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But even if Chromecast is just technology for Google to test the waters with TV connectivity, or nothing more than a way to get you using more Google services, it’s the best £30 you’ll ever spend on your TV.If you haven’t already read the PC Pro Chromecast review, and we’re assuming you haven’t because you’re reading this, then the Chromecast is the cheapest and easiest way to turn your boring, non-smart HD TV into a something a bit more intelligent.Chromecast supports full 1080p streaming from a wide array of apps on both Android and iOS, and you can even stream web pages directly from your computer using Chrome. It’s incredibly simple to set up and use, requiring nothing more than a free HDMI slot and a USB port to power it. If your TV doesn’t have a USB port that supplies power, usually indicated on USB port, Chromecast comes with a plug and lead so you can charge it from a wall socket instead.To start casting, all you need is the free Chromecast app on your Android or iOS device. Once downloaded you can tell it to connect directly to your Wi-Fi, allow others to use it without connecting to your Wi-Fi, and see a slew of apps you can use with your new streaming stick.

The beautiful thing about Chromecast is that, while you connect and browse content using your mobile device, it actually links directly with the content itself.This means that you won’t be burning through mobile data by streaming an amusing YouTube video to your TV, or if you’re binge-watching Twin Peaks on Netflix. It also has the added bonus of not draining your device battery through streaming, or hogging your mobile screen, allowing you to use it as you would if you were watching TV.Chromecast’s low cost makes it an essential purchase if you don’t already own a streaming stick, smart TV, or have a video games console that allows for streaming services.While it seems that Chromecast will likely become obsolete due to being rolled into TVs running Chrome OS, for £30 you will certainly get your money’s worth before it’s time to upgrade your TV again. For those who watch streaming services via their laptop or tablet when sat on the sofa, splashing out on a Chromecast is the perfect solution to making the most of your TV. It’ll even make an old Netflix subscription feel fresh again as you free yourself from the shackles of a small screen.

Thanks to Chromecast’s simplicity, which utilises your phone as a navigation device so you don’t have to refamiliarise yourself with new apps, everything just works seamlessly. It feels like a polished device, and easily stands up to its nearest rivals.If your home is lacking a smart TV, you have no convenient way to watch the likes of Netflix, BBC iPlayer, or YouTube, or you’d just like to fire content from your phone to the big screen for all to see, then Google’s Chromecast is definitely something you should buy.There once was a time when you’d be laughed out of the room for saying a netbook still had a place in the modern world, yet Asus has released just that in the form of the Eeebook X205. And what’s more, we like it.As you’d expect, when it comes to specs there is nothing remarkable in this sub-£200 Eeebook X205. It comes with 2GB of RAM and is powered by an Intel Atom Z3735 processor – the same chip found in the Acer Tab 8W, also launched this week at IFA 2014.

Performance on the sample device was decent; flicking from the Modern UI screen to the traditional Desktop proved slick, as did opening and closing apps such as Word and Internet Explorer. The Asus Eeebook X205 isn’t the laptop for you if heavy gaming or image/video editing is what you require (see what’s the best laptop of 2014?). But despite these high-end performance limitations, it’s still powerful enough for lightweight duties – think tapping away in Word and browsing the web.The design of the Asus Eeebook X205 is one of the areas where this netbook really excels. Looking at it, you’d be hard pushed to identify it as a netbook rather than an Ultrabook.With a depth of 17.9mm, an 11.6in display and an overall weight of 980g, it isn’t far off the physical requirements of an Intel ultraportable. The Eeebook has a sophisticated feel too, thanks to its subtle curves and frosted plastic finish. The 11.6in display is made up of 1,366 x 768 pixels (135ppi), which means it is far from the sharpest screen you can buy for this price. Also note the lack of a touchscreen; it makes the touch-focused design of Windows 8 UI wholly redundant and a little frustrating.

The Eeebook will include either 32GB or 64GB of storage, so it’s very much a companion device for your main laptop rather than a replacement. It is possible to add extra storage though: there are USB 2 ports and a microSD slot. We’re also pleased to see an HDMI output, although note it’s mini-HDMI rather than a full-sized port. As we only had a limited time with the Eeebook, we haven’t been able to put it through our full battery test. Asus claims that this fanless device will last up to 12 hours, though, which is very impressive if it proves to be true.Now that the excitement surrounding tablets has died down, and we’ve all come to realise that they can’t replace a laptop, the thought of the netbook-style resurgence is pretty viable.With that in mind, the Asus Eeebook X205 looks pretty good for a sub-£200 machine running Windows 8.1 – minus touch. We look forward to getting a sample into our Labs for a full test.

The Dell Chromebook 11 represents the company’s first foray into Google’s OS, and it’s being cautious: this isn’t a laptop aimed at the mass market but at schools, colleges and universities. That’s why its debut show is the education technology show BETT, where we got our hands on it.Even though it’s being marketed as an education device, it will be on sale from Dell direct, and for an incredibly cheap £159 if the original press release is to be believed. (Just note that it’s £159 plus VAT, this being an education-targeted machine.)As an education-focused machine, Dell is making much of its “rugged” design. The company claims the chassis is based on its Latitude line of corporate laptops, built for life on the road. We’re pressing Dell for more details on this, because on first touch this isn’t too obvious. The lid feels more solid than some, but it’s still plastic, as is the chassis.Compensation comes in the weight, which at 1.2kg is quite respectable, and with a promised battery life of ten hours it adds up to a very portable machine.

We have some doubts the screen will be clearly visible outside, as it isn’t the brightest affair. Nor does it have the best vertical viewing angles, which means you have to position it quite carefully to avoid a drop-off in contrast. And, just to hammer the Dell Chromebook 11 whilst it’s down, there’s some grain on show too. How much this matters is a different question. In reality, we suspect most students will appreciate a slightly bigger screen than on offer elsewhere, even if the resolution is a budget-friendly 1,366 x 768.The keyboard is similarly unexciting. There isn’t much feedback from the buttons, or travel, but we found it pleasant enough to type on if you’re forgiving about such things. It’s helped by being quite a wide chassis, so the keys are full-size with plenty of space between them.

But Dell believes the real power of this machine isn’t so much the hardware but the collaboration on offer – according to the rep we spoke to, up to 50 students can use the version of Google Apps shipped with the Chromebook 11. Plus, the forthcoming Dell Wyse PocketCloud app for Chrome OS will makes it easier to access content and apps sitting on your laptop, Mac or PC directly from the Chromebook.In terms of specs, there are no great surprises. A dual-core 1.4GHz Intel Celeron 2955U processor provides the power and the graphics, and there are two configurations of memory: one with 1GB, one with 2GB. [Correction: one with 2GB, one with 4GB.] The bigger limitation is a mere 16GB flash drive for storage.Expansion is available via an SD card slot on the right, plus two USB 3 slots on the right. The model we saw also included a SIM card slot, although we haven’t received confirmation that this will be available with UK models. Bog-standard 802.11abgn Wi-Fi completes the communications specs, unless you count the inclusion of a full-size HDMI port (there’s no D-SUB).

It feels far too early to give a verdict on this Chromebook. Clearly it’s designed to be affordable, and some corners have been cut, but we’ll need to get it into our Labs for a proper test to see how much that has affected quality and day-to-day performance. And we also want to see the laptop on sale for that price, because at £159 it does seem remarkably cheap.UPDATE ON AVAILABILITY: Dell has told us the 2GB version will be available this month (but not exactly when this month), and that the 4GB version will be available during the first quarter of 2014.The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 15 is a budget laptop with a twist. Where most at this price rarely stray far from the tried and tested, the Flex 15 features an unusually flexible design. See also: what’s the best laptop you can buy in 2014?However, this laptop isn’t a carbon copy of Lenovo’s much pricier Yoga models. Where the Yogas pride themselves on metal-clad, Ultrabook-class chassis, the Flex 15 is a more heavyweight affair constructed from rounded plastics. This is the Yoga rejigged to be affordable.http://www.dearbattery.co.uk

Not that the Flex 15 feels budget. Its 2.19kg body looks and feels a cut above its budget peers, with a stout and solid chassis that has hardly a shrug of give in the base, and only a minor amount of flex in the lid.It’s also noticeably more photogenic than most laptops you’ll find in this category. The soft-touch black plastics curve gently towards the laptop’s edges, sandwiching a strip of striking orange trim that runs around the laptop’s front and flares outwards as it approaches the hinge. It’s a lovely looking piece of kit.It’s the extra centimetre around the Flex 15’s waist that hints at the presence of its novel, flexible hinge. Push it back and you’ll find the display rotates back through 300 degrees, allowing the Flex 15 to work as a standard laptop, or flip upside down and perform as a compact all-in-one touchscreen PC. Once flipped upside down, the keyboard and touchpad are deactivated, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally typing with your knees. There’s no “tent” mode, nor tablet mode, though – if such flexibility appeals, you’ll need to set your sights on one of Lenovo’s more multitalented Yoga models.

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