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UNI B A C K TO

CHROMEBOOK On a budget? Consider a

Words Michael Irving

3 great Chromebook picks Asus CX1 15.6" Full HD Chromebook If simplicity is the game, then Asus CX1 is the name. This hardy little workhorse will keep your coursework on course, while leaving your wallet heavier for O-week. A roomy 15.6” Full HD screen gives you plenty of real estate to have multiple windows working at once – or to immerse yourself in a movie when you need a break. AT A GLANCE 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) screen

A big part of the uni student experience is living on a budget, and while that flashy new laptop may look enticing, it’s worth asking yourself “what do I really need?” If the answer is “something for emails, documents and maybe the odd movie,” then a Chromebook might be your best bet. What’s a Chromebook? Simply put, a Chromebook is a device that runs ChromeOS, Google’s operating system. As you’d expect, that means they integrate super easily with Google’s services, like Docs, Drive, Sheets, and Gmail. Already have a Google account? You’re basically ready to go. What are the advantages of a Chromebook? First and foremost, the price tag. Chromebooks are much more affordable on average than other laptops, thanks to Google working closely with manufacturers to keep the price down. On top of that, many productivity apps can be downloaded at no charge from the Chrome Web Store. Secondly, Chromebooks are simple and streamlined to use. They boot up in seconds, automatically update software in the background without bugging you, and come pre-loaded with Google’s powerful anti virus protection to keep everything secure. Is a Chromebook right for me? Chromebooks are more than capable of handling most uni workloads. If you’re researching online, working with spreadsheets and documents, taking notes in class, giving presentations or collaborating on group projects, a Chromebook could be your ideal study buddy.

Intel Celeron N5100 Processor 64GB storage 8GB RAM Intel UHD Graphics 2x USB-A 3.2 ports 2x USB-C 3.2 ports

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3i 11.6" HD Chromebook If you need something with a little more flexibility, it’s hard to go past the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3i. Not only is it a reliable laptop, with an 11.6” HD display and 128 GB of storage space, but the touchscreen can swivel 360-degrees to function as a tablet or in a tent shape for watching streamed lectures. AT A GLANCE 11.6" HD (1366 x 768) touch display Intel Core Pentium N6000 processor 128GB storage 4GB RAM HDMI port USB-C port 2x USB-A ports

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 13.3" Full HD Chromebook The beauty of Chromebooks is that if you want to splash out on a higher-end model, you can do so without breaking the bank. The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 is a versatile choice, especially if you’re doing a creative course. The keyboard can be detached to use the device as a tablet, and with the included Lenovo USI Pen

it’s perfect if you want to do some quick sketches on the train, and then bang out some emails in the library. Plus it packs an OLED display for true colours and deeper blacks. AT A GLANCE 13.3" Full HD (1920 x 1080) OLED touch display Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 Processor 8GB RAM 256GB storage 2x USB-C ports

jbhifi.com.au

64 FEBRUARY 2023