Kogan unveils its first convertible notebook for an affordable price

FORGET dropping your entire salary on a new laptop. You can now get the perfect device to meet all of your basic needs for a very affordable price.

For less than $500, this notebook packs a real punch.

YOU desperately need a new laptop, but don’t have thousands of dollars to upgrade because you still want money to get on the cans every weekend — I get it.

Or maybe you just can’t justify putting an amount higher than an entire week’s pay on your credit card for something that you only want for browsing the internet and watching “movies” — trust me, I also get this.

You need not worry because I have found a solution to your problems and it cost less than $500. Enter Kogan’s Atlas 13.3-inch C300 convertible notebook.

The laptop is thin and light.

DESIGN

You could be forgiven for thinking you are looking at a Macbook Air.

But, unlike the Macbook Air, the C300 has a 360-degree hinge allowing you to transform your device into a tablet by simply rotating the keyboard all the way back.

The minimalist design has stripped all Kogan branding from the top of the lid, with the C300 having a durable, sleek premium metal body design.

The Full HD 1920x1080 screen produces a display which is more than sufficient for word processing tasks or watching movies if that’s your type of thing.

While it does fall short of the vibrant displays of more high-end products, you certainly won’t be disappointed with the clean, crisp and colourful picture delivered — especially considering the price point.

On the left side of the C300, there’s the power outlet, along with a USB 3.0 and mini HDMI port.

The right side is home to a 3.5mm headphone jack, USB 2.0 port, power controls and a microSD slot.

For the price range, the keyboard is decent and doesn’t feel too stiff when typing.

It’s a similar story for the mousepad, although I did find some issues with responsiveness on more than one occasion.

Impressively, the Kogan also comes with a Stylus pen used for taking notes or drawing.

The device is perfect for those who don’t want to spend a motza.

FUNCTIONALITY

The C300 is powered by an Intel Celeron N3450 quad-core processor, with 4GB of ram and a 64GB hard drive, and an SSD expansion slot supporting up to 512GB of extra storage.

In terms of operating system, the C300 uses Microsoft Windows 10 Home equipped with Windows Ink — a feature allowing you to make the most of the included stylus.

The Kogan product comes with a built-in microphone and speakers, although the latter leaves a lot to be desired, so those using the notebook to watch movies might need headphones or external speakers.

Kogan has also included a 5000mAH battery for the C300, which last for around three to four hours from a single charge.

However, it’s worth noting that the charging cable included in the box is very short, so using while plugged in will be difficult without an extension cord.

This is the first convertible laptop the company has ever offered.

VERDICT

Sure you are missing some of the nuances found on more premium offerings, but you are hardly going to be let down by the Kogan C300.

This isn’t the product for gamers or people looking to do intensive work such as video editing, but for browsing the internet, watching movies and working on documents, I have no problem recommending this product.

While the product experience was overall very impressive, the short power cable and the responsiveness issues with the trackpad were both let-downs.

Having used more expensive products, I can say the Kogan holds its own and I would strongly consider going this path when I am due for a next upgrade.

The Atlas 13-inch C300 convertible notebook retails for $499.

What are your thoughts? Continue the conversation in the comments below or with Matthew Dunn on Facebook and Twitter.