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 4 cores core process will help speed up music format conversions or codec-based compression.

Since you're all about the music, this laptop will make a great side-kick to you music production gear. It's multi-core processor gives you the necessary muscle to rip, encode or convert your audio craft without having to wait forever. Also, it's on-board audio chip and high resolution screen (1920 x 1080 pixels) offer a competent and mobile deputy to your existing tools and setup.

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

Whether it's HTML5, CSS or Javascript-based frameworks such as AJAX, Angular, JQUERY etc, the ThinkPad L480 is a very capable option. 

It's multi-core CPU & 8 GB memory size helps you multi-task as you craft your vision on it's high quality, 1920 x 1080 pixels screen.

Facebook, twitter etc require little processing power or screen specification so the Swift SF114-31-P4J3 will do just fine.

Facebook, twitter etc require little processing power or screen specification so the ThinkPad L480 will do just fine.

All components of your Acer 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 Pentium N3710 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 i5-8250U 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 12.5 hours battery life in the Swift SF114-31-P4J3 is sufficient for short sessions of use in coffee shops, parks etc.

The 12 hours battery life in the ThinkPad L480 is sufficient for short sessions of use in coffee shops, parks etc.

The 12.5 hours battery life in the Swift SF114-31-P4J3 has got enough juice to help you work while on the move during quick trips around the city.

The 12 hours battery life in the ThinkPad L480 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 12.5 hours, there isn't a huge need to carry a charger each time your about.

With a great run time of approximately 12 hours, there isn't a huge need to carry a charger each time your about.

The 12.5 hours battery life in the Swift SF114-31-P4J3 can keep you going while moving from one meeting space to another.

The 12 hours battery life in the ThinkPad L480 can keep you going while moving from one meeting space to another.

With a great run time of approximately 12.5 hours, there isn't a huge need to carry a charger each time your about.

With a great run time of approximately 12 hours, there isn't a huge need to carry a charger each time your about.

Because this has got a weight measuring in at 1.6 kg, it'll help you stay light and nimble. 

Because this has got a weight measuring in at 1.68 kg, it'll help you stay light and nimble. 

As you'll be needing to move about now and then, it's 1.6 kg weight should suit your needs just fine.

As you'll be needing to move about now and then, it's 1.68 kg weight should suit your needs just fine.

This laptop can be used night or day thanks to the built in back-lit keyboard.

This laptop can be used night or day thanks to the built in back-lit keyboard.

It's got a good variety of display ports which allows you connect to a good range of projectors and screen types.

It's got clean lines and a premium look, which showcases a refined taste in mobile devices.

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. 

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