TECH REVIEW TOUCHBOOKS
Which
‘touchbook’ is right for you?
HP SLATEBOOK X2
The HP Slatebook X2 isn’t a laptop in the traditional sense. The screen can be detached to be a standalone tablet and it runs on a mobile operating system — Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. But it’s made to be like a notebook unit. The tablet needs the keyboard dock to charge, and Android has been tweaked to function like an alternative to Windows.
Who Should Buy It
The HP Slatebook X2 is great if you are looking for a second screen -- something to complement your primary home or work PC. With its light weight, fantastic battery life, multimedia performance and gaming prowess, it’s a wonderful travel gizmo for those who need email, browsing, basic documents editing and some entertainment while on the road.
Who Shouldn’t Buy It
If you are looking for a primary PC, this isn’t it. The Slatebook X2 is a companion computer as Android -- despite its customisations and tweaks -- can’t match up to a full-fledged desktop OS like Windows or Mac. And while it’s good for basic utilities like email, office suite, movies, games and browsing, it can’t be used for professionalgrade tasks like image editing, video editing, programming, etc.
Specs
10.1-inch 1920X1200 LED IPS display, Tegra 4 processor, 64GB flash HDD, 2GB DDR3, USB 2.0, HDMI, multicard slot, Bluetooth 4 and WiFi-n. It also has a front facing HD camera and a Full HD rear camera.
HITS
Crisp, bright screen with good viewing angles, although a fingerprint magnet. Responsive keyboard that’s got a nice feel. Amazing battery life, lasting 14-16 hours on average usage.
MISSES
Tablet can’t be charged without keyboard dock. Android isn’t good enough to be your primary operating system. Rear camera is substandard, and front cam only gets the job done for video calls. PRICE 39,990 RATING 6.5/10
The HP Slatebook X2 isn’t a laptop in the traditional sense. The screen can be detached to be a standalone tablet and it runs on a mobile operating system — Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. But it’s made to be like a notebook unit. The tablet needs the keyboard dock to charge, and Android has been tweaked to function like an alternative to Windows.
Who Should Buy It
The HP Slatebook X2 is great if you are looking for a second screen -- something to complement your primary home or work PC. With its light weight, fantastic battery life, multimedia performance and gaming prowess, it’s a wonderful travel gizmo for those who need email, browsing, basic documents editing and some entertainment while on the road.
Who Shouldn’t Buy It
If you are looking for a primary PC, this isn’t it. The Slatebook X2 is a companion computer as Android -- despite its customisations and tweaks -- can’t match up to a full-fledged desktop OS like Windows or Mac. And while it’s good for basic utilities like email, office suite, movies, games and browsing, it can’t be used for professionalgrade tasks like image editing, video editing, programming, etc.
Specs
10.1-inch 1920X1200 LED IPS display, Tegra 4 processor, 64GB flash HDD, 2GB DDR3, USB 2.0, HDMI, multicard slot, Bluetooth 4 and WiFi-n. It also has a front facing HD camera and a Full HD rear camera.
HITS
Crisp, bright screen with good viewing angles, although a fingerprint magnet. Responsive keyboard that’s got a nice feel. Amazing battery life, lasting 14-16 hours on average usage.
MISSES
Tablet can’t be charged without keyboard dock. Android isn’t good enough to be your primary operating system. Rear camera is substandard, and front cam only gets the job done for video calls. PRICE 39,990 RATING 6.5/10
ASUS VIVOBOOK F202E
At the mid-range price, you expect a device that gets the job done for all of an average user’s needs, but still has a few shortcomings for specialised tasks. And that’s what the Asus Vivobook F202E delivers. It’s got a touchscreen to make it work well with Windows 8’s touch-based enhancements and it’s portable enough to carry around wherever you go.
Who Should Buy It
Are you looking for a laptop with a touchscreen and don’t want to burn a hole in your wallet? Its classy metallic looks are backed up by hardware that sails through the usual tasks like browsing, multimedia playback (especially the loud audio), email, office suites and even basic gaming. The F202E is an all-rounder that offers value for your money.
Who Shouldn’t Buy It
If battery life is an important criteria for your laptop, then the Asus F202E will fall short of expectations. It’s lightweight and portable, but at the cost of needing a charger often. If you are looking for a ‘desktop replacement’ type of notebook, this isn’t it. It lacks the horsepower for that and the 11-inch reflective screen is too small to be a substitute for desktop monitors.
Specs
11.6-inch 1366X768 LED display, Intel Core i3 processor, Intel HD4000 graphics, 500GB HDD, 4GB DDR3 RAM, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, Memory card reader, VGA, HDMI, HD front facing camera, LAN, Bluetooth 4 and WiFi-n.
HITS
Premium metallic finish, lightweight, compact. Loud speakers, but not great bass. Good performance, can even play new games on medium or low setting.
MISSES
On average usage, the battery lasts for about 3.5-4 hours. Poor viewing angles on the screen, and it’s susceptible to glare. Also feels flimsy. No optical drive.
PRICE 39,990
At the mid-range price, you expect a device that gets the job done for all of an average user’s needs, but still has a few shortcomings for specialised tasks. And that’s what the Asus Vivobook F202E delivers. It’s got a touchscreen to make it work well with Windows 8’s touch-based enhancements and it’s portable enough to carry around wherever you go.
Who Should Buy It
Are you looking for a laptop with a touchscreen and don’t want to burn a hole in your wallet? Its classy metallic looks are backed up by hardware that sails through the usual tasks like browsing, multimedia playback (especially the loud audio), email, office suites and even basic gaming. The F202E is an all-rounder that offers value for your money.
Who Shouldn’t Buy It
If battery life is an important criteria for your laptop, then the Asus F202E will fall short of expectations. It’s lightweight and portable, but at the cost of needing a charger often. If you are looking for a ‘desktop replacement’ type of notebook, this isn’t it. It lacks the horsepower for that and the 11-inch reflective screen is too small to be a substitute for desktop monitors.
Specs
11.6-inch 1366X768 LED display, Intel Core i3 processor, Intel HD4000 graphics, 500GB HDD, 4GB DDR3 RAM, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, Memory card reader, VGA, HDMI, HD front facing camera, LAN, Bluetooth 4 and WiFi-n.
HITS
Premium metallic finish, lightweight, compact. Loud speakers, but not great bass. Good performance, can even play new games on medium or low setting.
MISSES
On average usage, the battery lasts for about 3.5-4 hours. Poor viewing angles on the screen, and it’s susceptible to glare. Also feels flimsy. No optical drive.
PRICE 39,990
RATING 6/10
LENOVO IDEAPAD Z400
The Ideapad Z400 isn’t cheap, but it justifies its price tag with some solid hardware, including a dedicated graphics card, a powerful processor and a large touchscreen. But to pack all that, the company has decided not to care about the weight or frame. As for the looks, like most Lenovo units, it seems like a working professional’s machine.
Who Should Buy It
Do you want a notebook PC to replace your desktop, never once missing that old workhorse? The Ideapad Z400 might be just what you need. It’s got a big screen and plenty of horsepower to run anything you throw at it without breaking a sweat, be it some of the newest games or intense image-editing in Photoshop. And it’s got an optical drive too! But this needs to be a laptop that is going to be on a table, connected to a power point.
Who Shouldn’t Buy It
If you will be moving around a lot with your laptop, run far away from this heavyweight contender. The Z400 is too bulky to lug around and even if you do, its shoddy battery life only means that you can’t use it for too long while on the go. Let’s just say this one is meant to be moved only once in a while.
Specs
14-inch 1366X768 LED display, Intel Core i5, Intel HD4000 graphics, 1TB HDD, 4GB DDR3 RAM, DVD writer, 1 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0, 2-in-1 card reader, VGA, HDMI, 1.3MP HD Webcam, LAN, Bluetooth 4, and WiFi-n.
HITS
Great performance, from Photoshop to gaming. Is the Z400 the best screen at its price? No. Is it the best touchscreen? Definitely. Strong speakers with high volume and good bass.
MISSES
Super heavy, not easily portable Shoddy battery life couldn’t even manage 4 hours of average usage. Keys don’t offer enough feedback, touchpad is a bit too sensitive and kept accidentally triggering Windows 8’s touch gestures.
PRICE 55,000 FOR CORE i5 AND 48,000 FOR CORE i3 RATING 6/10
The Ideapad Z400 isn’t cheap, but it justifies its price tag with some solid hardware, including a dedicated graphics card, a powerful processor and a large touchscreen. But to pack all that, the company has decided not to care about the weight or frame. As for the looks, like most Lenovo units, it seems like a working professional’s machine.
Who Should Buy It
Do you want a notebook PC to replace your desktop, never once missing that old workhorse? The Ideapad Z400 might be just what you need. It’s got a big screen and plenty of horsepower to run anything you throw at it without breaking a sweat, be it some of the newest games or intense image-editing in Photoshop. And it’s got an optical drive too! But this needs to be a laptop that is going to be on a table, connected to a power point.
Who Shouldn’t Buy It
If you will be moving around a lot with your laptop, run far away from this heavyweight contender. The Z400 is too bulky to lug around and even if you do, its shoddy battery life only means that you can’t use it for too long while on the go. Let’s just say this one is meant to be moved only once in a while.
Specs
14-inch 1366X768 LED display, Intel Core i5, Intel HD4000 graphics, 1TB HDD, 4GB DDR3 RAM, DVD writer, 1 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0, 2-in-1 card reader, VGA, HDMI, 1.3MP HD Webcam, LAN, Bluetooth 4, and WiFi-n.
HITS
Great performance, from Photoshop to gaming. Is the Z400 the best screen at its price? No. Is it the best touchscreen? Definitely. Strong speakers with high volume and good bass.
MISSES
Super heavy, not easily portable Shoddy battery life couldn’t even manage 4 hours of average usage. Keys don’t offer enough feedback, touchpad is a bit too sensitive and kept accidentally triggering Windows 8’s touch gestures.
PRICE 55,000 FOR CORE i5 AND 48,000 FOR CORE i3 RATING 6/10
–MIHIR
PATKAR MM131010
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