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Lenovo YOGA Slim 7i Carbon (GEN 8) In-Depth Review: Putting the Light in Thin & Light

December 28, 2023 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Lenovo’s YOGA lineup has always been one where innovation takes the centerstage. Having already changed the way we use our laptops with multimode laptops nearly a decade ago, the company is still turning up the volume when it comes to laptops in the lineup. From design to functionality, the YOGA series of laptops is keeping us on the edge.

The new YOGA Slim 7i Carbon is in a league of its own when it comes down to it. Well, not exactly on its own. Only because it’s bringing some of the killer features from Lenovo’s ThinkPad line to the YOGA series. The YOGA Slim 7i brings the durability of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon to a more affordable price point and it also brings some of the most striking design cues we’ve seen in the YOGA Slim to date.

But, we’re not here for all the dancing lights and fancy features. We’re looking to answer the questions: “Is this laptop worth the money?”, “Does it have the features you need for productivity?”, “Can it serve my needs?”. You’ll have to keep reading to find out in our in-depth review of the Lenovo YOGA Slim 7i Carbon.

Design

Let’s not beat around the bush, if anything, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon lives up to its name. It’s one of the slimmest laptops available on the market right now. Coming in at only 14.25mm thick. Together with its 0.966 kg weight, the laptop is the epitome of thin and light.

It’s also the sleekest when it comes to design. Lenovo has opted to mellow out the hard edges of the YOGA lineup with sleek, curved lines that bring a softness to the laptop lineup. With premium carbon fibre build – yes, that’s where the “Carbon” comes from – the laptop isn’t sacrificing anything to become the thinnest YOGA to date.

The YOGA Slim 7i Carbon isn’t sacrificing sturdiness with its carbon fibre build. The laptop can take a beating – of course, we don’t recommend it. It does come with MIL-STD810H certification which means that you can actually toss it around without damaging it much. The laptop is also pretty dense, it feels a lot heavier than it is. This and the build quality make the Slim 7i a go-to for those needing a thin and light option.

The laptop comes in a stunning white finish. One that left us gawking at it for a good long few minutes. The sleek, slender build is accentuated by the glowing Moon White colourway. You get to experience the Slim 7i in all its glory complete with Intel IRIS Xe Graphi and a comparatively compact power bring. However, it’ll be nice to see this get pushed a bit harder when it comes to graphical prowess.

Hardware

The Lenovo YOGA Slim 7i isn’t just about the aesthetics, it’s built for productivity. To achieve this, Lenovo has packed the laptop with insides that put productivity first without sacrificing aesthetics.

Specifications

LENOVO YOGA SLIM 7i CARBON	As tested
Processor (clock)	Intel® Core™ i7-1360P processor 2.80 GHz quad-core with Turbo Boost (up to 4.70GHz) and 12MB cache
GPU	Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
Display	13.3″ IPS 2.5K (2560 x 1600) 90Hz, 16:10 400 nits, ΔE<1 (Average) Hardware-calibrated 100% sRGB Dolby Vision^® TÜV Low Blue Light Certification Matte
Memory	RAM: 16 GB 4800 MHz, Dual Channel, On-board memory: 512GB PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD
Networking and Connections	Intel WiFi 6E Bluetooth 5.1 1Thunderbolt™ 4 USB-C® 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Audio Combo Jack
Battery	50Wh lithium-polymer battery Up to 10 hours of battery life 65W Type-C power adapter
Operating System	Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
Miscellaneous	HD camera IR Camera Camera Shutter Backlit Keyboard 2 x 2W Harman Kardon® Speakers Dolby Atmos® Audio Dual Microphones DisplayPort over USB-C Thunderbolt 4 MIL-STD 810H Certified

Features

It would seem like the only highlight of the Lenovo YOGA Slim 7i is its design and build. However, Lenovo did spend some time bringing features that complement the lightweight productivity house. It comes with features like Lenovo AI+ that give it a mind of its own and seamlessly optimises the laptop in the background for the best performance and battery life.

Built for Wireless Work

Lenovo’s YOGA Slim 7i is undoubtedly built for working from anywhere. It’s thin and light and is equipped with all the essentials you’ll need for a nomadic life. It supports WiFi 6E for high-speed wireless internet. WiFi 6E is a step above WiFi 6 in that it provides a larger number of bands for higher data transfer speeds.

Complementing this is Bluetooth 5.1 which allows you to connect to a myriad of accessories. Mouses, keyboards or even your phone for wireless connectivity or to utilise Windows features like Phone Link. Phone Link is perhaps one of the best Windows complements to Bluetooth 5.1. It allows you to seamlessly message, use apps and even view pictures on your connected device.

Together with these, the laptop comes with an HD webcam for online meetings over Zoom or Microsoft Teams. The dual mics complement the camera with intelligent noise cancellation and crisp sound.

Lenovo AI Engine+

AI’s the word when it comes to laptops this year and beyond. With more companies integrating some form of AI automation and sensing to help users draw the most from their laptops. Lenovo’s AI Engine+ is the latest generation of AI automation to come to Lenovo laptops.

The AI Engine+ will keep an eye on your computer’s performance for you. It will intelligently optimize the settings on your laptop to make sure you get the best performance regardless of your battery level. In fact, this engine may be the reason behind the long battery life of the YOGA Slim 7i.

It may seem like a small thing to talk about, but these optimisations are key to having the best experience possible. Of course, it does come with a few quirks like sudden changes in screen brightness as it optimises your settings. That said, it’s a small trade-off for the extended battery life of the laptop.

Lenovo’s AI Engine+ is also behind some of the privacy features that come with the Lenovo YOGA Slim 7i Carbon. It uses things like the HD webcam and the IR camera to detect if you’re in front of the laptop. If you’re not, it will automatically lock your laptop to protect your data.

Light Weight Durability

Of course, the hallmark of the Lenovo Slim 7i is the durability that the carbon fibre brings to the laptop. The choice of materials allows you some peace of mind when carrying the laptop around as you go about business. It’s also lightweight, a very welcomed feature when it comes to people who work on the go as we don’t end up sacrificing our backs with the hefty laptops that are usually around.

The lightweight durability of the laptop is complemented by a flexible hinge that is able to give up to 180° of articulation. This means you’ll be able to lay the laptop absolutely flat if you ever need to. Of course, it goes without saying that this isn’t a multimode laptop so, please don’t go overextending this hinge… It will break!

Performance

When it comes to performance, the Slim 7i isn’t a slouch. While it’s not going to give your gaming laptops a run for their money, it’s packed with enough power to cater to larger workloads. With Intel’s 13^th Generation i7 processor, the laptop can handle a little bit of heavy lifting. That said, it may not be able to handle things like video editing without breaking a sweat.

During our review period with the Slim 7i, we were pushing the limits a little bit. Since the laptop was my personal on-the-go rig, I inevitably ended up using it for simple video edits and photo editing. While video editing on programs like Capcut, there were no issues with the laptop at all. However, heavier editing even on programs like Adobe Rush bogged the system down severely. Of course, this would be highly dependent on the resolution you’re editing in. During this period, I was primarily editing with source footage being either 1080p or 4K. The latter made the laptop struggle for its life. 100% would not recommend the workload – no cap.

However, with photos the laptop was able to cope pretty well. It was able to use a good selection of apps from the built-in Windows Photos app to Adobe Lightroom and even Adobe Photoshop without much hassle. It goes without saying that apps like Canva and Adobe Express have no issues running at all.

Web browsing and multitasking were not much of an issue with the Slim 7i. I was able to use my Mozilla Firefox browser with about 30 tabs before it started bogging down the system noticeably. With Google Chrome it was affected with about 20 tabs open. That said, not many of us will have that many tabs open at once. Working on Excel sheets, PowerPoint and word processing is a breeze on the laptop.

If you really want to, you’ll be able to get away with gaming on the YOGA Slim 7i. It will be able to handle light games like Lords of Water Deep or even This War of Mine should run without issue. I was able to play Final Fantasy VIII remastered without much issue. However, don’t expect the laptop to be able to handle games like No Man’s Sky.

Battery life on the 7i Carbon is very, very, very good. On a regular day with simple word processing, emails and browsing, I was able to get at least 8 hours of battery life easily. With heavier workloads, the battery life dwindled to about 5 hours. However, it was easy to top up the charge with a GaN charger even when the original charger wasn’t around thanks to USB-PD.

Display

The 2.5K resolution display of the laptop is a highlight no matter how you slice it. The screen is vibrant with accurate colour reproduction. But, more importantly, it gives you sizeable pixel real estate to multitask. Of course, this will be limited by your eye’s health thanks to the smaller 13.3-inch size.

That said, thanks to low blue light emittance, I found my eyes less strained. I also set the display size to about 125% so that it was more legible. However, thanks to the number of pixels, I was able to read more at a glance. This made reading and writing a tad bit easier. Editing videos and photos was also easier to do thanks to the colour calibration of the laptops.

Where the display really shone was when used to view videos. The deep blacks and vibrant colours allow for a really immersive experience second only to a proper OLED TV. The display was, of course, complemented by the Harman Kardon speakers that come built-in for a commendable sound experience.

Thin and Light Never Looked So Good

The Lenovo YOGA Slim 7i is a contender for anyone looking for a thin and light laptop. Especially if you’re looking for a light laptop. The carbon fibre used in its build lends itself to the overall reduction of weight which many other laptops are undoubtedly going to vie for. However, it doesn’t compromise on durability. It comes with a dense, sturdy overall build with insides that cater to nearly all workloads. It’s also a real looker when it comes to design.

First Look, Video

First Look at the Huawei MatePad Pro 13.2 & MateBook D16

Video December 23, 2023 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Huawei has unveiled two brand new devices – the MatePad Pro 13.2 and the MateBook D16. Here’s a first look!

The MatePad Pro 13.2 comes with a sleek design and is only 7mm thin. Available in Green and Golden Black, it boasts a stunning 13.2-inch Flexible OLED Display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 94% screen-to-body ratio. Weighing a mere 580g, it’s impressively lightweight. The tablet’s glass fibre rear cover adds durability, resisting impacts and scratches. Audio enthusiasts will appreciate the immersive sound experience with 6 speakers, 4 custom woofers, and 2 tweeters, along with SmartBass enhancement. Furthermore, the M-Pencil (3rd generation) introduces NearLink Technology for reduced latency and increased pressure sensitivity. The Smart Keyboard enhances productivity with its three forms: Laptop, Split, and Studio.

Huawei’s MateBook D 16 is a powerhouse, tailored for work and entertainment. With its 16-inch FullView Display and the “Golden Aspect Ratio” of 16:10, it provides a captivating visual experience. The metal body, weighing just 1.68kg and measuring 17mm in thickness, ensures portability without compromising durability. Equipped with up to the #Intel #Corei9 13900H and Intel #IrisXegraphics, it delivers robust performance. The dual shark fin fans, operating at a mere 22dB, ensure efficient cooling with 55% heat dissipation. Additionally, its cross-device features, Super Device and SuperHub, facilitate seamless connectivity and collaboration with other Huawei devices.

Both the MatePad Pro 13.2 and the MateBook D 16 are available for pre-order on Huawei’s Official Online Store starting December 20 at 4 pm.

Computers, News

Acer’s Sustainable Laptop – the Aspire Vero – Gets an Intel 12th Gen Refresh

October 3, 2022 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Acer is updating their most sustainable laptop – the Acer Aspire Vero – with 12th Generation Intel Core processors. The update brings even more power and battery efficiency thanks to a change in the microarchitecture compared to the previous generation.

The newly refreshed Aspire Vero comes with options for the 12th Generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors. Both come with Intel Xe Graphics built-in. They also feature 8GB of RAM with up to 512GB of SSD memory out of the box. This round, you’ll be able to upgrade to a maximum of 24GB of dual channel RAM.

Of course, the hallmark features of the Aspire Vero make a come back with the laptop featuring post consumer recycled plastics in the keycaps and cover as well as ocean bound plastics in the track pad. The trackpad of the new Aspire Vero uses a new surface treatment method which gives the laptop a glass-like feel for better user experience.

Acer is taking things up to another level with their new VeroSense application which comes pre-installed on all Vero products. The new application allows users to monitor their energy efficiency and device health. It goes without saying that the new VeroSense app also gives users the ability to kick the laptop into power saving mode which allows for better power efficiency.

Design-wise, the new Aspire Vero shares a lot in common with its predecessor. The laptop is designed to look and mirror the aesthetic of recycled products. The textured finish is also one of the more unique features of the laptop. It comes with the iconic mirrored “R” and “E” keycaps as well. The laptop also comes with the same recyclable packaging which won Acer the Red Dot Design Award in 2022.

Pricing & Availability

The new Acer Aspire Vero is now available in Malaysia. The laptop can be purchased from Acer’s official retail stores, the Acer eStore, Acer’s official stores on Lazada and Shopee and at authorised resellers nationwide.

The laptop will set you back MYR2,599 for the Core i5 version or MYR3,299 for the Core i7 version. Both versions come with Microsoft Windows 11 and Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021.

Computers, Lifestyle, News

Acer Launches the New Swift 5 Thin and Light Alongside New Aspire Laptops

August 4, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Acer makes some of the most compelling thin and light laptops in the market. One of the most popular one in their stables is the Swift 5. Unlike the Swift 3 or the Swift X, the Swift 5 is made to be a full on thin and light laptop for the masses. It also does not have a discrete GPU, to ensure that it keeps to minimum weight and thickness. It also features a very pretty and handy touch sensitive display for added navigation options. There is a problem with the past two generations of Acer’s Swift 5. They both look exactly the same save for different colour options. Not the new one.

Acer Swift 5

The only thing the new Swift 5 made for 2022 with Intel’s 12^th Generation processors shares with its predecessor is its Olive Green colour option which we find quite attractive on the new design. It is still made entirely out of aluminium for that premium feel and finish. This time, the Acer Swift 5 is made from a unibody aerospace grade aluminium that has been precisely CNC-machined. That also means that it should be even more durable than before.

There is a small trade off with the new Acer Swift 5 with more premium build material. The laptop has gained some weight. Instead of weighing just below 1kg, it now weighs in at 1.2kg. It is not the end of the world though, 200g of weight gain is understandable considering the build material.

While it has grown in heft a little, it remains the same 14.95mm thick as before, which is still mighty thin for a laptop with full-sized USB Type-A and HDMI ports. The new construction and some new hardware within the laptop also mean that the body is slightly more compact than before. All these and you are still getting the best Intel can offer within the body.

The Intel Evo device is powered by Intel’s latest 12^th Generation Core processors with Intel Iris X^e Graphics. You get up to an Intel Core i7-1260P processor for thin and light laptops. You also get up to 16GB of LPDDR4X RAM to go with the powerful CPU. Unfortunately, the RAM is not expandable. Storage comes in the form of a 1TB NVMe SSD, which is plenty enough for all kinds of work you can do with the Swift 5 plus a few movies for your entertainment needs. Keeping everything cool and comfortable is a brilliantly designed backlit keyboard which also acts as the air inlet for the laptop.

All of these power keeps Windows 11 running smoothly on its brilliant 14-inch touch-sensitive display. The IPS panel boasts 2,560 by 1,600 pixels, effectively a WQXGA 16:10 panel for improved productivity and flexibility with more real estate. If you need to quickly get a photo or video edited, the 100% sRGB rating should do your photos and videos justice. The thin bezels surrounding the 14-inch panel is kept to a minimum too, just to get the device to fit as snuggly in your bag as before. The Corning Gorilla Glass with Antimicrobial coating to ensure that the display is protected from all kinds of abuse.

Other than the two full-sized ports mentioned above, you get two more USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 and 65W PD support and a 3.5mm combo jack. To ensure that you look your best in video calls, you get a Full HD webcam with SHDR support. You also do not need to carry your charger around too much with up to 9 hours of quoted battery life.

Acer Aspire Series

Alongside the new Swift 5, Acer also launches their new Aspire series laptops. The Aspire series are not made to be as thin and as light as the Swift 5. They are not made to be the most premium laptops in the market either. They are built to be value-for-money laptops for the mainstream market.

Update to Intel’s 12^th Generation processors, the 15.6-inch Aspire series also receives an update in the looks department. The Acer logo is now smaller than before and placed at the top part of the shell instead of the middle. To be fair, most of Acer’s newer laptops feature similar design language.

Alongside the powerful Intel processors, you get up to 8GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. The RAM is expandable with an extra slot, while the storage can be expanded as well with a SATA SSD or HDD. You also get to spec your Aspire 3 with up to NVIDIA’s GeForce MX550 discrete GPU for some extra processing power for quick games or video editing use cases. The Aspire 5 with up to an Intel Iris Xe Graphics also features two USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support so that you can hook up two more 4K displays.

Price and Availability

The Acer Aspire 3 and Aspire 5 comes in a few attractive colours, including the new Willow Green colour scheme. The Aspire 3 retails from MYR 2,499 while the Aspire 5 starts from MYR 2,599. The new Acer Swift 5 comes only in Mist Green colour option and starts from MYR 4,699. You can get your hands on the Acer’s latest Swift 5, Aspire 3, and Aspire 5 from Acer’s eStore, Shopee, Lazada, and all authorized retailers immediately. For more information on Acer’s latest offerings, you can head over to their website.

Computers, Editorial, Reviews, Writer's Choice

ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED (UX5400E) In-Depth Review – Eye Candy and Productivity with a Steep Learning Curve

May 13, 2022 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

It’s not every day that we see something new and interesting when it comes to laptops. We’re so used to seeing the mundane clamshell form factor with new insides, displays and ports. However, ASUS has been on a roll lately with a slew of laptops that bring fun, new features as well as new hardware that is truly revolutionary. Over the past year, they’ve been adamant about equipping their laptops with OLED displays which are certified for their colour accuracy.

With their Zenbook Duo lineup, they’ve brought an interesting approach to multiscreen productivity. But what happens when you take multiscreen productivity and fit it into a space once exclusively reserved for the trackpad? You get the hallmark feature of the ZenBook 14X’s hallmark feature: the Screen Pad. Does this new approach make sense? Is productivity enhanced or deterred by the feature and is it here to stay?

We’re looking to answer those questions and also the most pertinent one when it comes to any piece of tech, “Is it worth my money?”, in our in-depth review of the ZenBook 14X OLED.

Design

The ZenBook 14X OLED has its origins in the ZenBook’s early days as a flagship. It’s equipped with a machined aluminium body with a brushed finish and made of premium build materials; like any other ZenBook. However, the thing that makes the laptop stand out is the sheer sleekness and miniature form of the laptop overall. ASUS has made the ZenBook 14X OLED one of the smallest and sleekest laptops in its lineup. However, its minute stature isn’t where the story ends.

When it boils down to it, the ZenBook 14X OLED distinguishes itself with its brushed aluminium top. However, it doesn’t give in to the incessant need to be thin as paper. Instead, it’s thicker and more substantial than its predecessor and competition. Coming in at just under 17mm, the laptop strides the line of being just thin enough and being thick and chunky in this day and age. That said, the added thickness and sturdy build materials provide the top lid with added stability and rigidity. This also prevents the display from flexing which can be detrimental to the laptop.

That said, the ZenBook isn’t only sturdy, but it’s also well designed. ASUS has made sure that while the ZenBook 14X OLED is slim and light, it’s also well equipped for working on the go. It comes with a good range of ports – which we will elaborate on later in the review. That said, these ports don’t break the overall aesthetic of the laptop. Instead, ASUS has made them flush seamlessly into the aluminium chassis. The thickest point of the laptop is also used to house the largest ports: USB-A and HDMI ports.

The small body of the laptop doesn’t hinder ASUS from equipping the laptop with a tactile keyboard that emblazons the entirety of the main body. It’s only complemented by the chamfered dip which adds to the aesthetic of the laptop. That same aesthetic dip also highlights a change in materials as the top plate of the keyboard and ScreenPad isn’t made with the same aluminium. Instead, it feels a little more like plastic. That said, the plate is still encased within the aluminium frame.

Hardware

The ZenBook 14X OLED isn’t just about the aesthetics, it’s built for productivity. To achieve this, ASUS has packed the laptop with rather commendable insides which allow the ZenBook to stride the fine line between battery life and performance.

Specifications

ASUS ZENBOOK 14 \| UX5400E	As tested
Processor (clock)	Intel® Core™ i7-1165G7 processor 2.80 GHz quad-core with Turbo Boost (up to 4.70GHz) and 12MB cache
GPU	Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics NVIDIA GeForce MX450
Display	14” OLED 2.8K (2880 x 1800) resolution 16:10 aspect ratio Touch Panel anti-glare screen 550nits brightness
Memory	16GB LPDDR4X 512GB PCIe® NVMe™ 3.0 x2 M.2 SSD
Networking and Connections	Intel WiFi 6 with Gig+ performance (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.0 2 Thunderbolt™ 4 USB-C® 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A 1 Standard HDMI 2.0 1 MicroSD card reader 1 Audio Combo Jack
Battery	63Wh lithium-polymer battery Up to 8.3 hours of battery life 100W Type-C power adapter (Output: 20V DC, 100W, Input: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz universal)
Operating System	Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Miscellaneous	HD camera ScreenPad Backlit Keyboard Stereo Speakers Microphone DisplayPort over USB-C Thunderbolt 4 MIL-STD 810H Durability

Features

The mainstay of the ASUS ZenBook OLED 14X is undoubtedly going to be its ScreenPad. However, it’s not the only feature that comes with the laptop. It comes with a slew of software and hardware features that make this laptop a real contender if you’re in the market for a new one.

Almost everything you want for connectivity

ASUS has proven time and time again that compact, thin laptops need not be handicapped when it comes to connectivity. The Zenbook 14X OLED comes with all the connectivity options that you need – well – unless you’re looking to take over the internet. It comes with two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, a single high-speed USB 3.2 Type A port, an HDMI 4.0 port, a combo audio jack and even a micro USB card slot. With these essential ports, you’re pretty much covered when it comes to plugging in. That said, you also charge with USB-C ports, so, if you’re charging the laptop, you’ll have one less USB-C port. The only physical port missing is an ethernet port but you have WiFi 6 connectivity with a high enough throughput that you can even do online gaming.

Since we’re already on the topic, the Zenbook 14X does come with all the bells and whistles when it comes to wireless connectivity on laptops. Aside from WiFi 6, it also comes with Bluetooth 5.0. So you’ll be able to stream and connect to your wireless keyboard, mouse or even headphones without much hassle.

ASUS ScreenPad

ASUS’s novel ScreenPad is definitely a unique feature of their Zenbook series. It brings a whole new level of productivity. You’re presented with an additional screen from the get-go when you purchase it and given the norm of having more than one screen nowadays, it’s a welcomed addition to a laptop purchase.

The ScreenPad brings an additional 1080p screen albeit a little smaller than we’re used to. It allows you to use apps on the track pad which makes so much sense especially if you’re working with a mouse. The extra screen real estate allows you to use the calculator more naturally, refer to a website or document or even control your media while keeping productive. ASUS has also integrated their multiscreen setup with Link to MyASUS more deeply. A lot of the functionality that we’ve come to expect from the Link to MyASUS app is now natively integrated into ScreenPad with the Screen Xpert software. You can get prompts for messages and phone calls on the ScreenPad while you work and even use the ScreenPad to mirror your smartphone.

While all that is fine and dandy, the ScreenPad comes with a steep learning curve. It brings a layer of complexity to functions that many people expect to “just work” on Windows. One of the most irritating issues that we faced during our time with the Zenbook 14X OLED was the fact that the ScreenPad added an additional screen when it came to projecting displays. This was due to Windows recognising it as a display but it not showing on the display setup in Windows’ settings menu. To make things work as you would expect, we had to put the ScreenPad into trackpad mode which turned off the screen functionality.

In addition to this, you also need to get used to a new set of gestures that allow you to use the ScreenPad more effectively. The most essential is a three-finger swipe that will allow quickly toggle the track pad function. However, this toggle is only temporary – a fact we found out in the most annoying way. Due to the track pad function being temporary, we would be toggling apps unintentionally. This became an irritating occurrence particularly when we were trying to get urgent work done.

While it does seem like a deal-breaker, we have to keep in mind that the Zenbook is one of the only laptops with the ScreenPad. This also means that we have a little bit of learning when it comes to the novel features of the laptop. After using the laptop for a week, the gestures and extended functionality became second nature.

That said, when it came to working on the go, we found ourselves turning the ScreenPad off all together. This was due to the fact that having it on while on battery had a significant impact on battery life. We noticed about 20-30% less battery life with it on. That equated to about 4-5 hours of battery but without it, we got about 8 hours.

AI Powered Clear Voice, Quick Sign In with Windows Hello & Linking Up

Hardware aside, ASUS has also bolstered the laptop with a whole bunch of AI enhancements. One of our favourites is the ClearVoice mic. With ASUS’s ClearVoice, the integrated microphones can intelligently suppress background noise and detect and enhances the speaker’s voice. So, you won’t be cut off by a passing vehicle or even a crying baby when you’re taking your video call. Given the work from anywhere reality that is quickly becoming mainstream, this is definitely a welcomed feature. In fact, during our review time with the laptop, the feature was so good that people didn’t realise that we took a call from a café as the background noise was so minimal.

The Zenbook 14X OLED also comes with an integrated fingerprint sensor in its power button. This has to be one of the most welcomed features on the laptop. With the integration, the laptop seamlessly powers on and signs in with one click. This is bolstered by the SSD in the Zenbook 14X OLED. It boots and is ready for use in a matter of seconds.

Of course, with the Zenbook 14X, you get multiple options when it comes to keeping connected with your smartphone. You have Windows Phone Link (previously Your Phone) and Link to MyASUS. The latter provides even more functionality in our opinion. The Link to MyASUS app not only integrates seamlessly with the ScreenPad, but it also allows you to use tablets and large phones as an external display. This allows you the flexibility of being able to have multiple screens on the go. The wireless connection does have a little lag when it comes to interactions but if you’re simply using it to refer to documents or even to play media while working, you won’t even notice it.

PERFORMANCE

ASUS’s commitment to creating powerful, versatile, thin and light laptops shines through in the Zenbook 14X OLED. The laptop doesn’t perform like your typical thin and light. The thought that ASUS put into the design and feel of the laptop allows it to be one of the most sturdy and powerful small form factor laptops out there. While it’s no gaming laptop, it’s able to handle nearly workloads we don’t typically expect from a thin and light.

During our review period with the Zenbook 14 OLED, we were editing video and even doing some light gaming on the laptop without much hassle. When it came to editing video, we had source footage at 1080p resolution. The edit had about 3 layers with subtitles and effects and it was exported to a 1080p video for YouTube. While it did send the fans into overdrive, the laptop was able to handle it without overheating. In fact, aside from a longer export time, it was very seamless.

Gaming on the Zenbook 14 OLED is best left for proper gaming laptops. It goes without saying that AAA titles really taxed the processor and the NVIDIA GeForce MX450 GPU of the laptop. However, if you’re playing games like City Skylines or even Star Craft 2, the Zenbook 14 can definitely handle the load. You may not be able to play on maxed out settings, but you will definitely have a good experience playing it.

Other than those taxing activities, the Zenbook 14 OLED was able to handle everything else. Word processing and even large Excel files were a breeze for the laptop. Even if there was some slowdown, it was only with active tasks. Once those were over, the laptop performance was seamless and back to being smooth as butter. It could even handle Firefox and Chrome with multiple tabs open at the same time. It didn’t slow down but it did get a little warm which kicked the fans into overdrive.

Battery life on the laptop is typical of one as small and power packed as the Zenbook 14 OLED. It lasted about 8 hours on a single charge without the ScreenPad on. However, when the ScreenPad was turned on, this generally dropped to about 4-5 hours. This is partially due to the extra power drawn by the ScreenPad’s screen. That said, the high resolution and luminance of the main display are also factors. However, if you’re running low on charge you’ll be able to use a USB PD compatible charger to get the charge up to about 50% in forty minutes. The Zenboook picks about its chargers, more often than not, it will ask that you plug it into its original charger, however, GaN (Gallium Nitride) chargers with about 85W capacity seems to work as well – keep in mind, that the original charger in the box is rated at 100W.

Display

The focus that ASUS has on bringing colour accurate OLED displays is really apparent in the Zenbook 14 OLED. This is partially because of the contrast between the screen quality of the main display and the ScreenPad’s IPS panel. However, the differences were mainly apparent when it came to viewing content and content creation.

The main display produced vibrant and saturated colours. While being saturated and vibrant, they were also relatively accurate colour reproductions. The accuracy was spot on and allowed us to colour grade video and photos when we were using the laptop on the go. The high resolution also gave us more visual real-estate when it came to doing programs like Adobe Illustrator. That said, the effect of this was relatively minute considering the 14-inch size of the display.

While 14-inches may seem like a very small screen, it actually strikes a balance when it comes to size and productivity. It feels close to what we can consider a goldilocks zone for compact laptops. It’s just enough real estate that you have enough detail and clarity while keeping the size of the laptop portable.

The ability to use touch to navigate brought an added simplicity to interacting with the PC. The touch input allowed us to scroll through websites in what felt like a more natural way and also interact directly with links and the like. It also complemented the ScreenPad as you didn’t need to have it in trackpad mode to get things done.

Taking Multitasking to a Whole New Level with a Steep Learning Curve to Boot

The Zenbook 14 OLED is a machine built for multitasking and for productivity. It excels at being a machine for productivity and creativity. It’s one that allows you the freedom of multitasking in a way that makes sense to you while having a beautiful screen and a complementary ecosystem with Screen Xpert 2 and Link to MyASUS. All in all, it’s a machine that dedicates most of its resources to enabling its users to be creative, productive and even let loose with some light gaming.

Computers, Lifestyle, News

Lenovo Launches the Yoga Slim 9i– Carbon Neutrality is Really a Thing

May 6, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Being environmentally friendly and creating products that fits the bill should not be something new. It is, however, now cool to do it. Take the recently launched Acer Aspire Vero National Geographic Edition for example, even a world renown organisation dedicated to global preservation recognises Acer’s effort in reducing their carbon footprint.

Acer is not the only company that is jumping on the ecologically friendly product bandwagon though. Dell has quietly been on that bandwagon for a while now, not the extremes of Acer, but they have been cutting down wherever they can. Now, we can add Lenovo to that list.

They have launched the new Yoga Slim 9i, a flagship that is created with carbon neutrality in mind. In fact, Lenovo’s new flagship thing-and-light has been certified as a carbon neutral product by TÜV Rheinland. They have also launched the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 series built for creators who are constantly on the move.

Carbon Neutral is Cool

Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo
Source: Lenovo

It is the first laptop device in the world to be certified by TÜV Rheinland as a carbon neutral product. How? Lenovo never specified how. We speculate that Lenovo must have somehow offset the carbon footprint of the product in one way or another since they did not claim that the laptop has been made with recycled or recyclable materials.

While eco-friendliness can often be associated with lower build qualities and lack of durability, this is not the case with the Yoga Slim 9i. As its name suggests, the flagship laptop device is 14.9mm thick, or thin, depending on how you see it. The slim and svelte body is encased in durable 3D glass with smooth contours just to make sure that the laptop is comfortable in your hands.

The high-end device packs a 14-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and boasts up to 4K in resolution. It is an OLED PureSight display too so colours are sure to be as vibrant and true as they can be on the laptop. The OLED panel is also a Vesa Certified Display HDR True Black 500 and 10-bit colour depth to get a good 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. The vibrant and immersive display is supported also by a powerful Bowers and Wilkins speakers for a great audio experience.

Inside the premium chassis, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i packs a lot of punch with Intel’s 12^th Generation Core processors with Intel EVO certification. It also packs something called Lenovo A.I. Core 2.0 to automatically optimise performances and secure the laptop. It also ensures that the fans are always spinning adequately enough to ensure that your laptop always stays cool.

Prices and Availability

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i will be available in a few configurations. You can get it with an Intel Core i7 or an Intel Core i5. Both devices pack Intel’s Iris Xe graphics technology. You can also get spec it with either a 2.8K or 4K OLED display. It also only comes in one colour option, not black, they call it Oatmeal. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i will be available in the United States (U.S.) starting June 2022 onward for US$ 1,799 (MYR 7,865*). There are no confirmations on its local availability or prices so far.

*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.37 as of 06/05/2022 on xe.com

Advertorial, Lifestyle

HP has an Intel Powered Laptop for Everyone with Unbeatable Discounts During LAZADA’s Birthday Sale!

March 24, 2022 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

We live in a world where not having a computer can be a huge handicap. Post pandemic, this reality is even more real than ever. We are working, communicating and connecting with each other with technology more than we ever did. However, it’s harder to come by devices that we can rely on that don’t burn through our bank accounts. That’s changing with offers coming from SNS Network in conjunction with LAZADA’s Birthday!

HP’s offerings are built for more than just one purpose – we’ve seen them grow their line up with Chromebooks, gaming laptops and even purpose-built design laptops. These laptops are built with performance in mind and are equipped with the latest and greatest processors from Intel® ranging from the Intel® Celeron® to the latest generation Intel® Core™ processors. These laptops can also be versatile like the HP Spectre x360, HP EliteBook x360 or the HP ENVY x360. These convertible laptops also come with stylus input for a more natural feeling interaction.

Whatever your need, HP’s lineup of laptops is bound to have something that is uniquely catered for you. If you’re looking for a versatile laptop for education, the HP Chromebook x360 is built to cater to you. Powered by the Intel® Celeron® N4020, it’s equipped with enough power for all your educational needs. Its versatile 360° hinge also allows it to adapt to any space you are working on. The HP Chromebook x360 also comes with a durable chassis that can withstand falls from the desk or even an accidental spill. It’s available during LAZADA’s Birthday sale for MYR679! That’s a whopping MYR720 off the retail price of MYR1,399.

If you’re looking for a laptop that is able to handle work and some play, HP has a plethora of laptops to choose from. Laptops like the HP Pavilion Laptop 14 equipped with the 11^th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 with a 14-inch FHD screen are built to bring together portability and performance at an affordable price point. This specific model is getting a whopping MYR740 discount during the sale. If the Pavilion Laptop isn’t your style, the HP Probook 440 G8 would fill the same shoes with enterprise-grade security and comparable specifications. It will be available for MYR3,329 – an MYR270 discount off its retail price. If you need some graphical prowess, the HP Laptop 15s is also on sale with NVIDIA® GeForce® MX350. The discreet graphics card will give you additional power for work involving graphics and design and it’s available for MYR2,859 during the sale.

Running on Intel®’s 11^th Generation Core™ processors gives these laptops an edge over the competition. The 11th Generation Core™ processors are able to run more efficiently giving you up to 20% better battery life. That’s about an hour’s worth of usage! The processors are also more powerful than before. They promise about 15% better performance with single and multicore processing. You’ll be able to tackle large excel files, pivot tables and even some light design work without many problems. With their integrated Intel® Iris® X^e Graphics platform, you can even do some basic gaming or even edit videos with up to 4K resolution without a hitch. These laptops are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what’s available and on offer during the LAZADA Birthday Sale starting on the 27^th of March 2022. The SNS-HP LAZADA store will feature everything from desktops, all-in-ones, laptops, and even gaming setups powered by Intel®’s processors for proven performance. You can even grab printers, monitors and other accessories during the sale with massive discounts happening from 12 am to 2 am on the 27^th of March 2022. SNS Network will be offering massive savings of up to MYR860 on laptops!

Psst! Pssst! Wanna know a little secret? You can already start adding what you want to your cart on the LAZADA app. LAZADA will then notify you when the superb Birthday sale kicks off later this month. You’ll be the first to know when the item you want goes on sale! What are you waiting for!? Head on down to the SNS-HP LAZADA store and select your laptops!

22CON BTS Gaming LT 11thGen 10thGen Masthead 970x250 EN CA

DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE IS AN ADVERTORIAL COMMISSIONED BY SNS NETWORK. IT MAY NOT REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OF THE TECHENT EDITORIAL BOARD.

Computers, Gaming, News

ROG FLOW Z13 Launches in Malaysia; Price starts from MYR7,999

March 23, 2022 Nur Jeevan 1 Comment

ASUS took the stage in Las Vegas during CES 2022 to unveil a brand new slate of devices. Among them was one of the more interesting devices we’ve seen from ASUS and specifically the Republic of Gamers in a while – the ROG FLOW Z13. The new tablet brings gaming prowess and specifications to a form factor that we’ve yet to see for any device carrying its specifications.

The ROG FLOW Z13 comes with a 13.6-inch IPS display with up to 4K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display comes with 100% coverage of the sRGB gamut with Pantone Validation and support for Dolby Vision HDR. Yes – like always, ASUS’s ROG goes over the top with all the bells and whistles for its first-ever gaming tablet. Together with the display, the FLOW Z13 comes with 16GB of onboard RAM with up to 1TB of M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD memory.

Here’s the kicker when it comes to the Z13, its body is only 1.2cm thick but it has specifications supporting up to an Intel Core i9 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti built-in. Yep – you read that right! BUILT-IN! You don’t have to hook up any additional accessories to get an RTX3050Ti GPU with the Z13. In fact, the ROG FLOW Z13 does support the ROG XG Mobile system we saw in the earlier ROG FLOW X13 with minor updates. However, adding on the XG Mobile system allows you to bump up to an RTX3080 with 16GB of GDDR6 RAM and 150W TGP. That’s a whole lot of power for a 13-inch tablet!

In addition to the insane CPU and GPU, the Z13 also supports stylus and touch inputs. It’s also not taking any hostages when it comes to connectivity. It comes with 1 USB 2.0 Type-A port, 1 Thunderbolt 4 port with DisplayPort support, 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port with DisplayPort, G-SYNC and USB-PD support, 1 microSD card slot, a 3.5mm combo jack and, of course, the ROG XG Mobile interface.

The keyboard bundled with the ROG FLOW Z13 is an RGB backlit Chiclet Keyboard. It also acts as a folio cover as well. It also comes with a triple microphone array for better video conferencing with the 8-megapixel, 720p webcam. On the speaker side of things, it has a 2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier technology. It also supports Windows Hello fingerprint recognition.

Pricing & Availability

The ROG FLOW Z13 will be available in three configurations in Malaysia. The lowest-end configuration will be sporting a 12th Generation Intel Core i7 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX3050 and will retail for MYR7,999. A step up will get you the Core i9 with a higher RTX3050Ti. This will cost MYR8,799. The maxed-out version for Malaysia will come with the Core i9, RTX3050Ti and a 4K display with a 60Hz refresh rate. It’s going to set you back a whopping MYR15,999.

All variants of the Z13 will be bundled with a ROG Sleeve bad, the ASUS PEN and a ROG mouse. The higher-end variant will come with the XG mobile platform bundled together which comes equipped with an RTX3080 and expands the connectivity options available on the tablet.

The maxed-out ROG FLOW Z13 will be available starting in April 2022 while the other two are now available on ROG’s LAZADA storefront.

Official Specfications

Model	GZ301Z-CLD132W	GZ301Z-ELD236W	GZ301Z-ELC214W
Color	Black	Black	Black
Dimension (W x D x H)	30.2 x 20.4 x 1.20 ~ 1.20 cm	30.2 x 20.4 x 1.20 ~ 1.20 cm	30.2 x 20.4 x 1.20 ~ 1.20 cm
Weight	1.18 Kg	1.18 Kg	1.18 Kg
Processor	12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-12700H Processor 2.3 GHz (24M Cache, up to 4.7 GHz, 14 cores: 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores)	12th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-12900H Processor 2.5 GHz (24M Cache, up to 5.0 GHz, 14 cores: 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores)	12th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-12900H Processor 2.5 GHz (24M Cache, up to 5.0 GHz, 14 cores: 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores)
Laptop Graphic	NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050 4GB GDDR6	NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050 Ti 4GB GDDR6	NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050 Ti 4GB GDDR6
DGPU Feature	MUX Switch + Optimus	MUX Switch + Optimus	MUX Switch + Optimus
Max Graphic TGP	40W	40W	40W
IGPU	Intel® Iris Xᵉ Graphics	Intel® Iris Xᵉ Graphics	Intel® Iris Xᵉ Graphics
Panel Size & Info	13.4-inch IPS WUXGA (1920 x 1200) 16:10 120Hz 500nits Touch Screen Panel Adaptive-Sync SRGB 100% Pantone Validated Dolby Vision HDR Stylus Support	13.4-inch IPS WUXGA (1920 x 1200) 16:10 120Hz 500nits Touch Screen Panel Adaptive-Sync SRGB 100% Pantone Validated Dolby Vision HDR Stylus Support	13.4-inch IPS WQUXGA (3840 x 2400) 16:10 60Hz 500nits Touch Screen Panel Adaptive-Sync SRGB 100% Pantone Validated Dolby Vision HDR Stylus Support
Total System Memory	Total 16GB RAM On-board: 8GB LPDDR5 x2	Total 16GB RAM On-board: 8GB LPDDR5 x2	Total 16GB RAM On-board: 8GB LPDDR5 x2
System Storage Installed M.2	Slot 1: 512GB M.2 2230 NVMe™ PCIe® 4.0 SSD	Slot 1: 1TB M.2 2230 NVMe™ PCIe® 4.0 SSD	Slot 1: 1TB M.2 2230 NVMe™ PCIe® 4.0 SSD
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth	Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax)+Bluetooth 5.2 (Dual band) 22 (BT version may change with OS upgrades.)	Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax)+Bluetooth 5.2 (Dual band) 22 (BT version may change with OS upgrades.)	Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax)+Bluetooth 5.2 (Dual band) 22 (BT version may change with OS upgrades.)
I/O Ports	1x ROG XG Mobile Interface 1x Thunderbolt™ 4 support DisplayPort™ / power delivery 1x USB 2.0 Type-A 1x card reader (microSD) (UHS-II) 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery / G-SYNC 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack	1x ROG XG Mobile Interface 1x Thunderbolt™ 4 support DisplayPort™ / power delivery 1x USB 2.0 Type-A 1x card reader (microSD) (UHS-II) 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery / G-SYNC 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack	1x ROG XG Mobile Interface 1x Thunderbolt™ 4 support DisplayPort™ / power delivery 1x USB 2.0 Type-A 1x card reader (microSD) (UHS-II) 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery / G-SYNC 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
Camera	8MP camera and 720P HD Webcam	8MP camera and 720P HD Webcam	8MP camera and 720P HD Webcam
Mic	Built-in 3-microphone array	Built-in 3-microphone array	Built-in 3-microphone array
Keyboard Type	Backlit Chiclet Keyboard RGB	Backlit Chiclet Keyboard RGB	Backlit Chiclet Keyboard RGB
Aura Sync	YES	YES	YES
Speakers	2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology	2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology	2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology
Audio Tech	AI noise-canceling technology Dolby Atmos Hi-Res certification Smart Amp Technology	AI noise-canceling technology Dolby Atmos Hi-Res certification Smart Amp Technology	AI noise-canceling technology Dolby Atmos Hi-Res certification Smart Amp Technology
FingerPrint	FingerPrint function available	FingerPrint function available	FingerPrint function available
Operating System	Windows 11 Home	Windows 11 Home	Windows 11 Home
Battery	56WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion	56WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion	56WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion
Power	TYPE-C, 100W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 5A, 100W, Input: 100~240V AC, 50/60Hz universal	TYPE-C, 100W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 5A, 100W, Input: 100~240V AC, 50/60Hz universal	TYPE-C, 100W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 5A, 100W, Input: 100~240V AC, 50/60Hz universal
Bundled Items	ROG sleeve bag ASUS PEN (SA201H) ROG Impact Gaming Mouse	ROG sleeve bag ASUS PEN (SA201H) ROG Impact Gaming Mouse	ROG sleeve bag ASUS PEN (SA201H) ROG Chakram Core mouse P511 ROG Delta Headset
XG Mobile	Not included	Not included	Bundled ROG XG Mobile (GC31S) 208 x 155 x 29.6mm (1kg) NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3080 16GB GDDR6 TGP 150W Power Supply 280W I/O ports 1x HDMI 2.0b 1x DP 1.4 support G-SYNC 1x RJ-45 LAN port 1x DC input jack 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1x SD Card reader(Standard)/UHS-II(312MB/s)
Warranty	2 Years Global Warranty (1st Year with Perfect Warranty)	2 Years Global Warranty (1st Year with Perfect Warranty)	2 Years Global Warranty (1st Year with Perfect Warranty)
SRP	RM7,999.00	RM8,799.00	RM15,999.00
Availability	Available Now in Malaysia (March 2022)	Available Now in Malaysia (March 2022)	April 2022

Business, Computers, News

[Next@Acer 2021] Acer Commits to Sustainability with new Aspire Vero

May 28, 2021 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Acer’s taken a unique approach in embarking on their journey to become a more sustainable company. The company announced their “Earthion” – a hybrid of Earth and Mission – to become a sustainable company from operations to production. As part of their Earthion, the company has become a part of RE100, a global corporate effort in which member companies aim to become fully sustainable by relying fully on renewable energy. Acer has pledged to fulfill this target by 2035.

Aspire Vero for a Sustainable Future

Pledges and promises aside, the company’s Earthion took physical form with the announcement of the Acer Aspire Vero. The Aspire Vero is Acer’s first sustainable laptop made of post-consumer recycled plastics (PCRs). The PCRs are used primarily in the keyboard caps and surfaces of the laptop. They make up 50% of the keycaps while other surfaces of the chassis are made up of about 30% PCRs. In addition to this, the Aspire Vero comes in packaging that is made of up to 85% recycled paper pulp while plastics usually used to carry components like the power cord have been replaced by paper bags. Printing on the packaging and documention utilises soy ink as well to minimise environmental impact.

With its focus on sustainability, the Vero comes with the latest generation of Intel Core processors which promises longer battery life. Acer claims that this will provide over 11 hours of battery life. The Vero comes with Intel’s integrated Xe graphics which has been proven to be a performer – at least when it comes to integrated graphics systems. It also comes with a 15.6-inch IPS Full HD display. It comes with upto 1TB of SSD memory. The Aspire Vero isn’t making users choose between connectivity and being sustainable. It comes fully equipped with support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.

Pricing & Availability

No pricing or availability for the Acer Aspire Vero has been announced just yet.

Computers, News

Justin Roasts Mac – Intel Back at It with ‘Go PC’ YouTube Shorts

March 18, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Remember the Mac guy, the old Apple ads that pits the Mac up against Microsoft PCs. The Mac guy, Justin Long is back on YouTube. Now though, he is not the ‘Mac guy’. Instead, he is just Justin (no pun intended). Like before, Justin is comparing Macs against PCs.

Instead of roasting Microsoft Windows and PCs though, Justin is taking a stab at Apple instead. When I say Justin, Intel is taking a stab at Apple’s Mac ecosystem. The result is some hilarious shorts that tells you to buy a PC instead of a Mac.

Macs vs. PCs have been an age long debate since the dawn of personal computing. Yes, all computers can trace back their origins to the machine that broke the German Enigma encryption device. If you do not know what that is, watch ‘The Immmitation Game’, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and get up to speed.

Personal computing was brought forth by Steve Jobs with his Macintosh and later Bill Gates came with Microsoft Windows. Since then, the never-ending war between the two giant platforms started. Even today, people are divided between the two giants.

Here is the thing, Intel has never gotten involved in the fight between PC and Mac. They have always been a neutral bystander fighting their own fight with their rival, AMD. To be fair too, most of the Mac devices that has come for the past 5 years have been sporting Intel processors, so they should have no reason to take a stab at Apple’s best sellers.

Something did change a little bit in the past year though. Apple introduced their very own Apple M1 System on a Chip (SoC) for their own Mac platforms. The SoC is used across all the Apple product range too. That is basically Apple’s way of saying, we want to be independent of a third-party hardware vendor.

The change in Apple’s direction and the addition of their new chips also means less sales for Intel. They had to respond to that, in some ways. They respond in the best way they know how, throw money at it. But they did not just throw money at the problem. They threw money to also increase awareness and brand images of their partners. They have always done so, especially when it comes to gaming products, and more recently the Intel ECO ultra-portable notebook platforms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvDDC6ktCUg&list=PLk2sjg_-F-MfQL0aUbKyDX909ZfKCUq1c&index=1

The fight between Mac and PC may never end, but at least it brings us some hilarious moments to enjoy. It also brought out some humour from the competing brands. Competition between the two parties also means that it brings out the best of each other to better serve their own respective users. In the meantime though, enjoy Intel’s stab at Mac.

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