Although well past retirement age, I was always gadget oriented and fascinated by the evolution of consumer electronics. For the past several years, I have been working part-time at a national retail electronics chain advising customers how to buy computers, printers and digital cameras. With the introduction of artificial intelligence in computers, I wanted to point out a few features in the new computers for anyone thinking about replacing an older unit or who has not been in the market for a while.
On the current Microsoft keyboard, there is a new button on the lower right side called the Co-Pilot tab. Click on that and Microsoft’s version of AI will invite you to ask or type a question. It is essentially an enhancement of the search process invented by Google.
Should you review the specifications of a laptop, you will find a nits number starting at 300. That indicates the brightness of the screen. The higher number simply means a brighter image. However, you will also see a resolution figure which indicates picture clarity. Most screens-TV, computer monitors and laptops run at a 1080 or 1200×1980 pixel count. The higher number signifies a more defined and vivid picture. A premium laptop(or TV would be at 3840×2160 which is reaching 4K and perhaps OLED quality.
Many Windows based laptops have a “360” capability which means they fold in half and convert into a tablet. Those laptops have a built-in wireless keyboard. Another feature incorporated into these units is Windows INK which enables you to write and draw on the screen with a special pen you can purchase online or at the electronics store. Most of these units have touchscreen capability as well.
Apple makes its own processors. The other major computer brands-Dell, HP, Asus, Lenovo, Acer will be equipped with a processor made by either Intel or AMD. Both perform very efficiently and offer generally good battery life. Some of the brands such as the Microsoft Surface also use the Snapdragon-Qualcomm processor, which has some program limitations but is known for being battery efficient.
A high-powered computer used for gaming, engineering, graphic design work, architectural renderings normally has a separate graphics card made by Nvidia or AMD. When you see a green and black sticker on a laptop which is the Nvidia symbol, the video card with its own memory bank is separate from the processor giving the computer considerably more power to do advanced specialty work.
Laptops can be attached to a monitor with an HDMI cable and converted into a desktop. Screen dimensions range from 13 to 18 inches. In many instances, purchasing a wireless mouse may make it easier to manage the screen. Thus far, computers have escaped the imposition of tariffs so it is still possible to find competitive values.
Besides the touch-screen, you can click on ctrl and + or – to change screen size.
Press the Microsoft button along with the right or left arrow and you can split the screen. The same button and letter D will hide the screen instantly.
A site called “keyboard shortcuts” offers a range of ways to adjust your monitor and engage in numerous tasks simultaneously.
I hope this information provides some insight and assistance.
I’ve used Chromebooks almost exclusively for the past six or seven years. My latest purchase (made about a year ago) was a Chromebook Plus from Costco that cost around $250. The AI program that comes with the “Plus” versions is (in my opinion) amazing.
Because I do not wish to be tracked on the internet nor do I want to receive targeted ads from Google, I do not use’s Google Chrome browser. On my PC, I use Firefox Private Mode, and on my Apple devices I use Safari and do not allow tracking. I am sure that Chrome is a fine browsing application. “Free” software such as Gmail or Chrome, or MS Edge usually involves this kind of tradeoff, between privacy and cost. These are personal choices we each can make.
In addition to Windows PCs and devices running Linux, I have also used Chromebooks since they were first made available in 2010 (I received a prototype for free from Google for early adopter review). Since then I have had several different Chromebooks with ever expanding functionality and quality.
I just upgraded to the latest and greatest available: Lenovo Chromebook Plus (14″ MediaTek)
If you are a user of the Google ecosystem and don’t need to run Windows applications, and mostly just access web based content, I highly recommend Chromebooks for their ease of use and maintainability. They can also run Android and Linux applications. They are a very useful tool.