Performance: Overall this laptop's performance was only fair, well below that of many models but still good enough for routine tasks like email, word processing and web browsing. Compared to other tested laptops, performance was okay but on the slow side for common tasks such as web browsing or video conferencing. You would notice this most when opening up applications. Speed was adequate when composing documents, working on data spreadsheets, and other productivity tasks, and its speed was adequate for manipulating filters on images, converting and editing videos, and rendering models and calculating simulations.
Portability: This laptop is a fair choice for traveling. At 6.75 hours, battery life was adequate but not notable. At 2.8 pounds, weight was typical for a laptop this size.
Ergonomics: The keyboard was not full-sized. Its high contrast letters were easy to read. The touchpad was uncomfortably small, providing less space for gestures than most others tested.
Display: The display quality was good overall. Colors were in the ballpark, though not completely accurate. The display had a narrow viewing angle, so you'll have limited flexibility in how to position the screen for optimal viewability for one user, and it will be difficult for more than one person to look at the screen at the same time. Friction on the touchscreen may prevent fast swiping, and fingerprints may take some effort to clean off.
Useful features and attributes on this model include: Laptop converts to a touchscreen tablet to be used as either a laptop computer or a tablet. You can connect common external devices such as hard drives and Blu-ray burners to the USB 3.0 ports for maximum performance. This laptop is compatible with HDMI for connecting to an HDTV.
Downsides: There's no optical drive like a CD or DVD reader, so you'll have to buy an external drive if you need one. The battery is not easily removable.
