As a student or researcher in the social or physical sciences, this device provides a good balance of portability (with it's 14 inches screen size) and performance so that you're free to roam the labs or libraries with a machine that can competently multi-task your data crunching, "multi-tabbed browsing" and the production of academic content.

Developing your own tunes and mixes is important to you, so we've recommended a laptop that has got an advanced audio system on-board with HD sound capabilities.

The presence of a 2 cores core process will help speed up music format conversions or codec-based compression.

The 14 inches screen gives you enough screen-space to wade through columns and rows

Excel, Quicken etc, don't need much power so this option won't up the requirements on processor. 

Your Lenovo 's 8 GB RAM will ensure large sheets and accounts wont undermine performance

Facebook, twitter etc require little processing power or screen specification so the VivoBook 14 X442UA-GA100R will do just fine.

Facebook, twitter etc require little processing power or screen specification so the ThinkPad E480 will do just fine.

All components of your Asus will easily handle the web as surfing requires minimal resources

All components of your Lenovo will easily handle the web as surfing requires minimal resources

Presentations, spreadsheets and documents, don't need much, but your Intel Core i3-7100U processor and 4 GB RAM ensures even image laden files won't leave you watching the 'spinning wheel'!

Presentations, spreadsheets and documents, don't need much, but your Intel Core i5-7200U processor and 8 GB RAM ensures even image laden files won't leave you watching the 'spinning wheel'!

Email demands very little from a laptop. We've taken this into account.

Email demands very little from a laptop. We've taken this into account.

The 10 hours battery life in the VivoBook 14 X442UA-GA100R is sufficient for short sessions of use in coffee shops, parks etc.

The 13.5 hours battery life in the ThinkPad E480 is sufficient for short sessions of use in coffee shops, parks etc.

The 10 hours battery life in the VivoBook 14 X442UA-GA100R has got enough juice to help you work while on the move during quick trips around the city.

The 13.5 hours battery life in the ThinkPad E480 has got enough juice to help you work while on the move during quick trips around the city.

With a great run time of approximately 10 hours, there isn't a huge need to carry a charger each time your about.

With a great run time of approximately 13.5 hours, there isn't a huge need to carry a charger each time your about.

The 10 hours battery life in the VivoBook 14 X442UA-GA100R can keep you going while moving from one meeting space to another.

The 13.5 hours battery life in the ThinkPad E480 can keep you going while moving from one meeting space to another.

With a great run time of approximately 10 hours, there isn't a huge need to carry a charger each time your about.

With a great run time of approximately 13.5 hours, there isn't a huge need to carry a charger each time your about.

Because this has got a weight measuring in at 1.8 kg, it'll help you stay light and nimble. 

Because this has got a weight measuring in at 1.8 kg, it'll help you stay light and nimble. 

As you'll be needing to move about now and then, it's 1.8 kg weight should suit your needs just fine.

As you'll be needing to move about now and then, it's 1.8 kg weight should suit your needs just fine.

It looks simple, capable and doesn't stand out in any particular way.

It looks simple, capable and doesn't stand out in any particular way.

It's got the traditional corporate look and will definitely blend in within the enterprise environment.