If you want a Windows laptop with as big a screen as possible, your options are basically the Dell XPS 17 or the LG Gram 17. The calculus between the two is pretty straightforward. If you care more about power, go with XPS; If you care more about portability, go with Gram.
The latter Gram 17 is no exception. At 2.98 pounds in a 17-inch chassis, this is undoubtedly one of the lightest and longest-lived laptops in the big screen field. This combination makes without asking a fortune in price—two units (with 12th Gen Core i7-1260P, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage) are listed at $1,799, but the gram is available as low as $1,599. These certainly aren’t cheap prices, but they do make gram miles less expensive than the XPS.
For those who seek additional space for a 17-inch screen without the extra weight that comes with many large screen platforms, the LG Gram remains the obvious choice. While the product has its limitations (especially when it comes to performance), there is nothing else like it on the market. Here’s what you can expect if you buy the thing.
The primary draw for the LG Gram 17 is that it’s just under three pounds. I can’t overstate how light this thing feels. When you pick this up, it feels like you’re picking up a hollow structure with nothing inside. I was worried sometimes because I forgot to put it in my bag when I was carrying it. this thing light.
(I’ll add, just so as not to be misleading, that the gram’s thinness isn’t exceptional—at 0.7 inches, it’s not very far from the thickness of the XPS 17. But if you want 17 inches, I don’t imagine backpack space is your biggest concern.)
Then you open that device, and the screen is displayed all the way through. Lots of screen. I don’t have much to say about that part of the laptop that “17”” doesn’t really mean, but just for the record – it’s great to have so much space. I can have two windows or even three apps and apps open at the same time. I can fully zoom in on the words I’m reading or writing. I can fit in Much On this board I’m already dreading going back to my personal 13-inch. The fact that it’s HD (2560 x 1600) and matte, with no glare in sight, shines on the cake.
The case is perhaps the weakest part
Other things to know about grams:
- The case is perhaps the weakest part of it. It’s quite plastic to the touch, and the volcanic black color picks up fingerprints pretty quickly, although it didn’t scratch during my rough time with it. Great flexibility in keyboard and screen.
- The keyboard is very fun to type on. The bottom of the border feels a little tougher than some laptop keyboards, but the click is quite satisfying, and the keys are roomy, with a professional but fun font. There’s even a number pad that the XPS 17 doesn’t. I hate how far the volume keys (F10 and F11) are from the Fn key—it requires me to use two hands to adjust the volume, which I don’t like doing.
- Ports include two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack on the left, as well as two USB 3.2 ports, a microSD reader, and a lock slot on the right. (A 65W charger will sometimes power one of the USB-C ports.) That’s all you need; No complaints.
- The touchpad is leaked And it has a great click. It’s actually a lot like clicking on an XPS (that’s great praise).
When it comes to performance, the Gram’s Core i7-1260P is a step down from the processor that powers the Dell machine. Aside from the weight difference, the power delta is the primary differentiating factor between the gram and the XPS. It gives the XPS an edge in pro workloads and gaming but gives the Gram a big win in battery life.
Gram battery life was perfect
1260P is more than enough for office and internet applications, which cover most of my workloads. Although Gram doesn’t have a separate GPU, it can also help with content creation if needed. The device scored a reasonable 323 (for integrated graphics) on PugetBench for Premiere Pro, and completed a typical export test in 10 minutes 45 seconds (which is slow but not too painful). I won’t be clear, I would recommend this device if you are going to use Adobe software like Premiere a lot because I generally found it to be a bit slow and unresponsive.
This is also an acceptable option but not great for gaming. I got 28 fps from Shadow of the Tomb Raider13 fps from Red Dead Redemption 2and 14 fps from Horizon Zero Dawn (All on the highest graphics preset, with a resolution of 1920 x 1200). If you like some games, you’ll need to lower the settings on those desired titles (but lighter things, like esports, should be fine).
On the other hand, the Gram’s battery life was perfect. I got an average of 12 hours and six minutes of consistent use working off the device with average brightness, the longest life I’ve seen from a non-Apple laptop this year. This is quite refreshing, given that this generation of Intel laptops have had some issues…
Agree to continue: LG GRAM 17 (2022)
To start using the LG Gram 17, you will need to agree to the following:
- Microsoft Software License Terms and McAfee License Agreement
- Backup to OneDrive
You can also say yes or no to the following:
- Privacy settings (location, find my device, share diagnostic data, inking and writing, personalized experience, advertising ID)
- Microsoft 365 free trial
- Join Xbox Game Pass
These are three mandatory and eight optional agreements for the use of Gram 17 (2021).
Although the LG Gram doesn’t have the graphics power that I personally need, I’ll miss using it very much as a practical driver. The extra screen space was heaven, and the weight made getting around with it a breeze. The long battery life was the cherry on top – I never needed to worry about plugging this device in.
The primary compromises to consider are build quality (if that’s your top priority, XPS is your choice) and the computing needs of your workload. If you’re looking at a 17-incher you don’t mind those compromises, and don’t mind the slightly higher price tag, you won’t be disappointed in the gram.
Accessibility to LG Gram 17
- The letter keys are 1.6 x 1.5 cm apart, 0.2 cm apart. All switches are backlit apart from the power button. Only the power button has an indicator light. Power button 1.5 x 1 cm. Volume keys 1.4 x 0.9 inch. The keys are black with white text and require very little force to press.
- The speakers averaged 83dB in my testing, which is slightly higher than a standard external speaker.
- The laptop weighs 2.98 pounds.
- The cover can be opened with one hand. It can be tilted back up to 140 degrees.
- There is no touch screen option.
- The touchpad measures 2.25 x 4.25 inches (excluding click buttons).
- Setup involves turning on the device and clicking on several menus.
- Gram supports fingerprints and face recordings.
Windows 11
- Windows 11 includes a custom access menu.
- Windows 11 includes a built-in screen reader (Narrator). Supports third-party screen readers, including NVDA from NV Access and Jaws from Freedom Scientific. A full list of compatible software can be found on the Microsoft website.
- Windows 11 supports voice typing (accessed by Windows + H) and speech recognition (with toggle Windows + Ctrl + S).
- Color filters, including grayscale, red, green, blue, and yellow, can be toggled with Windows + Ctrl + C. Contrast attributes are toggled with Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen. Standard dark mode and custom colors are also available under Personalization.
- Caption color and size can be customized and appear near the bottom of the screen.
- The keyboard can be reset using PowerToys from Microsoft. Sticky Keys are supported. An on-screen keyboard is available.
- Pointer size and speed can be adjusted, and gestures can be reset in the touchpad settings.
- Windows 11 supports eye control using external eye trackers.
- Windows 11 includes the Snap Layout feature, which can be accessed by hovering over the Maximize button in any open window.
Originally published at San Jose News Bulletin
No comments:
Post a Comment