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camplofi · 1 year ago

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BSOTS 181 - Creative Commons Sightings Of Kool Keith And DJ Harrison

All comments, questions, and general feedback can be sent to [email protected]. Record a voice message and send it my way or leave one at the Speakpipe page!

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This episode's track list (title / artist / source / license):

1. Electric Mind Ft. Kool Keith by The Polish Ambassador [Bandcamp] (CC BY-NC 3.0) (2023)

2. City Swagger by DJ Harrison [blocSonic] (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) (2012)

3. Shades, Fades & Blaze by DJ Harrison [blocSonic] (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) (2012)

4. I'M GOOD by Yung Miss [Bandcamp] (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) (2019)

5. Life Is But A Dream (featuring Kara Square) by J.Lang [ccMixter] (CC BY-NC 3.0) (2022)

6. BESPOKE ft. Wallace by Close Counters [Bandcamp] (CC-BY-NC-SA 3.0) (2019)

7. garden of destruction by niteffect [Bandcamp] (CC-BY-NC-ND 3.0) (2022)

Another Creative Commons crate dig session uncovers seven gems from under the underground. Over on Bandcamp, The Polish Ambassador of Jumpsuit Records creates a low-slung electronic instrumental with hip-hop leanings for Kool Keith (a.k.a. Black Elvis) to glide effortlessly over. It's like he beamed in from another galaxy or something. In Melbourne, Australia, the Close Counters duo crafts an uptempo selection for the dance floor, hovering somewhere between house and broken beat. And then there's niteffect from Budapest, offering a downtempo cut with acidic synth patterns and breakbeats that waft in and out of the mix.

It was over a decade ago that DJ Harrison's '94 Flow album came out on the blocSonic netlabel. It still sounds amazing, especially when you consider a statement that repeats throughout the album: "There are no samples on this record." The first time I heard that, I remembered thinking to myself, "Stop lying to me." That's how frighteningly talented and in the pocket DJ Harrison is. He makes the type of funk and soul that people will be sampling 15 to 20 years from now. Meanwhile, the rap and R&B hybrid cut from Yung Miss is a West and East Coast connection produced by Mr. Ivory Snow of Connecticut (Yung Miss hails from California). This one knocks, and it screams heavy rotation for rap radio.

Seven songs. Thirty-five minutes of your time. Here's hoping the music will prove that this episode is time well spent.

Other key info: Macedonia on Mixcloud BSOTS on Bondfire Radio BSOTS 176 - BUCKWILD: learn from it... Queue Points episode # 112: The Transatlantic Connection Queue Points episode # 113: The Power Of The Drop Yung Miss - "I'M GOOD" music video Tha Bloc Report

BSOTS theme music produced by Cy Tru (edited by Macedonia). ID drops courtesy of India from Astronauts of Antiquity, Mr. Ivory Snow, and Kahlief Adams of Spawn On Me.

The content of this show has been released under a CC-BY-SA license. All works within this show retain their original releases. See the show notes at bsots.com for more information.

Another BSOTS podcast episode for the people...

#BSOTS #podcasts #music #hip-hop #soul #funk #jazz #electronic

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recessanger91-blog · 6 years ago

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MM.LaFleur Bento Box Review

Over the years, many of you have tried MM.LaFleur and raved about your experience or asked me to do an MM.LaFleur Bento Box review to help you decide whether to try the brand yourself. For those not familiar with MM.LaFleur, it’s a women’s corporate fashion company. Their goal: to help women harness the power of self-presentation, and to rethink the shopping process altogether. Their mission: take the work out of dressing for work. Available in sizes 0P through 22W, MM.LaFleur clothing is made from high-quality fabrics, half the production in NYC and half in WRAP-certified factories in Italy, China, and Vietnam that are regularly visited.

Speaking of sizes, MM.LaFleur is one of the few brands that offer photos of their clothing in a variety of body shapes and sizes. It is refreshing to see the same skirt in the same color modeled on a woman shaped more like me, and not just hidden as the last possible photo in a slideshow. Along with a variety of body sizes, MM's models also come in a variety of skintones and ethnicities.

The site is easy to navigate with a variety of photos to view a product from a variety of angles. I appreciate the ability to filter by machine washability of the clothing, as well as filters for travel-friendly, made in the USA, and friendly for certain aspects of your body (middle or full hips friendly, if it's a good choice for those with a full bust or if you're petite).

You can shop MM.LaFleur in a variety of ways. You can visit one of their showrooms or pop-up shops (by appointment only), go online and pick out what you want (knowing there’s always an online stylist there to assist), or try out a Bento Box. Take a quick online survey, and an MM stylist will create a personalized box for you that includes a selection of wardrobe items and accessories. This isn’t a subscription service, you won’t keep getting Bento Boxes each month, you’re not charged a dime for your Bento Box, just what from the box you choose to keep. I decided to try a Bento Box to get the full MM.LaFleur experience in a manner all of you can experience yourself (there’s a showroom in DC, but many of you don’t have a store near you). This is not sponsored, I didn’t notify MM.LaFleur that I was doing this review, my experience is like any other customer.

The MM.LaFleur Online Survey

Before ordering a Bento Box from MM.LaFleur, you complete an online survey. If you’ve tried a virtual styling program like StitchFix or Dia&Co you are used to this aspect. The MM survey is focused on your workwear style – what kind of clothes do you wear to work, what colors and silhouettes you like, and it lets you share what size you wear in one of many popular brands (so nice because a 14 isn’t the same size across brands). Based on your survey results, an MM stylist will select a mix of clothing and accessories to send to you to try out.

My MM.LaFleur Bento Box Review

The Bento Box arrived in just a couple of days in a sturdy cardboard box, the kind you want to keep to store mementos or Christmas ornaments in (I can’t be the only one who rates cardboard boxes in this online shopping age). Inside was a small folder with a note from my stylist and some information about the Bento Box. The clothing beautifully folded, tied up with a grey grosgrain ribbon, and tucked into a large frosted plastic bag that has a Ziploc-like closure.

I received:

The Etsuko Dress – Black, size 14

The Soho Skirt – Black, size XL

The Sant Ambroeus Jardigan – Black, size XL

The Foster Pant – Black, size 14

The Didion 3.0 Top – Black, size XL

The Aditi 2.0 Dress – Persimmon, size 14

The Noho Skirt – Deep Plum, size 14

The Didion 3.0 Top Wildflowers – Birch, size XL

The Harriet Top Boucle – Grey/White, size XL

Shop The Items in my Bento Box:

MM.LaFleur Clothing Review

Overall, I was highly impressed by the fabrics. Tightly woven knits with a professional finish, textured boucle that looks luxe, crepes and other work fabrics that have a hint of stretch while still being completely at home in a boardroom. The colors I received were rich – the plum of the skirt was almost electric yet would still be appropriate in a conservative workplace. The persimmon color was a gorgeous orange that was surprisingly flattering and would look chic, not Halloween with black and other dark neutrals. Items were well crafted, made with care.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have much luck with the fit of these pieces. While MM.LaFleur carries a 0P, that is the only petite they carry. I often find petites to be too short in the rise, length, and torso but when trying my Bento Box, I was wishing there was a petite option. For reference, I am 5’3”, around 185 pounds, usually wear a 14 or 14 petite in most mall retailers (J. Crew, Banana Republic, Talbots, Ann Taylor, etc.). I am 43 and while I work out on a regular basis I still have soft curves. These photos were taken with a standard bra and underwear, no control garments to show the true fit of the garments.

The Etsuko Dress – Black, size 14

This dress is the kind I wish I always had in my closet. Funeral, second interview, client meeting, date night. Switch out the belt and it could work for a wedding. The sleeve length makes it work for three seasons, the stretchy yet elegant fabric dresses up and down and doesn’t wrinkle and is thick enough to smooth the figure. The silhouette is super flattering and classic enough to be chic for years. And hello pockets!

But my arms are so thick and shoulders so broad I couldn’t fully get the sleeves up. My husband had to zip it closed because my arms couldn’t move. And my torso is a bit too short causing the zipper to buckle in the back. If I were a couple inches taller and not so busty/arm-y/shoulder-y this dress would be in my closet. FYI, this dress is available in seven different colors and the full-size range.

The Soho Skirt – Black, size XL

I expected to hate this skirt. It was very tight going on, and it’s jersey. This doesn’t look like workwear, it’s more like clubwear right? I wiggled it on, looked in the mirror and was surprised by how flattering it was. The draping and layering (it’s lined and a doubled waistband) really make this a great skirt. This would look amazing with a jersey top to create a dress effect, but would also be chic with a crisp white button-front shirt.

However, I am not really a skirt girl and not to sound like a broken record but it was a bit too small and I would need it in petite. This skirt comes in two colors and the full-size range.

The Sant Ambroeus Jardigan – Black, size XL

For all you women emailing me asking me where to find a cardigan that looks great with dresses, this is it. You can be covered without looking dowdy or twee. This is a heavy ottoman rib, think a mix between ponte and that stretchy fabric from Chico’s Travelers collection. It’s polished, it’s professional, and it will look great over all your shifts, sheaths, shirtdresses, and fit and flares. There’s a cool little openwork design at the end of the sleeves that make it look less utilitarian.

However, with my bust, I think one size up would be good and help prevent it from sliding into my armpits when I do too many hand gestures (I gesture a lot with my hands). But like everything that came in my Bento Box, this is really high-quality fabric and completely appropriate in a workplace setting (add a sparkly brooch and it would also be great to have on hand with your cocktail dress at a chilly wedding or event). Select colors are available in the full-size range; there are five colors to choose from.

The Foster Pant – Black, size 14

This is an amazing pant. The fabric is phenomenal – thick but stretchy but looks like suiting fabric and it bounces back and it’s not too shiny, and doesn’t show lumps and bumps and would coordinate nicely with most blazers in your closet. It’s a side zipper which I usually don’t like because it emphasizes my belly, but these don’t do that. At the top of the zipper is an inside tab with two buttons to keep a smooth waist that won’t fold down like many side-zip pants. On my body, I found the pants too tight in the calf and thigh. Also at 5’3” these were not ankle pants and required heels to not drag on the ground.

They are considered petite friendly likely because they still work if not ankle length, but I found the rise to be too high for comfort. But if you’re 5’5” or taller and don’t have legs so sturdy you require wide calf boots, try these pants. They’re amazing. They are available in the full-size range and four colors.

The Didion 3.0 Top – Black, size XL

When I first tried on this top I loved it. At first glance, it looks like a simple crepe t-shirt but it’s quite ingenious and unique. It’s a machine washable crepe, but it’s lined in a silky fabric which feels amazing and helps the crepe drape nicely and not cling. Note the hem; the back is curved like a normal top but the front has a blunt angled edge that not only adds style to the look but makes it easy to do a half-tuck without looking disheveled. The sleeves are a flattering length and not too tight.

It’s $110. I work from home and no longer need to go to an office. I felt I couldn’t justify the cost of this top, no matter how nice it was. I did my review of the Bento Box (see below) and informed my stylist that I was returning this… and then after this shoot, I changed my mind. This is a classic piece that can be worn year-round. I can throw it on with skinny jeans and flats and meet friends for a casual dinner. I can tuck it into a pair of ivory trousers and add heels and head to a shower or brunch. I can wear it tucked or untucked under a blazer. How cute would it be half-tucked into some ankle pants (I have these from Banana Republic and the fabrics are so complimentary it almost looks like a jumpsuit)? And so many times I have wished I had a top that was dressier than a t-shirt, but not an actual blouse. So I revised my feedback to MM.LaFleur and decided to keep this top.

The links above are only to this top in black; this link is to all the different colors and prints available in the Didion top. Select colors and prints are available in the full-size range.

The Aditi 2.0 Dress – Persimmon, size 14

This color of this dress is gorgeous. Orange can be hard to wear but this persimmon/pumpkin shade is not only more office friendly, but friendly with a variety of skin tones. The fabric is textured but not itchy. The dress is unlined and stretchy but like all the other pieces I tried, it looks very structured, polished, and professional.

Too bad that just like the other dress, it’s too long in the torso and a bit too snug. If it was a size larger and came in petite, this would be a winner as it’s a very flattering and versatile piece. Please note this dress is only available up to a size 16, and it is available in seven colors.

The Noho Skirt – Deep Plum, size 14

This is a really nice skirt. Before this photo was taken, I wore it to set up the space, move some furniture and paintings, I switched the clothes from the washer to the dryer and folded that which was in the dryer, and then sat down on the couch to write a bunch of copy that’s in this post. No terrible creases or bagging. The skirt is a nice suiting fabric with a subtle nubby/crepe finish. Side zipper, and a lining that is lightweight and stretchy.

Skirts often look terrible on me with my lower belly and round booty. I can look cute from the front, but the side view I resemble a lampshade (or else have way too much on display). This skirt is so flattering from the front, side, and back. This skirt comes in the full-size range and is available in seven different colors.

The Didion 3.0 Top Wildflowers – Birch, size XL

This pattern is NOT me, nor is the color.

And while this is the same top and size as the black one, I found this one to be too big on me.

The Harriet Top Boucle – Grey/White, size XL

This is a super cool looking top. The boucle is stretchy and while the top is not lined, it’s not itchy at all. This would be a super cute swing top to wear with high-waisted black pants, a pencil skirt, the coordinating trousers, or the coordinating skirt. That is, if you have smaller than a DD chest and are taller than 5’3”. With my boobs and height, the top tented out in front and bunched up on the top of my booty.

This would look amazing on the right body, and has perfectly shaped armholes and a nice pleat in the back that gives it elegance. But on my short curvy body, there was no elegance. This link is only to the top in grey/white and at the time of writing this, it only had three sizes left. This is the link to the same top in Galaxy Blue but it too is currently available in a few sizes.

After Receiving my MM.LaFleur Bento Box

When you order a Bento Box, you are assigned a stylist. This isn’t a computer algorithm charmingly named Amanda, it’s a real person (you even see a photo of her). She sends regular emails and feedback within the MM website. I was able to tell her I needed two extra days of my trial via email and she updated my account without any cost or issue. Your stylist truly wants feedback – what worked and why, what didn’t and why, so she can improve your future orders.

Once you get your Bento Box, you’re sent a link to provide feedback. Keep or return, and then details as to why. You can click selections and also have a field to write more specifics. When you finish your form, you’re offered the opportunity to order another Bento Box. If by chance you change your mind, as long as you haven't mailed back the items you are ableo go in and revised your feedback form.

My Final Verdict

The whole concept of shopping from MM.LaFleur is pretty fantastic. There’s no hard sales pitch, you won’t get annoying emails every day promoting products, your stylist won’t hound you. You can do a Bento Box and try the brand without risk and also get a virtual stylist to help you build a work wardrobe, you can buy individual items online without any assistance, you can make an in-person appointment. There’s plenty of support with stylists and customer service to answer questions and offer suggestions without any pressure. Online shopping isn’t usually described as elegant, but MM.LaFleur has achieved just that. For the price of their clothing, it’s nice to have an appropriate level of service and class to go with it. MM.LaFleur makes you feel like a valued client.

MM.LaFleur makes extremely high-quality professional workwear. These are clothes that would feel at home in a boardroom, but many pieces would be just as perfect for brunch with friends, to a day wedding, or a business casual office. The fabrics are luxe and the cuts are made to flatter a body.

The problem is, the body MM.LaFleur is trying to flatter is not mine. I am simply too short for the brand. I have a friend who has tried the line, wears a different size from me but is essentially the same height and experienced the same, even with an appointment at their DC showroom. I don’t think my shape or clothing size, however, is an issue. I think most of the issues I experienced were due to height and just having the wrong pieces from their extensive collection in my Bento Box. If I were 5’5” or taller, I would be ordering a new Bento Box and likely ending up with several pieces of MM in my closet.

If you are 5’5” or taller and are looking for quality work clothing, MM.LaFleur is worth a try. Their Bento Box program makes it risk-free. The box ships for free and comes with a pre-addressed bag to send everything back free via UPS. Don’t like anything sent to you? Send it back to MM within a week and you won’t be charged a dime.

I was not paid to do this review, MM.LaFleur has no idea I am writing this Bento Box review. However, all links to the brand are affiliate links and if you make a purchase through them I may receive a small commission. If you have any questions, do ask them below in the comments and I will answer them with full honesty. If you are an MM.LaFleur customer, I welcome your thoughts and answers to questions in the comments as well!

Shop My Picks from MM.LaFleur:

Source: https://www.wardrobeoxygen.com/2018/09/mmlafleur-bento-box-review.html

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galucy-blog · 6 years ago

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The Pros

Good multitasking performance; Strong audio; Large 1080p screen; Colorful design

The Cons

Dim display; Relatively short battery life; Underside gets warm

Verdict

The HP Chromebook 14 packs offers good multitasking performance and blasts a lot of volume, but competitors offer brighter displays and more battery life.

If you’ve been tempted to switch from a Windows 10 notebook to one that runs Google’s lightweight Chrome OS, you might have noticed there aren’t many big-screen Chromebooks available. Enter the 14-inch HP Chromebook 14, which packs an Intel Celeron processor and a 1080p display. This attractive, teal-and-white laptop provides strong audio and plenty of performance for multitasking, but competing Chromebooks have better battery life and more colorful screens.

Design

At certain angles, the HP Chromebook 14’s white plastic lid gives off a slight glimmer that reminds me of Formica countertops. The rest of the chassis, including the deck, sides, bezel and bottom, are a light teal, which gives the laptop a Crest toothpaste aesthetic. The deck also has a neat matrix pattern.

The solid feel of the HP Chromebook 14 suggests a reliable build quality, and its soft keyboard deck felt comfortable against my wrists. If you’re looking for a more premium design, check out the Dell Chromebook 13, which has a soft-touch carbon-fiber finish and a sturdy magnesium-alloy design.

HP Chromebook 14 Size

Weight

3.48 pounds

Dimensions

13.54 x 9.45 x 0.7 inches

Weighing 3.48 pounds, the 14-inch HP Chromebook 14 is heavier than the 13-inch Toshiba Chromebook 2 (2.97 pounds) and the Dell Chromebook 13 (3.23 pounds). Measuring 0.7 inches thin, the HP Chromebook is about as thick as the Dell (0.72 inches) and the Toshiba (0.76 inches).

Ports and Webcam

HP’s put a security lock slot, an HDMI port, a USB 3.0 port, a headphone jack and a microSD reader on the Chromebook 14’s left side, and a pair of USB 2.0 ports on its right side.

The HP Chromebook 14’s 0.9-megapixel webcam shot accurate but noisy selfies of me in our office. Its photos correctly captured the red of the Purch wall and my blue gingham shirt, but the images looked splotchy, as if a pointillist filter had been applied.

Battery Life

Unlike its competitors, the HP Chromebook 14 doesn’t have enough battery life to make it through a day. The Laptop Mag Battery Test needed only 6 hours and 42 minutes to drain the notebook of its charge, a time that the Dell (13:25) and the Toshiba (10:05) both beat.

Laptop Battery Life HP Chromebook 14 6:42 Category Average 8:23

Display

The HP Chromebook 14’s 1080p screen may be sharp, but it’s on the dim side. When I watched the Star Wars: Rogue One trailer on the HP Chromebook 14, multiple scenes looked dark and muddied. The blue lasers were rendered green and the orange of rebel pilot jumpsuits failed to pop. I could see the scratches and other fine details of Forrest Whitaker’s armor, but the screen reproduced the Imperial Star Destroyer in a yellow hue that made it look like an old prop.

HP Chromebook 14 Display: Test Results Benchmark Score How it Compares Brightness 212 nits Weak Color Gamut (sRGB) 65 percent Below Average Color Accuracy (Delta e) 0.5 Above Average

Based on our tests, the Chromebook 14 emits only 212 nits (a measurement of brightness). That’s lower than the Dell (270 nits) and the Toshiba (378 nits). Its viewing angles aren’t great, either, as its color darkened at 35 degrees to the left or right.

According to our colorimeter, the HP Chromebook 14 can produce only 65 percent of the sRGB spectrum. That’s less than the Dell Chromebook 13 (96 percent) and the Toshiba Chromebook 2 (110 percent).

The HP Chromebook 14’s panel fared better in the Delta-E color accuracy test, where it earned a 0.5 (closer to zero is better). That beats the Dell (1.4) and the Toshiba (0.9). This score is contrary to our experience, but if the notebook can produce only a limited range of color, its accuracy doesn’t mean as much.

Audio

Those who like their music loud and clear will appreciate the HP Chromebook 14. The notebook filled a large conference room with an accurate version of CFO$’s “The Rising Sun,” reproducing its strong bass guitar riffs, crisp drums and high synths.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The HP Chromebook 14’s keyboard isn’t perfect, but it makes for decent typing. I noticed its deck bounced a lot as I used the 10FastFingers typing test, where I clicked my way to 70 words per minute with 99 percent accuracy. That’s below my 80-wpm average. The keys have 1.3 millimeters of travel, while we prefer 1.5 mm.

The HP Chromebook 14’s 4.3 x 2.7-inch, buttonless touchpad accurately tracked my input as my fingers navigated around the Chrome browser, and there was a solid feel to each click. The notebook smoothly responded to my two-finger scrolling, and it correctly registered my three-finger navigation gestures.

Performance

Armed with a 1.8-GHz Intel Celeron N2940 CPU, 4GB of RAM and a 16GB eMMC drive, the HP Chromebook 14 provides enough power for multitasking. When I split my screen between a dozen tabs and a streaming YouTube video and opened Cut The Rope and Google Keep, the system stayed speedy, with no lag as I typed in a Google Doc and moved from tab to tab.

The HP Chromebook 14 did poorly on Google’s Octane 2.0 performance benchmark, which gave it a score of 7,869. The Celeron 3205U-powered Dell Chromebook 13 (14,453) and Celeron 3215U-powered Toshiba Chromebook 2 (17,044) earned better scores.

The Browser mark test for overall browser performance produced similar results, with the HP Chromebook 14 (2,300) getting bested by the Dell (4,199) and the Toshiba (4,576), again.

HP’s Chromebook 14 is also not as good at running JavaScript as its competitors, earning a 46.1 in the JetStream 1.1 test. That score is lower than those of the Dell (86.3) and the Toshiba (99.2).

Graphics

I had no trouble playing casual games like Cut The Rope and streaming 1080p video from Netflix on the HP Chromebook 14, but again, synthetic test scores favor its competitors. This system earned a score of only 1,480 in the Oort Online test, which measures the browser’s ability to display simulated environments. That’s far below the Dell Chromebook 13 (5,050) and the Toshiba Chromebook 2 (5,060).

The HP Chromebook 14 also performed poorly in the Aquarium graphics simulation, which tests 3D rendering. The notebook mustered 47 frames per second with 250 and 500 fish in the tank, while the Dell and Toshiba both sped along at 60 fps with as many as 1,000 fish.

MORE: Should I Buy a Chromebook? Buying Guide and Advice

Audio

Heat

The HP Chromebook 14 stays cool up top, but heats up down below. After we streamed 15 minutes of HD video on the notebook, our heat gun recorded a temperature of 99 degrees Fahrenheit on its underside, which exceeds our 95-degree comfort threshold. Its touchpad (75 degrees) and keyboard (83 degrees) did not get hot.

Chrome OS

Google’s Chrome OS is the light, minimalist alternative to Windows and OS X. After I logged in to the HP Chromebook 14 with my Google account, I was greeted with a desktop background of a trolley car at night and relatively few icons in the lower corners of the display.

In the bottom-left corner, there’s a magnifying-glass icon to open search (which pulls results from both the HP Chromebook 14 and Google itself), and icons for Chrome, Picasa and Gmail.

Those who like their music loud and clear will appreciate the HP Chromebook 14.

When I clicked on the magnifying glass, it brought up my most commonly used apps and Google Now cards about the weather and baseball.

Chrome OS also includes voice control, so if you have a Chrome tab or the launcher open, you can say, “OK, Google,” to bring up the voice assistant.

In the right corner, Chrome places its notification counter, the time, software update indicators, the volume, Wi-Fi connectivity, battery life, keyboard layout and your user account photo.

Apps

After you log in to the Chromebook using your Google account, the system automatically loads whatever apps you have previously used. In our case, that consisted of Google’s own productivity and Play apps, Word Online, games like Cut The Rope and Offline Solitaire and favorites such as Netflix and Spotify.

For more apps, you can check out the Chrome Web Store, which has tens of thousands of titles available. The Stress Relievers section has games like 2048 and a white-noise-producing add-on; apps for checking the local forecasts and getting rain alerts are filed under Weather & Outdoor; and image-editing programs can be found in Unleash Creativity. Other categories in the Chrome Web Store include Business Tools, Social and Communication, and Education.

When I poked around in the store, I found some of the apps I use every day, like Pocket, which I use to save articles to read later. LINE, a popular messaging app, is also in the store.

Google Docs and Slides users will find the ability to save files for offline use useful for those moments when they do not have a connection. You’ll need to make sure that that setting is enabled in Google Drive in advance. Offline access isn’t available for all apps in the Chrome Web Store, but some work when you’re not in the cloud.

The Chrome Web Store still has a ways to go if it intends to seriously compete with Windows and OS X. I found myself missing my favorite Twitter client, Tweetbot, and HipChat, which we use for inter-office communication. If you’re looking to play your favorite games, you will spend a while hunting for them, as that section of the store is filled with knockoffs like Fruits Slice and Bubble Shooter.

Configurations and Warranty

Our test unit of the HP Chromebook 14 is the ak060nr model, which costs $279.99 and packs a 1080p display, a 1.8GHz Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM and a 16GB eMMC drive. HP also sells the ak010nr model, which costs $249.99 and includes a 2.16GHz Celeron N2840 processor, 2GB of memory, a 16GB eMMC drive and a 1366 x 768-pixel display.

The notebook ships with a one-year limited warranty. Check out more information about HP’s warranty in our overview.

HP Chromebook 14 Cost By Configuration Config Screen CPU RAM Price Base 1366 x 768 Celeron N2840 2GB $249 Best 1920 x 1080 Celeron N2940 4GB $279

Bottom Line

The $279.99 HP Chromebook 14 is a solid notebook for general activities. If you want a large screen for simultaneous document editing, internet browsing and video streaming, it packs enough punch to suit your needs. On the other hand, those who want to make it a whole day on a single charge or enjoy brighter and more colorful images may want to look elsewhere.

If you’re willing to get a 13-inch display, both the Dell Chromebook 13 and the Toshiba Chromebook 2 earned our Editor’s Choice awards for their long battery life and even faster performance. The $269 Toshiba Chromebook 2 CB35 is even less expensive than the HP, but you may want to pay more for the $429 Dell Chromebook 13’s fantastic design. But if you want a big notebook that runs Chrome OS and can kick out the jams, the HP Chromebook 14 is worth your consideration.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

CPU 1.83GHz Intel Celeron N2940 Processor Operating System Google Chrome RAM 4GB RAM Upgradable to Hard Drive Size 16GB Hard Drive Speed Hard Drive Type eMMC Secondary Hard Drive Size Secondary Hard Drive Speed Secondary Hard Drive Type Display Size 14.1 Native Resolution 1920×1080 Optical Drive Optical Drive Speed Graphics Card Intel HD Graphics Video Memory Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Model Bluetooth Mobile Broadband Touchpad Size 4.3 x 2.7 inches Ports (excluding USB) USB 3.0 Ports (excluding USB) USB 2.0 Ports (excluding USB) HDMI Ports (excluding USB) Combo Headphone/Mic Jack USB Ports 3 Card Slots microSD Warranty/Support 1-year limited warranty Size 13.54 x 9.45 x 0.7 inches Weight 3.48 pounds Company Website http://www.hp.com

HP Chromebook 14

The Pros Good multitasking performance; Strong audio; Large 1080p screen; Colorful design The Cons Dim display; Relatively short battery life; Underside gets warm…

HP Chromebook 14 The Pros Good multitasking performance; Strong audio; Large 1080p screen; Colorful design The Cons Dim display; Relatively short battery life; Underside gets warm…

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koristore-blog · 6 years ago

Text

The Pros

Good multitasking performance; Strong audio; Large 1080p screen; Colorful design

The Cons

Dim display; Relatively short battery life; Underside gets warm

Verdict

The HP Chromebook 14 packs offers good multitasking performance and blasts a lot of volume, but competitors offer brighter displays and more battery life.

Design

HP Chromebook 14 Size

Weight

3.48 pounds

Dimensions

13.54 x 9.45 x 0.7 inches

Ports and Webcam

HP’s put a security lock slot, an HDMI port, a USB 3.0 port, a headphone jack and a microSD reader on the Chromebook 14’s left side, and a pair of USB 2.0 ports on its right side.

Battery Life

Laptop Battery Life HP Chromebook 14 6:42 Category Average 8:23

Display

HP Chromebook 14 Display: Test Results Benchmark Score How it Compares Brightness 212 nits Weak Color Gamut (sRGB) 65 percent Below Average Color Accuracy (Delta e) 0.5 Above Average

According to our colorimeter, the HP Chromebook 14 can produce only 65 percent of the sRGB spectrum. That’s less than the Dell Chromebook 13 (96 percent) and the Toshiba Chromebook 2 (110 percent).

Audio

Keyboard and Touchpad

Performance

The Browser mark test for overall browser performance produced similar results, with the HP Chromebook 14 (2,300) getting bested by the Dell (4,199) and the Toshiba (4,576), again.

HP’s Chromebook 14 is also not as good at running JavaScript as its competitors, earning a 46.1 in the JetStream 1.1 test. That score is lower than those of the Dell (86.3) and the Toshiba (99.2).

Graphics

MORE: Should I Buy a Chromebook? Buying Guide and Advice

Audio

Heat

Chrome OS

In the bottom-left corner, there’s a magnifying-glass icon to open search (which pulls results from both the HP Chromebook 14 and Google itself), and icons for Chrome, Picasa and Gmail.

Those who like their music loud and clear will appreciate the HP Chromebook 14.

When I clicked on the magnifying glass, it brought up my most commonly used apps and Google Now cards about the weather and baseball.

Chrome OS also includes voice control, so if you have a Chrome tab or the launcher open, you can say, “OK, Google,” to bring up the voice assistant.

In the right corner, Chrome places its notification counter, the time, software update indicators, the volume, Wi-Fi connectivity, battery life, keyboard layout and your user account photo.

Apps

When I poked around in the store, I found some of the apps I use every day, like Pocket, which I use to save articles to read later. LINE, a popular messaging app, is also in the store.

Configurations and Warranty

The notebook ships with a one-year limited warranty. Check out more information about HP’s warranty in our overview.

HP Chromebook 14 Cost By Configuration Config Screen CPU RAM Price Base 1366 x 768 Celeron N2840 2GB $249 Best 1920 x 1080 Celeron N2940 4GB $279

Bottom Line

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

HP Chromebook 14 The Pros Good multitasking performance; Strong audio; Large 1080p screen; Colorful design The Cons Dim display; Relatively short battery life; Underside gets warm…

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jacobblank · 8 years ago

Photo

🔹〰🔹 @lilpettycrocker is wearing an all-over print jumpsuit from Haus of Blank 3.0 with a "POWER" silkscreened patch‼️ These fabrics were originally from my MFA thesis where they served as post-national flags. I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to grow in my art, fashion, and design. Can't wait for what 2017 brings! ✨⚡️ Photo by @colectivomultipolar 📸 #artist #art #screenprint #fashion #chicagofashion #patterndesign #printdesign #graphicdesign #dragqueen #clubkid #printalloverme (at Annoyance Theatre & Bar)

#fashion #art #artist #screenprint #printalloverme #clubkid #dragqueen #patterndesign #graphicdesign #printdesign #chicagofashion

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koristore-blog · 6 years ago

Text

The Pros

Runs Android apps; Excellent battery life; Sleek, premium-looking design; Comfortable keyboard

The Cons

Mediocre performance; Flat audio

Verdict

The Acer Chromebook R 13 combines an attractive design, long endurance and the ability to run your favorite Android apps.

The big knock against Chromebooks — the light, minimal alternative to MacBooks and PC laptops — is that their software options are limited. The Acer Chromebook R 13 is one of the first notebooks to avoid that problem, as it offers (beta) support for the Android apps in the Google Play store. On top of that, it has long battery life, a comfy keyboard and an aluminum design that’s quite slick for a $399 machine. As long as you don’t need a lot of processing power, the Chromebook R 13 is a great choice.

Design

The Acer Chromebook R 13’s aluminum chassis gives it an eye-catching look that made one of my co-workers mistake it for a MacBook Pro. Its 1080p display rotates to laptop, display, tent and tablet positions on a pair of hinges that offer enough tightness to keep it stable.

The Chromebook R 13 weighs 3.2 pounds and measures 0.6 inches thick, which makes it thinner than the Lenovo ThinkPad 13 Chromebook (3.2 pounds, 0.8 inches) and the Dell Chromebook 13 (3.23 pounds, 0.7 inches). The 10-inch Asus Chromebook Flip is lighter (1.96 pounds, 0.6 inches), but that’s to be expected at that size.

Acer placed the R 13’s USB Type-C port, HDMI port, USB 3.0 port and microSD card reader on the Chromebook’s left side and the headphone jack and lock slot on its right side. That Type-C port is used mainly for charging, but it also supports USB 3.1 data transfer and DisplayPort monitors.

MORE: Best Acer Laptops

Display

The Chromebook R 13’s 13.3-inch, 1080p panel shows crisp images but with unimpressive color and brightness. When I watched a trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on the notebook, I could see the tiny beads of rain on Orson Krennic’s jacket as clearly as each strand of young Jyn Erso’s hair. The glowing red lights in a freighter appeared strong, and blue skies rendered in a correct pale tone. But a Star Destroyer showed up in an off-white tone, and the panel gave rebel pilot jumpsuits a muted orange.

The Chromebook R 13’s panel displays only 64 percent of the sRGB spectrum. That’s similar to the scores from the Asus Chromebook Flip (61 percent) and the ThinkPad 13 Chromebook (63 percent), but lower than those from the Dell Chromebook 13 (96 percent) and the ultraportable category average (82 percent).

The colors the Chromebook R 13’s display shows are still rather accurate for a notebook, earning a 1.1 (lower is better) on the Delta-E test. That’s worse than the Asus Chromebook Flip’s score (0.7), the same as the ThinkPad 13 Chromebook’s showing (1.1), and better than the numbers from the Dell Chromebook 13 (1.4) and the average thin-and-light notebook (2.0).

The Chromebook R 13’s panel emits up to 254 nits (a measure of brightness), which is more than the average for thin-and-light notebooks (244 nits) and similar to the ThinkPad 13 Chromebook’s 257 nits of brightness. However, it’s lower than the scores from the Dell Chromebook 13 (270 nits) and the Asus Chromebook Flip (283 nits). I wish it were brighter, though, as its screen often showed my reflection during darker scenes.

Keyboard, Touch Screen, Touchpad

The Chromebook R 13’s keyboard offers a lovely typing experience. Testing it out on the 10fastfingers.com typing test, I clicked my way to 75 words per minute, which is near my average (80 wpm). The convertible keys work so well because they feature 1.6 millimeters of travel and require 52 grams of force to actuate — measurements near what we prefer (1.5 to 2 mm; 60 grams).

As I scrolled through pages and played rounds of Fruit Ninja, the Chromebook R 13’s 13.3-inch touch screen showed decent responsiveness, only lagging behind me when my finger reached a frenzied pace.

Whether I was reading web pages or navigating through the user interface, the Chromebook R 13’s 4.1 x 2.3-inch buttonless touchpad responded to my input quickly and accurately. Two-finger scrolling was smooth when I skimmed a Google Doc. Pressing down on the pad provided a comfortable click.

Audio

The Chromebook R 13’s speakers didn’t provide much volume in our tests, barely filling a small conference room with a mediocre rendition of Jidenna’s “Long Live the Chief.” While the convertible rendered the song’s high-pitched synths clearly, it took the punch out of the track’s bass and vocals.

MORE: Best 2-in-1s (Laptop/Tablet Hybrids)

Performance

Our review configuration of the Chromebook R 13 sports a MediaTek MT8173C processor and 4GB of RAM — a combination that doesn’t offer enough speed for smooth multitasking. The laptop ran speedily when I used only a few tabs (including Google Docs and Slack), but I noticed stuttering while scrolling through sites after I split the screen among a 1080p YouTube video and nine Chrome tabs.

The $399 Chromebook R 13 scored a meager 59 on the JetStream benchmark for JavaScript performance. That’s lower than the score from the $420, Intel Celeron-powered Dell Chromebook 13 (86) and far below that from the $800, Core i5-powered ThinkPad 13 Chromebook (171) and the average for thin-and-light notebooks (172), which includes more expensive Windows notebooks.

The Chromebook R 13 also performed poorly on the WebGL Aquarium test, rendering 2,000 fish at a rate between 20 and 40 frames per second. The Dell Chromebook 13 (48 fps) and the Lenovo ThinkPad 13 Chromebook (60 fps) ran that animation more smoothly.

The Chromebook R 13 beats the $259, Rockchip-powered Asus Chromebook Flip on two benchmark tests: the SunSpider JavaScript test (635.6 milliseconds versus 688.5 milliseconds, where shorter is better) and the Peacekeeper browser test (1,559 versus 1,425). We don’t typically use those tests because they’re no longer maintained, but these scores still show that the R 13 edges out the Flip in a head-to-head comparison.

Battery Life

The Chromebook R 13 goes the distance, lasting 11 hours on the Laptop Mag Battery Test (web surfing at 100 nits of brightness). That’s longer than the ThinkPad 13 Chromebook (9:08), the Chromebook Flip C100P (9:19) and the average for thin-and-light notebooks (7:52), but shorter than the Dell Chromebook 13 (13:25).

MORE: Laptops with the Longest Battery Life

Webcam

The Chromebook R 13’s 0.9-megapixel webcam shoots grainy images with poor color reproduction. When I tested it in our well-lit office, it made a red wall look orange and my purple shirt render as a mix of blue and gray.

Heat

The Chromebook R 13 manages heat well. After we streamed 15 minutes of HD video on the notebook, our heat gun recorded temperatures on its touchpad (80.5 degrees Fahrenheit), G & H keys (85.5 degrees) and underside (89 degrees) that didn’t breach our 95-degree comfort threshold.

Software

The Chromebook R 13, as its name suggests, runs Chrome OS, Google’s minimalist, cloud-based answer to the hefty macOS and Windows. This means you’ll need an internet connection to do most things on it, though you can save documents for offline usage in Google’s apps such as Docs and Sheets.

Android Apps

One of the biggest differences between the R 13 and other Chromebooks is that it’s one of the few models, along with the Asus Chromebook Flip, that can run Android apps. To try this out, though, you’ll need to switch the notebook to the Beta updates channel. Occasionally, the X button on the top-left corner of an app wouldn’t respond to my taps, so I had to hold down on the program’s icon at the bottom of the screen and select Close.

When I tested this feature with some Android games — the Chrome Web Store doesn’t offer much for gamers — I found mixed results. The Chromebook R 13 ran the casual pinball gaming title PinOut with no problem, but the more demanding Asphalt 8 racing game showed lag when I tried to turn a car by turning the tablet.

MORE: Best Chromebooks Available Now

Overall, I noticed apps performed more smoothly when I used them in windowed views; they stuttered in full-screen mode. This isn’t a big surprise, as a warning message says, “This app may not work when resized.” Unfortunately, apps automatically resize when the R 13’s screen is folded into tablet mode, and there is no button to return to windowed mode.

Bottom Line

The Acer Chromebook R 13 is a very good piece of hardware for the price, and the combination of Android emulation and a long-lasting battery makes this convertible a seriously compelling option. Productivity users or heavy multitaskers should consider a Chromebook with a more powerful processor, such as the Lenovo ThinkPad 13 Chromebook or the Dell Chromebook 13. However, if you want a convertible Chromebook for a great price, the Chromebook R 13 is your best choice.

Unfortunately, the options for touch-screen Chromebooks are limited. So although the Asus Chromebook Flip is a more affordable $259, it doesn’t match the R 13’s battery life or performance. The speedy, long-lasting Dell Chromebook 13 is on the list for eventual Android support, but it will be limited without a touch screen. The Acer Chromebook R 13, though, is an all-around solid option that shows a blueprint for future Chrome OS notebooks.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

CPU MediaTek MT8173C Core Pilot Quad-Core ARM Operating System Google Chrome RAM 4GB RAM Upgradable to Hard Drive Size 32GB Hard Drive Speed Hard Drive Type Secondary Hard Drive Size Secondary Hard Drive Speed Secondary Hard Drive Type Display Size 13.3 Native Resolution 1920×1080 Optical Drive Optical Drive Speed Graphics Card Integrated Imagination PowerVR GX6250 Graphics Video Memory Wi-Fi 802.11ac Wi-Fi Model 802.11AC WiFi featuring 2×2 MIMO Technology (Dual-Band 2.4GHz and 5GHz) Bluetooth Bluetooth 4.0 Mobile Broadband Touchpad Size 4.1 x 2.4 inches Ports (excluding USB) USB 3.1 with Type-C Ports (excluding USB) USB 3.0 Ports (excluding USB) Headphone Ports (excluding USB) HDMI USB Ports 2 Card Slots microSD Warranty/Support One Year International Limited Warranty Size 12.8 x 8.9 x 0.6 inches Weight 3.2 pounds Company Website

Acer Chromebook R 13 Review The Pros Runs Android apps; Excellent battery life; Sleek, premium-looking design; Comfortable keyboard The Cons Mediocre performance; Flat audio…

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