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Laptops for the holidays: ‘Chromebook Plus’ machines fill a gift-giving niche

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:57 GMT

I am crazy about Chromebooks, those weirdly web-centric laptops invented by Google in the late aughts and later popularized in K-12 classrooms — if you don’t have a child who uses one in school, you know someone who does.But does a Chromebook make a good holiday gift as an alternative to, say, a Windows PC or an Apple Mac? Sure, at least for some people — those with Gmail accounts are the best candidates — but you want to pick a decent machine. The chintzy ones used in public education won’t cut it.Enter “Chromebook Plus.”Google has joined with its hardware partners Asus, Acer, HP and Lenovo to make Chromebook shopping a cinch. They have applied the new “Plus” label to eight machines that have decent specs but aren’t budget busters. The idea here is for consumers to grab the laptop with “Plus” on the box because, well, it has to be good, right?Yeah, it mostly is.I have tried two Chromebook Plus models and I like them enough to recommend; more on those i...

Nick Mullens replaces Josh Dobbs at QB to lead Vikings over Raiders 3-0

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:57 GMT

LAS VEGAS — The stage was set for the Vikings to prove to everybody — incliding themselves — that the nasty loss heading into the bye week was a fluke. It came in the form of a brief residency in Las Vegas, which, fittingly, featured thousands upon thousands of Vikings fans making road trip to Minnesota.Instead, after a 12-10 loss to the Chicago Bears the last time out, the Vikings did very little to instill confidence in Sunday’s 3-0 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Not that they need to apologize for a win.The Vikings’ offense was once again nonexistent with journeyman quarterback Josh Dobbs leading the charge. It got so bad that veteran quarterback Nick Mullens came on in relief. That provided the Vikings with the spark they needed, as Mullens finished 9 of 13 passing for 83 yards, which included a big throw to rookie receiver Jordan Addison late in the game.That connection set up kicker Greg Joseph for a 36-yard field goal that went down as th...

Broncos report card: Dominant outing for Vance Joseph’s defense gives Denver offense time to get rolling in win vs. Chargers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:57 GMT

Offense — B-It took the Denver offense time to settle into a rhythm. They still missed a bunch of chances down the field and the connection between quarterback Russell Wilson and receiver Jerry Jeudy is still missing. But the Broncos did what they had to do, cashing in a turnover in the first half and getting a terrific, 46-yard touchdown catch from Courtland Sutton in the third quarter to eventually build a comfortable margin. Even given that, though, there’s work to be done. Denver’s rushing attack was more churning than explosive in Southern California, cresting the 100-yard mark on the 26th attempt and grinding out nine first downs. Their most impressive drive: A burly, 13-play, 75-yarder that chewed up 7:26 off the clock and ended with a wide open touchdown pass to Adam Trautman.Take Our Poll(function(d,c,j){if(!d.getElementById(j)){var pd=d.createElement(c),s;pd.id=j;pd.src='https://www.denverpost.com/wp-content/plugins/polldaddy/js/polldaddy-shortcode.js';s=d.getElement...

Broncos four downs: Russell Wilson sticks fork in Brandon Staley, Chargers. Raiders stick fork in themselves. Playoffs? Heck, yeah, we’re talking playoffs.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:57 GMT

Initial thoughts from Broncos’ win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 14 at SoFi Stadium:1. Broncos steal Staley’s birthday cake: Happy Birthday, Brandon Staley! The Broncos (7-6) and Sean Payton might have just sealed your pink slip. Although you did this one to yourself, champ, as Los Angeles whiffed on five of six fourth-down chances. Including some absolute head-scratching go-for-it decisions on the part of Staley and his staff. Pick your fireable offense. Playoffs? Heck, yeah, Broncos Country is talking playoffs, especially with the Chiefs wobbling. The sixth and seventh seeds for the AFC are setting up to be a free-for-all, and the loser of Broncos-Chargers was basically eliminated from the AFC postseason picture. Even sweeter? The Raiders (5-8) joined the Bolts (5-8) in Loserville thanks to a home setback to the Vikings. That leaves the AFC West as a two-team, two-horse race. And one of those horses is wearing Orange and Blue.2. Offensive line props: Would you ...

Heroes and Zeros from Broncos’ 24-7 win over Chargers: Ja’Quan McMillian just keeps making plays

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:57 GMT

Here are the heroes and zeros from Denver’s 24-7 win over the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday afternoon.HeroesJa’Quan McMillian: The Broncos second-year cornerback is special. Seemingly every week, he makes a big play. In the first quarter, McMillian was like a speeding bullet off the edge as he sacked Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. He almost had a strip sack that was returned for a touchdown in the second quarter but the officials ruled the ball incomplete. Still, the play forced Los Angeles to punt. No one predicted McMillian would be one of the Broncos’ best defensive backs. But that’s the reality we are living in right now.Jonathon Cooper: Denver’s outside linebacker gave his team the jumpstart it needed. With 5:07 to go in the first quarter, edge rusher Baron Browning tipped Herbert’s pass at Los Angeles’ 12-yard line before Cooper picked it off. Right after the turnover, running back Javonte Williams scored on a 3-yard rushing touchdown and the Broncos nev...

Chargers QB Justin Herbert sidelined, ruled out due to finger injury against Broncos

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:57 GMT

By JOE REEDY (AP Sports Writer)INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has been ruled out of Los Angeles’ game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday due to a finger injury that occurred late in the second quarter.The only other quarterback on the Chargers’ roster is Easton Stick, who had played two NFL snaps in five seasons with Los Angeles before he replaced the Bolts’ franchise quarterback against Denver. The Chargers trailed 10-0 at halftime.Herbert was 9 of 17 for 96 yards with an interception before being injured, apparently while he was taken down awkwardly by Denver’s Zach Allen after throwing a pass. Herbert had been sacked four times and hit six times during the Chargers’ first six possessions, with his teammates repeatedly missing their blocks against Denver’s pass rushers.Herbert, the sixth overall pick in the 2020 draft, has been famously durable in his career.He fractured the middle finger on his left hand la...

How it happened: Broncos dominate Chargers in win, improve to 7-6 on the season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:57 GMT

The Broncos head to California to see if they can shake off last week’s loss to the Texans. Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.Live updatesFINAL | Broncos 24, Chargers 7Jerry Jeudy got the dropsies. The offense stunk to start a second half once again. And neither thing matters (much) after the Broncos cruise to a 24-7 victory over the Chargers.Vance Joseph’s defense is on fire. Russell Wilson is making plays under pressure and Courtland Sutton keeps making amazing catches in the end zone.The playoffs are now very much in play at 7-6 with a visit to the reeling Detroit Lions next Saturday in prime time. Full game story coming soon.More Broncos coverage:Broncos RG Quinn Meinerz taken to hospital out of precaution after elevated heart rate, source says.Heroes and Zeros from Broncos’ 24-7 win over Chargers: Ja’Quan McMillian just keeps making plays.Broncos four downs: Russell Wilson sticks fork in Bran...

Family speaks after father of 4 gunned down in Los Angeles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:57 GMT

The family of a 32-year-old man, a father of four young children, is speaking out after he was tragically shot to death while sitting in his vehicle at a gas station in South Los Angeles last week.  The shooting happened at around 11 p.m. on the 8500 Block of South Hoover Street in the Vermont Knolls neighborhood, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.  The victim, Marquette Scott Jr. had been out shopping, buying presents for his four children when he stopped to get gas on his way home was senselessly gunned down, leaving his family devastated.  “I just want them to know that he was a great father, a great son, a great brother, a great cousin, a great everything,” the victim’s mother, Melanie Gammage, told KTLA’s Rachel Menitoff.  Police said surveillance footage showed two unidentified suspects approach the area in a car before firing repeatedly on Scott Jr. and fleeing the scene. Bullet holes marred the side of the victim’s car, even shattering the gl...

Tennessee tornadoes leave at least 6 dead, dozens hurt and more than 35,000 without power

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:57 GMT

(CNN) — Tennessee officials are assessing the damage after tornadoes and strong thunderstorms roared across the state Saturday, leaving at least six people dead, more than 50 injured, multiple buildings destroyed and power outages.At least three people died, including a child, after a tornado struck the Clarksville area of Montgomery County in northern Tennessee, officials said Saturday night.Another three people were confirmed dead in Madison, Tennessee, just north of Nashville, emergency management officials said Saturday night.First responders responded to more than 400 calls overnight, Nashville Fire Chief William Swann said. There are currently 25 displaced people at shelters and the number is expected to increase, he added.Montgomery officials reported 62 patients were treated at medical facilities.As of Sunday afternoon, there were more than 35,000 reports of power outages across the state, according to the monitoring website PowerOutage.us. The Tennessee Emergency Mana...

49ers Studs and Duds: Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey lead the way in fifth straight win over the Seahawks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:57 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Another week, another win for the 49ers, who are cruising to another NFC West title and, perhaps, the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.While Sunday’s performance was hardly the Niners’ best of the year, the 28-16 win over division rival Seattle — their fifth-straight — was still plenty good.San Francisco now sits four games up on the Seahawks and Rams in the NFC West. On Monday, they can clinch a playoff berth with a Packers loss or tie.The machine keeps rolling.Here were the folks who made it happen — and a couple of folks who jammed up the gears:STUDS Christian McCaffrey» The 49ers’ running back took a toss left, cut back inside the left guard, and ran 72 yards on the game’s first play.And while his rightful touchdown was vultured by Jordan Mason, the result is undeniable: This guy is so flippin’ good it’s borderline unfair.Deebo Samuel» It’s not all catch-and-run with the do-it-all offensive weapon. No, his 54-yard touchdown c...