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]]>Photo by Engadget
Google Chromecast with Google TV (4K)
This is a 20 percent discount for the top pick in our streaming device buying guide.
$40 at AmazonExplore More Buying Options$40 at Best Buy
Google has run this discount several times in the past: It’s a few bucks more than the lowest price we’ve ever seen, but it’s still $10 off the device’s typical going rate. It’s also the first major discount the Chromecast has received in the new year. The offer is available at several retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, B&H and the Google Store. According to Google’s listing, it’ll last through February 11.
The 4K Chromecast was released way back in 2020 and doesn’t support Wi-Fi 6 (or 6E), so we wouldn’t be surprised to see a refresh at some point. That said, the existing model is still snappy enough to navigate apps and load up content. It supports all the major streaming services and the most-used HDR formats (Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+), as well as Dolby Atmos audio via HDMI passthrough. The dongle itself plugs directly to a TV’s HDMI port, and it comes with a simple remote that can also control volume and power for your TV (though it lacks a dedicated play/pause button).
But you’d mainly buy the Chromecast for its UI. Instead of presenting a grid of apps like a Roku device, Google TV takes a more content-centric approach, proactively recommending shows and movies you may like based on your viewing history. This works well: Recommendations are pulled from a wide range of services, and series you’ve been watching recently are usually placed toward the top, so it’s easy to jump into the next episode. It can also integrate with certain live TV services like YouTube TV and Sling TV to show what’s on right from the menu. You can create separate personalized profiles for different people, and contextual searches through the Google Assistant typically work great. You’ll still see sponsored content, as with most streamers, but the advertising here generally isn’t egregious as it is on, say, Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks.
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is another affordable option that we recommend in our buying guide; it’s currently available for $39 as well, though that deal has been around for most of the last two months. Its app-based interface is more basic than Google TV, and it’s generally not as precise as the Chromecast when searching for content. But if you want a streamer that just shows you apps and gets out of the way, it might be a better fit. Roku’s streamer also supports Apple AirPlay, so you can beam content to it right from an iPhone. If you’ve got much more cash to burn, meanwhile, the $129 Apple TV 4K is faster and less ad-filled than either device, but <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:B&H Photo;elmt:;cpos:12;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=95276f3c-7b79-4c1e-803f-981cd9f7a968&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=B%26H+Photo&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5iaHBob3RvdmlkZW8uY29tL2MvcHJvZHVjdC8xNzMxMjI2LVJFRy9hcHBsZV9tbjg3M2xsX2FfYXBwbGVfdHZfNGtfM3JkLmh0bWwiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6Ijk5MTZjZWVkLWELS
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]]>The post The best Windows laptops for 2024 appeared first on Best News.
]]> Quick OverviewMore options
Dell XPS 13
Best Windows laptop overall
$1,099 at Dell$1,292 at AmazonSee more options
Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-347N Laptop
Best budget Windows laptop
$347 at Amazon$440 at NeweggSee more optionsMore options
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14
Best Windows laptop for gaming
$1,299 at ASUS$950 at AmazonSee more options
Lenovo Yoga 9i
Best Windows laptop with a 360-degree hinge
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (2022), 13″ 2-in-1 Tablet & Laptop, Thin & Lightweight, Intel 12th Gen i5 Fast Processor for Multi-Tasking, 8GB RAM, 256GB Storage with Windows 11, Sapphire Microsoft Copilot
Best Windows laptop with a 2-in-1 design
$850 at Amazon$1,000 at MicrosoftSee more options
MSI Stealth 14 Studio
A powerful, thin-and-light option
$1,900 at MicrocenterMore options
Razer Blade 18
A super high-end option
$3,500 at Adorama$3,500 at Amazon$3,800 at NeweggSee more optionsSee 2 more
Performance
The challenge when thinking about performance is figuring out your sweet spot. That’s because while a laptop with blazing speed is nice, you may be paying for more oomph than you need. But if you skimp and get a weak processor, even simple tasks can become a chore and you might end up in a situation where you need to upgrade again sooner than you’d like. Performance is more than just clockspeeds too, so we also consider things like fast wake times, storage speeds, multitasking and more advanced features like support for ray tracing.
Display and webcams
Regardless of whether a notebook has a touchscreen or a more traditional panel, we look for bright displays (300+ nits or more) that are easy use outdoors or in sunny rooms, accurate colors and wide viewing angles. Screens with high refresh rates are great for competitive gamers, while those with wider color gamuts are important for content creation. And even if you don’t plan on spending a ton of time on video calls, every laptop needs a decent webcam (1080p or higher).
Ports and connectivity
Even with advancements in cellular modems and WiFi, dedicated ports for transferring data or connecting peripherals can make or break a laptop. Ideally, all but the thinnest and lightest systems come with three USB ports, while things like built-in SD card readers can be extremely handy when trying to import media from a camera. And if a notebook is saddled with a slow or outdated WiFi modem (we’re looking for Wi-Fi 6 or later), that’s basically an immediate disqualification.
Battery life
It doesn’t matter how powerful a laptop is if it conks out when you need it the most. Typically we look for runtimes of at least eight hours on a charge, but longer is always better. That said, on gaming machines with thirsty GPUs, you may have to settle for a bit less. And on bigger machines, it’s also important to consider if the system can charge via USB-C or if it needs a larger, proprietary power brick.
Engadget
Dell XPS 13
Best Windows laptop overall
Screen size: 13-inch | Touchscreen: No | Processor: 12th-gen Intel Core i5/i7 | Installed memory: Up to 16GB | Storage: Up to 512GB | Weight: 2.56 pounds | Battery life: Up to 12 hours
It’s no surprise that we love the Dell XPS 13. It’s thin, lightweight and it has one of the best screens you can find on a 13-inch ultraportable. And while the XPS 13 doesn’t have the fastest CPU around, a 12th-gen Intel chip is more than enough for a basic workload. The latest XPS 13 model is the slimmest yet, though it loses the headphone jack in the process. If you need a 3.5mm port, or you’re just looking to save some money, it’s also worth considering the slightly older XPS 13 models. And if you want to future-proof your next laptop a bit more, consider the XPS 13 Plus, which comes with 13th-gen Intel processors and is currently the best Windows laptop for college students in our book.
For 2024, Dell is phasing out the classic XPS design for the one we’ve seen on the XPS 13 Plus, which will simply be called the XPS 13 going forward. You may want to hold off on picking up a new XPS until the latest models become available, which is expected to happen sometime in Q1.
ProsLightweight and attractive designStrong performanceLovely screenConsNo headphone jack$1,099 at DellExplore More Buying Options$1,292 at Amazon
Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-347N Laptop
Best budget Windows laptop
Screen size: 15-inch | Touchscreen: No | Processor: 11th-gen Intel Core i3 | Installed memory: 8GB | Storage: 128GB | Weight: 3.64 pounds | Battery life: Up to 10 hours
There’s a reason we selected the Acer Aspire 5 as our top choice in our best budget Windows laptop guide: It’s sturdy, fast enough and offers decent battery life. We typically don’t expect much with laptops under $500, but the Aspire 5 has consistently been a solid performer. It’s an ideal laptop for students or kids, or for anyone who isn’t particularly demanding. We’re also surprised by the port selection it offers, including HDMI and Ethernet. While we normally don’t recommend laptops with just 8GB of RAM and tiny 128GB SSDs, those specs are more excusable in the Aspire 5 since it’s so darn cheap. Just think of it as a slightly more capable Chromebook.
ProsIncludes HDMI and Ethernet portsSturdy designDecent performance for the priceConsLackluster display$347 at AmazonExplore More Buying Options$440 at NeweggWill Lipman Photography for Engadget
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14
Best Windows laptop for gaming
Screen size: 14-inch | Touchscreen: No | Processor: AMD Ryzen 7/9 | Installed memory: Up to 16GB | Storage: Up to 1TB | Weight: 3.53 pounds | Battery life: Up to 10 hours
Read our full review of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14
One of our favorite gaming PCs for years, the ROG Zephyrus G14 remains our choice as the best gaming laptop for most users. It weighs just 3.5 pounds, it sports AMD’s powerful new Ryzen chips and it also has the company’s fastest Radeon RX 6000-series mobile graphics. The ROG Zephyrus G14 has a sleek retro-future aesthetic, a comfortable keyboard and a smooth 144Hz, 14-inch screen. While you’d be more immersed in a 15-inch notebook, those typically cost more and are far heavier than the Zephyrus G14. If you’re looking for a balance between power, style and value, the G14 is an excellent option.
ProsPowerful performanceSleek designGreat 14-inch, 144Hz screenConsA little on the heavy side$1,299 at ASUSExplore More Buying Options$950 at AmazonPhoto by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Lenovo Yoga 9i
Best Windows laptop with a 360-degree hinge
Screen size: 14-inch | Touchscreen: Yes | Processor: 13th-gen Intel Core i7 | Installed memory: 16GB | Storage: Up to 1TB | Weight: 3.09 pounds | Battery life: Up to 14 hours
Read our full review of the Lenovo Yoga 9i
Adaptability is the biggest strength of a 2-in-1, with devices like the Yoga 9i capable of transforming into a number of different modes at a moment’s notice. And even though it’s got a relatively portable 14-inch OLED display, Lenovo still found room on the Yoga 9i for three USB-C ports, a fingerprint scanner and a clever rotating soundbar to ensure audio sounds good in any position. Lenovo also includes a free stylus in the box though, sadly, unlike previous models there isn’t a dedicated storage slot for it on the machine anymore. And while its general design hasn’t changed much, Lenovo has improved the Yoga 9i’s performance with updated 13th-gen Intel processors.
ProsGorgeous OLED displayPowerful speakersStrong battery lifeFour USB-C portsPhysical webcam shutterIncluded stylus and travel sleeveConsWhiny fansShallow keyboardNo built-in stylus storage$1,400 at Lenovo
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (2022), 13″ 2-in-1 Tablet & Laptop, Thin & Lightweight, Intel 12th Gen i5 Fast Processor for Multi-Tasking, 8GB RAM, 256GB Storage with Windows 11, Sapphire Microsoft Copilot
Best Windows laptop with a 2-in-1 design
ScreLS
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]]>The post remembering titanic luxury ship sink appeared first on Best News.
]]>Historians believe that disaster could have been avoided if the ship’s leadership had prepared with enough lifeboats and reduced their speed at night to avoid hitting the ice.
Regardless, the tragedy of the Titanic shocked the world and resulted in numerous portrayals on the big screen and theater.
Why did the Titanic sink?
The Titanic, one of the wonders of the world in 1912, became infamous after it sank within four days of its first voyage in the Atlantic Ocean.
Several factors before and during the voyage ultimately led to the Titanic sinking; however, the primary reason for the ship’s demise was colliding with an iceberg off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. The damage from the iceberg ripped open compartments within the ship’s interior, and water began to flood the lower levels.
The wreckage of the Titanic still lies below the North Atlantic Sea over a century after the event. (Getty Images)
Immediately during the collision, approximately five compartments were breached before the water began to make its way throughout the entire ship. A variety of other reasons for the crash include incorrect navigation decisions and going too fast at night on the sea.
The captain of the Titanic, E.J. Smith, ordered the crewmen to sail the ship at 22 knots in the North Atlantic despite earlier reports of icebergs in the water.
In addition, the crew had difficulty spotting the iceberg before the collision due to the lack of binoculars on board, making it almost impossible to avoid a disaster at night.
How many people survived the Titanic sinking?
The sinking of the Titanic was one of the biggest maritime disasters in recorded history due not only to the unplanned tragedy of the iceberg hitting the ship but also because of the lack of lifeboats to save passengers. Much of the loss of life could have been avoided if the ship’s leadership had followed the necessary protocol to ensure sufficient lifeboats.
The Titanic only had 20 lifeboats on board before taking off for the sea. The boat was originally designed to hold up to 32 lifeboats near the deck, but the numbers were reduced to allow for more space above the board. Furthermore, ship inspectors recommended that the Titanic increase its lifeboat capacity by nearly 50% before the voyage, but the advice was ignored. 
The infamous sinking led to creation of the movie “Titanic,” in 1997, directed by James Cameron and starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet. (CBS via Getty Images)
In total, more than 1,500 people died of the 2,240 passengers on board the luxury cruise liner. Much of the death toll comprised crew members – 700 deaths – and third-class passengers – 710 deaths. Only around 174 third-class passengers were able to survive. In comparison, approximately 706 people survived the sinking itself. Many deaths occurred after the ship had sunk, with passengers forced to swim in freezing waters.
How long did it take the Titanic to sink?
Four days after the ship set sail from England, the Titanic sank on April 14 within less than three hours after hitting the notorious iceberg in the North Atlantic.
One of the reasons more passengers died than necessary was the decision to delay the deployment of lifeboats.
There was approximately an hour-long delay between when the Titanic hit the iceberg and when the lifeboats were deployed with passengers seeking to survive.
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