Why You Should Buy a 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop

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Can’t decide between buying a new standard laptop or a tablet? Well the decision is easy when you have the option to buy a 2-in-1 convertible laptop. No longer have to choose between whether to bring your full laptop or just your tablet on your next business meeting – you can bring both.

We realize that these types of computers have been around for awhile, but that doesn’t diminish their “cool factor.” Even though they have been around, there is still major improvements being made and these devices are getting more and more impressive. From computers who’s screens flip all the way around, rotate, or completely detach – there are so many options with convertible laptops.

 

Flex Tech’s Favorite Convertible Laptops:

Lenovo Yoga 3

Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro

Lenovo changed the game when it initially introduced the Yoga. Now it has been expanding on the technology with its latest version. It is heavier than some of the competitors, but it makes up for it in the display specs. The power plug is a USB, so it gives you an extra port for when you need it. Other strengths Lenovo boasts is the extended battery life and fast processing speeds.

Pros: Cons:
Full HD Display Exposed Keyboard
360-Degree Hinges  Bulky in Tablet Mode
Long Battery Life

convertible laptop

HP Spectre x360 

If you’re looking for a windows computer that competes with the Apple Macbook, this is it. The HP Spectre combines the sleekness of a Mac and paired it with the functionality of the Lenovo Yoga. It has comparable battery life and processor speed with the Macbook Air, and is thinner and lighter than the Yoga. This is a great option for people who need the power of a laptop but want the option of a tablet.

Pros: Cons:
Excellent, High Resolution Display Exposed Keyboard
360-Degree Hinges Heavier than Competitors
Long Battery Life
Solid Aluminum Body

surface-pro-3Windows Surface Pro 3

If you’re leaning towards a device that looks like a tablet and acts like a laptop, consider the Windows Surface Pro 3. It is lightweight with 12-inch display and detachable keyboard. This device was designed to seamlessly combine the laptop and tablet. It is reliable with a i5 CPU and 256GB SSD. This device is perfect for people who are constantly deciding whether to pack a laptop or tablet as it can truly function as both.

Pros: Cons:
Excellent, High Resolution Display Keyboard sold separately
Detachable from Keyboard Average Battery Life
Lightweight  Runs Hot at Times
Truly Functions as Both

Do you have a convertible laptop? If you’ve recently bought one or are planning to soon, let us know what you chose in the comments below!

Windows 10 Features – What To Be Excited About

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Windows 10 has been the topic of discussion for quite some time with anticipation building for the official launch of the new operating system. From the looks of the preview demos, this is going to be a great upgrade for business and personal users alike.

Set to launch later this year Windows 10 is said to be a free upgrade to existing Windows users. So if you have Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and even Windows Phone, you’re in luck. Since the OS is getting a major overhaul, here’s a break down of the top ten Windows 10 features to look forward to.

New Web Browser

The days of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer are limited. Windows 10 will be launching a brand new default web browser: Project Spartan. With this browser Microsoft has focused on user experience by streamlining the appearance across different devices which is something Internet Explorer has struggled with. Other things to look forward to in Project Spartan include: an offline-capable reading list similar to Apple’s, PDF support, and Cortana integration.

Return of the Start Menu

Microsoft is bringing back the traditional Start Menu with a twist. They old search functions are back making it easier to navigate your PC. But it’s been updated by and additional area of live tiles that can be personalized so you see the information that is important to you.

windows 10 features - start menu

Continuum

Do you have a 2-in-1 computer? Continuum is a new feature that helps you switch back and forth smoothly between tablet and PC mode. When you detach the keyboard from the screen, you’ll be prompted to enter tablet-mode which is designed to be touch based. Continuum automatically senses if a keyboard and mouse are connected and displays prompts automatically.

Cortana for the Desktop

Microsoft’s digital voice assistant, Cortana, is coming to PCs with the launch of Windows 10. Microsoft is taking the features from mobile and integrating them into the PC for a seamless user experience with Cortana. Launch your favorite apps, listen to your music library, set reminders and alarms, call your contacts, and of course ask everyday questions. Cortana pulls answers from Bing along with data from your computer’s hard drive or One Drive account.

Improved Multitasking

Task view button allows you to see all of your open windows at once and switch between them, making multi tasking a piece of cake. They have also updated the snap assist feature. You can view up to four applications on the same screen. Snap Assist has also gotten smarter. It will intuitively suggest apps that work well together and you often use at the same time.

windows 10 features - snap assist

Multiple Desktops

You are no longer limited to one desktop. Microsoft is adding virtual desktops to Windows 10. You can create multiple desktops that you can switch between depending on what you are doing. Each desktop has another set of windows as if you are on a different screen. You can had a desktop designated for personal use and switch over to a virtual desktop that is specifically set up for business tasks.

windows 10 features - multiple desktops

Notification Center

Notifications got a makeover in Windows 10. Instead of a small notification in the lower right-had corner that is often overlooked, notifications now appear larger in the upper right corner of the desktop, similar to Apple’s OS X.

Universal Apps

Microsoft will be introducing new apps that are, you guessed it, universal. These apps will be integrated into all devices, giving the user a seamless experience when switching between phone, PC, and tablet. The apps include Photos, Videos, Maps, People & Messaging, and Mail & Calendar. Information on these apps are stored in One Drive and can be accessed from any of your devices. Get someone’s contact information on your cell phone and be able to send them an email from your PC in a matter of seconds.

Office Suite

Not only are the apps getting updated, the Microsoft Office apps are getting revamped as well. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook will all be touch based interface that will work on all of your devices.

Command Prompts

Keyboard shortcuts for everyone! Windows 10 is the first operating system in a long time that allows users to personalize Command Prompt. Although this may be a little complex to set up, if done correctly Command Prompt allows you to set up keyboard shortcuts that you can use on your computer.

It seems like we have a lot to look forward to with the release of Windows 10, which is expected to come out later this year. In the meantime, Microsoft is still developing the operating system so there may be more surprises in store before Windows 10 hits the consumer market. What do you think about the new features in Windows 10?

The End of Windows 7 Mainstream Support

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windows 7 mainstream support

January 13 marked the end of Microsoft support for Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1).

Windows 7 is the most popular operating system for PCs worldwide. It is more stable than the previous Windows Vista, and more familiar than the updated Windows 8. It’s no wonder why many people are in a panic over Microsoft “killing” their preferred operating system. But that’s just it, Microsoft isn’t killing off Windows 7, it is slowly phasing it out. There are two stages in retracting the operating system: mainstream support and extended support.

Windows 7 Mainstream Support

Mainstream support gives customers free security and non-security updates. You can contact Microsoft either online or via telephone support for specific products. Mainstream support expires after 5 years from release, or 2 years after successor product is launched.

Windows 7 Extended Support

Once mainstream support expires, Microsoft narrows the amount of service it offers on that product and calls it extended support. Microsoft will maintain free security updates for products in the extended support phase. This ensures that the operating system doesn’t become vulnerable to online hackers. Other support issues aren’t technically offered but can be resolved for a fee through Microsoft. Extended support expires a minimum of 5 years after general availability or for 2 years after the second successor product is launched, whichever is longer. Extended support is expected to end on January 14, 2020 for Windows 7.

See the differences in this chart from Microsoft:

Windows 7 mainstream support
Although Microsoft may not be immediately killing off Windows 7, it is making it more difficult for you computer to run on the older operating system.

What this means for you:

  • No updated appearances or features
  • Microsoft will charge for software support
  • Security issues will still be serviced by Microsoft
  • Occasional stability fixes for businesses with Extended Support contracts
  • PCs will continue to be sold with the Windows 7 operating system

While Microsoft is slowly saying goodbye to Windows 7 we can be expecting a new operating system, Windows 10, later this year. Is this a coincidence or just a way to encourage more people to switch over? Either way, Windows 7 users will have to upgrade sooner or later. The initial introduction to this will be announced on January 21st. Stay tuned for more information on Windows 10.

What Causes A Blue Screen Of Death?

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Windows_XP_BSODOne of the biggest annoyances for Windows users over the years has been the dreaded “Blue Screen of Death” (BSOD).  Unlike crashing programs, the BSOD strikes from out of nowhere at any time and brings your entire computer to its knees — and along with it, any unsaved work.  In prior versions of Windows, all a blue screen would give you is a screen full of diagnostic information most users couldn’t understand.  Since Windows 8, Microsoft did away with the technobabble and replaced it with the more relatable, but still frustrating, frowny-face emoticon.

So what causes these critical system errors?  Here’s a few things to watch for after you’ve been blue-screened:

Software Problems

If you encounter a BSOD after installing software or updating a device driver, this might be one logical place to look for a solution.  Sometimes software conflicts, viruses or poorly-written drivers for things like graphics cards can cause your system to blue screen.  If you notice your computer slowing down, it is most likely a situation related to a software issue, not a hardware issue.  You can try to restart your computer in Safe Mode (by holding down F8 on boot-up).  If things work normally in Safe Mode but don’t on a regular boot, it is most likely a software related issue.  You can try uninstalling the software you most recently installed that may be causing the problem, or you can use System Restore to roll your computer back to a previous, working state.

Hardware Problems

Hardware can also trigger blue screens of death.  Bad sticks of memory (RAM), faulty hard drives, power supply problems and overheating processors (CPUs) are all common culprits of blue screen errors.  If you’ve recently added new hardware or RAM and you get an error, it could be damaged or malfunctioning.  If you notice your computer all of a sudden succumbing to blue screens, it could be an existing piece of hardware failing or a CPU fan that stops cooling your processor.  If your system fails to boot, or exhibits issues even in safe mode, a hardware problem may be to blame.

If you are having blue screens of death or other nagging issues with your PCs, feel free to contact us.  We’d be happy to help you resolve all your computer-related issues!