Why you should trust us: PCWorld has been covering PCs since 1983, and reviews more than 70 notebooks a year in our never-ending quest to find the best laptops. Our expert reviewers evaluate every machine using a combination of performance benchmarks and rigorous usability standards, with an eye toward identifying the best laptops for specific needs and at various price points. We also edit lots of videos ourselves.
Take a look at our top picks for video editing below, followed by buying advice and more details about our testing process.
The best laptops for video editing
Asus ProArt P16 - Best laptop for video editing
Well, now we can add another to the pile: Microsoft just released Copilot Search, which is sort of like an AI-infused Bing Search. It takes in data from sources all over the web, then uses Copilot's AI powers to synthesize a summary for you. You may have seen something similar before in Bing with AI-powered "Copilot Answers."
Copilot Search supports natural language queries, which means you don't have to worry about how to phrase your questions or search inquiries to get the answer you're looking for. For example, if you ask the question, "How much is 57 degrees Fahrenheit in Celsius?", Copilot Search can figure out that you're talking about temperature conversions.
Unlike Copilot Answers in Bing, however, Copilot Search has its own interface that's reminiscent of Copilot itself (and ChatGPT, among other AI chatbots). You can ask follow-up questions and keep the conversation going, building on past queries to get more specific answers.
The easiest way to try Copilot Search right now is to visit bing.com/copi
The best PDF editors allows you to edit, create, alter, and convert PDF files just like you would with any other text document. Adobe Acrobat is the most well-known option for most people. Its reputation is certainly deserved given its excellent feature set and overall utility. But it's also quite expensive.
Thankfully, there's a whole range of respectable and even great third-party PDF editors that provide less expensive alternatives to Adobe's premier product.
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Integrate PDF maker, PDF editor, PDF converter, and PDF reader in one full pack with all the basics you need. The clean interface simplifies your PDF work to edit, convert, comment, annotate, merge, split, background, page, watermark, sign PDFs, or fill forms. Your PDF workloads are down by batch processing efficiently.
Original story from March 5, 2025: Microsoft has once again made changes to Copilot, with the new version now being delivered to Windows 11 Insiders. The redesign is meant to rethink the experience from the ground up, and that means Copilot is now a native app that's directly integrated into the operating system.
According to Windows Latest, initial testers say the new Copilot Windows 11 app works even better than the ChatGPT desktop app. This is mainly due to the fact that Copilot works and responds with almost no delays and requires much less memory.
What is the new Copilot app?
Microsoft has redeveloped the Copilot app from scratch, utilizing Windows technologies like XAML and WinUI. The app is integrated directly into Windows 11, making it even easier to use. (Previously, it was hidden in the sidebar or could only be used as a web app.)
With native integration, Copilot now has its own controls, a taskbar icon, and a picture-in-picture mode. The Copilot app can also generate answers much faster while only using 50 to 100 MB of RAM on average.
With the new sidebar, you can quickly start a new conversation wi
At the bottom of the that blog post, Gates published the original source code that he so fondly remembers—the very same code that ultimately led to the growth and success of Microsoft. You can download the original Microsoft source code here (PDF).
Microsoft began with a magazine cover
In January 1975, Bill Gates and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen read an article in the magazine Popular Electronics about the Altair 8800 home computer by a small company named MITS. "When Paul and I saw that cover, we knew two things: the PC revolution was imminent, and we wanted to get in on the ground floor," recalls Gates.
The plan was to create software that would allow Altair 8800 owners to develop their own programs using the easy-to-learn BASIC programming language. As such, Gates and Allen decided to develop a BASIC interpreter for the Altair 8800.
The interpreter would convert BASIC commands into machine code that the Altair 8800 could understand. A maximum of 4 kilobytes was available for the interpreter so that Altair owners still had enough memory available to run the other programs.
Walmart's listing calls the GMKtec NucBox M5 a "gaming mini PC," which seems a little generous to me since it's using a rather dated Ryzen 7 5825U laptop processor with an integrated RX Vega graphics system. Sure, it'll handle some 2D indie games fine, but it's not going to give you blistering frame rates on any newer 3D title. That said, the rest of this device is pretty great for a budget desktop.
The memory is maxed out for this processor at a roomy 32GB, even if it's a little slower on the DDR4 standard. And if 1TB of storage out of the box isn't enough for you, there's an open M.2 2280 slot for you to slide in even more, for a maximum capacity of 4TB. The mini PC comes loaded with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, ensuring speedy connections to both your local network and wireless devices. And it's running Windows 11 out of the box, not always a given with these devices.
Port selection is generous, too. On the front you get easy access to USB-C, double USB-A, and a headphone/microphone port. Around back are two more USB-A ports, plus dual display support with one HDMI and one DisplayPort. (The front USB-C port also supports display-out for triple screens, albeit a little awkwardly.) Two Ethernet ports can handle 2.5Gbps speeds each for speedy local networking. You can also mount it to the back of your monitor
This 14-inch laptop looks a little dull, but its solid specs and excellent battery life earned it a four-star rating when PCWorld reviewer Josh Hendrickson checked it out last year. The model on offer at B&H is a little different, with a 16-core Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor and "only" 512GB of storage, but it should have similarly excellent battery life. Other highlights include a 1920×1200 touchscreen, plenty of ports including double USB-C, double USB-A, full-sized HDMI, and an integrated microSD card slot.
With integrated Intel Arc graphics, the Swift Go 14 should be able to handle just about any 2D game, plus a few rounds of Fortnite or Minecraft. Just don't try to throw something like Cyberpunk 2077 at it. But for pretty much any standard office, web, or video purpose, it's an ideal machine for the task, especially if you're looking for smooth performance on web-based activity. At 3.05 pounds and a little over an inch thick, it's no featherweight, but it's not bulky either.
This is one of B&H's "Deal Zone" promotions, so it's only good for today—that's April 3rd, 2025—until midnight Eastern time (9 PM Pacific). Get an order in fast if you want one, thou
The Legion Tower 5i Gen 10 is an upcoming desktop PC in Lenovo's Legion gaming sub-brand, pre-assembled with "up to Intel Core Ultra i9" processors. It's a fairly straightforward design with a small-ish, transparent case and an air CPU cooler in the promo photos, though liquid cooling is also mentioned. The rest of the specs are typical, with what appears to be an X870 micro-ATX motherboard, 32GB of DDR5 RAM (up to a maximum of 128GB), and up to 2TB of PCIe Gen4 storage in the pre-configured version. (The hardware itself supports Gen5 speeds and up to three M.2 drives at once, though.)
It's nice, but nothing spectacular. It looks like a mid-range desktop build for those who don't want to sully their hands with a screwdriver. What caught the eye of VideoCardz.com, however, is that the graphics card options include the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti, the RTX 5060 Ti, and the RTX 5060. The last two on that list don't officially exist yet, even though they've been popping up in regulatory listings for the last few weeks. It's also weird that Lenovo would offer the 5070 Ti without the 5070 as another option, but whatever. Supplier stuff can get weird.
One is run by MLB.TV, whose out-of-market coverage lets me watch every Yankees game except those that are nationally televised. The other is run by Main Street Sports Group, whose FanDuel Sports Network app streams local Reds games.
The two services ought to be comparable, but there's really no contest. The MLB app is by far the better way to watch baseball, but you can only use it under two conditions: Either your favorite team doesn't play where you live (like the Yankees, in my case), or your local team is one of the 10 clubs that partners with the league for in-market streaming.
Otherwise, you're stuck with whichever regional sports network operates in your area for standalone streaming, and the experience will probably be worse.
This is the most recent version of the Beats Pill (released in 2024) with a smaller and lighter build with IP67 water/dust resistance, more powerful output, and up to 24 hours of battery on a single charge. When it runs low, you can recharge it via USB-C cable and regain 2 hours of playback with just 10 minutes of charging.
Say what you will about the brand, but Beats knows how to make a great design, and this one's perfect to take with you down by the lake or to the pool. Despite its handheld size, the speaker can produce enough high-quality sound for both indoor and outdoor entertainment, complete with punchy bass if you care about that sort of thing.
The Beats Pill works with both Apple and Android devices, so you're good to go no matter which ecosystem you prefer. Just make sure to place your order soon because this deal won't last forever, and $100 is still the best price we've seen for the Beats Pill.
The Beats Pill is a trendy bargain at 33% offBuy now at Amazon
The Staples Emerge Vortex is now just $140, which is a lovely 48% off its original $270 MSRP. That's a more-than-decent price to pay for something you'll be using for hours and hours every day, for years to come.
The Emerge Vortex is a good-looking chair with a classic gaming chair vibe, mixing bonded leather in two colors across the seat and back. The padded headrest and plush cushions make for a comfortable build that you won't mind using during work or play hours.
This chair comes with lumbar support, adjustable tilt, flip-up armrests, and support for up to 275 pounds. The seat is also adjustable in height ranging from 17.9 to 21.6 inches, so it's going to be best for folks of average or taller heights. (On the shorter side? Maybe get a footrest.)
Now's your chance to get the Emerge Vortex for $140 at Staples. The gray, red, and blue models are on sale, so pick your favorite!
This budget-friendly ergonomic desk chair is now 48% off
Ready for just about anything you throw its way, the Zenbook S 14 runs on an Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 256V processor with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 1TB speedy PCIe 4.0 SSD. In other words, this is an AI-capable Copilot PC that'll serve you well as a productivity machine, fit for all the new AI-driven features to come in the next few years.
When we reviewed the Asus Zenbook S 14, our laptop expert Mark Hachman said that it's a "nearly perfect productivity PC," giving it a magical 4.5-star rating and praising its fantastic battery life, great audio, and lovely OLED screen: "You might approach buying the Asus Zenbook S 14 for a variety of reasons such as its status as an AI-infused Copilot PC and its lovely OLED screen, but it's the long-lasting battery—21 hours in our tests!—that will change your life." That's a lot of hours to go between chargings, and it makes leaving home without a charger a non-issue.
And I really need to emphasize how gorgeous the 3K OLED panel is on this laptop with its standard 14-inch display and 2880×1800 resolution. It's a touchscreen (for even more hands-on productivity) with 120Hz of refresh and 500 nits of brightness, but it's the OLED greatness that will give you vivid
The energy-monitoring feature appears in a new Energy tab in the Homey app. It tracks data from whole-home energy meters, solar panel inverters, and energy-measuring devices—including the Emporia Home Energy Monitor, the Shelly Pro 3EM, and Athom's own Homey Energy Dongle and displays that information in easy-to-read charts. Provide your utilities' rates and the app will show you how much it costs to operate your home.
Microsoft has a ton of different apps, but getting them all individually can get pretty expensive. If you want a simpler solution, you can bundle them all together by getting a Microsoft 365 1-year subscription. It's only $99.99 (reg. $129).
This subscription lets up to six people share the full suite of Microsoft apps. That includes
Word
Excel
PowerPoint
Copilot (AI-powered assistant)
Defender
OneDrive
Outlook
MS Editor
Clipchamp
OneNote
Microsoft 365 also includes synchronized access across devices to Microsoft Office apps, 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage, an Outlook email, robust security tools, and a whole lot more.
You"ll be getting personal data and device protection with Microsoft Defender along with little quality of life improvements like grammar, and writing assistance with Microsoft Editor.
One of the best parts about using Microsoft 365 is that all your apps are always up-to-date, and you'll always have access to support directly from Microsoft.
If you've ever looked at the pristine cubicles in Severance and thought, "Why doesn't my desk look like that?" Here's your answer: clean cable management. These Extra-Weighted Magnetic Cable Blocks let you organize your cords like a minimalist — no adhesives, clutter, or mess.
Each set includes six magnetic silicone blocks, and they are significantly heavy, so they actually stay in place. Pop your phone charger, USB-C cable, or smartwatch cord into the grooves and let gravity do its thing.
The built-in neodymium magnets let the blocks snap together or attach to metal surfaces like desk legs for hidden cable routing. Want to rearrange? Just pick them up and move them with no sticky residue left behind to clean up.
It's like giving your workspace a reset button, and it saves you from having to crawl under your desk to grab fallen or snagged cords; these sleek blocks give your desk a quick and cool upgrade.
The complete set of six is now on sale for $29.99 — a 25% discount whil
We've also included some helpful answers to common questions about buying a computer at the bottom of this article. If you're considering a laptop instead, be sure to check out our best laptop deals, updated daily.
Note: Tech deals come and go quickly, so it's possible some of these computer discounts will have expired before this article's next update.
PROMOTION
GIGABYTE B850 Motherboards: PCIe 5.0 for ALL
All GIGABYTE B850 Motherboards come with PCIe 5.0 x16 as a standard. Having PCIe 5.0 means that these motherboards are next-gen graphics ready. Enjoy lower latency and increased bandwidth as you rise to victory.
After extensive testing, I've determined that the recommendations listed below are the best 4K monitors available today, covering a variety of budgets and use cases.
The Framework 12 takes aim at budget designs that are " janky, locked-down, disposable, underpowered, and frankly, boring machines," according to CEO Nirav Patel. And indeed, it's a colorful TPU/ABS plastic design offered in blue, pink, green, and a relatively buttoned-down silver or black, and that's before you trick it out with the company's signature add-on modules for various USB ports, HDMI ports, card readers, et cetera. It's also the company's first convertible design, with a 12-inch touchscreen that's compatible with stylus input.
The laptop 12 is intended to be a budget machine, or at least a budget alternative, so it's notably "chunkier" than the existing Laptop 13 design. But it still has the same kind of hardware flexibility, with every internal and external component accessible to the user with a screwdriver, and four modular USB-C ports that can be swapped out on the fly. The Intel 13th-gen-based motherboard (i3 or i5) can handle up to 48GB of RAM and 2TB of M.2 storage, with a choice of Windows or Linux at purchase.
We're still waiting on perhaps the most crucial element of the Framework 12, the price. With the company specifically targeting low-price "craptops," the price of the design — particularly the cheapest configuration
The headlining feature is the new built-in ability to organize and save tab groups. Prior to this, you had to use a third-party extension like Simple Tab Groups or Panorama View. Now, Firefox has caught up with Chromium-based browsers with native tab grouping.
Furthermore, the Firefox address bar now offers enhanced search functions, and the developers have again patched a number of security flaws. Firefox ESR and Tor Browser also got security updates.
Mozilla plans to release Firefox 138 on April 29, 2025.
What's new in Firefox 137?
Following the introduction of vertical tabs in Firefox 136, Firefox 137 now offers the option of organizing tabs into groups. You can assign a name and color to each tab group, and you can close tab groups to be reopened again later. Both vertical tabs and tab groups have been among the most requested features for Firefox, especially as they've been available in other browsers like Chrome and Vivaldi for some time.
Mozilla's developers have given the address bar a fresh makeover, too. In particular, they've revised the search functions. A standardized search button in the address bar now simplifies switching between search engines and search modes. Firefox recognizes whether you're currently on a page with a search function and offers to use it and integrate it into Firefox. The address bar can now also be used as a calculator, similar to the Google search bar.
Windows computers come with security software baked into the OS, but for some folks, an upgrade can help demystify and simplify security. To help you choose a good suite, we've identified products that offer excellent protection, worthwhile features, and minimal performance impact on your computer.
Why you should trust us: PCWorld has been deep in the trenches of testing computer hardware, software, and services since 1983—including security suites. For antivirus apps, we continually evaluate popular or noteworthy software. We consider the user experience, strength of protection against threats (online and offline), and how well it addresses the ever-expanding types of attacks. Our guide on how we test antivirus software at PCWorld gives the full details of our review process, but for the results of our work, read on.
At least, that's what security experts are increasingly warning about. Last month, MalwareBytes Labs spotted one such fake CAPTCHA that had you paste some "verification" text into the Windows Run prompt. Recently, there have also been reports of a malware called "Quakbot" that uses an even more dangerous variant of the CAPTCHA scam.
How do CAPTCHA scams work?
Hack attacks via CAPTCHAs are dangerous because users click on them out of habit when they appear on websites. Hackers are now exploiting this instant-reaction behavior with fake pop-up messages that look strikingly similar to real CAPTCHA tests.
Here, too, users are asked to click on a box to solve a test. However, when you click on that box, you end up redirected to other pages. Further actions ensure that dangerous commands are copied to your clipboard, making it possible for attackers to run those dangerous
So most mornings I scope out some deals that will appeal to PCWorld readers. It's part of my job. This morning I saw an Nvidia PNY RTX 5070 graphics card on SlickDeals, which Best Buy is allegedly selling for $549.99. Normally that wouldn't be anything interesting, but as you're probably aware, new Nvidia cards have been almost impossible to find for a month and change. Doubly so if you're looking for one without a ridiculous markup from an add-in board partner, a retailer trying to make a little bank, a reseller-slash-scalper, or some combination of all three.
So following the link, I was surprised to see the $550 graphics card still available to buy, yes, at the price Nvidia advertised way back at launch. I was able to add it to my cart. I was able to begin the checkout process, with an extra account verification step and a countdown timer tha
At 32 inches, the ViewFinity UJ59 provides ample screen real estate but isn't so large that you'll have to crane your neck or strain your eyes to look your way around it. It's all the space you need for working on documents, playing games, watching movies, or browsing the web.
That's doubly true with its 3840×2160 resolution, giving you a crisp 4K visual experience that elevates everything you do on your computer. And this monitor has built-in upscaling tech that automatically converts whatever you're watching up to near-4K quality. Just note that this monitor's refresh rate caps out at 60Hz, so you'll have to make do with at most 60 FPS when gaming.
The ViewFinity UJ59 does come with a Game Mode, though, which selectively boosts and optimizes screen contrast, allowing you to see more detail in dark areas. That means easier spotting of your enemies in multiplayer games and finding of items on the ground in RPGs. AMD FreeSync helps sync up your monitor with your PC hardware, and there are several ports to connect with, including two HDMI and a DisplayPort.
This is a fantastic monitor for the price. If you've been waiting to upgrade your workstation to 4K, jump on this deal before it expires and get this
In a tweet by user Xeno (spotted by Windows Latest), both Beta and Dev Channel previews of Windows 11 have new language experience packs that seem to reference a new user interface that's apparently being developed specifically for gaming handhelds.
These new references point to something called "Gaming Posture" as well as phrasings like "Boot into the full-screen experience at device startup" and "Choose your full-screen experience." The data also shows settings for performance monitoring, resolution, controllers and keyboard shortcuts, among other things.
"Gaming Posture" could be a placeholder name or an internal designation for the new user experience that Microsoft is developing. Either way, a handheld-specific interface would be a much-needed step forward, as Windows is currently lagging behind top-dog SteamOS and its user-friendly Steam Deck in this regard.
More clues from Asus
Just yesterday, we got a different sort of clue to the possibility of an Xbox handheld in the form of a video teaser published by Asus
I'm hesitant to sound the alarm on issues with new hardware. In any large hardware launch, some small percentage of the devices that reach buyers' hands will always be defective… and when it comes to things like CPUs designed specifically for gaming PCs, we're going to hear loud and possibly overstated voices on social media like Reddit. But observers have reportedly collected over 100 examples of failing 9800X3D chips and other members of the AM5 family, apparently mostly in ASRock motherboards. It looks like there's something going on here.
In a statement provided to PCGamer, one AMD representative laid the blame on memory timings. "Following a joint investigation, AMD and ASRock identified a memory compatibility issue present in earlier BIOS versions, which has been rectified in the latest BIOS," it says, echoing earlier statements from ASRock.
The language is predictably corporate, imploring all users who encounter problems to contact customer support, where presumably they'll be given the usual troubleshooting gauntlet before being presented with RMA options. As PCGamer notes, many users who experienced failures have observed electrical or burn damage that would go
But once I had all my apps installed, I hit a roadblock. How exactly do you rearrange all those app tiles? Personally, I like having Netflix up top, along with such oft-used services as Disney and Amazon Prime Video, but they were all jumbled in the middle of the app grid.
Meanwhile, there were some apps I wanted to nix, such as People TV and Roku's Getting Started channel.
If you're new to Roku, it's easy to get stuck trying to move or delete apps on the Home screen, given there's no obvious way to rearrange your tiles.
More experienced Roku users, however, will know the trick: the ever-useful "*" button, a.k.a. Options, which reveals contextual and related options when pressed. Once you're familiar with the Options button, rearranging apps on the Home screen is a snap.
How to move and remove apps from the Roku home screen
We'll start with moving and rearranging apps on the Roku home screen; removing channels apps next.
Rearrange the apps on the Roku home screen
Go to the Home tab on the main Roku screen, press the "" button on the remote, then navigate to the channel tile you'd like to move.
Next, press the "*" button on the remote. When you do, a menu will pop up with a variety of options, allowing you to check for updates, remove the app (we'll get to that one in a moment), and so on.
Essentially, MediaTek launched the Kompanio Ultra to help answer the question: Which Chromebook should I buy?
Besides Google's own Chromebook Plus brand, there aren't too many answers. Instead, the list of Chromebooks is a hodgepodge of various processors, including the Intel Celeron, Pentium, and Core processors; AMD's A-series and Ryzen chips, and Arm processors like the Qualcomm Snapdragon and the existing MediaTek Kompanio 500 and 800 series. Google launched the Chromebook Plus specification to help clarify matters, but it certainly doesn't help to differentiate the performance each chip can offer. MediaTek isn't that well known, either.
All of that sparked the need for a MediaTek "Ultra" brand, said Adam King, the vice president and general manager of computing and multimedia business for MediaTek, in a conference call with reporters. Around 2021, MediaTek tried the Kompanio 1000 chip, which fizzled.
"We decided, if we were going to try again, we would," King said. "We wouldn't hold anything back. We would put the absolute best that we could out there, even knowing that it might not necessarily drive tremendous volume."
What's in the MediaTek Kompanio Ultra?
The Kompanio Ultra is an 8-core Arm CPU, on a 3nm process technology. It's based upon a single Arm Cortex 3.62GHz X925 ultraperformance core, along with three Arm Cortex X4 performance cores and four Arm Cortex A720 efficiency cores. Those cores are pa
To do this, open Outlook and click on the gear icon in the title bar at the top to call up the Settings.
Select General on the left-hand side and click on Offline in the column to the right. Make sure that the Activate offline emails, calendars and people switch is set to On.
In the menu under Folders to be saved, you can then specify which mail folders should be saved locally. The default setting is Default and favorites. Default includes the folders Inbox, Sent, Drafts, Archive, Deleted, and Snooze.
I covered the details about these tariffs in a FAQ, as well as a set of highlights for a shorter way to get up to speed on the situation. I also created a breakout of sample cost increases so you could better see what actual purchases could look like.
But most news has focused on the immediate dollars-and-cents effect of these new taxes. What's been talked about less are the other ways tariffs will impact the tech industry—consequences that could dampen or even drive back certain aspects that we currently take for granted. At best, we'll see a temporary blow. At worst, we could feel this hit for years to come.
Harder to obtain
Technology has become more available to the masses over time. Long ago, personal computers were a rare luxury, found only in homes of enthusiasts or the well-to-do. But as popularity rose, devices and hardware became easier to get. People wanted to spend their money on fresh gear—and so supply became more plentiful.
Right now, this TP-Link Tapo smart switch is only $10 on Amazon, a massive 50% off its original price. You'll see it listed for $12, but you can get an extra $2 off with code 2SMARTHOME at checkout.
This is a single-pole light switch that'll easily replace the ones you already have in your home (as long as they have neutral wiring). The Tapo app will give you all the instructions you need to do the swap-out job on your own, or you can hire a professional if you've never done electrical work. (It's dangerous if you don't know the risks and safe practices!)
After installing it, the only other thing you have to do is connect it to your 2.4GHz home Wi-Fi network. That'll make it possible to control remotely using your app, including turning it on and off as well as controlling it with your voice via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. You won't even need any smart hubs to hook these up. Functionality includes automatic timers, schedules, and an Away Mode that turns on when you aren't home so it looks like your home is still occupied, hopefully to deter burglars.
Make your home smarter and get yourself a TP-Link Tapo smart light switch for $10. Or save even more with this 4-pack for $34. (If you prefer a dimmer model, it's available but
You don't have to worry about battery life
Wired headphones eliminate the need to worry about battery life, as the power comes directly from the audio source. This is especially convenient for those who want to avoid constantly recharging devices.
Superior audio quality
Wired headphones deliver superior audio quality. Wireless Bluetooth has to compress audio data, which compromises sound quality, especially in terms of dynamics and detail. With wired headphones, you can enjoy music at a high bit rate, ideal for music lovers who value every detail.
Low latency advantage
While Bluetooth connections can lead to delays due to the wireless transmission, wired headphones deliver sound with almost no delay. This is particularly important for films, videos, or video games, where precise synchronization of image and sound is crucial to ensure the best experience.
Less expensive than wireless
Wired models are often cheaper as they are simpler in design and do not require expensive components such as transmitters, receivers, and batt
This "gaming" laptop is perfectly good for non-gamers, packing enough power to breeze through work, leisure, entertainment, and creative endeavors like video editing. Jump from Excel to Netflix to Adobe Premiere Pro, then hop into your favorite Steam games and enjoy them on decent settings at great frame rates. This laptop will get it done for you.
With the G6 KF, you're getting a 13th-gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 discrete graphics card, a copious 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a fast SSD with lots of storage at 1TB capacity. It's an all-around well-equipped machine that can crank out high performance when you need it.
The large 16-inch display is easy on the eyes, even with the rather standard 1920×1200 resolution. But the speedy 165Hz refresh rate grants you smooth visuals at higher frame rates, which is perfect for today's immersive 3D gaming experiences.
It's a nice laptop at an even nicer price, so don't miss out on this chance to grab a Gigabyte G6 KF for just $950 at Best Buy. This deal won't last forever and it might be a while before we see big sales again.
Why you should trust us: It's in our name. PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We've been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who've applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We're also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget.
I'll make this really simple: No, a VPN does not provide you with 100 percent privacy online. In fact, no privacy tool can completely hide your digital presence or keep you anonymous. So, there you have it, question answered, right? Not so fast.
Just because a VPN, or anything else for that matter, can't deliver total privacy, doesn't mean they aren't worth using. Some privacy is better than none and keeping your traffic hidden from certain prying eyes, like your ISP (Internet Service Provider), can come with useful advantages. The very best VPNs are powerful tools that everyone should be using regardless.
Privacy vs. anonymity
I think it's important here to first distinguish between online privacy and anonymity. Online privacy means obfuscating or hiding your activity from snooping third parties such as your ISP or hackers on a public Wi-Fi network. But while your activity can be hidden to a degree, websites will still store cookies and basic information about your last visit.
Online anonymity, however, means that you leave utterly zero trace of your presence while connected to the internet. And w
More than 2 years have passed since the first season of The Last of Us premiered, and many fans have returned to the game to satisfy the building anticipation. A digital copy of the game on Steam costs $60 for Part I. Between that and the Max subscription that you kept telling yourself you would cancel in the meantime but forgot to, you'll be out quite a bit of money. The Kinhank Super Console is the perfect solution and now it's on sale for $89.97.
For less than the cost of Part I of The Last of Us on Steam and your monthly Max subscription, you can get access to more than 70,000 retro and current games like Rocket League, The Last of Us, Space Invaders, and more. That's plenty of games to keep you occupied in the coming weeks until the new season drops.
The best part? Kinhank doubles as a streaming console so after you've beat the game, you can watch the new season from the same application.
The problem when looking for a good free VPN, though, is that there are a ton available on the Google Play Store and many aren't trustworthy. So how do you determine which ones are worth your time? I've personally tested heaps of VPNs, both for PCs and Android devices, and have curated a list of the best free options you can feel confident in using. Check out my top picks below.
Why you should trust me: Here at PCWorld we've been testing computer hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. As the VPN reviewer, I'm continually testing all of the major VPNs on the market and many lesser-known services in order to curate a list of the very best VPNs across a variety of categories. Below you'll find my favorite free VPNs, and below that, helpful advice about what to look for when choosing a VPN for your Android device on your own.
You can also check out my guide to the best VPNs covering multiple devices.
Intel executives spoke in Las Vegas on the second day of its Intel Vision conference, which engages Intel's partners and customers. Intel's new chief executive Lip-Bu Tan outlined his plans for Intel's new direction on Monday, asking for brutal honesty while pledging to return Intel to greatness.
We already knew that Panther Lake would be a critical product for Intel this year. Not only is the chip the next iteration of Intel's PC client roadmap, but it's the first chip on Intel's next-generation 18A manufacturing process. After falling behind in the critical manufacturing process technology race, former chief executive Pat Gelsinger pushed hard to achieve five process technology nodes in four years, culminating in the 18A process. Gelsinger stepped down last year, but achieving that goal would be an important legacy.
Executives said that they've entered "risk production" with 18A, essentially freezing the process technology development and beginning to scale up the process for eventual volume shipments.
Panther Lake will be crucial for Intel
Jim Johnson, senior vice president of Intel's Client Computing Group, told Vision attendees that Panther Lake would be a hybrid of Intel's earlier chips.
"I'm personally excited about Panther Lake because it combines the power efficiency of
As pay TV subscriptions decline and the regional sports business model collapses, NHL teams are moving in different directions. Some are spinning up new regional sports streaming services, while others are partnering with broadcasters to distribute local games for free over the air. Others are still clinging to the regional sports model, requiring bloated pay TV packages with no cheaper standalone alternatives.
It's a mess, and it doesn't help that the information you need can be scattered all over the place. Just like during baseball season, I've put it all back together again. Here are all the NHL streaming and over-the air options for the 2024-2025 season:
NHL in-market streaming options: An overview for 2024-2025
Below is a chart showing every National Hockey League team, its corresponding local channel or regional sports network, the live TV streaming services that carry those channels, and whether a standalone alternatives exist. (You can also view a version of this chart on Google Sheets.)
Note that these options only apply for locally-televised, in-market games. They won't help for games that air on national TV, including most playoff coverage.
Well, "holograms," in quotes. Coolify has apparently put those spinning LED displays—the ones that are a bit flickery and sort of transparent since they're made with spinning bars—on a PC case fan. PCWorld's Mark Hachman spotted them at Computex in 2024:
As it turns out, March was a particularly bad month for Windows 10. The aging operating system saw its biggest drop in user base to date, a whopping 4.43 percentage points. Windows 10 is now running on 54.23 percent of Windows computers worldwide.
On the other hand, Windows 11 saw its biggest user growth in three years. The share of Windows 11 users grew by 4.53 percentage points, to 42.66 percent of all Windows desktop users. That's still significantly behind Windows 10, but it's the rate that's important here.
It seems Microsoft's constant alerts about Windows 10 reaching end of support in October are finally showing results. With just six months to go, users are running out of time.
If you're still on Windows 10, you'll need to upgrade to Windows 11 or pay to extend Windows 10 support. If you do neither, you'll stop receiving security updates and your PC will become increasingly vu
Quick Machine Recovery is the first tangible result of Microsoft's work following the massive CrowdStrike incident of 2024, which knocked out large parts of the global IT infrastructure. QMR allows IT administrators to fix boot problems remotely, even when a problem is so grave that the computer can no longer boot as usual.
The recovery is done via the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), where the system connects to the internet and sends diagnostic data to Microsoft. Based on this, targeted updates can be sent back to the computer via Windows Update, Thurrott reports.
Previously, the feature was mainly aimed at business users, but now Microsoft confirms that private individuals will also have access to it—and it will be enabled by default. In managed IT environments, administrators will be able to control availability.
QMR is available in the Windows recovery menu as an option under "Advanced Options." According to Microsoft, the feature contributes to increased system resilience by automatically detecting errors and applying solutions, without any manual troubleshooting.
The best password managers cancel these problems, as they create and store unique, complex logins for you. They let you share passwords securely, too. These applications protect your passwords by encrypting your login info in a virtual vault—either locally or in the cloud—only allowing access with a single master password. Plus, you can store passkeys in them, too.
So, if you're looking to step up your security game, a password manager is one of the best ways to do it.
Alright, so this one is weird and interesting and goofy. A poster on a PC gaming subreddit claims that the XPG Prime app—which manages RGB lighting for the company's RAM, coolers, and other PC hardware—filled up a Windows temp folder with 50.4 GB of repeating screenshots of generic sci-fi anime women. The how and why aren't immediately obvious, but presumably user "red_machina" spotted the huge space filling up their SSD with junk.
Tom's Hardware did a bit of investigating, identifying the photos as screenshots and other promotional material from XPG's very own anime short. (I don't recommend watching. The effort is there, but the mix of barely animated 2D images and what looks like Unity 3D animation is undeniably low-rent.) So, these aren't just anime women, they're PC gaming anime women. Woo
Yes, all this sounds familiar, although it's not yet clear if we're seeing a typical rough landing for an app revamp or a Sonos-level dumpster fire. Plex does have a laundry list of issues it plans to address in the coming weeks (again, déjà vu), and the laggy, stuttering app performance will hopefully improve over time. We'll be watching.
In the meantime, there are some Plex "new experience" issues we can tackle right now, starting with the Live TV, Discover, and On Demand tabs at the bottom of the screen. You can't swap them out with other options, unfortunately, but you can make them go away.
Another "new experience" feature we can hide are the user reviews for movies and TV shows in your Plex library. If you love seeing what random folks thought about the content on your Plex media servers, then hey, leave ‘em be. Want to hide them? No problem.
Up to 10 of your own devices or up to 50 other NordVPN users can be connected directly to each other. This makes Meshnet suitable for sharing files, teamwork, and multiplayer games, for example.
With just a few taps, you can send a document, photo, or video from your smartphone to other users and devices — securely and encrypted directly. The action must be confirmed there and the file is saved locally moments later.
Now, Microsoft is testing a smarter alternative as part of the Windows Insider Beta Channel, launching a "press-to-talk" voice chat by holding down the Copilot key for two seconds instead. Of course, right? It's a much more obvious way of interacting with Copilot, period. To end the conversation, all you need to do is press the Esc key or simply wait to end the conversation, which will turn off after several seconds.
You should see this roll out via an update to the Copilot app soon, via Copilot version 1.25033.139.0 and higher.
Long-press shortcuts aren't actually used within Windows, so the Copilot shortcut would break new ground here. Some third-party software uses long-press shortcuts to trigger functions within Windows, and a right-click-and-hold might be considered a long-press command. But doing so with a keyboard? To my knowledge, that's entirely new on Windows-it's usually a function for mobile keyboards, instead.
It's probably unlikely that too many people will want to actually chat with Copilot right now, based on what I was told was a lack of use with Cortana on Windows. But with conversational modes springing up within Copilot, Gemini, and more, it's much more likely that users will have an ongoing conversation with Copilot. That's what Microsoft is betting on, clearly, a
This week, Microsoft celebrates its 50th anniversary on April 4, 2025, and at PCWorld we'll be spending some time looking back on how it got here. But PCWorld also celebrated something else even more important: the life of our colleague, Gordon Mah Ung.
Gordon passed away from cancer last December, and over the weekend PCWorld staff both past and present gathered together to talk about what made Gordon special. For me, it was a time to reflect. My own career began about 30 years ago, about the same time that Gordon moved over from newspapering into technology journalism.
Now that he's gone, it's made me realize something our society struggles with; asking Gordon about his life would be a tacit acknowledgement that it was ending. It's a shame. I wish I asked him what PCs, products, and demos made the biggest impact on him over his decades of covering technology in magazines and on the web. What stood the out strongest to a person who saw almost everything tech had to offer this century?
In honor of Gordon, and just in time for Microsoft's 50th, I want to share the coolest tech demo I've ever seen: the closed-doors HoloLens hands-on that Microsoft showed off on Jan. 21, 2015.
If you've been paying attention, you know that the Windows world is badly fragmented. Not only are users split between Windows 10 and Windows 11, but Windows 11 users aren't even all on the same version. Now, over the past year, AI has added another wrinkle with Microsoft mainly developing its Copilot PC features for Qualcomm's Snapdragon X platform while neglecting AMD's Ryzen AI 300 and Intel's Core Ultra 200 series processors.
Fortunately, that's changing. On Monday, Microsoft wrote in a blog post that PCs powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300 series, Intel Core Ultra 200V, and Snapdragon X series processors are all eligible for "exclusive Copilot PC experiences like Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator." The word "like" offers some wiggle room, since other AI-powered experiences—such as the ability to resize photos—is only available in the Photos app on PCs running on a Snapdragon chip.
Still, it's a major step up for AMD and Intel. Microsoft and its partners launched Copilot PCs in May 2024, showing off all of its favored AI features on Snapdragon machines. Although Microsoft promised that it would soon bring those features to Copilot PCs powered by AMD and Intel, months passed… Microsoft then eventually released Windows Recall for Copilot Snapdragon PCs, then offered that feature
Especially when you find them on sale, like this Acemagic AM08 Pro for $399 on Amazon. Down from its usual $499, this thing is 20% off, making it a solid buy for what you get: an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor, a jaw-dropping 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage.
That's a three-year-old processor, but it's still going strong as it delivers game-changing performance in such a tiny package. And 32GB of RAM? That's quite solid in 2025. Not to mention the RAM and SSD are both easy to access and user-upgradeable, so you can bump the system up to 64GB RAM and 2TB SSD on your own at some point down the road.
Note that the AM08 Pro is marketed as a "gaming mini PC," but there's no discrete graphics card here; instead, it's equipped with AMD Radeon 680M integrated graphics. To be fair, that's enough to run games on moderate settings with decent performance. (Just don't expect to crank everything up to Ultra, you know?) It's also powerful enough to run triple 4K displays via dual HDMI 2.0 and a USB-C video port.
This is an excellent machine for the price, so don't miss out. Take advantage of this sweet deal and snag the Acemagic AM08 Pro for $399 on Amazon while you still can!
Save 20% on this triple 4K mini PC with fantastic specs
I covered the details about these tariffs in a FAQ, as well as a set of highlights for a shorter way to get up to speed on the situation. I also created a breakout of sample cost increases so you could better see what actual purchases could look like.
But most news has focused on the immediate dollars-and-cents effect of these new taxes. What's been talked about less are the other ways tariffs will impact the tech industry—consequences that could dampen or even drive back certain aspects that we currently take for granted. At best, we'll see a temporary blow. At worst, we could feel this hit for years to come.
Harder to obtain
Technology has become more available to the masses over time. Long ago, personal computers were a rare luxury, found only in homes of enthusiasts or the well-to-do. But as popularity rose, devices and hardware became easier to get. People wanted to spend their money on fresh gear—and so supply became more plentiful.
Many of the most popular PDF apps switched to subscriptions, meaning you're functionally paying to be able to use an extremely common file type. If you don't want to pay every month for as long as you need to use PDFs, then replace your subscription to Acrobat with a perpetual license to SwifDoo.
This all-in-one PDF app can edit, annotate, rearrange, scan, and do a whole lot more to any PDF file, and you only pay for it once. It's normally $129, but right now, a SwifDoo Perpetual License is on sale for $29.97.
How to use PDFs without a subscription
SwifDoo is a simple tool. It lets you work with PDFs about as easily as if they were Word docs. You can edit text, add annotations, convert between different file types, or just sign documents. SwifDoo also lets you encrypt PDFs, compress them for easier file transfers, and rearrange pages. The OCR can even recognize text on documents that you couldn't edit before. So all those hard copies lacking an original can finally go digital again.
Tan, who has served about two weeks on the job, didn't indicate any major changes would be forthcoming. For now, he emphasized that Intel's next-generation Panther Lake chips would ship this year, on the Intel 18A process node that is the legacy of Tan's predecessor, Pat Gelsinger.
Gelsinger, a former chief technical officer at Intel who also promised a return to the engineering-driven days of Intel legends like Gordon Moore, was forced out in December after pushing through a series of layoffs, and watching the company's stock price plunge. Chief financial officer David Zinsner and Intel Products chief Michelle Johnston Holthaus served as co-CEOs before returning to those positions. Now, Tan will take the helm.
Tan is well-regarded, though he served in the semiconductor-adjacent industry of electronic design automation as the chief executive of Cadence Design Systems from 2008 until 2021. He studied quantum physics in Singapore, moved to the United States to pursue a doctorate in nuclear engineering at MIT, then dropped out of the program after the Three Mile Island accident occurred. He later became a venture capitalist and a member of Intel's board.
Tan cited a visit to Henry David Thoreau's cabin, where he spent a half hour just admiring the craftsmanship. "A lot of our business is building craftsmanship," Tan said.
Now, he's being asked to lead one of America's largest chipmaker as it extends those chipmaking abilities to third-party customers as well via an Int
When determining what makes for a good VPN for Android, I consider several criteria on top of standard VPN essentials. It's crucial that it has full functionality on the Android OS. Also, since Wi-Fi can be inconsistent at times, I test these apps over multiple days to look at speed and consistency of service. I then take into consideration the Android app itself and its ease of use, as well as other things such as pricing and the number of simultaneous devices allowed per account. All of these factors help make the VPNs on this list my top picks.
Why you should trust me: PCWorld has been testing computer hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. I'm continually testing all of the major VPNs on the market and many lesser-known services in order to curate a list of the very best VPNs across a variety of categories. Below you'll find my favorite VPNs and additional information about how I test these services as well as helpful advice about what to look for when choosing a VPN for your Android device on your own.
Without further ado, here are my recommendations for the best VPNs for Android.
South Korean scientists from the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology recently presented a prototype battery that works according to the betavoltaic principle. As the researchers explain:
This betavoltaic battery prototype is based on carbon-14, an unstable and radioactive form of carbon called radiocarbon. Although this carbon isotope is radioactive, it only produces beta radiation, which can be easily shielded to prevent harm.
Radiocarbon is already a byproduct of nuclear power plants and is therefore cheap, readily available, and easy to recycle, according to the researchers. And since radiocarbon degrades very slowly, a battery powered by radiocarbon could theoretically provide energy for decades, centuries, or even thousands of years.
According to the researchers, the latest prototype of this radiocarbon battery has a significantly higher energy conversion efficiency, which has increased from 0.48 to 2.86 percent.
So if you see a free alternative to a paid version you like, you can safely assume the antivirus protection level is similar—save for any specific malware types the free version doesn't cover. The difference is the number of features available to you.
To create this list of the top free antivirus programs, we looked at the top mainstream antivirus suites for Windows and selected the ones that offer a free version, as not all of them do. Then we looked at how well these suites performed in third-party detection tests. We also made sure they weren't resource hogs, because software that slows down your PC is a pain in the rear, even when it's free.
In the end, our selection came down to these top free antivirus suites.
As always, we've kept an eye on the best tech deals that have been worth your attention, rounding up some of the most impressive discounts.
Here's the chance to get your hands on the last deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale 2025!
What is Amazon's Big Spring Sale?
Amazon's Big Spring Sale event is a good excuse for you to get the products that have been sitting in your wishlist for a better price. There's a good selection of discounts across the board, including for tech products, laptops, storage drives, mini PCs, keyboards, mice, and more.
We're already seeing new all-time lows for some of our favorite stuff, and even for products that haven't had a proper price drop in a while.
Some of these Big Spring Sale deals are exclusive to Prime members. If you aren't subscribed yet, I recommend trying out a free 30-day trial so you can score these big discounts and play with the other perks like Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Gaming. After your trial ends, Amazon Prime costs $15 per month or $139 per year.
Amazon's Big Spring Sale 2025 is live (as of March 25th) and runs through to March 31st. Here are some great deals to score this week:
I've already covered most of the big cosmetic changes, including the replacement of the "hamburger" navigation in the top corner of the app with a row of five tabs at the bottom of the screen, including dedicated tabs for Libraries and Live TV.
The title details screens for movies and TV shows have also been spruced up, including the use of title graphics from the content providers "where available." I've been cruising through the shows and movies in my own personal Plex library, and I've noticed that all but the most obscure items now boast title graphics. That's a nice change from the text titles in the old Plex app.
But while Plex's "new experience" for Android and iOS users (Apple TV and other platforms are coming later) certainly looks more polished and offers dozens of improvements, there are also some rough edges that will bother longtime Plex users, along with a few features that have been unceremoniously dropped.
Plex's "new experience" revamp is serving as a backdrop to another big change, with
Over the weekend, Google announced on social media that Gemini 2.5 is "taking off" and the company wants to get the thinking AI model "into more people's hands" ASAP. As such, the experimental version of Gemini 2.5 Pro is now available to all Gemini users, free of charge. However, it remains to be seen how long the AI model will stay free.
But Microsoft is now changing the design of the blue error screen and breaking with tradition. In fact, it won't be called a "blue screen" anymore because, at least in the current preview version of Windows 11 24H2, the error screen is now completely black. (For Windows Insiders on test versions, the error screen will be green instead.)
This command line script bypassed the Microsoft Account requirement when installing Windows 11, so testers could install and log into Windows 11 with a local account instead. (Theoretically, it's possible to manually create the same registry entry that BypassNRO.cmd created, but doing it this way is tedious and requires good registry knowledge. You can find the necessary registry entry at BleepingComputer).
But up until now the closest thing I've come across is a creator laptop that can't compete in the portability stakes. Plus it looks too industrial for the office — yuk!
HP's new 14-inch HP ZBook Ultra G1a, however, just won't toe the line on that paradigm. In fact, it destroys it completely, combining an extremely lightweight, thin, and attractive chassis, a powerful AI-capable chipset, and most importantly - the one thing that has me so in awe - graphics power that can rival a gaming laptop. What?!
How much graphics power am I talking about? As an example, at HP's launch event for the ZBook Ultra G1a the HP team had it running an F1 Simulator and outputting to multiple displays at 2.2K resolution, and it still managed to average an impressive100 frames per second! Are you catching on why this laptop has my attention now?
But as impressive as that is, the HP ZBook Ultra G1a shouldn't be confused for a gaming laptop. No, this laptop is an enterprise laptop through and through, with all the hallmarks of a modern workstation. It has a compact 14-inch chassis that's both robust and strong. Its 2.8K OLED display is color rich, but it's also easy on the eyes thanks to its Eyesafe certification.
I mentioned before that it's light and thin, but in fact it's impressively so! It weighs no more than 3.3 pounds and measures just 0.73 inches at the front — so you won't have any problem packing it into a satchel for meetings on the fly.
The port selection is very good, too, for a small laptop. You get 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 10Gbps USB-C port, a USB-A port, as well as an HDMI
Most laptops in the $750 price range come with lesser processors and integrated graphics that result in sluggish systems that don't let you have much fun. But not this Acer! This one comes with an Intel Core i7-13620H processor, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 dedicated graphics card—a phenomenal combo for the price.
The 13th-generation CPU is fast and can handle all sorts of tasks that you have to complete throughout the day, including work, gaming, and content creation. The 16GB of RAM is the minimum I recommend for a Windows laptop these days, and it's enough to let you multitask several apps and browser tabs without slowing to a crawl. Oh, and you also get a decent 512GB SSD that'll make booting up your system and loading up your apps and games a breeze.
And the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 is a solid graphics card that'll let you play most games in your library. It's not the newest generation, or even the best in its own generation, but you can't really complain when you're only shelling out $750. It's the best you can ask for in this range, and those games will look great on this laptop's 15.6-inch IPS display with its standard 1080p resolution but above-standard 144Hz refresh rate.
Microsoft's OneDrive app, which not only provides access to the manufacturer's cloud storage, but also has a good scanner function integrated, is an uncomplicated help here. Start the OneDrive app on your smartphone and tap the camera icon under "Start" in the bottom right-hand corner.
A camera app will open in which you can select "Document" at the bottom before taking a photo. This will automatically lighten shadows on the white paper. After taking the photo, you can use "Crop" to remove unnecessary edges and "Done" to save the file to OneDrive.
If the quality of the photo is not yet satisfactory, you can improve it in any image-editing program using "Contrast" and "Brightness."
The Baseus Blade charging station features two AC outlets, three USB-C ports, and a USB-A port. The whole thing is about the size and shape of a typical smartphone, so it can easily slip inside any bag, making it great for travel. (The detachable 5-feet cord is a lovely bonus.) But it's also perfect as a home office desk accessory for keeping all your things charged.
Since it uses modern GaN technology, the Baseus Blade is not only smaller in size but also more power efficient, allowing it to charge faster and give off less heat. And with its 7-point safety system, your devices are protected against over-voltage, over-current, and short circuits.
This charging station delivers a maximum of 140W through the right-most USB-C port, with power throughput being split when multiple ports are in use. You can see exactly how much power each port is delivering by checking out the on-device LCD display.
Don't miss this awesome price! Get this Baseus Blade 6-in-1 charging station for $59.49 on Amazon while you can. Make sure to redeem promo code JF8DVF7C at checkout, and sign up for a 30-day free trial of Prime for this deal and extra perks if you aren'
These components are now listed on HP's website. They include a standalone 120mm RGB fan, a 120mm modular RGB fan triple pack, and a 1000W modular PSU. A modular 240mm LCD liquid cooling system and a larger 360mm RGB liquid cooling system are featured on HP's website as well.
HP claims its Omen fans will cool efficiently thanks to their angular ring-shaped design that provides a high airflow. Additionally, their high static pressure will minimize vibrations. Each fan comes with 10 LEDs, so you'll be able to customize them with up to 16.2 million colors and animations via the Omen Gaming Hub.
The company's 1000W Omen PSU will come with modular connectors and a PCIe 5.1 cable that will provide up to 600W of power. The PSU will support the latest graphics cards with 12VHPWR and 12V-2×6 ports. A zero RPM mode will shut the fan off during low heat loads for a quieter power delivery.
The liquid cooling components will both feature Asetek 7th generation pumps as well as customizable RGB parts. All the modular components will be compatible with the Omen daisy chain system, allowing you to connect up to 16 fans per Omen Modular Hub.
As for compatibility, HP said the components will be compatible with desktop PCs outside of the Omen brand, allowing gamers to mix and match parts as they see fit. No word on the release date yet, but, according to HP's website, these components are coming soon, so check back here for further details.
Samsung's T9 is an absolute beast of a portable SSD and we loved it enough to give it a 4.5-star rating in our review. Right now, you can get the 2TB version for $180 at Samsung's store (also on Amazon), which is a solid 31% discount. Or get the 4TB version for $280 from Samsung, which is 40% off (also on Amazon).
2TB Samsung T9 portable SSD for $180Buy now from Samsung
4TB Samsung T9 portable SSD for $280
Want even more choices? Check out PCWorld's roundup of the best laptops available right now.
Best laptop deals under $500
Models made before the year 2016 are also covered… but that will be a relatively small slice of printers still in service almost a decade later. HP has begun at least nominally warning customers that its new printers include "Dynamic Security" that blocks ink cartridges that don't use HP's proprietary verification system. HP has apparently dropped its more overt attempts to "make printing a subscription," but it's still heavily invested into locking customers into its expensive ink system.
Speaking as both a consumer advocate and a person who begrud
To be clear, I still use Windows. It's what I'm using right now to type this, on a beefy gaming desktop I assembled myself, with triple monitors and all sorts of googaws attached. But I don't need all that anymore, and for the first time in my adult life, I can see myself transitioning to an entirely different operating system.
That's a big deal for me, and I suspect I'm far from alone. Microsoft might want to make a note of it.
Why I don't need Windows
So here's what I mean when I say that I don't need Windows anymore: Every tool, program, and piece of information I rely upon is now essentially separate from whatever machine I'm using at the moment.
I'm writing the words you're reading right now in Google Docs. When I'm done, I'll edit them in WordPress. Throughout my work day I'm talking with my coworkers and bosses on Slack, I'm chatting with my friends via text, WhatsApp, and some other platforms. I'm managing my own to-do list in Google Keep, updating my work tasks in a tool called Monday, and checking personal and professional email in Gmail and Outlook, respectively. I'm keeping an eye on news and social trends in BlueSky and The Old Reader for RSS.
I still use local files, of course. But they're all
Remember when AI first came onto the scene? Some people were obsessed, but others (perhaps like yourself) hoped it was just a fad. Regardless of your attitude, it's clear that AI is here to stay. If you haven't looked into how AI can make your workday easier, it may be time to learn how to use the chatbot.
While AI can save you time at work and make repetitive tasks less annoying, where do you start? Begin by using 1min.AI, the ultimate beginner-friendly AI tool. It offers a collection of the top AI models, like ChatGPT, Gemini, Meta AI, and more, and lifetime access to the Advanced business plan is now less than $80.
Need assistance with article writing or another boring task? It's simple with 1min.AI's selectio
Whether for streaming, studying, or everyday browsing, this budget-friendly Chromebook delivers.
What makes this Chromebook a great deal?
Durability - With durable rubber bumpers, reinforced ports & hinges, and a drop-resistant design, the Lenovo 100e Chromebook is built to withstand everyday bumps and falls from up to 29.5 inches, making it ideal for kids and daily use.
11.6" HD display - Anti-glare screen reduces eye strain while delivering crisp visuals for both work and play
Smooth performance - Powered by a MediaTek MT8173C processor and 4GB RAM, this Chromebook runs smoothly for browsing, multitasking, and using apps
32GB storage - Keep essential files, apps, and downloads without worry
ChromeOS - Access Google apps, cloud storage, and parental controls
Lightweight & portable - Weighs just 2.68lbs, making it easy to carry from classroom to living room
All-day battery - Enjoy up to 10 hours of power on a single charge for uninterrupted pr
Signal is an end-to-end encrypted app (E2EE), which means it encrypts every message before it leaves your device, and that message can only be read after it arrives on a recipient's device and gets decrypted. As it travels in between, even if it were to be intercepted, it couldn't be read thanks to the encryption.
The thing is, other apps like Messenger and WhatsApp also employ end-to-end encryption. So, what's so special about Signal? And how did it become part of a small firestorm in US politics this week? Well, the app isn't the problem. The issue is its use.
As an E2EE app, Signal's bona fides surpass Messenger and WhatsApp. For starters, Signal Messenger LLC—the company that develops Signal—created the encryption protocol used by all three messaging apps. (And to no one's surprise, it's called the Signal protocol.) Signal is also open source, which means the community can freely check its source code for any odd behavior or deceptive practices.
No one but the sender and recipient(s) should be able to see messages in a secure messaging app. It's scrambled all the way through, whether on your device ("at rest") or while zipping through internet pipelines ("in transit"). Through use of both permanent and temporary encryption keys, your privacy should hold until decryption happens, even if those keys are compromised. In contrast, regular SMS (text) messages and email aren't encrypted at all—those messages can easily be read during an
Notorious (and controversial) examples of dynamic pricing include airline tickets, ride-sharing services, hotels and Airbnbs, sports and concert tickets. The price you see could fluctuate for all kinds of reasons.
You can defend yourself against dynamic pricing by deleting the cookies saved in your web browser. A cookie is a file stored on your device by a website that's used to track your activity and remember things about you—and when dynamic pricing is in play, websites use cookies when determining what price to show you.
Google has just announced that it's discontinuing the 10-year-old Nest Protect and the 7-year-old Nest x Yale lock. Both of those products will continue to work, and—for now—they remain on sale at the Google Store, complete with discounts until supplies run out.
But while Google itself is exiting the smoke alarm and smart lock business, it isn't leaving Google Home users in the lurch. Instead, it's teeing up third-party replacements for the Nest Protect and Nest X Yale lock, with both new products coming from familiar brands.
First up is the SC5 Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm from Residio-owned First Alert, which matches most of the same functions as the aging Nest Protect.
Like the Google smoke detector, the First Alert SC5 can send mobile alerts in case of a fire of CO event, along with voice alerts, "heads-up" early warnings in case the unit detects an "emerging" smoke situation, and the ability to trigger other nearby and compatible smoke alarms in case of an emergency.
The Wi-Fi-enabled First Alert SC5 is compatible with the Google Home app as well as existing Nest Protect alarms, meaning you can easily add the First Alert detectors to your home even if you already have Nest Protect units set up.
Available in both battery-powered and hardwired versions, the First Alert SC5 will hit retail in the "coming
Is there a neutral wire in the box?
Many smart switches and dimmers require the presence of a neutral wire in the electrical box inside the wall, in addition to the line (power from the circuit-breaker panel), load (power to the light to be controlled), and ground (a low-resistance path for electricity to flow to the ground in the event of a malfunction) wires. Smart switches have radios that must be constantly powered, and the neutral wire is usually what supplies that juice.
While all homes have neutral wires, many older homes don't have a neutral wire in every box. If you're not sure if there's a neutral wire at the location you want to install a smart switch, this how-to story will help you figure it out. If you don't have a neutral wire, Lutron's Caséta and Diva smart dimmers and the GE Cync Dimmer (3-wire version) are among the few smart switches that do not require one.
If there's a downside to converting to smart in-wall dimmers and switches, it's installing them. Don't worry, it's an easy DIY project. Be aware, however, that most-but certainly not all-smart controls depend on the presence of a neutral wire in the box. The neutral wire will supply constant power to the device's radio, even when the load it's controlling is turned off. If you're not comfortable dealing with high-voltage wiring, hire an electrician for the job.
Now, don't think we're besmirching smart bulbs. They have their place, too; if for no other reason than being able to change the color of the lighting in a room. I've lived with smart lighting in my home for more than 15 years, and I can't imagine turning my lights on and off without the options of using a voice command, in response to motion, on schedules, or with a smartphone app. You won't be disappointed in the results.
Need more information before you choose a specific product? We can answer all your questions about choosing the right type of smart dimmer or switch at the preceding link.
Why you should trust us
TechHive's editors and contributors have been testing smart switches and dimmers for more than that 15 years, installing them in our own homes to gain truly real-world e
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