Ask Adrian: buying a student laptop that will last and getting better Wi-Fi in the attic

Our technology editor answers your trickiest tech questions

Future-proof: MacBook Air M2

Reliable Wi-Fi: TP-Link AX1500

OnePlus Nord Buds

Samsung HW-S800B

Future-proof: MacBook Air M2

Adrian Weckler Twitter Email

July 02 2022 02:30 AM

Question My daughter is going to college in September and we’re looking for a laptop for her that will last. We don’t mind investing in it if it’s good quality as we have had mixed experiences with laptops over the years. — Feidhlim O’Donovan

Answer
When you say that you “don’t mind investing in it”, I’ll assume that extends to mid-priced and lower-premium models. In general, it’s hard to beat Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Air (€1,229 from Apple) in this category for overall value. This lasts a long time, has lots of engine power and — maybe best of all — beats almost every other laptop on battery life by almost two to one. This month, I reviewed Apple’s updated 13-inch MacBook Pro M2 (€1,629), which is a step up again.

If you can wait, what looks like the best of the bunch might be the redesigned MacBook Air M2. This seems like it combines almost all of the best features of the existing MacBook Air (M1, which will still be on sale) and the MacBook Pro models. It will cost more, though — €1,529. This would probably be the model I’d go for if I wanted something for the next few years.

For completeness, there are a few decent Windows laptops out there, too: Dell’s XPS 13 (€1,279 from Dell) is pretty nice, as is HP’s Spectre X360 (€1,199 from Currys). But none of the Windows laptops have the chip power or battery life of the recently launched Apple MacBook range, so they’re not quite as compelling.

Recommendation: MacBook Air M2 (€1,529)

Question
We recently converted our attic and would like to extend our Wi-Fi to the attic area as I will be working from there. Can you recommend a device to use? We have run the internet cable to the attic so need a device to create another Wi-Fi network up there.
— Brenda Byrne

Reliable Wi-Fi: TP-Link AX1500

Answer
If you’ve extended a physical cable up to your attic, it should be fairly straightforward: just connect it to a regular, run-of-the-mill internet router.

A decent one typically costs about €50 up from any electronics store. TP-Link’s AX1500 model (€70 from DID Electrical) will do the job just fine. I’ve written many times about the trickier problem of connecting rooms or parts of the house wirelessly. But the advantage you have is that a cable is a far, far more reliable way of keeping the strongest possible download speed from the entry point into your house to wherever you want to create your Wi-Fi zone. In general, a Wi-Fi signal gets weaker with every few feet that your phone or laptop moves away from the router.

Recommendation: TP-Link AX1500 (€70 from DID Electrical)

Question
We’re trying to cut back on our streaming services to save money. We have Netflix and Amazon, which we watch on our TV and on my iPad. Netflix is becoming quite expensive now. Someone told me of a new one, Paramount, that is free with Sky. Our TV is five or six years old, though. Is it possible to get it?
— Sheila O’Rourke

Answer
Paramount+ is free if you already subscribe to Sky Cinema. If not, it costs €7.99 a month. If you have a Sky box that gives you Sky Cinema, your TV probably won’t have any problem streaming the service. Otherwise, you will need a set-top box or dongle, such as Apple TV or Google Chromecast. (It will appear as a smart app on some TVs, but only newer models.)

Whether or not it’s worth subscribing to is down to personal taste. Paramount owns networks including Showtime, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon, so you can expect to see shows such as Dexter, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Spongebob Squarepants.

Email your questions to aweckler@independent.ie

Tech two reviews

OnePlus Nord Buds
€49 from Oneplus.com

OnePlus Nord Buds

We’re now at the point where you can get a genuinely decent set of audio buds for under €50. And that’s exactly what OnePlus’s new NordBuds are. They have good battery life and more than acceptable audio quality. The only real downside is a slightly bulky pill box, making them awkward in pockets. Otherwise, you can’t go wrong here.

Samsung HW-S800B
€879 from Euronics

Samsung HW-S800B

We can all agree that the picture quality on new TVs is now universally excellent. We can also agree that the audio quality is still often very poor. Samsung’s latest mid-range sounder-plus-woofer is as much about design discretion as audio oomph: the sounder itself is one of the slimmest you can get on the market. If you have a large room, this would be a good option.