price tag is actually not so bad.

lenovo_yoga3pro

Add a little more and you can include the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro on your list for Php76,995. It comes with similar specs as the XPS 13, but with a bigger 512GB of SSD. You may read our review of the ultrabook by clicking the link.

 

For the gamers out there, feast your eyes on the ASUS ROG G752 Series that comes equipped with a sizeable 17-inch Full HD display backed up by the 6th-gen Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M GPU. Along with those beefy specs come a Php79,995 SRP. Apart from the VL model with 8GB RAM and 1TB storage, you can also opt for the more expensive VT variant that has double the RAM (16GB) and an additional 128GB of SSD in addition to the 1TB space — all for Php99,995.

macbook-pro

All those laptops still below your price range? The 2015 MacBook Pro tops our list with its 15-inch Retina display, 2.5GHz Intel Core i7 quad-core CPU, 16GB of embedded RAM, 512GB PCIe-based flash storage, and 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon R9 M370X that further enhance the graphics department. There is a configuration worth Php99,990, but the one with the aforementioned specs carry a price tag of Php124,990. Whew.

 

 

 

 

The post Laptop Gift Guide for Holiday 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

Laptop Gift Guide for Holiday 2015

The Christmas season is once again fast approaching and as what we usually do, we’ve compiled some of the outstanding gadgets in their respective categories and group them for easy browsing. Here are some laptop selections if you’re looking for a portable PC you can get for yourself or give someone as a gift.

 

2015GiftGuide-LAPTOP

Note: The laptops listed here are all available in the Philippines with accompanying local prices for your browsing pleasure. If you have something to add, simply throw them at the comments section to further expand the list and help more readers in shopping for a new portable PC this holiday. 

Let’s get started!

Budget Laptops

Kicking things off in the list is the convertible device from Cherry Mobile –the Alpha Morph that recently got a dual-boot version. It sports a 10-inch WXGA IPS touch display, is powered by a 1.33GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3735F and Intel HD Gen 7 Graphics, and pairs up with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory with microSD expansion of up to 64GB. The Windows-only variant is priced in the Philippines at Php5,999 with the dual-boot model is available for Php7,999. Both come with free Office 365, storage space from OneDrive, and are USB-OTG ready.

hp-stream-11

For those that have a bit more more cash to spare, you can try the HP Stream 11. It packs some decent specs for its price including an Intel Celeron N2840 dual-core processor, 2GB RAM, 32GB eMMC, and an 11.6-inch LED display. Additionally, it has a claimed battery life of more than 8 hours on a single charge and is priced at Php13,980. There’s also a 13.3-inch variant called the HP Stream 13 which retails for a higher Php15,984.

asus_x200ma

Next up we have the ASUS X200MA. It’s the one packaged by SmartBro in one of its Plans which sports an 11.6-inch HD LCD display, an Intel Celeron dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 500GB of HDD storage. This Windows 8.1-powered laptop is available locally for Php12,995. However, if you prefer similar specs with a bigger 14-inch screen, you can also check out the Dell Inspiron 3442 with a more affordable Php11,999 price tag.

lenovo-laptop-ideapad-s20

Looking for a feature-packed laptop? The Lenovo S20 boasts AccuType keyboard with finger-friendly curved keys and ergonomic spacing so typing is easier. It also has Dolby Advanced Audio, USB 3.0, and an HD webcam for your video calling needs. The S20 is priced at Php14,988 and includes an 11.6-inch display, 2GB RAM, 500GB storage, and runs on Windows 8.1 OS.

Mid-range Laptops

Moving up the price category, we have the Samsung ATIV Book 2 that has a 64-bit Windows 8 installed, 2GB RAM, 500GB storage space, and a lineup of bundled software ready to be used. It has a modest price of Php21,900 which shouldn’t break the bank for a decent device. By adding about Php2K more and you could get a Sony VAIO E Series that has an 11.6- or 14-inch WXGA TFT display, 4GB RAM, 500GB internal storage, and a 1.7GHz AMD accelerated processor.

hp-pavilion-x360

There’s also the HP Pavilion x360 that was launched with other notebooks in SEA countries last May. This totally flexible device flaunts an 11.6-inch HD LED-backlit display, comes with an array of CPU configurations, and could support up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM. It has an SRP of Php23,990 for the base model.

Meanwhile, ASUS has its K401 laptop that possesses a 14-inch Full HD display with 4GB of RAM that can stretch up to 12GB. Storage space is at 500GB with an optional 128GB/256GB solid-state drive. It is priced at Php34,995 with its bigger sibling, the K501, is at Php47,995 and comes with 15-inch display and 1TB of internal storage.

asus-zenbook-ux305

In addition, if you want something that’s guaranteed to turn heads due to its sleek and stylish design, you may check out the ASUS ZenBook UX305FA with a 13.3-inch Full HD display, 128GB M.2SSD, and Bang & Olufsen ICEpower speakers. It is similarly-priced at Php34,995 and you may check out our review by clicking the link.

lenovo-laptop-thinkpad-e450

Saved enough for something better? The Lenovo ThinkPad E450 might be the one for you. It’s equipped with useful functionalities like the three-button trackpad, Dolby speakers, and the company’s cloud storage so you could store and save more files. Specs-wise, you’ll get an Intel Core i5 CPU, 4GB of DDR3L RAM, and a battery that Lenovo claims to have a 9-hour life. It’s locally priced at Php49,992.

And if you’re on that price range, the 5th-gen MacBook Air would also make nice alternatives with the 11- and 13-inch models at Php44,990 and Php49,990, respectively.

High-End Laptops

Now, we go to the big players since investing on a really capable laptop is never a bad thing whether you use for work or even playing.

microsoft-surface-pro-3-2

Headlining this category is the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 (while still waiting for the local availability of the Pro 4) that you can definitely rely on for on-the-go productivity. It has a Surface Pen, a multi-position kickstand, and a Type Cover to fully take advantage of all its capabilities — all for Php60,000.

dell-xps-13-2015

Dell’s XPS 13 features some really thin bezels in what the company calls the Virtually Borderless Infinity Display. Aside from that, it carries an UltraSharp Full HD display spanning 13.3 inches across, edge-to-edge Gorilla Glass protection, Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD to name some of its key selling points. For what it offers, the Php74,990 price tag is actually not so bad.

lenovo_yoga3pro

Add a little more and you can include the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro on your list for Php76,995. It comes with similar specs as the XPS 13, but with a bigger 512GB of SSD. You may read our review of the ultrabook by clicking the link.

 

For the gamers out there, feast your eyes on the ASUS ROG G752 Series that comes equipped with a sizeable 17-inch Full HD display backed up by the 6th-gen Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M GPU. Along with those beefy specs come a Php79,995 SRP. Apart from the VL model with 8GB RAM and 1TB storage, you can also opt for the more expensive VT variant that has double the RAM (16GB) and an additional 128GB of SSD in addition to the 1TB space — all for Php99,995.

macbook-pro

All those laptops still below your price range? The 2015 MacBook Pro tops our list with its 15-inch Retina display, 2.5GHz Intel Core i7 quad-core CPU, 16GB of embedded RAM, 512GB PCIe-based flash storage, and 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon R9 M370X that further enhance the graphics department. There is a configuration worth Php99,990, but the one with the aforementioned specs carry a price tag of Php124,990. Whew.

 

 

 

 

The post Laptop Gift Guide for Holiday 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

5 Best Budget Notebooks under Php25k

Looking for a decent notebook for school or work but on a tight budget? We collected a list of 5 notebooks from major PC manufacturers to help you out. Have a look at these laptops under Php 25k.

Acer Aspire E

acer-e5

The Acer Aspire E has 5th Generation Intel Core i3 clocked at 2GHz with 4GB of RAM. It has a spacious 1TB of storage so you can keep most of your media files without having the need of external hard drives, unless you’ll consume the 1TB quickly. The screen is a 14-inch TFT LCD with a resolution of 1366×768 pixels. It comes with Windows 10 out of the box.

The best thing about this laptop is that it comes in 5 color namely Cotton White, Coral Pink, Ocean Blue, Denim Blue, and Tropical Yellow. It’s currently listed on Villman for Php 24,984 w/ a free Smart Bro 4G Pocket Wi-Fi promotion until the end of the year.

Acer Aspire E E5-473 specifications:
14-inch HD (1366×768 pixels) Acer CineCrystal LED-backlit TFT LCD
Intel Core i3-5005U Processor (3M Cache, 2.00GHz)
Intel HD Graphics 5500
4GB DDR3 RAM
1TB HDD
8X DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive

ASUS X445LF

asus-x445

The ASUS X series comes with a 4th Generation Intel i3 chipset running at 1.7GHz and 4GB of RAM. While it may have last year’s processor, this particular model has a dedicated 2GB NVIDIA GeForce 930M GPU for better graphic performance. Display is a standard 14-inch HD LED display and storage is only at 500GB.

It ships with Windows 10 and has a 2-year Global Warranty from ASUS. It retails for Php 24,984 from Villman.

ASUS X455LF-WX055T specifications:
14-inch HD (1366×768 pixels) LED-backlit display
Intel Core i3-4005U Processor (3M Cache, 1.70 GHz)
2GB NVIDIA GeForce 930M GDDR3 VRAM
4GB DDR3L RAM
500GB HDD
Super-Multi DVD-ROM

Dell Inspiron 5442

laptop-dell-inspiron-14-5000-5442-m4i3324p-4

If you’re looking for a serious looking laptop for business, the Dell Inspiron 5442 could be your choice. It sports a 4th Generation Intel Core i3 chipset clocked at 1.7GHz and paired with 4GB of RAM. It has a dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi module which is good for connecting with office networks. It also comes with a McAfee Security Center 15-month subscription. The screen is an LED backlit display measuring at 14 inches with HD resolution.

The downside of this notebook is the lack of a DVD optical drive. If you’re okay with that since DVD drives are rarely used nowadays, you can have the Dell notebook for Php 24,984 w/ Windows 8.1 (upgradable to Windows 10).

Dell Inspiron 5442 specifications:
14-inch HD (1366×768 pixels) LED Backlit Display w/ Truelife
Intel Core i3-4005U Processor (3M Cache, 1.70 GHz)
Intel HD Graphics 4400
4GB DDR3L RAM
500GB HDD

HP Notebook 14

hp-14

If you’re into HP’s design, then you might want to consider the HP Notebook 14. It has a configuration of 5th Generation Intel Core i3 at 2GHz with rather limiting 2GB of RAM. Its display is your usual 14-inch HD with WLED backlighting. It comes with 500GB HDD and has a built-in DVD-ROM.

What’s different here is that it comes with FreeDOS 2.0. You still have to install Windows on your own but because of that, you are free to choose which 4version of the OS you wish to use. You can also opt for a Linux-based OS if you want to. The HP notebook is listed for Php 22,980.

HP Notebook 14-AC144TU specifications:
14-inch HD (1366 x 768 pixels) BrightView WLED-backlit
Intel Core i3-5005U Processor (3M Cache, 2.00GHz)
Intel HD Graphics 5500
2GB DDR3L RAM
500GB HDD

Lenovo IdeaPad G40

lenovo-g40

Lastly, check out Lenovo IdeaPad G40 notebook. It’s powered by a 4th Generation Intel Core i3 with 2GB of RAM. While the RAM is on the budget side, graphics should be above among other similar chipsets thanks to the dedicated 2GB ATI R5 M230. There’s a 500GB HDD onboard and the display is a 14-inch LED Glare-type display.

Windows 8.1 boots up with the device, so be sure to opt for a free Windows 10 upgrade if you are buying this laptop. SRP for the IdeaPad G40 is Php 24,888.

Lenovo IdeaPad G40-70 5944-1219 specifications:
14-inch HD LED Glare-type display
Intel Core i3-4030U Processor (3M Cache, 1.90 GHz)
2GB ATI R5 M230 DDR3L
2GB DDR3L RAM
500GB HDD

There you have it. Those are 5 budget notebooks or laptops to consider if you have a budget of less than Php 25k. You might have noticed that all of them have a 14-inch HD display and an Intel Core i3 chipset. The two features are very common among budget laptops, so if you are in need of more processing power, you might want to save up more. Notebooks are good investments, be sure to decide properly when purchasing.

The post 5 Best Budget Notebooks under Php25k appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

HP launches Elite x2, battles Microsoft Suface

HP looks like it answers back to the popular Surface from Microsoft and introduces its new Elite x2 that’s designed for business use. One thing that makes this 2-in-1 tablet unique is its capability to be repaired and upgraded easily — eliminating the need to go out and have someone else do it for you.

hp-elite-x2

HP Elite x2 specs:
12-inch Full HD display @ 1920 x 1080 resolution
Intel Core m3 vPro chip
4GB RAM (upgradable to 8GB)
128GB internal storage (upgradable to 512GB)
Active Pen stylus w/ Wacom technology
Travel Keyboard
USB Type-C
SIM slot
Wi-Fi 802.11ac
Windows 10 OS

It’s been reported that the rear part of the device can be unscrewed to replace some of its components easily including the screen, hard drive, or storage. This can also be done if you’ve decided to upgrade its parts like adding more memory. The company claims that it won’t be a cumbersome task to do these things so users no longer need to spend on labor to have them fixed or replaced.

Pre-orders will start at November 23 for $899 (approx. Php42K) for the base model, with shipping in the United States starting in early January. With these specs and pricing, do you think it will make you choose this device over the Surface lineup from Microsoft?

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The post HP launches Elite x2, battles Microsoft Suface appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

HP launches Elite x2, battles Microsoft Suface

HP looks like it answers back to the popular Surface from Microsoft and introduces its new Elite x2 that’s designed for business use. One thing that makes this 2-in-1 tablet unique is its capability to be repaired and upgraded easily — eliminating the need to go out and have someone else do it for you.

hp-elite-x2

HP Elite x2 specs:
12-inch Full HD display @ 1920 x 1080 resolution
Intel Core m3 vPro chip
4GB RAM (upgradable to 8GB)
128GB internal storage (upgradable to 512GB)
Active Pen stylus w/ Wacom technology
Travel Keyboard
USB Type-C
SIM slot
Wi-Fi 802.11ac
Windows 10 OS

It’s been reported that the rear part of the device can be unscrewed to replace some of its components easily including the screen, hard drive, or storage. This can also be done if you’ve decided to upgrade its parts like adding more memory. The company claims that it won’t be a cumbersome task to do these things so users no longer need to spend on labor to have them fixed or replaced.

Pre-orders will start at November 23 for $899 (approx. Php42K) for the base model, with shipping in the United States starting in early January. With these specs and pricing, do you think it will make you choose this device over the Surface lineup from Microsoft?

{Source}

The post HP launches Elite x2, battles Microsoft Suface appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.