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Living With Chromebook: Can You Use It To Actually Get Work Done?


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Living with Chromebook: Can you use it to actually get work done?


Living with Chromebook: Can you use it to actually get work done?

In the first part of our Living with Chromebook series, I outlined the initial hardware and account setup required to use a laptop running Google's Chrome OS. In this second installment, the focus is on productivity.

For my long-form Chromebook test-drive, I'm spending most of my computing time with the HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook. Like the smaller 11- and 12-inch Chromebooks we've reviewed, it operates almost entirely within the Chrome Web browser, which looks and feels the same as the Chrome Web browser you may be using right now on your Windows or Mac OS computer.

That makes for a familiar experience in some ways, as many of us have already moved large swaths of our lives online, into Web-based tools such as Gmail, Facebook, and Netflix. More than most, I've embraced cloud services for as many things as possible, primarily because reviewing laptops means moving into a brand-new, fresh-from-the-box PC at least once or twice a week.

Working in the cloud
If you're anywhere near as invested in cloud services as I am, then the transition to a Chromebook should hypothetically be fairly painless. Most of the things you want to do -- send e-mail, share via social-networking services, stream online video -- are available on a Chrome OS device, and largely work the same way as on a traditional OS.

That said, there's still a natural resistance to this type of Web-only setup. Maybe the idea that in a traditional PC there's a desktop lying underneath it all is a comforting one. Perhaps traditional folders-and-file systems are a security blanket, because despite having used Chromebooks before this, I found being locked into a browser-only world still felt confining, especially for office work -- documents, spreadsheets, and folders of files nestled within each other.

That's no doubt why the Chrome OS now has a more pronounced (if still rudimentary) file system than the very first Chromebooks did, making it possible to save and easily access files. This Hewlett-Packard model only includes 16GB of solid-state drive (SSD) storage, but Acer's C7 Chromebook includes a standard 320GB platter hard drive. In either case, photo, music, and video files can all be stored and sorted there, by downloading online or sideloading from a USB drive or SD card. Consider it all to be backups for the versions "in the cloud," for those times when you can't get online.

Image and video files on the Chrome OS hard drive.

Do you need always-on Internet?
While the original pitch for the Chromebook was that this would be an always-on device, connected to either Wi-Fi or mobile broadband, that idea seems to have fallen by the wayside. The HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook, for example, does not include a 3G antenna, something found in the original Google Chromebook, as well as the Samsung Chromebook Series 5 550. Google's high-end Pixel model even offers a 4G LTE version. But the bundled wireless service always comes with an asterisk; in the case of the 4G Pixel -- which is $250 more than the Wi-Fi-only version -- it's this: 100MB per month for two years of mobile broadband from Verizon Wireless. In other words, it's way too paltry to do anything substantive.

Perhaps sensing that always-on broadband isn't going to always work for sub-$400 laptops, Google now emphasizes the offline capabilities of Chrome, which are largely tied in to the offline modes that have been built into Google's various tools, such as Google Docs, over the years.

The offline-ready apps in the Chrome Web Store.

A few other Chrome-compatible Web tools also work offline, and Google has set aside a section of its Chrome Web Store (really just a dressed-up set of links to Chrome OS versions of web sites) to make them easier to find.

Google Drive as office suite
I'll let you in on a little secret. I've been using Google Drive (nee "Google Docs") as my main word processor for a few years now, and it's such a useful, well-maintained online tool that the benefits far outweigh a few significant shortcomings. For that reason, using Google Drive on a Chromebook was a natural transition for me, and one of the elements of Chromebook use that felt the most comparable to using a non-Chrome OS laptop.

Like nearly all writers, I spent years using Microsoft Word on both Windows and OS X systems. It's still the default for word processing, and DOC and DOCX are still universal file formats (fortunately, Google Drive allows you to open and export these formats).

But, reviewing new laptops all the time, I was setting up a new system once or twice a week at least, which often made using these new laptops for writing a pain. Microsoft now has an ad-supported "free" version of Word that comes preinstalled on some (but not all) laptops, but previously, if you were lucky you had a trial version, or else nothing at all. Very often, I ended up either installing OpenOffice (a free, if clunky, office suite), or digging up an old install disc for Office 2003. Even under the best of circumstances, I had to remember to e-mail myself the latest version of my Word doc, or sneakernet it around on a USB stick. (Nowadays, I'd store the documents on Dropbox, Amazon Cloud Drive, Microsoft SkyDrive, or the like, but I'd still be stuck installing the word processing software itself.)

So many of the work tools we use now are online and collaborative that it's hard to remember when that wasn't the norm, but when I started using Google Drive in earnest in 2009 it was a major change to my workflow. Even now, on the HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook, I can open any document I've been working on from another laptop, add some text, and then seamlessly switch back to the first laptop at any point. It's also easy to share docs with anyone else via a few button clicks -- and multiple authorized users can access and edit a document in real time (which is something you may or may not want).

Working on a document in Google Docs.

Google Drive works best for simple text-based documents with minimal formatting. You can add images, tables, and other design elements, but these are not as full-featured as in Microsoft Office, and don't always translate as one might expect when exporting to a DOC file.

Another thing that drives me crazy about Google Drive is the lack of a "show hidden characters" command in its word processor. That's not something everyone uses, but for writers, especially those who got their start in print publishing, being able to see every tab, paragraph break, and even the spaces between characters is important. I've learned to live without it, but it's still my least favorite part of the Google Drive experience.

The presentation and spreadsheet apps included with Google Drive are somewhat less successful. My needs for XLS files are limited, but even then I've run out of available columns and been forced to start a new tab in a spreadsheet. In fact, all the Google Drive apps have size and complexity limitations, and you can find more details about that here. Those are limitations to the actual Google Drive platform, not something specific to Chrome OS or the Chromebook.

Another option for Microsoft Office purists is Office 365, the cloud-based version of Office. It's a paid service, not all features work in Chrome OS, and it doesn't facilitate the easy sharing that Google Docs does with anyone who has a free Gmail account.

It may be something you'll need to use every day, but I've had good luck exporting Google Docs files into the PDF format (it's a setting built right in to Google Docs under File > Download as), and the file browser in Chrome OS can open PDF files for easy reading.

One handy thing to keep in mind is that most Google Drive files can be accessed even when your Chromebook (or other PC) is offline. But, you have to set up the offline mode for your account first by following the instructions here. Gmail also has an offline mode, and you can find more apps and features that work on an offline Chromebook in this special section of the Chrome Web Store (of course, you'll have to be online to see this list).

Using a mouse, printer, and other peripherals
One of the big problems I had with the less-expensive Chromebooks from Samsung and Acer has been the terrible touch pads built into those systems. I don't care if your laptop cost less than $200, if the touch pad is unusable, you're just not going to be productive on it.

The touch pad on the $329 HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook is a bit better, but still not even as good as the touch pads found on budget Windows laptops. It was passable for basic Web surfing, but if you plan on using your Chromebook for more than a couple of hours at a time, an external mouse is recommended.

Fortunately, despite not having any way to install drivers or dive into the deeper functions of pointing devices, I had good luck getting external devices to work. Both the wireless Microsoft mouse and the external Logitech touch pad I tried worked instantly, both via USB dongle (a second wireless mouse, from Targus, did not work).

Printing is a little more complicated. You'll need to use a service Google calls Cloud Print. That works one of two ways. The less likely scenario is that you already own one of a handful of Cloud-Print-ready printers, in which case you should be able to connect easily if you're on the same network. More likely, you have what Google generously refers to as a "classic printer," in which case, you have to run a Cloud Print app on a separate Windows or OS X machine, and from there, connect to your Chromebook.

This is about as far from the simple, stripped-down appeal of Chromebooks and the Chrome OS as one could imagine.

That said, when I followed the steps outlined in this support doc from Google, the Cloud Print feature worked the first time I tried it.

Workaround apps
If your job involves only e-mail, text documents, and simple spreadsheets, moving to a Chromebook may well be a very simple transition for you, especially if you already make use of Google's online tools.

If, however, you have occasional need for programs such as Photoshop, you're going to have to find a workaround. There actually are a few basic image-editing features built into Chrome OS, but if you need to do more than adjust the rotation or brightness and contrast of an image, you'll hit a wall very quickly.

I've always used a Web-based tool named Pixlr for emergency photo edits. It's a cloud-based image editor that looks and feels a lot like Photoshop. You upload an image, edit it, then download the resulting file. It works well enough in a pinch, although if you're a heavy Photoshop user, a Chromebook just isn't for you.

I found Pixlr listed in the Chrome Web Store, but "installing" the app really just takes you to the Pixlr Web site. Similar online tools, including some basic video editors, can be found in the Creative Tools section of the Chrome Web Store. One caveat, especially if you're working with big images: remember that you'll have to both upload and redownload the image file, so make sure you have the time and bandwidth to work that way before you count on an online app such as Pixlr.

You can be productive on a Chromebook, sometimes
As an on-the-go system for catching up on e-mail (especially if you use Gmail or Google's corporate e-mail services), and creating or editing basic office documents, a Chromebook works, and works well considering the less-than-$250 investment (for the Samsung Chromebook Series 3, the most affordable Chromebook CNET can recommend).

That said, it does not excel in any particular area, and even a budget Windows laptop offers more flexibility and the ability to run more software. Even if you only need a particular app once in a great while, unless there's an online version that works in the Chrome browser, you're out of luck.

Here's what worked:

  • Google Drive/Google Docs works the same as it does on non-Chrome PCs
  • Having cloud-based documents makes it easy to share and access documents on multiple PCs
  • Many mice and other accessories are plug-and-play
  • Offline access to some features helps the Chromebook be more universally useful

Here's what didn't:

  • You're stuck with second-rate online alternatives to programs such as Photoshop
  • Setting up a printer is a hassle
  • Google Docs lacks many of the bells and whistles of Microsoft Office

In the next Living with Chromebook installment, we'll look at entertainment options in Chrome OS, from streaming video to games.


Source

https://nichols.my.id/how-to-generate-hdfc-debit-card-pin.html

.

Weighted Blankets: Benefits, Do They Actually Work And Are They Worth The Money?


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Weighted Blankets: Benefits, Do They Actually Work and Are They Worth The Money?


Weighted Blankets: Benefits, Do They Actually Work and Are They Worth The Money?

When you think about it, investing in a good night's sleep can be expensive. There's buying the right mattress, a comfortable duvet, supportive pillows, soft sheets and maybe even a mattress topper or mattress pad. On top of that, there are many more options in the market that attest to helping you attain the perfect amount of ZZZs each night. One of which is a weighted blanket.

Sleep accessories can cost a little more than you may think. So, you may be asking yourself, if I already have a comfortable bed, do I really need to invest in a weighted blanket? And do weighted blankets even do everything they claim?

If you're considering one, here's everything you need to know before adding a weighted blanket to your bedroom. 

Read more: Best Weighted Blankets

What is a weighted blanket?

Often used as therapeutic devices, weighted blankets are dense blankets designed to promote sleep and decrease stress. Weighted blankets can weigh anywhere from 5 to 30 pounds. There are many options out there, but it is recommended that the weight of the blanket you choose is equal to 10% of your body weight. The right blanket should be comfortable and heavy but not completely restrict your movement. It should feel similar to a big hug. 

Weighted blankets are available to anyone interested (although, they aren't deemed safe for babies or children under 3 years old). However, these products especially appeal to those who have trouble falling asleep at night, and they have also been used to comfort those with special conditions.

Weighted blankets are used to help those with:

Whether you're looking for new sleep accessories, want to try something new or live with a condition that inhibits your sleep, a weighted blanket might be for you. 

Are there other benefits of investing in this product?

Woman sleeping under weighted blanket
Getty Images/Katelin Kinney/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Potential benefits of weighted blankets

It's no secret that weighted blankets are designed to help those with anxiety (similar to a hug used to comfort a friend). In case that benefit doesn't concern or interest you, there are other benefits to sleeping under a few extra pounds of blanket. 

Overall sense of calm

Those who have tried a weighted blanket describe the feeling as similar to being held by a loved one. The weight and sensation encourage you to relax and decompress.

Increased serotonin levels 

Similar to how hugs increase serotonin, weighted blankets deliver the same kind of deep pressure stimulation and, therefore, serotonin. This is why weighted blankets supposedly help anxiety and depression. The increased serotonin levels, or "happy, feel-good" hormones, help combat both.

Increased oxytocin levels

In addition to serotonin, the deep pressure stimulation of weighted blankets may increase oxytocin levels in our brains, another "feel-good" hormone. This helps us feel safe, calm and destressed.

Reduced movement 

If you often toss and turn at night and are looking to be more static (or not disturb a partner as much), this benefit might interest you. The weight of the blanket helps to hold you in one place, yet it doesn't completely restrict you. Your blanket should be heavy but still be comfortable. 

Improved quality of sleep 

One of the most important benefits of weighted blankets is the improvement of your sleep. The weight of the blanket cradles you and may even decrease the number of times you wake up in the middle of the night. All of the above benefits help to lull you to sleep, and weighted blankets are said to improve that sleep. 

Do weighted blankets actually work?

The big question with any product that might seem too good to be true -- does it actually work?

One study from 2018 concluded that weighted blankets may be an appropriate therapeutic product for those living with anxiety. The same study found that while weighted blankets may decrease anxiety, there wasn't much evidence that it treats insomnia.

A more recent study from 2020 reported that weighted blankets improved sleep quality among subjects, but the improvements were small (a 2% decrease in light sleep, 1.5 % improvement in sleep efficiency and 1.4% in sleep maintenance). Although, 36% of subjects said they slept better through the night without waking up.

While the findings from this study, as well as the 2018 study, seem to suggest that weighted blankets have the possibility of being effective with sleep, there aren't many studies that show the opposite. More research needs to be completed before the final say, but as of now, experts aren't saying that weighted blankets are ineffective.

All in all, weighted blankets aren't magic. But it has been proven that they (at the very least) help to ease symptoms of anxiety, depression, autism and release serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin.

Woman underneath a weighted blanket
Getty Images/Catherine McQueen/Moment

Are weighted blankets worth it?

Due to recent demand and increased popularity, many people have been turning to weighted blankets as an extra device of comfort. Whether they are anxious, stressed or looking for a way to ease symptoms of depression or Autism Spectrum Disorder, weighted blankets seem to be a great sleep tool. 

However, weighted blankets don't solve major anxiety, depression or sleep-related issues. If extreme anxiety or insomnia is constantly keeping you awake at night, speak with your doctor or a licensed therapist to create the best possible treatment plan. In addition, weighted blankets are an investment. Just like any other sleep accessory, good weighted blankets can be pricey. 

If you think a weighted blanket could be useful to you, review these points before buying.

Consider investing in a weighted blanket if:

  • You're looking to improve your sleep and ease your mild to moderate anxiety 
  • You want to ditch your melatonin supplements and try a new way to fall asleep faster
  • Your bed is missing an extra level of comfort 

Spend your money on something else if:

  • You live with sleep apnea or severe asthma, as a weighted blanket could be too constricting
  • You already have too many sleep accessories cluttering your bed
  • You're a hot sleeper and like light layers at night

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.


Source

https://nichols.my.id/how-to-recover-excel-file-after-shift-delete.html

.

Living With Chromebook: Can You Use It To Actually Get Work Done?


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Living with Chromebook: Can you use it to actually get work done?


Living with Chromebook: Can you use it to actually get work done?

In the first part of our Living with Chromebook series, I outlined the initial hardware and account setup required to use a laptop running Google's Chrome OS. In this second installment, the focus is on productivity.

For my long-form Chromebook test-drive, I'm spending most of my computing time with the HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook. Like the smaller 11- and 12-inch Chromebooks we've reviewed, it operates almost entirely within the Chrome Web browser, which looks and feels the same as the Chrome Web browser you may be using right now on your Windows or Mac OS computer.

That makes for a familiar experience in some ways, as many of us have already moved large swaths of our lives online, into Web-based tools such as Gmail, Facebook, and Netflix. More than most, I've embraced cloud services for as many things as possible, primarily because reviewing laptops means moving into a brand-new, fresh-from-the-box PC at least once or twice a week.

Working in the cloud
If you're anywhere near as invested in cloud services as I am, then the transition to a Chromebook should hypothetically be fairly painless. Most of the things you want to do -- send e-mail, share via social-networking services, stream online video -- are available on a Chrome OS device, and largely work the same way as on a traditional OS.

That said, there's still a natural resistance to this type of Web-only setup. Maybe the idea that in a traditional PC there's a desktop lying underneath it all is a comforting one. Perhaps traditional folders-and-file systems are a security blanket, because despite having used Chromebooks before this, I found being locked into a browser-only world still felt confining, especially for office work -- documents, spreadsheets, and folders of files nestled within each other.

That's no doubt why the Chrome OS now has a more pronounced (if still rudimentary) file system than the very first Chromebooks did, making it possible to save and easily access files. This Hewlett-Packard model only includes 16GB of solid-state drive (SSD) storage, but Acer's C7 Chromebook includes a standard 320GB platter hard drive. In either case, photo, music, and video files can all be stored and sorted there, by downloading online or sideloading from a USB drive or SD card. Consider it all to be backups for the versions "in the cloud," for those times when you can't get online.

Image and video files on the Chrome OS hard drive.

Do you need always-on Internet?
While the original pitch for the Chromebook was that this would be an always-on device, connected to either Wi-Fi or mobile broadband, that idea seems to have fallen by the wayside. The HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook, for example, does not include a 3G antenna, something found in the original Google Chromebook, as well as the Samsung Chromebook Series 5 550. Google's high-end Pixel model even offers a 4G LTE version. But the bundled wireless service always comes with an asterisk; in the case of the 4G Pixel -- which is $250 more than the Wi-Fi-only version -- it's this: 100MB per month for two years of mobile broadband from Verizon Wireless. In other words, it's way too paltry to do anything substantive.

Perhaps sensing that always-on broadband isn't going to always work for sub-$400 laptops, Google now emphasizes the offline capabilities of Chrome, which are largely tied in to the offline modes that have been built into Google's various tools, such as Google Docs, over the years.

The offline-ready apps in the Chrome Web Store.

A few other Chrome-compatible Web tools also work offline, and Google has set aside a section of its Chrome Web Store (really just a dressed-up set of links to Chrome OS versions of web sites) to make them easier to find.

Google Drive as office suite
I'll let you in on a little secret. I've been using Google Drive (nee "Google Docs") as my main word processor for a few years now, and it's such a useful, well-maintained online tool that the benefits far outweigh a few significant shortcomings. For that reason, using Google Drive on a Chromebook was a natural transition for me, and one of the elements of Chromebook use that felt the most comparable to using a non-Chrome OS laptop.

Like nearly all writers, I spent years using Microsoft Word on both Windows and OS X systems. It's still the default for word processing, and DOC and DOCX are still universal file formats (fortunately, Google Drive allows you to open and export these formats).

But, reviewing new laptops all the time, I was setting up a new system once or twice a week at least, which often made using these new laptops for writing a pain. Microsoft now has an ad-supported "free" version of Word that comes preinstalled on some (but not all) laptops, but previously, if you were lucky you had a trial version, or else nothing at all. Very often, I ended up either installing OpenOffice (a free, if clunky, office suite), or digging up an old install disc for Office 2003. Even under the best of circumstances, I had to remember to e-mail myself the latest version of my Word doc, or sneakernet it around on a USB stick. (Nowadays, I'd store the documents on Dropbox, Amazon Cloud Drive, Microsoft SkyDrive, or the like, but I'd still be stuck installing the word processing software itself.)

So many of the work tools we use now are online and collaborative that it's hard to remember when that wasn't the norm, but when I started using Google Drive in earnest in 2009 it was a major change to my workflow. Even now, on the HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook, I can open any document I've been working on from another laptop, add some text, and then seamlessly switch back to the first laptop at any point. It's also easy to share docs with anyone else via a few button clicks -- and multiple authorized users can access and edit a document in real time (which is something you may or may not want).

Working on a document in Google Docs.

Google Drive works best for simple text-based documents with minimal formatting. You can add images, tables, and other design elements, but these are not as full-featured as in Microsoft Office, and don't always translate as one might expect when exporting to a DOC file.

Another thing that drives me crazy about Google Drive is the lack of a "show hidden characters" command in its word processor. That's not something everyone uses, but for writers, especially those who got their start in print publishing, being able to see every tab, paragraph break, and even the spaces between characters is important. I've learned to live without it, but it's still my least favorite part of the Google Drive experience.

The presentation and spreadsheet apps included with Google Drive are somewhat less successful. My needs for XLS files are limited, but even then I've run out of available columns and been forced to start a new tab in a spreadsheet. In fact, all the Google Drive apps have size and complexity limitations, and you can find more details about that here. Those are limitations to the actual Google Drive platform, not something specific to Chrome OS or the Chromebook.

Another option for Microsoft Office purists is Office 365, the cloud-based version of Office. It's a paid service, not all features work in Chrome OS, and it doesn't facilitate the easy sharing that Google Docs does with anyone who has a free Gmail account.

It may be something you'll need to use every day, but I've had good luck exporting Google Docs files into the PDF format (it's a setting built right in to Google Docs under File > Download as), and the file browser in Chrome OS can open PDF files for easy reading.

One handy thing to keep in mind is that most Google Drive files can be accessed even when your Chromebook (or other PC) is offline. But, you have to set up the offline mode for your account first by following the instructions here. Gmail also has an offline mode, and you can find more apps and features that work on an offline Chromebook in this special section of the Chrome Web Store (of course, you'll have to be online to see this list).

Using a mouse, printer, and other peripherals
One of the big problems I had with the less-expensive Chromebooks from Samsung and Acer has been the terrible touch pads built into those systems. I don't care if your laptop cost less than $200, if the touch pad is unusable, you're just not going to be productive on it.

The touch pad on the $329 HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook is a bit better, but still not even as good as the touch pads found on budget Windows laptops. It was passable for basic Web surfing, but if you plan on using your Chromebook for more than a couple of hours at a time, an external mouse is recommended.

Fortunately, despite not having any way to install drivers or dive into the deeper functions of pointing devices, I had good luck getting external devices to work. Both the wireless Microsoft mouse and the external Logitech touch pad I tried worked instantly, both via USB dongle (a second wireless mouse, from Targus, did not work).

Printing is a little more complicated. You'll need to use a service Google calls Cloud Print. That works one of two ways. The less likely scenario is that you already own one of a handful of Cloud-Print-ready printers, in which case you should be able to connect easily if you're on the same network. More likely, you have what Google generously refers to as a "classic printer," in which case, you have to run a Cloud Print app on a separate Windows or OS X machine, and from there, connect to your Chromebook.

This is about as far from the simple, stripped-down appeal of Chromebooks and the Chrome OS as one could imagine.

That said, when I followed the steps outlined in this support doc from Google, the Cloud Print feature worked the first time I tried it.

Workaround apps
If your job involves only e-mail, text documents, and simple spreadsheets, moving to a Chromebook may well be a very simple transition for you, especially if you already make use of Google's online tools.

If, however, you have occasional need for programs such as Photoshop, you're going to have to find a workaround. There actually are a few basic image-editing features built into Chrome OS, but if you need to do more than adjust the rotation or brightness and contrast of an image, you'll hit a wall very quickly.

I've always used a Web-based tool named Pixlr for emergency photo edits. It's a cloud-based image editor that looks and feels a lot like Photoshop. You upload an image, edit it, then download the resulting file. It works well enough in a pinch, although if you're a heavy Photoshop user, a Chromebook just isn't for you.

I found Pixlr listed in the Chrome Web Store, but "installing" the app really just takes you to the Pixlr Web site. Similar online tools, including some basic video editors, can be found in the Creative Tools section of the Chrome Web Store. One caveat, especially if you're working with big images: remember that you'll have to both upload and redownload the image file, so make sure you have the time and bandwidth to work that way before you count on an online app such as Pixlr.

You can be productive on a Chromebook, sometimes
As an on-the-go system for catching up on e-mail (especially if you use Gmail or Google's corporate e-mail services), and creating or editing basic office documents, a Chromebook works, and works well considering the less-than-$250 investment (for the Samsung Chromebook Series 3, the most affordable Chromebook CNET can recommend).

That said, it does not excel in any particular area, and even a budget Windows laptop offers more flexibility and the ability to run more software. Even if you only need a particular app once in a great while, unless there's an online version that works in the Chrome browser, you're out of luck.

Here's what worked:

  • Google Drive/Google Docs works the same as it does on non-Chrome PCs
  • Having cloud-based documents makes it easy to share and access documents on multiple PCs
  • Many mice and other accessories are plug-and-play
  • Offline access to some features helps the Chromebook be more universally useful

Here's what didn't:

  • You're stuck with second-rate online alternatives to programs such as Photoshop
  • Setting up a printer is a hassle
  • Google Docs lacks many of the bells and whistles of Microsoft Office

In the next Living with Chromebook installment, we'll look at entertainment options in Chrome OS, from streaming video to games.


Source

https://rasmiwixg.kian.my.id/

.

How To Clean Your Mattress At Home


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How to Clean Your Mattress at Home


How to Clean Your Mattress at Home

This story is part of Home Tips, CNET's collection of practical advice for getting the most out of your home, inside and out.

Have you ever cleaned your mattress? If you're like most people, the answer is probably not -- or at least not often. But there are some solid reasons why you might want to start adding it to your cleaning list.

Humans shed around 1.5 grams of skin a day. That amount can feed about 1 million dust mites. Your mattress alone could be home to 10 million dust mites, according to The American Council on Science and Health. Not only are they gross to think about, these bugs are huge contributors to allergy problems.

But you don't have to throw your mattress out the door in disgust. Just give it a good, deep clean. Here's how. (You can also check out our tips for how to kill mold in your washer, and how to declutter your closet.) 

Read more: Best Cooling Mattress for Hot Sleepers in 2022

Do a clean sweep of your mattress

Grab your sheets, pillows and pillow cases and give them a good cleaning, while you're working on your mattress. Now that it's bare, the first step is giving your mattress a thorough vacuuming to suck up bugs, bug feces and skin flakes. Be sure to get in the seams, around labels and in any divots, because that is where the most detritus will accumulate. 

You can use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum, or get a more serious cleaning using a cordless vacuum designed to clean mattresses. 

Mattress vacuums have more suction power and pull more ick out. I tried the Dyson v6 vacuum on my mattress and was disgusted -- and fascinated -- at what it pulled out.

How often should you vacuum? Consumer Reports recommends giving your mattress a good once-over every six months or so.

Freshen up your mattress

Now that you have the particles of grossness sucked up, it's time to work on sweat and other stains. Spray the surface of the mattress lightly with 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap and 1 cup of warm water. Let the solution sit for a few minutes, then scrub the mattress with a damp towel to act as the rinse cycle.

If your mattress has pet urine stains, I recommend using the handheld attachment on a steam cleaner and a pet-stain enzyme cleaner to work out the stain. Then, use three drops of peppermint essential oil and 1 cup of warm water to remove any lingering smells. Just spray it on and let it dry.

When you're done with stain removal, sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda over the entire mattress and leave it there for at least an hour, or until the mattress is dry. 

Finally, go back over the mattress with your vacuum to remove the baking soda to finish.

Protect your clean mattress

Now that your bed is clean, protect it. Purchase a fabric waterproof mattress cover and put it over the mattress under your regular bed sheet. It will protect your mattress from sweat and skin flakes and you can wash it whenever you wash your sheets.

For more cleaning tips and tricks, check out how to clean your Keurig coffee maker and how to clean your kitchen in under 15 minutes

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.


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Huawei Mate 8 Review: An Overpriced Battery Life Beast


Huawei Mate 8 review: An overpriced battery life beast


Huawei Mate 8 review: An overpriced battery life beast

Huawei's all-metal, 6-inch Mate 8 has a lot going for it, especially its long-lasting battery and high camera quality. After all, those are two things almost anyone would look for in a phone. But unfortunately the handset's price tag is too steep to close the deal -- €600 for the 32GB version and €700 for the 64GB model. Those numbers translate to roughly $650 and $760; £450 and £525.

The Mate 8 isn't expected to come to the US.

The prices alone aren't the problem; they're in line with premium rivals. The problem is that the Mate 8 just isn't a premium phone, certainly not premium enough to best the Google Nexus 6P or Samsung Galaxy Note 5, two of the phones I would look at if you're thinking of going large (scroll to the end for a full specs comparison). Part of my recommendation to skip the Mate 8 stems from the other, admittedly minor drawbacks, including a screen resolution that's lower than I'd like on a phone of this size.

A much lower price would help blunt those flaws and give fans of big phones a good alternative in an all-metal build. However, if you can get the Nexus 6P or Galaxy Note 5, or even the LG V10, do that instead. You'll get more for your hard-earned cash.

Pros:

  • Long-lasting battery
  • Recent version of Google's software, Android 6.0
  • All-metal build
  • Same accurate fingerprint reader that's on the back of the Huawei-made Google Nexus 6P
  • Loud speaker audio

Cons:

  • Large size is polarizing and won't fit comfortably in all hands
  • Dim screen
  • Screen resolution is too low

Battery life and screen size set the Mate 8 apart, but...

If you're hot on big phones, the Mate 8's 6-inch screen gives you the room you need to run wild. When I hold the Mate 8 in my hand, the screen seems bright and wonderful...until I stream video, view high-res photos or hold it next to any other phone. It's then that I notice its 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution looks dimmer and a little hazier than other phones of its class at any brightness level, especially the impossibly vibrant Nexus 6P.

Compared to ultrasharp displays like on the Nexus 6P's 2,560x1,440-pixel resolution, higher-res graphics look less detailed; that's because there are fewer pixels on the Mate 8, much lower than you typically see on a large-screen phone (see chart below). Most of the time, the Mate 8's resolution won't impede your viewing pleasure, but Huawei really should have climbed to the next rung in resolution to match the well-priced Nexus 6P (2,560x1,440 pixels).

The battery lurking below this shiny exterior packs some real muscle.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Better news is that battery here is a monster -- the Mate 8 lasted an average of 15.6 hours in our video drain tests. In everyday life, too, I always seemed to have enough battery reserves after continuously using it throughout the day. Some of that is due to the dimmer screen, though if your battery ever does get perilously close to flatlining, you can always turn on the phone's power-saving settings.

Bonus points: Camera and Android 6.0

Photos were another bright spot. The 16-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front-facing camera shot off rounds of very nice photos in most lighting settings, indoor and out. I'm not saying these were flawless -- camera photos do have their limits and I did get some weirdly yellow indoor shots in seriously terrible lighting -- but the camera components have gotten so good lately that most higher-end models will take photos you like.

Selfie shots were also pretty good when tested in the hand and yes, even on a selfie stick during a rowdy New Year's party, but Huawei does shove Beauty Mode down your throat -- unbelievably, you have your choice of two. Those with a more natural vibe can switch to the usual camera mode to slides settings down from Beauty 10 to zero.

The camera took pleasing photos in almost every lighting condition I threw its way.

Josh Miller/CNET

Here's another good thing: the Mate 8 has Android 6.0 Marshmallow onboard, Google's latest software. Being up to date means you get new features like Doze (automatic battery-saving software) and Now on Tap (which pops up extra info when you press the home button) -- I also like invoking Google voice search ("OK, Google") from any screen. The presence of Android 6.0 hopefully means that Huawei will continue to update the Mate 8 as Google rolls out updates.

If you've never used a Huawei phone before, you should know that Huawei liberally sauces Android with its own flavor, which it calls the Emotion UI (EMUI 4.0). It's a pretty dramatic change if you're used to the Nexus 6P's vanilla Android. Your apps lay out along multiple home screens like on the iPhone, and the lock screen and notifications pull-down menu have different effects, too. Spend some time playing around with the settings menu and lock screen and you'll get it all how you want it. I personally like some of the animated transitions, but a lot of Android purists I know rail against any changes to their favorite Android skin.

The colors on this broad-leaf plant are vibrant without being oversaturated.

CNET

I photographed this venerable St. Bernard close to the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve.

Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

These friends took the Huawei Mate 8's selfie capabilities into their own hands -- er, their own selfie stick.

CNET

Our standard studio shot, taken in controlled lighting with the Mate 8.

James Martin/CNET

Things I'm not sold on

I've already mentioned that screen resolution is lower than I expect for a premium-priced handset. The Mate 8's processor and overall dimensions also raise some red flags.

The processor

Huawei doesn't just make gadgets, it now makes processors, too. Like Samsung, Huawei started using its Kirin chipset in phones. The Mate 8 did fine in our diagnostic tests, but generally lagged behind top phones from Samsung and Apple. More worrisome, Riptide GP2, which I regularly use to test smartphones, crashed the six or seven times I tried to push the limits in graphics settings (it played on medium-level graphics, though). On the other hand, those crashes could have more to do with how the developers coded the app; the phone behaved fine. Everyday tasks like opening apps and uploading photos worked smoothly and seamlessly, and bootup time was on par.

Huawei Mate 8 performance

Huawei Mate 8 (32GB) 17,883 1,736 6,214 Google Nexus 6P 24,224 1,286 4,313 Apple iPhone 6S Plus 28,080 2,403 4,240 Samsung Galaxy Note 5 24,589 1,488 4,939
  • 3DMark Score (Ice Storm Unlimited)
  • Geekbench 3 Score (Single-Core)
  • Geekbench 3 Score (Multi-Core)
Note: Longer bars indicate better performance

The size

For me, the Mate 8's dimensions are just too big. The handset is hefty and wide, and even though there's a setting for one-handed controls, I'd never use them. The fingerprint sensor on the back that you can use to unlock the phone is dead on when you position your finger correctly, but I had to stretch to reach the sensor on the Mate 8 just as I did on the Nexus 6P, so I couldn't always unlock the phone the first time around. The larger-pawed folks I handed didn't have my problems.

Interestingly, the Mate 8 and Nexus 6P have about the same body dimensions, even though the 6P's screen is slightly smaller. If the 6P isn't too large for your hand, the Mate 8 won't be either.

Versus the Nexus 6P and others

With that premium-phone pricing and under-premium specs, the Mate 8 just isn't worth your money. Pick the Nexus 6P or Galaxy Note 5 instead. Although both are equally large in the hand, you'll enjoy a sharper, brighter screen and top-notch camera. Nexus 6P owners also get to brag about the perks of owning Android 6.0's debut phone, like getting new updates first and little things like a camera quick-start trigger.

Huawei Mate 8 specs versus rivals

Huawei Mate 8 Google Nexus 6P Apple iPhone 6S Plus Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Display size, resolution 6-inch; 1,920 x 1,080 pixels 5.7-inch; 2,560x1,440 pixels 5.5-inch; 1,920 x 1,080 pixels 5.7-inch; 2,560x1,440 pixels
Pixel density 368ppi 515ppi 401ppi 518ppi
Dimensions (Inches) 6.2 x 3.2 x 0.31 in 6.3 x 3.1 x 0.28 in 6.2 x 3.1 x 0.29 in 6 x 3 x 0.3 in
Dimensions (Millimeters) 157 x 81 x 7.9 mm 159 x 78 x 7.3 mm 158 x 78 x 7.3 mm 153 x 76 x 7.6 mm
Weight (Ounces, Grams) 6.5 oz; 185 g 6.3 oz; 178 g 6.8 oz; 192 g 6 oz; 171 g
Mobile software Android 6.0 Marshmallow Android 6.0 Marshmallow Apple iOS 9 Android 5.1 Lollipop
Camera 16-megapixel 12.3-megapixel 12-megapixel 16-megapixel
Front-facing camera 8-megapixel 8-megapixel 5-megapixel 5-megapixel
Video capture 1080p HD 4K 4K 4K
Processor 2.3 GHz eight-core Huawei Kirin 950 2.0 GHz eight-core Qualcomm Snapgradon 810 Apple A9 chip (64-bit) Samsung eight-core Exynos 7 Octa 7420
Storage 32GB, 64GB 32GB, 64GB, 128GB 16GB, 64GB, 128GB 32GB, 64GB
RAM 3GB, 4GB 3GB 2GB 4GB
Expandable storage Up to 128GB None None None
Battery 4,000mAh (nonremovable) 3,450mAh (nonremovable) 2,750mAh (nonremovable) 3,000mAh (nonremovable)
Fingerprint sensor Back cover Back cover Home button Home button
Special features Dual-SIM Pure Android N/A S Pen stylus
Price off-contract (USD) ~$650 (32GB); $760 (64GB) $500 (32GB); $550 (64GB); $650 (128GB) $750 (16GB); $850 (64GB); $950 (128GB) $670-$740 (32GB); $770-$840 (64GB)
Price (GBP) ~£450 (32GB); £525 (64GB) £450 (32GB); £500 (64GB); £580 (128GB) £620 (16GB); £700 (64GB); £790 (128GB) Not sold
Price (AUD) AU$899 (32GB only) AU$900 (32GB); AU$1,000 (64GB); AU$1,100 (128GB) AU$1,230 (16GB); AU$1,380 (64GB); AU$1,530 (128GB) AU$1,100 (32GB)

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Instant Pot Takes On Keurig And Nespresso With Instant Pod Coffee Maker


Instant Pot takes on Keurig and Nespresso with Instant Pod coffee maker


Instant Pot takes on Keurig and Nespresso with Instant Pod coffee maker

Coffee pods are convenient, sure, but typically you have to choose between two brewing systems: You either go with Keurig or Nespresso, since the brewers are not compatible. The $119 Instant Pod is built to change that. This flexible coffee maker, created by the inventors of the Instant Pot multicooker, accepts both popular brands of coffee capsules. 

Instant Pod can make coffee drinks in multiple sizes, from big travel mugs down to tiny 2-ounce espresso shots. The Instant Pod also works fast, slinging individual cups of joe in little over a minute. Despite its strengths, this machine isn't for everyone. If you're a coffee snob like me, there's nothing the Instant Pod can do to elevate the coffee pod beyond its typically bland results. 

Compared to other coffee pod machines, the Instant Pod mostly works well enough, but I had two messy experiences with two different units. My first review sample made a mess of one coffee pod; the second one leaked water all over my kitchen table. I'm talking with Instant Pot to find out more, but so far I'm not sold on the quality control behind this machine.

instant-pod-keurig

The Instant Pod accepts Keurig K-Cup coffee pods.

Brian Bennett/CNET

Pick a pod

If you've used either a Keurig or an espresso coffee maker, operating the Instant Pod will feel familiar. Around the back of the machine is a large, removable water tank (68 ounces, or 2 liters). You'll find a handle on top of the brewer. You flip the handle upwards to open the machine's lid, and to access its coffee pod receptacles. 

instant-pod-nespresso

You can also brew Nespresso Original line coffee capsules in the Instant Pod.

Brian Bennett/CNET

The Instant Pod has two pod receptacles, one for K-Cups and another for Nespresso capsules. To brew a cup just drop the pod you'd like into its corresponding socket, then close the lid. Next select the serving size. Controls sit on top of the lid. The machine can brew in a total of six drink sizes: three for K-Cups (8, 10 and 12 ounces); and three for Nespresso capsules (2, 4 and 8 ounces).

instant-pod-coffee-mug

Brew coffee into standard mugs or large travel mugs.

Brian Bennett/CNET

There's a drip tray at the foot of the brewer. It also serves as a cup platform for coffee mugs. There's a small cup support above it that flips down and acts as a cup rest for espresso-size containers. 

Brewing cups with the Instant Pod is fast. Small 2-ounce shots of Nespresso espresso take 30 seconds. Larger 10-ounce K-Cup coffee cups require slightly more time, about 1 minute, 18 seconds. The coffee maker also warms up quickly from a cold start, ready to brew in seconds.

instant-pod-espresso

Drop in a Nespresso pod when you crave an espresso-style coffee drink.

Brian Bennett/CNET

Some technical difficulties

I ran into a few problems using the Instant Pod, one of them serious. On one occasion, a Caribou brand K-Cup malfunctioned. Coffee grounds escaped the pod, clogging the machine and landing inside my coffee mug. I haven't been able to duplicate the issue, even after running scores of K-Cups and Nespresso capsules through it. 

That said, apparently a few other people have run into similar problems. Comments on the Walmart page for the Instant Pod (where it's currently sold exclusively; it's only available in the US) indicate that some owners are getting grounds in their cups too. I asked Instant Brands about this. Company representatives said that since I only encountered it once, the issue I experienced is likely due to the individual coffee pod I used.

instant-pod-leaking

One of my Instant Pod test units suffered from water tank leakage.

Brian Bennett/CNET

To confirm whether I had a defective unit, Instant Brands sent a second machine my way. This brand-new replacement brewer was worse. I couldn't get past the initial cleaning (brewing) cycle. The minute I filled this Instant Pod's water tank, the appliance began to leak everywhere. 

instant-pod-leaking-2

I tried a few times but the second Instant Pod test unit always made a mess.

Brian Bennett/CNET

I tried to add water to the tank two more times, cleaning up in between, but suffered the same fate. I've reached out to Instant Brands for an explanation and am waiting for a response. Regardless, these experiences are troubling, especially considering that this is Instant Brands' first attempt at a coffee maker.

Should you buy it?

Whether you should buy the $119 Instant Pod depends on a few factors. First are the technical problems I encountered. Hopefully they're isolated snags, but if they indicate a broader manufacturing issue then you may want to pass up the Instant Pod entirely. 

That aside, If you love K-Cup coffee, but sometimes get a hankering for espresso-style drinks, then getting the Instant Pod is a no-brainer. Likewise, the Instant Pot makes a lot of sense if you live in a household with both Nespresso and Keurig fans. The Instant Pod definitely costs less than buying a Nespresso Original line machine plus a Keurig brewer.

To enjoy the best coffee you can drink though, pods are not the answer. For that you must grind freshly roasted beans right before brewing. And no matter the style of joe you prefer, make sure your coffee maker is up to the task.


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Samsung Q60A Series (2021) Review: QLED TV Brings Out HDR Brightness, Color


Samsung Q60A series (2021) review: QLED TV brings out HDR brightness, color


Samsung Q60A series (2021) review: QLED TV brings out HDR brightness, color

The Samsung Q60A is its entry-level QLED model, aka an LCD TV with quantum dots. Those magical dots let the Q60A perform better than many traditional LCDs that cost less, with far greater brightness and deeper, richer colors with HDR content. Its skinny design also separates it from its bulkier brethren. 

While the extra color and brightness is great, you definitely pay for it compared to entry-level models from other brands. The Q60A is roughly twice as expensive as the similar size TCL 4-Series and Vizio V-Series I compared it to, but overall image quality isn't twice as good. While brighter than those TVs, it still doesn't have the brightness nor dynamic range to really take advantage of HDR content. Its speakers are worse as well, so if you care about decent audio it requires investing in a soundbar.

Meanwhile the Q60A costs about the same as the TCL 6-series, CNET's favorite TV for the money. I didn't compare the Q60A directly to the 6-Series for this review, but based on my observations of the Q60A and CNET's review of the 6-Series, the TCL has a better picture.

The Q60A is a good choice if you want a Samsung and appreciate its design and feature upgrades (like a solar-powered remote) over cheaper models. It definitely offers better performance than a typical "budget" TV, but it's a worse value than non-Samsung brands.

Samsung's Q60A series comes in a massive array of sizes, from 43 inches all the way up to 85 inches. I reviewed the 55-inch model.

Solar remote alert!

We need to talk about the new Samsung remote. It's excellent overall and has one great feature: It's solar powered. On the back is a tiny array of solar panels. Those, combined with some efficient electronics, mean that it's always going to have enough power. No more changing batteries, which in a small way is good for the environment, too.

Geoffrey Morrison/CNET

My theater room has next to no natural light, and rarely has the lights on, and after several weeks the remote still has plenty of charge. I'm not sure all remotes will go this solar route in the future, but it'd be cool if they did. Alternately, you can charge the remote via USB-C on the bottom.

Turn it over and you'll find a sparse selection of tastefully designed keys and a mic for voice search. This lets you speak a show or movie name and then shows you where you can stream or buy it. This screen even has a Metacritic score to further impress (or shame) you about your selection. Oddly, it highlights Apple TV Plus as the main service to do this from, but an additional click brings up the other options. It's not quite as user-friendly as Vizio's version, or Roku's if you have one of their products with a voice remote. It does get the job done though.

Geoffrey Morrison/CNET

You can also use Samsung's SmartThings app to control the TV, along with other smart devices in your home.

Features and connections

Aside from quantum dots and that remote, Q60A is fairly typical for an entry-level(ish) TV. It lacks stuff like a 120Hz refresh rate, next-gen gaming perks and local dimming found on step-up Samsungs like the QN90A.

It does share that TV's smart features, however. As far as apps go, you get all the standard options like Netflix, Vudu, HBO Max and so on. The Q60A's interface isn't nearly as in-your-face about streaming as, say, the Vizio and to a lesser extent, the Roku-enabled TCL. The apps are grouped in a small row at the bottom of the screen, more like smart TVs of yore. There's also Samsung TV Plus, which is essentially like free basic cable, though you can't fast-forward through the ads.

Geoffrey Morrison/CNET

Connections are fairly standard. There are three HDMI inputs, one of which has eARC, and there are two USB ports, one of which should provide enough power for a streaming stick, if you decide to eschew the TV's own apps. Wired LAN gets you connected if your Wi-Fi isn't up to snuff. There are no analog inputs, so if you've got a Wii or, I don't know, a LaserDisc player or something, you'll need an inexpensive HDMI converter.

  • HDMI inputs: 3 (1 eARC)
  • Analog inputs: None
  • USB port: 2 (1.0A and 0.5A power)
  • Internet: Wi-Fi, LAN
  • Antenna input
  • Optical digital audio output
  • Analog audio output: No
  • Speakers: 2 downward-facing, 20W total

An Energy Star rating of $14 per year for the 55-inch is on the more efficient end of similar TVs, and the other sizes in the line are similarly efficient. 

Picture quality comparisons

The Samsung Q60A is far more expensive than either of the TVs I compared it to, namely the Vizio V-Series and the TCL 4-Series. However, as Samsung's most entry-level QLED model, it provides a good indication of what image quality improvements you get from quantum dots. I connected all three via a Monoprice 1x4 distribution amplifier, and viewed all of them side-by-side-by-side.

Right out of the gate my eye was drawn to the Samsung. It is bright. Well, at least compared to the other two TVs, which are already pretty bright. When going all-out with HDR content, it's about twice as bright as the Vizio. If you have a really bright room, or like to watch TV in the middle of the day in a room with many windows, the Samsung will be easier to see than cheaper TVs. 

Aside from brightness, color with HDR sources was the other really noticeable difference between the three TVs. The quantum dots let the Q60A produce far deeper, richer colors than the Vizio and TCL, which use traditional color filters on their LCD elements. So you get far more vibrant purples, bluer blues, more crimson-y reds than the others could hope to produce. 

Geoffrey Morrison/CNET

The contrast ratio, and therefore the dynamic range, isn't much different, however. So overall the image doesn't take advantage of HDR content like some other TVs would, in particular those equipped with local dimming. That said, thanks to brightness and color it takes more advantage of HDR than the other two TVs, so that's a step in the right direction. 

Subjectively speaking, I'd say the added colors and brightness make the Samsung look roughly 50% better with HDR than the TCL and Vizio, which isn't bad but definitely less than the 100% more it typically costs. Again, that if you're watching HDR content. Any non-HDR content, which is most TV shows and older movies, the difference is even closer.

No TV sounds good. All have tiny speakers. However, the Samsung is especially bad in this regard. Even at maximum volume it's not particularly loud and has lots of distortion when you're cranking it up. In my theater the volume was regularly above 90 (out of 100) and even maxed, it was hard to hear with the air conditioner on. This is not an issue the Vizio nor the TCL had. This is the price paid for such a thin design. So despite its cost, if you're considering this TV you should budget in a soundbar to go with it. In fairness, that's always true -- just, er, more true here.

Geoffrey Morrison/CNET

High end of the low end

The Q60A is an interesting TV. It's Samsung's low-end QLED, but it's far more expensive than other entry-level TVs. It's like if Porsche tried to make a car to compete with budget sedans like the Hyundai Accent or Nissan Versa... but it cost $50,000. So yes, the Q60A does perform better than other low-end TVs, but it also costs significantly more. And it simply is not, for example, twice as good as the TCL 4-Series. 

That said, it is better. It's also far more attractive, with its svelte design. So if you're able to spend a bit more on a TV and want brighter, better HDR performance in addition to sleeker design, the Q60A is a great option. Just make sure you budget for a soundbar, too.

§

If you've invest in a  PS5Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S console, any TV with an HDMI port will work. However, not all TVs are created equal, and if your TV isn't up to snuff, it may be unable to take advantage of these new consoles' best features. The best 4K TVs these days are equipped with HDMI 2.1 ports, which have the power to let you play at 4K with HDR and reach frame rates as high as 120 frames per second. On top of all that, the gameplay stays butter-smooth, with the consoles and TV playing nice via variable refresh rate, which reduces choppy movement and screen tearing.

Also, you don't have to spend an arm and a leg on an 88-inch 8K behemoth to get these gaming console-friendly features. In fact, as far as screen size goes, you can find most of the features necessary for an excellent gaming experience in 65-inch TVs that are priced below $1,000.

Best TVs for PS5 and Xbox

At the end of the article you'll find two charts with all of the TVs we know on sale now that support advanced gaming features. We've included compatible TVs from the past two years, and you may still be able to find 2020 models on sale. Before those charts, however, here's a list of our current favorite gaming TV options. 

David Katzmaier/CNET

If OLED isn't your thing, Samsung's QN90A offers the best non-OLED picture quality we've ever seen. Image quality is incredibly bright, with minimal blooming from the local dimming backlight. This gaming TV option also has the lowest input lag we've ever measured on a TV.

1080p input lag: 10ms

4K HDR input lag: 10ms

Sizes: 50-, 55-, 65-, 75-, 85-inch.

Read our Samsung QN90A review.

David Katzmaier/CNET

The Hisense U8G offers tremendous brightness for gamers who want to play during the day and don't have light control in their chosen gaming space. While there are a couple of TVs that are brighter, all are a lot more expensive. Contrast and color is good too, though HDR is a step behind the competition and this 4K resolution TV's games mode isn't as sophisticated as Samsung or LG.

1080p input lag: 15ms

4K HDR input lag: 15ms

Sizes: 55-, 65-inch.

Read our Hisense U8G series review.

David Katzmaier/CNET

With a price generally lower than any of the TVs above, this Vizio's image quality and gaming features aren't quite as good, but it's still a solid step above budget gaming TVs. Local dimming achieves solid contrast and while it lacks 4K/120Hz input capability, this smart TV does offer variable refresh rate -- a rarity at this price.

1080p input lag: 16.07ms

4K HDR input lag: 13.73ms

Sizes: 50-, 55-, 58-, 65-, 70-, 75-inch.

Read our Vizio M-7 Series Quantum (2021) review.

Gaming TV FAQs

Below you'll find answers to some of the most common questions about the best gaming TVs, followed by the charts that show which features are available on which TVs.

What TVs support HDMI 2.1 features?

All the advanced gaming features we've mentioned-- 120Hz input and VRR, as well as the more common Auto Low Latency Mode, aka Auto Game Mode, and eARC -- are roughly grouped under the HDMI 2.1 standard, but not all of the TVs in the charts below include every feature, nor deliver the full video and audio bandwidth that's possible with HDMI 2.1.

Even more confusing, input capability can vary on the same TV. Behind the physical connection where you plug an HDMI cable is a subsection of the TV's processing, namely a chip. These chips cost money, like everything else. In order to keep costs down, not every input on the TV is fully capable of all the latest features and frame rates. To put it another way, every road on Earth could be capable of highway speeds, but building them all that way would be expensive and rather pointless.

For example, one HDMI input might be capable of eARC, but not be able to handle 4K at 120Hz. Just something to keep in mind as you peruse the charts below. Also, there are some important brand and model specifics that didn't fit in the chart; please check the bullet points below for details.

Finally, the consoles themselves are in a transition period, too. The hardware of the PS5 console can technically support VRR, but unlike the Xbox Series X and Series S, it's not enabled yet. Sony's PlayStation 5 FAQ says VRR will be added via a future software update. 

What is 120Hz input?

Despite TVs being capable of 120Hz refresh for well over a decade, the ability to input 120Hz is a far more recent development. This is largely due to the fact that other than a fairly beefy gaming PC, there just haven't been any 120Hz sources. That all changes with the PS5 and Series X. Some of the TVs on our list can accept 4K at 120Hz on all HDMI inputs. Others can only do so on select inputs and one, the TCL 6-Series, can only accept 120Hz at lower-than-4K resolution (1440p).

The Xbox Series S can also output 4K at 120Hz, but internally the game is rendered at a lower resolution (1440p) and upscaled before it's sent to your TV. 

For more info, check out the truth about 4K TV refresh rates -- and beware fake 120Hz refresh rates on 4K TVs.

What is VRR?

VRR, or variable refresh rate, is a new TV feature that you'd probably be surprised wasn't already a thing. All modern TVs have a fixed refresh rate. A 60Hz TV is going to refresh, or create, a new image 60 times a second. The problem is a new console might not be ready to send a new image. 

Let's say you're in the middle of a huge boss battle, with lots of enemies and explosions. The console struggles to render everything in the allotted time. The TV still needs something so the console might send a duplicate of the previous image, creating juddering on screen, or it might send a partially new image, resulting in the image looking like someone tore a page off the top and revealed the new page below.

VRR gives the TV some flexibility to wait for the new frame from the console. This will result in better gaming performance with smoother action and less tearing.

What is ALLM or Game mode?

Game mode turns off most of the image-enhancing features of the TV, reducing input lag. We'll discuss input lag below, but the specific feature to look for is called either Auto Low Latency Mode or Auto Game Mode. Different manufacturers call it one or the other, but the basic idea is the same. Sensing a signal from the console, the TV switches on game mode automatically. This means you don't need to find your TV's remote to enable game mode. Not a huge deal, but convenient. All the TVs listed above have, or will have, one or the other.

What about input lag?

Input lag describes how long in milliseconds it takes for the TV to create an image. If this is too high, there's a delay between when you press a button on the controller and when that action appears on screen. In many games, like shooters or platformers, timing is crucial and a TV with high input lag could hurt your performance. 

As a longtime console gamer myself, I can easily notice the difference between high (greater than 100ms) and low input lag (sub-30ms). The good news is, most modern TVs have input lag that's low enough that most people won't notice it. Largely gone are the days of 100-plus-millisecond input lags… at least when you enable game mode.

So as long as the TV has a game mode, you're probably fine, though it's worth checking CNET's reviews for the exact numbers to see if it has low input lag. Lower, in this case, is always better.

What is eARC?

While not a console feature, eARC is a next-gen TV feature to keep in mind. It's the evolution of ARC, or Audio Return Channel. This sends audio from a TV's internal apps (such as Netflix or Vudu), back down the HDMI cable to a receiver or soundbar. With eARC, newer formats like Dolby Atmos can be transmitted as well.

The issue is in many cases, eARC often precludes higher resolutions or frame rates on the same input. So if you've connected your PS5 to your receiver and the receiver to the TV, you can have eARC audio back from the TV or 4K120, but usually not both. This is only important if you plan on using the internal apps in a TV (as in, not a Roku or Amazon streaming stick) and you want to use the new audio formats via eARC.

Best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X, Series S in 2022

2021 TVs for PS5 and Xbox

Brand Model 65-inch price 4K 120Hz Input VRR ALLM/AUTO eARC
LG G1 $2,500 HDMI 1-4 Yes Yes HDMI 2

Nano 90 $1,300 HDMI 3, 4 Yes Yes HDMI 3

QNED 90 $2,000 HDMI 3, 4 Yes Yes HDMI 3

C1 $2,100 HDMI 1-4 Yes Yes HDMI 2

A1 $1,800 No No No HDMI 3

Nano 75 $900 No No Yes HDMI 2

70 series $700 (70 in) No No Yes HDMI 2







Samsung QN900A $4,000 Yes Yes Yes Yes

QN800A $3,000 Yes Yes Yes Yes

QN90A $2,100 Yes (55 in and up) Yes (not 43 in) Yes Yes

QN85A $1,900 Yes Yes Yes Yes

Frame $1,700 Yes Yes (55 in and up) Yes Yes

Q80A $1,400 Yes (55 in and up) Yes (not 50 in) Yes Yes

Q60A $1,000 No No Yes Yes







Sony A90J $3,800 Yes Yes* Yes Yes

X80J $1,000 No No No Yes

A80J $2,200 Yes Yes* Yes Yes

X95J $2,000 Yes Yes* Yes Yes

X90J $1,350 Yes Yes* Yes Yes

X85J $1,100 Yes Yes* Yes Yes







TCL 8 $2,000 No No No No

6 8K $2,200 HDMI 1,2 Yes Yes HDMI 4

6 4K $950 Yes (x2) Yes Yes Yes







Vizio OLED 1900 HDMI 2, 3 Yes Yes HDMI 1

P series 1300 HDMI 3, 4 Yes Yes HDMI 1

M series 900 No Yes Yes HDMI 1







Hisense U9 $3500 (75") No No No No

U8 $1,250 HDMI 3, 4 VRR No HDMI 3

U7 $1,000 No Freesync No Yes

*Available via a firmware update at a later date (just like Sony's 2020 models).

2020 TVs

You might still be able to find some of 2020's TVs on sale. Many had 120 Hz inputs, eARC and more, though not quite to the extent of the newer models. Here's a look at the TVs from 2020 and what they could do.

2020 TVs for PS5 and Xbox

Brand Model 65-inch price Max input Hz VRR ALLM/AUTO eARC
LG UN85 $765 120Hz (HDMI 3,4) Yes Yes HDMI 3

Nano85 $1,000 120Hz (HDMI 3,4) Yes Yes HDMI 3

Nano90 $1,200 120Hz (HDMI 3,4) Yes Yes HDMI 3

Nano91 $1,000 120Hz (HDMI 3,4) Yes Yes HDMI 3

CX $2,200 120Hz (All) Yes Yes HDMI 2

GX $2,500 120Hz (All) Yes Yes HDMI 2

BX $2,000 120Hz (HDMI 3,4) Yes Yes HDMI 3







Samsung Q70T $1,200 120Hz Yes Yes Yes

Q80T $1,700 120Hz (HDMI 4) Yes Yes HDMI 3

Q90T $2,000 120Hz Yes Yes Yes

Q800T (8K) $2,700 120Hz Yes Yes Yes







Sony X900H $1,400 120Hz (HDMI 3,4) Yes Yes HDMI 3







TCL 6-Series $950 4K60/1440p120 Yes Yes HDMI 4







Vizio OLED $1,500 120Hz (HDMI 2,3) Yes Yes HDMI 1

P $950 120Hz (HDMI 3,4) Yes Yes HDMI 1

PX $1,500 120Hz (HDMI 3,4) Yes Yes HDMI 1

M-Series $600 60Hz Yes Yes HDMI 1

Notes and specifics

  • Prices are current as of press time but may fluctuate.
  • There are some TVs that fit the criteria but weren't included because they're so expensive, namely 8K TVs like LG's ZX series and Samsung's Q950TS and Q900TS series.
  • The PS5 and Series X can also output 8K resolution to compatible TVs, but we consider 4K/120Hz, VRR and other enhancements like ray tracing and even HDR more important than 8K for gaming.
  • Samsung doesn't specify which inputs can handle 4K120 or eARC. It is unlikely that all do, but when we asked, the company didn't clarify. We did review the Q80T, however, and can confirm that Input 3 is compatible with eARC and Input 4 with 4K120.
  • Sony says the software update(s) that enables VRR and ALLM on the X900H is coming "at a later date." It's been saying that for over a year now.
  • The Vizio 2020 M-Series is only 60Hz but has VRR.
  • The TCL 2020 6-Series can only accept 4K at 60Hz, but can accept 1440p at 120Hz.

As well as covering TV and other display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, airplane graveyards and more. 

You can follow his exploits on Instagram and YouTube, and on his travel blog, BaldNomad. He also wrote a bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines, along with a sequel.


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