I’ve been asked occaisionally during this season what type of laptop I would recommend as a Christmas present (or to the person who wants to buy one for him/herself).

I always start with the question for which type of use the person wants the laptop. Usually it’s for reading/writing emails, web surfing, hanging in social media, whatching movies, listening music or looking at photos. So pretty basic stuff. Not hard core gaming or for business use. Let’s call it “homey” use.

Usually it should not cost too much (which is expected) and should be good looking (so, nice in design) and still be quite powerful (compared to what?). Ok, anyway the use is for quite basic stuff.

My recommendation nowdays is to buy a hybrid, 2-in-1. A laptop that can be used as a tablet as well. Why? Because it gives flexibility for the user, he/she can use it on a desk as a normal laptop or then on the couch surfing the web in tablet mode while whatching the news or what ever.

And of course as I am a Windows person, I recommend a Windows machine. I usually am the first one they turn to if some troubles arise and if it is something else than Windows, count me out.

So here are my recommendations for the avarage Joe and Jane. The below choices are all good for homey use, so pick what fancies you the most.
P.S. I kept it short and hopefully quite non-technical.

HP x2 210

It is a 2-in-1. You can take the screen out from the keyboard and use it as a tablet. The screen is 10.1 inches. Touchscreen of course. Normal size keyboard.

Windows 10, so you do not have to upgrade it. There is only a 64 Gigabytes SSD drive (it means fast), but you can insert an Micro-SD card let’s say 64 Gt or even 128 Gt and increase the data storage.

Relaitvely cheap 449,90 € at Verkkokauppa.com – item page.

My verdict: very stylish and has good performance. A good buy.

Acer Aspire Switch 10 E 10,1

It is a 2-in-1. You can take the screen out from the keyboard and use it as a tablet. The screen is 10.1 inches. Touchscreen of course. Normal size keyboard.

Windows 10, so you do not have to upgrade it. And what is beautiful you can buy them in different colors. There is only a 32 Gigabytes SSD drive (again the fast one) but there is already a 500 Gigabyte hard drive for your data, but you can also insert an Micro-SD card let’s say 64 Gt or even 128 Gt and increase the data storage.

This is already at a bargin price of 329,90 € at Verkkokauppa.com – item page.

My verdict: this is not the fastest on the block, but if you keep with the basics in use, this is quite alright. Not a bad buy at all.

ASUS Transformer Book T100HA

It is a 2-in-1. You can take the screen out from the keyboard and use it as a tablet. The screen is 10.1 inches. Touchscreen of course. Normal size keyboard.

Windows 10, so you do not have to upgrade it. There is only a 64 Gigabytes SSD drive (it means as said before, fast), but you can and should insert an Micro-SD card let’s say 64 Gt or even 128 Gt and increase the data storage.

Relaitvely cheap 449,90 € at Verkkokauppa – item page.

My verdict: one of the “modernest” ones. Good performance and stylish. A good buy.

Microsoft Surface 3

This is the most expensive one of my recommendations, 649,90 € at Verkkokauppa – item page. And you still have to buy the keyboard as extra (129 €). But this is a tablet that is also a laptop. The pen comes with Surface, so there is no extra cost.

It has 128 Gigabytes of the fast SSD drive and you can still expand the storage capacity with Micro-SD as the above ones. Of course comes with Windows 10.

My verdict: this would be my choice, but remember I am a Microsoft guy. The performance outnumbers the above choices, so that’s why the gap also in the price tag. I have the Surface 3 Pro and my son has the Surface 3 and the second Surface 3 for my wife is coming under the Xmas tree (hushh, not a peep).