NEW YORK (TheStreet)--
Is the world ready for another round of cheap Windows laptops?
Remember those cheap, slow, inadequate
A few years ago, "netbook "?
Can this device compete with the increasingly popular Chromebook device?
HP (HPQ -Get Report)thinks so.
HP has released two versions of Microsoft (MSFT -Get Report)Windows 8. 1.
There are 11 versions. 6-
Inch screen and the larger screen we have been testing.
Both cars cost less than $230.
We have been living with Stream 13 for a few weeks and are impressed with what we have seen.
No, the cheap laptop is not the same as Microsoft Surface Pro 3 or Lenovo's sleek Yoga 3 Pro.
But we found that HP is a good device at a reasonable price, which can make Google (GOOG -Get Report)
Fierce competition.
HP shares rose 0. 7% to $40.
Trading on Friday afternoon.
We chose Stream 13 as one of our 10 best and coolest laptops for the 2014 holiday season.
In the past, if you wanted a very cheap Windows laptop, you had to settle for an outdated model that was slow, bulky and regrettable.
The most affordable product can hardly handle the increasingly complex tasks.
Buyers have turned elsewhere.
Simple machines like Chromebooks make up for the shortfall by focusing on doing a task brilliantly ---
Surf the Internet.
Everything is handled in Chrome browser.
This is enough for many people.
But many users realize that more complex chores cannot be handled on Chromebook.
They asked for more portable devices to be made.
Microsoft has listed and lowered the price of Windows operating system softwareexpensive, non-
Manufacturers can therefore start competing for touch screen devices.
Stream 13 is one of the new devices that Microsoft has benefited from in this move.
HP did the same thing, of course.
Inside is double-core, 2. 16 GHz Intel (INTC -Get Report)
Celeron N2840 processor with 2 gb of RAM and 32 gb of solid-state storage.
The memory capacity can be expanded through the microSD card port of the unit. The non-
The resolution of the touch screen is 1366 by 768 pixels (
Same as the smaller one, 11. 6-inch model)
Can handle 720 p but not 1080 p video.
The sound quality of this small speaker is very good, thanks in part to DTS (DTSI)
The sound function of the studio.
There is a USB 3. 0, two USB 2.
0 ports and HDMI connections, as well as a combination of the headphone/microphone jack and 802. 11b/g/n Wi-fi. The 64-
The bit operating system is called "Windows 8. 1 with Bing.
This means that Microsoft's Bing is the default search engine for Internet Explorer browsers.
You can easily change it to another one if you want.
HP raised the stakes, including a free, one
Annual subscription to Microsoft Office 365 with online cloud access to Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, and access.
HP has also launched 1 tb of OneDrive cloud storage.
Stream 13 provides us with almost a full battery charging working day.
We squeezed nearly seven.
You can browse the web, process emails, watch YouTube and play music for 5 hours without finding a nearby air-conditioned outlet.
The Intel processor does not need a fan to cool down, which also helps to keep the battery running.
The good news is that this is a Windows laptop worth a try.
A little heavier (3. 4 pounds)
More expensive than some chromebook, or more expensive Windows models.
Sometimes, when faced with very complex tasks, the Saiyan processor slows down a bit.
But many Chromebooks use the exact same processing chip and suffer the exact same fate.
Considering the low price, Stream 13 offers great value.
One of the attractions of this notebook is its ability to run any and all Windows programs.
This is especially important when it comes to dealing with intensive tasks like editing photos in Adobe (ADBE -Get Report)
Photoshop, high-
Play or play the resolution music of any modern game and program through the JRiver Media Center.
That's not what Chromebooks can do.
Windows computers can.
HP's Stream 13 retail price is $229. 99.
The company's online stores are currently sold out (
A week before Christmas)
But from Microsoft Store, B & H and Office Depot (ODP -Get Report)(
For $219. 99). HP stock--
Gary Krakow wrote it in New York.
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