All You Need to Know about Intuit’s Quicken 2015

Quicken is popular, especially in North America as a personal finance management tool. Developed by Intuit, Inc., this venerable financial software helps you in keeping a check of where your money goes. Managing the finance in the right way is an inevitable task of our life. We all know that, we have to do it and we all want to do it in the best possible way. 

Quicken by Intuit, since its first edition in 2013, has been a reliable app proffered by majority for tracking their personal finances. 

Last week, Intuit has released the Quicken 2015 for Mac with a better interface and new investment capabilities. Just like the earlier versions, this app is also helpful in tracking purchases, checking balances, keeping track of receipts and keeping your overall finance in sync, anytime, anywhere. 

However, the newly released version for Mac has received a revamped interface and also new expanded investment features. The highlights of Quicken 2015 for Mac are listed below:

Highlights of Intuit's Quicken 2015 

•  A new, simple and clean interface designed specifically for Mac
• Introduction of new features that support easy track keeping of investment portfolios
•  Users can create Schedule D tax reports for capital gains so that things become easy when April 15 rolls around
•   Quicken 2015 for Mac is integrated with a free mobile app for iOS and Android.

•  Through this app one can snap a picture of financial receipts and can keep track of these while on the go.
•  The app also enables one to keep tabs on finances, view budgets, check account balances, check transactions, and do much more
• Quicken 2015 for Mac supports 14,500 banks, their credit cards, and loan and investment accounts. Thus, one gets a unified interface from where one can get a single top-down view of their finances. 
• With the Quicken 2015, you can easily transfer data from your earlier Quicken app like Quicken Essentials for Mac, Quicken 2010 for Windows, Quicken Mac 2007, and others.

Features missing in Quicken 2015 

• Native bill payment
• Calendar view of bills and transactions
• Paycheck deduction tracking
• Can’t create a 12-month budget
• show loan amortization

For a  couple years, Intuit has been receiving negative feedbacks from its customers because the company became slow in adapting Quicken 2007 to Intel Macs. This leads to problems as a result of which OS X Lion had to remove the Rosetta compatibility system, which was effective in allowing Power PC-based apps to run. Thereby, the company was under the sheer pressure of updating the software.

 With above listed new and improved features and a much more user friendly interface, Quicken 2015 is sure to become a better personal finance management tool for Mac users and continue being the leading personal finance software. Using this new app, users can take control of their money and can understand the spending in a better way so that they can make smarter financial decisions in future. Intuit has made this new version available for $75 in Mac App Store and Amazon. However, from October 2014 onwards, it will be available for sale on retail locations also.

ASUS MeMO Pad 8 ME181C (2014) Review

The Taiwanese computer hardware and electronics company - Asus has been introducing tablets and portable computers in the market for all those budget-friendly users, who cannot afford a premium or high cost device like iPad. The next in line is an 8-inch ASUS MeMO Pad 8 ME181C, nicely paired up with technologically advanced PC configurations, attractive features, and excellent specifications. Among discussions for being one of the lightest tablets available in the market, the device is an ideal solution to meet your requirements at work, home, or play. Made available in a variety of colors such as Black, White, Purple, and Gold, this beautifully crafted tablet can be yours at a price of just $199.

Counting amongst one of the most impressive average-screen Android tablets, the Memo Pad 8 (ME181C) is imparted with thinner and lighter design to maintain its competitive edge. Possessing an 8-inch 1280 x 800 IPS display with 10 finger multi-touch support, the device offers a seamless portable computing experience to students, homemakers, teens, and gaming enthusiasts. Empowered with an Intel Atom Z3745 Quad-Core, 1.33 GHz, processor and 1 GB of RAM, the tablet ensures optimal performance and speedy operations. Offering you best deals on Amazon, Adorama, B & H, GameStop, Newegg, and Tiger Direct from the official website, the product is made available for end consumers during July 2014.

Design 

Featuring optimal portability and comfort, excellent looks, amazing sides, and easy-to-handle grip on the back cover, the device can be easily used at work, play, travels, or at home. Measuring around 4.9 x 8.3 x 0.3 inch approximately, the tablet features an inch-wide bezel on every side of the screen. Weighing around 0.70 lbs in your hand, the device is very light to carry and easy to handle while carrying it during business meets, boardroom discussions, and even vacations.

Made available in various attractive colors, the gadget carries stylish yet impressive professional looks to impress students, home users, and business professionals. Featuring an 8-inch screen, IPS display, glossy cover, Asus’s ZEN UI, and color options, the gadget hold a separate identity, when compared to the traditional black and white tablets.

Featuring stereo speakers on the backside of the device, this tablet offers amazing audio support while watching movies, streaming videos, listening to music, and playing games. The exterior of the device is adorned by a soft-touch matte back cover for providing optimal grip while holding the device. Crafted using chamfered metal edge, the entire build of the device is sturdy as well as resistant to catching fingerprints.

Featuring a MicroUSB port located at the top edge of the main unit, the device also houses a single micro SD slot placed on the left-hand side. A 5MP rear-facing webcam occupies the top-center location on the back shell while a 2MP front-facing camera is incorporated for web chats on the top-center location of the device. The Asus logo records its existence at the center of the back shell. Talking about competitors, the device is narrower and lighter than Lenovo A8 and the Acer Iconia A1-830.

Display

In order to deliver an amazing video quality experience, MeMO Pad 8 is imparted with an 8-inch top-quality 1280 x 800 high-definition (HD) IPS display. It’s amazing color contrast features and beautiful glossy cover make all your images come to life with vivid and bright picture frames. Possessing a sturdy built with a combine creation of high-grade glass and metal, the screen of the device ensures optimal durability.

The gadget is capable of producing crystal clear images and records excellent viewing angles while playing games, streaming your favorite videos, and watching movies. Well-equipped with In-plane switching (IPS) technology, the tablet delivers 178-degree viewing angle with accurate color reproduction and excellent brightness levels.

Equipped with a 10-PT multi-touch feature, the device features excellent touch-screen capability that allows you to easily swap, switch, and multi-task between apps. Featuring an IPS panel for understanding user inputs easily, the device comes pre-equipped with Anti-fingerprint coating to restrict it from catching fingerprints easily and keep it safe from scratches.

Ports and Webcam

Arriving with a limited section of ports and connectivity, the basic composition of ports includes volume buttons, MicroSD card slot, and a MicroUSB port. Users should be grateful to the manufacturers for providing a MicroSD card slot in a budget tablet, which can enhance the storage space of up to 64 GB. The device also houses a 2-in-1 Audio Jack (Headphone / Mic-in) for catering your requirements related to watching movies, listening to music, conducting web chats, and playing games. The device features Bluetooth 4.0 and WLAN802.11 b/g/n for instant file transfer and getting connected over the web.

The device houses a 5 MP rear-facing camera that is efficient in capturing all your special moments and recording videos in a 720p format. But, the 2 MP front-facing camera looks promising for web chats and capturing good quality selfies. 

Audio

The ASUS MeMO Pad 8 features stereo speakers for catering all your entertainment as well as gaming requirements. Mounted at the back-grill of the device, the speakers are loud enough to deliver amazing movie watching and video streaming experience. Empowered with ASUS SonicMaster-enhanced audio enhancement, the gadget delivers a world-class sound experience to users while playing games, listening to their favorite music, and watching movies. 

Performance

Empowered with an Intel Atom Z3745 Quad-Core, 1.33 GHz CPU, 16 GB hard drive, and 1 GB RAM, the MeMO Pad 8 efficiently completes work, home, and entertainment tasks. Featuring an amazing FPS rate, the device is capable of producing 720p videos playback with high-quality pictures and amazing sound quality. The new tablet by Asus tablet operates on Android v4.4 Kitkat and works effortlessly while running heavy apps, programs, and streaming HD videos.

Possessing ample amount of storage space, the device also comes with 5GB Life Time ASUS Webstorage Space and an additional 11GB storage for the first year. A MicroSD card slot has also been added for installing an external storage of up to 64 GB to offer optimal security and safe storage of all your valuable data. Owing to its fast processor, amazing configuration, and excellent display, the device is supported by 3 X 15.2Wh Li-polymer batteries and promises an all day battery life (9 hours.)

Tech Specs for ASUS MeMO Pad 8 ME181C (2014)

Feature	Description
Processor	An Intel Atom Z3745 Quad-Core, 1.33 GHz CPU
Operating System	Android v4.4 Kitkat
Battery life	Up to 9 hours
Camera	2 MP Front-facing and 5 MP rear-facing camera
Memory	1 GB
Storage	16GB
Display	8-inch LED Backlight WXGA IPS display

The tablet offers some enticing features such as Full HD display, an advanced Intel processor, and an amazing camera configuration that separates it from all the budget-sized tablets. Featuring a MicroSD card slot for additional storage is a surprise for all budget users. Featuring a thinner design, optimal portability features, and power-packed configuration, the ASUS MeMO Pad 8 ME181C will be acclaimed by users for its sleek styling and excellent wide variety of colors. This MeMO Pad 8 is an ideal solution for anyone looking for a small-budget Android tablet, however the company can think of improving its display and pricing strategy.

Mainstream Support for Windows 7 is Ending - Is It a Cause for Panic?

Windows 7 was introduced way back in 2009 and since then it has been an integral part of mainly desktop PC running within Windows ecosystem. Developed under the codename ‘Blackcomb,’ Windows 7 was primarily intended to be an incremental upgrade to address criticisms faced by its predecessor, Windows Vista. Later, the company incorporated several amazing features such as performance improvements, support for virtual hard disks, a new version of Windows Media Center, redesigned Calculator with multiline capabilities to make it a new OS altogether. Featuring a similar appearance like that of Vista, Windows 7's interface was more streamlined and is nicely paired up with a redesigned taskbar that offers capability to pin applications to it.

The sad update by the company

In a recent press conference, Microsoft has announced that mainstream support for Windows 7 products will be ending on 13th January 2015, almost five months later. This sad revelation by the company has left the Windows XP users worried, who were thinking to shift themselves back to Win 7. The official support of XP ended in April 2014 making many users to switch to the Windows 7 for meeting their personal, work, and entertainment requirements.

The company said the official support and technical assistance has been withdrawn from Windows XP, however, Windows 7 will just experience a stop in Service Packs and introduction of new features. Unlike Windows XP, this operating system will receive the Extended Support, including new security patches and performance improvements, until the 14th January 2020.

What is the current picture and how Windows 7 users can manage?

Microsoft holds a strong position in the OS market, but the recent activities of the company are making the users a bit confused about possessing a Windows system in future. The company has recently announced the end of mainstream support for Windows 7, which has crossed the sale of over 630 million licenses in 2012.

As per a recent update, the company will provide performance improvements and service pack support for the OS till 2020, but mainstream support for several key products will end in 2015. After the final cut-off support for Windows XP, the Windows users are rapidly disappearing or are opting for other OSes, which might cost a bit higher but deliver optimal support.

Tech experts have commented on the situation by stating that ending the official support for popular Windows OSes is the company’s strategy to force users to upgrade to Windows 8 and above. Here comes the question that “Did users want the firm enhance its product’s lifecycle and provide longer support for the most popular products?” Well, the answer will always be a mixed response as some users want to stick to their old OSes while others may love to experiment with the latest technology.

What did the statistics say and how the company is loyal to its customers?

The date of the end of the mainstream support for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 has been released and every tech user is a bit worried because of the announcement made by the company. The company has a clear support lifecycle policy, which reveals that the company will offer minimum of a 10 years of support for Business and Developer products. This tenure will include mainstream support offered for five years, which has already been ended in 2013.

According to the statistics, Windows 7 was introduced on 22 October 2009 hence, Microsoft should have ended the mainstream support for it during the past year. But the company is being slightly generous with the dates and decided to end it up in the beginning on 2015.

What will be the market scenario after January 2015?

Windows 7 users should not create panic for this update by the company as from January 2015 onwards, the OS will enter its extended support phase. During this phase, the company will deliver free security fixes for the platform, but will not be able to add up some new features to it. According to the statistics from Net Applications, Windows 7 currently holds 50.55% share of the total OS market and the experts say that it will experience some downfall in the near future. Post January 2015, the company will not offer any technical assistance for bug fixes to any of the non-security related issues and will not add any additional features to the software.

What issues Microsoft's business customers will face, once the mainstream support will end?

According to various technology websites, Windows 7 is one of the preferred choices of business users when it comes to offering an OS platform with simple UI and advanced features. Microsoft's business customers will be largely affected by the end of Windows 7 mainstream support and will migrate onto the latest OS versions offered by the company. Since the company has established itself for offering an amazing OS platform to cater business requirements, the business customers will adopt their latest products rather than choosing others.

This recent announcement is a wake-up call for all those Windows 7 business users, who thought of operating smooth business activities with the help of this amazing OS. The company has clearly mentioned that the official support will be ending for this OS in another five years i.e. in 2020. The announcement of extended support phase is a clue for all business customers to start planning for selecting another OS for their smooth business operations, within a year or two.

What Windows 7 users want and what is company’s response on it?

At this point, many users wanted Microsoft to extend the mainstream support for Windows 7, like the company did with Windows XP in the past. The support for XP was scheduled to be withdrawn in 2009, but the company carried it forward till 2014, nearly 12 years after the platform was released. In addition to this, Windows 7 is often regarded as ‘the new XP,’ hence, users don’t want to lose this efficient OS platform that is suitable for home, work, and play.

Some industry observers have commented on the company’s decision by stating the mainstream support for Windows 7 should be delayed till the uptake of Windows 8.1. Tech geeks have also explained the whole situation by saying that since Windows 8.1 has been introduced last year, so it hasn’t been tested on various performance factors.

In an answer to that, the company said that offering free support for older platforms is a waste of resources that’s why Microsoft has already ended the support for XP. The company’s spokesperson also added that users should head towards the Windows 8.1 Update, the latest OS by the company, to receive optimal future security fixes.

Conclusion

Many organizations and individual end users are quite unhappy with the decision of the company, however, Microsoft clearly mentioned the product’s lifecycle on their official website. The end support announcement should not create much panic amongst the existing Windows 7 users, as the shift will be a boon for technological advancements. Users should simply wait for Windows 9, which is expected to hit the market in 2015 with advanced features, performance improvements, and latest technological advents. According to sources, Microsoft has learned the lesson from Windows 8’s criticism and has put back all the necessary features that users want to experience in a desktop OS.

Bitdefender Internet Security 2015: Review

An effective and result-oriented security suite is the requirement of every PC, especially in light of the fact that these days cyber crimes have become so common and frequent. Taking the cue, even the developers of antimalware software have upgraded the standard of their products. Latest security suites are not just capable of detecting and defending against malware but can perform a lot more related to security and protection. 

Bitdefender has recently released its Internet Security Suite 2015. The brand Bitdefender has always remained one of the top choices among the customers looking for a comprehensive and complete security arrangement for their PCs. As the new version is out so let us check out the new improvements that have got implemented in to Bitdefender Internet Security 2015.

Quick points

·         Price: $ $69.95 for one PC, $89.95 for three PCs, $139.95 for 5PCs, $229.95 for 10 PCs

·         Activation period: 1 Year

·         Compatibility: Windows XP and Vista, 7, 8 and 8.1

·         From where to Download: Official site of Bitdefender's website

·         Total time of installation: Approximately 10 minutes 

Interface

In terms of interface, as such no big changes have been introduced. This is perhaps deliberate because continuity in the interface allows the users to relate to brand Bitdefender. The interface is easy to grasp: a green checkmark means your PC is completely secured, yellow exclamation mark hints that some smaller issues are prevailing and the red X mark ensures that the PC is at big risk and hence needed to be scanned for the virus and malware detection. 

In the Tools section, you can see three groups of tools: 

• Tuneup: It includes OneClick Optimizer, Startup Optimizer, PC Clean-Up, Disk Defragmenter, Registry ICleaner, Duplicate Finder and Registry Recovery.

• Profiles: Here you can tweak with Standard, Work, Game and Movie configurations. Also, you can adjust the Battery Mode setting

•  Safego

Protection features

In the main interface, there is a large protection icon. Clicking on it, you can initiate the scanning process. The Protection section has another tool called Vulnerability Scan. This tool checks whether you're up to date on your Windows security patches. This feature is a helpful reminder irrespective of which protection suite you are using, it is important that your Windows are updated. 

Moreover, there is Web Protection tool that constantly runs in the background. This tool protects your PC while you surf the Internet. Bitdefender Total Security 2015 is also capable of scanning for fraud and phishing across all leading Web browsers.

Privacy features

To offer privacy, the 2015 version of Bitdefender has introduced four tools: 

• Data Protection: It keeps  the data of your PC protected when you are online

• Safepay: Safepay is a browser, a highly protected one with virtual keyboard and thwart key logging malware. You can use this browser to make your online payments

•  Wallet: The eCommerce websites these days offer the option of keeping your credit card information stored with the website so that next time you can go for a quick purchase. This avoids the need of feeding the credit card information again and again. But, this is perceived as risky by many customers. In that case, you can make use of the Wallet features and keep your credit card information more secured. 

• D Theft Protection

Security performance

Bitdefender's 2015 security suite brings to you a collection of security products:

•   Antivirus Plus
•  Internet Security
• Total Security

All these products use the same malware detection engine and deliver the same security performance. The latest Bitdefender antimalware engine performs very well. In the laboratory test done by poplar websites, it scored 100% in detecting zero-day exploit malware, whereas the industry average is of 94%. 

System impact

Bitdefender Total Security 2015 has some new features. Profiles and OneClick Optimizer are two such new added features. OneClick optimizer improves PC's performance. 

File Encryption

The File Encryption feature is capable of creating encrypted volumes called "secure vaults" on the PC. These volumes can be used to store sensitive documents. First you need to create a secure vault and determine the amount of storage space it should have. Each vault can be protected with a unique password. It’s very important to keep the password safe as Bitdefender has no arrangement to restore the locked data. However, while creating the vault, Bitdefender doesn’t warn you of that risk. 

Bottom line

Bitdefender Total Security 2015 is a dependable security suite because of its wide range of features. Bitdefender's new Profile feature is highly commendable as it is capable of automatically adjusting your computer's performance based on what you are working upon, like whether you are watching a movie or playing a video game. Its security arrangements and features are also unarguable.

So should you buy Bitdefender Total Security 2015? If you are concerned about PC security & Internet security and hence looking for a top-notch protection, then Bitdefender Internet Security 2015 is dependable antimalware software available in the market.

How to Install Windows 8.1 On A Virtual PC?

With the arrival of virtualization, virtual servers and Cloud, computing practices have got changed considerably. Now, virtual PCs are getting excessively in use. If you are also using a virtual PC and want to run Windows 8 on your virtual PC, then you can get that done. Actually there are different ways of getting this done but these tutorials talk about how to install Windows 8 on a virtual PC using VMWare Player.

To get it done, perform the following steps:

Download VMWare Player
 

Visit the VMWare Player website and click the Download button on its Web page. You can choose the download for Windows 64-bit and 32-bit. After downloading, run the VMware-player downloaded executable file. This will launch the VMware Player Setup Wizard, click next and simply follow the steps of the setup that have been discussed below. 

Create New Virtual Machine

Look for the VMware Player icon in your desktop. You need to double-click the icon to launch it. You have to accept the license agreement to initiate the process. Then click on the option “Create a New Virtual Machine.”

ISO Browse

At the Welcome screen, you are recommended to keep the first option, i.e. “Installer Disc” selected if you want to burn the Windows 8.1 ISO file onto a DVD. You will need to insert the DVD for this.

Otherwise, you can opt for the second option and select the second option, i.e. the “Installer disc image file (ISO).” By choosing the second option, you will download the ISO file on your PC and get it installed directly from that file. For this, you have to select the location of the ISO file and choose it by using the ‘Browse’ button. Then click ‘Next.’

Select OS

At the ‘Select a Guest Operating System’ screen, make sure that the option “Microsoft Windows” is chosen. Now click on the dropdown menu for Version and then choose Windows 8 x64, if you’re installing the 64-bit version or Windows 8X 32-bit, if you are installing the 32-bit. Then Click ‘Next.’

Choose Name

Next is the Virtual Machine screen, where you are required to enter a name for your virtual machine. You can choose any name of your choice, suppose “Windows 8.1.” Next, confirm the location for the virtual machine. For this click on the ‘Browse’ button and choose a location of your convenience. Now, again click ‘Next.’

Choose Disk Space

Next is the ‘Specify Disk Capacity’ screen. Here you are required to set the maximum disk space your PC has. If you have enough free space in your PC, then you can continue with the default setting of 60GB. Otherwise, choose the amount of gigabyte you have. Then select the “Store virtual disk as a single file” option. Choosing this option is recommended if you want to keep your virtual machine on your current PC and want to receive best possible performance from it. Then click ‘Next.’

Choose Memory

Next is the ‘Ready to Create Virtual Machine’ screen. Here, click on the ‘Customize Hardware’ button if you want to customize the settings. You can just leave the settings to its default except the ‘Memory’ one. You need to tweak it. Use the vertical slider bar and modify the amount of memory you can allocate to your virtual machine. At least, you have to allot 2GB of memory and if you can afford allot up to 4GB. Click Close, and then click Finish.

Start Setup

After this, VMware Player will take you back to the Home screen. But this time, the newly created Windows 8.1 virtual machine will remain automatically selected and will display the information like, the Windows version, its name and memory as shown in the above figure. Click on the option “Play virtual machine.” This will kick off the normal Windows 8.1 set up.

Enter Product Key

Now the introduction screen will be flashed. Click ‘Next’ and then click the button “Install now.” This will open the product-key screen.

Now, enter the product key for Windows 8.1. You can get this key in your downloaded Windows 8.1 ISO file. Then accept the license terms and click ‘Next.’

Type of Installation

  

Next screen will ask you “Which type of installation do you want?” Select the second option, i.e  “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).” Next is the “Where do you want to install Windows?” screen. Here, click ‘Next’ to accept the default of the unallocated space. After these steps, Windows 8.1 will start getting installed. The following screen will appear during the installation process.

Personalize Windows 8.1

After a few reboots, now you will be opened to customize your Windows 8.1. 

VMware Player Windows 8.1 Virtual PC

With these simple steps, your new virtual machine with Windows 8.1 is all set up in your computer. To run Windows 8.1, you simply need to click the VMware Player icon on your desktop and launch it. Then, you need to click on the “Play Virtual Machine” option. 

The VMWare Player comes with lots of tools that you can use to make your Virtual PC work better. These tools facilitate you in managing Windows size, Screen Mode, addition of removable devices, creating snapshot of your virtual machine and lots more.

Dell Venue 11 Pro i5: Review

Dell has launched its Venue 11 Pro i5 Windows hybrid tablet targeting the businesses needs. Thus the device focuses more on productivity as compared to its looks and media element. It’s a versatile device meant for performing variety of tasks. Removable and swappable battery is its one of the strong points as it makes the device more apt for long business trips. The device is available with numerous configuration options in terms of storage that include 32 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB. It costs $429.99 for 32 GB, $459.9 for 64 GB and $799.99 for 128 GB. 

Design & Build Quality

Dell Venue 11 Pro has been designed with an intensive focus on functionality than style. Its back panel has soft-touch texture which makes gripping over the device strong. It is smudge and fingerprints resistant as it doesn’t have the glossy plastic surface. A magnesium alloy frame surrounds the soft-touch panel, which offers further strength. 

Apart from offering a great build to the device, Dell has also tried to induce versatility into the device. It is one of the few tablets featuring a full-size USB 3.0 port. For further connectivity, it also has a microSD card slot and HDMI connector. Dell Venue 11 Pro i5 is perhaps the only or one among the very few tablets with a removable rear that supports swappable batteries allowing you to have power backups during your long trips. 

Dell Venue 11 Pro i5 is a bulky machine that weighs 772g, which is in fact 200g heavier than the Asus Transformer Book T100. But taking advantage to the weight, Dell has kept the display wider, i.e 10.8 inch. While the wide screen allows you to enjoy your movies and graphics in a better way, it is also true that this device is too large to be handled with one hand for a long time. But if that is not your concern and you have no issues in using your both hands, then you will love working on this slate. 

Screen & Sound Quality

Thankfully, Dell Venue 11 Pro i5 doesn’t have the firmware issues, which earlier versions of Venue devices had and as a result those devices had dim screens. The issue has got fixed now. This slate has 1,920 x 1,080 IPS Full HD screen with 389 nits. The quality of the display delivers impressive results but not of the standard that Retina-searing Surface Pro 2 has. Surface Pro2 has 422 nits brightness. However, the contrast ratio of the new Dell venue is 992:1, which is close to Surface. This means, you can enjoy broad range of colors on the display. 

This Dell slate has sRGB gamut coverage of 94.5%, which means its screen is very much capable of handling image-based work. Dell has not designed Venue 11 Pro as a media machine perhaps that is why its two speakers in spite of producing high-volume audio doesn’t get extraordinary in terms of quality. 

Performance

Our Venue 11 Pro is packed with Intel Core i5-4210Y which is of course one of the best processors available in the market. It has the latest Haswell hardware with modest specifications: Hyper- a Turbo peak of 1.9GHz and Threaded cores clocked to 1.5GHz. The device can perform satisfactorily as its Core i5 chip is strong enough to get the job done, but you can’t get too demanding with this tablet. The Windows 8 OS operates without any lag and even Metro-based apps run smoothly. Office apps and other apps run smoothly but the tablet gets little compromising against too sensitive software. 

Battery Life

The device has a 36Wh battery, which has been augmented by a 28Wh unit. It can last for around 11 hours and 55 minutes if the screen brightness is set at 40% brightness. With its 11 hours of battery, you can do web browsing, run productivity tools and also play videos. Thus, in terms of battery Venue 11 Pro delivers great results as it easily beats the eight-hour capacity of the Microsoft Surface. But if you use sole battery behind the screen, then Dell’s lifespan might get dipped by 1 hour or so.

Keyboard & Trackpad

There are indeed no cons about the Venue 11 Pro's keyboard, in fact it is good. Its scrabble-tile keys are placed with enough space in between. The keys are big enough and allow you to do rapid tapping. The typing comfort offered by this slate is strongly impressive because not many ultrabooks have been able to deliver the typing comfort of that standard. The same appreciation goes to the touch-screen keyboard, but out of two, the physical keyboard is better. The Venue is also the match of the physical keyboard included with the Asus Transformer.

The track-pad complements the keyboard very well as it is very wide and its smooth surface lets you work on it conveniently. The two buttons are large and strongly responsive just like the track-pad. 

Technical Specification

Product Type:     Tablet PC	Processor Manufacturer:     Intel
Graphics Controller Manufacturer:     Intel	Graphics Controller Model:     HD Graphics
Bluetooth:    Yes	Wireless LAN:     Yes
Maximum Battery Run Time:     10 Hour	Solid State Drive Capacity:     256 GB
Storage:    32/64/128	Operating System Architecture:     64-bit
Front Camera/Webcam:     Yes	Processor Model:     i5-4300Y
Colour:     Black	Operating System:    Windows 8.1 Pro
Screen Size:     27.4 cm (10.8")	Screen Resolution:     1920 x 1080
Standard Memory:    8 GB	Width:     297.7 mm
Depth:     176.8 mm	Screen Mode:     Full HD

Wrap Up

If you are looking for just a performing hybrid tablet, then undoubtedly, Dell is offering a great deal in form of Dell Venue 11 Pro i5. It is a high-end business device that got enough power, thanks to its swappable battery. Moreover, it has a good screen with 389 nits, apart from its keyboard that works pretty well. Dell offers the device with several options in terms of specifications, prices and accessories. In one word, this Windows 8.1 tablet is a cheaper and excellent alternative to Surface Pro 2.