STACK #232 February 2024

TECH FEATURE

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Laptops

Starting uni is an exciting time in anyone’s life – it’s a new chapter, the first steps into adulthood and often your first taste of real freedom. Your study needs will be different from high school, so it’s the perfect time to upgrade your kit, and a good laptop is a perfect place to start. Words Michael Irving

Our laptop picks

Why would you need a laptop? Sure, a desktop PC or Mac is powerful and customisable, but obviously you’re trading off portability there. Uni work needs more flexibility, and you’ll want something you can cart between home, tutorials, lectures, the library, cafes, and even on the train. As such, weight and battery life are important to consider. Wherever you need it, a laptop is a tried-and-true form factor, versatile enough for any kind of study, whether that’s researching, taking notes, typing out essays, working on spreadsheets, putting together presentations, doing more creative work, or just chilling with a movie or game after the work is done. Better yet, these devices are self-contained with everything you’ll need, but are easy to accessorise as you require – just plug in an external monitor, a mouse, etc, and you can be even more productive.

HP 50R74PA If your course involves just the basics, like browsing the internet and running Office apps, then save your money for O-week and go with a simple – but still capable – laptop, like the HP 50R74PA. This device has everything you’ll need, crammed into a small form factor that weighs less than 1.5kg, and it’s equally light on your wallet. The battery life of up to 8 hours and 15 minutes will see you through a full day of study, no matter where you are. 14” HD display Intel Core Celeron N4500 processor 128GB SSD 4GB RAM HDMI/2x USB-A/USB-C/multi-card reader 8+ hours battery 1.47kg

HP 15s-fq5211TU Some laptops mean business, and the HP 15s-fq5211TU will help you knuckle down and get some work done. The 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U processor is running ten cores to churn through pretty much any tasks you can throw at it, boasting clock speeds of up to 4.4GHz. The luxurious 15.6-inch Full HD display can help you kick back with a movie when you need a break. 15.6” Full HD display Intel Core i5-1235U processor 256GB SSD 8GB RAM HDMI/2x USB-A/USB-C/SD card reader 7.5 hours battery 1.69kg

Asus E510 Getting stuff done doesn’t mean you need to ditch style, and the Asus E510 gives you the best of both worlds. This slick package comes in Peacock Blue, Dreamy White, and Rose Gold colour options, each with an eye-catching iridescent finish and an intriguing pattern on the back. Inside, a thin-bezel NanoEdge display lets the roomy 15.6 inch Full HD screen breathe, while the 'enter' key lights up in multiple colours. The 180-degree hinge lets the device open right out flat. Performance-wise, the E510 is running on a powerful Pentium processor and packs a generous 256GB of storage space. 15.6” Full HD display Intel Pentium Silver N6000 processor 256GB SSD 8GB RAM HDMI/USB-A/USB-C 8 hours battery 1.6kg

10 FEBRUARY 2024

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