Apple : Updated: iPad Pro release date, news and rumours

Updated: iPad Pro release date, news and rumours
iOS Tips: How to increase text size on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch
Updated: Buying Guide: 10 best laptops for students 2015

Updated: iPad Pro release date, news and rumours

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Release date, rumors and design

Update: A trusted analyst has hinted at a September or October launch for Apple's rumoured bigger tablet.

With Apple's thinner, lighter iPad Air (and now iPad Air 2) and Retina display-equipped iPad mini 3 out in the open, what's left for Apple to do? Rumour has it that Apple is working on a 12-inch Retina MacBook Air alongside another device, which may turn out to be a supersized version of one of the company's existing products.

That's right: it's believed that the Mac maker is working on an even larger iPad, commonly referred to as the iPad Pro - yet more recently we've also seen references to an iPad Air Plus. We've combed through all of the rumours and scuttlebutt to bring you everything we've heard so far about this alleged iPad Pro.

Apple invited the press to a "special event" October 24, but the iPad Pro was nowhere to be found, with the company instead choosing to launch the iPad Air 2 and OS X 10.10 Yosemite.

iOS 7 review: Our take on Apple's radical OS redesign

What's in a name?

Apple did something interesting with the launch of its fifth generation iPad (aside from a total hardware revamp): Gave it a new name. The iPad Air alluded to the Cupertino's company adopting the naming convention of its laptop lines, the MacBook Air and Pro series, for its premiere range of tablets.

Logic would dictate, then, that if Apple were to release an even more sizable iPad, it would be with a professional bent and named the iPad Pro. So, we're now looking at 2015 for a newer, bigger iPad entering a product category that has seen little success thus far. Will Apple be the one to legitimise the "professional's tablet?"

At the moment most people are referring to the upcoming iPad as the iPad Pro. However, recent leaks refer to it as the iPad Air Plus. This might be down to an incorrect leak or translation, but it does follow Apple's naming convention with the iPhone 6 Plus.

Cut to the chase
What is it? A brand new, larger iPad
When will it release? 2015
What will it cost? Likely somewhere between the iPad Air and MacBook Air

iPad Pro release date

With WWDC being a major event for announcements (albeit software, rather than hardware ones), it was thought that the iPad Pro might arrive in June. That event has now come and gone, with no sign of the iPad Pro - so what's next?

KGI Securities Apple analyst Ming Chi-Kuo, who's usually on the money with his predictions, is confident that the iPad Pro will roll into production during September or October, which could lead to a November launch.

The analyst - who accurately predicted the iPhone's scratch resistant sapphire Home button, a gold iPhone model and the introduction of an inexpensive entry-level iPhone (the iPhone 5C) - reckons that the iPad Pro's stylus will make it easier for users to navigate the device's 12.9-inch Force Touch screen and will also work on smaller iPad models.

The iPad Pro is gearing up to race out of the traps in the second half of the year, if a report by Bloomberg is to be believed. According to sources in the know, the 12.9-inch tablet will enter production in September, earlier than Chi-Kuo's estimate, which would make a release before the end of 2015 unlikely.

That's in contrast to a report by Japanese news website Macotakara, which says that Apple is eyeing a 2015 release date for the larger iPad. That report pitches the iPad as a 12.2-inch tablet that will come with a detachable keyboard to square up against business-friendly devices like Microsoft's Surface Pro 3.

A new rumour suggests that Apple is working with Foxconn Electronics to manufacture the iPad Pro, with components being supplied late-September for a mid-November release. The same rumour suggests that Apple is being rather cautious about ordering components, which suggests that the Cupertino company has relatively low expectations for the sales of the 12.9-inch tablet.

iPad Pro specs

Macotakara claims that the device also features a set of speakers and microphones along its top and bottom edges, which could function in a similar fashion to how the iPad 2 handles stereo sound. Details are sketchy, but the report also points to the possibility of an iSight camera, Touch ID sensor and Lightning connector.

According to HDblog, cited by IBtimes AU, the iPad Pro will have not one, but four speakers. Going by 3D cut-outs, the outer shell apparently places two speakers at the top of the tablet, while the other two can be found at the tail-end. That report also claims that the iPad Pro will measure 12.9 inches and will feature the microphone on the right-hand side of the device next to the primary camera. Mooted specs include an Apple A8X/A9 CPU backed up by 2GB of RAM.

Will the iPad Pro be the next blockbuster enterprise device?

So why isn't it here already? Another rumour claims the iPhone 6 was to blame for the iPad Pro delay. According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple's suppliers struggled to keep up with demand for its latest smartphone, which had a knock-on effect by pushing the iPad Pro back to 2015.

According to supply chain sources who spoke to Digitimes, Apple has a 12.9-inch iPad Pro in the works that will run a hybrid OS X and iOS-integrated operating system. If that happens, reports from Taiwan that point to the iPad Pro as housing a more powerful version of the A8 chipset found in the iPhone 6 start to make a bit more sense.

One of the most credible updates – reports of a larger iPad release - peg it as right on track for a 2015 release date, Bloomberg reports, citing "people with knowledge of the matter," that an iPad Pro will enter production early next year. (The whole gamut of rumours and reports follow.)

A 2015 release date is further backed up by Korea Times' sources at a "local first-tier display supplier" who say a single version will launch "sometime early next year" with a nearly UHD resolution.

China's United Daily News point to another iPad Pro manufacturing partner: Quanta Computer. DigiTimes's sources (hit-and-miss with rumours) recently backed up this report, claiming that Apple expected the manufacturer to have either a 12.9 or 13.3-inch model ready. Now, the Taiwanese outlet's sources say that Apple is leaning toward the smaller of the two.

As if to mix things up even more, International Business Times reports that Apple is aiming for winter or even a spring 2015 release, according to its Foxconn sources.

According to a report published by KGI Securities, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo doesn't expect that Apple will be ready to launch the pro-grade tablet until 2015.

A recent leak published by Macotakara again hinted at a release date at sometime between April and June 2015. This new leak suggests that Apple will also launch an improved iPad mini 4 alongside the iPad Pro.

iOS 9 hints

Apple may not have launched the iPad Pro at WWDC, but it did show off iOS 9, which makes a number of hints that an iPad Pro could be in the works. The biggest feature that would fit the iPad Pro is simultaneous multitasking, which is missing from prior versions of the operating system but can be done on devices from some of Apple's biggest rivals.

Craig Federighi, SVP of Software Engineering at Apple, showed off how users can run two iOS applications side-by-side, allowing them to juggle tasks without switching or closing apps. This PC-inspired feature in a post-PC era – along with better hardware keyboard support and an improved Quick Type software keyboard – seems primed for an iPad Pro launch.

Perhaps the biggest giveaway that Apple has an iPad Pro in the works comes from code found inside the developer beta of iOS 9. It unearths a larger on-screen keyboard, similar to the one found on Apple's MacBook notebooks, which features an additional row of smaller keys for symbols in the main view and numbers in a secondary view.

iPad Pro dummy

Apple teams up with IBM

In order to further its lead in the enterprise space through BYOD, Apple partnered up with IBM to create new business-focused apps for iOS. This includes exclusive apps created by Apple and IBM in tandem ranging from data and analytics to device management and security.

What to expect from business tech in 2015

While this move is currently just to increase the amount of existing iOS devices in the office, is there a better way to grease the wheels for a pro-centric iOS device? Not without spending a ton more cash, that's for sure.

Sticking with the business slant, a report by AppleInsider claims that the over-sized iPad is set to come with NFC functionality which will be allow merchants to take payments using Apple Pay. That could make it a boon for the legions of retailers that have signed up to Apple's tap-to-play platform in the countries where it has rolled out.

Apple tries to quash the rumours

On the Macintosh computer's 30th birthday, Apple executives responded to rumours that the company was looking to merge Mac OS X and iOS into a single operating system. The retort? No chance in hell.

"We don't waste time thinking, 'But it should be one [interface].' How do you make these [operating systems] merge together?' What a waste of energy that would be," Apple SVP of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller told Macworld.

Craig Federighi, Apple's SVP of Software Engineering, echoed Schiller's statement with some rather sensible logic. Regardless, neither does this mean that an even larger iPad isn't in the works nor that iOS could become more professional-friendly to support such a device. Basically, if Apple were to release an iPad Pro, it wouldn't pull a Microsoft.

The competition already heats up

Samsung beat Apple to the punch in unveiling its 12.2-inch Galaxy Note Pro and Galaxy Tab Pro tablets during CES 2014. With that, DigiTimes expects Apple "to release its competitor by the end of the third quarter at the earliest."

YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqdOPHjL34w#t=69

The question is: would an iPad Pro help fend off the Galaxy Note Pro and other rumoured monster 13-inch tablets? Analyst house KGI reckons the answer is no. As spotted by 9to5Mac, KGI noted that while it's "confident that the expected 12.9-inch iPad model can create an improved user experience," it doesn't expect the device to "contribute meaningfully to shipments momentum anytime soon."

iPad Pro design

It's doubtful that Apple would do much to change the shape of the iPad Pro in its leap to 12.9 inches, the supposed size most rumours point to. The iPad Air's design was applauded by critics (us included), and early sales projections say that consumers are into it.

Update: However, the latest leak points towards a device that's a lot bigger than expected, measuring 223 x 206 x 7.2mm. It comes from OnLeaks, a source with a generally good track record, which repeats a common rumour that says the iPad Pro will come with a single USB Type C port on the tablet.

Another rumour, by French publication Nowhereelse, shows what purports to be an iPad Pro case and, just like the OnLeaks leak, it shows that it's far bigger than the iPad Air 2.

It's expected that Apple will use oxide TFT displays for its next-generation iPads, which would allow the company to make tablets that draw drastically less power, according to a CultofMac report. CultofMac cites an ETNews report that quotes an unnamed LG Display official, who has apparently gone on record saying that LG has ramped up production of its TFT sheets because Apple will need it for its upcoming iPad device.

Unreleased cases obtained by Sonny Dickson confirm early rumours that the iPad Pro may come with dual speakers and two ports. The images show that the iPad Pro could have a similar design to the iPad Air, positioining stereo speakers at the top and bottom of the tablet in a similar manner to Samsung's Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Note devices.

Coming out of HDBlog.it, another leak shows a device that could be the iPad Pro, depicting what could be either a secondary Lightning port or a USB-C port along the top edge of the device.

iPad Pro render

Another leak, which comes courtesy of French site NWE via Chinese supplier, shows a case that would appear to hold a 12-inch device. It positions the volume, standby and camera buttons in the same place as the iPad Air 2, meaning the iPad Pro could bear a stronger resemblance to what has gone before, rather than being outed with a radically new design.

iPad Pro case leak

However, an Evercore Partners analyst suspects the size to be a smaller 12 inches to align itself closer to the 11.6-inch MacBook Air, AppleInsider reports.

iPad Pro dummy

An image supposedly showing an iPad Pro dummy unit has made its way into the wild and it certainly looks closer to 13 inches than 12.

It should go without saying that the iPad Pro will inevitably be heavier than the iPad Air. To even meet the iPad Air's feathery 453.6 g at 12.9 inches would be a miracle of modern engineering. That said, not much should stop Apple from meeting the Air's super svelte profile at 7.5 mm thin.

The concept designers at SET Solution seem to disagree. In the video above, SET Solution dreams of a device with an even narrower bezel with sharper edges, a camera with the dual LED flash found on the iPhone 5s, Touch ID and a textured aluminum backing.

The Macotakara website has published rumours suggesting that the iPad Pro will be as thin as the iPhone 6. If true this would mean the iPad Pro would be between 6.9mm and 7.1mm (the thickness of the iPhone 6 Plus).

A later leak published by the same website appeared to show schematics of the iPad Pro which claimed the dimensions of the tablet will be 305.31mm x 220.8mm x 7mm. The 7mm thickness would indeed make the iPad Pro thinner than the iPhone 6 Plus, though not quite as thin as the iPad Air 2, which is just 6.1mm thick.

iOS 8, iPen and iPad Pro keyboard case

iPad Pro release date, news and rumors

iPad Pro keyboard case

Back before the iPad Air unveiling, former Apple fellow Jamie Ryan claimed to have heard from current Apple employees that an iPad keyboard case was in the prototyping stage. Ryan went on to say that the keyboard case mimicked the Microsoft Surface Touch Cover.

While it didn't make the latest iPad debut, the iPad Pro would provide the perfect stage for the reveal of Apple's proprietary iPad keyboard case. Ideally, this keyboard would connect physically to the tablet much like the Smart Cover does today, but use Bluetooth for the interaction. Plus, an included keyboard would all but be a must for a professional-grade tablet.

Ask and ye shall receive! As of March 27, Apple has released a patent detailing a keyboard cover, combed over by none other than AppleInsider. The patent illustration paints the picture of something similar to the existing iPad Smart Cover, but with a detachable portion replete with touch-sensitive keys. Now, you tell me what a keyboard cover would be ideal for.

iPad Pro release date, news and rumors

What would an iPad Pro be with an iPen?

Despite late Apple chief Steve Jobs's derisive comments on styluses before, rumour has it that the Mac maker just might go through with creating a stylus for the would-be iPad Pro. The above image comes from one of Apple's alleged 20 patent filings regarding a potential iPen, Patenly Apple reports.

Reputable analyst Ming-Chu Kuo of KGI Securities has produced a report which backs Apple to introduce a stylus with the iPad Pro, which he predicts will surface in the second quarter of 2015, Apple Insider reports. Kuo formed his prediction on several stylus-related patents filed by the company, in addition to his own research. In the report, Kuo notes that in some cases styluses can be more convenient that keyboard and mouse setups, and that Apple may move beyond traditional 2D input to 3D handwriting sometime beyond 2015.

While it might sound silly for Apple to head down this road, it might be a necessary move. Lacking a stylus could be a ding against a potential iPad Pro when the business-minded Galaxy Note Pro line rocks Samsung's S-Pen.

Patently Apple strikes again, unveiling even more Apple patents for a possible iPen accessory. This time, details include potential features like a laser pointer, the ability to project images and scanning capabilities among other. If Apple really is to make an iPen, it will be more than just any old smart stylus.

Update: A report from AppleInsider claims that a Bluetooth stylus in the works for the iPad Pro, and is designed to allow for increased productivity on a larger display. This could allow it to go head-to-head with other pen-toting devices such as Samsung's S Pen-equipped Galaxy tablets and Microsoft's Surface line.

iPad Pro, meet iOS 8

While no rumours specifically point to this, it's pretty much a given that the iPad Pro will run the latest iOS. If the pro-level pad had launched in October 2014, then this is almost a certainty, as we expect iOS 8 to launch alongside the awaited iPhone 6 in September. However, our friends at MacLife seem to disagree.

The latest rumour, as of May 13, surrounding iOS 8 makes it sound as if the refreshed operating system will be crafted with larger screens in mind across the board. 9to5Mac recently reported that iOS 8 will ape split-screen multitasking from devices like Microsoft's Surface. That would definitely be an iPad Pro-ductivity booster. Get it? I'm here all week, try the veal.

iPad Pro

iPad Pro storage

This is Apple's chance to differentiate the iPad Pro from the iPad Air even further. Professionals expect lots of space from their computing platform of choice, and while the current 128GB iPadmaximum is nice, it might not be enough.

Of course, a 256GB, 12.9-inch iPad would cost a small fortune, but what does the end user care when it's on company dollar?

iPad Pro home button

You can bet the farm that Apple will include its TouchID technology into the iPad Pro home button. Fingerprint security has become all but a must-have feature on enterprise laptops, and this professional iPad will have to meet that standard to gain better traction.

Rumours point to an iPhone 6 prototype having no home button, according to Business Insider. But that seems an unlikely fate for both devices, given that the iDevice form factor is minimalist enough as is.

2K (or 4K) screen, processor and more

iPad Pro screen

This is where things get way interesting. First, the Korea Times reported, citing Apple's "local first-tier display supplier," that the 12.9-inch iPad Pro will sport an almost-UHD resolution when it arrives in early 2014.

A later rumour, this time from China's Pad News, pointed to both 2K and 4K resolution iPad Pro models in the works. Per the story, Apple is prototyping a 2K model that would likely exceed that of the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9's 2560 x 1600 (339 pixels per inch) and blow away the iPad Air's 2048 x 1536 (264 ppi). The same source indicates that the device will boast a whopping 11,000mAh battery to ensure those pixels don't cause it to run out of juice in a hurry.

Taiwanese site Tech News has spoken to sources familiar with Apple and claims it has sorted out supply levels with Sharp and Samsung. Sharp reportedly already provided a test batch of screens back in June and since have been given the all clear by Apple.

A 4K iPad Pro would likely come in around 4096 x 3072, beating the 4K TVs available today.

There have also been a number of rumours that suggest that the iPad Pro will come with a slightly smaller 12.2-inch screen, so don't get your hopes up too much for a 12.9-inch model.

iPad Pro

iPad Pro processor

Again, this shouldn't be a major shocker. The iPad Pro will almost undoubtedly use a beefier version of Apple's 64-bit A7 chip, if not the new A8X processor or even a completely new A9 chip.

It will be interesting to see whether 64-bit processing has an effect on the iPad Pro's enterprise capabilities. But what will be even more important is Intel's response to such a product, given its long-standing relationship with Apple on the MacBook line, Daily Finance suggests.

New rumours have also emerged courtesy of Macotakara that suggest that Apple will be including a completely new processor; the A9.

We don't have much more information about the A9 processor at the moment, but if it does exist then it looks like it will be an upgrade from the A8X processor found in the iPad Air 2.

iPad Pro camera

Not much, if anything, has been said of the iPad Pro's shooter. Given that this tablet will be as large as (although lighter than) a number of laptops, we wouldn't be concerned too much with what kind of photos the tablet can take.

More important will be the iPad Pro's front-facing webcam. Will we see a higher resolution snapper on the front for quality video conferencing? Well, we sure hope so. A truly HD webcam would get heavy travelers more jazzed about an iPad than ever.

iPad Pro eye tracking

To put an even finer point on the importance of the iPad Pro's webcam, Apple would be remiss not to include eye tracking technology. The company has already seen startups like uMoove interested in providing the tech, and IBT's sources claim that this will be a key feature.

The iPhone 6 is expected to come with eye tracking. Now, all that's left is to implement them in a way that makes sense on an iPad Pro. Sharing with others what we're looking at on our own screens in conference calls immediately comes to mind.

iOS Tips: How to increase text size on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch

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Sometimes it can be hard to see the text that's displayed on your iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch, especially when your eyesight is less than stellar. Or maybe you just prefer a larger (or, heck, maybe even smaller) font when reading and using apps. If you find your Apple device's default text size to be less than ideal, don't worry - we'll show you how to easily adjust the text size used inside of iOS and watchOS to make life a little easier.

Changing the text size in iOS

To change the user interface text size on iOS, perform these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Navigate to Display & Brightness > Text Size.

3. Drag the slider to the left to make the text size smaller, or drag the slider to the right to make text size larger.

Adjust Text Size

This changes the overall Dynamic Text setting in iOS, which causes Apple apps and supported third-party apps to dynamically update their text settings, adapting to the text size selected.

If you still need bigger text, navigate to Settings > General > Accessibility > Larger Text and turn on the switch for Larger Accessibility Sizes. Using the slider, you'll now be able to make the text even bigger.

Adjust Text Size

Changing the text size on the Apple Watch

To change the user-interface text size on an Apple Watch, follow these steps:

1. From the Apple Watch itself, open Settings.

2. Navigate to Brightness & Text Size > Text Size.

3. Change the text size by scrolling the Digital Crown, or by tapping the smaller text button to decrease the text size, or the larger text button to increase the text size.

Adjust Text Size

Once you've changed the text size, press the Digital Crown to exit back to the home screen. Now when you open an app you will find that the text size has been changed according to your preferences.

Updated: Buying Guide: 10 best laptops for students 2015

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Best laptops for students

Even for those who feel at home with their nose in a textbook, the end of summer break (or Winter recess) is a big bummer. But as much as it's a return to school and schedules, it's an opportunity. This is a fine excuse to invest in some fresh tech to make the coming academia-addled year a little more bearable.

If you're still reliant on a desktop, or if your laptop winces at the sight of a high-definition video lecture, it's time to look into an upgrade. And thankfully if you know where to look, it's possible to get a sleek and impressive notebook without blowing through your savings (or student loans).

We've pored through ourarchives from the past several months and picked the best laptops for school. Our short list spans a variety of budgets that range from power-sipping Chromebooks to help you with that 1,000 page dissertation to more powerful machines that'll do better at a dorm room lan party.

Update: Laptop batteries degrade after constant charging and discharging, and if you didn't buy a new notebook for this year's back-to-school season, here are a few tips to squeeze some extra juice from your existing notebook's battery.

Lenovo ThinkPad E555

1. Asus Zenbook UX305

A most affordable and excellent Ultrabook

Solid performance

Incredibly thin and light

Wonky video driver

Tinny speakers

Call it a MacBook Air knockoff all you want, the Asus ZenBook UX305 is one of the best and most affordable Ultrabooks available now.

Read the full review: Zenbook UX305

Best laptops for students

2. Acer Chromebook 15

Chrome OS comes to the big screen

Absolutely radiant display

All-day battery life

Sudden crashes

Tinny but serviceable speakers

The Acer Chromebook 15 asks if you need a big machine to just run a Chrome browser, and I say 'oh, yes.' The Chromebook 15 takes Chrome OS to new places as it's the first device to arrive with a 15.6-inch display and the first to come with Intel's newest Broadwell processor.

Read the full review: Acer Chromebook 15

Apple 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display (early 2015)

3. Apple MacBook Pro 13.3-inch with Retina Display

The fastest small MacBook Pro yet is a force of nature

Retina Display

Faster processor

Force Touch underdeveloped

Unchanged design

The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is an excellent option for students who may need more power than a Chromebook or a MacBook Air without sacrificing portability thanks to its long battery life, relatively light weight, and high resolution display. Students on a budget will be happy to know that they can get started right away as the MacBook Pro with Retina display ships with free copies of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote out of the box as well as iMovie, Photos, and GarageBand for basic, creative projects.

Read the full review: MacBook Pro 13-inch with Retina display

Acer Chromebook 15 C910

4. Acer Chromebook 15 C910

The colossus of Chromebooks

Fast processing speeds

Long battery life

Too heavy

Awkward keyboard

Don't be fooled by this fatso. The Acer Chromebook 15 C910 is a durable workhorse that will reward you for looking past its size in favor of its performance, long battery life and stylish good looks.

Read the full review: Acer Chromebook 15 C910

Best laptops for students

5. Apple MacBook Air 13-inch

Finally, battery life within our grasp

Fantastic battery life

Haswell processors

No Retina screen

Not user upgradeable

While it has yet to make the leap into Retina, this is still the laptop that the ultrabook aspires to, thanks to incredible battery life and AC Wi-Fi.

Read the full review: MacBook Air 13-inch

Best laptops for students

6. Asus ROG GL551

The best entry-level gaming laptop available

CPU: 2.5GHz Intel Core i7-4710HQ Processor (quad-core, 6M cache, up to 3.5GHz with Turbo Boost) | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 860M (2GB GDDR5 RAM); Intel HD Graphics 4600 | RAM: 16GB DDR3L (2x 8GB at 1600MHz) | Screen: 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080), matte finish | Storage: 1TB HDD (7,200 rpm) | Connectivity: 802.11g Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 1.2MP, 720p webcam | Weight: 6 pounds | Dimensions: 15.0 x 10 x 1.3 inches (W x D x H)

Impressive performance

Solid build

Finicky screen

Rather thick

With a surprising amount of horsepower under the hood, you couldn't ask for more from the Asus GL551, save for maybe a better screen.

Read the full review: ROG GL551

Best laptops for students

7. Acer Aspire V7

Offering great all-round performance this is ideal for a student

CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-4200U (dual-core, 3MB cache, up to 2.60 GHz with Turbo Boost) | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GT 750M (4GB DDR3 RAM); Intel HD Graphics 4400 | RAM: 8GB DDR3L RAM | Screen: 14-inch, 1920 x 1080 glossy IPS touchscreen | Storage: 500GB (5400 rpm with a 16GB SSD cache) | Connectivity: 802.11n Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 720p webcam | Weight: 4.41 pounds | Dimensions: 13.4 x 9.4 x 0.9 inches (W x D x H)

Seamless design

Gorgeous screen

Rough trackpad

Short battery life

A short battery life and an obnoxious amount of bloatware hold back this otherwise excellent notebook that tows the line between Ultrabook and gaming laptop.

Read the full review: Aspire V7

Read: Acer Aspire V7 review

Surface 3

8. Microsoft Surface 3

Thinner, lighter, quieter, cheaper

CPU: Quad Core Intel Atom x7-78700 processor (2MB Cache, 1.6GHz turbo boost to 2.4GHz) | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 10.8-inch ClearType Full HD Plus Display (1920 x 1200) | Storage: 128GB | Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 3.5 megapixel front-facing camera; 8.0 megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus | Weight: 1.37 pounds | Dimensions: 10.52 x 7.36 x 0.34 inches (W x D x H)

Display

Design

Keyboard

Storage

If you want the cheapest and most portable Surface tablet money can buy for lightweight computing tasks, the Surface 3 fits the bill. Power-hungry users should consider the low-end Surface Pro 3 instead.

Read the full review: Surface 3

Best laptops for students

9. Microsoft Surface Pro 3

Thinner, lighter, quieter, cheaper

CPU: 1.9GHz Intel Core i5-4300U (dual-core, 3MB cache, up to 2.9GHz with Turbo Boost) | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4400 | RAM: 8GB LPDDR3 | Screen: 12-inch, 2160 x 1440 multi-touch (ClearType, 3:2 aspect ratio) | Storage: 256GB | Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: Two 5MP webcams (1080p HD video) | Weight: 1.76 pounds | Dimensions: 7.93 x 11.5 x 0.36 inches (W x D x H)

Sharp display and design

Huge Type Cover upgrade

Runs hot at times

Type Cover still optional

Not without its drawbacks, this is the brightest shining example of not only Microsoft's vision of a laptop-free future, but the entire laptop-tablet hybrid category.

Read the full review: Surface Pro 3

Lenovo ThinkPad E555

10. Lenovo ThinkPad E555

A ThinkPad, but without the price tag

Great keyboard

Decent performance

Poor battery life

Heavy

Forget Lenovo's Essentials range, the ThinkPad E555, bears all the qualities (well, almost) of the legendary ThinkPad family but without the price tag.

Read the full review: ThinkPad E555

Originally contributed by Joe Osborne and Kevin Lee.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015