Category: Computers

Laptop Lookout: Dell XPS 15 2 in 1
It’s a hybrid inside a hybrid. That’s the best way to think about the new XPS 15 two-in-one from Dell. This big-screen laptop has a 360-degree hinge, so it folds all the way back to form a tablet — we’ve seen that plenty of times before, but never in Dell’s high-end XPS 15 line.

The Great
- Gorgeous 4K display
- Blazing fast CPU
- Much improved battery
- Legacy ports still at play
- Clear audio
- Strong performance
The Not
- Middling graphics
- Poor webcam placement
- Lots of Bloatware
The Conclusion

This is the best 15-inch laptop money can buy. That’s thanks to strong build quality, a brilliant screen, a comfortable soft-touch deck and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 GPU that can handle entry-level gaming and some serious Photoshopping.

Dell’s new XPS 15 2-in-1 makes the statement this time around. As its name implies, the XPS 15 is a 2-in-1 convertible that lets you fold the 15.6-inch screen back on itself for use in tablet mode or tent mode.

The XPS 15 combines jaw-dropping resolution and vibrant color in a large 15.6″ touch display. Its crisp, sharp detail and rich color is perfect for editing photos and graphic design with Full HD or the optional UltraSharp™ 4K Ultra HD (3200×1800). Comes with 500GB 7200RPM Hard Drive + 32GB Solid State Drive Windows 10 Home 64-bit English and 8GB 2400MHz, DDR4; up to 32GB (additional memory sold separately). View amazing graphics on the 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) InfinityEdge, Non-touch and Intel HD Graphics 630 videocard.

The Updates

It looks a lot like the notebook, but Dell has done more than slap a new hinge on its existing design. The XPS 15 2-in-1 is an all-new design that takes dramatic measures to reach its weight of 4.3 pounds and thickness of .63 inches – figures that are among the best in its class.

Dell has incorporated Gore fabric into its chassis. More commonly used for lightweight athletic apparel, Gore is an excellent insulator, yet also light and thin. That apparently makes it a good fit for directing heat through a notebook chassis. You can’t feel the fabric when you touch the machine, but it’s there, keeping heat where it should be.

Quick Spec Look
- Intel Core i5-8305G or i7-8705G
- GPU Radeon RX Vega M
- RAM Up to 16GB
- Storage Up to 1TB PCIe SSD
- Display 15.6-inch 4K or 1080p
- Size 3.9 x 9.3 x 0.6 inches
- Weight 4.3 pounds
- Battery Up to 15 hours
- Ports Thunderbolt 3, USB Type-C, microSD card, HDMI, Headphone
The Final Thought

All the benefits of the 2 in are here, it has the flexibility. Its durable and powerful, sounds great and a performance monster. I can say it runs a little hot, and i wish there was a better GPU for new gaming.
March 15, 2018
Laptop Lookout: Dell XPS 13
The razer-thin, Dell XPS 13 has been my favorite consumer laptop for a few years, thanks to its attractive design, gorgeous screen and strong battery life. Dell’s laptop is now available in two different models, both of which we recommend.

The Great
- Attractive design
- Vibrant screen
- Strong performance
- Good battery life overall
- Runs cool
The Not
- No USB Type-A Ports
- Improved webcam still looks up your nose
- Steeper starting price
- White option is pricier
The Conclusion

The new XPS 13 9370 is the slimmest and lightest model yet, with a stunning new rose gold and white color scheme. It also sports an extremely vibrant display, which is available in 4K resolution, better performance and up to 12 hours of battery life. However, if you want an even-longer, 16 hours of endurance and access to full-size, USB Type-A ports, the older, XPS 13 9360 could be an even better choice.

Dell Xp is the standard all widely adopted laptops are measured, and usually sound wanting. Its the supreme, the alpha. It has everything most of us need, with none of the stuff we don’t at a price we can handle.

Like most laptops in 2018, there is the choice to buy a high-end configuration, complete with the specs that you need for your daily duties. If you need a faster processor, there are two models featuring a 1.8GHz Intel Core i7-8550U (4GHz with Turbo Boost) to choose from.

Quick Specs Look

CPU: 1.8GHz Intel Core i7-8550U (quad-core, 8MB cache, up to 4.0GHz)
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
RAM: 16GB DDR3 (2,133MHz)
Screen: 13.3-inch, Ultra HD (3,840 x 2,160) UltraSharp InfinityEdge touch display
Storage: 1TB PCIe SSD
Ports: 2 x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C), 1 x USB-C 3.1, micro SD card reader, headset jack
Connectivity: Killer 1435 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1
Camera: Widescreen HD (720p) webcam with 4 array digital microphones
Weight: 2.67 pounds (1.21kg)
Size: 11.9 x 7.8 x 0.3-0.46 inches (3.02 x 1.99 x 0.78-1.16cm; W x D x H)

The Final Thought

Dells XP laptops are already best in class, so to make its laptop thinner, Dell switched to a smaller battery and got rid of USB Type-A ports. As a result, some users will prefer the previous XPS 13 9360, which is still for sale and is powered by the same Intel 8th Gen Core CPUs. It’s a little more expensive than it was previously, but the Dell XPS 13 makes up for the higher price tag by noticeably boosting the performance.
March 13, 2018
Laptop Lookout: Microsoft Surface Pro LTE
Its almost here! The New Microsoft Surface Pro is coming. Better than ever, the new Surface Pro gives you a best-in-class laptop, plus the versatility of a studio and tablet. The stunning PixelSense Display supports Surface Pen and touch, while up to 13.5 hours of battery life gives you plenty of juice to work all day and play all night.

The Great
- Top Tablet, PC Notebook
- Better performance and battery life from its CPU update
- Flexable keyboard
- LTE antenna
The Not
- Keyboard cover and Surface Pen are still sold separately.
- No USB-C and Thunderbolt options
The Conclusion

I truly love this thing, it’s a beast. For such a small package it really is amazing. It powers 3 monitors for me through the dock, bunch of USB devices, do Photoshop, web dev, emails, everything. Make sure to not go cheap on the processor or ram or you’re stuck with a brick. Microsoft says it, The ultimate laptop with versatility of a studio and tablet.

What To Do..

So here is my problem, I need to solve for the following. I need to replace a laptop, with a powerful desktop, and a tablet. It has to run Lightroom, Photoshop, Visual Studio, Office stuff and Age of Empires all at once. I need a pressure-sensitive pen for drawing and to convert it to a workstation . I want a decent and equally powerful tablet form factor for reading, games, and video watching with decent tablet battery life

What to do, what to do.. And there is an easy, elegant answer.. the Surface Pro with Advanced LTE. Surface Pro delivers even more speed and performance thanks to a powerful Intel Core processor that runs full desktop apps with ease plus 50% more battery life than Surface Pro 4 and 2.5x more performance than Surface Pro 3. With brilliant color on the high-resolution PixelSense Display with a stunning screen that responds to your touch, its heaven. The Surface has been great, whats the new one do?

Whats New?

From a hardware perspective, the Surface Pro with LTE Advanced is almost indistinguishable from its non-LTE sibling, the surface pro (2017) which in turn is remarkably similar to the 2015-vintage surface pro 4.

A close inspection of the exterior reveals one difference. Behind the kickstand, the Surface Pro with LTE Advanced includes an expansion slot that’s about 5/8 of an inch wider than its non-LTE cousin. That’s just enough room to squeeze a nano SIM tray alongside the familiar MicroSD memory card slot. Surface Pro’s LTE connectivity makes it the first “true mobile computer.

A Cat 9 modem supports cellular connections up to 450 Mbps in speed, and an embedded SIM allows connections to pay-as-you-go data services without the need for an external SIM card. GPS support is also included, making this a useful option for any application that requires precise location information and navigation.

The Final Thought

The Surface has everything thing I need to truly replace my PC, laptop and tablets. It works, its great and im not stuck only get mobile versions of apps and websites. While the upgrades since 2015 are minimal, they are useful and necessary with out any gimmicks and features I don’t need and wont use.
March 12, 2018
Laptop Lookout: HP ZBook X2
Its not a Notebook, barely a laptop but it a great PC solution. Hp is Introducing the world’s most powerful detachable PC with remarkable performance and versatility to push your favorite Adobe applications to the limit. Yes it’s a full-performance workstation-class laptop experience with full-sized keyboard and integrated stand. With HP Quick Keys, keep working in your Adobe® apps without the use of a keyboard. The full-sized Bluetooth® keyboard stays active when detached, so you can keep working.

The Good
- Adobe featured
- great stylus
- Great shortcut OS features
- Good Keyboard
The Not
- Battery-life not great
- Lacks graphic performance
- Overpriced
The Conclusion

I cant call it a 2 in 1, its barley a laptop but much more then a notebook or tablet. Really its everything and does it all pretty well but is a master of none.

This is no notebook. This is a specialized tool designed to serve as a complete solution for digital artists, photographers and other creatives. It’s massive, but designed to provide easy access to shortcuts. It also has a professional-grade stylus and a matte 4k display that feels as if you’re drawing on paper.

The Design

You’ve never seen a laptop like this before. The ZBook is industrial in a way that looks powerful. It’s a large octagon of metal. The back is a very plain gunmetal gray with a reflective Z logo and a whole bunch of vents for cooling. The pull-out kickstand could use a little more to put you fingers in the small notches on the side, but it pulls out almost flat, up to 165 degrees.

With a 4k Display and only a 14 inch bezel surrounding it makes it very attractive to look at. Windows Hello is in place with an infrared camera and webcam stuffed in the top. The best part of the design is the 12 programmable shortcut buttons built down the sides. Down the right side you will find a fingerprint reader, an SD card slot, a USB 3.0 port, an HDMI output, a pair of Thunderbolt ports and a barrel-shaped charging jack.Its a big heaver then the others in its class at 4.9lbs but it feels much more rugged and sturdy. The metal body helps this.

The Power

It has the power, it has all the specs of a workstation PC: a quad-core i7 processor (from Intel’s Kaby Lake-R line), an Nvidia Quadro M620 graphics card, and up to 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD in a versatile desgin. These are the top line specs so you are gonna have to pay more to get the juice. It also rocks a Wacom EMR-enabled and battery-free stylus with 4,096 levels of pressure, comparable to many of Wacom’s gaphics tablets. Then there’s the four modes that the detachable 2-in-1 can be used in. That includes a docked mode where the device can connect to two external 4K displays simultaneously and a “detached” mode where the keyboard functions as a Bluetooth keyboard.

The Final Thought

Its got some neat, unique features and functions. The short-cut keys, the kickstand. Its got the versatility being a tablet, 2-1, and powerful PC. Yes its the most powerful detachable pc tablet laptop but at what cost? It’s a good fit for for artists, 4K videographers, and anyone who needs massive power in a versatile form…
March 12, 2018
5 Great Mobile Gaming Apps

We all love the mobile games and we all need them to pass a little time here and there. Some are duds, some are expensive, some are just too addicting. Here are some great games that keep you entertained and casually having you coming back for more!

5. Marvel’s Contest of Champions

With a long list of all your favorite Marvel Universe characters, this “Arcade-Fighter” game has a lot to offer. It’s visually pleasing animations, smooth fighting mechanics, and fully customizable Marvel superheros will have you playing at length and loving it. Because of its constant additions and challenges, you’ll have this game on your mobile device for quite some time.

4. Plague Inc.

Do you need your “Destroy the World” fix? Then look no further. Plague Inc. has a plethora of viruses, bacteria, and world ending organisms at your fingertips and it’s up to you how to use your tools to cause a global catastrophe. The object is to keep your deadly pathogens one step ahead of the world governments and CDC in order to end all life on Earth. With the amount of options and routs of evil to achieve your objective, this mobile game will give you hours of twisted fun.

3. Rusty Lake Roots

This extremely dark and alluring indie-puzzle game is one that you can’t seem to step away from. With intricate puzzles and a twisted plot, Rusty Lake Roots keeps you on the edge of your phone. The animations are simplistic but perfectly capture the creepy factor and suspense that mirrors the dark plot. Follow a man Thomas as he explores his family tree in the abandoned farmhouse that his ancestors left to him.

2. Injustice: God’s Among Us

Quite simply, this is the best arcade-style fighter possibly ever. Mobile, Console, PC or otherwise. The visceral animations, coupled with your favorite DC superheros beating the tar out of each other makes this a very enthralling game. Add on a very simple but sophisticated character upgrading system and, voila! You have an amazing fighter game. I consistently played Injustice for the better part of 2 and half years and never tired of it. I still miss it, but I traded Injustice in for Injustice 2 which is a very good game, but not as good as the original.

1. Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes

Even if you aren’t a huge fan of the Star Wars universe, this is still a very entertaining and great game. But if you are a fan of SW…oh man is this game for you. Find your favorite Star Wars heroes and villains in this turn based fighter game and pair them up to form an elite fighting squad. Each Star Wars character has their own special set of skills that if teamed up with other characters correctly, can form a deadly fighting squad. Training and upgrading the characters of your choosing is very rewarding and the game challenges are difficult but not to the point of frustration. If you enjoy Star Wars, it’s a borderline perfect game.

Summary

All these games are great in their own right and have done amazing work. They have each mastered the concept they were looking to achieve and the end results are so satisfying and entertaining. All are available is the IOS App Store and Android Market. Hope you give them a try!

February 20, 2018