HP Chromebook - 15-de0021cl: A Sleek and Reliable Laptop for Chrome OS Lovers

 

Today I'm writing about my HP Chromebook  Model:15-de0021cl. This Chromebook was released by HP  in the summer of 2019, around  four years ago. It is a laptop with 15.6-inc touch screen, an Intel Core i3, 4GB of RAM, and 128 GB of eMMC storage. 

Hardware Specification:

• Product number: 6MX43UA
• Product name : HP Chromebook - 15-de0021cl
• Microprocessor : Intel® Core™ i3-8130U (2.2 GHz base frequency, up to 4 GHz with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology, 4 MB cache, 2 cores)
• Chipset : Intel® Integrated SoC
• Memory, standard : 4 GB DDR4-2133 SDRAM (onboard)
• Video graphics : Intel® UHD Graphics 620, Integrated
• Hard drive : 128 GB eMMC
• Optical drive: Optical drive not included
• Display : 15.6" diagonal FHD IPS BrightView micro-edge WLED-backlit touch screen (1920 x 1080)
• Wireless connectivity : Intel® Wireless-AC 7265 802.11ac (2x2) Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® 4.2 Combo
• Expansion slots: 1 microSD media card reader
• External ports : 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C™ (5 Gb/s signaling rate, Power Delivery 3.0, HP Sleep and Charge); 1 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A (HP Sleep and Charge)
• Minimum dimensions (W x D x H) : 35.8 x 24.6 x 1.79 cm
• Weight : 1.81 kg
• Power supply type : 45 W USB Type-C™ adapter
• Battery type : 3-cell, 60 Wh Li-ion
• Webcam : HP Wide Vision HD Camera with integrated dual array digital microphone
• Audio features : B&O, dual speakers
• Operating System :  Chrome OS

The  HP Chromebook  15-de0021cl is a budget friendly laptop, that offers excellent performance. It is powered by a Intel Core i3-8130U (2.2 GHz base frequency, up to 4 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 4 MB cache, 2 cores), 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which is still a lot even in today's standard and a Full HD Display. 

What I Like:

• The build is nice. Feels sturdy and durable
• Full HD display
• Good Performance
• Long Battery Life
• Touchscreen Display
• 2 USB-C and
• Supports Power Delivery 3.o
• Supports Google Play
• Supports Built-in Linux Box
• Compatible with most USB-C Laptop Docking that Supports the PD protocol
• Micro SD Card Slot

What I don't like:

• I find it a little heavy

Overall, the HP Chromebook 15-de0021cl is a good choice for students, budget-minded users, or anyone who just needs a laptop on the go that can handle everyday tasks. It is a good value for the price and offers good performance for its specs.

I'm an Android Phone user, and having Google Play on my HP Chromebook allows me to install and use the same apps I have on my phone. I also have Linux Box enabled so I can install desktop apps like Mozilla Firefox, Brave, and Libre Office.  One upgrade I made was to get the HP Thunderbolt Dock 120W with HDMI Adapter, Universal USB-C Docking Station, this lets me use my HP Chromebook with Dual Monitors, an external keyboard, and a mouse, I can hook it up to my switch via RJ45 ethernet wired connection.

Recommendation:

After having two Chromebooks, the Thinkpad 13 Chromebook and this one the HP Chromebook 15-de0021cl, I think, for now, I wouldn't be getting any Chromebooks, not for a long time. Unless Google removes the update limitation, Google makes Chrome OS Flex available to End of Life Chromebooks. My Thinkpad 13 Chromebook stopped getting updates last July, and this Chromebook will stop getting updates in the summer of 2025. I feel that Google must still support older hardware, just like in Windows. At least with Windows-based computers, I can install a Linux distro on older computers seamlessly. Also, the prices of Chromebooks are getting expensive, and none of the hardware is upgradable (cannot add ram and replace ssds). So for now I won't be buying any Chromebooks

Ka Tato's Corner November 23, 2023

Read more ...

Lenovo ThinkPad 13 Chromebook Review - Celeron 3855U, 4GB RAM, 16GB eMMC

My Lenovo ThinkPad 13 Choromebook will be seven years old this coming December 2023, although it doesn't get updates from Google anymore, it's still as reliable as it was when I bought it back in 2016.

The Lenovo ThinkPad 13 Chromebook is a budget-friendly Chromebook that offers good performance and durable build quality. It is powered by a Celeron 3855U processor, 4GB of RAM, and 16GB of eMMC storage. This configuration is sufficient for most basic tasks, such as web browsing, checking email, video/movie streaming, and using online productivity apps.

The ThinkPad 13 Chromebook has a 13.3-inch HD display with a resolution of 1366x768 pixels. The display could be more sharp, but it is bright and clear enough for most tasks. The viewing angles are also good and in cases I need a second display, I connect my usb-3 AOC e1659Fwu 15.6-Inch Ultra Slim 1366x768 Res.

This Thinkpad Chromebook although old, came with two USB-C and supports the PD or  Power Delivery over USB. I'm able to use my  USB C Laptop Docking Station with Dual Monitor, which I bought from Amazon. with this tiny docking station, I'm able to have two additional monitors and additional USB-3 ports, RJ45, and two DisplayPort. You can read the short review that I wrote here.

This Chromebook has a comfortable keyboard like all Thinkpads with good key travel and feedback. The trackpad is also responsive and accurate.

This ThinkPad 13 Chromebook has a good battery life. It can easily last for 8-10 hours on a single charge. This makes it a good choice for students, mobile professionals, and anyone else who needs a laptop that they can use all day long.

Pros:

• Good performance for a budget Chromebook
• Durable build quality
• Long battery life
• Comfortable keyboard
• Responsive trackpad
• Supports Google Play and Android Apps
• Supports Linux on Chromebooks
• Two USB-C Ports
• Supports the PD or  Power Delivery over USB

Cons:

• Not ideal for demanding tasks
• The display is not particularly sharp
• Stop Getting Updates June 2023

This Thinkpad Chromebook 13 is durable, and has a good build quality like any ThinkPad, after more than six years, the battery still holds a good amount of charge at 8 hours. I still use it here and there, but because of limited storage capacity and lack of new and latest updates from Google, I only use it for occasional browsing and some YouTube streaming.

Ka Tato's Corner November 01, 2023

Read more ...

Lenovo ThinkPad L520 Review: A Durable and Reliable Laptop

This isn't a new laptop, in fact, most people would consider this obsolete, but, this Lenovo Thinkpad L520, just works and doesn't want to retire anytime soon. I bought mine refurbished from Lenovo, back in late 2012, and it's been my workhorse up until last month. My L520 runs on an Intel Core i5-2540M 2.6GHz.

The Lenovo ThinkPad L520 is a 15.6-inch business laptop that was released in 2011. It is a durable and reliable laptop that is well-suited for a variety of use cases, including business, education, and personal use.

Specifications:

The Lenovo ThinkPad L520 is available with a variety of specifications, including:

•  Processor: Intel Core i3-2310M 2.1GHz, Intel Core i5-2410M 2.3GHz, Intel Core i5-2540M 2.6GHz, or Intel Core i7-2640M 2.8GHz
• Memory: 4GB or 8GB DDR3
• Storage: 320GB, 500GB, or 750GB 7200RPM HDD, or 128GB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch 1366x768 LED or 1600x900 LED
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 3000
• Operating System: Windows 7 Professional or Windows 8 Pro

Design and Build Quality

The Lenovo ThinkPad L520 has a classic ThinkPad design, with a black chassis and a red TrackPoint pointing stick. It is a well-built laptop that is made from durable materials. The lid and keyboard deck are both made of plastic, but they feel sturdy and well-made. The hinges are also very sturdy and can hold the lid in place at any angle.

Keyboard and Trackpad

The Lenovo ThinkPad L520 has a spill-resistant keyboard with large, well-spaced keys. The keys have a good amount of travel and feedback, making them comfortable to type on for long periods. The keyboard also has a dedicated number pad, a nice feature for business users.

The Lenovo ThinkPad L520 also has a large touchpad that is responsive and accurate. The touchpad has two dedicated buttons that are easy to click. The laptop also has a TrackPoint pointing stick, which is a signature feature of ThinkPad laptops. The TrackPoint pointing stick is a good alternative to the touchpad, especially if you are using the laptop on a desk or other flat surface.

Display

The Lenovo ThinkPad L520 has a 15.6-inch LED display with a resolution of 1366x768 or 1600x900. The display is not the brightest or most colorful display on the market, but it is good enough for most tasks, such as browsing the web, checking email, and working on documents. The display also has a matte finish, which helps to reduce glare.

Performance

The Lenovo ThinkPad L520 is powered by a variety of Intel Core i3, i5, and i7 processors. These processors are powerful enough to handle most tasks, including multitasking, running office applications, and browsing the web. The laptop also has Intel HD Graphics 3000 graphics, which are good enough for basic graphics tasks, such as watching videos and playing casual games.

Battery Life

The Lenovo ThinkPad L520 has a 6-cell battery that can provide up to 6 hours of battery life on a single charge. This is good battery life for a 15.6-inch laptop.

Conclusion

The Lenovo ThinkPad L520 is a durable and reliable laptop that is well-suited for various use cases, including business, education, and personal use. It has a good keyboard, a large touchpad, and a long-lasting battery. The laptop also has various performance and storage options, so you can choose the right configuration for you.

Pros

• Durable and reliable build quality
• Good keyboard and touchpad
• Long-lasting battery
• Variety of performance and storage options
• Compatible with  Lenovo ThinkPad Mini Dock Series 3 Docking Sation with USB 3.0 - 90W - 433715

Cons

• The display is not the brightest or most colorful
• Graphics performance is not suitable for demanding games or video editing

My Setup

I have made some upgrades to my L520:

1.  Docking Station, I got the Lenovo ThinkPad Mini Dock Series 3 Docking Sation with USB 3.0 - 90W - 433715 this expanded my ports like the USB Ports, Ethernet port, it gave me VGA, DVI and Display Port for external monitors, also the docking station allowed me to use my L520 with Dual Monitors while the Lid is close.
2. Max out ram to 16gb,
3. Upgrade Hard Drive to a 1TB SSD
4. Remove DVD drive and replace it with a Hard Drive caddy, and installed a 2tb SSD,now I have 2 internal SSD
5. From Windows 7 pro, I upgraded to Windows 10 pro, when the beta version of Windows 11 pro was released, it automatically downloaded it and upgraded my Windows 10 to 11. So  now even though my hardware isn't supported, my L520 is running Windows 11 and keeps getting regular update.

Overall

The Lenovo ThinkPad L520 was an excellent companion it is a durable and reliable laptop. It is a good choice for business users, students, and anyone else who needs a laptop that can handle everyday tasks.

Ka Tato's Corner October 26, 2023

Read more ...

Stay Cool and Comfortable with the Cooler Master NotePal ErgoStand - The Best Laptop Cooling Stand in the Market

 The Cooler Master NotePal ErgoStand is a premium ergonomic laptop cooling stand that provides six levels of incline for the perfect viewing or typing angle. It comes with a large, 230mm silent fan that provides excellent airflow and a 4-port USB hub that expands device connectivity 1.

The stand has an ergonomic design with six height settings for comfortable viewing angles. The fan blade design is exclusive and ensures ultra-quiet operation. Thanks to the new Loop Dynamic Bearing technology, the ErgoStand III is able to provide 72 cubic feet per minute of airflow at only 21 dBA, which is equivalent to the volume of a rustling leaf in a light breeze 1. The high-quality, precision-etched aluminum dial includes fan toggle (on/off) function. Grooves and hooks keep wires clean and tidy while the USB hub expands one laptop port into four (4). You can plug in external keyboards, mice, and other peripherals to maximize your workspace 1.

The stand is compatible with laptops up to 17 inches in size and has a weight of 1.21kg / 42.68oz. Its dimensions are 385 x 280 x 46.7 ~ 225.5 mm / 15.2 x 11 x 1.8 ~ 8.9 inch 1.

In terms of performance, the Cooler Master NotePal ErgoStand is an excellent choice for those who want to maximize their laptop’s performance. The stand’s large fan provides excellent airflow, which helps keep your laptop cool and working smoothly 1.

Overall, the Cooler Master NotePal ErgoStand is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to stay cool and comfortable while using their laptop for extended periods of time. It’s stylish, functional, and provides excellent value for money.

Ka Tato's Corner July 19, 2023

Read more ...