**The Ultimate Budget Laptop: A Review of the HP Stream**
As I sit here with the HP Stream in front of me, I am reminded why this laptop has become a staple for many budget-conscious individuals. Priced at just $188, it's one of the cheapest Windows laptops you can buy brand new today.
Starting off at number one, we have the price. At 188 dollars, the HP Stream is an absolute steal. Now, I took a look at the original model a couple years ago, and while it was good, it had its fair share of compromises. However, over the last couple years, HP has managed to keep that price low while making significant improvements to the laptop.
To put the $188 price tag into context, you could pick up 15 of these HP Streams for less than the price of a mid-spec 15-inch MacBook Pro. And when you consider just how much this is able to do, it starts to make sense for a lot of people.
**Reason #2: You Only Need This Much**
This laptop is perfect for anyone who only needs to perform lighter tasks like web browsing, watching videos, playing games (on Facebook, of course!), or typing documents and emails. The HP Stream will happily handle all these tasks without breaking a sweat.
And if you're wondering about the operating system, don't worry – the HP Stream still runs a full-fledged copy of Windows 10. This means you have access to thousands of Windows apps that have been created over the years.
**Reason #3: The Hardware Isn't Bad Either**
When you hear the words "188 dollar laptop," it probably doesn't fill you with confidence. But trust me, the Stream is not as bad as you'd think. Take the keyboard, for example – it has a nice bit of clickiness to it that feels pretty nice.
The trackpad isn't too shabby either, and the rest of the chassis follows through with decent build quality. Sure, it's all made of plastic at this price point, but there's no real flex besides a little bit with the screen.
**Reason #4: The Performance Is Okay**
So, how fast is the HP Stream? Well, let's just say you shouldn't expect blazing speeds from a laptop priced at $188. Inside, you're getting a dual-core Intel Celeron processor, four gigabytes of RAM, and a massive 32 gigabytes of flash storage.
While it may not be snappy, at least it works – and a big part of that is because this guy has four gigs of RAM, unlike earlier versions which only had two. The processor is decent enough for basic tasks, but don't expect to run resource-intensive apps on this thing.
**Reason #5: It's Practical**
So what makes the HP Stream practical? Well, it has a 41 watt-hour battery that gives you around 10 hours of normal usage – not bad considering the powersipping internals. And with 2x2 802.11ac Wi-Fi, you'll be able to stay connected online without any issues.
The HP Stream may not be for everyone, but I'm continuously impressed by just how much you're able to get for so little. What do you guys think of ultra-cheap laptops like the Stream? Let me know in the comments below!
WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Hey guys, this is Austin.This is a 188 dollar laptop,and I'm about to give youfive reasons why you should pick one up.Starting off at numberone, we have the price.At 188 dollars, the HPStream is one of the cheapestWindows laptops that youcan buy brand new today.Now, I took at look at theHP Stream a couple years ago,the original model, and itwas good but it had a lotof compromises.However, over the last couple years,while keeping that pricelow, they've actually donea fair bit to make it a better laptop.Recently, I did a videoon a 200 dollar MacBookthat I picked up off of eBay.Now it was a good system,however it is not for thefaint of heart.Now, not only is it goingto be nearly ten years old,but there is no warranty and no guaranteethat it's ever going to get updates.At least with the HP Stream,you know that if somethinggoes wrong, you can justgo yell at HP about it.To really put the 188 dollarprice tag into context,you could pick up 15 ofthese HP Streams for lessthan the price of a midspec 15 inch MacBook Pro.Now obviously, the MacBookis going to be a betterlaptop.When you consider justhow much this is ableto do, for so much less,it starts to make sensefor a lot of people.And that brings us to reason number two.This is really all that you need.And sure, some peopledo have specific thingsthey have to do with their laptops,but a lot of people are rockinga thousand dollar MacBookAir in their backpack,and doing nothing besides watching videosand typing some docsor emails or whatever.And it just so happens thatthe HP Stream will alsodo that, for less thana fifth of the price.So, no, you should not buythe HP Stream if you planon doing hardcore gaming, orany kind of video editing.However, if you're doing lighterstuff like most people do,web browsing, watchingvideo, playing games,you know, on Facebook,wait, do people stillplay games on Facebook?- Yes.- Okay, well if you'redoing any of that stuff,the HP Stream is going to be totally fine.It's also still a fullfledged Windows computer,so unlike a Chromebook,you have all the advantagesof running a complete copy of Windows 10,as well as all the disadvantagesof running a completecopy of Windows 10.This gives you the freedomof using incredibly advancedtechnology like not GoogleChrome, you can installheavy apps, such as Photoshop, if you have a lotof patience, and you're goingto get access to the fulllibrary of thousands andthousands of Windows appsthat have been created over the years.Number three is the hardware.Now when you hear thewords, 188 dollar laptop,it probably doesn't fillyou with confidence.But the Stream is, well,actually not that bad.Take the keyboard, for example.On a lot of ultra cheap laptops,it definitely feels cheap,and while it isn't onthe most premium sidefor the Stream, it has alittle bit of clickinessthat does feel pretty nice.The trackpad also isn't toobad, and that follows throughwith the rest of the chassis.Sure, it's all made ofplastic, at this price point,you shouldn't expect anything else,but there's no real flexbesides a little bit withthe screen, and the overallhardware feels prettydecent, especiallyconsidering how light it is.It's definitely not fancy,but you have all the basics,including three USB ports,HDMI, a headphone jack,as well as an SD cardreader, which is importantfor something that I'llget into in just a second.One of the biggestdownsides is the screen.So, with a 14 inch 1366 by 768 panel,it was never going to be thesharpest thing in the world,but what really lets itdown is the fact that it isa thoroughly average TN panel.Color accuracy isn't great,the brightness could be better,but that being said, for 188 dollars,it is going to be usable.Reason number four is the performance.It exists.So at 188 dollars, youshould expect this to bea blistering fast PC,and surprise, surprise,blistering fast, it is not.Inside, you're getting a dualcore Intel Celeron processorfour gigabytes of RAM, as wellas a massive 32 gigabytesof flash storage.Nothing is what I would callsnappy, but at least it works,and a big part of that isbecause this guy has four gigsof RAM, unlike earlierversions, which only had two.As you can imagine, Windowscomputers really aren'tthat happy with only two gigabytes of RAM,especially with certain apps.(coughs)Chrome.(coughs)Sorry, cough, I don't know what that was.The processor is decentenough for basic tasks.So because it is so lowpowered, you actually don'tneed a fan inside the Stream,which at least does makeit completely silent.One of the bigger issues isthat 32 gigabytes of storagethough.Now, yes, you can get Windowson 32 gigs of storage,but install more than a couple apps,it's going to fill up quickly.Thankfully, though, thatfull sized SD card readeractually does come in handy.Put something like a 128 gigcard, for about 40 dollars,and you actually shouldbe pretty well set.Reason number five is that it's practical.So you think of a lot ofthe things that will makea good laptop good,the HP Stream has them.I mean, some of them, at least.Battery life is a big one.So with a 41 watt hourbattery, while that may not beimpressive for a lot oflaptops, this has such powersipping internals, thateven when you're completelycranking it at 100 percent,you're going to be gettingdecent battery life.And for normal usage, you'relooking at around 10 hours.You're also gettingsome surprising featuresat the price point, including2x2 802.11ac Wi-Fi.Now yes, this is not going tobe as reliant on the internetas something like a Chromebook,but you still think aboutit, it's called the HP Streamfor a reason, and most ofthe time, you're going tobe online, so it's nicethat it has solid Wi-Fi.The HP Stream is definitelynot for everyone,but I'm continuously impressedwith just how much you'reable to get for so little.So, I'm curious, what do youguys think of ultra cheaplaptops, like the Stream?Let me know in the comments below,and I will catch you in the next one.
