The perfect summer tech sidekick for both work and play

The longest days of summer may be behind us, but that doesn’t mean I’m not still jonesing to relax by the pool and barbecue outside on the grill. Between flexible work environments being the new norm and wanting to maximize my outdoor time this summer, I knew I needed a device that was portable enough to keep up with my on-the-go lifestyle, but powerful enough to withstand hours of meetings and emails.

So, along with my suit and sunscreen, I packed up the HP Chromebook and headed out to the country for a little R&R – and a few last-minute Friday afternoon meetings. I mean, if you’re going to have Friday afternoon meetings, why not take ‘em poolside?

Your go-to “sous”

Credit: Anna Rash / Mashable Composite

Once I arrived and settled into my Friday afternoon outside, I was easily able to take Zoom calls and respond to emails, all while soaking up the last few hours of my 40+ hour work week in the sunshine. The HP Chromebook has an impressive battery life of up to 10 hours and 15 minutes, meaning I still had enough juice left to prep for next week’s tasks and surf the web for some yummy new recipes for dinner al fresco. All while staying completely untethered from outlets, I found the perfect menu for dinner that night: orzo stuffed goat cheese tomatoes with a delicious strip steak!

Perfect sidekick for both work and play

Credit: Anna Rash / Mashable Composite

For its uber budget-friendly price and easy portability, this HP Chromebook boasts some seriously impressive specs. In addition to its battery life, ample memory, and easy integration with Google’s secure and up-to-date Chrome browser, you’ll get access to a huge selection of apps and games in the Google Play Store. In other words, switch seamlessly between work and play mode on this machine. Hey, we all deserve a 10-minute brain break between meetings to relive the nostalgic glory days of Super Mario Run, okay?

Stream it under the stars

Credit: Anna Rash / Mashable Composite

Look, I’ll be honest, gone are the days of my weekend adventures out on the town. Now all I want to do on a Friday night is recuperate – especially after a long work week and some time outside in the sun. So what better way to do that than to snuggle up under a comfy blanket and stream a movie? This laptop is the perfect movie date, providing sharp visuals and smooth streaming due to advanced AMD Radeon™ Graphics. I can stream my favorite flick under the stars with the high def display filling my screen in crystal clarity and stereo speakers that capture audio well enough to compete with the bullfrogs and crickets. I am in the country, after all!

Shop this and other great Chromebooks on sale at Best Buy so you can take those Friday afternoon meetings outside and untethered, or toss one in your backpack if you’re heading back to school this fall.