Gadgets

With an array of options when it comes to books in a virtual form, from Amazon’s Kindle to Apple’s iBook’s, we thought we’d take you through a timeline of the evolution of eBooks in celebration of World Book Day and discover just how they came about!

There is a clear divide between those of us that prefer books in their physical form and the rest of us that prefer to have our lives on our desktops, smartphones, or laptops and so, add books to the list of things we prefer in digital form.

Last year we saw the sales of eBooks declining for the first time in four years and with that, came the rise in sales for printed books. With the first book being invented around 5000 years ago it’s clear they are both giving each other stiff competition with no signs of either letting up, so let’s take a look at how the eBook took form.

1949- Angela Ruiz Robles

The beginnings of the eBook surprisingly, came about in 1949 in Spain. Prior to the eReaders that we all love today was invented; Angela Ruiz Robles came up with the notion of an eReader which she called a ‘mechanical encyclopedia’. She thought of the idea in order to save children the trouble of having to carry around multiple text books. Unfortunately, she did not get the funding required for her invention to see the light of day.

1971- Michael S. Hart and ‘Project Gutenberg’

The first book ever produced in digital form was by Michael S. Hart, gaining him the title of ‘The inventor of the eBook’. The movement called Project Gutenberg was an impressive volunteer effort to make a free digital library which contained public domain books. He was given unlimited computer time, and with his efforts, he entered text manually creating the eBook. The first book typed up was the declaration of independence, a significant moment in the evolution of eBooks.

2000- ‘Riding the Bullet’

Stephen King’s ‘Riding the Bullet’ was the first eBook to be published for the masses and managed to sell 400,000 copies within the first day, with a wait time of hours for people to be able to download the book due to the amount of traffic.

2004- The Sony Librie

In the Late April of 2004, we saw Sony release the Librie, It was the first of its kind as they managed to invent the first eBook which used electronic ink, revolutionising eBooks with people being able to read in any light, however the Librie was only available in Japan.

2007- The Kindle

On November 19^th 2007, the Kindle was born; it sold out in hours and was initially only rolled out in the US. With a black and white 6 inch display and only 250mb of storage it was a stark contrast to the Kindle we see today.

2009: The Kindle goes global

We had to wait another two years before we could get our hands on the Kindle as it only made its way over the pond in 2009. The Kindle was launched in the UK along with another 100 countries.

The evolutionary possibilities are endless with the initial creation of eBooks having a clear focus on making the digital form as similar as possible to the physical books; however this is now something that we can see changing with the addition of audio and video enhancements. We are yet to see just how far the evolution of eBooks will go.

It’s clear to see that the eBook has come a long way but its appeal is undisputable, with eBooks and tablets allowing us to read whilst commuting and travelling. Despite the matter of eBooks still being significantly more expensive compared to printed books they are still in demand and the continued evolution of eBooks is inevitable as they are digitising the world one book at a time.

Are you team eBook or more of a printed book person? Let us know in the comments section below.

If you’re having a little trouble with your tablet or want to wipe everything, factory resetting could be your answer. Not sure how to do it? That’s why we’re here, we’re going to help you through it with some simple steps.

TABLET

Reset from within Windows:

• We recommend charging your laptop whilst resetting so you don’t run out of power during the resetting process. It shouldn’t take too long, but just to be on the safe side.
• Swipe across the right side of the screen and select ‘settings’.
• Then select ‘change PC settings’.
• Select ‘update and recovery’.
• Select ‘recovery’.
• Select ‘get started’ which is under ‘remove everything and re-install Windows’.
• Select ‘next’.
• You have the choice of ‘just remove my files’ or ‘fully clean the drive’. (If you’re resetting your device for safety and security reasons select ‘fully clean the drive’) This will be lengthy but is far more secure than just wiping your device.
• Select ‘reset’.

• After resetting you’ll have to re-do the start-up process, so things like choosing your country, region, time zone, language etc.

• You won’t have to purchase Windows again, simply sign in with the same Microsoft account and you’ll be able to re-install it.

Reset from the Windows sign-in screen:

• If you don’t have a keyboard, in the bottom left-hand corner of your Windows sign-in screen, select ‘ease of access’ and select ‘on screen keyboard’.
• Plug in your tablet for charging, so it doesn’t run out of power during the reset process.
• Select ‘power’ in the bottom-right corner of the Windows sign-in screen.
• Hold the ‘shift’ key.
• Whilst holding it down, select ‘restart’.
• Upon restarting, ‘choose an option’ will appear on your screen.
• Select ‘troubleshoot’.
• Then select ‘reset your PC’.
• Your tablet may restart and the Windows logo may appear while the device is in the process of resetting.
• Select ‘next’ on the ‘reset your PC’
• You can either choose ‘just remove my files’ or ‘fully clean the drive’.
• Then click ‘reset’ (the process can take up to several minutes).

LAPTOP

Laptops are a little more difficult, as the reset procedure varies depending on which version of Windows you have and the type of laptop you have. Don’t worry though, we’ll break everything down in a straightforward way.

Windows 7 + 8:

• Resetting your laptop will wipe anything you have on there, so save everything you need online or on an external storage device.
• Reboot/start up your laptop.
• Depending on what laptop you have, press the necessary key during the start-up process.

MSI- F3, Samsung- F4, Toshiba- 0 (keyboard, not num-pad), Sony- F10, HP- F11, Dell- F8, Lenovo- F11, ASUS F9, Acer alt & F10.

• Instructions should appear on-screen telling you how to proceed. The steps vary depending on the manufacturer; however it’s pretty much always a straight forward process.
• Once you’ve confirmed that you wish to reset your laptop, you may have to wait up to 30 minutes for the restoration to be completed.

Windows 10:

• The resetting process is made easy with Windows 10. This won’t take much time at all and the steps are quick and easy due to the built-in tool for resetting.
• Open up the ‘Start Menu’.
• Click ‘Settings’.
• In the search bar, type in ‘Reset’.
• The option ‘Reset this PC’ should come up, click this. It’ll appear in ‘Update and Security’, under ‘Recovery’.
• Click ‘Get Started’.
• You’ll then be given the option to keep your files or remove everything.
• Once you’ve made your choice, the reset process will begin.

Now that you’ve read our simple guide on how to reset your device, you can surely do it without difficulty!

For more helpful step-by-step guides, reviews, top picks and technology related news, keep an eye out on our blog.

In the last decade technology has taken the world by storm, and with such immense technological advances, new gadgets are everywhere; the classroom being no exception! And whilst they can be quite pricey, there’s such a huge range of choice that every teen is bound to find a device that suits their needs. To help make sure you’re geared up, ready for school and play, here’s our Top 10 Tech Gadgets for Teens!

Laptop:

 Toshiba Satellite C40-C-10Q 14″ Cheap Laptop Intel Celeron  N3050, 2GB, 32GB eMMC – £119.99

 This Toshiba Satellite laptop is great for teens because of its stylish exterior and countless high tech features, not to mention the great price! Its robust build and easy-to-carry size ensures that it’s portable; great for finishing up your homework on the way to school! For all you teens that spend 6 hours or more on your assignments the night before it’s due, this laptop comes with palm rejection technology. This will ensure your wrists can type away for hours, making sure you’ll have less typing mistakes and enhancing your productivity. The cheap Satellite C40-C laptop is powered by Intel® Celeron™ processor, providing an optimised performance that enables you to complete daily tasks with ease. And with Intel® Burst Technology 2.0, the processor receives an extra burst of power when needed, so the C40-C always stays highly responsive. What’s more, the 32 GB of eMMC flash memory means you can access your files when you’re offline so you can study and play on demand. Powered by Intel Celeron processors, you’ll be provided with an optimised performance ensuring daily tasks to be completed with ease, and also includes Windows 10 which ensures all your favourite apps to run smoothly; also making them easy to access/find with the home page tile layout.

Tablet:

 Toshiba Encore WT7-C-100 7 inch Quad Core Tablet Intel Z3735G,1GB RAM, 16GB eMMC  – £59.99

All those text books can get really heavy and a laptop can be a little too big to fit in your school bag. This cheap Toshiba tablet is great for teens in need of something pocket sized to take to the library or use for last minute exam prep on the go (it’s only 17.8cm). With it’s easy to use touch screen, ability to enlarge text with ease and compatibility with Microsoft Office all you need for research, revision and essay writing is at your fingertips. With 1 TB of OneDrive online storage included, you’re also free to save, share and access your files anywhere and the micro-SD slot allows easy transfer to other devices. With all the familiar applications (Word, Excel, Power Point, OneNote, Outlook etc.) available, doing your homework while you’re out and about is easier than ever. This product does not come with Microsoft Office but you can purchase it here. For social media obsessed teens (almost all of them) the HD front and 2MP rear camera and 0.3 MP front camera ensure sharp and bold pictures, you’ll always be ready to post a pic!

Desktop PC:

 Lenovo B50-35 23.8″ Full HD Touchscreen All-In-One PC AMD A10-7800 8GB RAM, 1TB – £479.99

For the organised student that prefers desk work (rather than completing your homework on the bus to school) we have the perfect desktop PC for you. This cheap Lenovo desktop PC includes Windows 8.1 ensuring you can navigate through all your favourite apps with ease. Its tiled home page format is especially good for teens as all apps and tools are a touch away. Windows 8.1 also has built in support for Miracast display sharing, 3D printing and a radio feature in the included Xbox music app. No need for wires, desk clutter and fiddling around with your mouse with a 23.8” touch screen, interact with your B50 with simple gestures; its 10-point multi-touch technology guarantees immense accuracy.

This affordable desktop PC has integrated AMD Radeon graphics and JBL- designed speakers with Dolby audio technology meaning after hours of hard work you can enjoy a film engrossed in amazing sound and visuals. Thanks to its AMD Radeon graphics support, Dolby Home Theatre sound, HDMI output for sound & audio with connection for up to two displays, and a DVD reader/writer, the Lenovo B50 PC offers a complete home entertainment experience. This cheap Lenovo PC ensures teens can play and work hard with its countless amazing features and all at the amazing price of £479.99!

Monitor:

Lenovo ThinkVision E1922 18.5 inch Widescreen LED Monitor – Response Time 5 ms – £92.49

Looking for a new monitor screen? This space saving monitor is ideal for teens, its slim design ensures it takes up minimal desk space. With LED HD display, supported graphics resolution/display resolutions of 1366 x 768 and its wide angle screen ensures quality visuals, you’ll be immersed in the graphics of your favourite sci-fi film and won’t find yourself squinting at your screen when doing late night studying. It’s lightweight yet sturdy design ensures that despite being a cheap Lenovo monitor, it’s long lasting, resilient and it’s less than £100!

Anti-virus:

Norton Security With Backup 2.0 25GB- 1 User, 10 Devices PC /Mac / iOS / Android – £39.99

Your PC contains so many valuable things; family photos, passwords, assignments and coursework, music and films. As a teen your entire life is stored on your computer, so make sure you protect it! Don’t just stop there, what about your phone? What about your tablet? Norton Security offers protection for your family of devices and includes 25GB of online storage for extra safety to safeguard what’s most precious on your device. Compatible with PC’s, Mac’s, smartphones and tablets, for only £39.99 protect all your devices.

Mobile phone:

When it comes to the mothership of all tech devices for teens, it’s inevitably the mobile phone. With everything at the touch of your teen fingers from tweeting to online banking and essay writing, you’re phone ensures that you can get everything done while you’re out and about. Due to technological advances smartphones are now better than ever with features like improved battery endurance, fast and wireless charging and expandable storage. Even the rowdiest and clumsiest of teens can’t damage are now catered for with protection against water and dust; durable and cheap phone have never been more accessible. For all the unorganised teens out there, most mobile phones include numerous manageability features to make sure you get everything done; from personalised and timed reminders to call and email manageability. High quality front and rear cameras will give you the best quality Instagram posts and snapchat stories. With a wide range of phones on our website, every teen is bound to find something that suits them!

USB Flash Drive:

Kingston Data Traveler SE9 64GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive with Metal Casing – (DTSE9H) – £24.99

This neat little device provides every teen with essentially one of the most important homework helpers ever; quick transfers and the ability to carry your work without printing or travelling with your device. With an immense 64GB storage, all your homework and revision notes can be safely stored on here and you’ll never have to worry about running out of space. You’ll never have to wait for file transfer with this USB as it ensures quick and seamless transfers; so you’ll never be late to school when transferring your essay last minute! Carefully designed exterior of this flash drive provides you with a stylish and durable metal casing, and the sturdy loop lets you attach your USB to your key so you’ll never lose it. This cheap Kingston USB is only £24.99, truly a bargain!

Printer/ Scanner:

HP Printer 5740 e-AiO Multifunctional Ink Colour A4 Ethernet USB Flatbed 30ppm- £108.49

A coloured printer is an absolute necessity for a teen whether it’s for homework or pictures, this cheap HP printer is great for both. But why waste space buying a scanner, printer and photo copy machine? This multifunctional and cheap HP printer does it all, so saves you valuable money and desk space. Print from multiple devices at home or on the go with wireless connectivity from your mobile phone or tablet devices. Not only does it include fax, photocopies, printing and scanner; but you can also print photos on here! This multi-purpose printer ensures all your needs are catered to for only £108.49.

Headphones:

Monster Diesel VEKTR On-Ear Stereo Headphones with Universal Control Talk- £69.99

High quality audio technology meets eye-catching and unique style with these cheap Diesel headphones. Scientifically engineered to deliver better sound for the brave, these headphones combine Monster’s impressive audio with Diesel’s standout design. Its distortion-free feature lets you crank up the volume as high as you want without fuzziness. The on-ear cushions comfort your ears, keeps music in and has noise-cancelling qualities. Its folding design is ideal for teens who love listening to music on the go, as it’s convenient for storage and transportation and the high quality triangular cables prevent tangles. These top of the range Diesel headphones also feature ControlTalk which lets you take calls and control your music from your device, great for when your hands are full (carrying those chunky books from the library!) whilst you’re on the go. Its slick design, white colour and high quality audio means that you can go about your daily tasks, listen to your favourite tunes and look great, all for just £69.99!

Cases:

A laptop or tablet is a huge investment, and an essential gadget to every teen; so be sure to protect it! If you like to take your device out and about or have it stored in your bag be sure to purchase a case. With a range of laptop cases, every teen is sure to find something that suits them. Whether you need something that ensures high protection with shock proof padding or something that has a slimmer fit that can easily fit in your school bag; you’ll be sure to find a great cheap laptop case on our website with a choice of named brands to cheaper alternatives. And don’t forget about your mobile or tablet! When on the go it’s always best to have a case to prevent cracks and scratches and to ensure minimal damage if you do drop your device. For movie lovers, be sure to check out our mobile and tablet cases  that feature stand/tent mode.

So there you have it, our top 10 teen gadgets! For the teens and parents unsure of what to buy, hopefully our choice of gadgets helps you make your choice and takes price into consideration. For more helpful top picks and other technology related new check out our blog. And for more affordable tech gadgets visit our website.

*Please note: all prices are subject to change without notice and all offers are subject to availability

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and the traditional gifts of chocolates and roses are old news. Our range of premium and affordable devices at Laptop Outlet are the perfect practical gifts, which will last much longer than a box of chocolates, along with an affordable price tag! Here is a list of our Top 10 perfect Valentine’s Tech Gifts to surprise your other half with;

1) Linx 7 tablet – £49.99 (save £40!)

A tablet is a great Valentine’s gift for anyone, whether for work or play, they are loved by all regardless of age. The Linx 7-inch tablet is a fantastic Windows device featuring Windows 8.1 and Office 365, available at an incredibly low price. It is perfect for small-time entertainment, working, skyping or any other function on-the-go. The Linx 7 is an ideal Valentine’s gift, allowing enhanced entertainment and web browsing with the 7” IPS touchscreen and 1280 x 800 screen resolution.

2) HP ENVY Beats All-In-One PC – £689.99

The HP ENVY Beats All-In-One 23” PC is a visually sleek device, which features Beats Audio quad speakers and quad subwoofers; delivering the highest quality of sound in PC form. The Full HD 23-inch and 58.4cm diagonal touchscreen ensures visually stunning images in all lighting and angles, along with IPS technology. The HP ENVY Beats is a high-quality multitasking PC, ideal for premium entertainment and gaming sessions. HP says: “Play it. Mix it. Share it. With the new HP ENVY Beats All-in-One, enjoy a special suite of included applications allowing you to create music, play an instrument, or be a DJ”.

3) Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro Tablet – £389.99

The Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro 10 Tablet is the perfect portable companion, available at a very affordable price of £389.99 at Laptop Outlet. The impressive features of the Yoga Tab 3 make it a worthy rival to Apple tablets. It has HD resolution to enhance user experience whether working or gaming, with a brilliant display resolution of (2560 x 1600). The multi-functional device also features a 180-degree rotatable camera with high-quality IPS LCD technology. The idea of featuring an Integrated Rotatable Projector in the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 10 is innovative and intriguing. It offers a brilliantly enhanced user experience, with the option of watching movies or gaming on a giant wall screen rather than the usual screen of your device.

4) KAZAM Trooper 551 Smartphone – £58.49 (save £22!)

The KAZAM Trooper 551 makes a brilliant Valentine’s present, a great Android operating system at a great price –with added features such as the substantial 5 inch display with (800 x 480) screen resolution. Storage can be expanded inexpensively with a microSD card from 4GB to 32GB, making it a striking, practical and feature-packed smartphone. Not only is this a great smartphone device with a small price tag, but it also comes with KAZAM Rescue, Free Screen Replacement and 3-Year Warranty…That’s right, 3 years – cool huh?!

5) Lenovo B50-45 Gaming Laptop – £269.99 (save £30!)

Lenovo laptops are known to be high-quality, featuring great performance and all at great prices, and the Lenovo B50-45 is a great affordable choice within the range. Some of features of the Lenovo B50-45 include a 15.6” HD Widescreen Display, AccuType Keyboard, Integrated Webcam and Stereo Speakers with Dolby Advanced Audio. The HD display with 16:9 widescreen format and (1366 x 768) resolution ensures brilliant visuals –perfecting for any gaming lovers!

6) Monster Diesel VEKTR Stereo Headphones – £69.99

The Monster Diesel VEKTR Stereo Headphones are a premium tech accessory, delivering high-definition sound along with visually striking design details. They are the ideal gift for any music lovers, including multi-functional features such as ControlTalk – which allows you to control your music through smartphone or music devices.

7) HP 350 G2 Laptop – £389.99

The HP 350 G2 is a practical and affordable business laptop, designed to enhance productivity whether at work, home or on-the-go. It features a 15.6” screen, Intel Core i5 and 4GB RAM, combining reliability with productivity. HP says: “The 350 Notebook PC is built with reliability in mind – inside and out – to meet the needs of professionals on the move”.

8) Lenovo Y50-70 Gaming Laptop – £789.99 (save £110!)

The Lenovo Y50-70 is the perfect Valentine’s gift for anyone who loves gaming! Featuring in our Top 6 Laptops, Ready For Windows 10 , it is a powerful high-end laptop, perfect for intensive gaming sessions and excellent value for money! The Lenovo Y50-70 is ideal for demanding tasks such as compiling code and editing 1080p and 4k videos. It runs on the Intel Core i7, offering one of the most efficient CPUs available in any laptop! The Y Series from Lenovo features stunning displays, high-quality performance and great prices, so the Lenovo Y50-70 is a brilliant choice for a Valentine’s Gift.

9) Samsung Galaxy S6 Smartphone – £429.99 (save £70!)

The Samsung Galaxy S6 is one of the best smartphones currently available, so it will evidently be the perfect Valentine’s Gift for anyone in need of a premium feature-packed smartphone device. Featuring a new and unique exterior design, along with excellent camera quality, the Samsung Galaxy S6 produces the beautifully vibrant and saturated images which Samsung is already known for.

10) Samsung LEVEL Box Portable Speaker – £39.99 (save £10!)

The Samsung LEVEL Box Portable Speaker is the ideal device to enhance the sound of tech devices, whether at home or on-the-ago. The high-quality sound and affordable price-point of the speaker makes it the perfect Valentines gift choice for anyone on a budget. Samsung says: “The Samsung LEVEL Box supports APT-X codec and is optimised for smart devices to give you a CD-like high quality stereo sound as well as a strong bass: perfect for music and movies”.

With Valentine’s Day less than a week away, our list of the best tech gifts for the occasion is the perfect solution to last-minute shopping, with a varied price-range suitable for all. View our ‘Valentines Shop’ on www.laptopoutlet.co.uk/valentines-shop.html to see the full range, as well as other brilliant devices.