A clip tracker is much easier to misplace than a larger, more featured device, sure, but it's also more convenient to wear around. In this case, it's more affordable, too. The One has been immensely popular for a few years now, but it's still an excellent choice for anyone who can get by without advanced stats and values something discreet.If you were trying to pick out a new Chromebook two or three years ago, your choices would be much easier and more limited. But now, every major PC manufacturer has started making their own Chromebooks in different sizes and configurations, making the buying decision a lot more difficult. A Chromebook is a relatively new type of computer. It doesn't run on Windows or OS X, but rather Google's Chrome operating system. Google's software is very basic, and it's meant to be used while connected to the Internet.So if you're the type of person that really only uses a laptop for checking email, doing work in Google Drive, and browsing the web, a Chromebook is probably right for you. There are some things you can do offline, but a Chromebook can't be used to its fullest unless you have a solid internet connection.
So which Chromebook should you buy? The best all-around general purpose Chromebook at the moment seems to be the Toshiba Chromebook 2 (starts at $250). We gave it a great review back in November, and other reviews from the tech media seem to be generally positive as well. Here's what we liked the most:It feels sturdy, too. Even though it's pretty cheap, it doesn't feel delicate or breakable. It's well designed, and borrows the teardrop profile of the MacBook Air, but thicker.
The battery life is pretty great, which is one of the most important factors when shopping for a laptop. I was able to get a few days out of it on a single charge when I used it sparingly as my main personal computer. If you use it for long work sessions, you'll probably get about seven hours out of it.
It's not perfect — the keyboard and speakers could be better — but it's still an excellent device for the price. It's hard to find high-quality keyboards on cheap computers, and most of the Chromebooks I've tested have been about the same as Toshiba's in terms of keyboard quality.
It comes with a 13.3-inch screen, so if you want something in the 11-inch range I'd suggest the Dell Chromebook 11. Reviews of the Dell Chromebook 11 from Engadget, The Verge, and ZDNet have all been positive, all praising the Chromebook's attractive design and long battery life.Acer's line of C720 Chromebooks are also affordable and compact, and are probably worth looking at if you're looking for something cheap and small. But, we still have yet to see a Chromebook that's impressed us as much as the Toshiba Chromebook 2. One of the big surprises from Intel’s new Skylake chip announcement this week was the chip's compatibility with a wide range of products, from traditional desktop PCs and 2-in-1 laptops all the way down to the tiny compute stick PCs.Intel made a point of stressing how even the 4-inch Compute Stick introduced earlier this year will be upgraded with the new Core processors.That means by plugging the $149 device into the back of your TV or monitor's HDMI port, you could run Windows 10, and get some of the new features optimized for it — while consuming less power and enjoying snazzier graphics.
Considering that it's about the size of a pack of gum, Intel’s compute stick is quite an impressive gizmo. It's essentially a fully-functional computer that comes packed with your choice of operating system (either a Windows or Ubuntu), wireless connection, memory, storage, HD graphics and audio. And its upgraded performance with the new Skylake chips will probably drive more people to try it.But does that mean we’ll all one day start owning tiny PC-on-a-stick devices in the future? Probably not, according to some of the analysts we spoke to.“It’s a statement piece that says [Intel] can be low power and also be high performance,” Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, told us. “I don’t think it’s a mass market product, but it answers the question of ‘Can Intel do low power?’ better than ever.”IDC analyst Loren Loverde had a more grim view, saying it’s unlikely the PC sticks will become a replacement for other lower-cost devices. “We think it’ll have a hard time competing with other devices like lower-cost tablets, Chromebooks and Cloudbooks that are not much more expensive, but integrate a battery, screen, and touch/keyboard input,” he said.
While Intel’s own PC stick doesn’t seem to excite a lot of people just yet, Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT, told us compute sticks could become popular if other PC manufacturers come up with better designs and use-cases.“It’s an an intriguing form factor, especially for space-constrained environments and for users who need something highly portable,” King said. “This is a situation where Intel’s OEM/ODM partners will make all the difference. If they come with compelling products and use-cases, the PC stick could be a solid hit.”One effect of Intel's plan to combine its PC and mobile division this year: it won't be as easy for outsiders to see how poorly its mobile business is doing.Today, Intel posted earnings for the fourth quarter, and it'll probably be the last time it breaks out its mobile results separately.Overall, the company posted annual profits of $11.7 billion on revenues of $55.9 billion — up 22% and 6% respectively. But the company gave disappointing guidance for Q1, sending the stock down about 3% after hours.
But the report also reemphasized how poorly Intel's mobile initiatives did last year.In 2014, the mobile and communications group had only $202 million in sales, down nearly 85% from last year’s $1.4 billion in revenue.That division's operating loss for the full year 2014 was a staggering $4.2 billion, roughly $1.1 billion worse than the previous year. In fact, mobile and communications group was the only business segment that wasn’t profitable last year, and by far the smallest division in terms of sales.Intel's PC group, on the contrary, had $34.7 billion in sales for the whole year, nearly $1.4 billion more than last year. Its operating income was $14.6 billion, accounting for more than 95% of Intel’s total.Intel had warned during its last analyst day that mobile earnings would be pretty bad, and the company admits they were late to the mobile game, so today’s results were not a surprise.But every cloud has a silver lining, and Intel’s PC business keeps chugging along as laptops get smaller and thinner. At the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show this month, Intel finally released its fifth-generation core processor, codenamed “Broadwell-U." The new chip has stronger battery life and better performance, at a fraction of the size of older chips, which makes it ideal for super-slim laptops.
As a miniature TV, vibrant e-reader, mobile game machine, or embarrassing picture taking device, a good tablet is still a luxurious way to enjoy some entertainment. In some cases, they can also take some stress off your laptop. So, if you’re thinking of picking up a new slate, either now or sometime down the road, we’ve put together a quick guide to help you come to the right decision. Regardless of how you plan on using your tablet, here’s what you should know before making a decision.As with most device types, the first thing to figure out when shopping for a tablet is how exactly you’re going to use it. Whatever that consists of, it’ll likely have a direct correlation to how big a tablet you should buy.Small tablets, or those with 7- to 8-inch screens, are the most portable of the bunch. They’re the most likely to fit into a handbag or pants pocket, and they’re the easiest to use with one hand if you’re out and about. That makes them natural fits for those who intend on using their tablet like a beefed up e-reader. They’re typically more affordable than any larger counterparts, too.
The downside is that they’re usually weaker than their large-screen brethren. That, combined their lessened real estate, means they aren’t ideal for getting any serious work done. You’d get a small tablet if you want more space for casual media consumption than a big smartphone can provide, but still value some semblance of portability. Or, if you just have small hands. If you’re shopping down here, though, it really is worth considering whether or not a large phone like the iPhone 6s Plus or Nexus 6P could suffice.Medium-size tablets, or those with 9- to 10-inch screens, are generally the best choice for most people. There’s a clear distinction between them and so-called phablets — browsing the web, watching movies, reading magazines, and playing games is simply more luxurious with that much more space. If you’ve cut the cord and hope to treat your slate like a portable TV, this is the way to go. And if you stick to word processing or other lighter tasks, their (typically) stronger internals allow them to have some sort of productivity bent as well. (Though they’re not quite 1:1 laptop replacements.)
You’ll need to free up both hands to use them more often than not, but if you keep them around the house where they belong, that’s not unbearable. Plus, they’re still tablets, so if you do have to stuff them in a bag, it’s not like they’ll be bulkier than your average laptop. The added space typically comes at a premium, but the experience gains should be worth it if you use the machine with some regularity.Anything larger than 10 inches, and, with a few oversized exceptions, we’re pushing into hybrid territory. Devices like the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 or Apple iPad Pro are ostensibly designed to mix the freedom of a tablet with the power of a laptop, but up until now they’ve mostly come off like compromised versions of the two. Oftentimes, they’re too big to use casually as a slate, too inelegant with a keyboard and mouse to use comfortably as a laptop. Add the fact that they usually start around $1,000, and they’re a hard sell for anyone looking specifically for a tablet.Now, these things have gotten better over the years, and, since this is the one tablet segment that’s showing financial growth, manufacturers look poised to continue refining the formula as we move forward. And many hybrids are as strong as a full-on Ultrabook. I know people who swear by their Surfaces.
But for now, they’re best seen as niche devices, something for those with money to burn, who don’t stress their laptops too hard, or maybe need to sketch things out with a stylus (with which many of these devices integrate nicely). If you grab one to replace your notebook, though, just try to always have a desk in view.Once you’ve figured out what you want to get out of your tablet, it’s time to look at which operating system you’d like to pledge your allegiance to. You have four real options to choose from. None of them are perfect, but there’s one that’s generally superior for most people’s needs.And that’s iOS. While the competition between Apple’s mobile OS and Android has tightened up on smartphones over the years — personally, I even prefer the latter — iOS is far and away the most well-adjusted OS for the tablet form factor. It looks great, it’s as straightforward to navigate as it is on an iPhone, and, while it’s gotten more jittery with recent updates, it's still largely smooth on any iPad released within the last few years. It’s the only place to go if you’re still invested in iTunes. It supports the most accessories. It recently added split-screen support, making it more suitable for multitasking and productivity. (Though, again, it’s not Mac OS.) And since Apple controls both ends of the hardware-software equation, you never have to worry about being behind on a software update.