LG extends ultra-light Gram laptop lineup with 15-inch edition

Back in September, LG brought the Gram laptop family to the U.S. market. As its name suggests, the lineup was designed with weight in mind, with the 13-inch and 14-inch notebooks each tipping the scales at under a kilogram (making them lighter than the Apple MacBook Air, though not as svelte as the refashioned MacBook).

Not content to offer only that pair to consumers, LG is set to introduce the Gram 15, which boasts a larger 15.6-inch display but retains the same 980-gram weight as its predecessors. Unlike its siblings, the Gram 15 will ship with the latest Intel Skylake processors, instead of the Broadwell Core i5 and i7 CPUs the Gram 13 and Gram 14 are equipped with.

Like the previous Grams, the Gram 15 will come with Windows 10 installed, and we should expect other similarities. The earlier models featured 8GB of RAM, 1080p HD screens (1,920x1,080 resolution), 128GB or 256GB SSDs, and a magnesium alloy chassis.

We'll have to wait until next month to find out the exact specs for the Gram 15, as LG is merely teasing it before its formal debut at the annual CES event. We may also find out the pricing then, as the company is not disclosing the cost just yet. We know the base Gram 13 and 14 configurations cost $899.99 and $999.99, respectively, so expect a starting price tag over $1,000 for what may wind up being the lightest 15-inch laptop on the market.

Product review: KARE AND KIND SUPER LARGE 3 LED Handheld Magnifier Reading Magnifying Glass Lens Kit

This is a pretty nice set of 3 magnifying glasses: the small one is the x20, the medium one is x10, and the large one is x5. Each of the loops fits into a the same handle. The magnifier loops are removed by squeezing two buttons on the sides at the same time.



The handle takes three AAA batteries (not included) which turns on two small but bright LED lights which shine exactly where the magnifier is pointing. Also included are cloth pouches for all three loops and a cleaning cloth.



All magnifiers have pretty good quality glass and make it easy to read tiny font or examine stamps on jewelry. I hope attached photos give you a better idea of what to expect.



You can find "KARE AND KIND Magnifiers" on Amazon via this link





AshopZones review ★★★★★

Samsung Quietly Unveils Its 11-Inch Chromebook 3

Sneaky Samsung! On Tuesday (Jan. 5), at the same time that it unveiled its ultra-thin Notebook 9 Windows laptops, the Korean electronics maker quietly announced the Samsung Chromebook 3, its latest notebook running Google's free operating system.

The Samsung Chromebook 3 has specifications very similar to those of the Lenovo 100S Chromebook, which we recently reviewed. Like the Lenovo, the Samsung features an 11.6-inch screen with a 1366 x 768-pixel resolution.

Measuring 11.36 x 8.04 x 0.70 inches, the Samsung is just a tad smaller than the Lenovo; at 2.53 pounds, it's just a hair heavier. Both machines run on Intel Celeron CPUs — the Samsung on the N3050 chip, the Lenovo on the N2840.

Samsung promises that the Chromebook 3 will get up to 11 hours of battery life on a full charge, but hasn't released the size of the battery. In our test, the Lenovo 100S Chromebook lasted 11 hours and 19 minutes.

Like the Lenovo, the Samsung starts with a 16GB SSD and 2GB of RAM, which can optionally be increased to 4GB. (There doesn't seem to be an option to increase the Samsung's storage capacity.)



Both machines sport one of each type of necessary port: USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI and headphone/microphone. But while the Lenovo 100S Chromebook has a full-sized SD card slot, the Samsung Chromebook 3 shrinks that to a microSD slot.

The one thing Samsung didn't disclose about the Chromebook 3 was its price. That may be because while its predecessor, the Samsung Chromebook 2, still carries a suggested retail price of $249, the Lenovo 100S Chromebook retails for $179, and the similarly specced Acer C720 Chromebook goes for $199.

Samsung said the Chromebook 3 will go on sale "in early 2016." We plan to get a hands-on at CES 2016, and be sure to check back here in a month or two for our review.

Kurio Smart 2-in-1 Review

Dell's Latitude 13 7370 Laptop Makes Business Beautiful

For a long time, most business notebooks have had a boring black or gray aesthetic. However, in a world where sexy Surface Pros and sleek MacBooks have begun to dominate the boardroom, there’s no excuse for ugly anymore. So on the 13-inch Latitude 7370 which is due out March 8 starting at $1,299, Dell is taking design elements from its attractive best-in-class XPS consumer notebooks, and bringing them to the office, with enterprise-level durability and security.

Inside, the 7370 is equipped with all the bells and whistles you’d expect on a premium business machine including an Intel Core m CPU, up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of M.2 SSD storage, two Thunderbolt 3 USB C ports for super fast data transfer. On the security front, there’s a plethora of options such as built-in smart card reader, fingerprint sensor, Intel TPM chips and Intel vPro processors.

Dell limits the 7370 to Intel Core m3, m5 and m7 CPUs, which don’t have as much horsepower the Core i3, i5 and i7 chips available on its XPS systems. Dell says m-class chips offer the same level of performance as last year’s fifth-gen Core i CPUs – enough for most business users – while featuring better energy efficiency.

The 7370 has a durable carbon-fiber body which Dell says has the same weave and strength as the carbon fiber on the Space Shuttle. The laptop is MIL-SPEC 810 tested for durability so it promises to withstand some punishment. Weighing just 2.48 pounds and measuring 0.56-inches thick, the 7370 is smaller than almost every other business system in its class.

When I finally got the chance to see the new 7370 in person for CES 2016, its looks were pretty striking.

The first thing you notice about the Latitude 7370 is its nearly bezel-free 13.3-inch Infinity Display, a feature which debuted on the 2015 XPS 13. Customers can choose from a 1920 x 1080 anti-glare screen, or opt for a more vibrant 3200 x 1800 WLED touchscreen if they want an extra bit of visual pop.

The carbon fiber body has been coated with a clear soft-touch finish so you can still see the weave of the material underneath. It’s a subtle look that's stealthy while also being sophisticated, although I feel like the black on black color scheme is a little more appropriate for hacker types who may or may not be working on some clandestine project. Thankfully, Dell also offers a CNC machined aluminum lid, so when closed, the 7370 should look stately even when put up against systems from Apple or any other company.

As with all of Dell's Latitude machines, the 7370's keyboard felt great. It has just the right amount of key travel and resistance, and with its bright built-in back lighting, the notebook should offer a superb typing experience in almost any environment. And if you couldn't tell from the photos, ports aren't in short supply either as the 7370 also has micro HDMI, an SD card reader and a traditional USB Type-A port in addition to the two USB C options.

While I have to reserve final judgement for when the Latitude 7370 finally hits offices in March, it seems beauty has finally made its way to business. It's about time.

Product review: GGMM M4 Leather Wireless Digital Wi-Fi

This is a hell of a speaker! GGMM can be made quite loud and the sound remains distortion free even at max volume. To test various speakers I use Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor. I like using because it has several passages in the beginning of the fugue which many speakers cannot handle - some speakers crackles others generate distortions, but this speaker handled it very well. In my video I included two small snippets of music so you can hear it for yourself.



The speaker connected to my phone's bluetooth smoothly. In the video you can see me turn off the speaker and then it back on again - it remembered the connection and automatically reconnected to the phone. However it did not remember my old settings neither the volume to the fact that I had the bass button pressed.



The speaker is 13.75"L x 4 3/8"W x 6"H. Its weight is 6 pounds 1.5 oz.



The speaker comes with an optional leather strap for carrying the speaker. And the sides had permanent metal posts for attaching the straps. I would have preferred that the permanent metal posts were not there, so I had an option to stand the speaker on its side. The speaker has no mounting holes.



I am very impressed with this speaker. I hope the video gives you a good idea of what to expect.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.







AshopZones review ★★★★★

Razer Blade Stealth Ditches Discrete Graphics, Gains Amp

LAS VEGAS — Just when I thought Razer couldn't shave another ounce off of its suite of already ridiculously slim laptops, the company goes and proves me wrong with its latest creation, the Blade Stealth. Weighing a scant 2.75 pounds, the Stealth (available now, starting at $999) is making a serious play for the ultraportable crowd. The weight loss is a result of Razer ditching its discrete graphics in favor of an Intel integrated chip. But fear not gamers, Razer is also launching its own version of a graphics amplifier dubbed the Core which will be available sometime in the first half of 2016.

Razer let me have some quality time with both systems prior to CES and it looks like the company has a pair of certified winners on its hands.

Design

Wow, just wow. The Blade Stealth is absolutely gorgeous. Swathed in obsidian aluminum accented by the glowing green tri-snake emblem on its lid, this beauty is the spitting image of its bigger brothers, the Blade and the Blade Pro. The laptop measures 12.6 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches and weighs 2.75 pounds. To put things in perspective, that's lighter and slimmer than both the Dell XPS 13 (2.9 pounds, 11.98 x 7.88 x 0.33-0.6 inches, Apple MacBook Pro (2.96 pounds, 12.8 x 8.9 x 0.11-0.68 inches) and the Lenovo Yoga 900 (2.8 pounds, 12.75 x 8.86 x 0.59 inches).

Razer Blade CoreThe Razer Core is also a looker. Adhering to the dashing company uniform, the graphics amplifier's chassis is constructed from the same aircraft-grade aluminum as the notebooks. Measuring 8.6 x 4.13 x 13.38 inches, the Core is a more compact proposition compared to the Alienware's Graphics Amplifier (6.8 x 7.3 x 13.1 inches). The amps do have something in common, however: their use of custom lighting. But the Alienware's amp backlit zone only consists of the small alien head logo compared to the Core's interior which you can view through the large window, allowing the light to pour into the room. Display

The Stealth's good looks don't stop at the exterior. Beneath that black aluminum lid lies a 12.5-inch 4K (3840 x 2160) touch panel. The colors were vibrant particularly when it came to the greens and blues. According to Razer, the display measures 100 percent of the Adobe RGB color gamut. For instance, when I looked at a high-resolution image of a snake, I could easily see every single scale as well the deep shadows cast from its massive coils.

Keyboard

Instead of the usual trademark backlit green island-style keyboard, the Stealth is the first laptop with individually backlit keys. And thanks to Razer's Chroma technology, every key on the fullsize keyboard can be mapped in 1 of 16.8 million colors. Creative gamers can also take advantage of a multitude of lighting effects to create their own personal light show.

Specs/Pricing

Historically Razer has been known for placing its priority on performance, which makes for an ultra premium system with an equally premium price tag. The company is issuing a direct challenge to the likes of Dell and Apple, offering the same premium specs, but at an affordable price. The base model of the Blade Stealth starts at $999 and features a 2.5-GHz Intel Core i7-6500 dual core processor, 8GB of RAM, a 128GB PCIe SSD and Intel HD Graphics 520 GPU. For the same price, you can get a 13-inch MacBook Air with an Intel Core i5 CPU, 4GB of RAM, a 128GB Flash Storage and an Intel HD Graphics 6000.

Core

Since the Blade Stealth lacks discrete graphics, it will rely on the Core to do its heavy lifting. Similar to most graphic amplifiers on the market, the Core is a bring-your-own-GPU situation. That means you'll have to fork out some extra cash for a desktop graphics card. But Razer has yet to announce the pricing on the Core, so there's no telling how this will affect your bottom line.

In practice, the Core is easier to use than the Alienware's Graphics Amp. For example, putting in the graphics card is as simple as pulling out the chamber, installing the component and tightening a screw to secure it in place. Once, the GPU is in place, you slide the chamber back in and you're ready to go. I've encountered some difficulty prying open the Alienware's lid, but once I accessed the device's interior, it was relatively easy to place the card.

The bigger difficulty lies in actually getting the accompanying Alienware laptop to recognize the amp once its attached. There have been times during our testing where we had to consistently detach and reattach the amp via the proprietary port to access the desktop graphics card. With the Core, you simply plug into the Blade Stealth via a USB-C port. In the demo, the computer took about 3 to 4 seconds to switch over. However, the system did not handle my unplugging and plugging it in too quickly. Bottom Line

Razer has spent the last few years honing its craft, creating gaming laptops that could satisfy even the pickiest gamer. However the prohibitively high price tag kept all but the most deep-pocketed players from owning a system. With the Blade Stealth's affordable price, Razer is not only expanding its consumer base, it's sending a direct challenge to ultraportable and gaming laptop manufacturers. In 2016, it's game on.

Lenovo Gets Serious About Gaming with IdeaPad Y900

LAS VEGAS -- After spending several years straddling the line between entertainment and gaming, Lenovo is ready to play among the big boys with the power-packed IdeaPad Y900 laptop. Starting at $1,999 and available in July, the 17.3-inch notebook will feature potent Nvidia GTX 980M graphics, overclocking capability, and a mechanical keyboard with customizable RGB lighting. It's a welcome and serious step up from the middle-of-the-road specs of previous Lenovo models.

I had the opportunity to get some one-on-one time with Lenovo's first true gaming behemoth at CES 2016 and was mostly impressed with what I saw.

Design

It looks like Lenovo got my memo on continually using the same design for its gaming laptops. The IdeaPad Y900 still boasts a black aluminum chassis with subtle crosshatching. However, the lid has the bright red Y insignia, which the company has begun to use to brand its gaming equipment. The new accent is further complemented by a pair of darts, giving the laptop a car-hood aesthetic. The undercarriage also got an overhaul, swapping out the circular metal subwoofer and vents for large red-tinted triangles.

The 16.7 x 0.5 x 1.41-inch Y900 weighs 10.1 pounds, which firmly places it in the heavyweight class next to the Alienware 17 and MSI GT72 Dominator Pro, which weigh 8 and 8.4 pounds, respectively.

lenovo interior

While the Y900's new exterior is impressive, the party really gets started when you pop this bad boy open.  The red, metal speaker grilles are larger and occupy more of the top of the keyboard deck. Similar to Alienware notebooks, there's a customizable LED strip, which plays up the new customizable keyboard, replacing the usual one-note red backlit keys on previous models of the Y series.

The Y900 is decked out with a 17.3-inch IPS anti-glare display. I was a little disappointed to learn Lenovo is currently only offering the laptop with a 1920 x 1080 screen. Still, during my brief time with the system, I saw bright, vivid colors and sharp details, which gamers will appreciate, especially on titles like Witcher 3 where you can see every strand of the protagonists' hair blowing in the wind. 

Keyboard/Touchpad

Similar to last year's MSI GT80 Titan SLI, the Y900 will feature a mechanical keyboard. The Lenovo rep was reluctant to mention which kind of key switches the keyboard uses. Mystery switches aside, the keys felt nice and clicky, with some firm feedback. However, I'm still eager to get the Y900 in for testing.

Lenovo also took some cues from Alienware and added customizable RGB backlighting controlled by Lenovo's proprietary software Nerve Center. Gamers can designate different colors and effects to five different zones on the keyboard, including the touchpad.

Speaking of the touchpad, the LED-lined device is large and smooth, providing a nice contrast to the faux-leather palm rest. The slightly raised surface helped keep my hands in the correct typing posture, and felt good to boot. It's a design feature I'd love to see implemented on more laptops.


Specs

Although Lenovo didn't provide the exact specs for the preview model, the company did share a few juicy details. For instance, the processor can go up to an overclockable 6th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU with up to 64GB of RAM. You can also get a pair of 256GB PCIe SSDs in RAID 0 configuration with up to a 1TB hard drive.

None of the y900's configurations will ship with Intel integrated graphics. Instead, they'll rely on the sheer power of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 980M with either 4GB or 8GB of VRAM. This is a huge step up from the GTX 960 GPUs the company used in last year's model.

With that graphics card, gamers will finally have the ability to play even the most taxing titles at their highest settings without falling prey to stuttering frame rates. But I wish the company would consider offering a configuration with the GTX 980, Nvidia's desktop version of the card, so players could also use the laptop with the upcoming Oculus Rift and HTC Vive VR headsets.

Virtual-reality capabilities aside, the Lenovo Nerve Center lets you easily adjust the clock speed for both the CPU and the GPU, in case you want to overclock either. If you're looking for a more set-it-and-forget-it approach, the Y900 also has a prominent Turbo button located at the top right of the keyboard above the programmable macro keys.

Battery Life

According to Lenovo, the Y900 will last 5 hours on a charge, which is pretty respectable for a gaming laptop if the claims are true. Last year's Alienware 17 was one of the longest-lasting gaming laptops, with a time of 6:25 minutes. But I'll reserve my judgement until we receive our review unit.
Outlook

The Y900 is a gaming notebook that has an aggressive new look and a set of impressive specs to match, placing it firmly in competition with the heavy hitters in the category. It's going to be a long wait until July, but I'm looking forward to putting the IdeaPad Y900 through its paces soon.