Knowledge Base

Homework is an essential part of every kid’s childhood. It is a proven way to help children understand the information they receive from the curriculum. It also enables children to seek information that can involve learning to read or even gaining knowledge about topics such as nuclear fission.

Today, children have new and abundant opportunities to gain more knowledge due to the advent of the Internet. Nowadays, many school children tend to use home computers to create presentations and improve their presentation skills. With the fast-pace development in Internet and technology, it is interesting to check whether computers are useful to kids, especially with their homework and overall learning process. Most kids know how to operate a computer. Smarter kids delve deeper into the virtual world. So, can the computer, and the Internet get in the way and hinder the learning process of children? Or does it help them?

Are your kids actually doing homework?

Even if your child is working on an interesting school project, diversions such as social networking sites, computer games, and instant messengers tend to creep up. As a parent, it is very hard to find out what your child is up to in an online environment. It is difficult to monitor their online activities as they might think of it as an intrusion of their privacy. You can ensure that your child spends time on the computer engaging in productive activities, you need to set proper guidelines about computer use. Never let them use the computer when you are not around, and assign strict screen time so that they don’t end up using the computer for long hours. This will ensure that the educational part of a computer is fulfilled.

As a parent, you need to make sure that they have completed their homework. So, ask them to show their work and check it thoroughly to see that they are not rushing through the homework or pretending that they have completed it.

Computers can encourage presentation

It is a good practice to hand in clear, well presented homework and it’s important to inculcate this habit in your children. However, this shouldn’t be at the loss of clear thinking, problem solving or creative thinking. Some students tend to invest more time in making their assignment look more glossy and classy. Although the softwares can help make the assignment look more presentable, it’s important to guide them to use internet as a resource to find useful information. This will help your child understand the importance of quality and presentation.

Avoid plagiarism

The internet offers a wealth of information. This helps tremendously when a child looks up to various website to research and explore different areas of interest. Some of the lazy kids may be tempted to copy information from different sources and pass them off as their own content. Such plagiarized work, if detected reflects very badly upon your child’s performance.

There’s also the enterprising websites which are willing to do your child’s homework for a price. As a parent you need ensure that your kid is sincere with his/her work.

Ultimately, your child needs to understand the importance of doing homework on their own. They need to realize the importance of hard work.

Intel microprocessors are among the most commonly used processors worldwide. They are well-known for their advanced chip design and cutting-edge manufacturing. Even though Intel processors were originally known only to engineers and technologists, Intel’s advertising strategy and intelligent outreach towards the masses made it a household name in the ’90s. This is the time Pentium processors were developed. Let’s go down the memory lane and look at the different Intel processors that were developed in this era.

1993: Pentium P5, i586

In 1993, Intel introduced the original Pentium processor. The Pentium brand marks an important part of Intel’s history and a deviation from the processors of old, namely the 286, 386 and 486. The Pentium P5 was launched with 60 MHz of juice in 1993, while it was available with a maximum of 200 MHz (P54CS) in 1996. In 1997, Intel launched the P55C with multimedia extensions (MMX) and expanded the processor design to 4.5 million transistors and 233 MHz clock speed.

1995: Pentium Pro P6, i686

At its released, the Pentium Pro was believed to be a replacement for the P5. However, it was actually a precursor to the Pentium II Xeon. This Pentium processor was designed to deal with the workloads, standards for servers and workstations. The Pentium Pro had a different architecture when compared with other Pentium processors. It featured a 36-bit address bus and supported up to 64 GB memory.

1997: Pentium II, Pentium II Xeon

Developed on top of the sixth generation P6 architecture, the Pentium II was considered as a consumer-focused processor. It was the first Intel CPU that was delivered with the cartridge-like slot module. This processor was introduced with the 350 nm Klamath core (233 and 266 MHz).

1998: Celeron

In 1998, Intel introduced the low-end consumer processor Celeron as a variant of the Pentium II processor. The first Celeron series was based on the 250 nm Covington core for desktop computers. Similarly, the 250 nmMendocino core was created for notebooks. These processors were available from 266 to 300 MHz for desktop computers while they were available up to 500 MHz for the mobile variant.

1999: Pentium III, Pentium Xeon

In 1999, Intel launched the Pentium III that became its contender in the Gigahertz race with AMD. Initially, thechip was equipped with the 250 nm Katmai core and was scaled down to 180 nm with Coppermine, Coppermine T and 130 nm with the Tualatin core.

2000: Pentium 4

The Pentium 4, undoubtedly led to the most dramatic transformation of Intel processors. It was launched in 2000 with 180 nm Willamette core 42 million transistors. This chip used Netburst architecture that was designed to scale with clock speed.

2001: Itanium

The Itanium followed the idea of i860 and iAPX432 and survived over a longer period of time. It was Intel’s first 64-bit processor and was launched with the 180 nm Merced core in 2001. Itanium was considered as a mainframe processor with 733 MHz and 800 MHz clock speed and 320 million transistors.

2003: Pentium M

The Pentium M 700 series targeted mobile computers. It was launched with a 130 nm Banias core in 2003. The Banias core dropped its clock speed from 900 MHz to 1.7 GHz which is comparatively lower than the Pentium 4 Mobile processor.

2005: Pentium D

The Pentium D was Intel’s first dual core processor. It is based on Netburst and comes with 90 nm Smithfield core. This processor was launched as the Pentium D 800 series

2006: Core 2 Duo

Intel’s Core 2 Duo was its strike back against its competitors, AMD’s Athlon X2 and Opteron processors. Intel launched the Core micro architecture with the 65 nm Conroe on the desktop computers, Merom on the mobile side and Woodcrest for the servers.

2008: Core i-series

Intel’s Core i3, i5 and i7 processors were introduced with the Nehalem micro architecture in 2008. Its architecture was scaled to 32 nm in 2010. This provided the foundation for Intel processors like Celeron, Pentium Core and Xeon.

2008: Atom

Another processor was launched in 2008 in the form of Atom. This processor was designed to power mobile Internet devices and nettops. The current Atom generation for desktop and netbook applications is the 32nm Cedarview generation.

Even with its rivalry with another big name, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Intel has managed to become the biggest chip manufacturer in the world. Since the 1990s, Intel has launched technological innovations in processors that have changed the face of the semiconductor industry.

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The 15 inch MacBook Pro with Retina display was released by Apple in last June and it was priced very high at that time. In October, the 13 inch MacBook Pro was launched which was priced a bit lower than the 15-inch model. Now, this year Apple has dropped the prices on its entire range of retina MacBook Pros especially in India. This comes as great news for all MacBook lovers who found their prices too high. The newer 13-inch MacBook Pro with retina display looks like an amazing model that gives screen resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 and yet is quite affordable to buy. So, read on to find out whether it is really worth it.

Design
The overall build of the Apple 13.3” MacBook Pro is quite classy and sleek which should obviously be expected from Apple. Apart from having a smart design, this MacBook model has a unibody chassis having absolutely no panel lines on it. Its interface is very simple with ports aligned at proper intervals without causing any kind of clutter. Apple has switched to an internal battery in this model. The strong and rigid unibody chassis body of this 13-inch MacBook Pro is made out of aluminum that doesn’t flex.

Display
This is a thinner model of Apple MacBook Pro that comes without an optical drive. It’s amazing Retina display offers fewer pixels-per-inch when compared with the 3rd and 4th generation iPads but does give every pixel of the 4,096,00 pixels the display provides. This gives awesome sharp display and shows high-resolution pictures in great detail. It not only lets the users see razor sharp text but also shows perfect colours. The only issue with the display is that the softwares which are not optimized for the retina display can give pixilated images.

Performance
The 13-inch MacBook Pro is powered on a 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 processor along with an 8GB RAM. It runs on an integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 card and gives a turbo boost of up to 3.1GHz. This notebook lets users to do processor intensive tasks at a very fast speed. People who need high performance notebooks will like this device. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is also available in an updated version that is powered on a 2.6GHz Intel Core i5 which is quite faster than the older model.

Battery Life
The 58Wh battery of the Apple MacBook Pro gives impressive battery life. The battery lasts for around 7 hours and 59 minutes but in bootcamp it lasts for only 5 hours. The brightness of the Macbook cannot be adjusted unless it detects less than optimal lighting conditions so that is one glitch with this notebook. Other than that, it gives a longer overall battery life for the macbook which is known to be one the best Macbooks available today.

Verdict
The overall price of the MacBook has dropped significantly and is now available at very affordable rates for the consumers. The excellent battery life with the OS X it runs on makes the 13-inch MacBook Pro worth buying. Apart from that, it also has excellent build quality, integrated graphics and amazing screen resolution an added advantage for this notebook.

If you have a wireless network at your home, it is likely that you use it for a single purpose, such as accessing the internet from your laptop without the hassle of a cable connection.

Technology has rapidly advanced in the recent years, and various new devices can now use a Wi-Fi network for connectivity. These devices include smartphones, tablets, printers, gaming consoles, eBook readers, media players and even televisions that can now stream media directly from the internet by connecting to your home’s Wi-Fi network.

Now the question arises, can your Wi-Fi network handle the rising demand of all these devices? If you have had a wireless router for a few years now, it is highly unlikely that it is equipped to handle this increasing demand. This is because the old Wi-Fi routers work on 802.11g/b technology that is not capable of keeping up with so many Wi-Fi enabled devices. However, modern-day routers work on 802.11n technology (compared to the older 802.11g/b) that offers faster speeds and is ideal for streaming. This is useful if you use Wi-Fi at your home to stream videos and play multi-player games on video game systems.

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Some latest Wi-Fi routers also feature two or more antennae— sometimes known as dual band—to efficiently handle multiple wireless devices at one time. So what does the new crop of 80.11n Wi-Fi routers have to offer? These devices provide a wider range, are easy to set up and offer better security. You can also lock them with a password and keep your information safe.However, new technology does not necessarily mean a high price tag. You will find several reasonably priced routers, which offer good features even on a budget. D-link wireless routers and Belkin wireless routers start at low prices, and even the entry-level models offer decent speed.

In a nutshell, here are the top 5 reasons why it is time to consider swapping your old G Wi-Fi router for a new and advanced N wireless router.

• Firstly, you get faster speeds than ever before. These new 80.11n Wi-Fi routers can stream high definition video and support multi-player games. They are designed in a way that they can handle multiple Wi-Fi enabled media devices at one time.
• The new 80.11n Wi-Fi routers offer a wider range, which means that you can access the internet in any corner of your home. You can relax in your backyard deck or sit on your porch and enjoy internet access at a longer distance.
• N routers support more wireless devices so you can easily connect multiple devices to your Wi-Fi network without experiencing much of a slowdown in the speed.
• These new routers offer better security. Thanks to the new technology, you now have access to more and better ways to protect your wireless network and information. If uninvited guests use your wireless network, it will not only slow down your connection but also make your data highly vulnerable to misuse. You can prevent this by securing your wireless connection with WPA, WEP or WPA2.
• Last but not the least, N routers can be set up quickly. With easy to understand questions, users can get their way through the process in no time.

Hope this article will clear the air around wireless routers and you’re convinced that it’s time to upgrade. If you liked the article, do share it with your friends.

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In the recent past, the word ‘Ultrabook’ has gained immense popularity in the world of gadgets. Ever since its advent, it has taken the mobile computers’ scenario by storm. In this blog, we will have a detailed look into a leading Ultrabook- Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A and decipher what has made it a hot favourite among laptop users. But before we delve into the nuances of Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A, it makes sense to understand the basics of an Ultrabook and what makes it different from its counterparts. The first question that will naturally come in our mind is what is an Ultrabook? Well, the answer to the same will also vary; some might say that it is a Window’s equivalent to Apple MacBook Air, whereas, others might say that it’s a lightweight and portable variant of the usual laptop. But, going by the thumb rule that you should always consult an expert, hence, it is ideal to understand what the inventor of ‘Ultrabooks’ has to say. According to Intel, the inventor of the concept of Ultrabooks, these are thinner and longer-lasting laptops that do not compromise on performance.

It will be good, if we understand the basic difference between a laptop and an Ultrabook. Ultrabook is a wafer thin laptop, in the generic sense of the term. If we quote, ‘Ultrabook is a new category of mobile device inspired by Intel’. These flaunt a slimmer and lighter body for ultra-portability, without compromising on features and performance and hence come at a higher cost as compared to laptops. Laptops serve as a cheaper option, even if they have better specifications than Ultrabook. Since ‘portability with performance’ have been the buzzword in the mobile computing segment, Ultrabooks have become highly desirable.

The first entrant in the ‘Ultrabook’ category was the Asus Zenbook UX31E in the year 2011. The same created a lot of hype in the market and became an instant hit among the gadget frenzy audience. The all-metal design of this Ultrabook made it a direct competitor to the MacBook Air. But, there were certain flaws with this unique Ultrabook in terms of both the internal and external features. But, the maker was quick in reacting to the crisis and launched a revamped version of the same that took care of all the flaws.

The modified Ultrabook from the house of ASUS witnessed a change in terms of the flaws that were previously complained about. The new series of Asus Ultrabooks were named as Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A. As a matter of fact, this gadget still remains one of the best-looking Ultrabooks around. Although, it will not be wrong to say that its design is similar to that of MacBook’s Air, especially the tapered profile and the new black and rounded keys. The new Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A is almost similar like the old Zenbook UX31E. It is only when you have a look inside it that you will get to know about the difference. The new Zenbook has a 3rd Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 ‘Ivy Bridge’ processor along with the new Intel HM76 Express chipset. All these additions make this Ultrabook all the more desirable. It has a 13.3 inch screen at 1920×1080 resolutions which is Full HD. The new processor that comes with Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A is faster and also includes improved graphics. The same owes its credit to the Intel HD Graphics 4000 technology.

Apart from highlighting the revamped features, here is a detailed look at the specifications of Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A:

• This Ultrabook has an illuminated keyboard, which comes with a gorgeous 1080p IPS (in-plane switching) display.
• It displays a quick start-up; it takes only 7 seconds going from hibernate to keyboard interaction phase.
• Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A exhibits an impressive battery life; a single full charge lasts for 5 hours operation.
• This Ultrabook’s firmware supports Intels’ Anti-Theft and Identity Protection technology, thus making it an ideal choice for safety lovers.
• It has the new Intel HM76 Express Chipset that gives native support for a pair of USB 3.0 ports.

One of the major highlights of Ultrabook Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A is its impressive battery life, which ensures that you do not get stuck due to a drained out battery in the middle of your work. There are certain additional features that make this Ultrabook score more points:

• The Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A keyboard comes with backlit, which means that you can easily use the keyboard even in the dark.
• There are ambient sensors on the keyboards that adjust the brightness of the backlight according the ambient lights. This feature ensures that the keyboard is just adequately lit up without consuming too much power.
• One of the most highlighting features is, with the purchase of Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A, you get updated to the Windows 8 at a very low price.

This Ultrabook from Asus easily replaces the traditional laptop to offer higher portability and functionality along with great user experience.

The Acer Aspire 5560G offers quite a few impressive features as compared to its price. It is a mid-range machine that offers dedicated graphics enabling it to play modern 3D games.
Even though it’s not a gaming machine, this laptop has plenty to offer. It easily delivers highly demanding desktop tasks; the credit for the same goes to its 1.5GHz processor and 8GB of RAM. Though it is bit slower than an Intel Core i5 Chip but is fast enough to handle everyday applications. The Acer Aspire 5560G’s processor scores 35 in the video-encoding benchmarking. The 750GB hard disk provides ample storage facility to store all your files. The battery life scores fair marks, considering the fact that it offers dedicated graphics card and quad-core processor inside.

The Acer 5560G is a relatively generic mid-range laptop, once you look beyond its powerful components. The grey coloured plastic body ends it a sturdy look. The keyboard is spacious and is ergonomically designed. There is a separate numeric keypad and the full-size chiclet style keys offer good bounce, helping for easy typing. The touchpad might not be up to the mark, as there is significant dead space at the centre. It means that you have to click on the edges to register your presses effectively. But there is large space to help you navigate the desktop with much ease and comfort. The touchpad supports multi-touch gestures and its smooth finish lets your fingers glide across its surface.

Design:
It flaunts a design that is typical to Acer laptops. Its interiors and the plastic lid have a dark grey finish that surely adds to its aesthetic appeal. Acer Aspire 5560G isn’t exactly a gorgeous laptop but that does not mean you will have to carry it hidden in a bag.
The build design is strong though the design looks like that of plastic. The typical Acer’s isolation keypad is in place, helping the user to type with much ease. The keypad stretches across the entire width of the laptop chassis. This feature helps you offer spacious keys for extra comfort while typing.
The keys of this laptop are firmly mounted, facilitating solid typing action. There is something for the number-crunchers too and that is a separate numeric keypad. One thing that could be a bit of turn-off is that the arrow keys are tiny and almost crunched into a single row.

Display:
The display is really impressive! You will enjoy watching latest movies in the high definition 15.6-inch display. It has sharp contrast with deep blacks. The bright screen displays clear and colourful photos.
If you love music, then you will have to arrange for dedicated speakers as the in-built speakers are not that powerful.
Best part of Acer Aspire 5560G is that you can store all your media files at one place thanks to its 750GB hard drive. You won’t have to look for external storage solutions.

Performance:
On the performance front, you might be a bit disappointed if you happen to appreciate the Intel’s latest Sandy Bridge processors that are usually offered in Acer laptops. The Acer Aspire 5560G features an AMD processor instead of the Intel’s latest Sandy Bridge processors.
This laptop runs all the latest office applications with perfection and browsing the web without a wire is pretty smooth and impressive with the 802.11n Wi-Fi support.
The high capacity 8GB memory helps you to multi-task and there is an AMD A8-3500M graphics card. This versatile Dual Graphics AMD card is a perfect combination of dedicated and integrated GPUs that work in tandem to render superior quality images unlike nVidia’s Optimus technology. This particular arrangement is unique, but it helps playing recent games with low to medium detail with much ease. The photo and video editing software also run smoothly.

Battery Life:
If you wish to possess a laptop that will help you keep connected even while on the go, then this might not be an ideal choice for you. The battery lasts for five hours, but it may not be enough to suffice a full working day. So, you need to carry the charger if you plan to work for long hours. Though the 2.6kg chassis is not too heavy to be carried around but its battery life might not be ideal to keep you connected while on the move.

Features:
The features offered by Acer Aspire 5560G is standard and is appropriate for a mid-priced laptop. You may use the HDMI and VGA connections to hook your laptop to a television and watch a movie with family. You may even play games on large screens, using this plug-in feature.
The USB ports maybe used for attaching essential peripherals. You may use the 5-in-1 memory card reader for exchanging files.

Verdict:
Overall it is an ideal laptop for those who are fond of unique features like the dedicated graphics feature. On the other hand, it hosts an AMD processor instead of the Intel’s latest Sandy Bridge processors. The battery life could be a concern as well. Overall it is a good buy for those who appreciate niche features like unique graphics card, bright HD display, etc.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 is a 13-inch ultrabook that has various unique features. It looks similar to a traditional laptop but provides touch screen which can directly control the Windows 8 tile interface. This amazing laptop allows users to push the screen back which makes it to function like a tablet or even a presentation tool. The screen position of the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 can be shifted in four ways. The first is the notebook mode having the keyboard on the front while the second is stand mode for watching movies or video chatting. The third screen position is the tent mode which is great for touch-based tasks while the last is the tablet mode.

Build and Design
The Lenovo Yoga 13 ultrabook is a great combination of fast performance, good battery life as well as thin and light design. This 13-inch notebook is just 0.67 inches thin and weighs 3.3lbs which makes it similar to the size and weight of the 12-inch notebook. It has the 10-point multi-touch display without any touch-sensitive layers that are mostly used by thicker convertible notebooks. The screen lid of this laptop is strong and comes with the ability to change positions. Its pressure-activated power button is located on the front edge of the notebook. This laptop uses a single standard RAM slot so its maximum storage capacity is 8GB.

Ultrabook Features
This laptop has a modest array of ports as the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 is designed to be like a thin and lightweight tablet. It provides a 4-in-1 media card reader, headset jack, HDMI and two USB ports.

Display Screen
The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 has an IPS display panel that gives consistent colours and screen brightness. As opposed to most 13-inch laptops, this laptop gives resolution of 1600×900 pixels. It gives good speaker quality with can give maximum volume output that can fill a large meeting room with clear sound. It gives great audio performance for a basic video. It gives amazing multimedia experience due to its Dolby Home Theatre v4 audio.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 features a standard Chiclet-style keyboard that has good spacing between keys. This AccuType keyboard has a clean layout with rounded keys. It has placed the Home, PgUp, PgDn and End keys in a single row on the right side of the keyboard and has comfortable leather texture for the palm rests.

It also has a Synaptics touchpad with a smart sensor that implements palm rejection. It also features Windows 8 specific navigation actions as well as to scroll, zoom and rotate. It also provides freeze/unfreeze screen feature for the Windows desktop which makes it one of the best laptops.

Performance
The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 offers three processor options which are 1.8GHz Intel Core i3 processor, 1.7GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 1.90GHz Intel Core i7 processor. It also provides an integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 which is perfect for handling any streaming HD videos or even games. It gives fast performance due to the 128GB SSD which is faster than the hard disk drive.

Battery Life
The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 has an enclosed 4-cell battery that can run for up to 3 hours and 35 minutes. Based on the usage of the laptop, the battery life varies significantly.

Conclusion
The Lenovo Yoga 13 is one of the best touch screen laptops featuring Windows 8 OS. This laptop has a great display with a nice fit and finish. It is a powerful and feature-packed Ultrabook designed to be used like a tablet. This is an amazing laptop can be bought online by those who like its various screen positions as well as the fabulous Windows 8 OS.

Samsung has always faced a challenge when it comes to the Windows 8 and Android operating systems so it has found a solution by putting them both together along with the same Haswell chip in a single device. The design of the Samsung Ativ Q is based on this idea due to which it feels more like a laptop than a tablet. It features an impressive 13.3-inch display with high resolution of 3200×1800 and 275ppi. This is a well-designed tablet/laptop that has the dual booting modes for Windows 8 and Android 4.2.2.

Display
Samsung is known for providing the different type of devices so one can compare the various models of laptops to buy the best suited laptop. The latest Samsung offering is the Ativ Q which it claims to be the brightest and clearest screen on a Windows 8 tablet. Samsung also claimed that when one compares other laptops with the Ativ Q, the Ativ Q will emerge victorious and can also be used in direct or bright sunlight. This tablet PC provides brilliant brightness and contrast levels along with great viewing angles that ensure that the users get crisp images on its display.

Software
The Samsung Ativ Q enables the users to get the facility to dual-boot the Microsoft’s Windows 8 and Google’s Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. This is the first time Samsung has provided such a device that automatically switches to the dual-OS tile housed in the Windows 8 touch UI. It gives users the facility to switch back to Windows 8 from the Android by simply pressing the Windows button on the front or slide-out keyboard on this tablet PC. The dual-boot feature enables users to create shortcuts for Android apps on Windows 8. Samsung has put in this feature to solve the app shortage issue faced in Windows 8. If one is planning to buy a laptop then the Ativ Q would serve as a great choice as it is the first laptop to have the dual-boot feature for Windows 8 and Android 4.2.2. The transition between the two operating systems can be done smoothly due to which both of them complement each other.

Performance
The Samsung Ativ Q is powered on Intel’s latest Intel Core i5 Haswell processors that feature the Intel HD Graphics 4400 graphics and come with a 4GB RAM. When one compares it with other laptops, the Ativ Q is fairly fast though it doesn’t enable users to run super-intensive Windows programs such as hardcore 3D modelling tools and games.

Battery and Storage
Apart from increased power, the Haswell chips running on the Ativ Q laptop are quite efficient and so provide better battery life. This is why Samsung has put in such a battery that provides a nine hour battery life. Samsung has also claimed that one who buys this laptop will be able to get the longest battery life experienced on any non-Atom Windows 8 system. Its competitor, the Microsoft Surface Pro also provides only five and a half hours battery life which is less when one compares with these Samsung laptops. This tablet PC also comes preloaded with a 128GB SSD. 

Even though the Samsung Ativ Q doesn’t offer out-of-the-box features, it does have the ability to dual-boot using Windows 8 and Android 4.2.2. This tablet PC has a large 13.3 inch display that gives high resolution display. If one is planning to buy a laptop then the Ativ Q is the ideal choice.

To sum it all up
Samsung has taken a step ahead with innovation by providing the first ever laptop that runs on both Windows 8 as well as Android 4.2.2. The Samsung Ativ Q is an amazing 13.3 inch laptop that provides many features that are far better when compared to other laptops. These laptops provide the multi-functional design that enables users to shift into four modes namely, tablet, typing, floating and stand for optimized comfort. Apart from that, it lets users to switch between the Windows 8 and Android 4.2.2 based on their preference.

Most touch laptops available these days are very expensive but instead Acer has launched the Acer Aspire V5 Touch at an affordable price. Earlier the Acer Aspire V5 was launched, which is also an inexpensive laptop. Let’s see if this laptop is really worth the price it offers.

Design
The Acer Aspire V5 Touch is made of silver metal that looks like plastic with both, the exterior and the interior coated with it. It has a better build quality with panel gaps and a firm grip. It offers a single USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI port as well as a headphone/microphone jack. It also has a flash media slot and an optical drive.

Interface
The keyboard of the Acer Aspire V5 Touch is not of very high quality. Even though it has a lot of space, yet the keyboard is squeezed a bit too much causing inconvenience while using it. The touch gestures are not as responsive as they should be and the integrated left/right mouse buttons also don’t respond effectively.
Specifications
The Acer Aspire V5 Touch offers the latest Intel Core i3 processor made of a dual-core chip running at 1.4GHz. Even though it doesn’t offer the Turbo Boost feature for automatic overclocking, it does offer HyperThreading that enhances the speed of the processor. It also has the latest Intel HD 3000 unit GPU and the DDR3 memory of 4GB. It also offers a standard 500GB hard drive but is devoid of SSD. So, it is not possible to get that fast wake and boot times. It offers a resolution of 1366×768 on the large 15.6 inch multi-touch screen which will give make using the touch interface of Windows 8 worthwhile.

Display
The Acer Aspire V5 Touch offers a similar display like the Aspire M5. But like the M5, it doesn’t offer great picture quality. It provides very low contrast not to mention the average black levels and the lack of detailing makes the overall quality of the pictures very poor. Like most laptops, the Acer Aspire V5 Touch has a glossy display finish but that doesn’t enhance the picture quality in anyway.

Battery Life
The large 15.6 inch laptop provides a fairly small battery of 37Wh unit which is as long as four AA batteries kept together. As such the battery life of this laptop is not up to the mark. If the laptop is used for heavy work, the battery lasts for only about 1 hour 30 minutes while for light-load, it stays for 4 hours. If the laptop is used for web browsing then it lasts approximately for 3 hours.

Verdict
Even though the Acer Aspire V5 Touch has a larger display, its other features make it a not-so-great touch laptop. It offers a poor keyboard with low power, and low battery life. The only plus of this laptop is the Windows 8 which works great on this laptop.

Most touch laptops available these days are very expensive but instead Acer has launched the Acer Aspire V5 Touch at an affordable price. Earlier the Acer Aspire V5 was launched, which is also an inexpensive laptop. Let’s see if this laptop is really worth the price it offers.

Design
The Acer Aspire V5 Touch is made of silver metal that looks like plastic with both, the exterior and the interior coated with it. It has a better build quality with panel gaps and a firm grip. It offers a single USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI port as well as a headphone/microphone jack. It also has a flash media slot and an optical drive.

Interface
The keyboard of the Acer Aspire V5 Touch is not of very high quality. Even though it has a lot of space, yet the keyboard is squeezed a bit too much causing inconvenience while using it. The touch gestures are not as responsive as they should be and the integrated left/right mouse buttons also don’t respond effectively.

Specifications
The Acer Aspire V5 Touch offers the latest Intel Core i3 processor made of a dual-core chip running at 1.4GHz. Even though it doesn’t offer the Turbo Boost feature for automatic overclocking, it does offer HyperThreading that enhances the speed of the processor. It also has the latest Intel HD 3000 unit GPU and the DDR3 memory of 4GB. It also offers a standard 500GB hard drive but is devoid of SSD. So, it is not possible to get that fast wake and boot times. It offers a resolution of 1366×768 on the large 15.6 inch multi-touch screen which will give make using the touch interface of Windows 8 worthwhile.

Display
The Acer Aspire V5 Touch offers a similar display like the Aspire M5. But like the M5, it doesn’t offer great picture quality. It provides very low contrast not to mention the average black levels and the lack of detailing makes the overall quality of the pictures very poor. Like most laptops, the Acer Aspire V5 Touch has a glossy display finish but that doesn’t enhance the picture quality in anyway.

Battery Life
The large 15.6 inch laptop provides a fairly small battery of 37Wh unit which is as long as four AA batteries kept together. As such the battery life of this laptop is not up to the mark. If the laptop is used for heavy work, the battery lasts for only about 1 hour 30 minutes while for light-load, it stays for 4 hours. If the laptop is used for web browsing then it lasts approximately for 3 hours.

Verdict
Even though the Acer Aspire V5 Touch has a larger display, its other features make it a not-so-great touch laptop. It offers a poor keyboard with low power, and low battery life. The only plus of this laptop is the Windows 8 which works great on this laptop.

It is that time of the year again. The Great online Shopping Festival (GOSF) is here in a new avatar. It is going to be the third such occasion and it is getting better each year. It is our promise that this time around, the festival will be much grander, much bigger, and will offer unheard of discounts on virtually everything.

Croma is going to roll out a lot of discount coupons and great deals for its customers. If you were waiting to buy a camera, or a music system or anything electronics related, the sale is just the right time to do that. This year’s most awaited sale will offer you so much that you won’t be able to swallow it. The festival will run for three days, from 10th to 12th of December and going by the excellent response it got last year, projection are that it will see an even better turnout this year.

In addition to the regular offer, Croma retail is offering special incentives to Axis bank cardholders. They will get incentive coupons which will be valid during the festival. But even if you don’t have an Axis bank account, the offers will be so many that you will probably exhaust your wish list of a few months. You will order from the comfort of your home without having to push your way through jostling crowds and will get timely and guaranteed delivery without any compromise on the quality and brand. Trust us. December is going to be more awesome than ever.

 Also Read : 3 upcoming phones worth waiting for

Do share this article with everyone and let them know about the mega sale.

Canon presents a new all-in-one Inkjet printer that not only does printing but also provides the benefit of copying and scanning tasks. The Canon PIXMA MG3170 is the newest product by Canon recently that makes it easy to do everyday tasks. It has the Auto Duplex printing that makes it easier to print on both sides of the paper at the same time. The Fast Front feature of this printer enables users to load paper from the front and replace ink cartridges very easily. The Canon PIXMA MG3170 printer also has the Wi-Fi connectivity that has multi-user feature. Apart from these amazing features, it also lets users to create artistic effects such as Fish-Eye, Miniature, Toy, Soft Focus, Blur Background and many more.

Design

The Canon PIXMA MG3170 has a compact design and is very cost-effective to purchase. The Fast Front feature of this printer enables users to easily replace the ink cartridges and load paper in no time. The Canon PIXMA MG3170 also allows Auto Duplex printing that helps in saving resources. It also offers the Wi-Fi connectivity which enables more than one user to give commands to the printer at the same time. This printer lets users improve an ordinary image by using the artistic effects. The five fun effects it provides are Fish-Eye, Miniature, Toy, Soft Focus and Blur Background. The Canon PIXMA MG3170 has 4800×1200 vertical dpi which is the maximum printing resolution that any printer can provide. It is powered on the Inkjet technology and has a 7 segment LED display.

Features

The Canon PIXMA MG3170 is a colour inkjet printer model with multiple functions of printing, scanning and copying. It also provides the facility to print the tasks wirelessly by using the Wi-Fi connectivity feature. Apart from this, the Canon PIXMA MG3170 offers the facility of two-sided printing that is done automatically. The Wi-Fi connection it offers is not limited to a particular device, so users can connect their laptops, phones, tablets etc. to print files using the Canon PIXMA MG3170 printer. The drivers for the Canon PIXMA MG3170 printer are installed effortlessly by turning it on and setting some options on the system as PIXMA MG3170. This will install the wireless printing feature without the need to install any additional drivers separately. The Canon PIXMA MG3170 gives excellent results while printing black and white documents in high mode or a diaphragm or even sharp quality writing. The colour print test of diagrams, drawings and so on in high mode gives very impressive results.

Apart from the high quality prints that the high mode offers, the Canon PIXMA MG3170 also provides the fast and standard mode that print quickly and save ink as well. The Canon PIXMA MG3170 supports a maximum resolution of up to 600 dpi that produces amazingly sharp and detailed pictures with all the colours intact. This excellent feature-packed Canon PIXMA MG3170 printer that provides great printing quality is quite affordable as well.

Wrap up
The Canon PIXMA MG3170 is an all-purpose printer that lets users to print, scan as well as copy files. This printer is one of the best printers currently available in the market. Even though the Canon PIXMA MG3170 printer does have a few drawbacks, the features it provides cover-up these few limitations. The Canon PIXMA MG3170 printer is quite affordable and provides excellent features.