Where's the Intel Sticker?

Q:

Thanks for explaining how to use the new-style Intel Inside sticker to find a laptop with the latest Intel chip. But what if I'm shopping online, where they usually don't show the sticker?

A:

Besides the sticker, there are two ways to tell if the PC or Mac you are considering has the latest Intel Core processor, which boosts battery life. One is to look for the words "Fourth Generation" or "4th gen" or even "Haswell" (the chip's code name) in the description of the processor. The other is to check what Intel calls the processor number, which follows the chip's name, to make sure it starts with the number 4. One example might be Intel Core i5 - 4300M.

Q:

Apple's iTunes Genius feature is getting on my nerves, because, when I sync my device, it takes up time syncing "Genius data." What does Genius do and how can I turn it off?

A:

Genius is a free, optional feature that can create mixes or playlists based on songs in your music library. The data that is synced is used to update the playlist-creation algorithms about changes to your library. If you don't use Genius or like it, you can turn it off by going to iTunes on your computer, selecting the Store menu, and clicking on "Turn Off Genius." Note: These menu items won't be available if you use iTunes Match, a separate, paid service that stores your music in the cloud.

Q:

I need a new laptop and I want Windows, but I don't want to get one with Windows 8, or Windows 8.1. Is it still possible to buy a laptop with Windows 7?

A:

Yes. They are getting scarcer, but you can find them at both stores and online. I saw a few in a Micro Center chain store about 10 days ago. Checking on the chain's website, I see more, from $350 to over $1,000. But many listings indicate a limited number remain in stock.

Write to Walt at mossberg@wsj.com.

Google Shows Off The New Samsung Chromebook

Google have been showing off the new Chromebook from Samsung, it has a nice price and a neat 11.6 inch screen, as well as being thin at 0.8 inches and light at under two and half pounds it all sounds good. The downside is that you need a constant internet connection, so in the city it is good, in the countryside that might be a different story all together.

According to Sundar Pichai, SVP, Chrome & Apps at Google, he wrote that;

The new Chromebook is a great computer at any price, but it is an incredible computer at $249. It is one of the lightest laptops on the market. You can easily carry it around all day-it's 2.5 pounds, a mere 0.8 inches thick, with more than 6 hours of battery life for the typical user. And with 100 GB of free storage on Google Drive, you can get to all of your stuff anytime, anywhere.

The all new Chromebook will have a $250 ( 156) price tag and can be pre-ordered on Amazon.

Source [Mashable]

Can We Ever Expect Batteries To Last For Seven Days

The working week is, to many of us, a cornerstone of time, as we tend to work our life around the working week with some exceptions such as battery charging! This is one chore that has to be done on a daily basis, in some cases twice daily! So will we ever get to the point where a battery will last for a week on a full charge? If this infographic from Lenovo is anything to go on, we still have a time to go before that happens.

Here is why battery life could be such an important feature in the future;

Most of us only fuel our cars approximately once per week. When can we expect to get the same mileage from our laptops? Imagine charging your laptop once on a Sunday, and having it last a 40-hour work week without ever needing more juice.

Source [Lenovo]