Budget Windows 10 Laptop Battle: HP Stream 11 vs Acer Cloudbook 11 vs Lenovo 100S - A year ago, Windows 8 laptops dropped under the $200 price tag for the 1st time, within Microsoft's test their boundaries against Google's Chromebooks. 2 models for example - the HP Stream 11 and Asus X205TA - developed a strong case to the viability of cheaper Windows laptops. I did overview in between these models as well as the Acer C720 Chromebook, here
With the production of Windows 10 in 2010, you'll find new Windows 10 laptops obtainable below $200 which may have replaced those older models, which might be now mostly off of the market. These feature different hardware together with Microsoft's updated - and a lot of better, frankly - Windows 10 main system.
In this information I'll summarize my reviews on the following laptops:
- The Acer Cloudbook 11 was the initial sub-$200 Windows 10 laptop, and contains an MSRP of $189.99 and carries a year of Microsoft Office 365.
- It gets the following hardware specifications:
- Intel Celeron N3050 Braswell” dual-core processor at 1.6 GHz with burst to 2.16 GHz
- 2 GB of DDR3 RAM
- 32 GB of eMMC flash memory for local storage (is included with 1 TB OneDrive storage)
- 11.6? 1366×768 Display - TN Panel
- 1x USB 3.0 port, 1x USB 2.0 Port
- HDMI Out
- Bluetooth 4.0
The Cloudbook specs Intel's latest generation Braswell” budget Celeron processor, and even though it has improved graphics processing capabilities, furthermore, it has a slower clock speed versus the previous-generation Bay Trail” N2840. It does feature the latest generation 802.11ac WiFi and a full-size SD card slot and USB 3.0 port, and that means you find some good current generation hardware with regard to connectivity and I/.
The Cloudbook has a excellent trackpad, which can be easily the most beneficial I've seen with a lower-end Windows laptop, responsive both for basic controls and gesture input. The laptop keyboard can be a mixed bag, because the key travel and solution is fine, though the smaller size can make it challenging to type on initially.
Overall construction is about average because of this category. The Cloudbook does include a modern and neutral design, rendering it appropriate for both casual use as well as productivity. With a distance nothing regarding it would mark it to be a budget laptop.
The screen quality and battery are about average just for this class. The Cloudbook incorporates a 1366×768 TN display which is reasonably bright, and contains a matte anti-glare coating. It provides mediocre viewing angles. The battery last about Seven hours with standard mixed use, longer in case you turn the brightness down and are not playing video games.
I was impressed with how good the Cloudbook handles Microsoft Office applications, as well as the improved graphics performance in the Braswell” processor support Hearthstone to perform smoothly, and in some cases Portal 2 was usable at 720p with graphics configuration settings on low. Streaming video also worked with virtually no problems, like YouTube, Amazon, Netflix, and HBO Go. What's more, it did an admirable job playing the Windows 10 Minecraft Beta.
However, the Cloudbook 11 will not to able to own traditional Java-based Minecraft, despite having all settings refused and Optifine installed. in addition, it has surprisingly poor browsing the web performance, in spite of similar benchmarks since the previous-generation laptops. Pages like render very slowly with this laptop, and beyond some open tabs, the complete system slows into a crawl.
Acer has loaded up a fairly hefty level of bloatware for this device.
Why Buy the Acer Cloudbook 11:
- Selling price: At $189.99 MSRP, and also on sale for $139.99 from Amazon recently November 2015, the Cloudbook is usually a great value due to the fact Microsoft Office 365 is often $70 12 months by itself.
- Hearthstone plus the Windows 10 Minecraft Beta: The two of these entertainment applications both run rather effectively on the Cloudbook.
- Microsoft Office: Thinking about the price, the Cloudbook's performance in Microsoft Office apps is impressive.
- Trackpad: Easily the most beneficial trackpad I have come across over a budget Windows laptop.
- Why Avoid the Acer Cloudbook 11:
- Browsing The Web Performance: The Cloudbook struggles to perform even more than a number of open tabs immediately in Chrome or Edge, and complicated pages (like ) render very slowly in comparison with other budget options.
- Sdcard: For reasons unknown Acer used a full-size Micro sd card slot, nevertheless the card doesn't fully insert in the device. That may be irritating as you will need additional space after dark 32 GB of local storage.
- Minecraft (Java): The Cloudbook is actually unable to perform traditional Java-based PC Minecraft, averaging below 20 FPS in spite of all graphics settings down and Optifine installed.
- Keyboard: While a lesser size keyboard isn't unusual on 11.6? laptops, the Cloudbooks's will not be a terrific implementation of your small keyboard, making touch-typing much harder than it really should be.
- The HP Stream 11 was originally released in late 2014, but at the time of October 2015 was revised to add in a new processor as well as ship with Windows 10 pre-installed.
- Its hardware specs are the following:
- Intel Celeron N3050 Braswell” dual-core processor at 1.6 GHz with burst to 2.16 GHz
- 2 GB of DDR3 RAM
- 32 GB of eMMC flash memory for local storage (is sold with 1 TB OneDrive storage)
- 11.6? 1366×768 Display - TN Panel
- 1x USB 3.0 port, 1x USB 2.0 Port
- HDMI Out
- 720p webcam
- 802.11n Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth 4.0
Because the HP Stream 11 2015 provides the same processor, RAM, and storage configuration because Cloudbook 11, it's got many in the same strengths and weakness. It does a fantastic job running Windows 10 normally, along with Microsoft's Office applications. Video streaming successful, plus the Stream 11 can run Hearthstone as well since the Windows 10 Minecraft Beta.
There are a couple of major differences with all the Stream 11 that happen to be important to note, however.
The build quality in the Stream 11 2015 is very useful, since it was while using 2014 edition. It incorporates a quality textured lid, as well as the keyboard is superb for the laptop as of this price. The trackpad isn't nearly as good since the Cloudbook's, however it is considerably improved over not too long ago's version.
However the Stream carries above the previous version's 802.11n WiFi, which just isn't as powerful since the 802.11ac from the Cloudbook. Streaming games via Steam Streaming failed to work as well about the Stream 11 mainly because it did for the Cloudbook 11. HP also loads this revolutionary product up with bloatware, that's typical because of their Windows laptops.
HP also hasn't discounted this model as much since the Cloudbook (which as been the small sum of $139 on Black Friday) or perhaps the Lenovo 100S (containing been only $129 on Black Friday).
And, similar to last year, the Stream 11's available colors may appeal more with a younger audience instead of working professionals and search of your second computer.
Why Buy the HP Stream 11 2015:
- Hearthstone plus the Windows 10 Minecraft Beta: These two entertainment applications both run quite nicely on the Cloudbook.
- Microsoft Office: Thinking about the price, the HP Stream 11's performance in Microsoft Office apps is impressive.
- Keyboard: Easily the top keyboard I've come across with a budget Windows laptop, carried over from not too long ago's model.
- Quality: The Stream 11 incorporates a very solid build for a real lower end product, turning it into suitable for younger users.
- Why Avoid the HP Stream 11 2015:
- Web Surfing Performance: The HP Stream 11 struggles running more than a couple of open tabs at a time in Chrome or Edge, and complicated pages (like ) render very slowly in comparison to other budget options.
- Minecraft (Java): The HP Stream 11 is actually unable to own traditional Java-based PC Minecraft, averaging below 20 FPS in spite of all graphics settings down and Optifine installed.
- Bloatware: HP loads inside the Stream 11 using a significant number of Bloatware, leaving the person to remove 12 or so applications and shortcuts.
- Color Options: The HP Stream 11 can be acquired from most retailers in Blue or Purple, neither of which can be particularly in your house in a business situation.
- Price: The HP Stream 11 posseses an MSRP of $199.99 and has now been discounted to $179.99, that's still an incredible value, but is usually a lower discount than is available for other, similar laptops.
Early in 2015, Lenovo released the S21e, a sub-$200 Windows 8.1 laptop, which includes now been replaced while using IdeaPad 100S Unlike the earlier two laptops, it truly is powered because of the Intel Atom Bay Trail 3735F” processor, and possesses a lot in common together with the Asus X205TA.
Its hardware specs are the following:- Intel Atom 3735F quad-core processor at 1.33 GHz with burst one.83 GHz
- 2 GB of DDR3 RAM
- 32 GB of eMMC flash memory for local storage
- 11.6? 1366×768 Display - TN Panel
- 2x USB 2.0 Port
- Bluetooth 4.0
The perhaps most obviously difference around the Lenovo IdeaPad S100 is that it isn't going to use the N3050 Celeron processor, instead sticking while using previous generation Atom Bay Trail 3735F processor. While it's got a lower base clock speed and much less execution units devoted to graphics processing, it truly is also a quad-core processor plus in real-world use, it's got much better performance.
This is extremely apparent during web surfing, the spot that the 100S completes page rendering faster compared to the Cloudbook 11 or Stream 11. Additionally it is better at general multitasking, and runs smoothly around about a half-dozen tabs.
Traditional Java-based Minecraft also runs at about 30 FPS within the IdeaPad, together with excellent performance from the Windows 10 Beta Edition. The only performance benefit I could identify through the N3050 was so it offers slightly better performance in Microsoft Office applications plus 3D games built to work with lower-end systems, like Half-Life 2.
The IdeaPad is also a beautiful design, using a modern aesthetic and good built quality. It is accessible in four color options, turning it into suitable for both casual and business use. The screen carries a 180 degree hinge, that may go right back flat against a desk.
It weighs only 2.2 lbs, which causes it to become the lightest on the three laptops, and possesses similar life cycle of battery of about 8 hours. Additionally it is surprisingly tight on bloatware, offering over 17 Gigabyte of free space on first boot, the best of these three laptops.
However, there may be one major issue while using Ideapad 100S: the trackpad isn't going to support any gestures or multi-finger controls. This can include basic goods like scrolling websites using two fingers. Essentially, which means you should anticipate to use a mouse anytime you utilize the 100S. I haven't used a laptop in several years that lacked this functionality.
In addition, laptop keyboards exhibits a lot of flex during use. The keys can be decent to type on plus the actual layout is fairly good, even so the give inside the laptop itself is over I would expect.
Why Buy the Lenovo IdeaPad 100S:
- Lightweight and engaging: The 100S has become the most modern-looking of such devices, along with the available color options are ideal for business and use.
- Browsing The Web Performance: Versus the N3050 Celeron-powered laptops, the world wide web browsing performance on the Lenovo is much better.
- Lack of Bloatware: Lenovo has installed hardly any bloatware about the 100S.
- Runs Traditional Java-based Minecraft: Despite previous generation Intel HD Graphics, the IdeaPad 100S can run both traditional Minecraft along with the Windows 10 Beta.
- Why Avoid the Lenovo IdeaPad 100S:
- Trackpad: Not having gesture support inside trackpad is usually a bizarre omission meaning users possibly will want a mouse when they use this laptop.
- Keyboard flex: While Lenovo did a compelling job implementing a reduced keyboard with regards to key size and, laptop keyboards itself exhibits significant flex while typing.
- I believe you'll find specific scenarios where each of such laptops include the ideal choice.
- If you're happy to always utilize a mouse, and never primarily occurs laptop for writing, strongly evaluate the Lenovo IdeaPad 100S. It is often a lightweight device with the most beneficial web surfing performance of such three.
- If you are shopping to get a student who'll be using their laptop to get a lot of work with MS Office, as well as the build quality on the device is significant, evaluate the HP Stream 11 2015.
- If you will need a good trackpad and are happy to limit yourself to some tabs at the same time, evaluate the Cloudbook 11, which can be in the middle of such devices regarding weight, and is also an all-around excellent value.
- I must also note that we have a really good Chromebook, the Asus C201 , which is available too below $200. Even though it cannot run Windows apps, they have a great screen, trackpad, and keyboard for this cost and has better yet browsing the web performance compared to the Lenovo. If you primarily occurs computer for browsing the web, definitely determine that a Chromebook meets your requirements.
HP Stream 11 vs Acer Cloudbook 11 vs Lenovo 100S
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