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Top 5 affordable laptops of this holiday season

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The holiday season is here and we are all wondering what are the best gifts we could give our loved ones. Laptops aren’t normally the first things to come to mind, however, for really special people in our lives they can be the best choice. Of course, they aren’t exactly cheap, especially if you want to purchase a good laptop. Since it is a gift for a special person, supposedly everyone wants it to be great. Even though the truly impressive, high-end devices are insanely expensive, there are a number of more affordable laptops that can turn into the perfect Christmas gifts.

Naturally, it really depends on the recipient of the gift what the best model is for them. There are great business laptops, gaming laptops, some amazing ultrabooks that are incredibly portable, and there are really good entry-level laptops that are suitable for kids and beginner computer users. We made up a short list for you, with 5 affordable laptops you could consider giving away as a gift and that will make you become the best Santa of the year.

Acer Swift 3 

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The Acer Swift 3 is one of the best laptops, suitable for the majority of users. Just like any other Acer laptop, it has a stylish design, with elegant lines, and the well-known silver-black color combination we’ve seen in other Acer devices over the years. While the design is not new at all, it still looks great, and it certainly will be to the liking of many laptop users. The 14-inch device is perfect to carry around and it still is large enough to be comfortable to use. The laptop weighs only 0.77lbs and it is less than 1 inch thick, so it’s one of the most portable devices one can buy right now, at least in this price range. Acer’s Swift 3 is one of the best affordable laptops as it comes in three different configurations, all of which are powerful enough for average users. The device features 7th generation IntelCore i3 or i5 processors and depending on the configuration, it includes 4GB or 8GB RAM and up to 256GB SSD flash storage. The 14-inch LED display has full HD resolution and it ensures a great visual experience. Overall, it is a solid device, both inside and out and it definitely is one of the best affordable laptops on the market this season. Right now, it is available for prices starting at around $600, depending on the seller.

     Buy Acer Swift 3 on Amazon

Lenovo Ideapad 720S

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The 2018 Lenovo Ideapad 720S is another one of the best affordable laptops you can give as a gift. This model is a bit more expensive than the previously presented Acer Swift 3, but it’s still under $700 and it has a great number of features to impress with. The Lenovo Ideapad 720S is slightly smaller than the Acer Swift 3, having a 13.3-inch display, even so, it is quite heavier. Of course, it is still portable, with its 4.41 pounds, but it is definitely considerably heavier than the Acer laptop. The design of this model is simple and nice too, with the same silver-black duo.

Under the hood, the Lenovo Ideapad 720S carries an AMD Ryzen 5 2500U Processor and it includes 8GB of DDR4 memory and 512GB flash storage. The display has the same full HD resolution, so the visual experience should be quite similar to the one provided by the Acer Swift 3. Of course, the screen is a bit smaller, and this counts for many users. While the Ideapad 720S doesn’t seem to be as impressive as the Acer Swift 3, t still is a good laptop that would make a perfect gift. It is available for $689, which is more than the price of the Acer device but it still is considerably lower than the price of high-end laptops.

Check out the Lenovo Ideapad 720S on Amazon 

Asus Chromebook Flip 302CA

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While many people prefer traditional laptops, there is a large number of users that also like convertible devices. The Asus Chromebook Flip 302CA is one of these affordable laptops that users can flip around and use in different modes. The 12.5-inch Chromebook features a touchscreen, which the previous models did not offer, and it can be used in laptop mode, tablet mode, tent mode and more thanks to its 360-degree hinge. With its 2.65-pound body, the Asus Chromebook Flip 302CA is not as lightweight as the Acer Swift 3 but it isn’t as heavy as the Lenovo Ideapad 720S either. As a matter of fact, it is somewhere between the two, making it an ultra-portable device that can easily be carried in a bag.

The processor of the Asus Chromebook Flip 302CA is an IntelCore m3 one and the device includes 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. While some people consider the Asus Chromebook Flip 302CA to be more like a tablet than a laptop, we think that it is one of the best affordable laptops you can give as a gift this year. The device’s price is lower than $500 for the m3 model. There is also a variant that features an m5 processor and this is more expensive, having a $627 price tag.

Buy Asus Chromebook Flip 302CA on Amazon

Microsoft Surface Go

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The new Microsoft Surface Go is another one of the best affordable laptops you can buy right now. Just like the Chromebook Flip, it isn’t a traditional laptop, instead, it is a convertible device that can be used as a tablet or a laptop, depending on the users’ needs. The Surface Go has a solid build and the good looks of all Surface devices. The 10-inch touchscreen device might not be the largest one ever, but it is great form completing work on the go, for creating sketches, drawings, plans, and more, and it is definitely good for watching videos or for simply surfing the web when commuting or traveling.

The Microsoft Surf Go comes with an Intel Pentium Gold processor, it includes up to 8GB of RAM and up to 128GB SSD storage. The device is light-weight, and thanks to its rather small dimensions, it is really easy to carry around all day. Naturally, it runs Windows, to be more specific, it runs Windows 10 Home in S mode out of the box. Customers can choose to purchase the device only or they can go for the device and Type Cover combo in order to get the laptop experience.

Check out the Microsoft Surface Go on Amazon

Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Series Gaming Edition 7567

affordable laptops

Last but not least, we must include on our list of best affordable laptops a gaming device too. The Dell Inspiron 7000 series Gaming Edition 7567 is exactly what its name suggests: a gaming laptop that will most certainly impress everyone if you buy them this laptop as a gift. The Dell gaming laptop is not as portable as the previously presented models are, but then again, not all laptops have to be carried around with us at all times. The 15.6-inch device is the biggest one on the list but it is definitely one of the best affordable laptops one can give away this holiday season.

The Dell laptop has the specific gaming laptop design we all love, and it looks simply amazing. The device doesn’t only look great, it is also quite powerful. Dell equipped this model with 7th generation IntelCore i5 or i7 processors and Nvidia GTX 1050 graphics cards with 4GB of RAM. The laptop includes 8GB of RAM and a 1TB Hybrid Hard Drive with 8GB cache. The laptop works like a charm and it is undoubtedly one of the best affordable laptops one can buy without robbing a bank.

See more about the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Series Gaming Edition 7567 on Amazon

 

Mobile Devices

3 Video Games About Women’s Health

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Video games have transcended entertainment to become powerful tools for promoting health and wellness. One notable genre in this realm is fitness gaming, exemplified by titles like Hatsune Miku Fit Boxing, which motivates players to engage in physical activity to enhance their fitness levels. Building on this foundation, developers have ventured into women’s health with games designed to raise awareness and empower players to take control of their well-being. Here are 3 video games on women’s health that provide valuable health information and foster a sense of agency to uplift women around the world.

Tampon Run – Menstrual health

Created by Girls Who Code alumnae Andrea Gonzales and Sophie Houser in 2014, Tampon Run is an old-school 8-bit online game where the main character, Luna, lobs tampons to destroy enemies, who will confiscate the tampons if she lets them pass by. Interestingly, the concept of weaponized tampons is based on a real incident that occurred in 2013, where Texas state troopers confiscated tampons as potential projectiles, but not guns, from visitors observing a vote on abortion restrictions at the Texas State Capitol. The goal of Tampon Run is to destigmatize periods and menstrual products, which, up until recently, have not been properly studied to measure their absorbency, which underscores the need to address menstrual health so that women can get better care.

In between tossing tampons, Luna shares empowering messages about how periods are a natural part of women’s lives and should not be a source of shame or embarrassment. The game is available to play on the Tampon Run website and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for iOS users.

PCOS Vitality – PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a complex hormonal condition and the leading cause of female infertility that affects approximately 5 to 6 million women in the US, according to the Endocrine Society. Common features of the condition include having irregular menstrual periods, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries. Additionally, some studies estimate that up to 88% of women with PCOS are overweight or obese. While there are weight loss programs helping women tackle PCOS, focusing on aspects like lifestyle, symptom management, diet, and other tips for how to lose weight with PCOS, the condition itself remains grossly under-researched. For some women, it may take years to confirm that they have PCOS, as there are other disorders that mimic PCOS signs and symptoms that must be excluded.

The lack of research has extended to a lack of awareness among the general population and is what clinicians from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland are trying to address with the 2023 game PCOS Vitality. Essentially a learning tool, the game takes users through a simple obstacle course. As you click toward the finish line, you are asked simple trivia questions about PCOS. The game is free to play on Focus Games’ website.

Bound by Blood – Period poverty

Period poverty refers to the lack of regular access to period products, painkillers, or underwear during a menstrual cycle. In the US, where 16.9 million menstruating women live in poverty, two-thirds cannot afford basic menstrual products. Period poverty has also been associated with mental health issues and urinary tract infections.

Available to play on the itch.io website, Bound by Blood was created by Jessica Gates in 2017 and aims to educate players about the reality of period poverty. Users take the character of Beth, a homeless woman who wakes up in her car and realizes that she’s started her period. Players then make a series of choices to try to stay as hygienic as possible in spite of lacking resources such as menstrual products and clean restrooms. There isn’t really a way to “win” the game, and it is instead a peek into the reality of life where period products are inaccessible and how this affects women’s quality of life.

Through these games, players not only gain valuable insights into various aspects of women’s health but also find themselves actively engaged in their own well-being. As developers continue to explore this emerging field, the potential for video games to serve as educational tools and catalysts for change in healthcare remains promising

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Consoles

Despite popular belief, PS4 sales in the UK skyrocketed last year

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PS4 sales in the UK climbed by a shocking 633 percent year-over-year in 2023, so apparently the old system isn’t dead yet. The previous year’s very limited supply of the system is likely a major factor in this figure, since the console’s lifespan was drastically reduced because of chip shortages caused by the pandemic. Still, it’s proof that PlayStation’s original platform has unmet demand.

With the very low prices of PS4 software (both in-store and online at the PS Store), this strategy makes a lot of sense. Plus, it’s future-proof, so there’s no harm in stocking up on PS4s while new-gen pricing is still high, since if you decide to switch to a PS5 in the future, you can transfer all of your purchases across. Not to mention that the majority of new releases still come out on the PS4, with several offering free PS5 upgrades.

While the percentage rise may seem huge, real PS4 sales will probably be much lower. It’s a sign that the gadget, which is now a decade old, isn’t completely dead yet, and we expect it to keep receiving maintenance for a while longer. Of course, this is great news for Sony, because the company would rather have PS4 players playing on its last-gen gadget than none at all, even if it would love to have them upgrade to PS5.

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Consoles

New PS5 firmware is available for download!

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A PS5 firmware update on a cold winter morning is unmatched. The latest PS5 system software update is 23.02–08.40.00 from Sony. Does this one add useful features or just boost system performance?

Though closer to the latter, it’s more than Sony’s favorite patch note. It fixes security issues, improves messages and usability, and boosts system software performance. Official patch notes for this 1.185GB update:

  • We updated system software security
  • We improved system software stability and performance
  • Some screens now have better messages and usability

That’s it. PS5 gets another win to recover from its midweek slump. Do you share our enthusiasm for this firmware update? Comment below. To spice things up, make your comment rhyme.

 

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