This note has a problem. We set out to search the local market notebooks designed for frequent travelers and demanding users. That is, machines light, thin and very powerful.
The basic parameters chosen are processor Intel Core i7, AMD Ryzen 7 or “its equivalent for Mac”, screen between 13 and 14 inches very good resolution SSD disk of at least 256 GB and no more than 1.4 kilo in weight.
We discovered that in this segment there are very little offer in Argentina. Perhaps it is because the frequent traveler, when he flies abroad, can buy a laptop in the United States or Europe and bring it without being taxed upon arrival in the country (income is free: a laptop and a cell phone per person).
And outside, the computers of this range are, at least, 20% less in dollars (if the MEP dollar is applied). Of course, the disadvantage begins with the technical service and the guarantees, much more at hand if the machine was bought here.
This week, the Government added a 16% tax for import duty to laptops and some tablets of foreign origin. In other words, in the country it affects brands such as Lenovo, HP, Apple y Dell, but not to the national ones, like Banghó or Exo. That is why some of the products mentioned in this note could increase that percentage these days.
Clarion was able to verify that international brand products that percentage or more were adjusted this Wednesday. The nationals do not, with which the difference in value between the two is now very large.
Still, searching and searching, some good teams in Argentina are found. And it is always important to know how much they are worth here and there, to have parametersand so later each one will be able to choose what to do.
To know if the price is reasonable, the first thing is to identify the family to which the processor. The newest Intel generation that is available is 12 and there are many 11, and AMD is 6, but in the local market there are models whose processors are already three years old. The older it is, the lower its value. That is, for example, it must be an 11th generation Intel Core i7 processor.
Another important fact should be observed in the connection ports. The most basic are USB 3.1 (blue), USB Type C (reversible and oval tip) and Thunderbolt (the fastest).
RAM is used by the operating system to store data and instructions for running applications, but only temporarily so as not to exhaust processor resources.
Software tends to use more RAM as its complexity increases. This implies that the more memory the system hosts, the more programs can be handled simultaneously.
Most of the laptops in this segment come with 8 GB of RAM (little for our taste) or 16 GB (the measure that pleases us). Below are the models we noted in our search.
MacBook Air M1
For example, the queen of this segment, the MacBook Air M1 is on sale in the country. It is that the M2 has already come out, but that is not why the previous model is old. It is almost obvious to say that it is an iron.
With a 13.3-inch Retina display, this Apple model achieves a higher level of detail and realism thanks to its 2560 x 1600 resolution. The glass extends to the edges of the structure. The M1 chip is 8-core and achieves tremendous performance. The capacity of the SSD is somewhat low: 256 GB. 8 GB memory. Fingerprint unlock. FaceTime HD camera at 720p. Backlight keyboard.
VGA, HDMI and Thunderbolt 2 video outputs. Thunderbolt and USB 3.1 connections. It weighs 1.29 kilograms. $611,899, but in some stores in the country they offer it in 12 installments without interest. In Apple United States it is worth $999 plus tax.
Also now available Air M2, that differs, above all, by bringing a new chip and a slightly larger screen, 13.6 inches. In the official Apple store in the United States they sell it for $1,200 plus tax, the 256 GB SSD model. And at $1,500 plus tax for 512 GB. Here it is landing at around $909,499 in 12 installments.
Asus Zenbook Flip S13 OLED (UX363)
Ideal for ironmongers, it has a high-quality OLED touch screen that rotates on its hinge, 13.3-inch FullHD (1920 X 1080) and Glossy Display. Intel i7-1165G7 processor, 4 cores and 12MB cache. 16GB of DDR4 RAM and SSD the 1 TB.
Video Intel Iris Xe Graphics, white backlit keyboard, with numeric keypad on the pad. Connections 1 USB-A, 2 USB-C (Thunderbolt) and 1 HDMI. Military certification US MIL-STD 810G military-grade standard. 12 month warranty. $ 793.500. Outside we saw it at $900 plus tax.
Bangho Bes Pro X4 i7
The national brand chose to configure this model with an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, a 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) screen, 8 GB of RAM and a backlit keyboard. Intel Iris X graphics and 480 GB SSD capacity. Add Windows 11 Pro and Kensington lock security. The best, the weight: only 1 kilo. Magnesium and aluminum alloy chassis. $ 471.749in 12 installments without interest in the official store.
HP ZBook Firefly
Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB solid state drive. The screen is FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, anti-glare, 14 inches. It also has very good graphics (NVIDIA T500).
With Bang & Olufsen audio and dual stereo speakers, and fingerprint sensor. Full-size, spill-resistant backlit keyboard with programmable key. Weight, 1.35 kilograms. As you can see, there is almost no better. The bad is the price: $ 724.000.
SL