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#383a42;line-height:80px;position:relative;z-index:2;font-weight:600}.c-siteAccordionMenu.c-sitePrimaryMenu_subNav{position:fixed;top:0;bottom:0}.c-siteAccordionMenu_content{width:100%;max-height:100%;overflow:auto}.c-siteAccordionMenu_content::after{content:"";padding-bottom:2rem;display:block}.c-siteAccordionMenu_section .c-siteAccordionMenu_item{opacity:0;visibility:hidden;max-height:0;line-height:20px;margin:0;transition:opacity .3s ease,max-height .3s .3s ease,margin .3s .3s ease,visibility 0s .3s}.c-siteAccordionMenu_section.is-expanded{border-bottom:1px solid #383a42}.c-siteAccordionMenu_section.is-expanded .c-siteAccordionMenu_sectionToggle>svg{transform:rotateX(180deg)}.c-siteAccordionMenu_section.is-expanded .c-siteAccordionMenu_item{visibility:visible;max-height:80px;margin:2rem 0;opacity:1;transition:opacity .3s .3s ease,max-height .3s ease,margin .3s ease}.c-siteAccordionMenu_item{color:#fff;font-size:13px;padding:0 calc(2rem/2)}.c-siteAccordionMenu_item small{font-size:inherit;font-weight:400}.c-siteAccordionMenu_item small::before{content:" | "}.c-siteAccordionMenu_itemArrowIcon{width:15px;height:13px;vertical-align:middle;margin-left:5px;fill:#fff}.c-siteAccordionMenu_item:hover{color:#3f8eff}.c-siteAccordionMenu_item:hover svg{fill:#3f8eff}.c-siteAccordionMenu_link{-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(0,0,0,0);display:block;color:inherit}.c-siteAccordionMenu_link:hover{color:#3f8eff}.c-siteAccordionMenu_closeButton{border-bottom:1px solid #383a42;line-height:46px;padding:0 calc(2rem/2);cursor:pointer;display:block;text-align:right;box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)}.c-siteAccordionMenu_closeButton>svg{width:17px;height:17px;fill:#fff;vertical-align:middle}.c-siteAccordionMenu_closeButton:hover>svg{fill:#3f8eff}.c-siteAccordionMenu_sectionToggle{position:relative;border-bottom:1px solid #383a42;padding:0 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.c-dynamicHeader_title{font-size:3rem;line-height:3.25rem;margin:0;padding:0;text-transform:initial;border:none}@media(max-width: 767px){.c-dynamicHeader_title{font-size:2.25rem;line-height:2.75rem}}.c-dynamicHeader_desc{width:65%}@media(max-width: 767px){.c-dynamicHeader_desc{width:100%}} .c-listingCarouselHorizontal{border-top:1px solid #080a12}@media(min-width: 1024px){.c-listingCarouselHorizontal{width:100%}}@media(min-width: 768px){.c-listingCarouselHorizontal_loadingIndicator{width:100%;height:4.8px;display:block;position:relative;background:#fff;overflow:hidden}}.c-listingCarouselHorizontal_loadingIndicator::after{content:""}@media(min-width: 768px){.c-listingCarouselHorizontal_loadingIndicator::after{box-sizing:border-box;width:0;height:4.8px;background:#d0ff4b;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;animation:animFw 10s linear infinite}}@keyframes animFw{0%{width:0}100%{width:100%}}.c-listingCarouselHorizontal 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.VueCarousel-inner--center { justify-content: center; } .VueCarousel-slide { flex-basis: inherit; flex-grow: 0; flex-shrink: 0; user-select: none; backface-visibility: hidden; -webkit-touch-callout: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); outline: none; } .VueCarousel-slide-adjustableHeight { display: table; flex-basis: auto; width: 100%; } .c-cmsImage{display:block;width:100%;background:rgba(0,0,0,.05)}.c-cmsImage img{display:block;width:100%;height:auto}.c-cmsImage img[src=""]{visibility:hidden} .c-dynamicListing_listing h3{margin:0}@media(min-width: 1024px){.c-dynamicListing_listing h3{margin:0 0 1.5rem}} .c-listingLatest{position:relative}.c-listingLatest_heading{margin:.5rem 0 0 0}.c-listingLatest_item{padding:1rem 0;border-bottom:1px solid #e1e0e3}.c-listingLatest_item:nth-child(9){border-bottom:none}.c-listingLatest_itemLink{display:block;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.375rem;color:#080a12;font-weight:600}.c-listingLatest_itemLink:hover{color:#0058d5}.c-listingLatest_pubDate{font-size:.813rem;color:#505259}.c-listingLatest .c-listingLatest_showAll{margin-bottom:1.5rem;margin-right:0}.c-listingLatest .c-listingLatest_showAll svg{display:inline-block;width:15px;height:13px;vertical-align:middle;margin-left:10px}@media(min-width: 1024px){.c-listingLatest_heading{margin:1.5rem 0}.c-listingLatest_item{padding:1.5rem 0}.c-listingLatest_item:nth-child(1){padding-top:0}} .c-listingFiveStory_heading{grid-gap:1.25rem}.c-listingFiveStory_heading .c-sectionHeading{border:none;margin-bottom:.5rem}@media(min-width: 1024px){.c-listingFiveStory_heading .c-sectionHeading{margin-bottom:1.5rem}}.c-listingFiveStory_titleWrapper{grid-gap:0;margin-bottom:1.5rem}@media(min-width: 1024px){.c-listingFiveStory_titleWrapper{flex-direction:row;align-items:center;grid-gap:1.25rem;margin-bottom:0}}.c-listingFiveStory_seeAll{margin-left:auto;font-size:.813rem;font-weight:400;color:#080a12;grid-gap:.25rem}.c-listingFiveStory_seeAll-topic{display:none}@media(min-width: 1024px){.c-listingFiveStory_seeAll-topic{display:inline}}.c-listingFiveStory_seeAll svg{width:1rem;aspect-ratio:1}.c-listingFiveStory_seeAll:hover{color:#0058d5}.c-listingFiveStory_seeAll:hover svg{fill:#0058d5}.c-listingFiveStory_container{margin-bottom:1.5rem}@media(min-width: 768px){.c-listingFiveStory_container{flex-direction:row;gap:0 1.5rem;margin-bottom:2rem}}.c-listingFiveStory_first-item-container,.c-listingFiveStory_additional-items-container{width:100%}@media(min-width: 768px){.c-listingFiveStory_first-item-container,.c-listingFiveStory_additional-items-container{width:50%}}.c-listingFiveStory_additional-items-container{display:grid;gap:1rem;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr}@media(min-width: 768px){.c-listingFiveStory_additional-items-container{gap:1.5rem}}.c-listingFiveStory_image{display:block;width:100%}.c-listingFiveStory_item{position:relative;color:#080a12;flex-direction:column}.c-listingFiveStory_item span{color:inherit;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.375rem;margin-bottom:0}.c-listingFiveStory_item--first span{margin-bottom:.5rem}@media(min-width: 768px){.c-listingFiveStory_item--first span{font-size:2.25rem;line-height:2.275rem}}.c-listingFiveStory_item:hover{color:#0058d5}.c-listingFiveStory_item:hover img{opacity:.8} .c-listingDefault_itemLink{color:#080a12}.c-listingDefault_author,.c-listingDefault_topic{color:#080a12}.c-listingDefault_author:hover,.c-listingDefault_topic:hover{color:#0058d5}.c-listingDefault .u-grid-columns{grid-template-columns:1fr 4fr}@media(min-width: 768px){.c-listingDefault .u-grid-columns{grid-template-columns:2fr 4fr}}@media(min-width: 768px){.c-listingDefault_title{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.75rem;padding-top:5px}}.c-listingDefault_description{display:none;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;overflow:hidden;color:#080a12}@media(min-width: 768px){.c-listingDefault_description{display:-webkit-box}}.c-listingDefault_itemImage{margin-top:5px}.c-listingDefault_item:hover .c-listingDefault_itemImage{opacity:.9}.c-listingDefault_item:hover .c-listingDefault_title{color:#0058d5}.c-listingDefault_pubDate:hover{color:#080a12} .c-loadMoreButton_svg{display:inline-block}.c-loadMoreButton_svg svg{display:inline-block;width:15px;height:13px;vertical-align:middle;margin-left:10px;transform:rotate(90deg)}.c-loadMoreButton_link{height:64px;display:flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center;margin:auto;max-width:416px;width:100%}.c-loadMoreButton_text{display:inline-block} .c-globalSticky{display:initial;overflow:initial;flex:1;margin-bottom:calc(var(--mpu-margin-bottom, 0)*1px)}.c-globalSticky:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.c-globalSticky:nth-child(1 of .c-globalSticky){padding-top:calc(var(--first-elem-padding-top, 0)*1px)}.c-globalSticky_element{position:sticky;top:calc(var(--toc-height, 200px) + var(--toc-top-margin-sticky, 0px) + 32px)} .c-siteFooter{z-index:1;position:relative;background:#20222a;overflow:hidden}.c-siteFooter .c-siteFooter_background{width:0}.c-siteFooter .c-siteFooter_background img[src=""]{opacity:0}.c-siteFooter .c-siteFooter_background img{transition:opacity 1s ease;opacity:1;object-fit:cover;position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;left:0;top:0}@media(min-width: 1024px){.c-siteFooter{padding:0 3rem 3rem 3rem}}.c-siteFooter_container{position:relative}.c-siteFooter_logoLink{display:block}.c-siteFooter_logo{left:50%;margin-left:-50vw;right:50%;margin-right:-50vw;max-width:100vw;position:relative;width:100vw;fill:#fff;aspect-ratio:814/150}@media(min-width: 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alt="Copilot+PC"><source media="(max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/4fb09e0f092a38056aa2921a7c0ddc290833eb15/2024/05/22/a9473de2-a79c-4772-acea-1cee2cf9009d/img-3311.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&frame=1&height=234&width=416" alt="Copilot+PC"><source media="(max-width: 1440px)" srcset="https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/5e13c81039186548c1ed3a15a32158596bf16921/2024/05/22/a9473de2-a79c-4772-acea-1cee2cf9009d/img-3311.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&frame=1&height=172&width=306" alt="Copilot+PC"> <img src="https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/5e13c81039186548c1ed3a15a32158596bf16921/2024/05/22/a9473de2-a79c-4772-acea-1cee2cf9009d/img-3311.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&frame=1&height=172&width=306" alt="Copilot+PC" width="306" height="172" fetchpriority="low"></picture></div></a> <div class="c-listingDefault_itemContent"><a href="/article/the-rise-of-ai-pcs-how-businesses-are-reshaping-their-tech-to-keep-up/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><h3 class="c-listingDefault_title g-text-small-bold g-outer-spacing-bottom-xsmall"> The rise of AI PCs: How businesses are reshaping their tech to keep up </h3> <span class="c-listingDefault_description g-text-xsmall g-outer-spacing-bottom-small"> The AI race has led to a hardware revolution, with businesses investing in new types of PCs. </span></a> <div class="g-text-xxsmall c-listingDefault_meta"><span class="c-listingDefault_pubDate">11 hours ago</span> by <a href="/meet-the-team/sabrina-ortiz/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_author"> Sabrina Ortiz </a> in <a href="/topic/artificial-intelligence/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_topic"> Artificial Intelligence </a></div></div></div> </div><div class="c-listingDefault_item g-outer-spacing-bottom-large"><div class="u-grid-columns"><a href="/article/how-bill-gates-the-altair-8800-and-basic-propelled-me-into-the-pc-revolution/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><div class="c-listingDefault_itemImage"><picture class="c-cmsImage c-cmsImage_loaded" 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src="https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/d2a4f5ec96cd8f221345d1e0133bdc5f307f302c/2025/04/03/ec0759f9-4340-4646-beef-b98e108fc719/altair1974gettyimages-1237272219.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&frame=1&height=172&width=306" alt="altair1974gettyimages-1237272219" width="306" height="172" fetchpriority="low"></picture></div></a> <div class="c-listingDefault_itemContent"><a href="/article/how-bill-gates-the-altair-8800-and-basic-propelled-me-into-the-pc-revolution/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><h3 class="c-listingDefault_title g-text-small-bold g-outer-spacing-bottom-xsmall"> How Bill Gates, the Altair 8800 and BASIC propelled me into the PC revolution </h3> <span class="c-listingDefault_description g-text-xsmall g-outer-spacing-bottom-small"> In 1975, Bill and I were using the same computing tech - the Altair 8800 and DEC's PDP-10 - as BASIC became a gateway for generations of developers. Where were you all those decades ago? </span></a> <div class="g-text-xxsmall c-listingDefault_meta"><span class="c-listingDefault_pubDate">1 day ago</span> by <a href="/meet-the-team/david-gewirtz/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_author"> David Gewirtz </a> in <a href="/topic/microsoft/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_topic"> Microsoft </a></div></div></div> </div><div class="c-listingDefault_item g-outer-spacing-bottom-large"><div class="u-grid-columns"><a href="/article/best-mini-pc/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><div class="c-listingDefault_itemImage"><picture class="c-cmsImage" style="aspect-ratio:306/172;"> <img src alt="Mac Mini M4 Pro" width="306" height="172" fetchpriority="low"></picture></div></a> <div class="c-listingDefault_itemContent"><a href="/article/best-mini-pc/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><h3 class="c-listingDefault_title g-text-small-bold g-outer-spacing-bottom-xsmall"> The best mini PCs you can buy </h3> <span class="c-listingDefault_description g-text-xsmall g-outer-spacing-bottom-small"> Having a powerful PC doesn't mean you have to have a full-size tower. We tested the best mini PCs from Apple, Intel, and more. </span></a> <div class="g-text-xxsmall c-listingDefault_meta"><span class="c-listingDefault_pubDate">1 day ago</span> by <a href="/meet-the-team/adrian-kingsley-hughes/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_author"> Adrian Kingsley-Hughes </a> in <a href="/topic/pcs/" aria-current="page" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_topic nuxt-link-exact-active nuxt-link-active"> PCs </a></div></div></div> </div><div class="c-listingDefault_item g-outer-spacing-bottom-large"><div class="u-grid-columns"><a href="/article/samsung-t5-ssd-deal-04-02-2025/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><div class="c-listingDefault_itemImage"><picture class="c-cmsImage" style="aspect-ratio:306/172;"> <img src alt="samsung-t5-evo-black-friday" width="306" height="172" fetchpriority="low"></picture></div></a> <div class="c-listingDefault_itemContent"><a href="/article/samsung-t5-ssd-deal-04-02-2025/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><h3 class="c-listingDefault_title g-text-small-bold g-outer-spacing-bottom-xsmall"> Save $120 on the 4TB Samsung T5 and get a 256GB microSDXC card free </h3> <span class="c-listingDefault_description g-text-xsmall g-outer-spacing-bottom-small"> The Amazon Spring Sale is almost over, and if you haven't found any good deals on SSDs, you can save $120 on the 4TB Samsung T5 Evo, plus get a 256GB Sonic the Hedgehog microSDXC for free. </span></a> <div class="g-text-xxsmall c-listingDefault_meta"><span class="c-listingDefault_pubDate">2 days ago</span> by <a href="/meet-the-team/taylor-clemons/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_author"> Taylor Clemons </a> in <a href="/topic/storage/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_topic"> Storage </a></div></div></div> </div><div class="c-listingDefault_item g-outer-spacing-bottom-large"><div class="u-grid-columns"><a href="/article/best-streaming-mic/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><div class="c-listingDefault_itemImage"><picture class="c-cmsImage" style="aspect-ratio:306/172;"> <img src alt="shure-mv7" width="306" height="172" fetchpriority="low"></picture></div></a> <div class="c-listingDefault_itemContent"><a href="/article/best-streaming-mic/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><h3 class="c-listingDefault_title g-text-small-bold g-outer-spacing-bottom-xsmall"> The best streaming mics: Expert tested </h3> <span class="c-listingDefault_description g-text-xsmall g-outer-spacing-bottom-small"> Ensure your audio is crystal-clear with the top-rated streaming mics for gaming, social media content, podcasts, calls, and more. </span></a> <div class="g-text-xxsmall c-listingDefault_meta"><span class="c-listingDefault_pubDate">3 days ago</span> by <a href="/meet-the-team/taylor-clemons/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_author"> Taylor Clemons </a> in <a href="/topic/streaming-services/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_topic"> Streaming & Services </a></div></div></div> </div><div class="c-listingDefault_item g-outer-spacing-bottom-large"><div class="u-grid-columns"><a href="/article/best-amazon-spring-sale-gaming-deals-4-01-2025/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><div class="c-listingDefault_itemImage"><picture class="c-cmsImage" style="aspect-ratio:306/172;"> <img src alt="gaming-deals-spring-sale" width="306" height="172" fetchpriority="low"></picture></div></a> <div class="c-listingDefault_itemContent"><a href="/article/best-amazon-spring-sale-gaming-deals-4-01-2025/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><h3 class="c-listingDefault_title g-text-small-bold g-outer-spacing-bottom-xsmall"> The 59 best Amazon Spring Sale gaming deals: Last chance to save on laptops, PS5 games, and more </h3> <span class="c-listingDefault_description g-text-xsmall g-outer-spacing-bottom-small"> The Amazon Spring Sale may have ended yesterday, but you can still find great deals on PS5 games, gaming monitors, and more. </span></a> <div class="g-text-xxsmall c-listingDefault_meta"><span class="c-listingDefault_pubDate">3 days ago</span> by <a href="/meet-the-team/taylor-clemons/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_author"> Taylor Clemons </a> in <a href="/topic/gaming/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_topic"> Gaming </a></div></div></div> </div><div class="c-listingDefault_item g-outer-spacing-bottom-large"><div class="u-grid-columns"><a href="/article/will-using-a-vpn-help-protect-you-from-malware-or-ransomware/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><div class="c-listingDefault_itemImage"><picture class="c-cmsImage" style="aspect-ratio:306/172;"> <img src alt="aavpnpool-gettyimages-1305304275" width="306" height="172" fetchpriority="low"></picture></div></a> <div class="c-listingDefault_itemContent"><a href="/article/will-using-a-vpn-help-protect-you-from-malware-or-ransomware/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><h3 class="c-listingDefault_title g-text-small-bold g-outer-spacing-bottom-xsmall"> Will using a VPN help protect you from malware or ransomware? </h3> <span class="c-listingDefault_description g-text-xsmall g-outer-spacing-bottom-small"> There are many good reasons to use a VPN, especially when traveling. But be sure you know exactly where that protection starts and stops. </span></a> <div class="g-text-xxsmall c-listingDefault_meta"><span class="c-listingDefault_pubDate">3 days ago</span> by <a href="/meet-the-team/ed-bott/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_author"> Ed Bott </a> in <a href="/topic/vpn/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_topic"> VPN </a></div></div></div> </div><div class="c-listingDefault_item g-outer-spacing-bottom-large"><div class="u-grid-columns"><a href="/article/radeon-rx-7800-xt-graphics-card-amazon-spring-sale-deal-03-28-2025/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><div class="c-listingDefault_itemImage"><picture class="c-cmsImage" style="aspect-ratio:306/172;"> <img src alt="A Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT graphics card on an orange background" width="306" height="172" fetchpriority="low"></picture></div></a> <div class="c-listingDefault_itemContent"><a href="/article/radeon-rx-7800-xt-graphics-card-amazon-spring-sale-deal-03-28-2025/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><h3 class="c-listingDefault_title g-text-small-bold g-outer-spacing-bottom-xsmall"> Save $335 on the Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT at Walmart </h3> <span class="c-listingDefault_description g-text-xsmall g-outer-spacing-bottom-small"> Whether you're building a new gaming PC or just looking to upgrade your current build, you can save $335 on a Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT at Walmart. But you'll have to hurry - it's selling fast </span></a> <div class="g-text-xxsmall c-listingDefault_meta"><span class="c-listingDefault_pubDate">3 days ago</span> by <a href="/meet-the-team/taylor-clemons/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_author"> Taylor Clemons </a> in <a href="/topic/pcs/" aria-current="page" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_topic nuxt-link-exact-active nuxt-link-active"> PCs </a></div></div></div> </div><div class="c-listingDefault_item g-outer-spacing-bottom-large"><div class="u-grid-columns"><a href="/article/hp-victus-15-best-buy-deal-03-31-2025/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><div class="c-listingDefault_itemImage"><picture class="c-cmsImage" style="aspect-ratio:306/172;"> <img src alt="The ZDNET logo, Best Buy logo, and an HP Victus 15 gaming laptop on an orange background" width="306" height="172" fetchpriority="low"></picture></div></a> <div class="c-listingDefault_itemContent"><a href="/article/hp-victus-15-best-buy-deal-03-31-2025/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><h3 class="c-listingDefault_title g-text-small-bold g-outer-spacing-bottom-xsmall"> Grab the HP Victus 15 gaming laptop for $600 off at Best Buy </h3> <span class="c-listingDefault_description g-text-xsmall g-outer-spacing-bottom-small"> If you've been looking to upgrade your gaming laptop, you can save $600 on the HP Victus 15 at Best Buy. </span></a> <div class="g-text-xxsmall c-listingDefault_meta"><span class="c-listingDefault_pubDate">3 days ago</span> by <a href="/meet-the-team/taylor-clemons/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_author"> Taylor Clemons </a> in <a href="/topic/gaming-devices/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_topic"> Gaming Devices </a></div></div></div> </div><div class="c-listingDefault_item g-outer-spacing-bottom-large"><div class="u-grid-columns"><a href="/article/3-apple-devices-you-definitely-shouldnt-buy-this-month-and-10-to-get-instead/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><div class="c-listingDefault_itemImage"><picture class="c-cmsImage" style="aspect-ratio:306/172;"> <img src alt="AirPods Pro 2 in hand" width="306" height="172" fetchpriority="low"></picture></div></a> <div class="c-listingDefault_itemContent"><a href="/article/3-apple-devices-you-definitely-shouldnt-buy-this-month-and-10-to-get-instead/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><h3 class="c-listingDefault_title g-text-small-bold g-outer-spacing-bottom-xsmall"> 3 Apple devices you definitely shouldn't buy this month (and 10 to get instead) </h3> <span class="c-listingDefault_description g-text-xsmall g-outer-spacing-bottom-small"> Before you click buy on that shiny new Apple gadget, check out where it fits into Apple's product release plans. </span></a> <div class="g-text-xxsmall c-listingDefault_meta"><span class="c-listingDefault_pubDate">4 days ago</span> by <a href="/meet-the-team/adrian-kingsley-hughes/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_author"> Adrian Kingsley-Hughes </a> in <a href="/topic/smartphones/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_topic"> Smartphones </a></div></div></div> </div><div class="c-listingDefault_item g-outer-spacing-bottom-large"><div class="u-grid-columns"><a href="/article/the-m4-mac-mini-has-dropped-to-a-new-low-price-at-amazon-get-it-while-the-deal-lasts/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><div class="c-listingDefault_itemImage"><picture class="c-cmsImage" style="aspect-ratio:306/172;"> <img src alt="m4-mac-mini" width="306" height="172" fetchpriority="low"></picture></div></a> <div class="c-listingDefault_itemContent"><a href="/article/the-m4-mac-mini-has-dropped-to-a-new-low-price-at-amazon-get-it-while-the-deal-lasts/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><h3 class="c-listingDefault_title g-text-small-bold g-outer-spacing-bottom-xsmall"> The M4 Mac Mini has dropped to a new low price at Amazon - get it while the deal lasts </h3> <span class="c-listingDefault_description g-text-xsmall g-outer-spacing-bottom-small"> Amazon lowered the price on most M4 Mac Mini desktops. You can purchase the base model for as low as $529. </span></a> <div class="g-text-xxsmall c-listingDefault_meta"><span class="c-listingDefault_pubDate">6 days ago</span> by <a href="/meet-the-team/cesar-cadenas/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_author"> Cesar Cadenas </a> in <a href="/topic/mac-os/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_topic"> Mac OS </a></div></div></div> </div><div class="c-listingDefault_item g-outer-spacing-bottom-large"><div class="u-grid-columns"><a href="/article/pny-cs900-ssd-amazon-spring-sale-deal-03-28-2025/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><div class="c-listingDefault_itemImage"><picture class="c-cmsImage" style="aspect-ratio:306/172;"> <img src alt="Two PNY CS900 internal SSDs on a purple background" width="306" height="172" fetchpriority="low"></picture></div></a> <div class="c-listingDefault_itemContent"><a href="/article/pny-cs900-ssd-amazon-spring-sale-deal-03-28-2025/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><h3 class="c-listingDefault_title g-text-small-bold g-outer-spacing-bottom-xsmall"> Get a 1TB and 500GB PNY CS900 internal SSD for $80 at Amazon during the Big Spring Sale </h3> <span class="c-listingDefault_description g-text-xsmall g-outer-spacing-bottom-small"> Need to upgrade your laptop's storage, or looking to set up a dual-drive gaming laptop? Right now at Amazon, when you buy a 1TB PNY CS900 internal SSD, you'll get a 500GB SSD for free. </span></a> <div class="g-text-xxsmall c-listingDefault_meta"><span class="c-listingDefault_pubDate">1 week ago</span> by <a href="/meet-the-team/taylor-clemons/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_author"> Taylor Clemons </a> in <a href="/topic/storage/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_topic"> Storage </a></div></div></div> </div><div class="c-listingDefault_item g-outer-spacing-bottom-large"><div class="u-grid-columns"><a href="/article/hp-victus-15l-amazon-spring-sale-deal-03-28-2025/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><div class="c-listingDefault_itemImage"><picture class="c-cmsImage" style="aspect-ratio:306/172;"> <img src alt="Two HP Victus 15L gaming desktops on a blue background" width="306" height="172" fetchpriority="low"></picture></div></a> <div class="c-listingDefault_itemContent"><a href="/article/hp-victus-15l-amazon-spring-sale-deal-03-28-2025/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><h3 class="c-listingDefault_title g-text-small-bold g-outer-spacing-bottom-xsmall"> Save $440 on the Victus 15L gaming desktop when you buy from HP </h3> <span class="c-listingDefault_description g-text-xsmall g-outer-spacing-bottom-small"> Right now at HP, you can pick up the Victus 15L gaming desktop with a 12th gen Intel Core i5 CPU and Intel Arc A380 GPU for just $590 -- that's 42% off. </span></a> <div class="g-text-xxsmall c-listingDefault_meta"><span class="c-listingDefault_pubDate">1 week ago</span> by <a href="/meet-the-team/taylor-clemons/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_author"> Taylor Clemons </a> in <a href="/topic/gaming-devices/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_topic"> Gaming Devices </a></div></div></div> </div><div class="c-listingDefault_item g-outer-spacing-bottom-large"><div class="u-grid-columns"><a href="/article/grab-the-acer-nitro-v-for-just-600-at-best-buy/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><div class="c-listingDefault_itemImage"><picture class="c-cmsImage" style="aspect-ratio:306/172;"> <img src alt="Two Acer Nitro V gaming laptops on a green background" width="306" height="172" fetchpriority="low"></picture></div></a> <div class="c-listingDefault_itemContent"><a href="/article/grab-the-acer-nitro-v-for-just-600-at-best-buy/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><h3 class="c-listingDefault_title g-text-small-bold g-outer-spacing-bottom-xsmall"> Grab the Acer Nitro V for just $600 at Best Buy </h3> <span class="c-listingDefault_description g-text-xsmall g-outer-spacing-bottom-small"> If the gaming laptop deals during the Amazon Big Spring Sale aren't to your liking, you can save $350 on the 15-inch Acer Nitro V right now at Best Buy. </span></a> <div class="g-text-xxsmall c-listingDefault_meta"><span class="c-listingDefault_pubDate">1 week ago</span> by <a href="/meet-the-team/taylor-clemons/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_author"> Taylor Clemons </a> in <a href="/topic/laptops/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_topic"> Laptops </a></div></div></div> </div><div class="c-listingDefault_item g-outer-spacing-bottom-large"><div class="u-grid-columns"><a href="/article/samsung-odyssey-neo-g8-amazon-spring-sale-deal-03-26-2025/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><div class="c-listingDefault_itemImage"><picture class="c-cmsImage" style="aspect-ratio:306/172;"> <img src alt="Two Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 gaming monitors an a blue background" width="306" height="172" fetchpriority="low"></picture></div></a> <div class="c-listingDefault_itemContent"><a href="/article/samsung-odyssey-neo-g8-amazon-spring-sale-deal-03-26-2025/" class="c-listingDefault_itemLink"><h3 class="c-listingDefault_title g-text-small-bold g-outer-spacing-bottom-xsmall"> Save $550 on the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 32-inch at Best Buy </h3> <span class="c-listingDefault_description g-text-xsmall g-outer-spacing-bottom-small"> The Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 is a 32-inch curved monitor perfect for everything between gaming, video production, photo editing, and streaming. And you can save $550 on one now at Best Buy, but you'll have to hurry because this deal might not last. </span></a> <div class="g-text-xxsmall c-listingDefault_meta"><span class="c-listingDefault_pubDate">1 week ago</span> by <a href="/meet-the-team/taylor-clemons/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_author"> Taylor Clemons </a> in <a href="/topic/computing/" class="g-text-bold c-listingDefault_topic"> Computing </a></div></div></div> </div></div> <div class="c-loadMoreButton u-grid-columns"><a href="/topic/pcs/2/" class="c-loadMoreButton_link o-button o-button-large o-button-smallRound lg:u-col-8 lg:u-col-start-3 md:u-col-6 sm:u-col-2 o-button-secondary"><span class="c-loadMoreButton_text">Load More</span> <span class="c-loadMoreButton_svg"><svg><use xlink:href="#rightArrow"/></svg></span></a></div></div></div><div class="lg:u-col-4 md:u-col-6 sm:u-col-2"><div class="c-globalSticky g-outer-spacing-bottom-large" style="grid-column:span 4;"><div class="c-globalSticky_element"><div 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factors come and go, but reports of the personal computer's demise continue to be greatly and frequently exaggerated."}},{id:"232d4b76-a7b3-43f7-8729-bb376f425c87",meta:{componentName:"232d4b76-a7b3-43f7-8729-bb376f425c87",componentDisplayName:"Product Research",componentType:"ContentList"},metadata:{},links:{self:{href:"https:\u002F\u002Fbender.cnetstatic.com\u002Fapi\u002Fneutron\u002Fcomponents\u002Fzdnet\u002Flisting\u002Fdynamic_listing\u002F232d4b76-a7b3-43f7-8729-bb376f425c87\u002Fweb?searchBy=id&topicSlug=pcs&componentType=ContentList&componentName=232d4b76-a7b3-43f7-8729-bb376f425c87"}},items:[{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"9cc5eda3-1621-44c5-8e64-ef4b4c1785c2\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Image: Corsair\" data-image-alt-text=\"hs80-rgb-usb-blk-carousel-3\" data-image-filename=\"hs80-rgb-usb-blk-carousel-3.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F29\" data-image-width=\"1800\" data-image-height=\"1012\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"8063ac68-7e38-466a-ad1b-67c7625ee20f\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FCorsair-Broadcast-Grade-Omni-Directional-High-Fidelity-Construction\u002Fdp\u002FB09YHQWHKV\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"HS80 RGB USB from Corsair\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E is a premium-grade, wired headset for PC gamers. Like its little sibling, the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fcorsair-hs65-surround-headset-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHS65 Surround\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, it features Dolby Audio 7.1CH virtual surround sound, but sets itself apart with EQ presets, better sound quality, and RGB lighting.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECorsair's HS80 RGB USB headset is one of the brand's premium gaming headsets and is the next step up from the HS65 Surround. The headsets offer similar surround sound, but the HS80 RGB USB goes a step further: With the iCUE desktop app, you can choose between five equalizer presets (Pure Direct, Movie Theater, FPS Competition, Clear Chat, and Bass Boost) or create your own for a more personalized sound profile. Each preset is optimized for different media, letting you use the headset for everything from CoD competitions and Discord chat with friends to streaming movies and music. The iCUE app also gives you a simple way to toggle the Dolby Audio drivers on and off.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"efbd3e2b-8b43-424d-b5c4-caefa2cfd9ce\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Buy the Corsair HS80 RGB USB headset\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"hs80-rgb-usb-blk-carousel-1","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Image: Corsair","imageData":{"id":"317e9783-ceac-4c49-822a-897b798e6c0a","filename":"hs80-rgb-usb-blk-carousel-1.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F29\u002F317e9783-ceac-4c49-822a-897b798e6c0a\u002Fhs80-rgb-usb-blk-carousel-1.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-08-29 16:55:05","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"317e9783-ceac-4c49-822a-897b798e6c0a","imageFilename":"hs80-rgb-usb-blk-carousel-1.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F08\u002F29"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Image: Corsair\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FCorsair-Broadcast-Grade-Omni-Directional-High-Fidelity-Construction\u002Fdp\u002FB09YHQWHKV\" data-offerprice=\"99.99\" data-offermerchant=\"Amazon\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FCorsair-Broadcast-Grade-Omni-Directional-High-Fidelity-Construction\u002Fdp\u002FB09YHQWHKV?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"aa01f539-346b-46a6-8c71-5e23da58c6e9","slug":"corsair-hs80-rgb-wired-dolby-atmos-gaming-headset-for-pc-with-broadcast-grade-omni-directional-microphone-carbon","name":"CORSAIR - HS80 RGB WIRED Dolby Atmos Gaming Headset for PC with Broadcast-Grade Omni-Directional Microphone - Carbon","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1661529165674,"displayDate":"Fri Aug 26 2022 11:52:45 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd unlike the HS65 Surround, the HS80 RGB USB doesn't have that slightly tinny, very echoey quality to the audio output once Dolby Audio is enabled. Rather, it provides a \"fuller\" listening experience with virtual spatial audio for pinpointing sound cues in online matches or a more immersive experience while streaming movies and music.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe attached microphone is one of the best I've encountered while reviewing gaming headsets. It provides consistent, clear voice chat across Discord calls, in-game chat, Zoom, and Audacity. Corsair claims that the mic is broadcast-grade, and I'm inclined to agree. There is very little white noise or hiss in the background while talking or recording, so you hear every word clearly. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"2e37a64d-64d1-40f0-9720-24a3f40677be\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F2e37a64d-64d1-40f0-9720-24a3f40677be\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe boom arm of the mic bends to allow minor position adjustment, but it does take a bit of force, so don't worry about needing to be gentle. The mic also needs to be quite close to your mouth in order to get the best input volume and quality, since the default, out-of-the-box mic position ends up giving very faint chat input. But with the flexibility of the boom arm, it's a quick adjustment to make.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe build quality is excellent with the HS80 RGB USB as well. The all-plastic body is lightweight without feeling flimsy or cheap, which makes the entire unit very comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. I wore the headset for at least 8 hours every day between work and evening gaming sessions, sometimes with prescription or blue-light filtering glasses, and it never became a bother or painful. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe RGB elements are also somewhat understated, showing up in the small Corsair logo on either ear cup, which is great for anyone who shares a gaming space or whose gaming space doubles as a home office where bright, flashing visuals could be a distraction.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-gaming-pc\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe best prebuilt gaming PCs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe headset weighs about 4 ounces and doesn't have a lot of clamping pressure, which is good news for anyone who wears glasses or has a larger head. The ear cups are made of memory foam with a woven cloth cover for breathability to help keep your ears from getting clammy. The headband uses an adjustable elastic strap to cushion the top of your head and provide a secure fit and quick adjustments with Velcro.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"674bf853-6fe9-4a99-9def-8204b48e614e\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Image: Corsair\" data-image-alt-text=\"hs80-rgb-usb-blk-carousel-2\" data-image-filename=\"hs80-rgb-usb-blk-carousel-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F29\" data-image-width=\"1800\" data-image-height=\"1012\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy biggest complaint with the HS80 RGB USB is that the headset is only compatible with Windows PCs. It connects to your computer via a USB, which in theory should also work with at least Xbox Series S and Series X and Xbox One or PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 consoles. However, Corsair opted to have the headset only work with gaming PCs. This may be due to the fact that the Dolby Audio 7.1CH surround sound and equalizer presets won't work with consoles, and that's the headset's biggest draw. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"2fe61748-b96a-420f-9a76-52499fe0efe5\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F2fe61748-b96a-420f-9a76-52499fe0efe5\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo if you're looking for a headset that can switch between PC and console gaming, you may want to check out the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"7dca8193-6aa5-4f56-aa30-8d91281391c3\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FCorsair-Leatherette-SonarWorks-Multi-Platform-Compatibility\u002Fdp\u002FB09YHQ3Y61\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"HS65 Surround\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E; it also doesn't support Dolby Audio on consoles, but at least you'll be able to hear your game.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you want to pick up the HS80 RGB USB, it'll set you back a cool $99.99 (£109.99, AU$159), which puts it on the higher end of wired gaming headsets. It's similar in price to the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"dbfbc8d2-9d3b-4123-869f-6ab9da4a4346\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-Kraken-HyperSense-Headset-Technology\u002Fdp\u002FB09HJYCX5X?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Razer Kraken V3\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"3eda519a-b2a2-479b-9e2a-554861785ff9\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Arctis-Prime-Multiplatform-Compatibility\u002Fdp\u002FB0955PVTYX\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"SteelSeries Arctis Prime\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, neither of which offers Dolby Audio drivers, though the Kraken V3 uses THX spatial audio while the Arctis Prime works with SteelSeries' proprietary audio drivers for virtual surround sound. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn all, the Corsair HS80 RGB USB is a great choice as a wired headset for serious gamers or anyone looking for an audio option that works across multiple types of media like movies and music. Its incompatibility with gaming consoles like the Xbox Series S and Series X or PlayStation 5 is a big strike against the headset; however, the level of control over equalizer settings and the studio-quality microphone somewhat make up for it.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"47b1617b-799d-4263-9878-ccc4bc00d4b9\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F47b1617b-799d-4263-9878-ccc4bc00d4b9\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-08-29 17:08:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The HS80 RGB USB from Corsair is a premium-grade gaming headset with Dolby 7.1CH virtual surround sound, five equalizer presets, and a broadcast-grade microphone that everyone from eSports pros and streamers to casual weekend players will love.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"650089c5-c749-47cc-8fea-7d4e7b6d65ba",image:{id:"317e9783-ceac-4c49-822a-897b798e6c0a",filename:"hs80-rgb-usb-blk-carousel-1.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-29 16:55:05",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"A top-down view of a Corsair HD80 RGB USB headset, Corsair K100 RGB keyboard, and MSI gaming mouse.",credits:"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F29\u002F317e9783-ceac-4c49-822a-897b798e6c0a\u002Fhs80-rgb-usb-blk-carousel-1.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1800,height:1012,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"product-promo",hubTopicPathString:"Home & Office^Home Entertainment^Gaming^Gaming Accessories",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"The $99 Corsair HS80 RGB USB makes expensive podcast mics obsolete",section:c,slug:"corsair-hs80-rgb-usb-hands-on",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"The $99 Corsair HS80 RGB USB makes expensive podcast mics obsolete",topic:{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"112a7545-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"reviews",name:"Reviews",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"3b16a457-b28f-42dd-a892-4af4e7697d90",slug:"headphones",name:"Headphones",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"video\" data-uuid=\"e3b1efc7-844a-480d-b4ac-b255afdfb210\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile Apple didn't announce the M2 chip as some had predicted, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fapple-events\u002Fmarch-2022\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eit did announce\u003C\u002Fa\u003E a new, top-tier CPU to their existing line-up: the M1 Ultra. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJohn Ternus, Apple's SVP of hardware engineering described the M1 Ultra as a \"monster of a chip\" aimed at users who need \"extreme levels of performance\".\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple used what it is describing as UltraFusion to build the M1 Ultra's architecture, connecting dual chips across more than 10,000 signals for 2.5TB\u002Fs memory bandwidth. This was done to provide the performance of a dual-CPU Intel or AMD build with much less power consumption. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo put it in perspective: the M1 Ultra's architecture and performance are on par with the new \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.intel.com\u002Fcontent\u002Fwww\u002Fus\u002Fen\u002Fproducts\u002Fsku\u002F132212\u002Fintel-core-i912900e-processor-30m-cache-up-to-5-00-ghz\u002Fspecifications.html\"\u003EIntel Core i9-12900E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amd.com\u002Fen\u002Fproducts\u002Fcpu\u002Famd-ryzen-threadripper-pro-5965wx\"\u003EAMD's Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX\u003C\u002Fa\u003E processors. And you don't have to worry about the rest of your desktop's components being able to keep up because Apple's integrated component design scheme is meant for optimal performance across all components. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe M1 Ultra features 114billion transistors, 20 cores (16 regular and 4 high-efficiency), a 64-core GPU, and 128GB of unified memory. Apple boasts that the M1 Ultra is 8 times faster than the base M1 chip, with double the media processing power and the ability to perform up to 22 trillion processes per second. The 32-core Neural Engine provides the chip with deep, machine-learning capabilities for intense processes like compiling code, processing 4K or 8K video or rendering 3D animation files.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen compared to a 16-core PC CPU from Intel or AMD, the M1 Ultra's 20-core design provides 90% higher multi-threaded performance and reaches peak performance at 100 fewer watts. This should mean you can get complicated tasks done faster and with less energy used by your computer, which is great for keeping component operating temperatures well within the optimal range. The 64-core, integrated GPU could be handy for creative professionals like 3D modelers, animators, and game developers looking for power and performance that doesn't take a ton of energy or create a lot of waste heat. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"gallery\" data-uuid=\"2c06d7a7-ad10-43af-a79b-61fb59be497f\" data-float=\"none\" data-size=\"large\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe unified memory architecture of the M1 Ultra has increased the memory bandwidth to 800GB\u002Fs, and you can configure the new CPU with up to 128GB of unified memory for ripping through process-intensive workloads like video or audio encoding. The chip also has the ability to run up to 18 simultaneous 8K video streams, which is more than enough for even the most demanding of video editing applications. It also features Apple's Secure Enclave technology for AES data encryption, anti-exploitation programming to prevent unauthorized remote access to your computer, and a hardware-verified secure boot. The M1 Ultra will be the backbone of the new \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"9dcec2fb-d98f-4c7d-83aa-20a825704419\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-studio\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac Studio modular desktop\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E aimed at providing creative professionals with a computer that can keep up with their artistic vision.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"3be818df-27e4-42c7-813f-c703e2d38814\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F3be818df-27e4-42c7-813f-c703e2d38814\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-03-08 19:35:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"While Apple didn't announce an all-new chipset for their flagship desktops and laptops, the new M1 Ultra promises to be an ultra-powerful processor for creative professionals.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"7c94d676-e349-48bc-ae9b-d8ed36493b8d",image:{id:"8813a796-b640-47c0-8e02-1eb3cc62e8b2",filename:"m1-ultra.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-03-08 18:59:50",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"m1-ultra.jpg",credits:"ZDNet Editors\u002FZDNet",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F03\u002F08\u002F8813a796-b640-47c0-8e02-1eb3cc62e8b2\u002Fm1-ultra.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1600,height:787,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"product-promo",hubTopicPathString:"Business^Companies^Apple",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"Apple just unveiled its new M1 Ultra 'monster' chip",section:c,slug:"apple-announces-new-m1-ultra-cpu",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Apple just unveiled its new M1 Ultra 'monster' chip",topic:{id:"0fbd54d0-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"apple",name:"Apple",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"0fbd54d0-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"apple",name:"Apple",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"1124f463-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"processors",name:"Processors",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"9841d7c0-1be2-42d4-963b-3d0c080290bc",slug:"technology",name:"Technology",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"9e387438-bfb1-47c2-a8a5-71be354f69de",slug:"home-entertainment",name:"Home Entertainment",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f6766034-0530-4765-8be5-effa45e1c660",slug:"office-hardware-appliances",name:"Office Hardware & Appliances",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"2c87ef21-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"jperlow",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Jason",lastName:"Perlow",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"8ee616a1-94ee-439e-9574-58f014ae5ef0",filename:"jason-perlow.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:08:37",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F8ee616a1-94ee-439e-9574-58f014ae5ef0\u002Fjason-perlow.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Jason Perlow is a technologist with over two decades of experience integrating large heterogeneous multi-vendor computing environments in Fortune 500 companies. His expressed views do not necessarily represent those of his employer, The Linux Foundation.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"b1e03c55-97b4-4a27-8fb3-7424ca187964\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"(Image: Shutterstock)\" data-image-alt-text=\"shutterstock-1799864374.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"shutterstock-1799864374.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F01\u002F26\" data-image-width=\"5990\" data-image-height=\"3993\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis week, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bloomberg.com\u002Fnews\u002Farticles\u002F2022-01-25\u002FNvidia-is-said-to-quietly-prepare-to-abandon-takeover-of-arm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Efollowing a report from \u003Cem\u003EBloomberg\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, rumors have been swirling that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.Nvidia.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fabout-Nvidia\u002F\"\u003ENvidia\u003C\u002Fa\u003E has been preparing to abandon its $40 billion-plus purchase of Arm Ltd., resulting from signals being sent by the Federal Trade Commission with its intent to stop the merger from proceeding late last year. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA merged Nvidia and Arm would have created a second potential semiconductor superpower behind Intel and a solid competitor to Qualcomm and Samsung in the mobile and embedded processor space -- and a supplier of silicon for a next-generation of Arm-powered Windows laptops from Microsoft and other vendors. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, many industry observers may be wondering: Is the future of Arm in desktop computing an all-Apple one? As it stands now, only Apple has found success with Arm-based silicon of its own design by transitioning its Mac platform to the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fnewsroom\u002F2020\u002F11\u002Fapple-unleashes-m1\u002F\"\u003EM1\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"e658c585-db33-46c8-918a-752729fe81da\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fe658c585-db33-46c8-918a-752729fe81da\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003EApple is in a clear lead with Arm-based desktops\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELet's be frank: Apple is so far ahead of the other companies when it comes to putting a desktop platform on Arm-based silicon it isn't even funny. The M1 has now effectively been deployed across its entire Mac product line except the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"bfdbadeb-8a75-4a27-ac77-2b40952e8d4f\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-pro\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac Pro\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, and we know that's coming shortly, including the first major chip revision in the form of the M2. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fnewsroom\u002F2021\u002F10\u002Fintroducing-m1-pro-and-m1-max-the-most-powerful-chips-apple-has-ever-built\u002F\"\u003EM1 Pro and the M1 Max\u003C\u002Fa\u003E are no slouches. I have been using one on a \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"3aa824af-e5b9-4b92-971a-e8cd09c8c09e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmacbook-pro\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fmacbook-pro%2F&subId1=[subid_value]\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"MacBook Pro\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E for about a week, and let me tell you, there is no way I am going back to an Intel machine after experiencing performance like this. No way, no how. You'll need to rip it out of my dying hands. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdmittedly, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.qualcomm.com\u002Fcompute\u002Fdevices\u002Flaptops\u002Fmicrosoft-surface-pro-x-sq-2\"\u003EQualcomm is making progress with SQ 2\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and Microsoft has made Windows 11 run better on \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"59692dda-21d8-44b8-8998-ca19eb8efd9f\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fd\u002Fsurface-pro-x\u002F8xtmb6c575md\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Surface Pro X\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. Still, we can't compare what those two have done getting Windows working acceptably on a single product versus what Apple has done to make Apple Silicon work across its entire product line, never mind the iPad, the iPhone, the Watch, TV, all of it, and who knows what else it's working on.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESurface Pro X is one device, but what about the entire PC industry? HP? Dell? Lenovo? Asus? Acer? Samsung? The first three alone occupy a 64% share of the personal computer market, whereas Apple is a whole 7.6%. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThose are pretty big numbers when you think of their PC market position compared to Apple. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple's share is small when you compare it to the PC market as a whole; it's only slightly larger than Acer's, which is 7.2%. But here is the thing: A few years ago, the numbers would look pretty similar if we were to make this same observation. But, in 2022, there is a difference.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe divide in terms of shipped systems here is very stark and very clear -- and Apple occupies a position that is not unlike the difference between Tesla as an automaker versus the rest of the car industry. Tesla has shipped more electric vehicles in a \u003Cem\u003Esingle year\u003C\u002Fem\u003E than the entire traditional automotive industry has shipped \u003Cem\u003Ecumulatively\u003C\u002Fem\u003E in 10 years.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDoes Tesla represent a large part of the industry's market share? In the US, it only occupies about 2.3% of the industry. But it has validated the technology for replacing the internal combustion vehicle. And Apple has done the same for the Arm architecture to eventually succeed x86. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs it was several years ago, Mac's overall market share in business desktops remains relatively small, but now we see it has enormous potential, the power of the product is unassailable. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJust a few years ago, we had a different narrative. Today, all of us are saying, \"Good lord, look what Apple pulled off.\" The Arm desktop is real, the Arm silicon is powerful, the x86 cannot top what this thing can do in terms of performance per watt.     \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003EApple's M1 is not a miracle; it's a product of massive strategic investment\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat Apple has achieved so much in what seems like a relatively short time is a testament to its investments going back over a decade in its own chips. Before Apple announced \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fnewsroom\u002F2020\u002F06\u002Fapple-announces-mac-transition-to-apple-silicon\u002F\"\u003EApple Silicon\u003C\u002Fa\u003E as its future platform, the idea of using Arm chips as PC platforms was considered this theoretical, borderline future sci-fi thing. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe witnessed an early attempt at Windows on Arm with the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FSurface_(2012_tablet)\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESurface RT\u003C\u002Fa\u003E which failed in the marketplace and used an Nvidia \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FTegra\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETegra 3\u003C\u002Fa\u003E chip. It was slow, ran an incompatible version of Windows 8, and could not run legacy x86 Win32 apps other than what Microsoft pre-loaded and \"Metro\" apps from the recently-launched Windows Store. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYes, with a few years of work and billions of dollars of development, we might be able to replace x86 down the road. For years, it was rumored that Apple was working on a successor to Intel for Macs. But Arm on a desktop OS really had not been put into practice unless you were an engineer at a company like Microsoft or Qualcomm and knew that Windows ran well enough on the architecture in a lab.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe knew Windows ran OK headless as a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.computerworld.com\u002Farticle\u002F3178366\u002Fmicrosofts-windows-server-os-runs-on-arm-with-qualcomms-help.html\"\u003Eserver OS on special Qualcomm chips\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in Microsoft's data centers, and some specialized Azure workloads ran on them. I saw this myself in demonstrations working with these companies behind the scenes when I was at the company.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"ab57f96e-41f0-4631-9092-8281ae5bac96\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"MacBook Air M1\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"macbook-air-space-gray-config-201810.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Apple","imageData":{"id":"4279fec1-aec9-4a8c-b002-459f5dc01c1c","filename":"macbook-air-space-gray-config-201810.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F02\u002F03\u002F4279fec1-aec9-4a8c-b002-459f5dc01c1c\u002Fmacbook-air-space-gray-config-201810.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-02-03 16:49:28","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"4279fec1-aec9-4a8c-b002-459f5dc01c1c","imageFilename":"macbook-air-space-gray-config-201810.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F02\u002F03"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Apple\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmacbook-air\u002Fspace-gray-apple-m1-chip-with-8-core-cpu-and-8-core-gpu-512gb\" data-offerprice=\"1249\" data-offermerchant=\"Apple\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut, as far as the typical business PC user was concerned, it was years -- perhaps a decade -- from being real. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe problem ultimately is not Windows' readiness but overall silicon maturity. Windows not only works on Arm, but it screams if you run it in a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.parallels.com\u002Fblogs\u002Fparallels-desktop-apple-silicon-mac\u002F\"\u003EParallels window on a Mac\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and run native apps on it. Thus, Windows on Arm as an OS is ready, and Microsoft has all the developer toolsets to port apps if the silicon were ready across the PC OEM ecosystem tomorrow. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.reddit.com\u002Fr\u002FSurface\u002Fcomments\u002Fpy56i6\u002Fpro_x_windows_11_64bit_emulation_is_big_news_for\u002F\"\u003Eemulated x86 apps now work much better on Windows 11\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for Arm. But the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.qualcomm.com\u002Fcompute\u002Fdevices\u002Flaptops\u002Fmicrosoft-surface-pro-x-sq-2\"\u003EQualcomm SQ 2\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is the only higher-performance Windows desktop chip on the block, and it is not even close to being as powerful as a first-generation M1. Never mind an M1 Pro or an M1 Max or whatever M-something we're bound to see at the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cnet.com\u002Ftech\u002Fmobile\u002Fwhen-is-the-next-apple-event\u002F\"\u003Enext Apple event\u003C\u002Fa\u003E when the Mac Mini refresh and whatever else is shown to us next.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003EThe PC Arm silicon and system gap is a chasm that will take years to bridge\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECurrently, the leading Arm silicon vendor with a viable horse in the race -- now that Nvidia has been knocked out of the running as a potential contender -- is \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.qualcomm.com\u002F\"\u003EQualcomm\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Microsoft seems to have an exclusive on the company's SQ series and appears to have no intention of licensing it out to the other OEMs, at least for now.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHP is testing the waters with the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"740d8d39-9d72-4bd1-a90b-cca5c0490b7a\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hp.com\u002Fus-en\u002Fshop\u002Fslp\u002Fspectre-family\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Spectre\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E that competes with Surface Pro X. That laptop uses Qualcomm's low-power, 4G LTE-enabled \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.qualcomm.com\u002Fproducts\u002Fsnapdragon-7c-gen-2-compute-platform\"\u003ESnapdragon 7c Gen 2\u003C\u002Fa\u003E compute platform, but it is no match for M1 or even SQ 2 in performance; it's designed to compete with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fark.intel.com\u002Fcontent\u002Fwww\u002Fus\u002Fen\u002Fark\u002Fproducts\u002Fseries\u002F128993\u002Fintel-pentium-silver-processor-series.html\"\u003EPentium Silver\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELenovo has the Yoga that uses the 5G-enabled \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.qualcomm.com\u002Fproducts\u002Fsnapdragon-8cx-gen-3-compute-platform\"\u003EQualcomm 8cX\u003C\u002Fa\u003E; it was launched in 2020 and refreshed in February 2021. However, if you look at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lenovo.com\u002Fus\u002Fen\u002Fevents\u002Fces\u002F\"\u003ELenovo's CES\u003C\u002Fa\u003E announcements, there's no Arm version of the Yoga announced for 2022; it's a 100% \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.intel.com\u002Fcontent\u002Fwww\u002Fus\u002Fen\u002Fproducts\u002Fsystems-devices\u002Flaptops\u002Fevo.html\"\u003EIntel Evo\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amd.com\u002Fen\u002Fproducts\u002Fryzen-processors-laptop\"\u003EAMD Ryzen\u003C\u002Fa\u003E lineup. So, I think sales were lousy on the Arm Yoga. The company is going with Intel's low-power, energy-efficient Evo because the x86 is a proven architecture with predictable performance and industry confidence. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Flp\u002Fintel-evo-platform\"\u003EDell is also going with Evo\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hp.com\u002Fus-en\u002Fshop\u002Ftech-takes\u002Fintel-evo-laptops-from-hp-complete-review\"\u003EHP's mainstream low power notebooks are also Evo\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.intel.com\u002Fcontent\u002Fwww\u002Fus\u002Fen\u002Fnewsroom\u002Fnews\u002Fces-2022-mobile-12th-gen-core.html\"\u003E12-gen Intel Evo\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is good enough. It might not be the powerhouse M1, but it delivers good enough performance in terms of CPU and energy consumption with its advertised 9 hours of real-world battery life with a full HD display. Most mainstream business users will be happy with it.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Macbook Air M1 has about a 15-hour battery life. Its wattage draw scales between 18W and 110W depending on the application load, such as if you were crunching video in Final Cut or playing a very resource-intensive FPS game.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELike Apple Silicon, Evo is an SoC platform with WiFi6 built into it and GPU, with a 35 to 45-watt total system footprint. To be clear, this is a laptop roughly comparable to a low-end 2020 M1 Macbook Air in terms of functionality, but these Evo chips are nowhere near as powerful. We should probably mention the new AMD Ryzen 6000 platform for laptops, an SoC platform getting much attention from PC manufacturers. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom a practical perspective, the only Arm game in town is Apple. Is Qualcomm going to make progress, sure, but that is a company that has its hands in many different vertical industries and businesses. Qualcomm is a hugely profitable in the embedded and wireless space; it doesn't need to make desktop chips to make money.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe same can be said of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.samsung.com\u002Fus\u002Fsamsungsemiconductor\u002Findex.html\"\u003ESamsung Semiconductor\u003C\u002Fa\u003E as well. The South Korean electronics giant has a tremendous revenue stream by minting chips for everyone. Although it has its own designs for its smartphones, tablets, and has a PC laptop business, it's \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.sammobile.com\u002Fnews\u002Fgoogles-tensor-soc-secret-samsung-exynos-chip\u002F\"\u003Epartnering with companies like Google\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and making their smartphone chips -- as well as for Qualcomm and, yes, Apple. So, it doesn't need to make desktop chips to be highly profitable either. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIs it a potentially significant expansion business for these two? Yes. Are desktop-level chips going to make them or break them? No. They can afford to take their time. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"5fd41f04-2c7b-4009-95f6-7c5c247289d9\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F5fd41f04-2c7b-4009-95f6-7c5c247289d9\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003ECan Arm on the PC desktop move forward?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHad Nvidia completed its purchase of Arm -- assuming \u003Cem\u003EBloomberg's\u003C\u002Fem\u003E report is true, that it abandoned the deal -- it would have been able to drive the future of the Arm architecture, including the core designs, and companies like Apple, Qualcomm, and Samsung would have licensed. \u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe merger\u002Facquisition would have given it an edge in its own chip designs to create chips that eventually would have caught up to Apple Silicon. So now Nvidia has to go at it without those benefits. In place of this acquisition, it also looks like Softbank is going to IPO Arm, making it a public company. However, without a large silicon manufacturer behind it, Arm is still a technology licensor. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI still believe that the business desktop has a next-generation future not tied to x86 PCs -- but it might not take the form that we expect it to take. I firmly believe the business desktop's ultimate destination is in the cloud, accessed by low-power, low-cost, solid-state, zero-configuration terminals running on minimal, embedded OSes, likely open-source ones. But that is an argument to be made in a future piece. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen do you think Windows and the PC will make the full Arm transition, if ever? \u003Cem\u003ETalk Back and Let Me Know.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"codesnippet\" data-code=\"PGlmcmFtZSBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vb3Blbi5zcG90aWZ5LmNvbS9lbWJlZC9lcGlzb2RlLzQ3enFGVzJJa0VHWWZEUks1SGh4emMiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDAlIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjIzMiIgZnJhbWVCb3JkZXI9IjAiIGFsbG93dHJhbnNwYXJlbmN5PSJ0cnVlIiBhbGxvdz0iZW5jcnlwdGVkLW1lZGlhIj48L2lmcmFtZT4=\" data-encoding=\"base64\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"73acd149-be52-4594-aa01-295e1bc9507b\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F73acd149-be52-4594-aa01-295e1bc9507b\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E \u003C\u002Fem\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-01-26 21:06:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"From a practical desktop perspective, the only Arm game in town right now is the Apple Silicon M1.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"549257d3-6378-464e-8c82-a606d80f4c4a",image:{id:"b1e03c55-97b4-4a27-8fb3-7424ca187964",filename:"shutterstock-1799864374.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-01-26 20:43:15",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"shutterstock-1799864374.jpg",credits:"Shutterstock",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F01\u002F26\u002Fb1e03c55-97b4-4a27-8fb3-7424ca187964\u002Fshutterstock-1799864374.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:5990,height:3993,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"product-promo",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^Processors",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"future-of-desktop-computing-is-it-all-in-apples-hands-with-arm",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Armed and ready: Did Nvidia just hand computing's future to Apple?",topic:{id:"1124f463-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"processors",name:"Processors",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"1124f463-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"processors",name:"Processors",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"0fbd54d0-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"apple",name:"Apple",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"0fcaf005-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"arm",name:"ARM",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"a0de22ce-dbed-419b-9a97-562689032701",username:"kwan2035",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"June",lastName:"Wan",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"4cc4d03e-eeaf-4b0c-bb8a-63d34de6cc51",filename:"1549928918804.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-06-03 20:04:44",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F06\u002F03\u002F4cc4d03e-eeaf-4b0c-bb8a-63d34de6cc51\u002F1549928918804.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"June serves as Technology Editor of ZDNET and is based in New York City. He reviews the latest consumer gadgets and shares advice to make the most out of them. When June isn't drooling over the next best thing, he's probably being let down by the Los Angeles Lakers.",profile:b,title:"Technology Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"92926651-c61a-4158-9806-70724ffbbe9f\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-alt-text=\"walmart-black-friday-early-sales-deals-samsung-chromebook-laptops-tablets.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"walmart-tech-deals.png\" data-image-date-created=\"2021\u002F12\u002F14\" data-image-width=\"1080\" data-image-height=\"608\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere are deals, and then there are \u003Cem\u003Edeals\u003C\u002Fem\u003E. In time for holiday shopping, Walmart currently has a plethora of fun and useful tech gadgets that make for great gifts and stocking stuffers -- all for at least 50% off. From smart home tech to wireless earbuds, check out the list below and see where you can save big this holiday season. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a06e1388-4c88-4280-9f68-bb484a8fa611\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis Walmart-exclusive streaming device gives you the best that Roku has to offer, including an intuitive remote control, 4K HDR streaming, and even JBL earbuds for an immersive audio experience. 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Relive the good old days with this digital picture frame by Sylvania. Once paired with your iOS or Android smartphone, you can populate pictures into the frame with a tap. It's convenient, easy to use, and full of throwback fun. 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The earbuds come with noise cancellation and a companion app that lets you tweak the EQ settings to your ears' content. 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For less than $25, this makes for a modernized and helpful bedside assistant, and can even respond to your voice prompts. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Lenovo Smart Clock (2nd Gen) + Smart Bulb for $24.88\" data-superlative=\"65% off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"lenovo-smart-clock-light-bulb","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Walmart","imageData":{"id":"695ab303-b66e-408c-a499-93b53410d357","title":"lenovo-smart-clock-light-bulb","filename":"spigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F03\u002F695ab303-b66e-408c-a499-93b53410d357\u002Fspigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":376354,"width":3084,"height":1936,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-12-03 21:05:50","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-12-03 21:05:59","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"lenovo-smart-clock-light-bulb","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"695ab303-b66e-408c-a499-93b53410d357","imageAltText":"lenovo-smart-clock-light-bulb","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Walmart","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"spigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F12\u002F03","imageWidth":3084,"imageHeight":1936,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Walmart\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgoto.walmart.com\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F565706\u002F9383?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FLenovo-Smart-Clock-Gen-2-Grey-Color-Smart-Bulb%2F507060083%3Fathbdg%3DL1800&subId1=[subid_value]","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walmart.com\u002Fip\u002FLenovo-Smart-Clock-Gen-2-Grey-Color-Smart-Bulb\u002F507060083?athbdg=L1800","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgoto.walmart.com\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F565706\u002F9383?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FLenovo-Smart-Clock-Gen-2-Grey-Color-Smart-Bulb%2F507060083%3Fathbdg%3DL1800&subId1=[subid_value]"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"daa05dfc-a660-41c7-8cbe-b7e55a025cbc\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EA little smart for your home, the Google Nest Mini (2nd Generation) is currently listing at $24.98 at Walmart. For the price, you're getting a compact smart speaker that can respond to your questions and hold a conversation. 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Adrian has authored\u002Fco-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include 'Build the Ultimate Custom PC', 'Beginning Programming' and 'The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide'. He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.",profile:b,title:"Contributing Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-build-a-gaming-pc\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBuilding a new gaming PC\u003C\u002Fa\u003E? One of the most important decisions that you'll have to make is what the best gaming motherboard is to buy and act as the foundation for your PC. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYes, the motherboard is the backbone of a PC. Sure, what CPU and GPU you buy will greatly determine the performance, but remember that everything connects to the motherboard, and if you fit a great CPU and GPU to a poor motherboard, you'll end up with a poor PC that offers a poor experience. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA good motherboard makes all the difference. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"49a2eab9-40e5-4be4-82c2-b10e0f1ab09c\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Ch3\u003ETech specs\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ELGA1700 socket\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EZ690 chipset\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESupport for 12th Generation Intel Core, Pentium Gold and Celeron processors\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDDR5 6200 max bandwidth\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E4x DDR DIMM sockets supporting up to 128 GB\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E1x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 and 2x PCI Express x16 slots, running at x4\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMax 2x USB 3.2 Gen2x2, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 6x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 8x USB 2.0\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E4x M.2 connectors, 6x SATA 6GB\u002Fs connectors\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003E&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPros\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDecent price for a high-end board\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDDR5 support\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMassive array of USB ports\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECons\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EReports of some owners complaining of the board being unstable in some configurations\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\" data-hed=\"Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Pro\" data-superlative=\"Best motherboard for Intel processors overall\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Pro","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"85f360ce-a772-4dc6-bab3-3c8673ee0620","title":"Gigabyte Z690 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Pro","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"2022-06-09-14-19-20.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F06\u002F09","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":729,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGigabyte-Z690-Aorus-Intel-Mainboard\u002Fdp\u002FB09KC7Q9TB\u002F?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"289.99","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGigabyte-Z690-Aorus-Intel-Mainboard\u002Fdp\u002FB09KC7Q9TB\u002F","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGigabyte-Z690-Aorus-Intel-Mainboard\u002Fdp\u002FB09KC7Q9TB\u002F?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"dd13a694-7adb-44b9-aef3-134ef82e671a\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Ch3\u003ETech specs\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ELGA1700 socket\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EZ690 chipset\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESupport for 12th Generation Intel Core, Pentium Gold and Celeron processors\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDDR4 5200 max bandwidth\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E4x DDR DIMM sockets supporting up to 128GB\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E1x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 and 1x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x4\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMax 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, 5x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 8x USB 2.0\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E3x M.2 connectors, 6x SATA 6GB\u002Fs connectors\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPros\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EReasonably priced (but not cheap)\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFully 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Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics, Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics Processors\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDDR4 4866 max bandwidth\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E4x DDR DIMM sockets supporting up to 128GB\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E1x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 and 1x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x4\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMax 5x USB3.2 Gen 2, 10x USB3.2 Gen 1, 4x USB2.0&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPros\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERock solid stability\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESolid overclocking tools\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHigh-quality components used in the build\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECons\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBIOS can be unfriendly for beginners\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\" data-hed=\"Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero\" data-superlative=\"Best motherboard for AMD processors overall\" 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data-id=\"1d89c11c-e5e1-4be5-80d3-5e91b6168bd2\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Ch3\u003ETech specs\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESocket AM4\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EX570S chipset\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESupport for AMD Ryzen 5000 Series, Ryzen 5000 G-Series, Ryzen 4000 G-Series, 3rd Gen Ryzen, 2nd Gen Ryzen, 2nd Gen Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics, Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics Processors\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDDR4 5400 max bandwidth\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E4x DDR DIMM sockets supporting up to 128GB\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E1x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 and 1x PCI Express 3.0 slot, running at x1\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMax 8x USB2.0, 3x USB3.2 Gen 1, 2x USB3.2 Type-C, 1x USB3.2 Type-A\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E4x M.2 connectors, 6x SATA 6GB\u002Fs connectors\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPros\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFanless chipset 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data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGIGABYTE-X570S-AORUS-Master-Motherboard\u002Fdp\u002FB083HZ796V\u002F?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"339.99","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGIGABYTE-X570S-AORUS-Master-Motherboard\u002Fdp\u002FB083HZ796V\u002F","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGIGABYTE-X570S-AORUS-Master-Motherboard\u002Fdp\u002FB083HZ796V\u002F?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"c38dfd69-d58e-4c6e-9b39-7c06c5b93cae\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Ctable\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProduct\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPrice\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFeature\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFeature\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMSI MAG B660 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$256.99\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Intel processors\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E128GB DDR5 RAM\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAsus Prime H610M-A D4\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$109.00\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Intel processors\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E128GB DDR4 RAM\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGigabyte X570 Aorus Ultra\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$689.00\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor AMD processors\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E128GB DDR4 RAM\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGigabyte X570S Aorus Master\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$399.99\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor AMD processors\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E128GB DDR4 RAM\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003C\u002Ftbody\u003E\u003C\u002Ftable\u003E\" data-hed=\"What's the best motherboard?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"57b7c137-c956-4038-b2e0-249dc9eba68d\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Ctable\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChoose this…\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you want or are…\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGigabyte Z690 Aorus Pro\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe best motherboard for Intel processors\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMSI MAG B660 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA solid motherboard without all the complexities of overclocking\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAsus Prime H610M-A D4\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn excellent, low-cost motherboard for Intel processors\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGigabyte X570 Aorus Ultra\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA motherboard that's easy to overclock\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAsus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe best motherboard for AMD processors\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGigabyte X570S Aorus Master\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA fanless motherboard for a quiet PC\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003C\u002Ftbody\u003E\u003C\u002Ftable\u003E\" data-hed=\"Which is the right motherboard for you?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"2dd67aef-d85e-49b9-a965-2ea1ed56f983\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis is a combination of products that I use from companies that I trust. All these companies have a reputation for building solid products with good support.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've covered both Intel and AMD chips, in a range of prices.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How were these products chosen?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"1f84e064-201c-435f-ad31-71559451067d\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis is where I highly recommend that you go to the manufacturers website and check the compatibility list. Most manufacturers produce a list of compatible CPUs and RAM modules, and this can be offer a wealth of information.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How do I know if the motherboard is compatible with all my other parts?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"de9809e0-dbcc-4f24-b5d0-991c0e609687\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EUnless you're upgrading a CPU and\u002For RAM to go with it, I would say no. The only time I would say yes to this is if your existing motherboard is unstable with the parts you have.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Is it worth "upgrading" a motherboard alone?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a51b05f9-a609-41f3-b67f-a71c5d74e675\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EYou can get a lot of of overclocking a system, but it's not for the faint of heart. Overclocking can be fun, but it can also be frustrating, and can damage components. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's one of those "at your own risk" things.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Is it worthwhile buying a motherboard that supports "overclocking"?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"0f8dcf8c-c7df-43bb-b3c5-b32096866db8\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EYou could, but remember that server motherboards are designed to handle different workloads to gaming motherboards. So while you could use a server motherboard in a gaming PC, performance would suffer a lot.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Can a server motherboard be used for gaming?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"b921bc40-dda2-437c-a379-5497b1930920\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThey should last you long enough for the PC to start feeling slow and old, and you're beginning to think about upgrading.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat said, gaming PCs are typically run faster and hotter than standard PCs, and as such components failure is more common, but in my experience you should get a number of years of happy gaming from a motherboard before you have problems.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How long do gaming motherboards last?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2021-10-29 13:23:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Building your dream gaming PC? Choosing the best motherboard can make all the difference.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"6f367935-1347-4203-a280-19f44cabdfdb",image:{id:"3dcbf6f0-8212-4cf6-b0f0-1986302424ac",filename:"2022-06-09-18-40-02.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-06-09 17:42:25",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"2021-10-27-09-55-22.jpg",credits:b,caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F06\u002F09\u002F3dcbf6f0-8212-4cf6-b0f0-1986302424ac\u002F2022-06-09-18-40-02.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1296,height:728,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"best-list",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Hardware",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"The best gaming motherboards of 2022: ASUS, Gigabyte, and more",section:c,slug:"best-gaming-motherboard",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Best gaming motherboard 2022: ASUS, Gigabyte, and more",topic:{id:"10666ed8-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"hardware",name:"Hardware",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"10666ed8-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"hardware",name:"Hardware",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"0fb04832-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"after-hours",name:"After Hours",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"af36937c-c95c-4bf0-9c02-831f70ad9a0c",slug:"best-lists",name:"Best Lists",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f1f7db06-c6f9-4e80-8187-60ad48f035a1",slug:"zdnet-recommends",name:"ZDNET Recommends",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"fbd166e7-b869-42f4-b25e-4c99e1d251a8\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"HyperX\" data-image-alt-text=\"A young man is sitting at a desk, using two Armada 27 monitors to play video games on his PC.\" data-image-filename=\"pr-armada-27-prod-name-1120x592.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F22\" data-image-width=\"1120\" data-image-height=\"592\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHyperX has expanded its lineup of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fhyperx-alloy-origins-core-keyboard-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Egaming peripherals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E with the Armada 27 monitor. The company's first foray into displays is an excellent, and affordable, option for both PC gaming newcomers and anyone looking to upgrade their current battle station. And since it comes packaged with a mounting arm that permits a lot of flexibility in placement. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"efbd3e2b-8b43-424d-b5c4-caefa2cfd9ce\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Buy the Armada 27 here\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"a0c0a786-8375-4ed2-b7aa-959d5070453c","filename":"img-1951.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F22\u002Fa0c0a786-8375-4ed2-b7aa-959d5070453c\u002Fimg-1951.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-08-22 18:31:30","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"a0c0a786-8375-4ed2-b7aa-959d5070453c","imageFilename":"img-1951.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F08\u002F22"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fhyperx.com\u002Fproducts\u002Fhyperx-armada-27-gaming-monitor\" data-offerprice=\"499.99\" data-offermerchant=\"HyperX\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Armada 27 provides up to 1440p resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, and 1ms response time, making it a great choice for anyone who wants higher-resolution gaming but isn't quite ready to invest in a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fsmart-office\u002Fbest-4k-monitor\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E4K monitor\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. The IPS panel is capable of producing 95 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which means you'll get incredible color volume and range for more lifelike images. During our testing, bright colors popped against dark backgrounds, and whites and grays never looked washed out; combined with the QHD resolution, you'll be able to see more details than with a 1080p display. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"8a0eb791-b379-4da4-ad67-6ab91eede7b7\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F8a0eb791-b379-4da4-ad67-6ab91eede7b7\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's also compatible with G-Sync VRR technology, which means that the refresh rate of the display will match the refresh rate of your Nvidia GPU, preventing annoying screen tearing and stuttering that can ruin the immersion and your online matches.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith a brightness of up to 400 nits, the Armada 27 is bright enough to see clearly in well-lit rooms without being blinding, and the 178-degree viewing angle means you'll get a good image even when the screen is tilted or you're sitting to the side. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe screen comes packaged with a mounting arm that's as impressive as it is practical. It comes with both a C-clamp and a grommet desk mount system, giving you plenty of options for placement no matter what kind of desk you use. When fully assembled, the arm can give you up to 18 inches of height, which is plenty of room to have another 27-inch monitor underneath it, as I have with my personal setup.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"4d8789fd-ed12-4192-805e-73457a2275a5\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Hyper X\" data-image-alt-text=\"A young man adjusting two monitors attached to Armada Gaming Mount arms.\" data-image-filename=\"armada-gaming-mount-1-pr-1120x592.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F22\" data-image-width=\"1120\" data-image-height=\"592\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe main mounting arm can support up to 20 pounds and displays up to 32 inches wide, which is more than strong enough for the 8-pound, 27-inch HyperX screen. The arm attaches to the back of the display with a simple and intuitive snap plate, though it does come with a VESA plate if you want it for another display. The snap plate lets you mount and remove the display in just seconds, which is great for when you need to run cables or clean.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-gaming-monitor\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe 6 best gaming monitors\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe arm itself also has an excellent range of motion, letting you rotate, tilt, raise, lower, and shift the monitor from side to side for the perfect placement on your desk. I do wish the arm extended to just another few millimeters of height to ensure clearance above bigger monitors, but tilting the screen back prevents displays from knocking into one another. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Armada 27 sells for $499.99, which puts it in the same tier as the 27-inch \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"8d1aceeb-bafc-487c-8bb4-3cbbe0c375bb\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fstore.acer.com\u002Fen-us\u002F27-predator-gaming-monitor-xb271hu-bmiprz\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Acer Predator XB1\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and 27-inch \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"0e83e803-3d79-4062-be09-a00b1875a831\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FASUS-Strix-XG27AQ-W-Gaming-Monitor\u002Fdp\u002FB09TV7DHV1?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Asus ROG Strix XG27AQ-W\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. Both competing displays also provide 1440p resolution, as well as similar refresh rates, response times, and VRR compatibility. The Asus ROG Strix display has built-in speakers, whereas the Armada 27 does not, so keep in mind that you'll need a dedicated headset or set of external speakers when shopping.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-gaming-headset\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBest gaming headset: Immersive sound for an extra edge\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn all, the Armada 27 is an excellent display for gaming as well as everyday work. The high resolution and refresh rate create stunning images and smoother playback while the 1ms response time gives you near-instant reactions to your keypresses and mouse clicks. And with the included mounting arm, the Armada 27 is well worth the $500 price tag. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"47b1617b-799d-4263-9878-ccc4bc00d4b9\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F47b1617b-799d-4263-9878-ccc4bc00d4b9\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-08-24 10:15:02",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The Armada 27 is an excellent midrange monitor for PC gamers looking to buy their first screen or upgrade their current setup.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"363dbfaa-a838-4357-8dee-92f1603754fa",image:{id:"70072e5f-f27a-45ea-8da7-bd8428463099",filename:"pr-armada-27-prod-name-1120x592.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-22 18:34:10",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"A young man is sitting at a desk, using two Armada 27 monitors to play video games on his PC.",credits:"HyperX",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F22\u002F70072e5f-f27a-45ea-8da7-bd8428463099\u002Fpr-armada-27-prod-name-1120x592.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1120,height:592,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"product-promo",hubTopicPathString:"Home & Office^Home Entertainment^Gaming^Gaming Accessories",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"HyperX Armada 27: A hands-on first look at HyperX's first gaming monitor",section:c,slug:"hyperx-armada-27-first-look",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"HyperX Armada 27: A hands-on first look at HyperX's first gaming monitor",topic:{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"112a7545-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"reviews",name:"Reviews",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"a7ecc6fa-8176-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"Mary Jo Foley",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Mary Jo",lastName:"Foley",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"8215236b-63b7-491f-91ad-190439d0bf94",filename:"mary-jo-foley.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 14:57:09",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F8215236b-63b7-491f-91ad-190439d0bf94\u002Fmary-jo-foley.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Mary Jo Foley has covered the tech industry for 30 years for a variety of publications, including ZDNET, eWeek, and Baseline. She is the author of Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft plans to stay relevant in the post-Gates era (John Wiley & Sons, 2008). She also is the co-host of the \"Windows Weekly\" podcast on the TWiT network. \r\n\r\nGot a tip? Send her an email with your rants, rumors, tips, and tattles. Confidentiality guaranteed.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"a76016d2-a7cc-4281-a6e5-f7f881a506e8\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-alt-text=\"windows11sepcseducation.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"windows11sepcseducation.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F01\u002F18\" data-image-width=\"768\" data-image-height=\"507\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELast fall, Microsoft announced \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-introduces-windows-11-se-new-250-surface-laptop-se-for-education-market\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWindows 11 SE\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, a version of Windows 11 streamlined for the education market. At that time, the company also debuted the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-introduces-windows-11-se-new-250-surface-laptop-se-for-education-market\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E$250 Surface Laptop SE\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, its first device with Windows 11 SE preloaded. Today, Jan. 18, a number of PC makers also went public with their own Windows 11 SE devices, starting as low as $219. \u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003EAmong the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogs.windows.com\u002Fwindowsexperience\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F09\u002Fintroducing-windows-11-se-and-devices-to-support-k-8-classrooms\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Enew Windows 11 SE devices announced\u003C\u002Fa\u003E: \u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAcer TravelMate Spin B3 laptop: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EAn 11.6-inch device for K-12 students that includes durability enhancements like shock-absorbent bumpers and keys designed to protect against moderate spills. This laptop comes with a choice of Pentium Silver or Celeron, Intel Wi-Fi 6, and reported 10-hour battery life. (There's also a Windows 11 SE-based Acer TravelMate B3.) \u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAsus BR100F:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E A laptop meant for \"students of all ages\" that's been built to be resistant to drops, knocks, and spills. It includes a touchscreen display and pen, a 360-degree hinge, Wi-Fi 6, as well as optional 4G LTE. \u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDell Latitude 3120 and 3120 2-in-1 for Education:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E These PCs come with 11-inch displays, Intel Celeron Quad-Core and Pentium Quad-Core processors, fast charging, Wi-Fi-6, and scratch-resistant glass (on the 2-in-1). There's also an optional pen. \u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDynabook E10-S: From Dynabook (formerly Toshiba PC):\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E This 11.6-inch model is \"backpack-safe\" with a reinforced chassis and bumpers, 18-degree hinges, and a spill-resistant keyboard. It comes with a number of ports, including USB-C. (Dynabook also has a Satellite Pro E105 that's powered by Windows 11 SE.) \u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHP ProBook Fortis 14-inch G9 Notebook: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E14-inch display, Wi-Fi 6, a starting weight of 3.7 pounds, textured surface for easier gripping, spill-resistant keyboard and molded rubber trim for absorbing shocks, plus reinforced hinges. (HP also has the Pro x360 Fortis 11-inch G9 Notebook that's powered by Windows 11 SE.) \u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJP.IK Leap T304: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EStarting at $219, this device is ruggedized; includes an anti-glare display, and is made from sustainably cultivated and recyclable plastic. (There's also the JP.IK Turn T303, starting at $269, that runs Windows 11 SE.) \u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003ELenovo 100W, 300w, 500w, and 14w laptops powered by Windows 11 SE. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"58e64049-0a38-4d0c-9457-534ddda5f7be\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"ZDNet Recommends: HP Elite Dragonfly G2 -- Windows 11 Laptop\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"0cee6f9d-fa89-4763-8aa5-57f893427236","filename":"hp-elite-dragonfly-g2-front-right.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F03\u002F0cee6f9d-fa89-4763-8aa5-57f893427236\u002Fhp-elite-dragonfly-g2-front-right.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2020-01-03 21:18:06","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"0cee6f9d-fa89-4763-8aa5-57f893427236","imageFilename":"hp-elite-dragonfly-g2-front-right.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2020\u002F01\u002F03"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hp.com\u002Fus-en\u002Fshop\u002Fmdp\u002Felitebook--zbook---probook\u002Fhp-elite-dragonfly#!&tab=vao\" data-offerprice=\"1839\" data-offermerchant=\"HP\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.awin1.com\u002Fcread.php?awinmid=7168&awinaffid=423585&clickref=[subid_value]&ued=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hp.com\u002Fus-en\u002Fshop\u002Fmdp\u002Felitebook--zbook---probook\u002Fhp-elite-dragonfly#!&tab=vao\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EMicrosoft officials said there will be more Windows 11 SE devices coming later this year, including models from Fujitsu and Positivo.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-introduces-windows-11-se-new-250-surface-laptop-se-for-education-market\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWindows 11 SE is a simplified version of Windows 11\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, customized for the K-12 education market, and is designed to help Microsoft and its partners try to better compete with Chromebooks. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 11 SE is not the same as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-switching-out-of-windows-10-s-mode-will-be-free-for-all\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWindows 10 in S Mode\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. However, the types of apps Windows 11 SE users can install and run natively will be limited to six categories: Content-filtering apps, test-taking apps, accessibility apps, classroom communication apps, diagnostics\u002Fmanagement\u002Fconnectivity, and supportability apps and browsers. Students won't be able to download things like games, YouTube, etc., on Windows 11 SE by design. It's supposed to be a platform for running a set of apps curated by school IT\u002Fadmins.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"11d06a52-f745-42cd-a335-edf5631018f1\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F11d06a52-f745-42cd-a335-edf5631018f1\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-01-18 14:03:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Microsoft partners are starting to roll out their Windows 11 SE Chromebook-compete devices, which start as low as $219.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"aa5b64ce-1b0e-4c55-962d-78ef44153c77",image:{id:"a76016d2-a7cc-4281-a6e5-f7f881a506e8",filename:"windows11sepcseducation.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-01-18 13:40:41",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"windows11sepcseducation.jpg",credits:b,caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F01\u002F18\u002Fa76016d2-a7cc-4281-a6e5-f7f881a506e8\u002Fwindows11sepcseducation.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:768,height:507,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"product-promo",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Services & Software^Operating Systems^Windows^Windows 11",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"pc-makers-take-the-wraps-off-windows-11-se-devices-for-education",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"PC makers take the wraps off Windows 11 SE devices for education",topic:{id:"41040cf0-0abb-4cd0-aad1-1cb0e38b334c",slug:"windows-11",name:"Windows 11",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"41040cf0-0abb-4cd0-aad1-1cb0e38b334c",slug:"windows-11",name:"Windows 11",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"863fe219-de4d-4c2d-9e95-55e19301075a",slug:"education",name:"Education",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"39cc974a-10d8-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"Angelica Mari",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Angelica",lastName:"Mari",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"92a37a2b-d873-4d3a-847a-c5dc666d2728",filename:"angelica-mari-author.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2016-08-30 17:28:57",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2016\u002F08\u002F30\u002F92a37a2b-d873-4d3a-847a-c5dc666d2728\u002Fangelica-mari-author.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Angelica Mari is a Brazil-based technology journalist. She started working at age 15 as a computer instructor and started writing professionally about technology two years later. Since then, she has built a solid track-record of exclusive reporting and opinion published in leading publications globally, published books and led successful events, campaigns and communities online and offline. Angelica has lived, worked and studied overseas (Italy and UK) for a decade. She returned to Sao Paulo in December 2011 and since then has focused on reporting on how technology impacts Brazilian businesses and society. In addition, she works on content creation, translation and localization, as well as conference production and speaking for technology companies worldwide.",profile:b,title:"Contributing Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"d2c8d2e3-a125-48c1-b8aa-af507b069739\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fd2c8d2e3-a125-48c1-b8aa-af507b069739\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe market for personal computers in Brazil remained bullish in 2021 with a significant increase in sales despite the difficulties the pandemic has presented to the sector, according to analyst firm IDC. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to the research, the segment grew in the first three months of 2021 and the trend continued in the second and third quarters of the year. Approximately 2 million computers were sold in Q2 with 2.3 million shipments in Q3; IDC noted the figures are respectively 60.2% and 41.3% higher than in the same periods of 2020, which had already been considered a good year for the sector.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"In 2021, the PC market saw an impressive leap, even with the shortage of components, which has been inhibiting market growth and became an even more sensitive issue in the third quarter,\" said Daniel Voltarelli, ICT market analyst at IDC Brazil.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn relation to the sales for the second quarter of 2021, 408,000 were desktops and 1.6 million were notebooks, respectively an increase of 56% and 60% in relation to the same period in 2020. While the corporate market purchased 760,000 units, retail sales reached 1.2 million. While business sales had a 109% increase in Q2 2020, retail sales were up by 40%. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe average price of desktops in Brazil was BRL 3.305 (USD 599), while notebooks were priced at BRL 4.314 (USD 780) on average. There was an increase of 13% and 4% in the price of laptops and desktops, respectively. The total revenue for the segment in April, May, and June 2021 exceeded BRL 8 million (USD 1.4 billion), up 80% on the same period in 2020. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"511c8bc3-f38f-4ad9-9dcb-86a51cdf3420\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"ZDNet Recommends: iMac\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"apple-imac-24-2021-colours.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"9beb6ea3-2956-4f19-995f-0eeed6f50837","filename":"apple-imac-24-2021-colours.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F05\u002F24\u002F9beb6ea3-2956-4f19-995f-0eeed6f50837\u002Fapple-imac-24-2021-colours.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2021-05-24 07:54:33","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"9beb6ea3-2956-4f19-995f-0eeed6f50837","imageFilename":"apple-imac-24-2021-colours.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F05\u002F24"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fimac\" data-offerprice=\"1699\" data-offermerchant=\"Apple\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs for the third quarter, of the approximate total amount of PCs sold of 2.3 million, around 430,000 were desktops and 1.8 million were notebooks, up 34% and 43% in relation to Q3 2020. Businesses purchased 941,000 units while retail sales totaled 1.35 million, an increase of 108% and 15% in relation to the same period in the prior year.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to IDC's Voltarelli, the increase seen in the Brazilian PC market is due to factors such as the gradual recovery of the economy and consumers looking to update their computers and, mainly, increase the computer\u002Fuser ratio at home. \"A family of four, for example, which only had one computer, needed to buy another PC to accommodate their daily activities,\" the analyst noted. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor the last quarter of 2021, IDC predicts the Brazilian PC market will still see growth, but there will be a slowdown in relation to previous quarters. \"There is a global competition for components and manufacturers make choices daily about their supply logistics, and Brazil will not always be first in line,\" Voltarelli noted. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMoreover, IDC noted Brazilian consumers have been looking for higher standard computers since they are now relying more on their PCs and want machines with better memory, processors, and video resources. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn the other hand, PC prices have seen an increase in 2021, due to factors such as high inflation and scarcity of components. According to IDC, desktops in Brazil had an average price of BRL 3.384 (USD 612) while notebooks cost BRL 4.475 (USD 810) between July and September 2021, up 13% and 15% on the same period in 2020. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"6ce0e79b-438d-497b-ab2b-ff7b960d3851\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F6ce0e79b-438d-497b-ab2b-ff7b960d3851\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-01-19 13:53:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The segment has seen a significant leap in 2021 despite supply chain challenges, according to IDC.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"ab8bf7b6-aa9c-4ac5-a940-1cc4554117f6",image:{id:"2ea4fa40-b4b7-4e55-bbe4-91c1ffc98a4d",filename:"shutterstock-1520493251.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2021-10-12 12:07:59",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"shutterstock-1520493251.jpg",credits:"Shutterstock \u002F Yuganov Konstantin",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F10\u002F12\u002F2ea4fa40-b4b7-4e55-bbe4-91c1ffc98a4d\u002Fshutterstock-1520493251.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:5500,height:3669,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"product-promo",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"pc-market-remains-bullish-in-brazil",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"PC market remains bullish in Brazil",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10666ed8-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"hardware",name:"Hardware",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"11858747-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"tech-industry",name:"Tech Industry",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"a0de22ce-dbed-419b-9a97-562689032701",username:"kwan2035",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"June",lastName:"Wan",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"4cc4d03e-eeaf-4b0c-bb8a-63d34de6cc51",filename:"1549928918804.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-06-03 20:04:44",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F06\u002F03\u002F4cc4d03e-eeaf-4b0c-bb8a-63d34de6cc51\u002F1549928918804.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"June serves as Technology Editor of ZDNET and is based in New York City. He reviews the latest consumer gadgets and shares advice to make the most out of them. When June isn't drooling over the next best thing, he's probably being let down by the Los Angeles Lakers.",profile:b,title:"Technology Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"595fe248-f636-471e-a040-8e1ff0c0b19c\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-alt-text=\"lenovo-black-friday-2021-deals-sales-specials-offers-schedule-laptops-thinkpad-desktops-chromebooks.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"blackfridaycostco.png\" data-image-date-created=\"2021\u002F11\u002F04\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"1068\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUpdate: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EBlack Friday and Cyber Monday 2021 are done and dusted, so the deals below are no longer valid. Check out our \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Ftopic\u002Fzdnet-recommends\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EZDNet Recommends\u003C\u002Fa\u003E hub for a better look at the latest deals available or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fholiday-gift-guide-2021\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EZDNet's 2021 Holiday Gift Guide\u003C\u002Fa\u003E hub for recommendations on gifts for all. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBlack Friday is in full effect, with retailers like \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Famazon-best-early-black-friday-deals-now\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAmazon\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-buy-early-black-friday-deals-2021\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest Buy\u003C\u002Fa\u003E pushing out deals by the minute. Likewise, Costco, everyone's go-to store for all things wholesale (and samples), is just as ahead of the game. From its Black Friday catalog of tech savings, we've listed all the best online-only promotions below.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENote that a Costco membership is required to access its online and physical stores. Given all the holiday deals to come, now is the best time to purchase one for yourself if you haven't enrolled. Below are the different membership tiers available, their benefits, and fees. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.kqzyfj.com\u002Fclick-3586864-13840810?u1=[subid_value]\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGold Star Membership\u003C\u002Fa\u003E: $60 annual fee, access to all Costco locations\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.kqzyfj.com\u002Fclick-3586864-13840810?u1=[subid_value]\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EExecutive Membership\u003C\u002Fa\u003E: $120 annual fee, access to all Costco locations, annual 2% cashback on spending\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"3fe8e69a-0015-47cc-bb78-d25b5cc895f2\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EGo big or go home -- or, go big at home. Costco is headlining its Black Friday catalog with a $700 discount on the LG 86'' Class 4K TV and throwing in a $200 Costco Shop card. That puts the TV at $1,999.99, a great value for how much screen you're getting. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"LG 86'' Class NANO85 Series 4K TV for $1,999.99\" data-superlative=\"$700 off + $200 Costco Shop card\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"samsung-65-q7da-qled-4k-smart-tv-qn65q7daafxza","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"a50802f9-f0c5-4411-87c0-6135c1da61db","title":"lg-86-class-nano85-series-4k-uhd-led-lcd-tv","filename":"screenshot-2021-11-04-at-14-44-15-lg-86-class-nano85-series-4k-uhd-led-lcd-tv-allstate-3-year-protection-plan-bundle.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F04\u002Fa50802f9-f0c5-4411-87c0-6135c1da61db\u002Fscreenshot-2021-11-04-at-14-44-15-lg-86-class-nano85-series-4k-uhd-led-lcd-tv-allstate-3-year-protection-plan-bundle.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":540006,"width":655,"height":406,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-11-04 18:44:43","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-11-04 18:44:51","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"lg-86-class-nano85-series-4k-uhd-led-lcd-tv","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"a50802f9-f0c5-4411-87c0-6135c1da61db","imageAltText":"samsung-65-q7da-qled-4k-smart-tv-qn65q7daafxza","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"screenshot-2021-11-04-at-14-44-15-lg-86-class-nano85-series-4k-uhd-led-lcd-tv-allstate-3-year-protection-plan-bundle.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F11\u002F04","imageWidth":655,"imageHeight":406,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Costco","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.costco.com\u002Flg-86%22-class---nano85-series---4k-uhd-led-lcd-tv---allstate-3-year-protection-plan-bundle-included-for-5-years-of-total-coverage*.product.100761657.html","url":""}]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"b49cab91-460a-4397-a0d2-f2d79a03a9a7\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe MacBook Air has become a tried-and-true laptop thanks most in part to Apple's M1 chip. Besides excellent battery life and efficient performance throughout, Costco has the 256GB model discounted to $799.99 right now. That makes for a stellar pickup -- whether you're a student or worker. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Apple MacBook Air 13.3'' M1 256GB for $799.99\" data-superlative=\"$150 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"Apple MacBook Air with Apple M1","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"8fc6797b-5497-4090-b9d6-fd80938e2122","title":"Apple MacBook Air with Apple M1","filename":"2021-06-18-11-14-09.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F06\u002F18\u002F8fc6797b-5497-4090-b9d6-fd80938e2122\u002F2021-06-18-11-14-09.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":129948,"width":1600,"height":1065,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-06-18 10:15:20","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-06-18 10:15:25","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"Apple MacBook Air with Apple M1","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"8fc6797b-5497-4090-b9d6-fd80938e2122","imageAltText":"Apple MacBook Air with Apple M1","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"2021-06-18-11-14-09.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F06\u002F18","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":1065,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Costco","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.costco.com\u002Fmacbook-air-13.3%22-%e2%80%93-apple-m1-chip-8-core-cpu%2c-8-core-gpu-%e2%80%93-8gb-memory-%e2%80%93-512gb-ssd-%e2%80%93-silver.product.100688305.html","url":""}]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"23e796a1-a21a-44f2-9912-81f6e807692a\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EFor a reliable productivity machine, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite makes for a great pickup. It's not the newest model from Samsung but has most of the benefits that the Tab S7 comes with, and Costco is bundling the $100-off tablet with an S Pen and book cover. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Samsung Galaxy 10.4'' Tab S6 Lite for $279.99\" data-superlative=\"$100 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"galaxy-tab-s6-lite.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"31e026f1-aae4-4a07-9d62-47859f15afa3","title":"samsung-galaxy-10-4-tab-s6-lite-64gb-oxford-gray-includes-book-cover","filename":"screenshot-2021-11-15-at-11-07-21-samsung-galaxy-10-4-tab-s6-lite-64gb-oxford-gray-includes-book-cover.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F15\u002F31e026f1-aae4-4a07-9d62-47859f15afa3\u002Fscreenshot-2021-11-15-at-11-07-21-samsung-galaxy-10-4-tab-s6-lite-64gb-oxford-gray-includes-book-cover.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":565712,"width":923,"height":630,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-11-15 16:07:43","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-11-15 16:07:47","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"samsung-galaxy-10-4-tab-s6-lite-64gb-oxford-gray-includes-book-cover","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"31e026f1-aae4-4a07-9d62-47859f15afa3","imageAltText":"galaxy-tab-s6-lite.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"screenshot-2021-11-15-at-11-07-21-samsung-galaxy-10-4-tab-s6-lite-64gb-oxford-gray-includes-book-cover.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F11\u002F15","imageWidth":923,"imageHeight":630,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Costco","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.costco.com\u002Fsamsung-galaxy-10.4%22-tab-s6-lite-64gb---oxford-gray---includes-book-cover.product.100660228.html","url":""}]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"7b8026b1-7e57-41a7-bf1e-726d66ad4827\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EPossibly the cheapest we'll be seeing the Apple AirPods Pro, Costco currently has the active noise-canceling earbuds going for just $169.99 ($79 off). These are arguably the best wireless earbuds you can buy, whether you're an audiophile or not. It's\u003Cem\u003E the\u003C\u002Fem\u003E earbud to buy for family, friends, coworkers, or yourself if you want excellent sound quality, a secure and comfortable fit, and all the Apple magic when paired to an iPhone. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Apple AirPods Pro for $169.99\" data-superlative=\"$79 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"airpods-pro-better.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Apple","imageData":{"id":"e09dff39-0f89-4615-acd8-fd1cfc86ff5d","title":"airpods-pro-better","filename":"airpods-pro-better.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F16\u002Fe09dff39-0f89-4615-acd8-fd1cfc86ff5d\u002Fairpods-pro-better.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":203207,"width":1462,"height":894,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-11-16 17:19:26","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-11-16 17:19:44","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":"Apple","alt":"airpods-pro-better.png","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":["airpods","airpods pro","apple","earbuds"],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"e09dff39-0f89-4615-acd8-fd1cfc86ff5d","imageAltText":"airpods-pro-better.png","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Apple","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"airpods-pro-better.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F11\u002F16","imageWidth":1462,"imageHeight":894,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Apple\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Costco","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.costco.com\u002Fapple-airpods-pro-with-magsafe-charging-case.product.100806319.html","url":""}]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"cce3c2b1-3444-47c9-a7f2-a999f65e8ad6\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EBlink an eye and you might miss this sweet deal on a smart home security kit. Though SimpliSafe may not ring a bell when it comes to smart home brands, it's become a front runner for offering the best value hardware. Costco has the 10-piece kit, which includes a smart hub, a security door lock, motion sensors, a camera, and more, on sale for $129.99 ($70 off). Note that this does include a free three-month surveillance membership that will cost you $24.99 a month after the trial. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"SimpliSafe 10-Piece Home Security Kit for $129.99\" data-superlative=\"$70 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"simplisafe-home-security-kit-with-hd-camera","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"395f1f88-b1af-4eba-88b8-929b48624603","title":"simplisafe-home-security-kit-with-hd-camera","filename":"screenshot-2021-11-15-at-11-09-17-simplisafe-home-security-kit-with-hd-camera.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F15\u002F395f1f88-b1af-4eba-88b8-929b48624603\u002Fscreenshot-2021-11-15-at-11-09-17-simplisafe-home-security-kit-with-hd-camera.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":190490,"width":946,"height":601,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-11-15 16:09:53","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-11-15 16:09:58","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"simplisafe-home-security-kit-with-hd-camera","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"395f1f88-b1af-4eba-88b8-929b48624603","imageAltText":"simplisafe-home-security-kit-with-hd-camera","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"screenshot-2021-11-15-at-11-09-17-simplisafe-home-security-kit-with-hd-camera.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F11\u002F15","imageWidth":946,"imageHeight":601,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Costco","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.costco.com\u002Fsimplisafe-home-security-kit-with-hd-camera.product.100711821.html","url":""}]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"c547f021-2e6f-4a43-a23a-61f9890d0b92\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EStarting today, Costco will also have the MSI Prestige 14'' laptop on sale for $999.99 ($300 off). For the price, you get an 11th-Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD -- all of which make for a rather future-proofed computer.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"MSI Prestige 14'' Laptop for $999.99\" data-superlative=\"$300 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"lg-65-up7000-4k-uhd-smart-tv-65up7000pua.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"31b7e33e-172a-493b-8794-c8dfdff364c3","title":"msi-prestige-14-evo-laptop","filename":"screenshot-2021-11-04-at-14-56-07-msi-prestige-14-evo-laptop-11th-gen-intel-core-i7-1195g7-1080p.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F04\u002F31b7e33e-172a-493b-8794-c8dfdff364c3\u002Fscreenshot-2021-11-04-at-14-56-07-msi-prestige-14-evo-laptop-11th-gen-intel-core-i7-1195g7-1080p.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":211833,"width":593,"height":395,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-11-04 18:56:24","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-11-04 18:56:31","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"msi-prestige-14-evo-laptop","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"31b7e33e-172a-493b-8794-c8dfdff364c3","imageAltText":"lg-65-up7000-4k-uhd-smart-tv-65up7000pua.png","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"screenshot-2021-11-04-at-14-56-07-msi-prestige-14-evo-laptop-11th-gen-intel-core-i7-1195g7-1080p.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F11\u002F04","imageWidth":593,"imageHeight":395,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Costco","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.costco.com\u002Fmsi-prestige-14-evo-laptop---11th-gen-intel-core-i7-1195g7---1080p.product.100794666.html","url":""}]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"2fb29b62-fe82-4698-b686-e12bed72d4c4\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIf you plan on capturing all the memories of Thanksgiving and Christmas, then having a portable SSD will come in handy for storage. Today, Costco will is taking $40 off the SanDisk NVMe 1TB SSD, marking it down to just $99. It's durable, compact, and great for keeping photos and videos intact.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"SanDisk NVMe 1TB Portable SSD for $99.99\" data-superlative=\"$40 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"Apple AirPods Pro","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"2a923fb5-45d7-4480-a3f7-4d7bae212a15","title":"SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD","filename":"tr06.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2019\u002F09\u002F01\u002F2a923fb5-45d7-4480-a3f7-4d7bae212a15\u002Ftr06.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":207942,"width":630,"height":498,"dateCreated":{"date":"2019-09-01 08:08:22","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2019-09-01 08:08:34","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"2a923fb5-45d7-4480-a3f7-4d7bae212a15","imageAltText":"Apple AirPods Pro","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"tr06.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2019\u002F09\u002F01","imageWidth":630,"imageHeight":498,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Costco","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.costco.com\u002Fsandisk-nvme-extreme-portable-1tb-solid-state-drive.product.100780552.html","url":""}]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"2a4eef33-4b31-4158-a16f-92c85ebe2407\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EFor a decent-sized curved monitor, you can't go wrong with the Samsung's 32-inch offering for $349.99 ($50 off). Notorious for its color accuracy and sharpness, the curved panel makes for the perfect monitor for gaming and entertainment. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Samsung 32'' Class Curved Monitor for $349.99\" data-superlative=\"$50 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"garmin-vivosmart-4.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"ae37de26-3256-4c6b-9feb-a942971273be","title":"Samsung 32\\" Curved 4K Monitor (UR59C)","filename":"multi-tasking-monitors-samsung.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2020\u002F04\u002F30\u002Fae37de26-3256-4c6b-9feb-a942971273be\u002Fmulti-tasking-monitors-samsung.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003Exxx\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":343460,"width":770,"height":578,"dateCreated":{"date":"2020-04-30 07:28:21","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2020-04-30 07:28:48","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Samsung","alt":"Samsung 32\\" Curved 4K Monitor (UR59C)","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"ae37de26-3256-4c6b-9feb-a942971273be","imageAltText":"garmin-vivosmart-4.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"multi-tasking-monitors-samsung.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2020\u002F04\u002F30","imageWidth":770,"imageHeight":578,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Costco","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.costco.com\u002Fsamsung-32%22-class-uhd-curved-monitor.product.100512595.html","url":""}]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"c50f159d-2dd1-411a-9a44-45606ee58fad\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EFor less than $250, the Samsung Galaxy Book Go 14'' comes with all the specs you need to get a typical day's work done. I think the 14'' screen size is the sweet spot for laptops and is perfect for those on the go (as the branding suggests). The Galaxy Book is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7C Gen 2 processor and has 128GB of built-in storage. I'd want a little more storage but can't complain at this price point. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Samsung Galaxy Book Go 14'' laptop for $249.99\" data-superlative=\"$100 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"galaxy-book-go-pr-main2.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"da9c25bb-1aba-4817-bc26-9376d1de4217","title":"galaxy-book-go-pr-main2","filename":"galaxy-book-go-pr-main2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F06\u002F03\u002Fda9c25bb-1aba-4817-bc26-9376d1de4217\u002Fgalaxy-book-go-pr-main2.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003EImage: Samsung\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":324938,"width":1000,"height":667,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-06-03 03:31:36","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-06-03 03:31:43","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"galaxy-book-go-pr-main2.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"da9c25bb-1aba-4817-bc26-9376d1de4217","imageAltText":"galaxy-book-go-pr-main2.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"galaxy-book-go-pr-main2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F06\u002F03","imageWidth":1000,"imageHeight":667,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Costco","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.costco.com\u002Fsamsung-galaxy-book-go-14%22-laptop---qualcomm-snapdragon-7c-gen-2---1080p---microsoft-365-personal-(1-year-subscription).product.100786979.html","url":""}]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs always, we will be monitoring all the deals available at Costco throughout the weekend. Be sure to follow this page for the most up-to-date promotions available. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"3d3fced7-aaf2-4d1e-bad2-5038ae9fb1c1\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F3d3fced7-aaf2-4d1e-bad2-5038ae9fb1c1\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2021-11-26 16:51:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Costco has unveiled its catalog of Black Friday deals and we've rounded up the very best. From TVs to home security, take advantage of their deals launched worldwide before it's too late.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"f4adfc17-b558-44d5-aeab-96bd1a25e4a8",image:{id:"60a48023-dd61-4052-8962-73644e03ccef",filename:"blackfridaycostco.png",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2021-11-04 19:33:23",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"blackfridaytech.png",credits:b,caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F04\u002F60a48023-dd61-4052-8962-73644e03ccef\u002Fblackfridaycostco.png",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1600,height:1068,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"product-promo",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Hardware",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"costco-black-friday-deals-available-now",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Costco's Black Friday deals 2021: $700 off LG 86'' TV, $799 MacBook Air M1",topic:{id:"10666ed8-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"hardware",name:"Hardware",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"10666ed8-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"hardware",name:"Hardware",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"3b16a457-b28f-42dd-a892-4af4e7697d90",slug:"headphones",name:"Headphones",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"8d6e1960-a728-41e5-a935-922b0bd953ed",slug:"deals",name:"Deals",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"972fc09a-0553-4863-854d-3d98942e4f6f",slug:"mobile-accessories",name:"Mobile Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f1f7db06-c6f9-4e80-8187-60ad48f035a1",slug:"zdnet-recommends",name:"ZDNET Recommends",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"76e87180-8176-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"seanportnoy",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Sean",lastName:"Portnoy",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"339a65ab-1175-11e4-9732-00505685119a",filename:"sean-portnoy.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2014-07-22 07:53:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2014\u002F07\u002F22\u002F339a65ab-1175-11e4-9732-00505685119a\u002Fsean-portnoy.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Sean Portnoy started his tech writing career at ZDNET nearly a decade ago. He then spent several years as an editor at Computer Shopper magazine, most recently serving as an online executive editor. He received a B.A. from Brown University and an M.A. from the University of Southern California.",profile:b,title:c,bio:c,bureau:"AU",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"9e9b364c-0f79-4c5a-b815-31ab161f0a60\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-alt-text=\"lenovo-black-friday-2021-deals-sales-specials-offers-schedule-laptops-thinkpad-desktops-chromebooks.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"blackfridaydell.png\" data-image-date-created=\"2021\u002F11\u002F10\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"1068\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUpdate: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EBlack Friday and Cyber Monday 2021 are done and dusted, so the deals below are no longer valid. Check out our \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Ftopic\u002Fzdnet-recommends\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EZDNet Recommends\u003C\u002Fa\u003E hub for a better look at the latest deals available or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fholiday-gift-guide-2021\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EZDNet's 2021 Holiday Gift Guide\u003C\u002Fa\u003E hub for recommendations on gifts for all. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDell's Black Friday event is already in full swing, with many discounts available right now, including a number of the ones listed below. From the Inspiron product line to the G and XPS series, we've got you covered on all bases. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"bafabce8-217a-4b5e-b36f-f904df32d93d\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWhile Dell is offering a couple of cheaper deals on other configurations of this most mainstream of mainstream laptops, they're a bit underpowered except for the simplest of tasks. This Inspiron 15 3000 is still only $399 but comes with a new Core i5-1035G1 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB solid-state drive. The full HD (1,920x1,080 resolution) 15.6-inch display is a nice plus. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Dell Inspiron 15 3000 laptop for $399.99\" data-superlative=\"$289 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"inspiron-15-3000-laptop-dell-usa","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"881b07e5-34e7-479e-be9f-99af14b12a7b","title":"inspiron-15-3000-laptop-dell-usa","filename":"screenshot-2021-11-10-at-12-06-35-inspiron-15-3000-laptop-dell-usa.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F10\u002F881b07e5-34e7-479e-be9f-99af14b12a7b\u002Fscreenshot-2021-11-10-at-12-06-35-inspiron-15-3000-laptop-dell-usa.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":364961,"width":693,"height":438,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-11-10 17:07:26","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-11-10 17:07:32","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"inspiron-15-3000-laptop-dell-usa","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"881b07e5-34e7-479e-be9f-99af14b12a7b","imageAltText":"inspiron-15-3000-laptop-dell-usa","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"screenshot-2021-11-10-at-12-06-35-inspiron-15-3000-laptop-dell-usa.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F11\u002F10","imageWidth":693,"imageHeight":438,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.anrdoezrs.net\u002Flinks\u002F9041660\u002Ftype\u002Fdlg\u002Fsid\u002F[subid_value]\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fdeals.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fproductdetail\u002Fbiix","offerMerchant":"Dell","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fdeals.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fproductdetail\u002Fbigf","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.anrdoezrs.net\u002Flinks\u002F9041660\u002Ftype\u002Fdlg\u002Fsid\u002F[subid_value]\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fdeals.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fproductdetail\u002Fbiix"}]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"17ede036-9fd3-4c04-9feb-030f73fb8603\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis all-in-one PC is slickly designed around a 23.8-inch full HD touchscreen, with a bipod stand for improved stability and a speaker bar sitting below the screen. A&nbsp; Core i3-1115G4 CPU, 8 gigs of RAM, and 256GB of built-in storage make sure the Inspiron 24 5000 can handle your work-at-home tasks, and easy connectivity comes in the form of Wi-Fi 6 support and Bluetooth 5.1-based wireless keyboard and mouse. This black edition is currently on sale for $599.99.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Dell Inspiron 24 5000 all-in-one desktop for $599.99\" data-superlative=\"$120 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"dell-inspiron-24-5000-all-in-one-with-dell-cinema-dell-usa","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"056f246f-8299-42f4-880c-915aac17c704","title":"dell-inspiron-24-5000-all-in-one-with-dell-cinema-dell-usa","filename":"screenshot-2021-11-10-at-12-09-12-dell-inspiron-24-5000-all-in-one-with-dell-cinema-dell-usa.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F10\u002F056f246f-8299-42f4-880c-915aac17c704\u002Fscreenshot-2021-11-10-at-12-09-12-dell-inspiron-24-5000-all-in-one-with-dell-cinema-dell-usa.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":543197,"width":782,"height":505,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-11-10 17:09:29","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-11-10 17:09:34","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"dell-inspiron-24-5000-all-in-one-with-dell-cinema-dell-usa","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"056f246f-8299-42f4-880c-915aac17c704","imageAltText":"dell-inspiron-24-5000-all-in-one-with-dell-cinema-dell-usa","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"screenshot-2021-11-10-at-12-09-12-dell-inspiron-24-5000-all-in-one-with-dell-cinema-dell-usa.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F11\u002F10","imageWidth":782,"imageHeight":505,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.anrdoezrs.net\u002Flinks\u002F9041660\u002Ftype\u002Fdlg\u002Fsid\u002F[subid_value]\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fshop\u002Fdesktop-computers\u002Finspiron-24-5000-black-touch-all-in-one-with-bipod-stand\u002Fspd\u002Finspiron-24-5400-aio\u002Fna5400eysxs","offerMerchant":"Dell","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fshop\u002Fdesktop-computers\u002Finspiron-24-5000-black-touch-all-in-one-with-bipod-stand\u002Fspd\u002Finspiron-24-5400-aio\u002Fna5400eysxs","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.anrdoezrs.net\u002Flinks\u002F9041660\u002Ftype\u002Fdlg\u002Fsid\u002F[subid_value]\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fshop\u002Fdesktop-computers\u002Finspiron-24-5000-black-touch-all-in-one-with-bipod-stand\u002Fspd\u002Finspiron-24-5400-aio\u002Fna5400eysxs"}]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"77c25656-5f8e-4522-8b53-7b7a9d0150ae\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe XPS 13 is one of the most highly regarded laptops in the ultra-portable space, and this deal gets you one for under $800. Now equipped with a new Core i5-1135G7 processor with Intel's latest Iris Xe graphics, this XPS 13 configuration also includes 8GB of memory, 256GB SSD and a 13.3-inch full HD touchscreen display. While it's not as tricked out as \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fproduct\u002Fdell-xps-13-9310-13-4-core-i7-1165g7-16-gb-ram-512-gb-ssd\u002F"\u003Eour review unit was\u003C\u002Fa\u003E back in the summer, this still has touches like InfinityEdge thin bezels, Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 wireless networking card, built-in fingerprint reader and plenty of battery life in a 2.6-pound package. Take $150 off the price throughout Dell's Black Friday event, which has several other XPS 13 deals if you need a different configuration.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Dell XPS 13 laptop for $799.99\" data-superlative=\"$150 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"dell-xps-13-laptop-dell-usa","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"9900361b-d937-4595-a4e6-95c113d4a637","title":"dell-xps-13-laptop-dell-usa","filename":"screenshot-2021-11-10-at-12-18-22-dell-xps-13-laptop-dell-usa.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F10\u002F9900361b-d937-4595-a4e6-95c113d4a637\u002Fscreenshot-2021-11-10-at-12-18-22-dell-xps-13-laptop-dell-usa.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":132984,"width":557,"height":345,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-11-10 17:18:36","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-11-10 17:18:41","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"dell-xps-13-laptop-dell-usa","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"9900361b-d937-4595-a4e6-95c113d4a637","imageAltText":"dell-xps-13-laptop-dell-usa","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"screenshot-2021-11-10-at-12-18-22-dell-xps-13-laptop-dell-usa.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F11\u002F10","imageWidth":557,"imageHeight":345,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.anrdoezrs.net\u002Flinks\u002F9041660\u002Ftype\u002Fdlg\u002Fsid\u002F[subid_value]\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fshop\u002Fdell-laptops\u002Fxps-13-touch-laptop\u002Fspd\u002Fxps-13-9305-laptop\u002Fxn9305ezwlh?","offerMerchant":"Dell","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fshop\u002Fdell-laptops\u002Fxps-13-touch-laptop\u002Fspd\u002Fxps-13-9305-laptop\u002Fxn9305ezwlh?","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.anrdoezrs.net\u002Flinks\u002F9041660\u002Ftype\u002Fdlg\u002Fsid\u002F[subid_value]\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fshop\u002Fdell-laptops\u002Fxps-13-touch-laptop\u002Fspd\u002Fxps-13-9305-laptop\u002Fxn9305ezwlh?"}]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a8784fc0-75a2-47bd-a0f3-73acced839cf\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EDell's XPS line generally offers greater performance than its Inspiron family -- albeit at a higher price -- so if you're in the market for a powerful traditional tower desktop, this deal can get you the best of both worlds. The&nbsp; Core i7-11700 eight-core processor can handle almost anything thrown at it, and Dell complements it with a hefty 16 gigs of RAM along with a 512GB solid-state drive. The case design not only allows plenty of cooling for these high-performance components, but also a generous supply of open drive and PCIe slots for future expansion. Dell takes a hefty $250 off this configuration throughout its Black Friday deal event.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Dell XPS desktop for $749.99\" data-superlative=\"$250 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"dell-xps-desktop-with-up-to-11th-gen-intel-processor-dell-usa","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"6ff5a8b2-cc70-49b4-83b6-f01db2c20a63","title":"dell-xps-desktop-with-up-to-11th-gen-intel-processor-dell-usa","filename":"screenshot-2021-11-10-at-12-17-56-dell-xps-desktop-with-up-to-11th-gen-intel-processor-dell-usa.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F10\u002F6ff5a8b2-cc70-49b4-83b6-f01db2c20a63\u002Fscreenshot-2021-11-10-at-12-17-56-dell-xps-desktop-with-up-to-11th-gen-intel-processor-dell-usa.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":194805,"width":693,"height":516,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-11-10 17:18:02","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-11-10 17:18:07","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"dell-xps-desktop-with-up-to-11th-gen-intel-processor-dell-usa","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"6ff5a8b2-cc70-49b4-83b6-f01db2c20a63","imageAltText":"dell-xps-desktop-with-up-to-11th-gen-intel-processor-dell-usa","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"screenshot-2021-11-10-at-12-17-56-dell-xps-desktop-with-up-to-11th-gen-intel-processor-dell-usa.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F11\u002F10","imageWidth":693,"imageHeight":516,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.anrdoezrs.net\u002Flinks\u002F9041660\u002Ftype\u002Fdlg\u002Fsid\u002F[subid_value]\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fshop\u002Fdesktop-computers\u002Fxps-desktop\u002Fspd\u002Fxps-8940-desktop\u002Fxd8940msrfbres","offerMerchant":"Dell","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fshop\u002Fdesktop-computers\u002Fxps-desktop\u002Fspd\u002Fxps-8940-desktop\u002Fxd8940msrfbres","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.anrdoezrs.net\u002Flinks\u002F9041660\u002Ftype\u002Fdlg\u002Fsid\u002F[subid_value]\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fshop\u002Fdesktop-computers\u002Fxps-desktop\u002Fspd\u002Fxps-8940-desktop\u002Fxd8940msrfbres"}]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"3d911185-28bf-41ac-bef6-ceb86fbb8e95\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWith its G series of PCs Dell has brought the gaming prowess of its Alienware specialty brand to its own offerings at a less eye-popping price point. 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Unlike gaming monitors, the curvature of Dell's is not as pronounced -- it's more seamless and doesn't require much adapting to. The panel is 1920 x 1080 which isn't 4K quality, but if you're just looking for a big monitor that gets the job done for clerical tasks, then it's perfectly fine. Best yet, the 32-inch monitor currently sells for $199.99 ($230 off). \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Dell 32'' Curved Monitor for $199.99\" data-superlative=\"$230 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"dell-32-curved-monitor-s3222hn-dell-usa","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"936e76f4-631a-49eb-9684-8aba89fd5fd7","title":"dell-32-curved-monitor-s3222hn-dell-usa","filename":"screenshot-2021-11-26-at-16-32-01-dell-32-curved-monitor-s3222hn-dell-usa.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F26\u002F936e76f4-631a-49eb-9684-8aba89fd5fd7\u002Fscreenshot-2021-11-26-at-16-32-01-dell-32-curved-monitor-s3222hn-dell-usa.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":266860,"width":532,"height":368,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-11-26 21:32:26","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-11-26 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data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Dell","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fdeals.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fproductdetail\u002Fbp0l","url":""}]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"3d3fced7-aaf2-4d1e-bad2-5038ae9fb1c1\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F3d3fced7-aaf2-4d1e-bad2-5038ae9fb1c1\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2021-11-26 21:49:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Don't miss out on Dell's three-day, Black Friday extravaganza, featuring deals on Inspiron, XPS, and G models.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"f6276028-175d-4bae-8f46-5d6790e8af86",image:{id:"50c0b9fb-421a-4f70-ba56-ee2f98330b23",filename:"blackfridaydell.png",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2021-11-10 17:19:31",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"blackfridaytech.png",credits:b,caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F10\u002F50c0b9fb-421a-4f70-ba56-ee2f98330b23\u002Fblackfridaydell.png",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1600,height:1068,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"product-promo",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^Laptops",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"dell-best-black-friday-2021-laptop-desktop-deals",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Best Dell Black Friday 2021 deals: Discounts on Inspiron, XPS, and more",topic:{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10666ed8-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"hardware",name:"Hardware",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"8d6e1960-a728-41e5-a935-922b0bd953ed",slug:"deals",name:"Deals",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f1f7db06-c6f9-4e80-8187-60ad48f035a1",slug:"zdnet-recommends",name:"ZDNET Recommends",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"76e87180-8176-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"seanportnoy",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Sean",lastName:"Portnoy",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"339a65ab-1175-11e4-9732-00505685119a",filename:"sean-portnoy.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2014-07-22 07:53:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2014\u002F07\u002F22\u002F339a65ab-1175-11e4-9732-00505685119a\u002Fsean-portnoy.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Sean Portnoy started his tech writing career at ZDNET nearly a decade ago. He then spent several years as an editor at Computer Shopper magazine, most recently serving as an online executive editor. He received a B.A. from Brown University and an M.A. from the University of Southern California.",profile:b,title:c,bio:c,bureau:"AU",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"d36d98b9-d246-421f-acc5-c2bdf4407d4c\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-alt-text=\"lenovo-black-friday-2021-deals-sales-specials-offers-schedule-laptops-thinkpad-desktops-chromebooks.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"blackfridayhp.png\" data-image-date-created=\"2021\u002F11\u002F10\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"1068\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUpdate: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EBlack Friday and Cyber Monday 2021 are done and dusted, so the deals below are no longer valid. Check out our \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Ftopic\u002Fzdnet-recommends\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EZDNet Recommends\u003C\u002Fa\u003E hub for a better look at the latest deals available or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fholiday-gift-guide-2021\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EZDNet's 2021 Holiday Gift Guide\u003C\u002Fa\u003E hub for recommendations on gifts for all. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hp.com\u002Fwcsstore\u002Fhpusstore\u002FAdScan\u002FHPHolidayAdscan2021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHP's Black Friday ad\u003C\u002Fa\u003E has been available for a few weeks now, but it's only now that you can start scoring the deals listed below from its online store. There are savings on its flagship Pavilion lineup of desktops and laptops, not to mention its other PC families, including Chromebooks and gaming systems. We've adjusted the prices below to the latest ones on HP's website, which may differ slightly than those listed in the ad, for better or for worse.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"bafabce8-217a-4b5e-b36f-f904df32d93d\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EHP is slashing nearly a third off of the price of this versatile 2-in-1 Chromebook. If its basic specs are typical of a budget Chromebook (Intel Celeron N4020 processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage), you get the bonus of a larger 14-inch touchscreen that can convert into a roomy tablet when you flip the display over, as well as what HP claims to be 13 hours of battery life.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"HP Chromebook x360 for $229.99\" data-superlative=\"$100 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"chromebooks-2019-hp-chromebook-x360.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"47fafed3-030a-4990-a522-095110397ae7","title":"hp-chromebook-x360-14a-ca0010nr-1f6y2uaaba","filename":"screenshot-2021-11-23-at-12-01-30-hp-chromebook-x360-14a-ca0010nr-1f6y2uaaba.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F23\u002F47fafed3-030a-4990-a522-095110397ae7\u002Fscreenshot-2021-11-23-at-12-01-30-hp-chromebook-x360-14a-ca0010nr-1f6y2uaaba.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":253285,"width":613,"height":461,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-11-23 17:02:01","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-11-23 17:02:06","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"hp-chromebook-x360-14a-ca0010nr-1f6y2uaaba","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"47fafed3-030a-4990-a522-095110397ae7","imageAltText":"chromebooks-2019-hp-chromebook-x360.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"screenshot-2021-11-23-at-12-01-30-hp-chromebook-x360-14a-ca0010nr-1f6y2uaaba.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F11\u002F23","imageWidth":613,"imageHeight":461,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.awin1.com\u002Fcread.php?awinmid=7168&awinaffid=423585&clickref=[subid_value]&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hp.com%2Fus-en%2Fshop%2Fpdp%2Fhp-chromebook-x360-14a-ca0000-%282v972av%29","offerMerchant":"HP","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hp.com\u002Fus-en\u002Fshop\u002Fpdp\u002Fhp-chromebook-x360-14a-ca0000-%282v972av%29","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.awin1.com\u002Fcread.php?awinmid=7168&awinaffid=423585&clickref=[subid_value]&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hp.com%2Fus-en%2Fshop%2Fpdp%2Fhp-chromebook-x360-14a-ca0000-%282v972av%29"}]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"17ede036-9fd3-4c04-9feb-030f73fb8603\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EDespite its featherweight chassis (weighing less than 2.2 pounds), this Pavilion ultraportable packs a heavyweight performance wallop with an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of built-in storage. A gorgeous WUXGA (1,920x1,200) 13.3-inch display with a micro-edge bezel and 400 nits of brightness rounds the package out nicely.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"HP Pavilion Aero laptop for $549.99\" data-superlative=\"$200 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"hp-pavilion-aero-laptop-13-be0097nr-406j8uaaba","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"f51c1eaa-ca34-40b7-91be-666281288350","title":"hp-pavilion-aero-laptop-13-be0097nr-406j8uaaba","filename":"screenshot-2021-11-23-at-12-02-25-hp-pavilion-aero-laptop-13-be0097nr-406j8uaaba.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F23\u002Ff51c1eaa-ca34-40b7-91be-666281288350\u002Fscreenshot-2021-11-23-at-12-02-25-hp-pavilion-aero-laptop-13-be0097nr-406j8uaaba.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":205740,"width":610,"height":461,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-11-23 17:02:49","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-11-23 17:02:54","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"hp-pavilion-aero-laptop-13-be0097nr-406j8uaaba","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"f51c1eaa-ca34-40b7-91be-666281288350","imageAltText":"hp-pavilion-aero-laptop-13-be0097nr-406j8uaaba","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"screenshot-2021-11-23-at-12-02-25-hp-pavilion-aero-laptop-13-be0097nr-406j8uaaba.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F11\u002F23","imageWidth":610,"imageHeight":461,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.awin1.com\u002Fcread.php?awinmid=7168&awinaffid=423585&clickref=[subid_value]&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hp.com%2Fus-en%2Fshop%2Fpdp%2Fhp-pavilion-aero-laptop-13-be0097nr","offerMerchant":"HP","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hp.com\u002Fus-en\u002Fshop\u002Fpdp\u002Fhp-pavilion-aero-13z-be000-laptop-pc-2r1x0av-1","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.awin1.com\u002Fcread.php?awinmid=7168&awinaffid=423585&clickref=[subid_value]&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hp.com%2Fus-en%2Fshop%2Fpdp%2Fhp-pavilion-aero-laptop-13-be0097nr"}]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"3d911185-28bf-41ac-bef6-ceb86fbb8e95\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ELike Dell with its G series, HP has brought some of the DNA from its past gaming acquisition (VoodooPC) into its own mainstream PC lineup. Perfect for those looking to get into the game, the Pavilion Gaming Desktop TG01-2260xt tower has a stylish angular front chassis, understated neon green accents and LED lighting you can customize. 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It also comes with an 11th-generation Core i5 processor, 8 gigs of RAM and 256GB SSD, and while other details are still to come, the ad points out that this desktop will offer the convenience of wireless phone charging via the monitor stand.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"HP Pavilion All-in-One 27 desktop for $849.99\" data-superlative=\"$50 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"hp-all-in-one-27-dp1086qe-pc-20w60aaaba","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"b4020426-a526-4547-abd3-53abee478fb9","title":"hp-all-in-one-27-dp1086qe-pc-20w60aaaba","filename":"screenshot-2021-11-23-at-12-05-30-hp-all-in-one-27-dp1086qe-pc-20w60aaaba.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F23\u002Fb4020426-a526-4547-abd3-53abee478fb9\u002Fscreenshot-2021-11-23-at-12-05-30-hp-all-in-one-27-dp1086qe-pc-20w60aaaba.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":196111,"width":630,"height":461,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-11-23 17:05:49","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-11-23 17:05:54","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"hp-all-in-one-27-dp1086qe-pc-20w60aaaba","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"b4020426-a526-4547-abd3-53abee478fb9","imageAltText":"hp-all-in-one-27-dp1086qe-pc-20w60aaaba","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"screenshot-2021-11-23-at-12-05-30-hp-all-in-one-27-dp1086qe-pc-20w60aaaba.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F11\u002F23","imageWidth":630,"imageHeight":461,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.awin1.com\u002Fcread.php?awinmid=7168&awinaffid=423585&clickref=[subid_value]&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hp.com%2Fus-en%2Fdesktops%2Fpavilion-24-27-inch-all-in-one-desktops.html","offerMerchant":"HP","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hp.com\u002Fus-en\u002Fdesktops\u002Fpavilion-24-27-inch-all-in-one-desktops.html","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.awin1.com\u002Fcread.php?awinmid=7168&awinaffid=423585&clickref=[subid_value]&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hp.com%2Fus-en%2Fdesktops%2Fpavilion-24-27-inch-all-in-one-desktops.html"}]\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"8c952744-a1d4-4532-b432-1817ff7bef60\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe Envy x360 15 is a highly regarded 2-in-1 device that's a step up from the Pavilion line. 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data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2021-11-26 20:59:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Score big savings on Pavilion PCs and more as HP's Black Friday deals are underway.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"ccd321ef-324a-4ee3-bb78-fe0954047afb",image:{id:"debc207e-ba00-46fd-82ed-b950a76b54a9",filename:"blackfridayhp.png",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2021-11-10 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He reviews the latest consumer gadgets and shares advice to make the most out of them. When June isn't drooling over the next best thing, he's probably being let down by the Los Angeles Lakers.",profile:b,title:"Technology Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"7777dfe8-e201-4700-be33-417368e89ff0\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-alt-text=\"walmart-black-friday-early-sales-deals-samsung-chromebook-laptops-tablets.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"tech-deals-orange.png\" data-image-date-created=\"2021\u002F12\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"1080\" data-image-height=\"608\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt was just weeks ago when we rushed to our online shopping carts to checkout all the discounted goodies of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. And after hitting the 'Confirm Order' button, it was only a matter of time before the tracking numbers popped into our inboxes to contain all the anticipation. However, it turns out that many retailers, including Walmart, are still posting out eye-opening deals on our favorite tech gadgets, laptops, TVs and appliances. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you missed out on the first wave of Cyber Monday discounts, look no further than the list below. We've compiled the best of the best deals from Walmart that are still available today.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"ce6a768b-ccf7-4fa6-be25-2aaba792eb5f\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ETCL makes some solid low-end TVs, many of which deliver crisp and vivid quality. If you couldn't manage to snag a 4K panel this Cyber Monday, this 50-inch 5-Series offering is worth a look. It's currently discounted to $499.99 ($400 off) and comes with all the accoutrements that you'll need for a pleasant movie-watching experience. TCL's models come with Roku baked in, so you'll have instant access to high-demand streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and more.&nbsp; \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"TCL 50'' Class 5-Series 4K TV for $499.99\" data-superlative=\"$400 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"tcl-65-inch-5-series-4k-uhd-dolby-vision-hdr-qled-roku-smart-tv-65s535-2021","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"523df944-8b1b-4718-85c8-2ca65c95cb60","title":"tcl-50-class-5-series","filename":"datacamp.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F08\u002F523df944-8b1b-4718-85c8-2ca65c95cb60\u002Fdatacamp.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":629983,"width":3084,"height":1936,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-12-08 17:03:22","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-12-08 17:03:31","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"tcl-50-class-5-series","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"523df944-8b1b-4718-85c8-2ca65c95cb60","imageAltText":"tcl-65-inch-5-series-4k-uhd-dolby-vision-hdr-qled-roku-smart-tv-65s535-2021","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"datacamp.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F12\u002F08","imageWidth":3084,"imageHeight":1936,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":false,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"off","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F9da2fd1209295118842ca0eee2bce8c4dfdca211?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F9da2fd1209295118842ca0eee2bce8c4dfdca211?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a06e1388-4c88-4280-9f68-bb484a8fa611\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIt's not the highest end model from Roku, but the LE streaming stick delivers the same smooth, high-definition streaming experience for just $15 ($20 off). Hook this media player to any TV via HDMI and you'll gain instant access to streaming service favorites, like Disney+, HBO Max, and Netflix. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Roku LE HD Streaming Stick for $15\" data-superlative=\"$20 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"roku-le.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"3c2c6a04-c256-4f3f-bd79-ea94d8b21e15","title":"roku-le","filename":"roku-le.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F13\u002F3c2c6a04-c256-4f3f-bd79-ea94d8b21e15\u002Froku-le.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":323351,"width":1694,"height":998,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-12-13 16:01:11","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-12-13 16:01:13","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"roku-le.png","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"3c2c6a04-c256-4f3f-bd79-ea94d8b21e15","imageAltText":"roku-le.png","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"roku-le.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F12\u002F13","imageWidth":1694,"imageHeight":998,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":false,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"off","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F610f00478af0c923a85d5c52387c454dae9c3c7c?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F610f00478af0c923a85d5c52387c454dae9c3c7c?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"e43f3a1a-18d9-4077-a0ee-ee4ad458b9f6\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EEyeing a laptop upgrade that won't break the bank? Check out this Lenovo Ideapad 3i deal which fields an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and an aptly-sized 14-inch display. The Ideapad series is a go-to when it comes to reliable and stock Windows experience, perfect for students, business workers, or at-home users. It's currently discounted by $260, pricing it well below its competition. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Lenovo Ideapad 3i (14'', i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB) for $449\" data-superlative=\"$260 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"lenovo-ideapad-i3","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"709979dc-dec9-435d-81bb-ebeb4fb3bb20","title":"lenovo-ideapad-i3","filename":"roku-le.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F13\u002F709979dc-dec9-435d-81bb-ebeb4fb3bb20\u002Froku-le.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":301213,"width":1694,"height":998,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-12-13 16:14:18","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-12-13 16:14:29","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"lenovo-ideapad-i3","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"709979dc-dec9-435d-81bb-ebeb4fb3bb20","imageAltText":"lenovo-ideapad-i3","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"roku-le.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F12\u002F13","imageWidth":1694,"imageHeight":998,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":false,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"off","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F690e04098be788efbc5313f391c5aac4270de1a9?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F690e04098be788efbc5313f391c5aac4270de1a9?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"e975cb65-eca2-4a96-bc58-af23882b0715\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EBudget gamers with an eye for a big-screen laptop might want to jump on this Walmart deal before it's too late. The $210 off Lenovo Legion 5 sports an immersive 17.3-inch full HD 144Hz display and is powered by AMD's Ryzen 5 5600H processor, 8 gigs of RAM, 256GB solid-state drive and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card. Again, you're getting all of that gaming goodness for just $699. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Lenovo Legion 5 17.3'' Laptop for $699\" data-superlative=\"$210 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"nintendo-switch-neon-blue-neon-red-joy-con-mario-kart-8-deluxe-download-3month-nint.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"68679379-ba23-463d-ae8c-c55476378176","title":"lenovo-legion-5-best-budget-gaming-laptop-cheap","filename":"lenovo-legion-5-best-budget-gaming-laptop-cheap.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F08\u002F24\u002F68679379-ba23-463d-ae8c-c55476378176\u002Flenovo-legion-5-best-budget-gaming-laptop-cheap.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":349440,"width":1600,"height":1069,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-08-24 15:27:47","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-08-24 15:27:49","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"lenovo-legion-5-best-budget-gaming-laptop-cheap.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"68679379-ba23-463d-ae8c-c55476378176","imageAltText":"nintendo-switch-neon-blue-neon-red-joy-con-mario-kart-8-deluxe-download-3month-nint.png","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"lenovo-legion-5-best-budget-gaming-laptop-cheap.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F08\u002F24","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":1069,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":false,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"off","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002Fb5b2527e6c5b9817f802c6ad29d41088d4e0685c?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002Fb5b2527e6c5b9817f802c6ad29d41088d4e0685c?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"9e672efc-b17d-4d39-9e7f-fd198bb9fefd\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWhen it comes to premium over-the-ear style headphones, the Bose QuietComfort 45 is a solid alternative to the \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.google.com\u002Furl?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjl1vLa0tT0AhUulIkEHSv7BIcQFnoECBcQAQ&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zdnet.com%2Fproduct%2Fsony-wh-1000xm4%2F&amp;usg=AOvVaw1heigVVgBqu0345DePQACb" target="_blank"\u003ESony WH-1000XM4\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Toss in a $50 discount and the new $279 asking price is one that will surely entice audiophiles and non-audiophiles alike. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Bose QuietComfort 45 Headphones for $279\" data-superlative=\"$50 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"Bose-quietcomfort-45","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"d6c76e20-ba47-4918-a9eb-44aa4c860ee6","title":"Bose-quietcomfort-45","filename":"datacamp.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F08\u002Fd6c76e20-ba47-4918-a9eb-44aa4c860ee6\u002Fdatacamp.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":201877,"width":3084,"height":1936,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-12-08 16:41:18","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-12-08 16:41:25","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"Bose-quietcomfort-45","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"d6c76e20-ba47-4918-a9eb-44aa4c860ee6","imageAltText":"Bose-quietcomfort-45","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"datacamp.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F12\u002F08","imageWidth":3084,"imageHeight":1936,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":false,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"off","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F04e33d0631b11297e30e5f9f4d13eed5eb237e7a?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F04e33d0631b11297e30e5f9f4d13eed5eb237e7a?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"e96302d2-fefe-480e-9511-77cdd9ce3ae7\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe Oculus Quest 2, or Meta Quest 2 sits at the top of our \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-vr-headset\u002F" target="_blank"\u003Ebest VR and AR headsets\u003C\u002Fa\u003E list, and this Walmart deal on a refurbished, 64GB model is almost too good to be true. For just $200, you can pick up the console and dive into the world of virtual reality. The Quest 2 is compact, portable, easy to learn, and a ton of fun once you put the headset on. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Oculus Quest 2 64GB for $199.99\" data-superlative=\"$100 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"oculus-quest-2","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"aa57acec-90da-4d94-b329-13052fd8c48c","title":"oculus-quest-2","filename":"spigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F03\u002Faa57acec-90da-4d94-b329-13052fd8c48c\u002Fspigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":212282,"width":3084,"height":1936,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-12-03 21:27:39","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-12-03 21:27:45","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"oculus-quest-2","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"aa57acec-90da-4d94-b329-13052fd8c48c","imageAltText":"oculus-quest-2","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"spigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F12\u002F03","imageWidth":3084,"imageHeight":1936,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":false,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"off","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002Fce7e4efcf5b28d9b1515b2352c95b73e6668a303?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002Fce7e4efcf5b28d9b1515b2352c95b73e6668a303?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"f25b9fad-0492-4bb5-aa8f-ecaf9f200da3\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EA top deal that doesn't cost top dollar, Walmart has the Lenovo Smart Clock (2nd Gen) on sale for just $24.88 ($50 off). With it, the retailer is bundling in a Lenovo Smart Bulb, which plays in tandem with the clock. For less than $25, this makes for a modernized and helpful bedside assistant, and can even respond to your voice prompts. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Lenovo Smart Clock (2nd Gen) + Smart Bulb for $24.88\" data-superlative=\"$50 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"lenovo-smart-clock-light-bulb","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"695ab303-b66e-408c-a499-93b53410d357","title":"lenovo-smart-clock-light-bulb","filename":"spigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F03\u002F695ab303-b66e-408c-a499-93b53410d357\u002Fspigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":376354,"width":3084,"height":1936,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-12-03 21:05:50","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-12-03 21:05:59","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"lenovo-smart-clock-light-bulb","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"695ab303-b66e-408c-a499-93b53410d357","imageAltText":"lenovo-smart-clock-light-bulb","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"spigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F12\u002F03","imageWidth":3084,"imageHeight":1936,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":false,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"off","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002Ffb8641de0a36a008e179c10d99b5a9f5dd8b429f?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002Ffb8641de0a36a008e179c10d99b5a9f5dd8b429f?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"28257274-340b-436c-8959-486fa91b705c\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EComing in a gorgeous 55'' 4K panel with all the OLED goodness, this LG model is currently discounted by $600. For the price, you get a vivid and color-accurate TV that supports Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos for a viewing experience that can only be described as sensory overload. The OLED make-up is perfect for movies, gaming, sports, and more. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"LG 55'' Class 4K OLED TV for $1,096.99\" data-superlative=\"$600 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"lg-55-inch-tv-oled","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"1e1f1a76-f83b-40a5-8979-9560350194f5","title":"lg-55-inch-tv-oled","filename":"spigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F03\u002F1e1f1a76-f83b-40a5-8979-9560350194f5\u002Fspigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":622115,"width":3084,"height":1936,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-12-03 21:10:19","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-12-03 21:10:29","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"lg-55-inch-tv-oled","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"1e1f1a76-f83b-40a5-8979-9560350194f5","imageAltText":"lg-55-inch-tv-oled","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"spigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F12\u002F03","imageWidth":3084,"imageHeight":1936,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":false,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"off","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002Fffe52c056b7f773494334544beae03287cc7d611?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002Fffe52c056b7f773494334544beae03287cc7d611?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"83d56fa3-7ba0-415f-9ec8-eb2e52fe6871\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIf you didn't scoop up a robot vacuum deal last month, then this Shark EZ offering is the one to get today. 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That includes mapping and controls via the iOS and Android companion apps, self-emptying functionality, and a vacuum that brings powerful suction. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Shark EZ Robot Vacuum for $299\" data-superlative=\"$200 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"shark-ez-vacuum","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"2d0622df-fa5e-4a1e-b0da-8a589b7b052e","title":"shark-ez-vacuum","filename":"urevo-folding-treadmill.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F06\u002F2d0622df-fa5e-4a1e-b0da-8a589b7b052e\u002Furevo-folding-treadmill.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":290446,"width":3084,"height":1936,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-12-06 17:04:03","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-12-06 17:04:14","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"shark-ez-vacuum","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"2d0622df-fa5e-4a1e-b0da-8a589b7b052e","imageAltText":"shark-ez-vacuum","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"urevo-folding-treadmill.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F12\u002F06","imageWidth":3084,"imageHeight":1936,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":false,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"off","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002Ffa9af915e75524a701382ca7901e426b5b6258f0?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002Ffa9af915e75524a701382ca7901e426b5b6258f0?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"5eb244eb-cdba-4865-a5c3-8b6f51cc3180\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EYou don't have to wait for new years to set your fitness goals. 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But, the console continues to make for a doorbuster deal every holiday season thanks to its limited supply and great value. For the sale price of $299.99, you're getting a 12-month membership of Nintendo Switch Online and a carrying case included with the Switch console. 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And that's exactly what the company got: The handheld\u002Fhome console hybrid has been sold out for months and&nbsp;\u003Ca href=\\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamespot.com\u002Farticles\u002Fnintendo-switch-review\u002F1100-6448303\u002F\\" target=\\"_blank\\"\u003Egarnered positive reviews\u003C\u002Fa\u003E from the gaming press.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":148895,"width":1200,"height":900,"dateCreated":{"date":"2017-10-04 22:55:05","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2017-10-05 00:25:27","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Nintendo","alt":"zdnet-successes-2017-nintendo-switch.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"f33d263e-3eb9-4fe4-9a0b-71ed58aec760","imageAltText":"nintendo-switch-neon-blue-neon-red-joy-con-mario-kart-8-deluxe-download-3month-nint.png","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"zdnet-successes-2017-nintendo-switch.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2017\u002F10\u002F04","imageWidth":1200,"imageHeight":900,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":false,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"off","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F6da1b81db3d12777651f3d933f2174f45b033bc4?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F6da1b81db3d12777651f3d933f2174f45b033bc4?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"36e5437c-c590-4cd1-acf2-ddcefccc7f48\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ELooking to step up your gaming setup this holiday? Save up on time and money with this Razer Power Up Bundle V2 for just $79. For the price, you're getting a keyboard (Razer Cynosa Lite), headset (BlackShark V2 X), mouse pad (Gigantus V2 L), and a mouse (DeathAdder Essential). You'd be hard-pressed to find a better deal on gaming gear than this.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Razer Power Up Bundle V2 for $79\" data-superlative=\"$90 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"razer-power-up-bundle-v2-cynosa-lite-gigantus-v2-l-deathadder-essential-blackshark-v","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"2da7bdc9-77c1-440b-9f78-71cc54e92296","title":"razer-power-up-bundle-v2-cynosa-lite-gigantus-v2-l-deathadder-essential-blackshark-v","filename":"screenshot-2021-11-22-at-14-56-04-razer-power-up-bundle-v2-cynosa-lite-gigantus-v2-l-deathadder-essential-blackshark-v.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F22\u002F2da7bdc9-77c1-440b-9f78-71cc54e92296\u002Fscreenshot-2021-11-22-at-14-56-04-razer-power-up-bundle-v2-cynosa-lite-gigantus-v2-l-deathadder-essential-blackshark-v.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":127808,"width":613,"height":375,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-11-22 19:56:17","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-11-22 19:56:25","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"razer-power-up-bundle-v2-cynosa-lite-gigantus-v2-l-deathadder-essential-blackshark-v","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"2da7bdc9-77c1-440b-9f78-71cc54e92296","imageAltText":"razer-power-up-bundle-v2-cynosa-lite-gigantus-v2-l-deathadder-essential-blackshark-v","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"screenshot-2021-11-22-at-14-56-04-razer-power-up-bundle-v2-cynosa-lite-gigantus-v2-l-deathadder-essential-blackshark-v.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F11\u002F22","imageWidth":613,"imageHeight":375,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":false,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"off","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F84870f961457dc9216b66d2c7be9a2528a124270?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F84870f961457dc9216b66d2c7be9a2528a124270?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EDeals no longer available\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"5916a87a-3acc-4492-a1da-a423f3359e19\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fapple-airpods-3rd-generation-review\u002F"\u003Enewest generation of Apple AirPods\u003C\u002Fa\u003E launched only a month ago and if these crisp-sounding earbuds didn't get your attention then, this cyber deal from Walmart might. For a limited time, you can pick up a pair of the wireless earbuds for just $149.99 ($29 off). That includes the charging case and a high quality audio experience that only gets better if you own an iPhone. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) for $149.99\" data-superlative=\"$29 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"airpods.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"335ac30a-50f2-4a53-85ca-655e2f06ad9e","title":"apple-airpods-3rd-gen","filename":"spigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F03\u002F335ac30a-50f2-4a53-85ca-655e2f06ad9e\u002Fspigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":162807,"width":3084,"height":1936,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-12-03 20:59:12","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-12-03 20:59:19","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"apple-airpods-3rd-gen","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"335ac30a-50f2-4a53-85ca-655e2f06ad9e","imageAltText":"airpods.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"spigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F12\u002F03","imageWidth":3084,"imageHeight":1936,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":false,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"off","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F36a6eaeb87687600dae54a2a5225e68f2518279e?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F36a6eaeb87687600dae54a2a5225e68f2518279e?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"54dcb7b2-0c46-41d0-adfa-7411fe3b63ad\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ESmart TV or not, the Google Chromecast (3rd Gen) makes for an awesome stocking stuffer that enables users to broadcast their favorite shows, movies, and YouTube videos. The 3rd generation Chromecast is one of the more refined models that Google has put out, thanks to its flexible cable (great when plugging into tight areas) and ability to stream from over 2,000 apps. It's also discounted by 50% right now at Walmart. Pick one up for yourself for just $20. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Google Chromecast (3rd Gen) for $19.98\" data-superlative=\"$10 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"google-chromecast-3rd","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"cc8abc1b-8dd6-44b9-8fe5-2d3ab619e1ff","title":"google-chromecast-3rd","filename":"spigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F03\u002Fcc8abc1b-8dd6-44b9-8fe5-2d3ab619e1ff\u002Fspigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":179537,"width":3084,"height":1936,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-12-03 21:16:46","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-12-03 21:16:53","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"google-chromecast-3rd","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"cc8abc1b-8dd6-44b9-8fe5-2d3ab619e1ff","imageAltText":"google-chromecast-3rd","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"spigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F12\u002F03","imageWidth":3084,"imageHeight":1936,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":false,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"off","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F715fcaa54e9f8940ffd18761c142efb7a0a50c41?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F715fcaa54e9f8940ffd18761c142efb7a0a50c41?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2021-12-13 16:20:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Apparently, Cyber Monday doesn't end until Walmart says so. The retailer still has deals aplenty on our favorite TVs, speakers, gaming consoles, headphones, and more during Green Monday.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"5db5514a-f8e5-46a7-93d3-0378de01bdfd",image:{id:"1b23c3d1-d658-49c5-b06a-d70a1c641259",filename:"tech-deals-orange.png",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2021-12-03 21:24:38",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"walmart-black-friday-early-sales-deals-samsung-chromebook-laptops-tablets.jpg",credits:b,caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F03\u002F1b23c3d1-d658-49c5-b06a-d70a1c641259\u002Ftech-deals-orange.png",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1080,height:608,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"product-promo",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Hardware",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"walmart-cyber-monday-deals-still-available",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Best Walmart Green Monday deals: $400 off TCL Class 5 TV, $260 off Lenovo Ideapad 3i",topic:{id:"10666ed8-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"hardware",name:"Hardware",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"10666ed8-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"hardware",name:"Hardware",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10d0341c-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"mobility",name:"Mobility",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"116c1d92-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"tablets",name:"Tablets",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"8d6e1960-a728-41e5-a935-922b0bd953ed",slug:"deals",name:"Deals",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"59080956-0412-41e5-8eb9-a44ae4f9a8a9",username:"Michael Gariffo",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Michael",lastName:"Gariffo",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"96ef4095-58f9-4a2f-81e3-f21dc8610bf3",filename:"michael-gariffo.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:27",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F96ef4095-58f9-4a2f-81e3-f21dc8610bf3\u002Fmichael-gariffo.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Michael is a veteran technology writer who has been covering business and consumer-focused hardware and software for over a decade. He has published hundreds of whitepapers and thousands of articles on everything from the handheld technology that makes your daily life a little easier to the global infrastructure that powers the entire Internet.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"9fe65702-08ec-4f1d-b4d8-d9151b895083\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe front-facing ports include a 10Gbps USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 10Gbps USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, headphone\u002Fmicrophone combo, and a pair of SD\u002FTF card reader slots.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Michael Gariffo\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Ugreen Docking Station Pro showing ports\" data-image-filename=\"ugreen-tb4-dock-front-ports.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F09\u002F26\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"900\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnyone who's used a \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"2f35f44a-31db-4741-b9f3-dfbed6e9eca5\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmacbook-pro\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"MacBook\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E or any \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"15f5740b-c46a-44c5-b9f6-ce12385e7557\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fshop\u002Fdell-laptops\u002Fxps-15-laptop\u002Fspd\u002Fxps-15-9520-laptop\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"USB-C-only laptop\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E is likely to be familiar with \"dongle life.\" While we wait for the rest of the world to USB-C-ify everything, we often have to resort to a series of adapters to help along our older or less compatible peripherals and displays. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"d2c8d2e3-a125-48c1-b8aa-af507b069739\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fd2c8d2e3-a125-48c1-b8aa-af507b069739\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany M1 Mac users have run also into the unfortunate headache of realizing their multimonitor ambitions have been foiled by Apple limiting the M1 chip to just a single monitor (in the case of MacBook) or two displays \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhow-to-add-second-thunderbolt-monitor-to-m1-mac-mini\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E(if they have an M1 Mac Mini\u003C\u002Fa\u003E).  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile I recently featured a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fsmart-office\u002Faccell-thunderbolt-4-docking-station-extreme-convenience-but-best-for-windows-users\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThunderbolt 4 dock from Accell\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (Thunderbolt being a very fast and versatile type of USB-C) that can solve all of these problems for Windows PC users, that excellent unit still lacked the one feature that could have made it as versatile for M1 Mac users.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis option from Ugreen remedies that deficiency by adding DisplayLink support, making it possible for your M1 to do things even Apple never intended. Let's take a look at why this combination of features makes the Ugreen USB-C Multifunction Docking Station an ideal companion for your Mac or Windows PC. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"efbd3e2b-8b43-424d-b5c4-caefa2cfd9ce\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Buy the Ugreen USB-C Multifunction Docking Station here\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"The front and back of Ugreen's Thunderbolt 4 docking station","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Michael Gariffo","imageData":{"id":"27be653f-62e6-4e8c-963e-bc5ef77b7410","filename":"ugreen-tb4-dock-front-and-back.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F09\u002F26\u002F27be653f-62e6-4e8c-963e-bc5ef77b7410\u002Fugreen-tb4-dock-front-and-back.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-09-26 20:01:14","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"27be653f-62e6-4e8c-963e-bc5ef77b7410","imageFilename":"ugreen-tb4-dock-front-and-back.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F09\u002F26"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Michael Gariffo\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FUGREEN-USB-C-Multifunction-Docking-Station\u002Fdp\u002FB09N6T9NTS\" data-offerprice=\"300\" data-offermerchant=\"Amazon\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FUGREEN-USB-C-Multifunction-Docking-Station\u002Fdp\u002FB09N6T9NTS?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Ugreen Multifunction Docking Station Pro offers a total of 12 ports between its array of front and rear connections. Like most USB-C docking stations, it provides a quick way for you to turn your laptop into a full-fledged desktop workstation by plugging in just one cable.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fnetworking\u002Fnexuslink-ethernet-over-coax-adapter-kit-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESlow internet at home? This adapter lets you repurpose cable for better connectivity\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe front-facing ports (shown above) include the one 10Gbps USB-C port you're most likely to use as a connection point for your laptop. However, you also have quick access to a headphone\u002Fmic combo port, an SD\u002FTF card reader, and an extra USB-A port for those pesky mice, keyboards, or other peripherals that stick to the older standard.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"ecd73b01-1f96-4a6a-8b7d-9e088b2da0e2\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe rear of the device is where you can hide the tangled mess of cables we all know you're ashamed of.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Michael Gariffo\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"The rear of Ugreen's Thunderbolt 4 docking station\" data-image-filename=\"ugreen-tb4-dock-rear-ports.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F09\u002F26\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"900\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAround back, the docking station includes the following ports: \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETwo 5Gbps USB-A ports for peripherals like mice, keyboards, webcams, and printers\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOne USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps port for connecting a laptop or other device in the rear\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOne PD 3.0 20V\u002F5A backward-compatible power delivery port where you can connect your laptop's included USB-C power adapter or other power source\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOne Gigabit Ethernet port\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThree video output ports: one HDMI 8K @ 30Hz (backward-compatible to 4K @60Hz), one HDMI 4K @60Hz, and one DisplayPort (DP) 4K @60Hz\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll of this translates into the ability to run a triple display setup with a hard-wired LAN connection, a bevy of USB-C and USB-A peripherals, and power, all through a single, included Thunderbolt 4 cable. You will have to provide your own power adapter, which isn't ideal if you don't already have a USB-C-based one from your laptop. MagSafe-based MacBook owners and Mac Mini users, for instance, will likely need to purchase \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"baa93e41-bb87-4c22-b9ff-28f61d3c2d3d\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FAnker-Charger-Compact-Foldable-MacBook\u002Fdp\u002FB09C5RG6KV\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"a third-party USB-C charger\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E that says it's compatible with their model of laptop.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"74bfa5eb-f15f-4bef-b5e9-cd38e7661b5b\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe dock includes a single (~1 meter) Thunderbolt 4 cable that you can use to connect your system.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Michael Gariffo\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"The cable included with Ugreen's Thunderbolt 4 docking station\" data-image-filename=\"ugreen-tb4-dock-cable.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F09\u002F26\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"900\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt this point, you may be saying, \"Waitaminute... my M1 MacBook\u002FMini can't support a triple-monitor setup, so what's the point?\" Normally, that would be true. However, that's where DisplayLink comes in. This technology allows you to run additional monitors on almost any Windows or MacOS system by creating what are essentially virtual GPU (video card) outputs.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the case of the M1 MacBook Air and M1 Mac Mini I tested this dock with, the installation process consisted of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.synaptics.com\u002Fproducts\u002Fdisplaylink-graphics\u002Fdownloads\u002Fmacos\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Einstalling a driver from the Synaptics (makers of DisplayLink) website\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Once the quick installation was completed, I tested both HDMI and DP displays in a variety of resolutions. All of them appeared, without trouble, in the standard Display section of the MacOS Settings app, with no discernable difference between them and the monitors connected natively through either Mac's singular Thunderbolt video output, or the Mac Mini's lone HDMI output. It really was surprisingly simple. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"e2193a94-27bf-4e3e-83a3-21ca386af184\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe device is reassuringly heavy to prevent wires from pulling it around. Despite the weighty construction, it's still only about 3 by 2.25 by 5.25 inches.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Michael Gariffo\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"The Ugreen Thunderbolt 4 dock from the side\" data-image-filename=\"ugreen-tb4-dock-side.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F09\u002F26\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"900\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOf course, the Ugreen Multifunction Docking Station Pro is by no means the cheapest solution. You could accomplish most of the same things by spending considerably less on a combination of several individual adapters, dongles, and cables. But, a large part of what you're paying for here is the extreme convenience this singular, monolithic unit provides. It's meant to be a single home for all of your connection and adaptation needs, and it did the job very well in my testing. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen you hit your desk after a long, tiring day and you only need to plug in that lone cable to connect to a dozen or so peripherals, that money you spent on this will start to feel well worth it. This is even more true for the M1 Mac users who might otherwise struggle to reach their full setup goals without a DisplayLink-enabled adapter like this one.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"47b1617b-799d-4263-9878-ccc4bc00d4b9\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F47b1617b-799d-4263-9878-ccc4bc00d4b9\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-09-27 12:30:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"There are hundreds of USB-C and Thunderbolt 4 docks on the market, but far fewer can unlock the potential of Apple's M1-based systems like Ugreen's Docking Station Pro, and it's great for PCs too.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"140aaf3b-1228-4e67-ab10-0b74f952caa2",image:{id:"27be653f-62e6-4e8c-963e-bc5ef77b7410",filename:"ugreen-tb4-dock-front-and-back.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-09-26 20:01:14",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"GOTRAX 4 electric scooter",credits:"GOTRAX",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F09\u002F26\u002F27be653f-62e6-4e8c-963e-bc5ef77b7410\u002Fugreen-tb4-dock-front-and-back.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1600,height:900,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"product-promo",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^Laptops",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"your-m1-mac-can-have-three-displays-at-last-with-this-ugreen-docking-station",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Even M1 Mac owners can have three displays with this Ugreen docking station",topic:{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"112a7545-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"reviews",name:"Reviews",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"a0de22ce-dbed-419b-9a97-562689032701",username:"kwan2035",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"June",lastName:"Wan",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"4cc4d03e-eeaf-4b0c-bb8a-63d34de6cc51",filename:"1549928918804.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-06-03 20:04:44",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F06\u002F03\u002F4cc4d03e-eeaf-4b0c-bb8a-63d34de6cc51\u002F1549928918804.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"June serves as Technology Editor of ZDNET and is based in New York City. He reviews the latest consumer gadgets and shares advice to make the most out of them. When June isn't drooling over the next best thing, he's probably being let down by the Los Angeles Lakers.",profile:b,title:"Technology Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"4b16719b-f407-4150-b442-effc2a6a42f2\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-alt-text=\"walmart-black-friday-early-sales-deals-samsung-chromebook-laptops-tablets.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"walmart-best-deals.png\" data-image-date-created=\"2021\u002F12\u002F07\" data-image-width=\"1080\" data-image-height=\"608\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe holiday shopping season is underway, and if you're like me, you make it a standard practice to sift through all the best deals and prices available, no matter the product. Whether it's Amazon, Best Buy, or Walmart, price-matching and vendor-specific offers can make gift buying a hassle -- you never know if you're getting the best deal available. That's why I've rounded up six unbeatable promotions happening right now, starting with Walmart.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"c9492ea4-0f25-4c33-a93f-6ae3c9fc00c3\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EYou don't have to pay a premium to get excellent audio when it comes to wireless earbuds. The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus, now for just $79 ($70 off), makes for the perfect holiday treat to yourself, or a stocking stuffer come Christmas. ZDNet's Jason Cipriani \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fproduct\u002Fsamsung-galaxy-buds-plus\u002F" target="_blank"\u003Ereviewed the earbuds\u003C\u002Fa\u003E when first released and labelled them as the go-to for Android users or those who weren't a fan of Apple's AirPods. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe same pair goes for at least $109 on Amazon. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus for $79\" data-superlative=\"$70 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"galaxy-buds-out-of-case-black.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"ee4930c0-9218-491d-9435-9e24f150b508","title":"galaxy-buds-out-of-case-black","filename":"galaxy-buds-out-of-case-black.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2020\u002F02\u002F11\u002Fee4930c0-9218-491d-9435-9e24f150b508\u002Fgalaxy-buds-out-of-case-black.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":58351,"width":1200,"height":800,"dateCreated":{"date":"2020-02-11 05:26:12","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2020-02-11 05:26:39","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Image: Samsung","alt":"galaxy-buds-out-of-case-black.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"ee4930c0-9218-491d-9435-9e24f150b508","imageAltText":"galaxy-buds-out-of-case-black.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"galaxy-buds-out-of-case-black.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2020\u002F02\u002F11","imageWidth":1200,"imageHeight":800,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":false,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"off","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002Ffbf8f3b14f8810443e09bade9acaf055c40cda07?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002Ffbf8f3b14f8810443e09bade9acaf055c40cda07?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"7d28336d-5223-4db3-ab49-07aa63a1db01\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe Lenovo Ideapad Flex 5 is a dependable laptop that can power through any school or remote work you throw at it. It sports a 14-inch FHD panel that's touchscreen-enabled and runs a familiar Windows 10 software (with a free upgrade to Windows 11). The highly flexible Ideapad is currently discounted to $349 ($140 off), the cheapest you'll find on the internet. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Lenovo Ideapad Flex 5 14'' for $349\" data-superlative=\"$140 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"lenovo-ideapad-14.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"3baad8e5-a1c9-4c25-995e-9745b1a473dd","title":"lenovo-ideapad-14","filename":"lenovo-ideapad-14.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F07\u002F3baad8e5-a1c9-4c25-995e-9745b1a473dd\u002Flenovo-ideapad-14.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":445725,"width":3084,"height":1936,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-12-07 16:48:35","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-12-07 16:48:40","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"lenovo-ideapad-14.png","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"3baad8e5-a1c9-4c25-995e-9745b1a473dd","imageAltText":"lenovo-ideapad-14.png","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"lenovo-ideapad-14.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F12\u002F07","imageWidth":3084,"imageHeight":1936,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walmart.com\u002Fip\u002FLenovo-Ideapad-Flex-5-14-FHD-Touchscreen-Laptop-AMD-Ryzen-3-4GB-RAM-128GB-SSD-Platinum-Gray-Windows-10-in-S-Mode-82HU0084US\u002F815394299","url":""}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"6d84ce0f-58d1-4005-9087-d856a8d32d51\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EA top deal that doesn't cost top dollar, Walmart has the Lenovo Smart Clock (2nd Gen) on sale for just $24.88 ($50 off). With it, the retailer is bundling in a Lenovo Smart Bulb, which plays in tandem with the clock. For less than $25, this makes for a modernized and useful bedside assistant, and can even respond to your voice prompts. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EComparatively, Best Buy currently sells the clock, standalone, for $49.99. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Lenovo Smart Clock (2nd Gen) + Smart Bulb for $24.88\" data-superlative=\"$50 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"lenovo-smart-clock-light-bulb","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"695ab303-b66e-408c-a499-93b53410d357","title":"lenovo-smart-clock-light-bulb","filename":"spigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F03\u002F695ab303-b66e-408c-a499-93b53410d357\u002Fspigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":376354,"width":3084,"height":1936,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-12-03 21:05:50","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-12-03 21:05:59","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"lenovo-smart-clock-light-bulb","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"695ab303-b66e-408c-a499-93b53410d357","imageAltText":"lenovo-smart-clock-light-bulb","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"spigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F12\u002F03","imageWidth":3084,"imageHeight":1936,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":false,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"off","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002Ffb8641de0a36a008e179c10d99b5a9f5dd8b429f?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002Ffb8641de0a36a008e179c10d99b5a9f5dd8b429f?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"82f6c3fe-cdc2-450a-b602-120af326fcd9\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe Nintendo Switch is nothing new. But, the console continues to make for a doorbuster deal every holiday season thanks to its limited supply and great value. For the sale price of $299.99, you're getting a 12-month membership of Nintendo Switch Online and a carrying case included with the Switch console. Everyone loves free stuff, right?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe same configuration is either unavailable or out of stock at other retailers. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Nintendo Switch + 12-month Switch Online Bundle for $299.99\" data-superlative=\"$60 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"nintendo-switch-neon-blue-neon-red-joy-con-mario-kart-8-deluxe-download-3month-nint.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"f33d263e-3eb9-4fe4-9a0b-71ed58aec760","title":"Nintendo Switch","filename":"zdnet-successes-2017-nintendo-switch.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2017\u002F10\u002F04\u002Ff33d263e-3eb9-4fe4-9a0b-71ed58aec760\u002Fzdnet-successes-2017-nintendo-switch.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003EGiven the tepid sales of its previous Wii U console and a decade-long slide of the company's stock price, gaming giant Nintendo was no doubt desperate for a hit when it released its new Switch console in March 2017. And that's exactly what the company got: The handheld\u002Fhome console hybrid has been sold out for months and&nbsp;\u003Ca href=\\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamespot.com\u002Farticles\u002Fnintendo-switch-review\u002F1100-6448303\u002F\\" target=\\"_blank\\"\u003Egarnered positive reviews\u003C\u002Fa\u003E from the gaming press.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":148895,"width":1200,"height":900,"dateCreated":{"date":"2017-10-04 22:55:05","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2017-10-05 00:25:27","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Nintendo","alt":"zdnet-successes-2017-nintendo-switch.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"f33d263e-3eb9-4fe4-9a0b-71ed58aec760","imageAltText":"nintendo-switch-neon-blue-neon-red-joy-con-mario-kart-8-deluxe-download-3month-nint.png","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"zdnet-successes-2017-nintendo-switch.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2017\u002F10\u002F04","imageWidth":1200,"imageHeight":900,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":false,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"off","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F6da1b81db3d12777651f3d933f2174f45b033bc4?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F6da1b81db3d12777651f3d933f2174f45b033bc4?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"82332b95-cf5a-41e4-8e5d-1aadce40ea02\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe Oculus Quest 2, or Meta Quest 2 sits at the top of our \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-vr-headset\u002F" target="_blank"\u003Ebest VR and AR headsets\u003C\u002Fa\u003E list, and this Walmart deal on a refurbished, 64GB model is almost too good to be true. For just $200, you can pick up the console and immerse yourself in the world of virtual reality. The Quest 2 is compact, portable, easy to learn, and a ton of fun from the get-go. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is the cheapest price that we're seeing across all major retailers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Oculus Quest 2 64GB for $199.99\" data-superlative=\"$100 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"oculus-quest-2","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"aa57acec-90da-4d94-b329-13052fd8c48c","title":"oculus-quest-2","filename":"spigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F03\u002Faa57acec-90da-4d94-b329-13052fd8c48c\u002Fspigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":212282,"width":3084,"height":1936,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-12-03 21:27:39","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-12-03 21:27:45","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"oculus-quest-2","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"aa57acec-90da-4d94-b329-13052fd8c48c","imageAltText":"oculus-quest-2","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"spigen-ezfit-screen-protector.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F12\u002F03","imageWidth":3084,"imageHeight":1936,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":false,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"off","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002Fce7e4efcf5b28d9b1515b2352c95b73e6668a303?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002Fce7e4efcf5b28d9b1515b2352c95b73e6668a303?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"bbe02195-d907-4099-a509-4a622654ad81\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ELooking to step up your gaming setup this holiday? Save up on time and money with this Razer Power Up Bundle V2 for just $79. For the price, you're getting a keyboard (Razer Cynosa Lite), headset (BlackShark V2 X), mouse pad (Gigantus V2 L), and a mouse (DeathAdder Essential). You'd be hard-pressed to find a better deal on gaming gear than this.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA similar bundle is currently sold on Amazon for $40 more. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Razer Power Up Bundle V2 for $79\" data-superlative=\"$90 off\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"razer-power-up-bundle-v2-cynosa-lite-gigantus-v2-l-deathadder-essential-blackshark-v","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"2da7bdc9-77c1-440b-9f78-71cc54e92296","title":"razer-power-up-bundle-v2-cynosa-lite-gigantus-v2-l-deathadder-essential-blackshark-v","filename":"screenshot-2021-11-22-at-14-56-04-razer-power-up-bundle-v2-cynosa-lite-gigantus-v2-l-deathadder-essential-blackshark-v.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F22\u002F2da7bdc9-77c1-440b-9f78-71cc54e92296\u002Fscreenshot-2021-11-22-at-14-56-04-razer-power-up-bundle-v2-cynosa-lite-gigantus-v2-l-deathadder-essential-blackshark-v.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":127808,"width":613,"height":375,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-11-22 19:56:17","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-11-22 19:56:25","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"razer-power-up-bundle-v2-cynosa-lite-gigantus-v2-l-deathadder-essential-blackshark-v","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"2da7bdc9-77c1-440b-9f78-71cc54e92296","imageAltText":"razer-power-up-bundle-v2-cynosa-lite-gigantus-v2-l-deathadder-essential-blackshark-v","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"screenshot-2021-11-22-at-14-56-04-razer-power-up-bundle-v2-cynosa-lite-gigantus-v2-l-deathadder-essential-blackshark-v.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F11\u002F22","imageWidth":613,"imageHeight":375,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":false,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"off","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F84870f961457dc9216b66d2c7be9a2528a124270?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgo.shopyourlikes.com\u002Fpi\u002F84870f961457dc9216b66d2c7be9a2528a124270?afId=614548&afCampaignId=[subid_value]&afCreativeId=2993&afPlacementId=2"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2021-12-07 17:06:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"A Google search will get you offers on any piece of tech. But for the best deals available on these six, Walmart is your place to be.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"a0be773c-86de-4658-8d28-c3cd11134765",image:{id:"4b16719b-f407-4150-b442-effc2a6a42f2",filename:"walmart-best-deals.png",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2021-12-07 16:57:05",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"walmart-black-friday-early-sales-deals-samsung-chromebook-laptops-tablets.jpg",credits:b,caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F07\u002F4b16719b-f407-4150-b442-effc2a6a42f2\u002Fwalmart-best-deals.png",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1080,height:608,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"product-promo",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Hardware",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"six-walmart-deals-that-you-wont-find-anywhere-else",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Six Walmart deals that you won't find anywhere else",topic:{id:"10666ed8-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"hardware",name:"Hardware",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"10666ed8-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"hardware",name:"Hardware",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10d0341c-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"mobility",name:"Mobility",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"116c1d92-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"tablets",name:"Tablets",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"7ce7c957-308e-4af3-bcd9-6004e2fe2fb5",slug:"gifts",name:"Holiday Gifts",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"8d6e1960-a728-41e5-a935-922b0bd953ed",slug:"deals",name:"Deals",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f1f7db06-c6f9-4e80-8187-60ad48f035a1",slug:"zdnet-recommends",name:"ZDNET Recommends",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"e797816e-3e11-47e1-974a-8c4ce6e677f6\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"A SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 headset, MSI mouse, and Corsair keyboard on a desk.\" data-image-filename=\"steelseries-arctis-nova-3-cover-image.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F19\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESteelSeries has released their new line of Arctis Nova headsets, and the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"802126f3-07d1-482e-9af6-b1c39e8cb264\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsteelseries.com\u002Fgaming-headsets\u002Farctis-nova-3\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Arctis Nova 3\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E is an excellent option for PC, mobile, and console gamers. Between its premium features, lightweight design, and all-day comfort, the headset is well worth the higher price tag. And with USB-C, USB Type A, and 3.5mm AUX connectivity, you can quickly and easily switch between platforms when you want to play games, listen to music, or chat with friends.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhether you prefer mobile platforms, consoles, or PC gaming, having a good headset can create a more immersive experience. The Arctis Nova 3 is designed to provide excellent audio, crystal-clear chat, and all-day comfort. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"adddf58f-08b7-4385-98ae-926593dfa5c4\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fadddf58f-08b7-4385-98ae-926593dfa5c4\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe headset weighs in at 253g, which is about 9 oz, making it lightweight enough to wear all day for marathon gaming sessions, streaming movies, or even for remote work. The ear cups feature memory foam cushioning and woven cloth covers for better breathability, which is great for anyone who gets clammy ears after a few hours of wearing headphones. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe headband uses SteelSeries' Comfortmax system, which is a suspended elastic strap that can be adjusted to give the perfect amount of cushion and a great fit. The ear cups also rotate outward to lie flat, which makes wearing the headset around your neck much more comfortable, and storage much easier. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"4fe78228-6827-4f25-8adb-2d00a26df183\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Close-up of a SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 hanging from a HyperX QuadCast S microphone.\" data-image-filename=\"steelseries-arctis-nova-3-promo-image.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F19\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Arctis Nova 3 works with the SteelSeries GG desktop app to provide you with the ability to create custom equalizer settings and spatial audio for personalized sound output and to pinpoint audio cues in games for an extra edge. The app also allows you to customize the RGB light effects on the ear cups. You can choose between three different effects, three color presets, or 16.8 million individual colors to show off your personal style, eSports team loyalty, or coordinate with your other RGB-enabled peripherals and PC components. Your RGB settings also carry over to console gaming, so you don't have to worry about wasted features or generic colors and lighting when you switch platforms.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe attached microphone features an ultra-flexible arm mount that makes finding the perfect position for clear in-game or Discord chat much faster and easier. It also completely retracts within the ear cup for a sleek look if you don't want to use the mic or use an external microphone for chat. The mic uses artificial intelligence and noise-canceling algorithms to eliminate background noise, so your teammates and friends never miss a word you say. This gives the microphone an almost studio-level quality of audio output, even when fully retracted into the ear cup or positioned relatively far away from your face. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"efbd3e2b-8b43-424d-b5c4-caefa2cfd9ce\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Buy the Arctis Nova 3 here\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"561f50b8-20ad-4d55-986f-405602ca8b52","filename":"steelseries-arctis-nova-3-retail-image.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F19\u002F561f50b8-20ad-4d55-986f-405602ca8b52\u002Fsteelseries-arctis-nova-3-retail-image.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-08-19 17:26:23","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"561f50b8-20ad-4d55-986f-405602ca8b52","imageFilename":"steelseries-arctis-nova-3-retail-image.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F08\u002F19"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsteelseries.com\u002Fgaming-headsets\u002Farctis-nova-3\" data-offerprice=\"99.99\" data-offermerchant=\"Steelseries\" data-monetizedurl=\"http:\u002F\u002Famazon.com?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt even has an LED indicator to let you know when you're muted and automatic mic monitoring to catch and address issues like echo before they can cause problems in games. The biggest downside of the microphone is that it doesn't automatically mute when retracted into the ear cup; you have to press the mic mute button physically. And while this is a minor complaint, it could be a major inconvenience to anyone who is used to an automatic mute and needs to have quick conversations outside of Discord voice chats and games.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"4366a338-eb12-43f2-a622-2f2925237785\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsteelseries.com\u002Fgaming-headsets\u002Farctis-nova-3\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"The Arctis Nova 3 retails for $99.99 (AU$109.99, €109.99)\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, which puts it on the pricier end of gaming accessories. But the audio quality itself is well worth the higher price tag, so if you're looking for a dependable and comfortable gaming headset, I would recommend spending the extra money, even if you won't use all of the extra features (like the RGB lighting).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis headset is the same price as the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"6f44a81b-4398-47ff-9875-e774f05ac0e1\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-Kraken-HyperSense-Headset-Technology\u002Fdp\u002FB09HJYCX5X\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Razer Kraken V3\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, while providing many more features and a lighter weight design. So if you've been on the fence about which gaming headset to buy, whether it's your first or an upgrade, I would highly recommend the Arctis Nova 3 for its comfort, connectivity options, and sound quality.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"47b1617b-799d-4263-9878-ccc4bc00d4b9\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F47b1617b-799d-4263-9878-ccc4bc00d4b9\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-08-23 13:00:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The new Arctis Nova 3 headset from SteelSeries is chock full of premium features like a noise-canceling mic and RGB lighting while still being relatively affordable.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"ae640206-1108-4bdc-9495-4fa0cdae1596",image:{id:"4fe78228-6827-4f25-8adb-2d00a26df183",filename:"steelseries-arctis-nova-3-promo-image.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-19 17:26:52",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Close-up of a SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 hanging from a HyperX QuadCast S microphone.",credits:"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F19\u002F4fe78228-6827-4f25-8adb-2d00a26df183\u002Fsteelseries-arctis-nova-3-promo-image.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2048,height:1152,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"product-promo",hubTopicPathString:"Home & Office^Home Entertainment^Gaming^Gaming Accessories",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3: Hands-on first look",section:c,slug:"steelseries-arctis-nova-3-review",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3: Hands-on first look",topic:{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"112a7545-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"reviews",name:"Reviews",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"3b16a457-b28f-42dd-a892-4af4e7697d90",slug:"headphones",name:"Headphones",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f07e8684-3ad4-438d-a6b4-0665b9de2f60",slug:"gaming",name:"Gaming",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"9a23272b-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"David Gewirtz",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"David",lastName:"Gewirtz",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"de4475ef-be59-4858-beb8-6f7696c85945",filename:"david-gewirtz.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:19:52",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fde4475ef-be59-4858-beb8-6f7696c85945\u002Fdavid-gewirtz.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"In addition to hosting the ZDNET Government and ZDNet DIY-IT blogs, David Gewirtz is an author, U.S. policy advisor, and computer scientist. He is featured in The History Channel special The President's Book of Secrets, is one of America's foremost cyber-security experts, and is a top expert on saving and creating jobs. He is also director of the U.S. Strategic Perspective Institute as well as the founder of ZATZ Publishing.\r\n\r\nDavid is a member of FBI InfraGard, the Cyberwarfare Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism & Security Professionals, a columnist for The Journal of Counterterrorism and Homeland Security, and has been a regular CNN contributor, and a guest commentator for the Nieman Watchdog of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. He is the author of Where Have All the Emails Gone?, the definitive study of email in the White House, as well as How To Save Jobs and The Flexible Enterprise, the classic book that served as a foundation for today's agile business movement.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"57116e8f-3f9a-4589-b963-0f8ae4bdd86c\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Image: Cliff Joseph\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Apple Mac Studio neural engine\" data-image-filename=\"apple-mac-studio-cj-thumb.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F03\u002F29\" data-image-width=\"578\" data-image-height=\"433\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere's an interesting observation. Back before I did most of my daily work on Macs, I upgraded my main workhorse PC just about every 18 months. For most of the time I used Intel Macs, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-much-does-it-cost-to-own-a-small-fleet-of-macs-total-cost-of-ownership-explained\u002F\"\u003Emy typical length of use was between 7.6 and 9.9 years\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in service. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"d2c8d2e3-a125-48c1-b8aa-af507b069739\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fd2c8d2e3-a125-48c1-b8aa-af507b069739\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut I just upgraded from \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fdiary-migrating-from-an-intel-imac-to-an-m1-macbook-air\u002F\"\u003Ethe M1 MacBook Air I started using\u003C\u002Fa\u003E back in June of 2021. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's 17 months, and the fastest turn on my daily driver Mac in close to a decade.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELet's talk for a minute about that. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhats-inside-gewirtzs-home-office-20-years-of-refinement-and-evolution\u002F\"\u003EMy wife and I work from home\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. We \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwork-from-home-and-now-youre-moving-heres-what-to-know-before-you-rent-or-buy\u002F\"\u003Ehave since way before the pandemic\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs such, everything we need to do our jobs, including facilities most often found in a company's office, have to be available in our house. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fdont-waste-your-money-on-these-apple-products-december-2022-edition\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDon't waste your money on these Apple products\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat includes, especially, computing resources ranging from our desktop machines to a wide range of servers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EUnderstanding my workload\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI put in a tremendous number of working hours each week. My daily driver desktop machine is the device that helps me get it all done. I do switch off to other machines depending on my workflow, but I always come back to the main desktop. My choice of desktop machine can either take hours off of my week's workload -- or add them. Over the years, whenever I've found my daily driver starting to slow me down and increase frustration, I've upgraded.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStrictly speaking, this upgrade isn't the fault of the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"0ea40885-a7a1-4b10-a969-b5a766e63683\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fus-edu\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmacbook-air\u002Fm1-chip\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"M1 MacBook Air\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. It's a sweet little machine. But with a maximum of 16GB RAM and equipped with only 1TB of Apple's notoriously fast on-board flash storage, it was starting to slow me down. That's even with the relatively fast base M1 chip at the heart of it all.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EReview:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fm1-macbook-air-long-term-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EM1 MacBook Air long-term: A year later, here's what I wish I'd known\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere's one more thing you need to know about before I talk about the machine I just bought: My workloads. Here's what my main machine is expected to do:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProduce video:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E I edit with Apple's Final Cut Pro. In fact, Final Cut is the primary reason I use Macs. I used to use Adobe's Premiere Pro on Windows, but it gave me such headaches that I switched to Final Cut. While Premiere Pro has improved tremendously in the past few years, I now have Final Cut muscle memory, so I'm sticking with it. Video editing requires a lot of storage, a lot of RAM, and a lot of GPU and CPU oomph.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECode:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E I do a lot of coding and run \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fone-developers-favorite-mac-coding-tools-for-php-and-web-development\u002F\"\u003Emy entire development stack\u003C\u002Fa\u003E on this machine. That includes the virtual machines used to simulate the destination servers. That takes a relatively hefty RAM contribution and while 16GB was tolerable, it was tight.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESupport servers:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E I manage ten actively running websites, and each of these requires some level of attention. Server management typically doesn't put too much of a load on my main desktop (it's mostly about moving files and choosing configurations), but I sometimes simulate a live server in a local container on my desktop.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E3D design:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E 3D modeling (I use Fusion 360, SketchUp, and Tinkercad, primarily) takes CPU, GPU and RAM resources. The more, the merrier.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWrite for ZDNET:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E This mostly consists of lots and lots of email, writing in Notion (which is what I'm doing right now), and a lot of image editing. I also produce videos for ZDNET, and some of the products I review require separate machines or VMs for testing. But mostly, my writing work requires a fast browser and Photoshop.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeneral business management:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E Can you say Excel? Sure. I knew you could.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOf the six classes of work described above, three (server support, article writing, and general business management) could be handled just fine and probably forever with the MacBook Air. But video production, coding, and 3D design would benefit from an upgrade. It's the workload for video production, though, that triggered my decision to upgrade. Videos are just taking too long to edit and render.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fsmart-office\u002Fapples-worst-product-has-become-one-of-its-best\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EApple's worst product has now become one of its best\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor the record, that little M1 MacBook Air isn't going to go to waste. I still need a laptop for when I'm out and about, for use in the Fab Lab and for other projects, and if I want to work when away from my desk. I do have an old 2015 MacBook Pro, but it's not getting OS upgrades anymore. This way, I have a current M1 MacBook Air to do what MacBook Airs do best: Move around and just work.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERemember: My workload is likely to be different from yours. Choosing a computer is a very personal decision and how you're going to use it is the number one factor in determining what you buy. This article is just showing you my process, so you can see how I think about making these decisions.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"71f1f4f9-3339-4c25-854b-b2d18ab20cd1\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Apple Mac Studio M1 Max\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"57116e8f-3f9a-4589-b963-0f8ae4bdd86c","filename":"apple-mac-studio-cj-thumb.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F03\u002F29\u002F57116e8f-3f9a-4589-b963-0f8ae4bdd86c\u002Fapple-mac-studio-cj-thumb.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-03-29 12:47:21","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"57116e8f-3f9a-4589-b963-0f8ae4bdd86c","imageFilename":"apple-mac-studio-cj-thumb.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F03\u002F29"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-studio\u002F10-core-cpu-24-core-gpu-16-core-neural-engine-32gb-memory-512gb?afid=p239%257C159047&cid=aos-us-aff-ir-159047\" data-offerprice=\"1999\" data-offermerchant=\"Apple\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-studio?afid=p239|159047&cid=aos-us-aff-ir-159047&subId1=subid_value\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EChoosing a machine\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI originally thought I would upgrade the M1 MacBook Air with a 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro. Yes, I know there are \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"0201a5c9-32e7-4d34-8574-3d858cf96dfa\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmacbook-air\u002Fm2-chip\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"M2 MacBook Airs\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E now, but the bigger \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.macworld.com\u002Farticle\u002F785824\u002Fm2-vs-m1-pro-max-ultra-performance-graphics.html\"\u003EM1 chips are still faster than the base M2\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fapple-silicon-rosetta-m1-m2-soc-what-does-it-all-mean\u002F\"\u003EApple Silicon, Rosetta, M1, M2, SoC: Why these terms matter to every computer buyer\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf I wanted more CPU and GPU performance, as well as more system memory, moving from the M1 to the M1 Pro, M1 Max, or double-chip M1 Ultra would be the way to go.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere, it came down mostly to price. An equivalently equipped \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"70bdc0db-a2b0-4863-a8a3-e9aafeaaf6b8\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmacbook-pro\u002F14-inch\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"14- or 16-inch MacBook Pro\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E is about a thousand dollars more than a Mac Studio. That added cost is for the beautiful screen on the MacBook Pro.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut I didn't need the MacBook Pro's screen. In fact, I probably wasn't going to ever use it. I work mostly on a 32-inch monitor with a side monitor or two. If I bought the MacBook Pro, I'd be living off the external video, not the internal screen.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo it made sense to save the thousand bucks and look more seriously at the Mac Studio. As a bonus, the Mac Studio has almost three times as many ports as the MacBook Pro.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut with the Mac Studio, I also had two main choices. Did I go with the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"ce1fb580-10fa-4e22-9607-d8d6475ee6e4\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-studio\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"M1 Max or the M1 Ultra\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELet me bottom-line that decision for you: The M1 Ultra is almost exactly twice the performance of the M1 Max for most workloads. It's also $2,000 more. Here's the interesting thing, though. For video editing, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnofilmschool.com\u002Fmac-studio-m1-not-much-faster\"\u003Etesting has shown\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that the M1 Ultra didn't do much to outperform the M1 Max.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EReview:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fapple-mac-studio-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EApple Mac Studio with M1 Ultra\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGiven that my primary reason for upgrading from the base M1 MacBook Air was video editing performance, it didn't seem to make much sense to add a whopping $2,000 to my cost for something where I wouldn't see much return.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI did think about buying the M1 Ultra model simply to future proof the machine for a few more years. But I would have spent so much more that, from a pure cost perspective, it will probably make more sense to upgrade again in a few years and save the $2,000 now.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EMy configuration\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI started with the base M1 Max configuration, which is $1,999. The machine I bought consists of the following:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChip:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E I paid $200 to go from the base Apple M1 Max with 10-core CPU, 24-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine to one with a 32-core GPU. Adding 25% more GPU will prove helpful for some of the work I do.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERAM:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E The M1 Max Mac Studio is offered in 32GB or 64GB RAM (the Ultra allows you to go to 128GB). I paid an extra $400 to get the 64GB version. Keep in mind that this is all part of the system on a chip, so there's no aftermarket upgrading for memory.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStorage:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E This is where I agonized. Apple charges an egregious amount compared to the rest of the industry for storage. But internal system Apple storage is insanely fast. I couldn't bring myself to add $2,400 to my cost to go to 8TB, but I did want a fair amount of internal storage. So I added on $1,200 to bring my machine to 4TB. I can always add an external SSD to one of the Thunderbolt ports.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's it. It brought my spend to $3,799. Adding three years of AppleCare+ (worth it given how costly this machine is) added another $169, bringing my total to a whopping $3,968.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fsmart-office\u002Fmac-studio-vs-mac-pro-and-mac-mini-how-to-choose\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMac Studio vs Mac Pro vs Mac Mini: How to choose\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's far from cheap, but I used my Apple card to get 0% financing, and hopefully the added performance will give me enough extra time that it pays for itself.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStay tuned. I'll let you know about that in two years or so. Right now, I'm looking forward to the new machine arriving. It's due to be here on Friday.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat's your daily driver? Do you have a Mac Studio? Let us know in the comments below.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"3be818df-27e4-42c7-813f-c703e2d38814\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F3be818df-27e4-42c7-813f-c703e2d38814\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-12-08 18:59:20",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"It's time once again for me to upgrade my main computer. Here's my thinking process on why I chose the machine I did.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"289f3a87-644c-4edb-9c59-635adca50b1d",image:{id:"57116e8f-3f9a-4589-b963-0f8ae4bdd86c",filename:"apple-mac-studio-cj-thumb.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-03-29 12:47:21",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"apple-mac-studio-cj-thumb.jpg",credits:"Image: Cliff Joseph \u002F ZDNet",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F03\u002F29\u002F57116e8f-3f9a-4589-b963-0f8ae4bdd86c\u002Fapple-mac-studio-cj-thumb.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:578,height:433,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"product-promo",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"i-bought-a-mac-studio-here-are-the-specs-i-chose-and-why",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"I bought a Mac Studio: Here are the specs I chose and why",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"0fbd54d0-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"apple",name:"Apple",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"59080956-0412-41e5-8eb9-a44ae4f9a8a9",username:"Michael Gariffo",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Michael",lastName:"Gariffo",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"96ef4095-58f9-4a2f-81e3-f21dc8610bf3",filename:"michael-gariffo.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:27",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F96ef4095-58f9-4a2f-81e3-f21dc8610bf3\u002Fmichael-gariffo.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Michael is a veteran technology writer who has been covering business and consumer-focused hardware and software for over a decade. He has published hundreds of whitepapers and thousands of articles on everything from the handheld technology that makes your daily life a little easier to the global infrastructure that powers the entire Internet.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cp\u003ECanalys' fourth-quarter figures for the global PC market show that the rumors of the pandemic surge of PC shipments starting to fizzle had little basis in reality. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"d2c8d2e3-a125-48c1-b8aa-af507b069739\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fd2c8d2e3-a125-48c1-b8aa-af507b069739\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to the measurement company, 2021 saw total PC shipments reach 341 million units, a 15% rise over the 2020s already strong sales, 27% higher than 2019's, and the highest single-year figure since 2012. Even more impressive is the fact that this was accomplished with relatively little growth during the fourth quarter's holiday season, which only saw a 1% year-over-year rise compared to 2020. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite shipments only rising 1% during the fourth quarter, global PC market revenues shot up 11% to $70 billion, while full-year revenue rose 15% to $250 billion in 2021. This generated a 13% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) that Canalys said: \"emphasizes how dramatically the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fpc-sales-are-at-a-record-high-but-what-we-are-buying-is-changing\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eimportance of PCs\u003C\u002Fa\u003E has grown since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll of the new remote workers spawned by the ongoing coronavirus precautions apparently prefer notebooks and mobile workstations to desktops. These product categories grow 16% to account for 275 million of the 341 million total shipments. Meanwhile, desktops and desktop workstations grew less than half of that, rising only 7% since 2020 at 66 million units. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Flenovo-unveils-new-thinkpad-z-series-laptops-for-eco-conscious-business-users\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELenovo\u003C\u002Fa\u003E once again led all global PC makers during 2021 with 24.1% of all shipments, a modest 0.3% drop from its 2020 standings. It was followed by \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fces-2022-hp-shows-off-elite-dragonfly-g3-dragonfly-chromebook-and-lots-more-new-hardware\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHP\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, which held 21.7% of the market after falling 1% year over year. The remainder of the top five was \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fces-2022-dell-boosts-xps-to-28-watts-for-new-look-xps-13-plus\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDell\u003C\u002Fa\u003E with 17.4% (up 1.5% since last year), \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fan-apple-store-salesman-told-me-the-macbook-air-is-a-honda-civic\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EApple\u003C\u002Fa\u003E with 8.5% (down 0.9% since last year), and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fproduct\u002Facer-swift-x-sfx14-41g-14-ryzen-7-5700u-16-gb-ram-512-gb-ssd-us-international\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAcer\u003C\u002Fa\u003E with 7.1% (up 0.4% since last year). \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"adb97705-b505-4822-acf0-8dfa7a8ccff0\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"ZDNet Recommends: Dell XPS 13\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"ab8def8f-4716-4e50-9e1f-109d8f52ec73","filename":"dell-xps-13-late-20201.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fimage-resizer.prod.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F01\u002F12\u002Fab8def8f-4716-4e50-9e1f-109d8f52ec73\u002Fdell-xps-13-late-20201.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-01-12 17:12:37","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"ab8def8f-4716-4e50-9e1f-109d8f52ec73","imageFilename":"dell-xps-13-late-20201.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F01\u002F12"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fdell-xps-13-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-512gb-solid-state-drive-platinum-silver\u002F6443792.p?acampID=0&cmp=RMX&irclickid=RvU3983uYxyIWK5xohX8yQxrUkG3gEWsN2mVU00&irgwc=1&loc=Narrativ&mpid=376373&ref=198&skuId=6443792\" data-offerprice=\"1599\" data-offermerchant=\"Best Buy\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fdell-xps-13-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-512gb-solid-state-drive-platinum-silver\u002F6443792.p?acampID=0&cmp=RMX&irclickid=RvU3983uYxyIWK5xohX8yQxrUkG3gEWsN2mVU00&irgwc=1&loc=Narrativ&mpid=376373&ref=198&skuId=6443792&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=[subid_value]\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECanalys' Principal Analyst Rushabh Doshi claims these figures prime 2022 to be a year of \"digital acceleration.\" He predicts that there will be \"revenue growth in the industry from spending on premium PCs, monitors, accessories and other technology products that enable us to work from anywhere, collaborate around the world and remain ultra-productive.\" This is despite the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fpc-makers-focus-on-business-customers-as-supply-chain-problems-continue\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esupply chain disruptions\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that Doshi apparently expects to continue through 2022.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdditional details on the 2021 global PC market can be found within \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.canalys.com\u002Fnewsroom\u002Fglobal-pc-market-Q4-2021?ctid=2569-146620bb4bb6da0000f943f1fb7d05da\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECanalys' latest release\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"6ce0e79b-438d-497b-ab2b-ff7b960d3851\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F6ce0e79b-438d-497b-ab2b-ff7b960d3851\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-01-12 17:06:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Continued spikes in laptop sales and sustained demand for systems from some of the globe's biggest PC makers pushed 2021's shipments to new heights.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"b96f96dc-e2ed-46be-afab-8def0e4ed7f5",image:{id:"3c4c0bdf-1c12-44f5-b539-88d92c0fec39",filename:"computer-shipments.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-01-12 16:56:22",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"remote-working-helps-push-pc-shipments-t-5f86c38093eaa218d73933a0-1-oct-15-2020-11-18-27-poster.jpg",credits:"Getty Images\u002FiStockphoto",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F01\u002F12\u002F3c4c0bdf-1c12-44f5-b539-88d92c0fec39\u002Fcomputer-shipments.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1600,height:1069,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"product-promo",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"canalys-2021-pc-shipments-grew-15-2022-expected-to-be-even-stronger",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Canalys: 2021 PC shipments grew 15%, 2022 expected to be even stronger",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"371a7418-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"sjvn",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Steven",lastName:"Vaughan-Nichols",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e2171bd1-84f6-4ca8-9801-2abdeb61a365",filename:"steven-vaughan-nichols.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 18:47:37",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe2171bd1-84f6-4ca8-9801-2abdeb61a365\u002Fsteven-vaughan-nichols.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols is a freelance writer and technology analyst. Besides ZDNET, he works with Foundry (Formerly IDG Communications), The Register, The New Stack, and Cathey Communications. He does not own stocks or other investments in any technology company.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"50172943-a91c-4079-ab4b-769a6b3dc46a\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"IOGear\" data-image-alt-text=\"IOGear 2 port 4K KVM Switch: the-GCS92HU\" data-image-filename=\"iogear-2-port-4k-kvm-switch-the-gcs92hu.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F06\u002F14\" data-image-width=\"720\" data-image-height=\"445\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhats-inside-sjvns-home-office-after-30-years-of-working-from-home\u002F\"\u003Emy home office\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, I run a dozen desktops and half a dozen laptops. On them, I run multiple Linux distros; Windows 10 and 11; Chrome OS; and macOS. To keep them from overrunning my place, I use keyboard, video monitor, and mice (KVM) switches. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou probably don't have my hardware requirements, but even if you just have a laptop and a desktop and you'd like to switch between them with a single keyboard, display, and mouse, a simple KVM may be just what you need. And, if your computers can push out 4K video, you want \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.iogear.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EIOGear\u003C\u002Fa\u003E's latest \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"f9f01dd7-8a3d-4bee-9eed-e71429738e0c\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FIOGEAR-2-Port-USB-HDMI-Cabled\u002Fdp\u002FB09VLL7FZH\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"2-Port 4K KVM Switch, the GCS92HU\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"ded995fc-a5d7-460f-96f6-a0e046b674ad\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EA KVM enables you to switch between two or more computers, like your home desktop and a work laptop, with the mere touch of a button. You don't need to jump between two very different displays; a pair of quite dissimilar keyboards; or a scratch pad and a mouse.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you're constantly jumping from one computer to another, KVMs are very handy. I've been using them for decades now. They used to be extremely expensive. I once had an eight-PC switch that cost me over two grand. Today, in no small part thanks to IOGear, high-quality two to four computing device switches are available for a few hundred dollars or less.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"What is a KVM? \" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETake an inexpensive KVM, like IOGear's newest 2-Port 4K KVM Switch. For $99, you can control and switch between two DisplayPort computers from one USB keyboard, mouse, and DisplayPort monitor. That means you can use it with any monitor that supports DisplayPort 1.1, HDMI, and HDCP 2.2 video protocols. With it you can run videos all the way up to 4K DCI, that is 4096x2160 at 60Hz. It displayed flawlessly on my \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"627c4429-dfa0-4a03-b088-ab0c71c272c4\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLG-27UL850-W-Display-DisplayHDR-Connectivity\u002Fdp\u002FB07MKT1W65\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"LG 27UL850-W 27-inch UHD monitors.\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis KVM also doesn't care whether I'm running Windows, Mac, or Linux. I can jump from Windows 11 to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fstill-the-top-linux-mint-20-3-stays-the-best-linux-desktop\u002F\"\u003ELinux Mint 20.3\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and back again with no trouble at all. It's not all work though. You can also use it to play Xbox or PS4\u002F5. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAudio isn't a problem either. The KVM switch supports both digital, via HDMI, and analog 2.1 audio via 3.5 mm audio ports.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt also worked without a moment's hesitation with my keyboards. Mostly, I used my USB-connected \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"f0547658-096a-4286-ab56-807452cf8343\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLogitech-LIGHTSYNC-Mechanical-Keyboard-Switches\u002Fdp\u002FB07QHMJYFJ\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Logitech G513 RGB Backlit Mechanical Gaming Keyboard\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. Just out of curiosity, though, I also tried it with my cherished 2004 Creative Vision Technologies' Avant Stellar. To my joy, I found a PS\u002F2 to USB adapter enabled this almost 20-year-old keyboard to work just fine with all my modern gear. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"57556e99-9222-4547-9f21-73c22c6c4fc5\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"IOGear 2-Port 4K KVM\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"kvm switch","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Amazon","imageData":{"id":"b4d1224a-6cd0-449e-99ad-d7bae107fce8","filename":"kvm.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F06\u002F15\u002Fb4d1224a-6cd0-449e-99ad-d7bae107fce8\u002Fkvm.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-06-15 18:51:25","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"b4d1224a-6cd0-449e-99ad-d7bae107fce8","imageFilename":"kvm.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F06\u002F15"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Amazon\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FIOGEAR-2-Port-USB-HDMI-Cabled\u002Fdp\u002FB09VLL7FZH\" data-offerprice=\"99\" data-offermerchant=\"Amazon\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe GCS92HU also supports USB hot-plugging with its pair of USB 2.0 ports. In other words, you can switch out. You can also use these ports with a USB Hub for USB peripheral sharing. You also can use one USB port for both the keyboard and mouse.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESetting it up is trivial. You just plug its cables into your devices and your keyboard, video monitor, and mouse cables into it, and you're done.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt comes with a three-year warranty. Honestly, though, I have IOGear KVMs that are more than a decade old and they've never given me a lick of trouble. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt $99, IOgear's \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"480c73b0-b496-47c4-bf81-782c36bf12ac\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FIOGEAR-2-Port-USB-HDMI-Cabled\u002Fdp\u002FB09VLL7FZH\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"2-Port 4K KVM Switch\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, the GCS92HU, is worth every penny.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-06-15 19:08:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"IOGear's GCS92HU is just what you need to run your PC and your laptop on one keyboard, video display, and mouse.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"cdd07bf9-c021-4c1a-a775-d575e9183c45",image:{id:"50172943-a91c-4079-ab4b-769a6b3dc46a",filename:"iogear-2-port-4k-kvm-switch-the-gcs92hu.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-06-14 20:07:09",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"IOGear 2 port 4K KVM Switch: the-GCS92HU",credits:"IOGear",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F06\u002F14\u002F50172943-a91c-4079-ab4b-769a6b3dc46a\u002Fiogear-2-port-4k-kvm-switch-the-gcs92hu.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:720,height:445,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"product-promo",hubTopicPathString:"Home & Office^Smart Office^Office Hardware & Appliances",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"this-2-port-4k-kvm-switch-from-iogear-makes-switching-between-computers-easy",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"This 2-port 4K KVM switch from IOGear makes switching between computers a cinch",topic:{id:"f6766034-0530-4765-8be5-effa45e1c660",slug:"office-hardware-appliances",name:"Office Hardware & Appliances",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"f6766034-0530-4765-8be5-effa45e1c660",slug:"office-hardware-appliances",name:"Office Hardware & Appliances",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"59080956-0412-41e5-8eb9-a44ae4f9a8a9",username:"Michael Gariffo",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Michael",lastName:"Gariffo",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"96ef4095-58f9-4a2f-81e3-f21dc8610bf3",filename:"michael-gariffo.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:27",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F96ef4095-58f9-4a2f-81e3-f21dc8610bf3\u002Fmichael-gariffo.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Michael is a veteran technology writer who has been covering business and consumer-focused hardware and software for over a decade. He has published hundreds of whitepapers and thousands of articles on everything from the handheld technology that makes your daily life a little easier to the global infrastructure that powers the entire Internet.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"723f83f2-0826-4032-b7cd-e5a2a0f30e38\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe complete lack of opacity in the front corner lets you admire your PC build from a huge range of vantage points.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Hyte\" data-image-alt-text=\"Hyte Y40 PC case\" data-image-filename=\"drop-bmr1-speakers-lifestyle-desk-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F01\u002F04\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"900\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"8a0eb791-b379-4da4-ad67-6ab91eede7b7\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F8a0eb791-b379-4da4-ad67-6ab91eede7b7\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHyte, a subsidiary of long-lived gaming PC maker iBuyPower, burst onto the scene with its \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"5ce7b83c-2ac1-452e-94b2-c672ce07ace1\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHYTE-Aesthetic-Panoramic-Mid-Tower-CS-HYTE-Y60-BW\u002Fdp\u002FB09TPZ5R6B\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"highly unusual Y60 PC case\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E last year. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe model strayed from the bog-standard rectangular prism shape of most PC cases since time immemorial by adding an extra bend at the front left corner. Stranger yet, the entire corner, front, and side of the case were all tempered glass. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe result was an aquarium-like case that showed off all the hard work you did when building your PC better than just about any other case could. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fnvidia-unveils-its-latest-studio-laptop-series-which-showcases-its-fastest-most-powerful-gpu-chip\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENvidia's latest Studio Laptop series showcases its fastest, most powerful GPUs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, Hyte is back with a new take on the same philosophy that bows, just a little, to the traditionalists. The Hyte Y40 keeps the all-glass front left corner, but sticks to a standard rectangular prism shape in a mid-tower size. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"a3bb3b8f-5110-442c-9d42-248a4dcb7991\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Buy the Hyte Y40\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"b96f192a-e75b-4572-8a18-4759de6caa09","filename":"hyte-y40-pc-case-red.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F01\u002F04\u002Fb96f192a-e75b-4572-8a18-4759de6caa09\u002Fhyte-y40-pc-case-red.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2023-01-04 18:51:38","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"b96f192a-e75b-4572-8a18-4759de6caa09","imageFilename":"hyte-y40-pc-case-red.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2023\u002F01\u002F04"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHYTE-Aesthetic-Panoramic-Mid-Tower-CS-HYTE-Y40-BW\u002Fdp\u002FB0BQP93GYX\" data-offerprice=\"149.99\" data-offermerchant=\"Amazon\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHYTE-Aesthetic-Panoramic-Mid-Tower-CS-HYTE-Y40-BW\u002Fdp\u002FB0BQP93GYX?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELike the Y60, this new model sports several other striking design elements, including the built-in riser card for your GPU, which allows it to be mounted so that all of the showy fans and RGB lighting, too often hidden in other cases, sit front and center. The overall vent design and placement also continue to look reminiscent of a particularly posh office on the Death Star.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fhyperxs-ces-2023-lineup-includes-haste-2-mice-clutch-gladiate-xbox-controller\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHyperX shows Pulsefire Haste 2 mouse, Clutch Gladiate Xbox controller at CES 2023\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to the \"luxury\" riser cable, the case also includes two 120mm fans for placement as you see fit. Those interested in water-cooling some or all of their system will want to know that the Y40 includes three radiator placements: side (up to 280mm radiators), rear (up to 120mm), and top (up to 360mm). A total of five 120mm fan slots for air cooling can also be used.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"54a61e84-21b4-4ced-a3a7-f135b2b9df87\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe included fans are black and white regardless of which color you choose, but the riser cable is color-matched to the case.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Hyte\" data-image-alt-text=\"Hyte's Y40 PC case with accessories\" data-image-filename=\"hyte-y40-pc-case-black.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F01\u002F04\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"900\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile it's far from the biggest PC case around, Hyte has confirmed that the Y40 has enough room to fit even the most comically oversized video cards birthed during the latest generation, even monstrous, triple-slot \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"faa49b37-fa01-44e6-a0b5-239b2ffb462e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newegg.com\u002Fpromotions\u002Fnvidia\u002F22-1779\u002Findex.html\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Nvidia RTX 4090\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E models. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe slightly more traditional Y40 knocks $50 off the price of the Y60, coming in at $150. The \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"829b489f-8702-47a4-8825-c6c53b3be562\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHYTE-Aesthetic-Panoramic-Mid-Tower-CS-HYTE-Y40-BW\u002Fdp\u002FB0BQP93GYX\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHYTE-Aesthetic-Panoramic-Mid-Tower-CS-HYTE-Y40-BW\u002Fdp\u002FB0BQP93GYX?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Y40 is available now from Amazon\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, as well as from \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"0ed7897e-18f2-4a0e-a1e0-997697df8a72\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fhyte.com\u002Fstore\u002Fy40?v=133\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Hyte's own online store\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2023-01-04 22:25:44",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The company's follow-up to its massively popular Y60 keeps the all-glass front corner, but uses a more standard rectangular shape to define its mid-tower size.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"5ec86ab7-c9f3-4adf-a9be-dcfb3cbb84d1",image:{id:"723f83f2-0826-4032-b7cd-e5a2a0f30e38",filename:"drop-bmr1-speakers-lifestyle-desk-2.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2023-01-04 18:42:51",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Hyte Y40 PC case",credits:"Hyte",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F01\u002F04\u002F723f83f2-0826-4032-b7cd-e5a2a0f30e38\u002Fdrop-bmr1-speakers-lifestyle-desk-2.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1600,height:900,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"product-promo",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"hytes-new-y40-pc-case-brings-its-wraparound-glass-to-a-more-traditional-shape",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Hyte's new Y40 PC case brings its wraparound glass to a more traditional shape",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"reviewcard\" data-id=\"c5e7e27a-e814-4cb1-8ad5-0b1c4114e767\" data-edition=\"us\" data-productname=\"Nacon Revolution X Pro\" data-rating=\"3.5\" data-like=\"Adjustable weight ~ Customizable L and R sticks ~ Button remapping ~ Dolby Atmos ~ Onboard memory for player profiles\" data-dislike=\"Revolution X app is janky and obtuse ~ Can't combine weights ~ Switching out sticks can be a hassle ~ Alternate trigger\u002Fshoulder buttons are awkwardly placed\" data-editorschoice=\"false\" data-editorsmonth=\"05\" data-editorsyear=\"2022\" data-editorsdate=\""2022-05-01T20:44:23.884Z"\" data-innovationaward=\"false\" data-innovationmonth=\"05\" data-innovationyear=\"2022\" data-innovationdate=\""2022-05-01T20:44:23.884Z"\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"34ad048f-625b-4222-9c38-7b3587cdd7df","filename":"nacon-revolution-x-pro-controller-review-card-image.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F07\u002F29\u002F34ad048f-625b-4222-9c38-7b3587cdd7df\u002Fnacon-revolution-x-pro-controller-review-card-image.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-07-29 16:10:54","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"34ad048f-625b-4222-9c38-7b3587cdd7df","imageFilename":"nacon-revolution-x-pro-controller-review-card-image.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F07\u002F29"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRevolution-Competition-Controller-Xbox-Customization-X\u002Fdp\u002FB09RW9DL96?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"89.99","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRevolution-Competition-Controller-Xbox-Customization-X\u002Fdp\u002FB09RW9DL96","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRevolution-Competition-Controller-Xbox-Customization-X\u002Fdp\u002FB09RW9DL96?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Frig-nacon-revolution-x-controller-for-xbox-series-xsxbox-one-and-pc\u002F6498713.p?skuId=6498713&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=[subid_value]","offerMerchant":"Best Buy","offerPrice":"89.99","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Frig-nacon-revolution-x-controller-for-xbox-series-xsxbox-one-and-pc\u002F6498713.p?skuId=6498713","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Frig-nacon-revolution-x-controller-for-xbox-series-xsxbox-one-and-pc\u002F6498713.p?skuId=6498713&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=[subid_value]"},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgoto.walmart.com\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F660659\u002F10388?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walmart.com\u002Fip\u002FRIG-Revolution-X-Wired-Controller-Nacon-Xbox-Series-X-S-and-One\u002F478152446&subId1=[subid_value]","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"89.99","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walmart.com\u002Fip\u002FRIG-Revolution-X-Wired-Controller-Nacon-Xbox-Series-X-S-and-One\u002F478152446","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgoto.walmart.com\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F660659\u002F10388?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walmart.com\u002Fip\u002FRIG-Revolution-X-Wired-Controller-Nacon-Xbox-Series-X-S-and-One\u002F478152446&subId1=[subid_value]"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThird-party gaming controllers used to have something of a bad rap, often considered to not be as good as \"official\" game pads from game console makers like Microsoft and Nintendo. But modern third-party controllers are offering much better-quality builds and more customization options than their predecessors. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fnacon-revolution-x-pro-game-pad-review\u002F#:~:text=better%2C%20options%20available.-,Alternatives%20to%20consider,-Razer%20Wolverine%20V2\"\u003ESee alternatives to consider below\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENacon in particular seems set on presenting its Revolution X Pro controller as a top-quality option comparable to Microsoft's Xbox controllers. However, despite Nacon's best efforts, this controller still has a ways to go before it can begin to offer the same build quality, comfort, and ease of use as first-party offerings, particularly when it comes to creating custom configurations in the desktop app. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"chart\" data-type=\"GeekboxChart\" data-chart=\"{"chart":[["Connectivity","USB-C-to-USB-Type-A cable, 3.5mm AUX"],["Power source","USB cable"],["Compatibility","Windows 11\u002F10, Xbox Series X\u002FS, Xbox One"],["RGB lighting","Around right thumbstick only"],["Programmable?","Yes"],["Weight","11.9 ounces without additional weights"],["Headphone audio","Dolby Atmos"],["Accessories","Convex thumbstick covers, thumbstick collars, carrying case, 10g\u002F14g\u002F16g weights"],["Cord length","9.8 feet"]],"chartName":"Specifications","headingRows":""}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E Pricing\u003Cbr\u003E \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"3210abf4-b4ff-450e-954f-81ecf876f9f0\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"A Nacon Revolution X Pro controller on a desk with a Corsair K100 keyboard and Razer Deathadder V2 mouse\" data-image-filename=\"img-1755.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F29\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Revolution X Pro controller sports a hefty $99.90 (£100, €99, AU$199.95) price tag. This is $40 more than the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"259a75e8-e008-4266-9446-bef709c65e4d\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.xbox.com\u002Fen-us\u002Faccessories\u002Fcontrollers\u002Fxbox-wireless-controller-usb-c\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"official Xbox wireless controller\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E ($59.99), which also lets you remap the button layout and connect to your PC or console with a USB-C cable when you need a wired connection or want to play games while your controller is charging. However, it is similar in price to the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"bb06e642-bfa6-4b11-8ba3-2aa036d6d906\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-Wolverine-Chroma-Gaming-Controller-x\u002Fdp\u002FB08LRTTGM6\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Razer Wolverine V2\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E wired controller ($99.99, currently on sale for $69.99) and \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"f6a95df5-aa52-4d48-b4d4-0f29759c5382\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB08XXWJ787\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"PowerA Fusion 2 Pro\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E ($89.99), which offer more customization and accessibility options for both pro-level and hobbyist gamers.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile the Revolution X Pro does let you make a lot of customization choices with the thumbsticks, button layouts, and weight of the unit, almost $100 is still a high price for a slightly elevated version of a basic, wired controller.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"2d3bbe6e-f63f-4032-a3dc-d84113c60292\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"A closeup view of the Nacon Revolution X Pro controller in its carrying case\" data-image-filename=\"img-1743.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F29\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-opens-inclusive-tech-lab-announces-new-adaptive-accessories\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMicrosoft Adaptive Controller\u003C\u002Fa\u003E retails for the same price ($99), and has much better potential for accessibility since that's exactly what it was designed for; although it could be argued that this isn't a fair comparison since Nacon markets the Revolution X Pro's alternative shoulder and trigger buttons in terms of ergonomics rather than accessibility. Still, when you produce a peripheral that does have the potential to make games easier to play for people with fine motor issues, accessibility shouldn't be an afterthought. For this price, I'd like to see the ability to swap the alternative trigger and shoulder buttons with paddles or connect other accessible controllers like joysticks or switches.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe high cost may be justified for some, especially if the alternative buttons would be useful, but could also be a turnoff for others who just want a dependable wired controller for their PC or console.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E Customization and build quality \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"a34cab62-5f50-4f74-a552-e59cc00883de\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"A Nacon Revolution X Pro controller, its carrying case, weights, and thumbstick caps\" data-image-filename=\"img-1672.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F29\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Revolution X Pro is marketed as a pro-level controller, and as such, it allows you to make a ton of changes to suit your play style. It comes packaged with three sets of weights (10, 14, and 16 grams), a set of convex thumbstick caps, and two sets of thumbstick washers. I opted to use the 16-gram weights since they give the controller some heft that feels nice without making it a chore to hold up during long play sessions.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI do wish that you could either stack weights or that the controller had other slots for additional weights, since it can feel back-heavy at times. If there were even a single slot between the trigger and shoulder buttons where you could add a slug, it would make the balance of the game pad feel a bit better. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"362a1ca1-e5c1-4fea-b86f-221a9cc6cb4a\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"Closeup of someone adding 16 gram weights to a Nacon Revolution X Pro controller\" data-image-filename=\"img-1696.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F29\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can also swap out the controller's textured, concave thumbstick caps for a set of smooth, convex caps. The convex caps can make movement a bit twitchier since they make it slightly easier to make tiny movements with each stick, but the exceptionally smooth surface made it difficult for me to keep a solid grip on the controller. I tried several different cap combinations, from having both convex or concave to mixing them up. In the end, I chose to keep the textured, concave caps since they provided a decent amount of grip for character movement and camera control, even when my hands were clammy. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlso, the stick caps can be difficult to swap out, needing a surprising amount of force to remove and replace. The Revolution X Pro doesn't come with any sort of tool for removing the stick caps, so you just have to yank on them and pray that you don't snap off any important bits or break your controller. This makes the whole ordeal nerve-wracking since, if you manage to remove the stick cap in one piece, chances are it's going to fly across the room because you had to pull on it so hard. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"5e015ccc-9876-46d0-bb27-091251b5ce33\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"Closeup of someone switching out the thumbstick caps on a Nacon Revolution X Pro controller\" data-image-filename=\"img-1716.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F29\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe included washers allow you to put limitations on the range of motion for each thumbstick, which is great for racing or flight sim enthusiasts and fighting game players. By limiting the range of motion, you reduce the risk of overcompensating or overcorrecting, which can lead to in-game crashes and failed move combos. While I can appreciate the option, I'm not a huge fan of those types of games, so it's not useful for me. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"1cfe886c-f4a8-450a-83e8-a53bcb5a471f\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"Closeup of someone customizing the thumbstick washers on a Nacon Revolution X Pro controller\" data-image-filename=\"img-1706.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F29\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor something marketed as a pro-level controller, the build quality of the Revolution X Pro is surprisingly cheap-feeling. It's clear that Nacon made this game pad to be an almost direct competitor to the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"4aaca1d3-8ba3-42cf-96c7-c68e3c1afc72\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB07SFKTLZM\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Xbox Elite Wireless controller\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, which is why the exceptionally lightweight, all-plastic body is disappointing.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs I mentioned before, even when I used the included weights, the controller itself felt off-balance in my hands, especially when using the 16-gram set. The face, trigger, and shoulder buttons have a slightly mushy feel to them rather than a nice, snappy click. I don't know if Nacon designed the buttons this way to make the controller less noisy, but it just adds to the overall \"cheap\" feeling of the Revolution X Pro.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EConversely, the alternative shoulder and trigger buttons that are located on the back of the controller do have a nice, snappy feeling when you press them as well as an audible click. While it took some getting used to, playing with the alternative layout in shooter games was much more satisfying. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"d80f0fcf-ea2a-4f23-8bc3-052bbabcb3fc\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"Hands holding a Nacon Revolution X Pro controller\" data-image-filename=\"img-1818.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F29\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne very minor gripe that I have is how much dirt and hand yuck the Revolution X Pro attracts and holds onto. The main grips have a crosshatch texture, the stick caps are textured, and the controller itself has a lot of seams where grime, sweat, and general nastiness can accumulate. Over the course of a normal week of gaming sessions for me, I had to take a toothpick to the seams (especially those around the weight compartment covers) and wipe down the entire unit with a Lysol wipe twice to remove gunk. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fsmart-office\u002Fhow-to-clean-a-mechanical-keyboard\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHow to clean a mechanical keyboard\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's a good idea to do this regularly for all controllers to keep things clean and sanitized, but all of the different textures and spaces in the Revolution X Pro are particularly prone to hiding dirt. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E Ergonomics and accessibility \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENacon leans heavily into the ergonomic aspect of the Revolution X Pro. There are four buttons on the back of the controller that can be used as alternative shoulder and trigger buttons or remapped to face buttons to make it easier to pull off difficult combo moves. The controller itself fits nicely in my hands, though if you have smaller hands or aren't used to Xbox-style controllers, it may not be as easy for you to use.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Revolution X Pro is slightly smaller than an official Xbox controller, measuring about 5.5 by 4.5 by 2.25 inches, but the way that the controller is designed makes it look and feel larger. Side by side with a Sony \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"a74a092b-c6b6-4372-abf0-7904c8d35329\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FPlayStation-5-DualSense-Wireless-Controller\u002Fdp\u002FB08H99BPJN\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FPlayStation-5-DualSense-Wireless-Controller\u002Fdp\u002FB08H99BPJN?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"PlayStation 5 DualSense controller\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, it's easy to see that the PS5 controller influenced the Revolution X Pro's design as well. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"be60dad4-af2f-4379-be05-de5f14c89b08\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"A PS5 controller and a Nacon Revolution X Pro side by side\" data-image-filename=\"img-1793.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 have become my main consoles for gaming at home, and I even use a PS4 controller with my PC, so going from the DualSense's parallel, dual-stick design to the asymmetric stick placement of the Nacon Revolution X Pro took some getting used to, as well as remembering the face button layout. But for longer gaming sessions, the Revolution X Pro's asymmetrical thumbstick layout was much more comfortable, placing everything within easy reach to reduce strain on your hands and wrists. And as someone who has chronic carpal tunnel issues, playing with a controller that doesn't make my hands ache after a few hours is a welcome change. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"2fe61748-b96a-420f-9a76-52499fe0efe5\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F2fe61748-b96a-420f-9a76-52499fe0efe5\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat being said, I didn't find myself compelled to take advantage of the alternative shoulder and trigger buttons. They're placed in a way that means you'll often make accidental button presses when adjusting your grip. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe alternative shoulder buttons also made precision aiming a bit more difficult, since the button faces have a very smooth finish and follow the inner contours of the controller. I found this made it harder to keep my fingers on the alternative buttons, especially if my hands were clammy; and if you're going to take this controller to any sort of tournament, not having a sure grip is going to be a problem.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"df798b9e-5553-476c-9b1e-0c53caf3adea\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"The back of a Nacon Revolution X Pro controller, showing the alternative shoulder and trigger buttons.\" data-image-filename=\"img-1682.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F29\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESmall design flaws aside, the alternative buttons, the ability to remap inputs, and the options to customize weight, stick caps, and stick washers have great potential to make video games more accessible to players with fine motor skill issues. While Nacon doesn't market the Revolution X Pro as an accessibility option for disabled gamers, it'll work well if you don't require something like the Microsoft Adaptive Controller, which integrates with a wide variety of accessibility accessories like foot pedals, specialty joysticks, and switches. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut as much as I'd love to sing the Revolution X Pro's praises for making gaming a bit easier for disabled people, it still falls short on accessibility\u003Cstrong\u003E. \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EEspecially when it comes to the desktop app, which I'll discuss below.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EConnectivity and audio\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Revolution X Pro connects to your computer or console via a USB-C-to-USB cable. The connector cable is 3 meters (9.8 feet) long, which gives you plenty of room to move around if you need to. While it's nice to have a near-infinite power supply for my game pad, for this price I'd like to have the option of wireless use. Especially when I'm gaming on my PC, I don't want to deal with a lot of cords for my cats to chew on or to get tangled up as I plug and unplug my work peripherals, and often need to sit farther away to be comfortable,\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"8a0eb791-b379-4da4-ad67-6ab91eede7b7\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F8a0eb791-b379-4da4-ad67-6ab91eede7b7\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENacon insists that the Revolution X Pro is wired, not wireless, to reduce input latency and lag for better response times and performance in pro gaming situations. But after several weeks of testing, I couldn't see a difference between the wired Revolution X Pro and my wireless PS4 DualShock when playing games on my PC.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe controllers had similar input response times across different genres of games, and even when put through more thorough testing software, the difference was only 2 or 3 milliseconds; which is hardly noticeable to most gamers, and even professionals would have a difficult time seeing the difference. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince it's unlikely that most people who buy this controller are pro-level gamers, and since input lag can be affected by everything from your controller's connection type and your monitor's refresh rate to your GPU's VRAM capacity and CPU workload, it almost seems silly to tout a wired connection as superior. Maybe Nacon stuck with a wired controller design to help keep the already high cost under control, but I would be willing to pay a bit more to have the option to use the controller wirelessly.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"b03e9efd-0b44-4db2-9088-89114635deb2\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"A screenshot of the Revolution X app's audio settings, highlighting a graph which indicates equalizer selections\" data-image-filename=\"revolution-x-app-audio-settings.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F29\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne very big mark in the Revolution X Pro's favor, however, is that it's capable of working with Dolby Atmos to create more immersive, virtual surround-sound audio in your headset so you can hear every note of your game's backing score, audio cues like gunfire and footsteps, and cleaner dialogue between characters. Even the Xbox Elite controller doesn't have Dolby Atmos support for headphone audio, which helps justify that almost $100 price tag for Nacon's controller somewhat.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe rub is that you have to have headphones that support Dolby Atmos audio in order to take full advantage of the feature. You'll still get great sound no matter what, but without full Dolby Atmos support, you won't get the virtual surround sound and bass boost that comes with it.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E Nacon Revolution X app \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"61fb756c-8438-4498-aaa4-9fa34d4bc1b8\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"A screenshot of the Revolution X app's button mapping screen\" data-image-filename=\"revolution-x-app-button-mapping.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F29\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's pretty much a given that any gaming peripheral you buy is going to use a companion desktop or mobile app for things like remapping inputs, changing RGB lighting patterns and colors, and monitoring battery levels and connection stability. And while it's annoying to have to download proprietary software for every brand, these apps are useful for creating separate player profiles for shared peripherals or different input layouts for a variety of games. The Revolution X app is neither very useful nor easy to use.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe controller itself comes preloaded with five different input profiles: a generic Xbox input scheme that disables the alternative trigger and shoulder buttons, a profile for first-person shooters, one for sports games and racing sims, one for fighting games, and one for stealth games.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"a18214c5-e7c6-4dc4-955f-e9503dad4784\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"A screenshot of the Revolution X app's left stick calibration tab\" data-image-filename=\"revolution-x-app-stick-calibration.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F29\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEvery profile except the generic input scheme has the same input layout, but they differ in left and right thumbstick sensitivity and the stick and trigger button tension. The FPS profile has more tension on the trigger buttons for faster aiming and firing with shallower presses, while the stealth game profile puts a slight delay on your trigger button inputs so you can walk back your actions in order to avoid setting off alarms or alerting enemies. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPersonally, I found the stick and trigger tension and delays to be a detriment in a lot of scenarios, throwing off my sense of timing for making jumps, avoiding damage, and pulling off combos. While I appreciate the attempt to cater to players of different genres and provide pro-level players with ready-made profiles, the execution left a lot to be desired. And again, this all seems like overkill when the vast majority of Revolution X Pro users are not going to be pro-level gamers who need total control over input timing. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"e06dc65b-06a4-4a40-b3be-c3ac04b32fe3\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"A screenshot of the Revolution X app's trigger and shoulder button calibration tab\" data-image-filename=\"revolution-x-app-trigger-calibration.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F29\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe rest of the app is standard fare: allowing you to remap button inputs for each profile and change the RGB lighting color of the ring around the right stick. The app also acts as a download hub for the Revolution X Pro's firmware updates, and it offers to check for updates and download new versions of the firmware when it loads up.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe ability to delay firmware updates in favor of older software has a lot of merits but as someone who has trouble remembering to check for things like that, I'd rather have automatic updates as soon as I plug in the controller. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"8847ab7e-e133-47dd-a3ed-44dfa346b736\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"A screenshot of the Revolution X app's RGB lighting and rumble settings\" data-image-filename=\"revolution-x-app-rgb-and-rumble-settings.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F29\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe app seems simple enough at first glance, with pages dedicated to stick and trigger tension, input remapping, RGB lighting, and audio equalizer settings. But the program feels clunky and unintuitive when you're trying to figure out how to customize the controller for your personal playstyle. Nothing is explained, and there are no tutorials to follow for adjusting the more advanced settings like the stick and trigger tension and stick sensitivity, which means you have to do a \u003Cem\u003Elot\u003C\u002Fem\u003E of trial and error to figure out exactly what you changed and how it affects gameplay and controls. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe app also won't let you access pages past the main screen unless the controller is connected to your computer or console, which makes it impossible to do a quick settings check between matches or before your gaming session.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"2e37a64d-64d1-40f0-9720-24a3f40677be\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F2e37a64d-64d1-40f0-9720-24a3f40677be\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith customization, ergonomics, and (to a lesser degree) accessibility being the strongest selling points of the Revolution X Pro, the obtuse nature of the app is frustrating at best and downright incomprehensible at worst. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd the app doesn't have any way to access technical or customer support. Which means that you'll need to go to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nacongaming.com\u002Fen-US\u002F\"\u003ENacon's website\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, scroll all the way to the bottom of the main page, and click the link for the support page, only to be met with a 404 error because (at the time of this writing) Nacon hasn't set up a web support page yet. So you'll then have to go to the contact page and leave a generic form message, or call the company between 9 am and 6 pm when you're likely to be at work and don't have time to call Nacon about an issue with your controller.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"14b94fa7-074c-417c-8d92-74fbd266b9b9\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Nacon Revolution X Pro Controller\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"f2105c8a-c26d-4f9f-8cbf-1f8bb982b348","filename":"controller-commerce-image.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F07\u002F29\u002Ff2105c8a-c26d-4f9f-8cbf-1f8bb982b348\u002Fcontroller-commerce-image.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-07-29 16:12:50","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"f2105c8a-c26d-4f9f-8cbf-1f8bb982b348","imageFilename":"controller-commerce-image.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F07\u002F29"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offer=\"{"id":"08161dc0-e915-4afd-ac8f-2f547d52b310","slug":"rig-nacon-revolution-x-controller-for-xbox-series-x-s-xbox-one-and-pc","label":"RIG - Nacon Revolution X Controller for Xbox Series X|S,Xbox One, and PC","edition":["US","ES"],"imageId":"27f30d8f-2335-43ce-b1c3-8efe37bc52cf","imgWidth":null,"imgHeight":null,"objectType":"content_product","typeLabel":"Tech Product","imgUrl":"\u002Fcontent\u002Fimage\u002Fredirect\u002F27f30d8f-2335-43ce-b1c3-8efe37bc52cf\u002Fresize\u002F75x56","icon":""}\" data-offerurl=\"http:\u002F\u002Famazon.com\" data-offermerchant=\"Amazon\" data-monetizedurl=\"http:\u002F\u002Famazon.com?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E Bottom line  \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Nacon Revolution X Pro is a decent third-party controller that works well with gaming PCs as well as Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. It offers a ton of customization options as well as more ergonomic input options with its alternative shoulder and trigger buttons. The alternative buttons also may make gaming a bit more accessible to disabled gamers who have issues with fine motor skills, though the controller isn't specifically designed for accessibility. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut for all of the great things the controller has to offer, it's held back by a clunky, difficult-to-navigate desktop app and almost nonexistent technical support and customer service. The high cost of the Revolution X Pro is also a turnoff, since an official Xbox wireless controller retails for almost half the price while giving you similar customization options and flexible connectivity. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENacon designed the Revolution X Pro as a professional-level controller, but seems to have done so at the cost of making it appealing to everyday gamers. If you don't mind using stock input profiles and don't anticipate needing a lot of technical or customer support, this controller is a decent option. But if you want to take full advantage of the controller's features or have any issues that need troubleshooting, there are similar, if not better, options available. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E Alternatives to consider  \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"ba0bac12-bb43-4867-a098-2b808b5a3b3e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Razer Wolverine V2\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"A robot hand holding a Razer Wolverine V2 controller.","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Razer","imageData":{"id":"f8a460a1-9882-4bcd-a5c8-0c7c3667ef5a","filename":"razer-wolverine-v2-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F07\u002F28\u002Ff8a460a1-9882-4bcd-a5c8-0c7c3667ef5a\u002Frazer-wolverine-v2-2.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-07-28 20:34:10","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"f8a460a1-9882-4bcd-a5c8-0c7c3667ef5a","imageFilename":"razer-wolverine-v2-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F07\u002F28"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Razer\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-Wolverine-Chroma-Gaming-Controller-x\u002Fdp\u002FB08LRTTGM6\u002F\" data-offerprice=\"70\" data-offermerchant=\"Amazon\" data-monetizedurl=\"http:\u002F\u002Famazon.com?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERazer is a well-known, established brand with a reputation for making dependable third-party peripherals. The Wolverine V2 is a wired controller that allows you to remap inputs and even set up hair triggers and trigger locks for competitive FPS matches. It also has a more ergonomic design that's more comfortable to hold and use during long gaming sessions, and the face buttons are rated for up to 3 million presses for long-lasting reliability and durability. While it doesn't let you add weight or swap out thumbstick caps, it does offer a solid, comfortable design that will suit gamers across different genres. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"ff78e22d-0fe2-44fc-87d4-ebccaddc97d3\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Turtle Beach Recon controller\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"f1f7bcae-9b46-4fea-a57e-107a412a336a","filename":"turtle-beach-recon-controller-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F07\u002F28\u002Ff1f7bcae-9b46-4fea-a57e-107a412a336a\u002Fturtle-beach-recon-controller-2.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-07-28 20:35:16","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"f1f7bcae-9b46-4fea-a57e-107a412a336a","imageFilename":"turtle-beach-recon-controller-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F07\u002F28"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FController-Xbox-Remappable-Enhancements-Superhuman-X\u002Fdp\u002FB096GQBLM2\" data-offerprice=\"59.99\" data-offermerchant=\"Amazon\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FController-Xbox-Remappable-Enhancements-Superhuman-X\u002Fdp\u002FB096GQBLM2?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Turtle Beach Recon wired controller is a more affordable option, retailing at about $50 while offering many of the same features as the Revolution X Pro. It allows you to monitor your mic input, game and chat volumes, and equalizer settings, and it has two remappable buttons to make difficult combos easier to pull off in fighting games or precision aiming faster and more comfortable in competitive shooters. You can create and save up to four layout profiles to the controller and switch between them as you change games, and the onboard audio controls let you quick-mute your mic when you need to have conversations outside of your game or Discord server or cycle through equalizer presets. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"b9d1604f-5707-4525-aeb5-56f11e3e6634\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"PowerA Fusion Pro 2\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"d4b9f936-15b0-408f-8e42-727e305a29f7","filename":"powera-fusion-pro-2-controller-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F07\u002F28\u002Fd4b9f936-15b0-408f-8e42-727e305a29f7\u002Fpowera-fusion-pro-2-controller-2.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-07-28 20:36:05","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"d4b9f936-15b0-408f-8e42-727e305a29f7","imageFilename":"powera-fusion-pro-2-controller-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F07\u002F28"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRevolution-Competition-Controller-Xbox-Customization-X\u002Fdp\u002FB09RW9DL96\" data-offerprice=\"90\" data-offermerchant=\"Amazon\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRevolution-Competition-Controller-Xbox-Customization-X\u002Fdp\u002FB09RW9DL96?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe PowerA Fusion Pro 2 is another more affordable wired controller option, retailing for about $60 on Amazon while still offering custom input layouts, trigger locks for precision aiming and quick-shooting, and different options for thumbstick caps and how tall your thumbsticks are. You can even swap out the faceplate of the controller to show off your personal style, complement your battlestation's aesthetics, or show off your eSports team loyalty. It also has a one-touch dial that helps to control your headset's volume when plugged into the controller and mute your mic quickly when you don't want to chat or need to have conversations outside of your game. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"47b1617b-799d-4263-9878-ccc4bc00d4b9\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F47b1617b-799d-4263-9878-ccc4bc00d4b9\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-08-08 16:49:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The Nacon Revolution X Pro is a decent third-party Xbox Series X, Series S and Windows PC controller that lets you customize its weight, thumbsticks, and button inputs. But its high price and clunky desktop app might be deal-breakers for some.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"7779c411-1f38-40a8-a8f6-b902f6b639a0",image:{id:"3e1f7cfa-4c81-4aaf-b12b-e5c43fcb1b7c",filename:"img-1812.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-07-29 16:14:51",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Close-up of someone holding a Nacon Revolution X Pro controller with their left hand.",credits:"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F07\u002F29\u002F3e1f7cfa-4c81-4aaf-b12b-e5c43fcb1b7c\u002Fimg-1812.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2048,height:1152,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"review-single",hubTopicPathString:"Home & Office^Home Entertainment^Gaming^Gaming Accessories",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"Nacon Revolution X Pro game pad review: Ergonomic and customizable",section:c,slug:"nacon-revolution-x-pro-game-pad-review",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Nacon Revolution X Pro game pad review 2022",topic:{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"112a7545-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"reviews",name:"Reviews",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"9e387438-bfb1-47c2-a8a5-71be354f69de",slug:"home-entertainment",name:"Home Entertainment",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"f6ca5d6a-8175-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"Charles McLellan",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Charles",lastName:"McLellan",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"d2fd20c3-acb9-4370-b08a-614b87257fb9",filename:"charles-mclellan.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 14:27:53",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fd2fd20c3-acb9-4370-b08a-614b87257fb9\u002Fcharles-mclellan.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"I'm the Reviews Editor at ZDNET UK. My experience with computers started at London's Imperial College, where I studied Zoology and then Environmental Technology. This was sufficiently long ago (mid-1970s) that Fortran, IBM punched-card machines and mainframes were involved, followed by green-screen terminals and eventually the personal computers we know and (mostly) love. \r\n\r\nAfter doing post-grad research at Imperial for a while, I got involved in helping to produce a weekly news magazine based in Amsterdam. This was in the mid-1980s, and one of my duties was to set up data communications links with technologically-challenged national newspaper journalists in a number of European cities via a 300-baud modem and an acoustic coupler. Tech support people have my sympathy! \r\n\r\nI've been in computer publishing since the late 1980s, starting with Reed Business Publishing's Practical Computing, then joining Ziff Davis in 1991 to help launch PC Magazine UK as Production Editor. After a couple of years I switched to commissioning, editing and writing, becoming a Technical Editor and then First Looks Editor.\r\n\r\nWhen ZDNet came looking for a Reviews Editor in 2000, I was ready to make the move from print to online — just in time for the dot-com crash! It's been a long road from punched cards to the cloud, but it'll still be fun seeing where we go from here.",profile:b,title:"Senior Editor",bio:c,bureau:"AU",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"d87e064d-4ecf-4b72-96f6-9d5479d01115\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe Huawei MateStation X runs Windows 11 Home on an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor with integrated Radeon Graphics, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. The 28.2-inch screen is a 4K+ IPS panel with touch support.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Image: Charles McLellan \u002F ZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"huawei-matestation-x-hero.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"huawei-matestation-x-hero.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F04\u002F14\" data-image-width=\"770\" data-image-height=\"712\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELaunched in China in September 2021, Huawei's iMac-like 28.2-inch \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fconsumer.huawei.com\u002Fuk\u002Fdesktops\u002Fmatestation-x\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMateStation X\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is now available in Europe at £1,799 in the UK, or €2,199 in the eurozone. There's only one configuration currently on offer, based on an AMD Ryzen 7 processor with integrated graphics, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. The UK price translates to around $2,341 at the time of writing. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you're looking for an eye-catching platform for productivity and mainstream creative workloads, this elegant touch-screen all-in-one (AIO) PC could fit the bill -- especially if you're invested in other Huawei products and can make use of the company's \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fconsumer.huawei.com\u002Fen\u002Fpress\u002Fnews\u002F2022\u002Fhuawei-brought-super-device-to-the-smart-office-scenario\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESuper Device\u003C\u002Fa\u003E connectivity features. Let's take a look.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"reviewcard\" data-id=\"e018d50d-7a26-4b88-b893-419c1466d320\" data-edition=\"us\" data-productname=\"Huawei MateStation X\" data-rating=\"4\" data-like=\"Slim, elegant design ~ Excellent 28.2-inch IPS touch screen ~ Solid all-round performance ~ Runs cool and quiet\" data-dislike=\"No height or swivel adjustment for the screen ~ No discrete GPU option or user RAM\u002FSSD upgrades ~ USB 3.2 Gen 1 support only ~ Basic 720p webcam ~ Super Device system could be more usable\" data-editorschoice=\"false\" data-editorsmonth=\"04\" data-editorsyear=\"2022\" data-editorsdate=\""2022-04-02T12:49:59.690Z"\" data-innovationaward=\"false\" data-innovationmonth=\"04\" data-innovationyear=\"2022\" data-innovationdate=\""2022-04-02T12:49:59.690Z"\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"4ec588ae-91a6-462e-bc9b-29d7d0f23e15","filename":"huawei-matestation-x-770x433.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F04\u002F13\u002F4ec588ae-91a6-462e-bc9b-29d7d0f23e15\u002Fhuawei-matestation-x-770x433.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-04-13 11:27:14","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"4ec588ae-91a6-462e-bc9b-29d7d0f23e15","imageFilename":"huawei-matestation-x-770x433.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F04\u002F13"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Huawei (UK)","offerPrice":"2341","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fconsumer.huawei.com\u002Fuk\u002Fdesktops\u002Fmatestation-x\u002Fbuy\u002F","url":""}]\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E Design \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt first glance, you could be forgiven for confusing the MateStation X with an iMac – or at least the recently-discontinued \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fproduct\u002Fapple-27-inch-imac-mid-2020\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EIntel-based 27-inch model\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, rather than the current, smaller, multi-colour \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fproduct\u002Fapple-imac-with-4-5k-retina-display-all-in-one-m1-8-gb-ssd-256-gb-led-24-us-mgpc3lla\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E24-inch M1 iMac\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Closer inspection reveals some significant design differences though.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"febe0e03-8927-4a26-b127-bd872ae9f552\" data-size=\"medium\" data-float=\"right\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe MateStation X's PC components are built into the display's stand, which supports tilt (20°) but neither height nor swivel adjustment. The cooling fan sits between the display and the stand\u002Fsystem unit.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Image: Charles McLellan \u002F ZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"huawei-matestation-x-side.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"huawei-matestation-x-side.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F04\u002F14\" data-image-width=\"320\" data-image-height=\"770\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor a start, the Huawei device's screen section is pretty much all display, whereas the iMac reserves a chunk of real estate below the screen to house its speaker system. Huawei claims a screen-to-body ratio of 92% for the MateStation X's 28.2-inch display, which \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.silisoftware.com\u002Ftools\u002Fscreen_aspect_ratio_calculator\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eour calculation\u003C\u002Fa\u003E confirms. The screen is also iMac-thin: Apple's 24-inch model is 11.5mm thick, and we measured the MateStation at around 10mm at the top and 13mm at the bottom. Another key difference is that the MateStation X's display is a 10-point touch screen – something \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthe-results-are-in-zdnets-linkedin-fans-want-a-touchscreen-macbook-too\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eyou won't find on any MacOS device, yet\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe screen's rear casing, chassis and screen-mounting bracket are all made from aluminium alloy, while the casing of the stand and the hinge cover are made of 'other materials', Huawei says. Our review unit was Mystic Silver; the alternative colourway is Space Grey (where have we heard that before?).  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESEE: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-computer\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best computers: Is a Windows PC, Chromebook, or Mac right for you?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe screen section is so thin and minimal-bezel because the PC components, speakers and power supply are built into the stand, which, unlike the similar-looking \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhuawei-mateview-review-an-elegant-and-feature-rich-28-inch-monitor\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMateView monitor\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, is free of ports at the back, housing just the power input. The MateStation X's ports are mounted on the side of the stand – two USB-C and 3.5mm audio in\u002Fout on the left, two USB-A on the right, along with the power button. There is no obvious access to the machine's internals for user upgrades, to the RAM or SSD storage, for example.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhereas the 28.2-inch MateView display caters for 110mm of height adjustment and 23° of tilt, the same-sized display on the MateStation X only offers 20° of tilt. The screen moves easily enough and stays where it's put, but we'd prefer more adjustability – ideally, given the touch-screen support, a drafting-board-style arrangement along the lines of Microsoft's \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fproduct\u002Fmicrosoft-surface-studio-2\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESurface Studio 2\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E Features \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOur MateStation X review unit runs Windows 11 Home on AMD's \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amd.com\u002Fen\u002Fproducts\u002Fapu\u002Famd-ryzen-7-5800h\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERyzen 7 5800H\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, a 7nm octa-core processor built on the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amd.com\u002Fen\u002Ftechnologies\u002Fzen-core-3\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EZen 3\u003C\u002Fa\u003E architecture with a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 45W and integrated AMD Radeon Graphics. It has 16GB of 3200MHz DDR4 RAM and a 512GB NVMe PCIe SSD -- no other options are selectable at purchase time or user-upgradable afterwards. The motherboard and cooling system – which uses Huawei's latest Shark Fin fan – are built into the AIO's stand.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWireless connections are via Bluetooth 5.1 and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), while wired connectivity is limited to USB 3.2 Gen 1 (2x USB-C, 2x USB-A) with a maximum data transfer rate of 5Gbps (marketed as 'SuperSpeed' USB). That's a long way behind USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps), USB Gen 2x2 (20Gbps) or Thunderbolt 3 \u002F 4 \u002F USB 4 (40Gbps). If you want to hook up the MateStation to a wired network, you'll need to use an \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-laptop-docking-station\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eexternal USB hub\u003C\u002Fa\u003E with an Ethernet (RJ-45) port.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 28.2-inch screen is this AIO's standout feature. It's a 4K+ (3840 x 2560, 164ppi) IPS panel with a productivity-friendly 3:2 aspect ratio and 10-point touch-screen support. The refresh rate is standard 60Hz, rather than 90Hz or 120Hz, as seen on displays aimed at gamers, in particular. Creators will appreciate the good colour gamut support (98% DCI-P3, 100% sRGB) and accuracy (ΔE≤1), plus peak brightness of 500 nits with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdisplayhdr.org\u002F#tab-400\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EVESA DisplayHDR 400\u003C\u002Fa\u003E certification. The screen isn't too much of a fingerprint magnet but although it has a five-layer anti-reflection coating, it's still somewhat reflective -- and visibly more so than Huawei's otherwise similar MateView monitor.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe screen is a minimal-bezel panel with a 92% screen-to-body ratio, as noted earlier. That's slightly lower than the 94% of the MateView monitor, and provides enough room to accommodate a webcam in the middle of the top bezel. This a basic 720p unit, lacking both IR functionality (for Windows Hello face authentication) and a privacy cover.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe MateStation X has a three-speaker audio output system comprising two full-range speakers and a woofer. The latter benefits from Devialet's \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.devialet.com\u002Fen-gb\u002Famplifiers\u002Fexpert-pro\u002Fexpert-pro-technologies\u002Fexpert-pro-sam\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESpeaker Active Matching (SAM)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E technology, which processes the audio signal to optimise the speaker's bass performance. When we toggled between playing audio on the MateStation X and an attached MateView monitor, which has a pair of 5W stereo speakers but no woofer, the difference in audio quality was obvious.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere's a decent 4-mic array with 5-metre pickup and AI-assisted noise cancellation. This, along with the good-quality speakers, rather shows up the basic 720p webcam. Having checked out the latter, we continued the evaluation with a 4K \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Flogitech-releases-brio-a-premium-webcam-for-serious-communicators\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELogitech BRIO\u003C\u002Fa\u003E plugged into one of the USB-A ports, which also allowed us to configure \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdocs.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fwindows-hardware\u002Fdesign\u002Fdevice-experiences\u002Fwindows-hello-face-authentication\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWindows Hello face authentication\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe MateStation X comes with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, powered by three AAA batteries and one AA battery respectively. The keyboard has 110 keys (four full-height rows, one row of half-height Fn keys) and includes a separate number pad, a fingerprint reader and an NFC sensor area integrated into the Shift key. The key action is positive, and the overall typing experience comfortable. The mouse is a basic two-button unit with scroll wheel but works well enough.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHuawei offers a set of 'smart features' designed to enhance productivity across a range of the company's devices. These include wireless file transfer via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fconsumer.huawei.com\u002Fuk\u002Fsupport\u002Fhuaweishare\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHuawei Share\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and broader multi-device collaboration courtesy of the recent \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fconsumer.huawei.com\u002Fen\u002Fpress\u002Fnews\u002F2022\u002Fhuawei-brought-super-device-to-the-smart-office-scenario\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESuper Device\u003C\u002Fa\u003E system. This functionality can be useful, but -- as described in 'User experience' below -- multiple UI layers and variable device compatibility make this a confusing landscape to navigate unless you're fully invested in the Huawei ecosystem. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHuawei MateStation X specifications\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ctable data-title=\"30x2 Table\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd width=\"30%\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EOS\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd width=\"70%\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 11 Home \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EDimensions (WDH)\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E187mm x 529.7mm x 616.2mm   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWeight\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E~ 9kg   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EProcessor\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAMD Ryzen 7 5800H (8 cores, 16 threads)   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGraphics\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAMD Radeon Graphics (integrated)   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ERAM\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E16GB (2x 8GB, DDR4 3200MHz)   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EStorage\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E512GB (NVMe PCIe SSD)   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EPower supply\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E384W (internal)   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EConnectivity\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EPorts\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E2x USB-C (charging, DisplayPort 1.2), 2x USB-A (charging), 3.5mm audio in\u002Fout   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAudio\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E2x full-range speakers, 1x woofer with Devialet SAM, 4x mics (5m pickup, AI noise cancellation)   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ECamera\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E720p   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EDisplay\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E28.2 inches   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EType\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIPS   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EResolution\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E4K+ (3840 x 2560, 164ppi)   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAspect ratio\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E3:2 \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003ERefresh rate\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E60Hz \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EViewing angles\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E178°   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EScreen to body ratio\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E92% \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EColours\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E1.07 billion (10-bit colour) \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EColour gamut\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E98% DCI-P3, 100% sRGB   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EColour accuracy\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EΔE ≤ 1   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBrightness\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E500 nits (typical)   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EContrast ratio\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E1200:1 (typical)   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EHDR\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDisplayMate HDR 400 \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003ETouch screen\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E10-point multi-touch, anti-fingerprint, anti-reflection coating   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EEye comfort\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light and Flicker Free certification   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EStand adjustment\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003Etilt (0°-20°)   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EIn the box\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cem\u003E \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPC, wireless keyboard & mouse, AC power cable, quick-start guide, warranty card   \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EPrice\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E£1,799 (UK), €2,199 (eurozone) \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003C\u002Ftbody\u003E\u003C\u002Ftable\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E Performance  \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPowered by AMD's eight-core Ryzen 7 5800H processor with 16GB of RAM, the MateStation X's CPU performance falls mid-way between two of Apple's iMacs – the current \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fproduct\u002Fapple-imac-with-4-5k-retina-display-all-in-one-m1-8-gb-ssd-256-gb-led-24-us-mgpc3lla\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EM1-based 24-inch iMac\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and the recently discontinued \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fproduct\u002Fapple-27-inch-imac-mid-2020\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EIntel Core i9-based 27-inch iMac\u003C\u002Fa\u003E:    \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"b9d6ea2b-82be-4452-a543-7dcf9ebfd241\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Data & graph: ZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"huawei-matestation-x-geekbench-5-cpu.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"huawei-matestation-x-geekbench-5-cpu.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F04\u002F13\" data-image-width=\"770\" data-image-height=\"320\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe wouldn't expect a PC with integrated graphics to fare well against systems with discrete GPUs, and the MateStation X with AMD Radeon Graphics duly lags behind Microsoft's \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fproduct\u002Fmicrosoft-surface-studio-2\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESurface Studio 2\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070) and the 27-inch iMac (AMD Radeon Pro 5500XT) on the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.guru3d.com\u002Ffiles-details\u002Fcinebench-15-download.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECinebench R15\u003C\u002Fa\u003E OpenGL test:    \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"b302805a-004a-4b33-8f10-1d978efbbfdf\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Data & graph: ZDNet  \" data-image-alt-text=\"huawei-matestation-x-cinebench-r15-opengl.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"huawei-matestation-x-cinebench-r15-opengl.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F04\u002F13\" data-image-width=\"770\" data-image-height=\"261\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESimilarly, you won't find the MateStation X's integrated Radeon Graphics anywhere near the 'hall of fame' rankings for the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbenchmarks.ul.com\u002F3dmark\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E3DMark\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbenchmarks.ul.com\u002Fhall-of-fame-2\u002Ftimespy+3dmark+score+performance+preset\u002Fversion+1.0\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETime Spy\u003C\u002Fa\u003E or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbenchmarks.ul.com\u002Fhall-of-fame-2\u002Fnight+raid+3dmark+score+performance+preset\u002Fversion+1.0\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENight Raid\u003C\u002Fa\u003E tests. For the record, the scores were 1515 (Time Spy) and 16457 (Night Raid).  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe tested the performance of the MateStation X's 512GB NVMe PCIe SSD using \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.atto.com\u002Fdisk-benchmark\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EATTO Disk Benchmark\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, which reported peak throughput (with a 256MB test file and queue depth of 4) of 2.16GB\u002Fs (write) and 3.25GB\u002Fs (read). \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese results suggest that although this is not a PC for power users or gamers, it's decent all-round performer that should handle productivity tasks and low-level creative workloads well enough. This profile is captured by the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbenchmarks.ul.com\u002Fpcmark10\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPCMark 10\u003C\u002Fa\u003E benchmark, whose component tests are grouped under Essentials (App start-up, Web browsing, Video conferencing), Productivity (Writing, Spreadsheets) and Digital Content Creation (Photo editing, Video editing, Rendering & visualisation):  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"75b1242f-3407-4d9a-a85e-fbab7090643c\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot: ZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"huawei-matestation-x-pcmark-10.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"huawei-matestation-x-pcmark-10.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F04\u002F13\" data-image-width=\"770\" data-image-height=\"556\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChecking the MateStation X's group scores against \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbenchmarks.ul.com\u002Fresources\u002Fwhat-is-a-good-pcmark-10-score\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esuggested PCMark 10 baselines\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, there's a neat progression: Essentials 2.43x, Productivity 2.14x, Digital Content Creation 1.93x.    \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"bcb89e2e-6796-4361-82dd-3f9462c035d6\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EInfrared images of the MateStation X after multiple runs of the PCMark 10 benchmark suite.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Images: Charles McLellan \u002F ZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"huawei-matestation-x-flir.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"huawei-matestation-x-flir.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F04\u002F14\" data-image-width=\"770\" data-image-height=\"602\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHuawei claims that the MateStation X's cooling system, based on its 'Shark fin' fan and an 'ultra-thin' motor, generates an 'almost unnoticeable' 20dB of noise in everyday office usage. After running PCMark 10 several times, we can confirm that the system became no more than warm to the touch, and generated minimal noise.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E User experience  \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe MateStation X is, for the most part, a pleasure to use thanks to its straightforward and elegant design, centred around an excellent 28.2-inch 4K+ screen. Images are clear and sharp with good colour gamut and accuracy, wide viewing angles and plenty of brightness. You can easily select a reduced-blue-light mode for extra eye comfort, and the display is \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.tuv.com\u002Funited-kingdom\u002Fen\u002Feye-comfort.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETÜV Rhineland Low Blue Light and Flicker-Free Display certified\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs noted earlier though, we would appreciate more adjustability for the screen, which is limited to just 20 degrees of tilt, in order to make the most of its touch functionality. One thing you'll need to remember if you pair the MateStation X with a non-touch monitor – as we did with Huawei's 28.2-inch MateView – is not to prod at the second screen in the expectation of something happening.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe connected the MateView monitor conventionally, via a USB-C cable. It is also supposedly discoverable wirelessly via Huawei's Super Device system, but we failed to get that working. Perhaps a firmware update will fix this issue. We also hoped to connect up the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhuawei-matebook-e-2022-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMateBook E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E Windows 11 2-in-1 to the MateStation X, to extend or mirror the screen and use the tablet's M-Pencil stylus. However, it turns out that Super Device doesn't support PC-to-PC connections, at least for now.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe only device that worked as advertised with Super Device was Huawei's \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhuawei-p50-pro-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EP50 Pro\u003C\u002Fa\u003E smartphone. To make the connection you can either tap the phone on the NFC sensor embedded in the keyboard's Shift key and accept the resulting request, or use Huawei's PC Manager app, or drag the phone's icon onto the central PC icon in the Super Device dialog, which is accessed via a Control Panel menu in the taskbar. Having done that, you can display the phone's screen on the MateStation X, transfer files, share clipboard content, open and edit smartphone files on the PC, open up to three mobile apps on the MateStation X, and answer audio and video calls on the larger device. Super Device also incorporates another feature, Huawei Share, which provides quick and easy wireless file transfer between connected devices, with files appearing in a Huawei Share folder on the recipient device. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"e74f7c40-e6ba-4c42-88fe-86d3d170184a\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe Super Device UI with the P50 Pro smartphone dragged into the 'orbit' of the MateStation X (top), Huawei PC Manager (above); the P50 Pro's screen, shared on the MateStation X (right).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Image: Charles McLellan \u002F ZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"huawei-matestation-x-super-device-with-p50.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"huawei-matestation-x-super-device-with-p50.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F04\u002F13\" data-image-width=\"770\" data-image-height=\"513\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESuper Device definitely has promise, but on the basis of our experience during the review period, the current implementation needs work, both in terms of device support and user interface streamlining. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"a1724264-665b-4bba-aa7c-65baf4bd42b7\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Huawei MateStation X\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"huawei-matestation-x-770x433.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Image: Huawei","imageData":{"id":"4ec588ae-91a6-462e-bc9b-29d7d0f23e15","filename":"huawei-matestation-x-770x433.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F04\u002F13\u002F4ec588ae-91a6-462e-bc9b-29d7d0f23e15\u002Fhuawei-matestation-x-770x433.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-04-13 11:27:14","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"4ec588ae-91a6-462e-bc9b-29d7d0f23e15","imageFilename":"huawei-matestation-x-770x433.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F04\u002F13"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Image: Huawei\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fconsumer.huawei.com\u002Fuk\u002Fdesktops\u002Fmatestation-x\u002Fbuy\u002F\" data-offerprice=\"2341\" data-offermerchant=\"Huawei (UK)\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E Conclusions  \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMention an all-in-one (AIO) computer and most people will visualise an iMac-like device that can fit easily into a home or an office, handling mainstream workloads ranging across productivity, entertainment and creativity.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's very much the natural habitat of Huawei's MateStation X, which looks great, performs well and offers extra -- if occasionally confusing -- functionality for those who buy into the company's device ecosystem.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe're impressed with the MateStation X, and most of the additions we'd like to see -- a more adjustable screen, a discrete GPU, configurable and upgradeable RAM and SSD options, a better webcam -- would sit very nicely in a 'Pro' model.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAlternatives to consider \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple's iMac inevitably heads up the AIO alternatives list. We've also added a couple of other Windows options, for buyers on a budget and creative users, along with an affordable Chrome OS all-in-one.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"17ebb707-f13f-4fc9-9199-1eded985ba4f\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Apple iMac 24-inch (M1, 2021)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"apple-imac-24-770x433.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Image: Apple","imageData":{"id":"67b34cc8-1c96-4b2b-8c96-40f3819b060c","filename":"apple-imac-24-770x433.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F04\u002F13\u002F67b34cc8-1c96-4b2b-8c96-40f3819b060c\u002Fapple-imac-24-770x433.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-04-13 15:47:37","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"67b34cc8-1c96-4b2b-8c96-40f3819b060c","imageFilename":"apple-imac-24-770x433.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F04\u002F13"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Image: Apple\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fimac\" data-offerprice=\"1299\" data-offermerchant=\"Apple\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"8550a720-c34d-4b7f-908b-da3798c44cce\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"HP Pavilion 24 All-in-One\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"72d4fac5-709b-4773-bedf-90e5de2b0a47","filename":"hp-pavilion-24-aio-770x433.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F04\u002F13\u002F72d4fac5-709b-4773-bedf-90e5de2b0a47\u002Fhp-pavilion-24-aio-770x433.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-04-13 15:55:45","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"72d4fac5-709b-4773-bedf-90e5de2b0a47","imageFilename":"hp-pavilion-24-aio-770x433.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F04\u002F13"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hp.com\u002Fus-en\u002Fshop\u002Fmdp\u002Fdesktops\u002Fpavilion-23-all-in-one-344540--1\" data-offerprice=\"679.99\" data-offermerchant=\"HP Inc.\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"7b6df82f-8d64-49c7-9249-0685efabaa6c\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Microsoft Surface Studio 2\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"274b87a1-4ddf-4959-b35a-9613cd20f789","filename":"surface-studio-2-770x433.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F04\u002F13\u002F274b87a1-4ddf-4959-b35a-9613cd20f789\u002Fsurface-studio-2-770x433.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-04-13 16:25:11","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"274b87a1-4ddf-4959-b35a-9613cd20f789","imageFilename":"surface-studio-2-770x433.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F04\u002F13"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fd\u002Fsurface-studio-2\u002F8sbjxm0m58t4?activetab=pivot:overviewtab\" data-offerprice=\"3499.99\" data-offermerchant=\"Microsoft\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"d4cc7cc7-9c41-489d-96a2-c0dcd448c601\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"HP Chromebase All-in-One 22\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"710f8cbb-ef63-4013-af5c-3da7e49be9f8","filename":"hp-chromebase-aio-22-770x433.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F04\u002F13\u002F710f8cbb-ef63-4013-af5c-3da7e49be9f8\u002Fhp-chromebase-aio-22-770x433.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-04-13 16:30:55","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"710f8cbb-ef63-4013-af5c-3da7e49be9f8","imageFilename":"hp-chromebase-aio-22-770x433.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F04\u002F13"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hp.com\u002Fus-en\u002Fshop\u002Fpdp\u002Fhp-chromebase-all-in-one-22-aa0050t-2z1z3av-1\" data-offerprice=\"629.99\" data-offermerchant=\"HP Inc.\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERECENT AND RELATED CONTENT\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhuawei-matebook-e-2022-review\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHuawei MateBook E (2022) review: An impressive Surface Pro 8 alternative with a top-quality OLED screen\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhuawei-mateview-review-an-elegant-and-feature-rich-28-inch-monitor\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHuawei MateView review: An elegant and feature-rich 28-inch monitor\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmobile-world-congress-huawei-launches-high-end-laptop-oled-2-in-1-aio-pc-and-e-ink-tablet\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMWC 2022: Huawei launches high-end laptop, OLED 2-in-1, AIO PC and E Ink tablet\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhuawei-p50-pro-review\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHuawei P50 Pro review: Elegant hardware and great cameras, but no Google or 5G\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fnetworking\u002Fhuawei-sees-revenue-dip-28-pivots-to-tap-green-demand\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHuawei sees revenue dip 28%, pivots to tap green demand\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E 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href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Ftentacle-sync-track-e-audio-recorder-review\u002F\"\u003ETentacle Sync Track E audio recorder first look: Close to perfect\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-laptop-for-graphic-design\u002F\"\u003EThe best laptops for graphic design: Top creator notebooks\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-04-14 09:17:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Huawei's MateStation X all-in-one PC looks great, performs well and offers extra -- if occasionally confusing -- functionality for those who buy into the company's device ecosystem.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"2f1b3c1f-7134-4c50-a621-9ab8826ea7fb",image:{id:"689639b3-4310-415f-b864-95908f3d0b2a",filename:"huawei-matestation-x-thumb.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-04-12 10:04:21",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"huawei-matestation-x-thumb.jpg",credits:"Image: Huawei",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F04\u002F12\u002F689639b3-4310-415f-b864-95908f3d0b2a\u002Fhuawei-matestation-x-thumb.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:578,height:433,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"review-single",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"huawei-matestation-x-review",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Huawei MateStation X review: A 28-inch touch-screen PC to rival Apple's iMac",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"1073e6f5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"huawei",name:"Huawei",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"112a7545-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"reviews",name:"Reviews",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"a9d7c138-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"Eileenb",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Eileen",lastName:"Brown",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"67d7616c-1175-11e4-9732-00505685119a",filename:"eileen-brown.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2014-07-22 07:54:27",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2014\u002F07\u002F22\u002F67d7616c-1175-11e4-9732-00505685119a\u002Feileen-brown.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Eileen Brown is a digital marketing consultant who has been working with social technologies for over 20 years. Her books, Working The Crowd: Social Media Marketing for Business, and Digital Marketer are available on Amazon.",profile:b,title:c,bio:c,bureau:"AU",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"e3d5d7f7-38a8-4017-b7c8-14416544770b\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Eileen Brown\" data-image-alt-text=\"Morefine S500 plus eileen brown zdnet\" data-image-filename=\"img-20220329-091336.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F03\u002F29\" data-image-width=\"4000\" data-image-height=\"3000\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"bbee3b84-5fc8-4b1a-8e22-95394d667d56\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmorefines.com\u002Fcollections\u002Fpc-box\u002Fproducts\u002Fmorefine-s500-mini-pc?variant=41230933622937\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Morefine S500 mini PC\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E from \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmorefines.com\u002F\"\u003Ehardware manufacturer Morefine\u003C\u002Fa\u003E has the best specification I have reviewed throughout over 10 years of writing articles and reviews for ZDNet. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis mighty machine contains an AMD Ryzen R9 5900HX chip which makes this PC more than a match for gaming geeks and will certainly deliver on performance. This AMD R9 5900HX octa-core chip with 16 threads runs all cores at 3.3GHz, boosting up to 4.6GHz in turbo mode. This is a fast processor, which compares it on par with the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.notebookcheck.net\u002FIntel-Core-i9-11980HK-Processor-Benchmarks-and-Specs.525584.0.html\"\u003EIntel Core i9-11980HK\u003C\u002Fa\u003E processor, according to Notebook Check. Integrated with this processor is an AMD Radeon Vega GPU graphics chip running at up to 2100MHz with 8 compute units and will take up to 64GB DDR4-3200 RAM.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the box, there is the mini PC, a 110v-240v power adapter and cable for your region, and an HDMI output cable. There is a user guide leaflet -- which gives scanty information at best. There is also a metal mounting plate and screws to hang this PC on the wall. Not mentioned in the guide, but included in the box, is a connector cable that connects to an external hard drive. Two connectors provide power and data connection to the external hard drive.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"reviewcard\" data-id=\"db593806-f40b-4915-912b-dc4902564185\" data-edition=\"us\" data-productname=\"Morefine S500+ mini PC\" data-rating=\"4.5\" data-like=\"~AMD Ryzen Processor ~Quiet in use ~Up to 1TB SSD\" data-dislike=\"~More expensive than other mini PCs\" data-editorschoice=\"false\" data-editorsmonth=\"03\" data-editorsyear=\"2022\" data-editorsdate=\""2022-03-02T13:31:59.245Z"\" data-innovationaward=\"false\" data-innovationmonth=\"03\" data-innovationyear=\"2022\" data-innovationdate=\""2022-03-02T13:31:59.245Z"\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"09314076-3594-4da9-8c25-c8e97abb9783","filename":"1-1.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F03\u002F29\u002F09314076-3594-4da9-8c25-c8e97abb9783\u002F1-1.png","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-03-29 10:12:18","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"09314076-3594-4da9-8c25-c8e97abb9783","imageFilename":"1-1.png","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F03\u002F29"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Morefine","offerPrice":"899","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fmorefines.com\u002Fcollections\u002Fpc-box\u002Fproducts\u002Fmorefine-s500-mini-pc?variant=41230916255897","url":""}]\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI did not need to add another drive as the 1TB hard disk is more than enough for the office work and video editing I use my PC for.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe front of the Morefine S500 mini PC has a USB Type-C port, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, a power indicator light, and a power button. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn the rear, there is a headphone jack that doubles up as an audio port and two Realtek network ports, one at 1GB and one at 2.5GB. One full-sized HDMI port will support 4K output at 60Hz, a DP 1.4 display port, and four USB 2.0 ports. There is also a power port. The Morefine S500+ certainly is a powerful mini PC that surpasses expectations.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EConnect the power adapter and the HDMI video cable and press the power button to turn on the S500+ PC. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere is no Microsoft Windows setup to go through to install the 64-bit Windows Pro version 19042.631. The pre-built desktop appears, and additional updates took just a few minutes to apply the latest security patches. The graphics are absolutely superb. Everything I ran gave clear and smooth graphics without hesitation or pixilation -- even with 4K video.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis mini PC also seems too good for mere office PC work; the graphics capability on the S500+ is excellent, and heavy graphics users would be pleased to use its capabilities.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGaming performance is good from the onboard graphics -- even at 1080p with over 40fps, so you probably do not need to drop down to a lower rate at all. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"bab04419-9b0c-43a8-8834-0ae503a6ef10\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Morefine S500+ mini PC\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"09314076-3594-4da9-8c25-c8e97abb9783","filename":"1-1.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F03\u002F29\u002F09314076-3594-4da9-8c25-c8e97abb9783\u002F1-1.png","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-03-29 10:12:18","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"09314076-3594-4da9-8c25-c8e97abb9783","imageFilename":"1-1.png","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F03\u002F29"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmorefines.com\u002Fcollections\u002Fpc-box\u002Fproducts\u002Fmorefine-s500-mini-pc?variant=41602129756313\" data-offerprice=\"899\" data-offermerchant=\"Morefine\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI hardly noticed the fan at all. I was not using heavy graphics features for an extended period of time, so the fan was on tick over most of the time. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe body of the S500+ stayed cool and whisper quiet. I suspect with heavy gaming, the fan would be running at maximum -- but for ordinary tasks -- it was not intrusive at all. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll in all, the Morefine S500+ mini PC is a high-end PC at an affordable price for its specification. At a starting price of \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"fc22a01e-ca35-4281-a71b-446c8375076e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmorefines.com\u002Fcollections\u002Fpc-box\u002Fproducts\u002Fmorefine-s500-mini-pc?variant=41230916255897\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"$899 for 16GB RAM and 512GB\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, you would struggle to find a comparable PC for the price. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is a superb PC that is well worth the cost. Try it; you will not be disappointed. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"6ce0e79b-438d-497b-ab2b-ff7b960d3851\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F6ce0e79b-438d-497b-ab2b-ff7b960d3851\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-03-29 12:51:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"For a mini PC with an extra fast graphics chip, the Morefine S500 Plus is the PC to buy.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"14cb0a62-8450-475b-902e-7e98183898aa",image:{id:"562d655b-6b87-4516-8f5a-58364f5f89be",filename:"morefine-s500-plus-mini-pc-eileen-brown-zdnet.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-03-29 10:14:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Morefine S500 plus eileen brown zdnet",credits:"Morefine",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F03\u002F29\u002F562d655b-6b87-4516-8f5a-58364f5f89be\u002Fmorefine-s500-plus-mini-pc-eileen-brown-zdnet.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1297,height:572,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"review-single",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"morefine-s500-mini-pc-fast-graphics-performance-quiet-fan-and-up-to-1tb-storage",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Morefine S500 Plus Mini PC review: Fast graphics performance, and up to 1TB storage",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10108f95-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"china",name:"China",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"112a7545-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"reviews",name:"Reviews",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"reviewcard\" data-id=\"c5e7e27a-e814-4cb1-8ad5-0b1c4114e767\" data-edition=\"us\" data-productname=\"SteelSeries Aerox 5 wired\" data-rating=\"2.5\" data-like=\"Lightweight ~ 9 programmable buttons ~ Comfortable for palm and claw grips ~ Adjustable DPI sensitivity\" data-dislike=\"Thumb button layout is frustrating ~ Button 9 is NOT a DPI throttle ~ No onboard memory for profiles ~ GG Engine is clunky and confusing\" data-editorschoice=\"false\" data-editorsmonth=\"05\" data-editorsyear=\"2022\" data-editorsdate=\""2022-05-02T15:29:28.833Z"\" data-innovationaward=\"false\" data-innovationmonth=\"05\" data-innovationyear=\"2022\" data-innovationdate=\""2022-05-02T15:29:28.833Z"\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"e5d51bde-5745-4830-8f51-5c1a1f00278b","filename":"aerox-5-retail-image.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F05\u002F25\u002Fe5d51bde-5745-4830-8f51-5c1a1f00278b\u002Faerox-5-retail-image.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-05-25 14:00:54","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"e5d51bde-5745-4830-8f51-5c1a1f00278b","imageFilename":"aerox-5-retail-image.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F05\u002F25"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Aerox-Lightweight-Ultra-Lightweight-Resistant-Connectivity\u002Fdp\u002FB09VNTCZZN?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"79.99","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Aerox-Lightweight-Ultra-Lightweight-Resistant-Connectivity\u002Fdp\u002FB09VNTCZZN?th=1","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Aerox-Lightweight-Ultra-Lightweight-Resistant-Connectivity\u002Fdp\u002FB09VNTCZZN?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fsteelseries-aerox-5-wired-optical-gaming-mouse-with-ultra-lightweight-design-black\u002F6501454.p?skuId=6501454&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=[subid_value]","offerMerchant":"Best Buy","offerPrice":"79.99","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fsteelseries-aerox-5-wired-optical-gaming-mouse-with-ultra-lightweight-design-black\u002F6501454.p?skuId=6501454","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fsteelseries-aerox-5-wired-optical-gaming-mouse-with-ultra-lightweight-design-black\u002F6501454.p?skuId=6501454&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=[subid_value]"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou already may have seen our review for the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fsteelseries-aerox-5-wireless-review\u002F\"\u003Ewireless version of the Aerox 5\u003C\u002Fa\u003E from SteelSeries, and since there really aren't many differences between that and the wired version, I'm just going to give you a quick rundown on my initial impressions of the mouse. While fellow writer Michael Gariffo liked the Aerox 5 wireless enough to give it an 8.1, there were quite a few things about the wired version that I found confusing, uncomfortable to use, and downright frustrating.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fsteelseries-aerox-5-wired-gaming-mouse-review\u002F#:~:text=wired%20gaming%20mouse.-,Alternatives%20to%20consider%C2%A0,-Razer%20Basilisk%20V3\"\u003ESee alternatives to consider instead below\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst, if you also saw my \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fhyperx-pulsefire-haste-review\u002F\"\u003Ereview on the Pulsefire Haste\u003C\u002Fa\u003E from HyperX, you know that I tend to favor lightweight gaming mice for their long-term comfort and ability to be super twitchy in first-person shooters. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SteelSeries Aerox 5 is also a very lightweight mouse, coming in at just 66 grams. The honeycomb body also is similar to the Pulsefire Haste, allowing the mouse to cut weight without sacrificing strength. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"cf30c777-5a8f-402d-a556-55a4a6a8af26\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"SteelSeries Aerox 5 next to Corsair K100 keyboard on an Asus mousepad\" data-image-filename=\"img-1510.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F05\u002F25\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut unlike the Pulsefire Haste, the Aerox 5 doesn't have its circuitry encased in protective boxes to keep out dirt, crumbs, and pet hair. So, make sure you keep a can of compressed air handy to clear out anything that might have worked its way inside the mouse before it can cause any damage.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"28f8bb7a-b48c-41e9-ae5f-c28b1ae5d7ce\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"A close-up of the Aerox 5 honeycomb body. Orange lighting shows through the mouse\" data-image-filename=\"img-1531.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F05\u002F25\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EButton layout\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere are nine programmable buttons on this mouse, which is almost overkill for most games, but it's nice to have options for on-mouse controls for things like quick-reloading, melee attacks, and crouching\u002Fgoing prone rather than having to use keyboard inputs. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe thumb button layout is not ideal, and that's being generous. In all, there are four buttons near your thumb, with three of them being clustered so close together that accidental clicks and presses are going to be your new normal. I lost count of how many times I would move my thumb to hit the reload button but accidentally press crouch first or jump without meaning to and go flying off of a very tall building. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere is also a button that you move up and down rather than press inwards, which makes sense for the layout, but it does take some getting used to. It's also strangely difficult to press downwards due to whatever resistance spring SteelSeries opted for. You won't have to struggle to make a click, but you will have to press much harder than you normally would, which kind of defeats the purpose of an ergonomic mouse body design.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"1d952ff1-2bc9-4078-b50f-91336b4739b4\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"A close-up of the Aerox 5 thumb button layout\" data-image-filename=\"img-1526.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F05\u002F25\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd now we reach my main complaint with the Aerox 5: the silver side button. It looks like a DPI clutch, it feels like a DPI clutch, but it isn't a DRI clutch. At the time of writing, there is no way to program the silver thumb button to be any sort of DPI sensitivity toggle when you want more precise aiming. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhy SteelSeries chose to design an FPS-centric mouse without a DPI throttle is a mystery and a huge drawback in my opinion. Everything from the placement to the design signals that the silver button can perform special functions, but it's really a glorified macro input. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile you don't need a DPI throttle, it's one of those things that once you've used it, you never want to be without it again. And coming hot off the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fcorsair-m65-rgb-ultra-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECorsair M65 RGB Ultra\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, I was mightily disappointed that SteelSeries seemed to have dropped the ball on a feature that is becoming more and more common in shooter-specific (and some cross-genre) gaming mice.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EGG Engine app\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother big complaint I have is that the GG desktop app is a clunky, confusing mess. Other controller apps like iCUE, MSI Center, and even Razer's Synapse are laid out with an intuitive dashboard and easy-to-navigate menus for programming button layout profiles and RGB lighting. The GG app is first and foremost a store page, dropping you into a dashboard that peddles SteelSeries peripherals that you don't want or need as well as featuring a blog post feed about games you don't have time to play. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"7652167e-e4be-40ea-96dc-d560d545b514\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"Screenshot of the SteelSeries GG Engine app DPI settings and button programming page\" data-image-filename=\"gg-engine.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F05\u002F25\" data-image-width=\"1301\" data-image-height=\"732\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce you find the Engine tab, which allows you to reprogram buttons and customize your RGB lighting, things don't get much better. You're met with a top-down view of the Aerox 5 with no clear indication of which button is which or what they do and a DPI adjustment area that you may need an actual degree in physics to properly figure out. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENot only can you customize five different DPI levels, but you can also mess with polling rate, acceleration and deceleration, and even angle snapping. There are also almost no explanations for what each section controls, making the GG Engine a test of endurance and patience as you go through a process of elimination or trial-and-error to figure out what you just changed (if anything at all). \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECompared to Corsair's iCUE and Razer's synapse, the GG Engine DPI settings are entirely too granular for most PC gamers. I would have much preferred to have a simplified DPI control panel for customizing different sensitivity levels as well as the polling rate, and maybe a calibration program for resetting the optical sensor when I get a new mouse pad or switch from a pad to a bare desk top. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"7c278dd1-94c1-4945-a0dc-c1438ccb1680\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"Screenshot of Corsair iCUE DPI settings page\" data-image-filename=\"corsair-dpi-icue.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F05\u002F25\" data-image-width=\"1368\" data-image-height=\"770\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"9fdaa85d-bdd6-4267-b31c-3c2bad9e3728\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"Screenshot of Razer Synapse DPI settings screen\" data-image-filename=\"synapse-dpi.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F05\u002F25\" data-image-width=\"1280\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"14b94fa7-074c-417c-8d92-74fbd266b9b9\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Buy now at Best Buy\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"Top-down close-up of the SteelSeries Aerox 5 wired gaming mouse on an Asus mouse pad","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet","imageData":{"id":"9efe2bca-f430-456c-b374-564ab0ca5d58","filename":"img-1519.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F05\u002F25\u002F9efe2bca-f430-456c-b374-564ab0ca5d58\u002Fimg-1519.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-05-25 15:16:19","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"9efe2bca-f430-456c-b374-564ab0ca5d58","imageFilename":"img-1519.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F05\u002F25"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fsteelseries-aerox-5-wired-optical-gaming-mouse-with-ultra-lightweight-design-black\u002F6501454.p?skuId=6501454\" data-offerprice=\"79.99\" data-offermerchant=\"Best Buy\" data-monetizedurl=\"http:\u002F\u002Famazon.com?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EBottom line\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs it stands, the SteelSeries Aerox 5 has a long way to go before it can be worthy of its $79.99 (£79.99, AU$149, €89.99, CA$99.99) price tag. I'm hoping that in the near future, the tech wizards over at SteelSeries can update the GG Engine to allow the silver thumb button to be programmed as a DPI throttle since that's clearly what they had in mind when they designed the mouse. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's an otherwise solid mouse: lightweight and comfortable enough for all-day use, tactical ratchet scroll, and reliable gold-plated button switches for better response times. But I'd wait for a control app patch or sale before I spent my money on the Aerox 5 wired gaming mouse.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAlternatives to consider \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"ff78e22d-0fe2-44fc-87d4-ebccaddc97d3\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Razer Basilisk V3\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"A Razer Basilisk V3 with RGB lighting enabled, sitting on a black surface.","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Razer","imageData":{"id":"299f78e1-3a39-4646-b32a-129be5de427a","filename":"razer-basilisk-v3-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F05\u002F25\u002F299f78e1-3a39-4646-b32a-129be5de427a\u002Frazer-basilisk-v3-2.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-05-25 14:11:11","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"299f78e1-3a39-4646-b32a-129be5de427a","imageFilename":"razer-basilisk-v3-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F05\u002F25"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Razer\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.razer.com\u002Fgaming-mice\u002Frazer-basilisk-v3\u002FRZ01-04000100-R3M1\" data-offerprice=\"69.99\" data-offermerchant=\"Razer\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Razer Basilisk V3 is $10 cheaper than the Aerox 5 and still manages to provide a top-tier gaming experience. The thumb buttons are intuitively placed, and the thumb paddle is actually a DPI clutch. This means that when you need precision aiming, you can press it to immediately drop your DPI sensitivity for pixel-precise placement of your cursor over opponents and enemy monsters. It also has onboard memory for up to five layouts and lighting profiles for easier switching when you want to change games or shift from work to gaming.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"ba0bac12-bb43-4867-a098-2b808b5a3b3e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Corsair M65 RGB Ultra wired gaming mouse\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"A Corsair M65 RGB Ultra on a mousepad with a Corsair K100 mechanical gaming keyboard","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet","imageData":{"id":"1b605c8e-3fe0-4702-a8e2-c58cb3e46ac7","filename":"img-1474.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F05\u002F25\u002F1b605c8e-3fe0-4702-a8e2-c58cb3e46ac7\u002Fimg-1474.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-05-25 14:14:50","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"1b605c8e-3fe0-4702-a8e2-c58cb3e46ac7","imageFilename":"img-1474.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F05\u002F25"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fcorsair-m65-rgb-ultra-wired-optical-gaming-mouse-with-adjustable-weights-black\u002F6485744.p?skuId=6485744\" data-offerprice=\"69.99\" data-offermerchant=\"Best Buy\" data-monetizedurl=\"http:\u002F\u002Famazon.com?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Corsair M65 RGB Ultra is another, cheaper option than the SteelSeries Aerox 5 with all the features you want for first-person shooter games as well as a few you didn't know you needed. Along with a clearly labeled DPI clutch, you can also customize the mouse's weight to suit your preferences and play style. The body shape is a bit odd, but not uncomfortable, and the iCUE desktop app is much easier to navigate and use than the GG Engine.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"47b1617b-799d-4263-9878-ccc4bc00d4b9\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F47b1617b-799d-4263-9878-ccc4bc00d4b9\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-05-31 16:35:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The SteelSeries Aerox 5 wired gaming mouse is lightweight and comfortable to use, but the GG Engine software and confusing button layout make it hard to justify the high price tag.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"4989a39d-3157-4cdc-88bd-df03fe2be378",image:{id:"cf30c777-5a8f-402d-a556-55a4a6a8af26",filename:"img-1510.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-05-25 13:57:48",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"A close-up of the Aerox 5 thumb button layout",credits:"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F05\u002F25\u002Fcf30c777-5a8f-402d-a556-55a4a6a8af26\u002Fimg-1510.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2048,height:1152,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"review-single",hubTopicPathString:"Home & Office^Home Entertainment^Gaming^Gaming Accessories",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"SteelSeries Aerox 5 wired gaming mouse review: A hard lesson in how first impressions matter",section:c,slug:"steelseries-aerox-5-wired-gaming-mouse-review",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"SteelSeries Aerox 5 wired gaming mouse review: A hard lesson in how first impressions matter",topic:{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"112a7545-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"reviews",name:"Reviews",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f07e8684-3ad4-438d-a6b4-0665b9de2f60",slug:"gaming",name:"Gaming",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"0b291d41-05e5-4208-957c-3949e051f87d\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"img-1432-2.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"img-1432-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F05\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"b6a95dd0-9c90-4feb-a9c1-99df2ed47a65\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamestop.com\u002Fpc-gaming\u002Fmice\u002Fproducts\u002Fmsi-clutch-gm30-gaming-mouse\u002F248062.html\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"MSI GM30 Clutch gaming mouse\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E features an ergonomic, symmetrical design that's comfortable for both claw and palm grips. It also has 6 programmable buttons, an adjustable DPI sensor, and customizable RGB lighting between the main buttons to match your other RGB components and peripherals or add a touch of personal flair to your setup. And with an elevated wire mount, there's less drag when moving the mouse around while playing games or working. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.msi.com\u002FLanding\u002FMSI-Center\"\u003EMSI Center desktop app\u003C\u002Fa\u003E allows you to create and save up to 3 different layout, DPI, and lighting profiles and switch between them so you're always ready to take on your favorite games, most-used programs for work, or switch between work and gaming at the end of the day.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"reviewcard\" data-id=\"667008d3-7b12-48c4-91f2-5746755c6756\" data-edition=\"us\" data-productname=\"MSI GM30 Clutch\" data-rating=\"4\" data-like=\"6 programmable buttons ~ Ergonomic, symmetrical design ~ Customizable DPI ~ Texture-molded grips\" data-dislike=\"No on-board memory ~ Not ambidextrous ~ MSI Center can feel clunky\" data-editorschoice=\"false\" data-editorsmonth=\"05\" data-editorsyear=\"2022\" data-editorsdate=\""2022-05-02T18:45:12.056Z"\" data-innovationaward=\"false\" data-innovationmonth=\"05\" data-innovationyear=\"2022\" data-innovationdate=\""2022-05-02T18:45:12.056Z"\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"d519b460-9d47-43bd-97f7-dcb4813c9bdc","filename":"gm30-clutch-retail-image-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F05\u002F03\u002Fd519b460-9d47-43bd-97f7-dcb4813c9bdc\u002Fgm30-clutch-retail-image-2.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-05-03 18:10:35","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"d519b460-9d47-43bd-97f7-dcb4813c9bdc","imageFilename":"gm30-clutch-retail-image-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F05\u002F03"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB07XZC667B?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"59.99","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB07XZC667B","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB07XZC667B?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"45efa34e-45e6-40eb-b34f-98e6a7725b71","slug":"msi-clutch-gm30-wired-optical-gaming-mouse-black","name":"MSI - Clutch GM30 Wired Optical Gaming Mouse - Black","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1651601444392,"displayDate":"Tue May 03 2022 14:10:44 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EPricing\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe GM30 Clutch retails for $54.99 (£40, AU$78, CA$69), which puts it in the same tier as the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"e08d9f33-79bd-43c1-9c24-b7c4ab399250\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FCORSAIR-IRONCLAW-RGB-Optical-Backlit\u002Fdp\u002FB07KKZB9LM\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Corsair Ironclaw\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E ($49.99), \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c8e9931f-e0e8-4e0d-a48f-1b47c92c9d0d\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-PrismSync-Lighting-Programmable-Buttons\u002Fdp\u002FB093LSMKL3\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"SteelSeries Rival 5\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E ($59.99), and the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"58653a80-fd34-4b4f-acce-a06517f9641c\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-USA-Black-Widow-Essential\u002Fdp\u002FB0793CFYTT\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Razer Basilisk Essential\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E ($49.99). It's fairly affordable for a mid-tier gaming mouse with as many perks as it has, though there are a few drawbacks which make the price tag feel a touch too high.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EQuality and performance\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe body of the mouse has a symmetrical design that fits the palm very well and reduces hand, wrist, and forearm strain by keeping everything in a more neutral position. And since the body is symmetrical, it's possible to use the GM30 Clutch with your left hand if you're a southpaw. However, the MSI Center app doesn't allow you to remap the left and right-click buttons, and the thumb buttons are only on the left side thumb rest, so it's not a truly ambidextrous mouse; but if you're willing to deal with some minor inconveniences, it's still a comfortable and intuitive enough experience. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"2fe61748-b96a-420f-9a76-52499fe0efe5\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F2fe61748-b96a-420f-9a76-52499fe0efe5\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe sides of the mouse have integrated, textured grips for more secure handling during fast-paced games as well as working in programs like Photoshop and Lightroom. And since the texture is molded directly into the side panels, you won't have to worry about them peeling away over time; though the somewhat deep grooves do tend to hold dirt, so I recommend cleaning your GM30 Clutch with a sanitizing wipe at least once a week to prevent gunk build-up. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe top of the mouse and the main buttons also feature a slightly matte texture that provides a bit more security while using a palm grip, but it can become somewhat slick if your hand gets sweaty or is oily; so make sure you give the whole mouse a regular wipe-down not only to keep it looking its best, but to keep it sanitized (which is especially important if you share your computer with others) and free of build-up that can decrease the life of your mouse. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"ceccd97e-156f-4a94-9f4c-9692a1351b07\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"img-1423-2.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"img-1423-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F05\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe main buttons use Omron mechanical switches which are rated for 20 million clicks while the thumb buttons use Huano Blue switches which are rated for over 10 million clicks, ensuring reliable presses and durable buttons. The sensor has a max DPI of 6200, which is great for a variety of game genres, including: first-person shooters, RPGs, MMOs, and platformers. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can also use the MSI Center app to set the sensor to one of five DPI levels or customize the sensitivity and polling rate to suit your personal preferences and playstyle. You'll also get a more reliable connection to your computer with the gold-plated USB plug, which is designed for faster data transfer for less lag between your button presses and on-screen actions.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe body of the mouse weighs just 98 grams, which makes it what I would consider a lightweight model. The low weight and raised wire mounting makes the GM30 Clutch easy and comfortable to use for long periods of time, which is perfect if you're looking for a mouse that can be used for both work and gaming or have regular marathon gaming sessions. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe bottom of the mouse features integrated PTFE feet for smoother movement on cloth or hard-surface mouse pads and even bare desk surfaces. One drawback to the GM30 Clutch's design is that it doesn't come packaged with any extra feet to replace the built-in ones if they ever become damaged or worn; you can't even buy them separately from the mouse from MSI or authorized retailers. So if the feet ever become so damaged or worn that you can't reliably use the GM30, you'll be forced to replace the entire mouse. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've mostly been diving back into \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ubisoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fgame\u002Frocksmith\u002F2014-remastered\"\u003ERocksmith\u003C\u002Fa\u003E to give myself motivation to practice with my guitars, but I was able to run the GM30 Clutch through its paces with a few other games like DayZ, Hardspace Shipbreaker, and Saints Row: The Third. In \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdayz.com\u002F\"\u003EDayZ\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, being able to quickly change DPI presets helped make aiming with both guns and melee weapons a bit easier and more accurate, especially while in third person view. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile not as easy or accurate as a thumb-paddle throttle like what you'd find on the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"5e0f3690-7e3e-4770-8adb-a8dafd2ee74e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.razer.com\u002Fgaming-mice\u002Frazer-basilisk-v3\u002FRZ01-04000100-R3M1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Razer Basilisk V3\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E or \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"f4ad9c4c-67ee-48ec-ba12-99dc5c44aa16\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fcorsair-m65-rgb-ultra-wired-optical-gaming-mouse-with-adjustable-weights-black\u002F6485744.p?skuId=6485744\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Corsair M65 Ultra\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, it still is nice to be able to go from a twitchy camera to keep an eye on surroundings while raiding town for camp supplies to a slower camera for smoother aiming while smacking a zombie with a broom handle or frantically jamming a water bottle silencer on your 1911 to waste your last few rounds on a zombified helicopter pilot so you can snatch some dirty rags and a half-eaten can of vienna sausages before you die of starvation and blood loss. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"bb713ec4-4a3d-427e-86a5-82b07b4682b3\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"img-1441-2.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"img-1441-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F05\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile playing \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fhardspace-shipbreaker.com\u002F\"\u003EHardspace Shipbreaker\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, my gameplay benefitted the most from being able to remap certain actions to the thumb buttons. The premise of the game is to rip apart decommissioned passenger and cargo spaceships for salvage in order to pay off your $1trillion debt to the company and get back home. And while the basic concept is simple, nothing feels quite as satisfying as being able to laser-lasso nuclear reactors and whip them into a holding area before they reach critical mass and turn you into a Kentucky Fried Space Guy, while jamming on your jetpack for enough momentum to fling yourself to the opposite side of the ship for more high-value parts before your shift ends and you return to your company-owned dorm for a dinner of nutritional paste and reconstituted water. Re-mapping jetpack acceleration and braking to the thumb buttons rather than the L. Shift and L. CTRL buttons made moving around in Zero G more comfortable since I didn't have to splay out my left hand in order to perform basic maneuvers. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FSaints_Row:_The_Third\"\u003ESaints Row: The Third\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is an older game, but a favorite that I return to frequently. It was released in 2011, which was the peak of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FGrand_Theft_Auto\"\u003EGrand Theft Auto\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FCall_of_Duty\"\u003ECall of Duty's\u003C\u002Fa\u003E stranglehold on gaming's collective consciousness, and the fact that SR III didn't take itself seriously at all was a breath of fresh air (the vibrant, neon color palette was also a welcome reprieve from the dull browns and grays of other prevalent shooters at the time). Having special actions like throwing grenades, reloading weapons, and setting waypoints mapped to thumb buttons rather than keyboard inputs or main mouse buttons made frantic gunfights easier and streamlined general gameplay since I didn't have to pause the game to open a map in order to set a custom waypoint.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEven though the GM30 Clutch doesn't have as many buttons as some other mid-tier gaming mice, the two thumb buttons and the ability to remap some actions do help to streamline gameplay in certain genres, especially first-person shooters for reloading or quick-swapping weapons or RPGs for firing your most-used spells or quick-healing.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"5c3ce10b-8dc3-411b-9487-f6ce89f9b88e\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"img-1438-2.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"img-1438-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F05\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe scroll wheel, logo, and a section between the main buttons feature RGB lighting that you can customize with 10 different effects and millions of colors. It's a bit more pronounced than what you'd see on something like the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fhyperx-pulsefire-haste-review\u002F\"\u003EHyperX Pulsefire Haste\u003C\u002Fa\u003E or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Frazer-deathadder-v2-review\u002F\"\u003ERazer Deathadder V2\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, so if your gaming PC doubled as a work computer, or if you share a gaming or work space, the lighting might be distracting to co-workers and friends when you aren't using the mouse. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you prefer a palm grip, you can still appreciate your customized colors and effects with the middle lighting section, while a claw-style grip lets you see the logo as well. It's possible to change lighting effects without the desktop app, instead using a combination of button presses to adjust brightness, switch effects, and effect speed, but I recommend using the app because it's 1) much easier and 2) provides a higher level of control over how your RGB effects look.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EMSI Center app\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe MSI Center app replaces the Dragon Center desktop program that MSI had used for years. The updated program streamlines the experience by combining programs like Mystic Light for controlling your RGB lighting, Game Center for remapping mouse buttons, and even a program for recording and posting game highlights to social media. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen you first download the app, it will only have the Game Center program installed, and you can cherry-pick others from the main menu to curate a more personalized experience. This is especially helpful if you use multiple MSI-branded peripherals or components. Each program has multiple tabs for customizing RGB lighting (where available) or syncing effects for a more unified look across your entire PC build, customizing button layouts, or monitoring operating temperatures and performance metrics for core components like GPUs to catch issues before they destroy your expensive new graphics card or brick your entire system. You can also access technical and customer support from the app's main dashboard to troubleshoot issues, register for warranties, or request product returns and exchanges.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"ee99475c-ecbd-411b-8b54-4e8741b2f0e6\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"msi-center-mystic-light-controls-2.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"msi-center-mystic-light-controls-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F05\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"1348\" data-image-height=\"758\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.msi.com\u002FLanding\u002Fmystic-light-rgb-gaming-pc\u002F\"\u003EMystic Light\u003C\u002Fa\u003E program is what you'll use to customize your GM30's RGB lighting colors and effects. You can create up to three different profiles, which is great if you're a content creator and want your lighting to match a certain game's aesthetics, or you can set the lighting to sync to in-game actions for reactive effects; flashing red when you take damage, green for healing, etc. You can also control any compatible ambient lighting like \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"2b0a2439-9d8d-4c63-85d6-cdf60bc58645\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGovee-Hexagon-Control-Assistant-Streaming\u002Fdp\u002FB09FK1GSXY\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Govee hexagon light panels\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, smart light bulbs like the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"2a9fd489-379e-4885-b708-ab4844842b90\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FPhilips-Hue-Bluetooth-Compatible-Assistant\u002Fdp\u002FB095KSZQGD\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Philips Hue\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, or LED light strips to create a personal visual brand or match a particular game's color scheme for streams. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere is even the option for voice commands within the app by using MSI's \"Hey Lucky\" commands; this is particularly helpful if you're a content creator and need to quickly make changes without tabbing out of your current program or game. The best part of Hey Lucky is that you can toggle it on and off with a single click within the app's settings; no signing up for separate accounts or downloading proprietary virtual assistants. There's a developer's version of Mystic Light as well if you're interested in creating your own lighting effects for components and peripherals. Though you'll have to be pretty knowledgeable in both Microsoft Visual Studio C++ and C# programming languages to be able to take full advantage of the software.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Gaming Gear program is where you'll do all of your button layout configurations for the GM30 Clutch (or other MSI gaming mouse) and tweak settings for other MSI-branded peripherals like keyboards and headsets. Like with Mystic Light, you can create up to three separate profiles with custom button configurations and DPI sensitivity to suit your personal playstyle and favorite games. You can set up 5 different DPI levels to cycle through with the on-board button, using the slider to set sensitivity levels and a drop-down menu to adjust the polling rate from as little as 125Hz to as high as 1000Hz. This gives you tons of control over how your mouse will behave in both games and work programs like Lightroom, Photoshop, or Final Cut Pro. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"c5cb1828-afa5-4eb3-a07b-1e6e3e9ffc9e\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"msi-center-button-remap-2.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"msi-center-button-remap-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F05\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"1348\" data-image-height=\"758\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"9b0ec05c-0571-40b9-82d4-c0a5cebca6b0\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"msi-center-dpi-settings-2.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"msi-center-dpi-settings-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F05\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"1348\" data-image-height=\"758\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe biggest drawback of the GM30 Clutch is that it doesn't have any sort of on-board memory to store your custom profiles. This means that if you want to change your layout, you have to open up the app, choose the new profile, apply the settings, close out, and then return to your game or program. While it really doesn't take that long to manually change profiles, it can be a pain when working in multiple programs and you need to quickly change input configurations to streamline your process. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECompared to something like the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"18174a20-d689-40bb-93f2-0edcae7c669c\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-DeathAdder-Gaming-Mouse-Programmable\u002Fdp\u002FB082G5SPR5\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Razer Deathadder V2\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, with its on-board memory for up to 5 profiles and quick-select button for cycling through them, the GM30 Clutch falls woefully short. Streamers and content creators especially will find this frustrating when switching games mid-stream or recording in-game footage for a large project; it's just one more thing to have to remember when setting up.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"d2dc8712-efc8-4ddb-8ba7-6581eab88740\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Buy now on Amazon\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"gm30-clutch-retail-image-2.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"MSI","imageData":{"id":"1636f57e-0ecc-461b-b4be-4d7063bc3a46","filename":"gm30-clutch-retail-image-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F05\u002F03\u002F1636f57e-0ecc-461b-b4be-4d7063bc3a46\u002Fgm30-clutch-retail-image-2.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-05-03 18:20:37","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"1636f57e-0ecc-461b-b4be-4d7063bc3a46","imageFilename":"gm30-clutch-retail-image-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F05\u002F03"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"MSI\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FMSI-Clutch-GM30-Adjustable-Symmetrical\u002Fdp\u002FB07XZC667B\" data-offerprice=\"34.99\" data-offermerchant=\"Amazon\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EConclusions\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe GM30 Clutch from MSI is a solid, mid-tier gaming mouse that is suited for a wide variety of game genres and work programs, making it a good option for anyone who is looking for a mouse to pull double duty. With 6 programmable buttons and 3 customizable RGB lighting zones, you can create custom configurations to streamline your actions in your most-played games or most-used programs. The integrated texture panels provide extra control during fast and frantic gameplay while the symmetrical shape is comfortable in both palm and claw grips. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith the MSI Center app, you can create custom button input configurations and lighting effects, sync RGB lighting across all of your MSI-branded components and peripherals, and even control ambient lighting. The lack of on-board memory to store custom button layout and lighting profiles is a mark against the mouse, but is easy enough to work around if you tend to stick to the same types of games or work in just a few programs with similar controls. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt around $55, this mouse is on the higher end of affordable, but still reasonably priced to fit more modest budgets (especially if you can catch it on sale). In the end, the GM30 Clutch is a serviceable enough gaming mouse for both casual and serious players alike.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EOther gaming mice to consider\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you're still on the fence and want to compare the MSI GM30 Clutch to other gaming mice on the market, here are a few alternatives to consider which are in the same price range and have similar features:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"909eb47b-1464-439a-9b13-5da4a0bb8183\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Corsair Iron Claw\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"corsair-iron-claw-2.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Corsair","imageData":{"id":"23f089d1-d0d7-40a0-bd25-5e994f98e386","filename":"corsair-iron-claw-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F05\u002F04\u002F23f089d1-d0d7-40a0-bd25-5e994f98e386\u002Fcorsair-iron-claw-2.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-05-04 18:41:02","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"23f089d1-d0d7-40a0-bd25-5e994f98e386","imageFilename":"corsair-iron-claw-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F05\u002F04"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Corsair\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FCORSAIR-IRONCLAW-RGB-Optical-Backlit\u002Fdp\u002FB07KKZB9LM?th=1\" data-offerprice=\"45\" data-offermerchant=\"Amazon\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Corsair Iron Claw has a very similar design to the GM30 Clutch. It has 7 programmable buttons, injection-molded side grips, and RGB accent lighting to sync to your other peripherals or show off your personal style. The main buttons use Omron switches which are rated for over 50million clicks, and the optical sensor has a max DPI of 18,000, making it perfect for ultra-twitchy shooters.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"b8f69163-1156-4d0f-8571-ea0d92ae2001\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"SteelSeries Rival 5\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"steelseries-rival-5-2.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"SteelSeries","imageData":{"id":"48a7f483-e491-4aa0-bcdd-a5c3cb6867fc","filename":"steelseries-rival-5-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F05\u002F04\u002F48a7f483-e491-4aa0-bcdd-a5c3cb6867fc\u002Fsteelseries-rival-5-2.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-05-04 18:41:42","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"48a7f483-e491-4aa0-bcdd-a5c3cb6867fc","imageFilename":"steelseries-rival-5-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F05\u002F04"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"SteelSeries\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-PrismSync-Lighting-Programmable-Buttons\u002Fdp\u002FB093LSMKL3?th=1\" data-offerprice=\"59.99\" data-offermerchant=\"Amazon\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SteelSeries Rival 5 is the same price as the GM30 Clutch, but has a few premium-grade features like gold-plated connections and switches, and a thumb paddle that you can use as a DPI throttle for more accurate aiming in shooters like Sniper Elite or Fortnite. It has 9 buttons in total, which you can individually re-map for more efficient in-game controls, and the mouse weighs just 85 grams, making it lightweight enough to stay comfortable to use during marathon gaming sessions.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"e8e1a16e-6ebf-4302-8b76-128ee7eff6d9\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Razer Basilisk Essential\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"razer-basilisk-essential-2.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Razer","imageData":{"id":"f30f6319-1138-4e11-8d15-ee88548a67f9","filename":"razer-basilisk-essential-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F05\u002F04\u002Ff30f6319-1138-4e11-8d15-ee88548a67f9\u002Frazer-basilisk-essential-2.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-05-04 18:42:16","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"f30f6319-1138-4e11-8d15-ee88548a67f9","imageFilename":"razer-basilisk-essential-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F05\u002F04"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Razer\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-USA-Black-Widow-Essential\u002Fdp\u002FB0793CFYTT?th=1\" data-offerprice=\"62\" data-offermerchant=\"Amazon\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Razer Basilisk Essential is a stripped-back, wired version of the Basilisk Ultimate. It costs $10 less than the GM30 Clutch, but that doesn't mean it has fewer features. The nicest feature is the thumb paddle which can act either as a DPI throttle for more accurate aiming or to trigger quick actions like reloading or enabling push-to-talk in Discord. And the biggest advantage it has over the GM30 Clutch is that it has optical switches, which use a laser beam rather than a mechanical or membrane switch to register clicks. This helps to prevent registering accidental button presses and ghosting that can cause issues during gameplay.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-05-04 19:06:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The MSI GM30 Clutch features a symmetrical design that can be used in either a claw or palm grip as well as Omron mechanical switches and gold-plated connections for durability and reliability.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"db284c53-ffa4-4992-b0b8-571a7920c8f0",image:{id:"f483b31f-14b2-4b25-8353-6de39c13ff32",filename:"img-1416-2.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-05-03 19:00:53",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"img-1416-2.jpg",credits:"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F05\u002F03\u002Ff483b31f-14b2-4b25-8353-6de39c13ff32\u002Fimg-1416-2.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2048,height:1152,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"review-single",hubTopicPathString:"Home & Office^Home Entertainment^Gaming^Gaming Accessories",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"MSI GM30 Clutch gaming mouse review: Mechanical, symmetrical, durable",section:c,slug:"msi-gm30-clutch-review",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"MSI GM30 Clutch gaming mouse review: Mechanical, symmetrical, durable",topic:{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"112a7545-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"reviews",name:"Reviews",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"a1897105-61bd-4610-abb3-4804906d4a9a",slug:"home-and-office",name:"Home & Office",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f07e8684-3ad4-438d-a6b4-0665b9de2f60",slug:"gaming",name:"Gaming",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d}],componentLabel:"Deep-dive, compare, decide",description:b,filters:b,paging:b,slug:"dynamic-topic-4-story-carousel-product-research",title:"Product Research",label:b,viewMoreText:b,viewMoreUrl:b,relatedItems:b},{id:"49cbd472-fb49-40ab-832b-366ddd22eb32",meta:{componentName:"49cbd472-fb49-40ab-832b-366ddd22eb32",componentDisplayName:"How-to Guides",componentType:"ContentList"},metadata:{},links:{self:{href:"https:\u002F\u002Fbender.cnetstatic.com\u002Fapi\u002Fneutron\u002Fcomponents\u002Fzdnet\u002Flisting\u002Fdynamic_listing\u002F49cbd472-fb49-40ab-832b-366ddd22eb32\u002Fweb?searchBy=id&topicSlug=pcs&componentType=ContentList&componentName=49cbd472-fb49-40ab-832b-366ddd22eb32"}},items:[{author:{id:"f2d97ea2-8175-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Adrian",lastName:"Kingsley-Hughes",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2",filename:"adrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 14:59:32",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2\u002Fadrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over two decades to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera. Adrian has authored\u002Fco-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include 'Build the Ultimate Custom PC', 'Beginning Programming' and 'The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide'. He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.",profile:b,title:"Contributing Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cp\u003EThere are times when USB flash drives aren't enough, and you need something a bit bigger or a bit faster. This is when using an SSD is the way forward.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile you can buy specific external SSDs, I find it better and more convenient to use internal SSDs. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"657aafc5-5c14-4e25-af47-f34692c8e298\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F657aafc5-5c14-4e25-af47-f34692c8e298\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey're cheap, lightweight, and durable.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd all you need is an SSD (my current favorite is the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"da71330a-5b4c-489e-8ff5-6e149702a390\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Inch-Internal-MZ-77E1T0B-AM\u002Fdp\u002FB08QBJ2YMG\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"1TB Samsung 870 EVO SSD\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E) and a SATA to USB-C adapter.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've been testing a number of SATA to USB-C adapters, and I've settled on the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"cfe24e4c-cedc-40a2-abfb-dd0f88065168\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FUGREEN-Adapter-Connector-Thunderbolt-Compatible\u002Fdp\u002FB082HF8C56\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"UGREEN SATA to USB-C adapter cable for 2.5-inch SSD and HDD drives\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI like this adapter for a number of reasons. It's small and lightweight, fast, comes with a cable attached, and it's very reasonably priced at $12.99.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn terms of speed, the UGREEN adapter features USB C 3.1 Gen 1 data transfer speed of 5Gbps, so it's a no-compromise way of attaching external storage.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"d3367a11-2f5a-416b-8849-e6fd11de4380\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUSB-bus powered, no need for extra power supply for 2.5-inch SATA HDD\u002FSSD\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPlug and play, no driver needed\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESupport hot-swapping the drives (no need to disconnect)\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBuilt-in LED indicator\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESupports UASP (USB Attached SCSI Protocol) and TRIM\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPros\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESmall\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ELightweight\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECheap\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBuilt-in cable\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECons\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIf the built-in cable gets damaged, the whole adapter is junk\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\" data-hed=\"UGREEN SATA to USB-C adapter features:\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"img-6035.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"9400b18f-94b9-4172-9b54-010c02ea66ab","title":"img-6035","filename":"img-6035.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F05\u002F06\u002F9400b18f-94b9-4172-9b54-010c02ea66ab\u002Fimg-6035.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":275179,"width":1000,"height":750,"dateCreated":{"date":"2022-05-06 10:11:05","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2022-05-06 10:11:07","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"img-6035.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"9400b18f-94b9-4172-9b54-010c02ea66ab","imageAltText":"img-6035.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"img-6035.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F05\u002F06","imageWidth":1000,"imageHeight":750,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"12.99","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FUGREEN-Adapter-Connector-Thunderbolt-Compatible\u002Fdp\u002FB082HF8C56\u002F","url":""}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-mac\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best Macs: Is the Mac Studio or MacBook Pro right for you?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"ca8df6a2-244d-4efa-a9bd-389f7714d985\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EUGREEN SATA to USB-C adapter performance with Samsung 870 EVO 1TB SATA SSD\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-alt-text=\"UGREEN SATA to USB-C adapter performance with Samsung 870 EVO 1TB SATA SSD\" data-image-filename=\"2022-05-06-09-39-50.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F05\u002F06\" data-image-width=\"1464\" data-image-height=\"1512\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor a professional photographer or videographer, being able to use cheap internal SSDs is a great way to have an abundance of storage on the cheap.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"6ce0e79b-438d-497b-ab2b-ff7b960d3851\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F6ce0e79b-438d-497b-ab2b-ff7b960d3851\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-05-06 14:15:08",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Here's a great way to attach lots of fast storage to your desktop or laptop system, perfect for photographers and videographers.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"07950a3f-94df-4502-b8b8-9d6530a5d0b3",image:{id:"e3e7de24-2e51-11e4-9e6a-00505685119a",filename:"hard-disk-drive.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2014-08-28 05:12:35",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"img-6035.jpg",credits:"Shutterstock",caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2014\u002F08\u002F28\u002Fe3e7de24-2e51-11e4-9e6a-00505685119a\u002Fhard-disk-drive.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:610,height:407,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^Storage",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"how-to-easily-connect-an-internal-ssd-to-a-usb-c-port-on-your-pc-or-mac",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"How to easily connect an internal SSD to a USB-C port on your PC or Mac",topic:{id:"11601750-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"storage",name:"Storage",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"11601750-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"storage",name:"Storage",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"f2d97ea2-8175-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Adrian",lastName:"Kingsley-Hughes",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2",filename:"adrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 14:59:32",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2\u002Fadrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over two decades to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera. Adrian has authored\u002Fco-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include 'Build the Ultimate Custom PC', 'Beginning Programming' and 'The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide'. He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.",profile:b,title:"Contributing Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cp\u003EGot an old PC that feels old and tired, and you think it might be time to buy a new one? \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere are two things that you can do to turbo-boost your PC, and it both will cost you a lot less than buying a new PC. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"5fd41f04-2c7b-4009-95f6-7c5c247289d9\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F5fd41f04-2c7b-4009-95f6-7c5c247289d9\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELet's take a look at how to breathe new life into your old PC.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E1: Upgrade your RAM \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf your PC has less than 4GB of RAM, upgrading this -- if it's possible -- up to 4GB is a worthy upgrade. RAM upgrades are quick and easy and also pretty cheap. If you already have 4GB, then the gains you get from pushing this higher have diminishing returns unless you are into high-end gaming or have specific workloads such as video rendering.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe sad fact is that an increasing number of devices can no longer accept RAM upgrades. Macs are the worst culprits, but Apple is not alone in making upgrades tricky.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENot sure if your PC can take an upgrade? If it was made by one of the major OEMs, then a RAM vendor like \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.crucial.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECrucial\u003C\u002Fa\u003E or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.kingston.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKingston\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (or for Macs, you can check out \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Feshop.macsales.com\u002Fshop\u002Fmemory\u002FApple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro\u002FUpgrade\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EOWC\u003C\u002Fa\u003E).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-ram\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe best RAM: Top memory upgrades for your PC\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E2: Upgrade your storage from a hard drive to SSD \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile a RAM upgrade offers good bang-for-the-buck, if you already have 4GB of RAM, then the next best upgrade you can do is swap out your hard drive (HDD) for an SSD.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnsure if your PC can take an SSD upgrade SSD? My first port of call would be to check the user manual or a motherboard manual. If you don't have either of these, then I recommend an internet search because you're unlikely to be the first person wanting to do it!\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStill not sure? Crucial has a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.crucial.com\u002Farticles\u002Fabout-ssd\u002Fhow-to-upgrade-to-an-ssd\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esystem scanner\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that can check your PC and tell you if an upgrade is possible.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere's what you'll need to do the upgrade:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAn SSD drive.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDepending on your PC, you may need a 5.25-inch or 3.5-inch tray to fit in a bay designed for a hard drive or optical drive (some SSD kits come with these parts). \t\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA #1 Phillips screwdriver.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA tool for carrying out your data migration (I use the free \t\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.partitionwizard.com\u002Ffree-partition-manager.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMiniTool PartitionWizard Free Edition\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, which always performs flawlessly).\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA basic understanding of how to fit and remove storage drives. \t\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA knowledge of how your BIOS works, specifically the setting which drive the system boots up from (there are so many different kinds that I can't help, so find do a web search for the manual for your motherboard). \t\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETip\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: A quick way to identify your motherboard is to fire up a Command Prompt and use the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line tool. To do that, type: \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ewmic baseboard get product,manufacturer,version \t\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"31212dd4-c4e6-4cf1-b50c-67d77007142a\" data-size=\"full_width\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-alt-text=\"The quickest, simplest way to speed up an old, tired PC\" data-image-filename=\"capture.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2017\u002F05\u002F18\" data-image-width=\"770\" data-image-height=\"227\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-much-ram-does-your-pc-or-mac-need\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHow much RAM does your Windows PC need?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe upgrade process is pretty simple: \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOpen up the PC and fit the new drive. \t\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFire up the Windows Disk Management tool (press \t\u003Cstrong\u003EWindows Key+R\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \ton your keyboard to launch the \u003Cstrong\u003ERun\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \tdialog box and then type \u003Cstrong\u003Ediskmgmt.msc\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \tand press \u003Cstrong\u003EEnter\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E).\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFind the new drive, which will be marked as \"unknown\" and \"Not initialized\" in the listing of drives at the bottom of the Disk Management window, and then right-click on where it says \"unknown\" and choose \t\u003Cstrong\u003EInitialize Disk\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E and then follow the prompts.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDownload, install and then launch \t\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.partitionwizard.com\u002Ffree-partition-manager.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EClick on \u003Cstrong\u003EMigrate OS to SSD\u002FHD\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E in the sidebar and follow the prompts.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"df20acbf-4b08-4560-9fee-9ed6769267a8\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-alt-text=\"MiniTool Partition Wizard 11\" data-image-filename=\"2019-08-09-20-35-01.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2019\u002F08\u002F09\" data-image-width=\"770\" data-image-height=\"532\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWhen the migration process is done -- this will take some time,  as much as a few hours -- then you will need to set the system BIOS to boot up off the new drive. \t\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EYou can, if you want, remove the old drive, or keep it in the system, wipe it, and use it for storage. \t\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETip\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: Swapping a drive should not cause any Windows activations or licensing problems. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith a Mac, the easiest way to upgrade your storage drive is to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.apple.com\u002Fen-us\u002FHT201250\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emake a Time Machine backup\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and then load that backup onto your new drive.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EIs faster storage upgrade the best option? \t \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYes. With a but.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHaving tried it with a range of SSDs drives (ranging in performance from basic to high-end) and across a range of systems (from dual-core to dual-socket), I'm pretty confident that anyone moving from a hard drive to an SSD drive will see serious performance gains. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is even the case when RAM is down at the 2GB levels (however, at this point, RAM does become quite a limiting factor, and if you're running Windows 10, then you ideally need more than 2GB to keep sane). \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy advice is this -- if you have a basic PC (desktop or laptop) and it has 4GB of RAM and a hard drive installed, you're far better off spending your money on faster storage than you are on more RAM or a new CPU. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"73acd149-be52-4594-aa01-295e1bc9507b\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F73acd149-be52-4594-aa01-295e1bc9507b\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-04-29 12:36:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Is your PC or Mac feeling old and tired? Here are two ways to inject new life into an aging computer.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"62fdfab5-b09f-46da-9f41-447dd38933a6",image:{id:"2b9d89fa-ca00-42f4-9bc1-d78e772982fb",filename:"2017-05-1812-40-45.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2017-05-18 12:24:03",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"2017-05-1812-40-45.jpg",credits:c,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2017\u002F05\u002F18\u002F2b9d89fa-ca00-42f4-9bc1-d78e772982fb\u002F2017-05-1812-40-45.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:489,height:449,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"how-to-speed-up-your-old-windows-10-pc-or-mac",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"How to speed up your old Windows 10 PC or Mac",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10666ed8-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"hardware",name:"Hardware",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"11601750-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"storage",name:"Storage",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"5a09f531-5d09-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57",slug:"windows-10",name:"Windows 10",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"59080956-0412-41e5-8eb9-a44ae4f9a8a9",username:"Michael Gariffo",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Michael",lastName:"Gariffo",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"96ef4095-58f9-4a2f-81e3-f21dc8610bf3",filename:"michael-gariffo.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:27",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F96ef4095-58f9-4a2f-81e3-f21dc8610bf3\u002Fmichael-gariffo.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Michael is a veteran technology writer who has been covering business and consumer-focused hardware and software for over a decade. He has published hundreds of whitepapers and thousands of articles on everything from the handheld technology that makes your daily life a little easier to the global infrastructure that powers the entire Internet.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"d57c51f8-7fcf-4846-b8b9-c0ed9eb16272\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EFront view of the Mac Studio\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Apple\" data-image-alt-text=\"apple-mac-studio-front.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"apple-mac-studio-front.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F03\u002F08\" data-image-width=\"844\" data-image-height=\"412\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple debuted its Mac Studio desktop PC at today's Peek Performance event. The unit resembles a slightly larger Mac Mini with an increased number of I\u002FO ports, but its internal components put it in direct competition with the most powerful Mac Pro models Apple currently offers.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-studio\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Mac Studio\u003C\u002Fa\u003E will come in two versions: one based on the M1 Max chip and another based on the just-announced M1 Ultra, Apple's new top-tier SoC offering. The unit's outside consists of a 7.7-inch square unibody aluminum extrusion sporting a vast array of I\u002FO ports. For data, it has 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 10G Ethernet port, 2 USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and a Pro Audio port capable of running high-impedance headphones or powered speakers. It also supports Wi-Fi 6 for wireless connectivity.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"0d063338-d372-4fca-947a-4e60ece5d54d\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EBack view of the Mac Studio.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Image: Apple\" data-image-alt-text=\"Apple March 8 Mac Studio\" data-image-filename=\"screen-shot-2022-03-08-at-1-39-31-pm-2.png\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F03\u002F08\" data-image-width=\"3840\" data-image-height=\"2160\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe front I\u002FO includes 2 USB-C ports (supporting Thunderbolt 4 on the M1 Ultra version) and an SDXC card slot.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll of these connections are powered by some of the fastest internal components Apple has ever produced. The M1 Max version of the Mac Studio supports up to 64GB of video memory, while the M1 Ultra version bumps that to 128GB. Storage is taken care of by an SSD capable of 7.4Gbps of throughput, with up to 8TB of onboard capacity. A table with the full spec ranges for both versions follows.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ctable\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMac Studio version\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EM1 Max\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EM1 Ultra\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECPU cores\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E10-20 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E20 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGPU cores\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E24-64 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E48-64 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENeural Engine cores\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E16-32 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E32 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUnified memory\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E32GB-128GB \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E64GB-128GB \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStorage\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E512GB-8TB \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E1TB-8TB \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003C\u002Ftbody\u003E\u003C\u002Ftable\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll told, the M1 Max version is up to 50% faster than the 16-core Xeon-powered Mac Pro, while the M1 Ultra edition can go up to 60% faster than Apple's top-end 28-core Xeon machine.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPredictably, all of this power comes at a cost. The M1 Max version of the Mac Studio starts at $1,999, while the M1 Ultra version begins at $3,999. Both versions are \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"6bcbda29-1e1e-43b5-bedd-013d37ca1db9\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-studio\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"up for pre-order now\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003Eand are expected to be available on March 18.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple is positioning both version of the Mac Studio as being fully capable of serving as the heart of professional photo, video, and sound editing operations. To further equip its creative customers, Apple also debuted its new \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fstudio-display\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EStudio Display line\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. These 5K Retina Displays feature a built-in 12MP webcam and multiple built-in mics for audio chat, as well as optional \"Nano-texture glass\" to reduce glare.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"dbbf007a-b081-4f84-876b-3e6d9b44582b\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-studio-display\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Apple Studio Display is also available now\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, with pricing beginning at $1,599 for the standard glass edition and $1,899 for the Nano-glass model.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECreatives on the go were also included in Apple's event, with a \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"621b266e-d72b-4ee9-b7b8-fc03cea94eab\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-ipad\u002Fipad-air\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"new, M1-powered iPad Air\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E launching for a $599 starting price. Teh latest model supports both the Apple Pencil 2 and Magic Keyboard or Folio. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"video\" data-uuid=\"e3b1efc7-844a-480d-b4ac-b255afdfb210\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"3be818df-27e4-42c7-813f-c703e2d38814\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F3be818df-27e4-42c7-813f-c703e2d38814\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-03-08 19:07:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Apple's newest desktop might look like an unusually tall Mac Mini, but it's designed to take on the company's most powerful Mac Pros.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"4d6b4aca-26ef-42db-afc0-b5a85f1b35c7",image:{id:"a7cdc5d5-2e6d-4678-8af1-745f64f6753b",filename:"screen-shot-2022-03-08-at-1-37-06-pm-2.png",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-03-08 18:39:50",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Apple March 8 Mac Studio",credits:b,caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F03\u002F08\u002Fa7cdc5d5-2e6d-4678-8af1-745f64f6753b\u002Fscreen-shot-2022-03-08-at-1-37-06-pm-2.png",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:3840,height:2160,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"apples-new-mac-studio-the-mac-mini-grows-up",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Apple's new Mac Studio: The Mac Mini grows up",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"0fbd54d0-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"apple",name:"Apple",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"d0aee31d-965e-4a8b-97f0-5c7c1b8bf7f1",slug:"mac-os",name:"Mac OS",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"371a7418-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"sjvn",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Steven",lastName:"Vaughan-Nichols",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e2171bd1-84f6-4ca8-9801-2abdeb61a365",filename:"steven-vaughan-nichols.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 18:47:37",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe2171bd1-84f6-4ca8-9801-2abdeb61a365\u002Fsteven-vaughan-nichols.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols is a freelance writer and technology analyst. Besides ZDNET, he works with Foundry (Formerly IDG Communications), The Register, The New Stack, and Cathey Communications. He does not own stocks or other investments in any technology company.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"a1d36b50-9877-4278-b6a9-4b36ce69becf\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EIt's a very pretty screen, but notice something missing? That's right. There are no icons. This Windows 7 PC was functionally useless.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Image: Steven Vaughan-Nichols\" data-image-alt-text=\"Out of date Windows 7 PC\" data-image-filename=\"windows-7-pc.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"1244\" data-image-height=\"1017\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of my favorite old PCs is a \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"6a36e914-fe89-4845-bdc8-b998990ccad8\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fshop\u002Fdesktop-computers\u002Finspiron-one-2320\u002Fspd\u002Finspiron-one-2320\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Dell Inspiron One 2320\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. This all-in-one (AIO) computer with a 2.4Ghz Intel Pentium Dual Core i5 processor, 6GBs of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GT525M, and a 320GB hard drive is a great machine… for 2012. Ten years later? Not so much. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut this one-time Windows 7 PC still has a good 23-inch HD display. What it can't do is run Windows 10 well, and let's not even talk about Windows 11. I could run Linux on it, but I already have lots of Linux PCs, so I tried something different: I decided to install \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fchromeenterprise.google\u002Fos\u002Fchromeosflex\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGoogle ChromeOS Flex\u003C\u002Fa\u003E on it. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-i-revived-three-ancient-laptops-with-chrome-os-flex\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHow I revived three ancient computers with ChromeOS Flex\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI had left Windows 7 on this machine, which was a dedicated accounting system. I'd disconnected it from the internet, though, since running Windows 7 on an internet-connected PC is just asking to be hacked. Like most old Windows PCs, it had slowed to the point where it was essentially useless. Just booting it up would take -- I kid you not -- three minutes.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut ChromeOS Flex, which is at heart a Linux system, can run on low-powered computers. How low can it go? According to Google, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.google.com\u002Fchromeosflex\u002Fanswer\u002F11552529?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EChromeOS Flex's  minimum requirements\u003C\u002Fa\u003E are:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIntel or AMD x86-64-bit compatible device (it won't work with 32-bit processors)\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERAM: 4 GB\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EInternal storage: 16 GB\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBootable from a USB drive\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBIOS: Full administrator access (you'll need to boot from the ChromeOS Flex USB installer and make some adjustments in the BIOS if you run into issues)\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt boils down to the fact that if you have a PC that was built in 2010 or later, it should work. It might work with even older components if you're feeling adventurous. If, however, you're running a box with Intel GMA 500, 600, 3600, or 3650 graphics hardware, you're asking for trouble. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you want to be reasonably sure it will work on your old computer, you can check to see if it's listed on \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.google.com\u002Fchromeosflex\u002Fanswer\u002F11513094\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGoogle's ChromeOS Flex Certified models list\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. My Inspiron One 2320? Nope, I was taking the life of my computer in my hands. I was okay with that. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore you follow in my tracks, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, moving your PC from Windows, macOS, or whatever to ChromeOS Flex is a one-way trip. Everything -- applications, photos of mom, your QuickBooks files -- on your old drive is going to get vaporized. If you want to keep anything, back up your important files to another computer, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-cloud-storage\u002F\"\u003Ecloud storage\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, or a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-network-attached-storage\u002F\"\u003ENetwork-Attached Storage (NAS)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Otherwise, kiss it all goodbye.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"1560ab0e-834c-49e7-b2e0-cb9673f568e3\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F1560ab0e-834c-49e7-b2e0-cb9673f568e3\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter backing up my files to my \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"f97e586f-4a6a-4eda-80c1-829e5620cde1\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FQNAP-TS-253D-4G-Professionals-Celeron-2-5GbE\u002Fdp\u002FB0897C5TX6\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"QNAP TS-253D-4G 2 Bay NAS\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, my next step was to create a ChromeOS Flex USB installation drive. With most Linux distributions, you can create and use a bootable CD or DVD disc. For one-off ChromeOS Flex installations, you must use a USB drive.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYour drive must be at least 8GBs in size; ChromeOS Flex isn't small. You also shouldn't try this with a Sandisk USB stick drive, since these drives don't always work for some reason. I used a \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"118b343e-eb0d-4acd-ae7b-ff4eaaf7dfc0\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FPNY-Attach%C3%A9-Flash-Drive-10-Pack\u002Fdp\u002FB0866QKPP6\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"PNY 32GB Attache 3\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E drive. Since these only support USB 2.0, they're not ideal for newer machines (for those, I'd use a \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"85a9c754-ec09-4b6e-b0be-9efac2605d2e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FPNY-Turbo-Attach%C3%A9-Flash-5-Pack\u002Fdp\u002FB08HW32VG6\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"PNY 32GB Turbo Attache 3\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, which supports the faster USB 3 standard). Since my old box only has USB 2.0 ports, however, the cheaper, slower USB drives will do just fine. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne reason why I used such large USB drives was I wanted to test my machine before I committed to installing ChromeOS Flex on it. How? Google allows you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.google.com\u002Fchromeosflex\u002Fanswer\u002F11550703#explore\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Erun ChromeOS Flex from a USB drive\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt works just the same as a full installation. But instead of using your hard drive or solid-state drive (SSD), it runs off the USB stick itself, while still using your computer's processor, memory, network connection, and all that jazz. By doing this, you can be sure the new operating system will run on your PC without any danger of losing your existing setup. The only real difference is it won't be as fast as an installed version because you're using USB stick drives.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo create the USB installation drive, you don't need a third-party USB burner program. Instead, you can use any Chrome OS, Windows, or Mac device with the current version of the Chrome browser. Unfortunately, you can't do it on a Linux PC. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn any other PC, just open up your Chrome web browser and add the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fchrome.google.com\u002Fwebstore\u002Fdetail\u002Fchromebook-recovery-utili\u002Fpocpnlppkickgojjlmhdmidojbmbodfm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EChromebook Recovery Utility extension\u003C\u002Fa\u003E by clicking on the extension link. That's all there is to it. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce that's done, make sure your USB pen drive is ready to go.  Keep in mind that by making it an installation drive, you'll be deleting everything on it. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen, take the following steps:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003EStart Chrome Recovery Utility extension.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EClick Get started.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EClick Select a model from a list.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESelect a manufacturer, find and click Google ChromeOS Flex.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESelect a product, find and click ChromeOS Flex.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESelect your pen drive from the dropdown -- make sure you pick the right drive.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EClick Continue, followed by Create now.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Fol\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's simple enough. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDownloading ChromeOS Flex will take a few minutes, depending on your internet speed. On my system with a 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) fiber connection, it took less than 10 minutes. The entire process of making the installation drive took 15 minutes. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter that, I went to my old Dell and plugged in the USB drive, and turned it on. Next, I hit its boot selection key. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChances are you don't know what that is for your box; most people never have to bother with it. This key enables you to select an alternative way of booting your computer. Typically, you always use your PC's main drive. Here, though, you want to pick the USB drive. On my Dell, that's the F12 key. For other computers, check out Google's list of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.google.com\u002Fchromeosflex\u002Fanswer\u002F11552352?hl=en&ref_topic=11551271#boot&zippy=%2Cboot-keys\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ecommon PC keys\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen, as I mentioned above, I suggest you try it out first to ensure ChromeOS Flex works for you. If it does, reboot your machine, choose to install ChromeOS Flex, and you'll be on your way. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENot for you? Just take the USB drive out, reboot your machine, and use the alternative boot key to go back to your main drive. You'll be back where you started. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn my older machine, it took me about 15 minutes from choosing to install it to running it.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you want more than ChromeOS Flex, you can install Linux on it as well. You use the exact same technique as you would to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-enable-linux-on-your-chromebook-and-why-you-should\u002F\"\u003Einstall Linux on a Chromebook\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (this is optional; you don't need to do it). You cannot, however, install Android or a dual-boot operating system, such as Windows, on your new ChromeOS Flex system.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"11aa15e4-83c0-433c-bf57-8b724db6e6d6\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EI now have a fully functional ChromeOS Flex PC that doubles as a video-conferencing station.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Image: Steven Vaughan-Nichols\" data-image-alt-text=\"Chrome OS Flex\" data-image-filename=\"chrome-os-flex.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"4000\" data-image-height=\"3000\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI went from having a completely dysfunctional PC to having a useful ChromeOS Flex system. Indeed, it's become my default video-conferencing workstation. If you, too, have an older machine that needs a new lease on life, I can't recommend ChromeOS Flex highly enough. It's easy to install and can make even antique PCs useful again. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERelated Stories:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fgoogle-chromeos-flex-stable-release-breathes-new-life-to-enterprise-laptops\u002F\"\u003EGoogle ChromeOS Flex stable release breathes new life to enterprise laptops\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fpictures\u002Fa-weekend-with-googles-chrome-os-flex\u002F\"\u003EA weekend with Google's ChromeOS Flex\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"61b2fa86-25ca-4edd-8c79-0a571ebf1336\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F61b2fa86-25ca-4edd-8c79-0a571ebf1336\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-08-03 20:15:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Want to easily give your old PC a new life? Here's how to do it with Google's ChromeOS Flex.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"4f28951f-26d3-4d3f-8908-141199c63105",image:{id:"11aa15e4-83c0-433c-bf57-8b724db6e6d6",filename:"chrome-os-flex.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-03 18:18:22",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Out of date Windows 7 PC",credits:"sjvn",caption:"\u003Cp\u003EIt's a very pretty screen, but notice something missing? That's right. There are no icons. This Windows 7 PC was functionally useless. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F03\u002F11aa15e4-83c0-433c-bf57-8b724db6e6d6\u002Fchrome-os-flex.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:4000,height:3000,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"how-i-installed-chromeos-flex-in-30-minutes",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"How I installed ChromeOS Flex in 30 minutes",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"1050fa4d-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"google",name:"Google",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10b2a4fa-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"linux",name:"Linux",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"11601750-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"storage",name:"Storage",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"df75c005-715d-4ff8-82e7-88bbd1c4e6c3",slug:"operating-systems",name:"Operating Systems",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"cd0ef2cd-21ab-4c98-b015-e6be4bf4b35c",username:"Christina Darby",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Christina",lastName:"Darby",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"60a50ce2-c556-4089-85dd-c7e4b5f9bd41",filename:"christina-darby-headshot.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-07-22 14:16:59",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F07\u002F22\u002F60a50ce2-c556-4089-85dd-c7e4b5f9bd41\u002Fchristina-darby-headshot.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Christina Darby is an associate editor based in New York City with interests in lifestyle technology, fitness and health wearables, and smart home appliances. She has a bachelor's in Integrated Marketing Communication and Journalism from Wake Forest University. When Christina is not writing about quirky tech products, she's most likely searching for the best coffee shop in NYC.",profile:b,title:"Associate Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"599c8ceb-1ab8-47d2-9c71-454d93cf387a\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"June Wan\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"lenovo-chromebook-duet-back-cover\" data-image-filename=\"lenovo-chromebook-duet-back-cover.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F17\" data-image-width=\"6000\" data-image-height=\"3376\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPicture this: You're working on a presentation and want to elevate the slides by inputting relevant visuals. You find the perfect image on Google Maps, but you want to crop out all of the \"extra\" labels, destinations, and distractions. The best way is to take a screenshot. While the Chromebook approach to screenshotting is a little different than your standard Windows or Mac-powered computer, here's a brief walkthrough of how to do it.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EStep 1: Open Quick Settings\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the bottom right corner of your screen, find the Quick Settings bar (Clock icon). Click the bar so that you can see all of the Quick Setting toggles.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"b74aaeb9-4718-4305-85fb-d3c457420809\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"June Wan\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"Quick Settings\u003E Screen Capture on Chromebook\" data-image-filename=\"0e824813-d741-421c-a588-7c487ef9af4e.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F02\" data-image-width=\"6000\" data-image-height=\"3376\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EStep 2: Select \"Screen Capture\" \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn the bottom left row, just below the Wi-Fi toggle, select the \"Screen Capture\" option. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EStep 3: Capturing Content \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom here, you will have the option to choose the content you want to capture. A menu will appear in the center of the screen prompting you to drag your mouse and encapsulate the part of the screen (or the entirety) you wish to capture. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"2da0a7c1-2896-4ed9-9e54-5f5c1317d616\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"June Wan\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"Capturing a screenshot on Chromebook\" data-image-filename=\"53b2a779-fc3c-4cd1-bff6-9e5401404936.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F02\" data-image-width=\"6000\" data-image-height=\"3376\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDrag your mouse over what you want to capture, expanding the box around the desired content. Release the mouse once everything you want to capture is inside the box's perimeter and click the \"Capture\" bottom. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"3caf0581-e891-464a-a650-164722a5a04b\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"June Wan\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"Taking a screenshot on Chromebook\" data-image-filename=\"4ae705b7-f458-4c2c-83da-94ccae36fd95.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F02\" data-image-width=\"6000\" data-image-height=\"3376\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMore: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-chromebook-deals\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Top 5 best Chromebook deals right now: Top back to school bargains \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EStep 4: Copied to clipboard\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt this point, a mini image of the screenshot should appear in the right hand corner. Below the \"Copied to clipboard\" notification are options to edit, in case you want to crop or rotate the image, and to delete the shot. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"091d5f01-876b-41f2-9573-16a9432ce12a\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"June Wan\u002FZDNet\" data-image-alt-text=\"screenshot copied to clipboard on Chromebook\" data-image-filename=\"cb76b46e-f809-41a9-9447-c71801f1d06f.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F02\" data-image-width=\"6000\" data-image-height=\"3376\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EStep 5: Save and share  \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow you can paste straight to email, Slack, documents, PowerPoint, etc. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe screenshot will automatically save to your files. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMore: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Flenovo-chromebook-duet-3-review\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELenovo Chromebook Duet 3 review: One of the best budget Chromebooks just got even better \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"037b1bff-654d-4fd9-8799-d4db20486d5b\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ELuckily, screenshots automatically download to your Chromebook unless you actively delete them. If you want to send an email, press the file icon (paperclip) and find the screenshot amongst your photo files. If you have just taken the screenshot, that image is most likely the first one in your files.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How do I attach a screenshot to an email on a Chromebook?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"36809207-3dd4-487c-ba5c-cd16e714810c\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ELike the screenshot process, go to&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EQuick Settings &gt; Screen Capture\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstead of clicking the camera icon, click to its right on the video camera icon.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter you select the camera icon, you can choose to record some or all of the screen by dragging the mouse around the selected area before you record. End the recording by pressing the video camera icon (red dot) in the bottom status bar.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs with the screenshot process, the captured video should appear in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Can I screen record on a Chromebook?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"4ba50edf-c3fd-4753-b58c-b33aff3790f3\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EDepending on the model, some Chromebooks may have a button in the very top of the keyboard that allows you access the screen capture menu.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Is there another way to take a screenshot without going to Quick Settings? \" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"61b2fa86-25ca-4edd-8c79-0a571ebf1336\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F61b2fa86-25ca-4edd-8c79-0a571ebf1336\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-08-03 18:07:14",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Here's how to easily screenshot, save, and share a snippet on your Chromebook.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"abfbcc20-b100-4731-be4a-76f03d687154",image:{id:"599c8ceb-1ab8-47d2-9c71-454d93cf387a",filename:"lenovo-chromebook-duet-back-cover.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-07-17 20:58:24",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"lenovo-chromebook-duet-back-cover",credits:"June Wan\u002FZDNet",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F07\u002F17\u002F599c8ceb-1ab8-47d2-9c71-454d93cf387a\u002Flenovo-chromebook-duet-back-cover.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:6000,height:3376,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^Laptops",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"how-to-take-a-screenshot-on-chromebook",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"How to take a screenshot on Chromebook",topic:{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"1050fa4d-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"google",name:"Google",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"96093490-341e-45e4-b27a-bf297aa2c5bb",slug:"services-software",name:"Services & Software",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"a1897105-61bd-4610-abb3-4804906d4a9a",slug:"home-and-office",name:"Home & Office",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"8d600230-8175-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"Jack Wallen",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Jack",lastName:"Wallen",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"f03bef9a-858a-451d-bc30-8c603c2ba899",filename:"jack-wallen.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:04:34",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Ff03bef9a-858a-451d-bc30-8c603c2ba899\u002Fjack-wallen.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Jack Wallen is what happens when a Gen Xer mind-melds with present-day snark. Jack is a seeker of truth and a writer of words with a quantum mechanical pencil and a disjointed beat of sound and soul. An award-winning writer and novelist, Jack has been covering Linux, open-source, and other topics since the late 1990s for numerous publications such as ZDNET, CNET, TechRepublic, Linux.com, The New Stack, Linode, TechTarget, and Linux New Media. Jack's also written over 50 novels of fiction, at least one of which focuses on the Linux operating system. For more news about Jack Wallen, visit his website jackwallen.com.",profile:b,title:"Contributing Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"0c3c63df-fb6a-444e-8dc3-958c5188de1c\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Jason Cipriani\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"multiple-apps-stage-manager.png\" data-image-filename=\"multiple-apps-stage-manager.png\" data-image-date-created=\"2022-10-31 20:10:58.000000\" data-image-width=\"3180\" data-image-height=\"2384\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"e658c585-db33-46c8-918a-752729fe81da\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fe658c585-db33-46c8-918a-752729fe81da\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've been a stage actor for nearly 40 years, so the term \"stage manager\" has a very specific meaning to me. Suffice it to say, without a stage manager, a production would be an ineffective mess. I would go so far as to say the stage manager is at the heart of every production. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, when I discovered a Stage Manager feature in MacOS, I got excited. I had to think it would be an incredibly effective means of working with the desktop.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt really is.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fdont-waste-your-money-on-these-apple-products-december-2022-edition\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDon't waste your money on these Apple products: December 2022 edition\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere's how it works. Once you've enabled Stage Manager, the app you are currently using takes up the center of the display, while all other open apps appear as live thumbnails on the side. To switch between apps, all you have to do is click a thumbnail to bring that app to the center. If you tend to multitask a lot, this is a great way to work, especially if you prefer to keep your MacOS Dock hidden. You can quickly switch between apps and more easily see what you have open.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI'm going to show you how to enable and use the MacOS Stage Manager feature.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlaces!\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow to enable MacOS Stage Manager\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"d81e015b-b66f-4990-b825-508dc5f97cc1\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EClick the Apple icon at the top left of the desktop and then, from the drop-down menu, click System Settings.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"1: Open System Settings\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"c9d9870c-e8f7-4a6e-800a-7bceffd82509\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIn the System Settings search bar, type Stage Manager. Click the entry under Desktop &amp; Dock.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"2: Locate Stage Manager\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"2f40b914-1eef-402d-a05a-91d9929a88fc\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EStage Manager is found under Desktop &amp; Dock in the System Settings app.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Jack Wallen\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"The MacOS Desktop & Dock settings window.\" data-image-filename=\"stagemanager1.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F11\u002F30\" data-image-width=\"1454\" data-image-height=\"1282\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"32118a7c-1f54-4252-b270-41448dc09bb9\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EYou should see an on\u002Foff&nbsp;toggle associated with Stage Manager. Click that toggle and a new window will appear.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"3: Enable Stage Manager\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"5e6bd427-c2b0-4f58-bb7d-9375f3e27055\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIn the resulting window, click Turn On Stage Manager. Once you've done this, close out the System Settings window.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"4: Turn on Stage Manager\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"43e896b4-914d-4945-8752-49dc7e8324c2\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EYou can see how Stage Manager functions from this window.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Jack Wallen\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"The Stage Manager enable window.\" data-image-filename=\"stagemanager2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F11\u002F30\" data-image-width=\"1454\" data-image-height=\"1282\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"2dc59670-a213-4966-b10e-664a457fd52b\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EStage Manager won't work until you log out of MacOS and log back in. Once you do that, open an app and it will automatically appear in the center of the desktop. Open another and it will take the place of the original app, which will then appear as a live thumbnail on the left side of the desktop. You can open as many apps as you need, but Stage Manager will only display a total of four apps in the left column.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"5: Log out and log back in\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"0e4b5866-718d-4b3d-85fc-85143a115157\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EStage Manager makes it much easier to multitask in MacOS.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Jack Wallen\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Stage Manager in action on MacOS Ventura.\" data-image-filename=\"stagemanager3.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F11\u002F30\" data-image-width=\"2880\" data-image-height=\"1800\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo switch to another app, all you have to do is click on the live thumbnail for that app and it will take the place of the current app in the center of your desktop.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd that's all there is to enabling and using the MacOS Stage Manager feature. If you multitask as much as I do, you'll find Stage Manager to be a welcome addition to the desktop.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"3be818df-27e4-42c7-813f-c703e2d38814\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F3be818df-27e4-42c7-813f-c703e2d38814\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-11-30 20:31:38",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Jack Wallen explains what MacOS Stage Manager is good for and how to enable it to make your workflow more efficient.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"bb127775-958c-473d-819e-e777a6e31144",image:{id:"47775a46-83d9-4a0e-a1e0-bac36bb3c798",filename:"macos-ventura-apple-hero.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-07-11 18:59:41",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"The macOS Desktop & Dock settings window.",credits:"Apple",caption:"\u003Cp\u003EStage Manager is found under Desktop & Dock in the System Settings app.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F07\u002F11\u002F47775a46-83d9-4a0e-a1e0-bac36bb3c798\u002Fmacos-ventura-apple-hero.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2048,height:1132,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Services & Software^Operating Systems^Mac OS",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"what-is-macos-stage-manager-and-how-do-you-enable-it",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"What is MacOS Stage Manager and how do you enable it?",topic:{id:"d0aee31d-965e-4a8b-97f0-5c7c1b8bf7f1",slug:"mac-os",name:"Mac OS",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"d0aee31d-965e-4a8b-97f0-5c7c1b8bf7f1",slug:"mac-os",name:"Mac OS",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"0fbd54d0-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"apple",name:"Apple",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"f2d97ea2-8175-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Adrian",lastName:"Kingsley-Hughes",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2",filename:"adrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 14:59:32",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2\u002Fadrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over two decades to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera. Adrian has authored\u002Fco-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include 'Build the Ultimate Custom PC', 'Beginning Programming' and 'The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide'. He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.",profile:b,title:"Contributing Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cp\u003EOkay, here's what you need to know up front: \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWhen in doubt, use the cable and charger that came with the device.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBuy good quality cables from name brands such as \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"104e7236-a4a2-41d2-96ac-e1067edaef8d\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FAnker-Powerline-Charger-Charging-MacBook\u002Fdp\u002FB086DMNK8R\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Anker\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIf any cable starts to get overly warm or displays any issues, stop using it!\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUSB-C seems to have become the default for both charging and data transfer. And that's with good reason -- USB-C is very versatile, currently allowing for power transfer up to 100W and data speeds of 10Gbps.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"7610e33e-ff80-4eee-aae9-f1fad8deba1a\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F7610e33e-ff80-4eee-aae9-f1fad8deba1a\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut the biggest confusion for the end user is that, well, every USB-C cable looks like any other USB-C cable, and every USB-C port looks like any other USB-C port. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut not all ports and cables are made the same.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, your smartphone might come with a 20W USB-C charger and a cable that's good for that load. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut what happens if you connect that cable to something like \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"0052150c-573b-4ad7-93b4-aa0b85b38c52\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fproduct\u002FMLYU3AM\u002FA\u002F140w-usb-c-power-adapter\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Apple's monster 140W USB-C charger\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E? Or some random 100W USB-C charger that you bought?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd then you use that cable to connect your laptop to that big power supply.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is where USB-C gets messy.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe problem is that the complexity of the versatility of USB-C is hidden behind ports and cables that all look the same to the average buyer. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's a bit like HDMI. It's hard to know what cable you actually need.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut unlike HDMI, it's a lot more difficult to buy USB-C that can handle everything.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is where E-Mark was supposed to help.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"2e18dc8e-7768-4eb6-842e-4342eb13519d\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EE-Mark is short for Electronically Marked and is actually a protocol controller and the idea was that USB-C cables could be electronically tagged with their power rating and data transfer rates.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome cables could carry 100W and handle 10Gbps, while others might be limited to 60W and 5Gbps or even 480Mbps.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe idea is to stop 100W of power from being pushed down a cable that can't handle it. This could, at worse, result in fires.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne problem with E-Mark is that it's not as widely supported as it should be. While a quality charger shouldn't try to push 60W or even 100W down an unsuitable cable, I've seen it happen.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd unless you're aware of it, you'd have no idea that it was unsafe.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen there's the issue of cables that claim to have the E-Mark which do not have the E-Mark. Unless you have a tool that can read the E-Mark, you have to take the manufacturer's word for it.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"What is E-Mark?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is one such tool, the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"76ab2ed5-917f-4c6d-8c8c-be28ef57d4d1\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FDigital-Multimeter-Current-Voltage-Detector\u002Fdp\u002FB098TQLYYN\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"AVHzY C3 USB-C tester\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. This tool is easy to use -- just supply it power through one USB-C port, and connect the cable you want to test to the other port and it'll tell you if the cable has a chip.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere is the C3 tester identifying a cable with an appropriate E-Mark chip:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"446e8e1f-6a02-4da1-9bdb-9bfb1d90562c\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis cable contains the appropriate E-March chip.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-alt-text=\"This cable contains the appropriate E-March chip.\" data-image-filename=\"img-7102.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F15\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"972\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere's another:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"3de54e3b-972c-4f23-b03c-aad144508795\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EA USB 3.2 Gen 2 cable containing an E-Mark chip.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-alt-text=\"A USB 3.2 Gen 2 cable containing an E-Mark chip.\" data-image-filename=\"img-7105.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F15\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"972\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis cable falsely claimed to have an E-Mark chip.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"b55cb7a0-71b4-48bf-b581-a46295247699\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis cable falsely claimed to have an E-Mark chip.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-alt-text=\"This cable falsely claimed to have an E-Mark chip.\" data-image-filename=\"img-7101.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F15\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"972\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother way you can tell is if you have a power bank that has a meter that shows volts and amps outputted and can output 100W, along with a device that you know can draw 100W -- such as a laptop -- you can plug the power bank to the laptop using the cable and watch the power draw.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf it draws 20V at around 5A, that's 100W. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"84f39e69-92b3-4a0f-a220-7ba186956781\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis cable is carrying 100W.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-alt-text=\"This cable is carrying 100W.\" data-image-filename=\"img-7099.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F15\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"972\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf it's 20V at around 3A, that's 60W.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"24ed044f-cca2-42ce-85c4-b6800e0276fc\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis cable that doesn't have an E-Mark chip is limited to 60W.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-alt-text=\"This cable that doesn't have an E-Mark chip is limited to 60W.\" data-image-filename=\"img-7100.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F15\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"972\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFinally, a MacBook will tell you how much power is going into it. Click on the Apple icon on the top-left of the screen, then on \u003Cstrong\u003EAbout This Mac\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. From there click on \u003Cstrong\u003ESystem Report…\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E and then click on \u003Cstrong\u003EPower\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E in the left-hand menu. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"c52e222f-a7e6-4db6-891c-d1872c4ed7f7\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EmacOS System Report showing charging power.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-alt-text=\"macOS System Report showing charging power.\" data-image-filename=\"2022-07-15-14-46-53.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F15\" data-image-width=\"1806\" data-image-height=\"1204\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWait, so it's possible to cause damage using the wrong cable?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"48887a3d-e59d-41e0-a907-5691375f6d70\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F48887a3d-e59d-41e0-a907-5691375f6d70\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn an ideal world, no. USB-C devices have safety features built into them that that should prevent this from happening.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, I've seen things go wrong, maybe because a device was defective, maybe it was poor quality to begin with, or maybe something went wrong in the logic somewhere and something crashed. But things can go wrong, and the results can be ugly:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOverheating cables\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOverheating devices\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPossible battery damage from overcharging (this is rare since most batteries have separate charge controllers, but cheaper devices might not)\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERisk of fire from overheating or overcharging\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESure, these are edge cases, but do you want an edge case like this happening on your bedside table? I don't.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is why I prefer to play it safe and use either the cables and chargers that come with a device, or buy high-quality cables that I know are up to the job.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"61b2fa86-25ca-4edd-8c79-0a571ebf1336\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F61b2fa86-25ca-4edd-8c79-0a571ebf1336\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-07-15 15:55:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"This is a minefield, but these tips will help you get the best cable for you.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"f1188b30-1ad4-4c37-b281-261238befa89",image:{id:"9c830dd4-8177-4ace-bd60-b0218dd3654a",filename:"img-7105.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-07-15 14:10:22",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"This cable contains the appropriate E-March chip.",credits:b,caption:"\u003Cp\u003EThis cable contains the appropriate E-March chip.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F07\u002F15\u002F9c830dd4-8177-4ace-bd60-b0218dd3654a\u002Fimg-7105.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1296,height:972,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Home & Office^Smart Office^Office Hardware & Appliances",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"using-the-wrong-usb-c-cable-can-damage-your-tech-heres-how-to-avoid-that",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Using the wrong USB-C cable can damage your tech. Here's how to avoid that",topic:{id:"f6766034-0530-4765-8be5-effa45e1c660",slug:"office-hardware-appliances",name:"Office Hardware & Appliances",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"f6766034-0530-4765-8be5-effa45e1c660",slug:"office-hardware-appliances",name:"Office Hardware & Appliances",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"1147b242-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"smartphones",name:"Smartphones",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"371a7418-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"sjvn",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Steven",lastName:"Vaughan-Nichols",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e2171bd1-84f6-4ca8-9801-2abdeb61a365",filename:"steven-vaughan-nichols.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 18:47:37",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe2171bd1-84f6-4ca8-9801-2abdeb61a365\u002Fsteven-vaughan-nichols.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols is a freelance writer and technology analyst. Besides ZDNET, he works with Foundry (Formerly IDG Communications), The Register, The New Stack, and Cathey Communications. He does not own stocks or other investments in any technology company.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"5d0d1b92-5e01-4132-a7ac-379a383738af\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003ELinux Mint 21\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"sjvn\" data-image-alt-text=\"Linux Mint 21\" data-image-filename=\"linux-mint-21.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F09\" data-image-width=\"2560\" data-image-height=\"1440\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs far as I'm concerned, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linuxmint.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELinux Mint\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is the best desktop around. Note, I didn't say best Linux desktop, I said desktop, and I mean it. Why? Because its Cinnamon interface is easy to learn and use. It runs quickly on PCs that would choke on Windows 11. And it's fast, secure, and works well. However, upgrading from one major release to another? That's not so easy. But you can do it if you follow these step-by-step instructions. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELet me give you a word of warning first. This upgrade is not for you if you've never used a Linux terminal. While you can just click your way to upgrading from \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog.linuxmint.com\u002F?p=4216\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMint 20.x to a newer version of Mint 20.x\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, that's not the case here. This is, as Mint's chief Clement \"Clem\" Lefebvre said, a \"major update,\" which \"can take several hours.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMaterials needed: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EUSB Pen Drive\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEstimated time\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E:1 Hour.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EUpdate and backup\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"a79e7679-c6c7-4a8a-b132-d9c5800e2976\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fa79e7679-c6c7-4a8a-b132-d9c5800e2976\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo get started, run Update Manager to get your system up to date. Since I have mine set to run every two hours, that's not a problem for me. But if you aren't in the habit of running it automatically, you may have a few minutes of upgrading to go through before moving on to the next step.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst, before upgrading anything, make a backup of your system and files with the Backup Tool. Usually, when I back up my Mint PC, I just make a backup of my personal files. Most of us do it that way. But since you're updating the entire system, including your applications, this time, you should also back up your software selections. That way, if something goes seriously wrong, you'll be able to get back to where you started.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENext, use \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Flinuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io\u002Fen\u002Flatest\u002Ftimeshift.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETimeshift\u003C\u002Fa\u003E to make a system image. With this, you can recover your system from less drastic problems. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EDownload and burn\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow download the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linuxmint.com\u002Fdownload.php\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Elive Linux Mint 21 ISO\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and burn it to a USB stick with at least 4GBs of storage. If your computer doesn't boot properly with Mint 21, you can boot from this USB stick. Then, once your computer is back up and running, you can launch Boot Repair to fix your boot sequence. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf that doesn't work, reboot from the stick, and launch Timeshift. The Timeshift program will then scan your drives for your system images from the live session. Once you find the image you just made, you can restore your computer using the snapshot image. This way, you'll be back to your earlier version of Mint. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOK, enough of the worrisome stuff. I believe it's better to be safe than sorry, but I've done many Mint upgrades, and I've yet to run into any show-stopping problems. Let's get started on the actual upgrade.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EGet set up for the installation\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYour first step is to bring your terminal up. Yes, we need to use a few shell commands. Don't sweat it. There's nothing to it.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJust enter the following commands:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E$ apt update\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E$ apt install mintupgrade\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe first command ensures your computer will use the most recent files for your upgrade. The second command installs the program that will manage the update itself.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen you get the show on the road by running:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E$ sudo mintupgrade\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's it for all the shell commands. Linux is hard, isn't it?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EUpgrade to Linux Mint\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"dd56a49e-de28-494e-a99c-182ca2cbc48f\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"sjvn\" data-image-alt-text=\"Upgrade to Linux Mint 21\" data-image-filename=\"upgrade-mint-21.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F09\" data-image-width=\"1107\" data-image-height=\"939\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Upgrade Tool itself is a simple graphical program. In the best case, you'll just hit buttons a couple of times, and you'll be done. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis may take a while. Mint warns it could take several hours. I did much better than that. On my 2020 Dell Precision 3451 with its Intel 8-core 3GHz i7-9700 CPU, 16GBs of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and an AT&T Gigabit internet connection, it took me approximately 45 minutes.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut it wasn't a smooth process. While checking over my system, the upgrade program found several \"orphan\" programs. These actually weren't orphans. They were programs that I'd installed from outside the Debian\u002FUbuntu\u002FMint repositories.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWatch out for orphan program trouble\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"1b011e82-217c-4b89-9655-f088bb63bf16\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"sjvn\" data-image-alt-text=\"Linux Mint 21 Orphan Packages\" data-image-filename=\"orphan-packages.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F09\" data-image-width=\"600\" data-image-height=\"613\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpecifically, I had installed \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.insynchq.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EInsync\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, a program that syncs Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox with the Linux desktop;  \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fprotonvpn.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EProtonVPN\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, a high-quality Virtual Private Network (VPN) client; \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.qnap.com\u002Fen-us\u002Futilities\u002Fessentials\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EQFinder Pro\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, a QNAP network attached storage (NAS) utility;  and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fzoom.us\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EZoom\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, the video conferencing program.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"01299940-3aff-4809-8275-897a113cd9f8\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"sjvn\" data-image-alt-text=\"ProtonVPN Packages\" data-image-filename=\"protonvpn-packages.png\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F09\" data-image-width=\"600\" data-image-height=\"613\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI need all of these programs. The Mint Upgrade program wanted to know, though, what it should do with them since it doesn't know these programs. OK, I can buy that. But I had to manually enter the name of every orphan package I wanted to keep in Preferences. I couldn't select them from the orphan packages list, nor could I copy and paste them. I had to go back and forth to get the name right and then type them in one by one. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis was annoying. I finally made a screenshot of each program's packages to save time as I typed each in. ProtonVPN, for example, had five different packages.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI understand the need for this. As Lefebvre explained, when someone asked if he could just skip the check, \"No, it's a hard requirement. It's the No. 1 cause of failures in package upgrades.\" I just wish the user interface was cleaner. Hopefully, it will be fixed soon.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce that was done. I had no problems. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EReady to run\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWas it worth it? I think so. Mint 21 is notably cleaner and faster than 20.3. I'll have more to say about that in my upcoming review of Mint 21. I can already say it's a step up from the last version.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFAQs: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"99933af3-1a20-4e34-a6bf-93c7c65c9949\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ESimple. &nbsp;It gives you a safe, secure desktop operating system that home users and companies can use at no cost and which is as efficient, easy to use, and elegant as possible. Oh, and did I mention it's free?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Why use Linux Mint?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"b907e07e-2bea-4635-b194-189157b5d7a6\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EAll Linux distros have their advantages and disadvantages. I prefer Mint because it's easy to use, and it's simple to pick up for people who already know Windows, which is most everyone. The one major exception is for companies that must maintain a large fleet of desktops. In that case, I recommend \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.redhat.com\u002Fen\u002Fstore\u002Fred-hat-enterprise-linux-workstation" target="_blank"\u003ERed Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.suse.com\u002Fproducts\u002Fdesktop\u002F" target="_blank"\u003ESUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, or \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fubuntu.com\u002Fpricing\u002Finfra" target="_blank"\u003EUbuntu Advantage\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. That's because these all come with corporate support.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Why use Mint and not Arch? Debian? Ubuntu?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESee also\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Flinux-mint-21-arrives-heres-whats-new\u002F\"\u003ELinux Mint 21 arrives. Here's what's new\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fstill-the-top-linux-mint-20-3-stays-the-best-linux-desktop\u002F\"\u003EStill the top: Linux Mint 20.3 is the best Linux desktop\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-install-ubuntu-linux\u002F\"\u003EHow to install Ubuntu Linux (It's easy!)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"26d1d292-1768-4c56-bd62-dbc463199bfa\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F26d1d292-1768-4c56-bd62-dbc463199bfa\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-08-11 16:31:45",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"It's not too hard to move from Linux Mint 20.3 to the long-term support of Linux Mint 21. But it's not a walk in the park, either.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"ce9d1e12-e8ac-4926-83a7-b2013743eb00",image:{id:"5d0d1b92-5e01-4132-a7ac-379a383738af",filename:"linux-mint-21.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-09 22:04:07",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"sample-image-16-9-red.jpg",credits:"ZDNet",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F09\u002F5d0d1b92-5e01-4132-a7ac-379a383738af\u002Flinux-mint-21.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2560,height:1440,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Business^Enterprise Software",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"how-to-update-linux-mint-to-mint-21",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"How to update Linux Mint to Mint 21",topic:{id:"1048432a-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"enterprise-software",name:"Enterprise Software",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"1048432a-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"enterprise-software",name:"Enterprise Software",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10b2a4fa-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"linux",name:"Linux",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10f422bf-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"open-source",name:"Open Source",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"59080956-0412-41e5-8eb9-a44ae4f9a8a9",username:"Michael Gariffo",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Michael",lastName:"Gariffo",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"96ef4095-58f9-4a2f-81e3-f21dc8610bf3",filename:"michael-gariffo.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:27",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F96ef4095-58f9-4a2f-81e3-f21dc8610bf3\u002Fmichael-gariffo.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Michael is a veteran technology writer who has been covering business and consumer-focused hardware and software for over a decade. He has published hundreds of whitepapers and thousands of articles on everything from the handheld technology that makes your daily life a little easier to the global infrastructure that powers the entire Internet.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"4dde87bd-a58f-4c32-af77-88f392617b8f\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"ZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"A laptop with a logo and question mark on its display\" data-image-filename=\"how-to-screenshot-hero.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F12\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"900\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOften the quickest way to keep a record of something on your PC is to take a screenshot. Whether it's for sharing on social media or for tech support documentation, being able to quickly capture your screen is a vital skill every computer user should know. But, with all of the hardware variations between laptop models and the differences between Windows and MacOS, it can be a confusing process. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-take-a-full-page-screenshot-in-google-chrome\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to take a full-page screenshot in Google Chrome\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELet us show you how to quickly and easily take a screenshot on everything from a Dell, Lenovo, or other Windows-based laptop to an Apple MacBook. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow to take screenshots on any laptop\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ERequirements\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou'll need your laptop and, in some cases, basic image editing software. The entire process should two minutes or less, depending on which method and operating system you're using.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EScreenshotting on Windows-based laptops\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile the process for taking a screenshot on every laptop varies somewhat, the biggest differences will be between Windows-based laptops, like those made by Dell, Lenovo, and others, and those made by Apple, which run MacOS. Let's cover Windows-based laptops first.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOption 1: The old fashioned way\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"4d0b6c24-6c4e-4401-8bcd-723380941b3e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe simplest and way to capture your entire screen at once is to use Windows' built in hotkey: the \u003Cstrong\u003EPrint Screen Key. \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EThe non-standard nature of laptop keyboards mean this key might be in one of several places. Often its located near the top right, as it would be on a full-sized keyboard, but it can also be on the bottom, as it is on the Lenovo example below.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn any case, it should be easy to find by looking for the key marked \u003Cstrong\u003EPrt\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, \u003Cstrong\u003EPrtSc\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, \u003Cstrong\u003EPrnt Scr\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, or something similar. Once you find it, just give it a quick tap. Don't worry if it seems like nothing happened. Windows doesn't show it very well, but you just copied an image of your display.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"1. Use your Print Screen key\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"e96e2e7e-75fe-4af5-96f0-7a91b36e73d8\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe button can be just about anywhere, so just look for something that looks as similar as possible to the legend on this one.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Michael Gariffo\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"The Print Screen button on a Lenovo laptop with a circle around it\" data-image-filename=\"how-to-screenshot-lenovo.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F12\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"900\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a80a7a6f-b07b-4a8f-82f3-bc04b125ca04\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EOnce you've captured your display, the easiest way to edit and save it is by pasting it into an image editing app. If you've got Photoshop, that'll work, but since most people don't have access to such pro software, a much easier, free option works, too: Microsoft Paint.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJust open this app, which has been included in Windows since time immemorial, and either hit \u003Cstrong\u003ECtrl+V \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003Eor click the \u003Cstrong\u003Eclipboard button\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E on the top left and click \u003Cstrong\u003EPaste\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. In either case, a capture of whatever was on screen when you hit \u003Cstrong\u003EPrint Screen\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E earlier will be pasted into the document.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom here, you can edit the image, resize it, crop it, and save it. You've now got a screenshot of your laptop.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"2. Paste your screenshot\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"d6746a34-4157-4a3f-abc9-77689ef87fa1\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EAn example of a screenshot pasted into the Windows 11 version of Microsoft Paint\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Michael Gariffo\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"A screenshot pasted int Microsoft Paint\" data-image-filename=\"how-to-screenshot-paint.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F12\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"900\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOption 2: The Snipping Tool and Win+Shift+S\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"f8ca6ef4-549f-46a2-841c-05565d52b726\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWindows also includes a \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-screenshot-on-windows\u002F" target="_blank"\u003Eone-stop tool for taking screenshots\u003C\u002Fa\u003E or capturing individual windows or portions of windows. It's called the Snipping Tool and its full menu can be accessed by opening your start menu and typing in "snip." Alternatively, you can skip directly to the capture functionality it offers by pressing \u003Cstrong\u003EWin+Shift+S.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you choose to open the full app, you'll see a small menu with a \u003Cstrong\u003E+ New \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003Ebutton that will let you start a screen capture the same way \u003Cstrong\u003EWin+Shift+S\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E would. Both methods of access allow you to create a marquee box or freeform shape you'd like to capture, or to capture your current window or entire screen.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe main difference in using Windows+Shift+S is that windows won't automatically provide the post-capture snipping tool interface. Instead, it will immediately copy your results to the clipboard for pasting AND save the resulting image to \u003Cstrong\u003EC:\\Users\\Username\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E (by default). If you prefer, you can click the notification that appears on the bottom right of your screen to open the full Snipping Tool interface and save the file elsewhere as well.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"1. Open the Snipping Tool or press Win+Shift+S\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"e83fbfc9-a5e5-43f4-9c67-a4c4a8aa42c5\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe Windows 11 version of the basic Snipping Tool menu and its icon.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Michael Gariffo\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"The Snipping tool's default menu and icon\" data-image-filename=\"snip-tool.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F12\" data-image-width=\"916\" data-image-height=\"515\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EScreenshotting on Macs\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe process on Macs uses a less intuitive hotkey, but also doesn't require any software or pasting. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"0ab44fb3-7208-434f-8a02-6dfe62669d0f\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ETo take a screenshot on any Mac, including MacBook laptops, just press Shift+Cmd+3. Unlike Windows, this won't copy the screen to your clipboard, it will actually save the capture as an image file on your desktop using the format "Screen Shot [date] at [time].png."\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMacOS also has its own way to capture a portion of the display. Simply press Shift+Cmd+4 and your cursor will turn into a crosshair. You can then create a box by clicking and dragging. When you release the click, whatever was within the box will be saved. Finally, Shift+Cmd+4+Space bar will capture your entire current window.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"1. Press Shift+Cmd+3\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"f67e88af-7266-4955-bb86-e5e0a3c2781e\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThese are the three keys you'll need to press at once on a mac to take a standard screenshot.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Michael Gariffo\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"The keys needed to take a screenshot highlighted on an Apple MacBook Air keyboard\" data-image-filename=\"how-to-screenshot-mac.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F12\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"900\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFAQ\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EIs there an easy way to record video of my laptop screen too? \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere sure is. For Mac users, we've already covered \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-take-screenshots-and-screen-recordings-on-your-mac\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehow to capture recordings of your system\u003C\u002Fa\u003E using MacOS' built-in QuickTime player. While Windows will soon have a similar, built-in function that's \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-11s-screenshot-tool-gets-a-screen-recorder\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ebeing added to the Snipping Tool mentioned above\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, you can \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-record-your-screen-in-windows-with-xbox-game-bar\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Euse the Xbox Game Bar included in Windows 10 and 11\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in the meantime to record not just your gaming, but any on-screen activity. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhat's a good, free image editing software to use on my screenshots? \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt ZDNET \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpixlr.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewe like Pixlr\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. It's a free web app that handles most of the basic tasks you'll want to apply to your screenshots, including cropping, resizing, and adding text. It even includes some more advanced effects like a liquify tool. If you need something even more advanced, but only occasionally, we have \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-get-photoshop-for-free\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ea guide on using Adobe's free trial\u003C\u002Fa\u003E program to get short-term access to Photoshop.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhy does [insert on-screen item here] look weird in my screenshot? \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere's a few reasons why things can look strange in your screenshots. Animated items like actively playing video can often look distorted or blurry because the single moment you captured was in fast motion, or shifting between frames. Similarly, some operating system assets and portions of apps include transparencies or overlays that don't play well with screen capture tools. Always make sure everything on screen is as still as possible when taking your screenshot to produce the best results.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"77635b39-fa40-48b8-b215-00cf0ab2ae6a\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F77635b39-fa40-48b8-b215-00cf0ab2ae6a\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-12-14 13:56:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Whether you've got a windows-based laptop like a Dell or Lenovo unit, or any model of Apple MacBook, we'll show you how to easily capture anything on your screen.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"d6bc1fae-842d-4ae6-a607-83e1a9a0be9c",image:{id:"4dde87bd-a58f-4c32-af77-88f392617b8f",filename:"how-to-screenshot-hero.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-12-12 21:57:39",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"sample-image-16-9-red.jpg",credits:"ZDNet",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F12\u002F12\u002F4dde87bd-a58f-4c32-af77-88f392617b8f\u002Fhow-to-screenshot-hero.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1600,height:900,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Home & Office^Work Life^Productivity",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"how-to-screenshot-on-a-laptop-dell-lenovo-mac",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"How to screenshot on a laptop (Dell, Lenovo, Mac)",topic:{id:"926c7fe3-bac7-46e3-b421-bf633d90ee73",slug:"productivity",name:"Productivity",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"926c7fe3-bac7-46e3-b421-bf633d90ee73",slug:"productivity",name:"Productivity",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"d0aee31d-965e-4a8b-97f0-5c7c1b8bf7f1",slug:"mac-os",name:"Mac OS",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"294e47d5-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"Ed Bott",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Ed",lastName:"Bott",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e",filename:"ed-bott.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:06:03",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e\u002Fed-bott.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than two decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. He has served as editor of the U.S. edition of PC Computing and managing editor of PC World; both publications had monthly paid circulation in excess of 1 million during his tenure. He is the author of more than 25 books, including Windows 10 Inside Out (now in its 4th edition) and Windows 11 Inside Out (scheduled for publication in 2022).",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"d1ef8584-b908-43c4-96f4-f4231ac5c3c4\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Getty\u002FJay Yuno\" data-image-alt-text=\"a-woman-using-her-laptop-at-a-desk-in-an-office-and-looking-stressed\" data-image-filename=\"a-woman-using-her-laptop-at-a-desk-in-an-office-and-looking-stressed.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F05\" data-image-width=\"2121\" data-image-height=\"1414\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELaptops are miracles of modern miniaturization. Unfortunately, that trend toward making things smaller applies to the system drive, too.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEven cheap laptops these days have solid-state drives, and because SSDs cost significantly more than conventional hard drives (and take up more precious real estate inside the laptop case), there's a powerful incentive on the part of PC makers to cut the price tag by offering options with smaller SSDs.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's a false economy. That's why I've always recommended choosing the biggest storage option you can afford. You will probably regret the decision if you try to save a few dollars by skimping on the system drive.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo what do you do if you have an SSD that's too small for comfort? Ask yourself three questions to decide which option is best.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECan I move files to the cloud?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe easiest quick fix is to shift as many data files to the cloud as possible, using on-demand options like those available from \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"5016e993-dada-4ad9-af4d-548b68034d0d\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fmicrosoft-365\u002Fonedrive\u002Fonline-cloud-storage\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"OneDrive\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"071e464e-a5ce-4bc9-a978-3391c1fef46a\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dropbox.com\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Dropbox\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. (OneDrive calls this feature \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Foffice\u002Fsave-disk-space-with-onedrive-files-on-demand-for-windows-10-0e6860d3-d9f3-4971-b321-7092438fb38e\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFiles On-Demand\u003C\u002Fa\u003E; Dropbox calls it \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.dropbox.com\u002Finstalls-integrations\u002Fsync-uploads\u002Fmake-files-online-only\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EOnline-Only\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and offers it only for paid plans.) Using this feature lets you move all your data files to the cloud but still see them in File Explorer or the Mac Finder. Download only the files you need and keep everything else online, where it's available when you need it but doesn't use up storage space.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"297e6302-9c1f-4429-ac26-3a8730571860\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F297e6302-9c1f-4429-ac26-3a8730571860\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis option works best if you have at least 128 GB of storage on your system drive. On budget systems with 64 GB of storage, this strategy might still lead to times when available storage space is too tight for comfort.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECan I upgrade the drive?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn general, laptops aren't designed for expandability, which means you'll need expert help and the steady hands of a Swiss watchmaker just to open the case. And even then you might find that the system drive is soldered in place and can't be swapped out.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut it's worth checking your laptop model to be sure. Microsoft's \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"ceb44633-26a8-4264-b547-ca123c52095f\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fd\u002Fsurface-pro-8\u002F8QWCRTQ8V8XG?=&ef_id=Cj0KCQjwl7qSBhD-ARIsACvV1X2bZfsfrYSuEqmDy51f1Eq-kPUU-tl4yTslQFXNLVGVPAWemMWmkpYaAtJEEALw_wcB%3aG%3as&s_kwcid=AL!4249!3!547549121652!b!!g!!%2bsurface+%2bpro&OCID=AID2200083_SEM_Cj0KCQjwl7qSBhD-ARIsACvV1X2bZfsfrYSuEqmDy51f1Eq-kPUU-tl4yTslQFXNLVGVPAWemMWmkpYaAtJEEALw_wcB%3aG%3as&gclid=Cj0KCQjwl7qSBhD-ARIsACvV1X2bZfsfrYSuEqmDy51f1Eq-kPUU-tl4yTslQFXNLVGVPAWemMWmkpYaAtJEEALw_wcB&activetab=pivot:overviewtab\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Surface Pro 8\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"92d0e985-f1e8-4139-816f-cfcecada4df1\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fd\u002Fsurface-pro-x\u002F8XTMB6C575MD?=&ef_id=Cj0KCQjwl7qSBhD-ARIsACvV1X27vuz5Sj2eR5E9nqIDREfXKmLQKrlhJ7b3bQL_bWi4qrUHkgIqnxUaApc5EALw_wcB%3aG%3as&s_kwcid=AL!4249!3!547624373938!b!!g!!%2bsurface+%2bpro+%2bx&OCID=AID2200083_SEM_Cj0KCQjwl7qSBhD-ARIsACvV1X27vuz5Sj2eR5E9nqIDREfXKmLQKrlhJ7b3bQL_bWi4qrUHkgIqnxUaApc5EALw_wcB%3aG%3as&gclid=Cj0KCQjwl7qSBhD-ARIsACvV1X27vuz5Sj2eR5E9nqIDREfXKmLQKrlhJ7b3bQL_bWi4qrUHkgIqnxUaApc5EALw_wcB&activetab=pivot%3aoverviewtab\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Surface Pro X\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, for example, have a nifty little pop-up door that allows you to replace the system drive. (This option is also available on Surface Pro 7 models sold through business channels.) Some business-class models from other OEMs have system drives that can be replaced if you're willing to take the laptop apart to get to the drive slot (some models even have a second drive slot, so you can expand storage without losing your existing drive).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReplacement SSDs can be surprisingly economical. Just make sure you get a drive that is compatible with your system. (Some even come with backup software that allows you to transfer the contents of your current drive to the new one.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've successfully upgraded the drive on Dell laptops that only required removing a few screws on the bottom of the system to access the drive slots. I've also seen systems that required removing the keyboard and disconnecting multiple internal components to get to the drive bay, which is a much more challenging task.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou'll need to find the service manual for your laptop to see if expansion is an option. YouTube videos from other owners of the same model as yours can also be useful. If you're the DIY type, it's worth checking out.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EIs an external option good enough?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf the cloud isn't practical and an upgrade isn't possible, external storage might be a useful alternative strategy.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDoes your system have a slot for an SD or MicroSD card? You can add hundreds of gigabytes of storage for a pretty low price. That form factor is too slow to run apps from, but it's great for storing digital media and other data files. And it's extremely portable.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"657aafc5-5c14-4e25-af47-f34692c8e298\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F657aafc5-5c14-4e25-af47-f34692c8e298\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you have a fast USB port (USB 3.0 or USB 3.1, which are now confusingly known as USB 3.2 Gen 1 and Gen 2, respectively), an external SSD might be a useful addition. This option can be fast enough to run programs; you can even install and run virtual machines from an external drive, as I do with an external SSD on a Thunderbolt port. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe downside is that this option makes your laptop considerably less portable. But if you mostly use your laptop at a desk, you can always connect an external SSD like the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"ba6d99bf-1aa9-4730-8b48-271f0dd0c601\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FCrucial-1TB-Portable-SSD-CT1000X6SSD9\u002Fdp\u002FB08FSZT2J7?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Crucial X6\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E or \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"7d9f97ea-940e-4e1c-8c02-2298c17a21d6\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.samsung.com\u002Fus\u002Fcomputing\u002Fmemory-storage\u002Fportable-solid-state-drives\u002Fportable-ssd-t7-usb-3-2-1tb--gray--mu-pc1t0t-am\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung T7\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. Those drives aren't terribly expensive, and they're fast enough to handle just about any task you throw at them.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"77635b39-fa40-48b8-b215-00cf0ab2ae6a\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F77635b39-fa40-48b8-b215-00cf0ab2ae6a\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-08-18 15:26:17",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"When you bought your laptop last year, you thought it had enough storage. Now you're running out of disk space and struggling every time you save a file. Here's what you can do.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"c1249ab3-8718-4f35-8275-4ef66d0b6363",image:{id:"d1ef8584-b908-43c4-96f4-f4231ac5c3c4",filename:"a-woman-using-her-laptop-at-a-desk-in-an-office-and-looking-stressed.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-07-05 14:31:09",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"a-woman-using-her-laptop-at-a-desk-in-an-office-and-looking-stressed",credits:"Image: Getty\u002FJay Yuno",caption:"\u003Cp\u003EA ywoman looking stressed out while working in an office.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F07\u002F05\u002Fd1ef8584-b908-43c4-96f4-f4231ac5c3c4\u002Fa-woman-using-her-laptop-at-a-desk-in-an-office-and-looking-stressed.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2121,height:1414,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^Laptops",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"running-out-of-laptop-storage-try-these-three-solutions",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Running out of laptop storage? Try these three solutions",topic:{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"926c7fe3-bac7-46e3-b421-bf633d90ee73",slug:"productivity",name:"Productivity",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"97e096ab-1a2f-479b-b8c6-7abec11c1087",username:"lancewhitney",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Lance",lastName:"Whitney",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"50f6af8c-f846-4158-835e-fd3c636dfa2b",filename:"thumbnail-lance-whitney-zdnet-shot2.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-04-20 18:05:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F04\u002F20\u002F50f6af8c-f846-4158-835e-fd3c636dfa2b\u002Fthumbnail-lance-whitney-zdnet-shot2.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Lance Whitney is a freelance technology writer and trainer with a background in IT. He's written for a host of sites and publications, including TechRepublic, PCMag, Macworld, AskWoody, Time, Fortune, and AARP Magazine. He spent seven years writing breaking news for CNET and six years writing a monthly column about Microsoft utilities for the late TechNet Magazine. He's written two books for Wiley & Sons - \"Windows 8: Five Minutes at a Time\" and \"Teach Yourself Visually LinkedIn.\" He also teaches both online and in-person computer classes on such topics as Windows, Microsoft Office, eBay, social media, and cybersecurity. And in a past life, he worked in IT for an international company providing product management and systems support in the U.S. and abroad.",profile:b,title:c,bio:c,bureau:"AU",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"aa6b68a0-6821-4508-ad08-1495fdc63720\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Prostock-studio\u002FShutterstock\" data-image-alt-text=\"Woman typing on laptop.\" data-image-filename=\"shutterstock-1660017136.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2021\u002F09\u002F10\" data-image-width=\"6720\" data-image-height=\"4320\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou're attempting to listen to music or watch a video on your computer. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"77635b39-fa40-48b8-b215-00cf0ab2ae6a\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F77635b39-fa40-48b8-b215-00cf0ab2ae6a\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere's only one problem -- no sound. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWait, the sound was working yesterday. What happened? \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProblems that seem to appear randomly are an unfortunate staple of Windows, but that doesn't mean they're unsolvable. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhere-do-tech-pros-go-for-tech-support-here-are-their-top-four-fix-it-strategies\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETop 4 fix-it strategies of tech pros\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd with a snafu like no sound, there are a few ways to troubleshoot the issue, including resetting your audio settings. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere's how to pull this off in both Windows 10 and 11.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow to reset your audio settings in Windows\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"701e5338-36c9-4290-9673-f18e286498b4\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EYou've probably already checked the usual suspects. But let's review anyway. Make sure the volume level is set properly. Just click the audio icon in the System Tray to confirm.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"1. Check your audio and sound source \" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"0abb9fb6-5092-4e4d-994b-eff13eed22a1\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003ECheck the volume.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Volume settings in Windows\" data-image-filename=\"figure-1-how-to-reset-your-audio-settings-in-windows.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F23\" data-image-width=\"1058\" data-image-height=\"695\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"enabled\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"c56cd92b-3102-46f9-8213-e0c8e1dc8979\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIf more than one potential sound source is available, such as internal and external audio, make sure your PC is pointing to the correct playback device.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo do this in Windows 10, right-click the audio icon in the System Tray and select&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EOpen Sound Settings\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;in Windows 10. Click the drop-down menu for&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EChoose your output device\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;and switch to the other source.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Windows 11, right-click the audio icon in the System Tray select and&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ESound Settings\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. Click the entry for&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EChoose where to play sound\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;and select the other source.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter choosing your output device, try playing audio again.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"2. Go to sound settings\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"78bdfa46-b2d4-4965-8548-e7c00caec91d\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003ECheck the audio sources.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Choosing your output device in Sound settings\" data-image-filename=\"figure-2-how-to-reset-your-audio-settings-in-windows.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F23\" data-image-width=\"1202\" data-image-height=\"608\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"enabled\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"7c7c2789-ed20-4df2-abe8-eb7abcaaa7ee\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIf you use external speakers, double-check for loose wires, unseated connections, and similar physical ailments. (Yes, try unplugging and plugging them in again.) If those all pass the test, then it's time to ask for help from Windows.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"3. Check external speakers\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"7f778ab7-aa4e-44b0-8e8d-34ad41bbef51\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe easiest step to take when trying to fix audio issues is to let Windows do the work. And that means running one of the built-in troubleshooters.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-force-quit-applications-in-windows\u002F" target="_blank"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to force-quit applications in Windows\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERight-click the audio icon in the System Tray and select&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ETroubleshoot sound problems\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Windows 10, the Get Help app will ask for permission to proceed with the diagnostics and try automated steps to fix the problem. Click \u003Cstrong\u003EYes\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. The Windows 10 troubleshooter will then your system for audio issues. It may try to play a tone and ask if you can hear it. It might also try to update your audio driver. Allow it to take the suggested steps. If the troubleshooter is able to resolve the glitch, great. If not, it will tell you that it couldn't fix the issue and offer some Microsoft support articles that might help.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Windows 11, the troubleshooter cuts to the chase and automatically starts the quest to detect audio-related problems. Depending on your audio setup, you may be asked which device to troubleshoot. Choose the correct device and let the troubleshooter proceed on its mission.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-much-ram-does-your-windows-11-pc-need\u002F" target="_blank"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow much RAM does your Windows 11 PC need?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe troubleshooter may offer some suggestions along the way. Again, if the troubleshooter is successful, hooray. If not, it will likely tell you that it couldn't identify the problem.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"4. Turn to a Windows troubleshooter\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"1ad4e6d5-e58b-4fe7-9ed0-680235f2e912\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003ERun a troubleshooter.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Selecting "Troubleshoot sound problems" in the bottom right of the screen\" data-image-filename=\"figure-3-how-to-reset-your-audio-settings-in-windows.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F23\" data-image-width=\"1081\" data-image-height=\"562\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"enabled\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"860c12a2-7e8f-4455-a61b-a866b2f77659\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe troubleshooter may suggest actions.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Troubleshooter running on Windows\" data-image-filename=\"figure-5-how-to-reset-your-audio-settings-in-windows.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F23\" data-image-width=\"1200\" data-image-height=\"735\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"enabled\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"8ecc3d1a-6310-4f1f-9e23-4974e762f172\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EConfirm the device.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Clicking Next on confirming device on Windows\" data-image-filename=\"figure-6-how-to-reset-your-audio-settings-in-windows.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F23\" data-image-width=\"858\" data-image-height=\"665\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"enabled\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"27993c16-7fdb-40d0-bbca-ed147efd7d4c\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EAnother way to run the troubleshooter in both versions of Windows is through sound settings. In either version, right-click the System Tray audio icon and select&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EOpen Sound settings\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;or&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ESound settings\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Windows 10, click the&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ETroubleshoot\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;button under Master Volume. In Windows 11, click the link for&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EOutput devices\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;in the section for&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ETroubleshoot common problems\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. In both cases, the Get Help app pops up seeking your permission to troubleshoot the issue.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"5. Go to sound settings to run troubleshooter in another way\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"06982a89-ec9f-482b-b785-82483d4252c9\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EUse the Get Help app.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Get Help app for troubleshooting\" data-image-filename=\"figure-8-how-to-reset-your-audio-settings-in-windows.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F23\" data-image-width=\"1200\" data-image-height=\"604\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"enabled\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"f5d3791c-6ae5-4e72-9eaa-da2540a730da\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIn Windows 10, right-click the System Tray Audio icon and select&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EOpen sound settings\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. Scroll to the bottom of the sound settings screen and click the setting for&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EApp volume and device preferences\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Windows 11, right-click the System Tray Audio icon and select&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EOpen Volume mixer\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"6. In the sound settings screen, check the Volume mixer\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"df1eec6d-7a4f-46bc-bd88-35fd8a9398a9\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003ECheck the Volume mixer in Windows 10.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\" data-image-alt-text=\"Volume mixer in Windows 10\" data-image-filename=\"figure-9-how-to-reset-your-audio-settings-in-windows.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F23\" data-image-width=\"1202\" data-image-height=\"608\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"enabled\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"a82f0ff4-1e8f-4100-8904-07b085b5d62e\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003ECheck the Volume mixer in Windows 11.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\" data-image-alt-text=\"Volume mixer in Windows 11\" data-image-filename=\"figure-10-how-to-reset-your-audio-settings-in-windows.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F23\" data-image-width=\"1200\" data-image-height=\"686\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"enabled\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"cd633ee4-b7d0-4908-9ed0-e855c86c7e36\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EBoth versions of Windows show you the volume levels for different devices and applications. Review each level to make sure it's set properly. If all looks good and you're still unable to hear any sound, click the&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EReset\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;button at the bottom. That will reset all the devices and apps to their recommended Microsoft defaults.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"7. Click the Reset button\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"f61dd881-79e0-49cc-91b6-efd4f568cbdd\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EReset the devices and apps.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Resetting the devices and apps in Windows Volume mixer\" data-image-filename=\"figure-11-how-to-reset-your-audio-settings-in-windows.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F23\" data-image-width=\"1200\" data-image-height=\"686\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"enabled\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"6cec4185-a459-4597-aa3b-1c4eb8bfd4ad\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EAt the Windows 10 sound settings screen, click the link at the right or bottom for&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ESound Control Panel\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. At the Windows 11 sound settings screen, click the option at the bottom for&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EMore sound settings\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-graphics-card-do-i-have-how-to-check-your-gpu-and-drivers\u002F" target="_blank"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat graphics card do I have? How to check your GPU and drivers\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESelect your default audio source and click&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EConfigure\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. Click the&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ETest\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;button to hear if any sounds come out. Finish the test. If there's still no sound, select the&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EProperties\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;button.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"8. Check the sound control panel\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"e7a2ab89-a5ca-4fb8-92c9-3c56a1ee66d1\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003ECheck sound settings.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Sound settings in Windows\" data-image-filename=\"figure-12-how-to-reset-your-audio-settings-in-windows.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F23\" data-image-width=\"1200\" data-image-height=\"686\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"enabled\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"442a81b6-0040-497f-8374-aff5703bf0d3\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EAt the Properties window, click the&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EAdvanced\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;tab and uncheck the box for&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EEnable audio enhancements\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. Then click the&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ETest\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;button. Next, click the tab for&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ESpatial sound\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;and made sure this option is off.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"9. Uncheck Enable audio enhancements\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"13e41852-a391-4cce-b876-7a7f4595127d\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003ETurn off audio enhancements.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Unchecking audio enhancements in Windows\" data-image-filename=\"figure-13-how-to-reset-your-audio-settings-in-windows.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F23\" data-image-width=\"1200\" data-image-height=\"686\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"enabled\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"53c892a6-952e-4e98-b4db-07fb0fbdf825\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIf the sound still isn't working, close all of the sound settings windows. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager from the menu. Click the right arrow for the entry for&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EAudio inputs and outputs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;and double-click your default audio source. Then click the tab for&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDriver\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"10. Find the audio driver in Device Manager\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"c320bdcc-e604-45d2-82d1-0f63a159a914\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EOpen Device Manager.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Device Manager in Windows\" data-image-filename=\"figure-14-how-to-reset-your-audio-settings-in-windows.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F23\" data-image-width=\"1130\" data-image-height=\"558\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"enabled\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"ca18e839-84ea-47b5-8b93-e329f846f5fa\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EFirst, try updating the driver. Click the&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EUpdate driver\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;button. Permit it to search your computer for drivers and then search Windows Update.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"11. Click Update driver\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"70ed19d2-798f-494d-b963-531578d7f728\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EUpdate the driver.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Selecting Search automatically for drivers\" data-image-filename=\"figure-15-how-to-reset-your-audio-settings-in-windows.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F23\" data-image-width=\"1129\" data-image-height=\"565\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"enabled\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"efdf2a55-cf63-4292-9022-58ce650a6214\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EStill no luck? You can try uninstalling and then reinstalling the driver. Click the&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EUninstall Device\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;button. Confirm that you want to uninstall it.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"12. If this doesn't work, try uninstalling the driver\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"13cc3c4a-a514-4016-8327-f1927439a627\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EUninstall the driver.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Uninstalling the driver in Windows\" data-image-filename=\"figure-16-how-to-reset-your-audio-settings-in-windows.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F23\" data-image-width=\"1127\" data-image-height=\"561\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"enabled\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"9d909397-0864-4c30-a8dc-567cb0378ada\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ETo bring back the driver, either reboot your PC or right-click on the entry for&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EAudio inputs and outputs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;and select&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EScan for hardware changes\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. The audio driver is then reinstalled.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"13. Reinstall the audio driver\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"dc5a3541-3931-4837-9b97-bdba96979772\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EReinstall the audio driver.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Reinstalling the audio driver in Windows\" data-image-filename=\"figure-17-how-to-reset-your-audio-settings-in-windows.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F23\" data-image-width=\"1128\" data-image-height=\"567\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"enabled\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"d7d6c046-57fb-4ca8-b525-fa1e61647a06\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EFinally, stopping and restarting the Windows Audio service is one more step to try. Click the Search field on the Taskbar and type the word "services."&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fwork-life\u002Fhow-to-automatically-keep-your-windows-applications-updated\u002F" target="_blank"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHo\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ew to automatically keep your Windows applications updated\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EScroll down the Services window until you see the entry for Windows Audio. Right-click it and select&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EStop\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. Right-click it once more and select&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EStart\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"14. Try stopping and restarting the Windows Audio service\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"4d46bae5-0aeb-424d-ab29-1109ba168aff\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EStop and restart the audio service.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Stopping and restarting the audio service on Windows\" data-image-filename=\"figure-18-how-to-reset-your-audio-settings-in-windows.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F23\" data-image-width=\"1117\" data-image-height=\"585\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"enabled\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHopefully, by going through these different Windows troubleshooting steps, you'll be able to get sound back.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"bc4074e0-359d-459b-b3db-941877b80949\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fbc4074e0-359d-459b-b3db-941877b80949\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-12-26 17:50:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"When you can't get any sound out of your Windows computer, resetting your audio is one trick to try.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"3ffc7196-2998-46ff-9ad9-a0b6528344bf",image:{id:"aa6b68a0-6821-4508-ad08-1495fdc63720",filename:"shutterstock-1660017136.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2021-09-10 10:03:33",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Woman typing on laptop.",credits:"Prostock-studio\u002FShutterstock",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F09\u002F10\u002Faa6b68a0-6821-4508-ad08-1495fdc63720\u002Fshutterstock-1660017136.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:6720,height:4320,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Services & Software^Operating Systems^Windows",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"how-to-reset-your-audio-settings-in-windows",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"How to reset your audio settings in Windows",topic:{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"97e096ab-1a2f-479b-b8c6-7abec11c1087",username:"lancewhitney",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Lance",lastName:"Whitney",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"50f6af8c-f846-4158-835e-fd3c636dfa2b",filename:"thumbnail-lance-whitney-zdnet-shot2.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-04-20 18:05:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F04\u002F20\u002F50f6af8c-f846-4158-835e-fd3c636dfa2b\u002Fthumbnail-lance-whitney-zdnet-shot2.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Lance Whitney is a freelance technology writer and trainer with a background in IT. He's written for a host of sites and publications, including TechRepublic, PCMag, Macworld, AskWoody, Time, Fortune, and AARP Magazine. He spent seven years writing breaking news for CNET and six years writing a monthly column about Microsoft utilities for the late TechNet Magazine. He's written two books for Wiley & Sons - \"Windows 8: Five Minutes at a Time\" and \"Teach Yourself Visually LinkedIn.\" He also teaches both online and in-person computer classes on such topics as Windows, Microsoft Office, eBay, social media, and cybersecurity. And in a past life, he worked in IT for an international company providing product management and systems support in the U.S. and abroad.",profile:b,title:c,bio:c,bureau:"AU",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"63c1ea51-44ff-4b9a-880a-336f5f3ccf0d\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Reset this PC window\" data-image-filename=\"figure-top-how-to-factory-reset-your-windows-10-pc.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F01\u002F09\" data-image-width=\"1150\" data-image-height=\"621\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere's one scenario that most of us have likely faced. You're bumping into a persistent problem in Windows 10. Maybe the PC keeps crashing or blue-screening, or perhaps certain features aren't working properly. You've exhausted all the usual troubleshooting steps, from running the built-in troubleshooters to reinstalling drivers to checking your PC for hardware issues. But the problem persists.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"77635b39-fa40-48b8-b215-00cf0ab2ae6a\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F77635b39-fa40-48b8-b215-00cf0ab2ae6a\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd here's another scenario. You're jumping ship to a brand-new computer and have no further need for your old machine. Maybe you hope to sell it or perhaps you aim to give it away or donate it. But before you give it the heave-ho, you need to erase all traces of yourself and your data.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthe-pc-is-getting-weird-again-and-thats-exactly-what-we-need\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe PC is getting weird again -- and that's exactly what we need\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne way to address either scenario is by setting your PC back to factory conditions, so it's a clean state. This type of move will often resolve mysterious and seemingly unsolvable technical snafus. And if you don't plan to keep the PC, a reset can remove all your personal files, settings, and applications.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore you perform a reset, you need to know the consequences. You can choose whether or not to preserve your personal files. But the reset will remove all installed applications and customized settings. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fces-2023-tech-you-can-buy\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECES 2023 tech you can actually buy right now\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf your goal is to get rid of your PC, that's great. But if you're striving to fix a technical issue and plan to continue using the computer, you'll need reinstall all your applications and reconfigure whatever settings you previously tweaked. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, let's go through the setup process in Windows 10. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow to factory-reset your Windows 10 PC\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"0dc1af6e-b9df-4411-b058-70d20dc9885f\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EHead over to&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ESettings &gt; Update &amp; Security &gt; Recovery\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. In the section for Reset this PC, click the&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EGet started\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;button.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"1. Get started\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"d22100a9-6859-4a97-8b0f-3cca6ce13e2a\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot\u002FLance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Choose the option to reset your PC\" data-image-filename=\"figure-1-how-to-factory-reset-your-windows-10-pc.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F01\u002F09\" data-image-width=\"1164\" data-image-height=\"628\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"ec325fef-364d-4c30-8260-f37801347a01\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe next window asks if you wish to keep your files or remove everything. If you're attempting to fix a technical glitch, choose the first option to keep your files. If you're looking to hand off or otherwise get rid of your PC, choose the second option to remove everything.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"2. Decide whether to keep your files\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"91b95193-fc06-4cc8-a15f-be8e5689e601\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Choose to Keep my files or Remove everything\" data-image-filename=\"figure-2-how-to-factory-reset-your-windows-10-pc.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F01\u002F09\" data-image-width=\"1162\" data-image-height=\"618\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"b6ef3323-df94-4589-ac39-79073e1bca8a\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe next window asks how you want to reinstall Windows -- cloud or local. A local reinstall typically runs faster but uses a copy of the necessary system files saved on your computer. If those files are missing or corrupted, then the local reinstall won't work. Your best bet is to try the local reinstall first. If that doesn't work, then go for the cloud reinstall.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"3. Decide between cloud and local reinstallation\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"ff755c10-b82e-4b42-8f45-91a55888832b\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Cloud download or Local reinstall\" data-image-filename=\"figure-3-how-to-factory-reset-your-windows-10-pc.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F01\u002F09\" data-image-width=\"1158\" data-image-height=\"625\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"900a28f4-6e05-4266-8abd-5a9a5a0fd7c1\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe next screen for additional settings lets you change anything before proceeding. If all looks good, click Next. Otherwise, click the link for&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EChange settings\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. If you opted to keep your personal files, you can now decide whether you want preinstalled apps to be reinstalled and whether you want Windows downloaded from the cloud.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"4. Confirm or change settings\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"04c11564-be0c-4a2c-a607-40f1a0f01ebd\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"toggles for Restore preinstalled apps? Download Windows?\" data-image-filename=\"figure-4-how-to-factory-reset-your-windows-10-pc.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F01\u002F09\" data-image-width=\"1161\" data-image-height=\"625\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"2f6aa63d-dc3c-450f-833c-9aded4797c93\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIf you instead chose to remove everything, you can opt to have your data cleaned. Select this option if you plan to give your PC away as it will overwrite your personal data, thus making it more difficult for anyone to recover your files even with the right recovery tool. Click&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EConfirm\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;and then click&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ENext\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"5. Choose whether to clear your data\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"9755b628-60ad-4f5f-9cea-c26ff47a922c\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Toggles for Clean data? Download Windows?\" data-image-filename=\"figure-5-how-to-factory-reset-your-windows-10-pc.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F01\u002F09\" data-image-width=\"1085\" data-image-height=\"531\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"8296105e-646a-4361-a4e4-40e8cf8fac58\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe final screen before the reset confirms the outcome. To see a list of the apps that you'll need to reinstall, click the link for&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EView apps that will be removed\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. (You may wish to make note of any you plan to reinstall.) When ready, click the&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EReset\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;button.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"6. Check apps and confirm reset\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"e942d419-aaca-468c-83ac-c7ca2210d252\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Ready to reset this PC\" data-image-filename=\"figure-6-how-to-factory-reset-your-windows-10-pc.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F01\u002F09\" data-image-width=\"1150\" data-image-height=\"621\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"62d46784-8f14-4284-b4be-b996b8060850\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe reset then kicks off. After it's finished, your PC will reboot and deposit you at the lock screen. If you plan to give the PC away, click on the lock screen, click the power button, and then shut down the computer. If you reset the PC to resolve a technical problem, sign in and then try to duplicate the behavior that caused the glitch to see if your computer is now behaving itself. If so, then you'll want to start reinstalling any apps that were removed in the reset.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"7. Sign off or sign in\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"5751219c-5cea-4b3c-8d4c-95ac2713b308\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Lance Whitney\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Lock screen\" data-image-filename=\"figure-7-how-to-factory-reset-your-windows-10-pc.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F01\u002F09\" data-image-width=\"1024\" data-image-height=\"767\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"61b2fa86-25ca-4edd-8c79-0a571ebf1336\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F61b2fa86-25ca-4edd-8c79-0a571ebf1336\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2023-01-09 17:57:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Whether you're trying to fix an ongoing technical glitch or you plan to give your PC away or sell it, a factory reset is a handy option.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"61a7fcb6-5f92-4d4c-9d66-6cffb7d9e699",image:{id:"5751219c-5cea-4b3c-8d4c-95ac2713b308",filename:"figure-7-how-to-factory-reset-your-windows-10-pc.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2023-01-09 12:14:30",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Shut down the PC or log in and check your clean OS",credits:b,caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F01\u002F09\u002F5751219c-5cea-4b3c-8d4c-95ac2713b308\u002Ffigure-7-how-to-factory-reset-your-windows-10-pc.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1024,height:767,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Services & Software^Operating Systems^Windows^Windows 10",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"how-to-factory-reset-your-windows-10-pc",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"How to factory-reset your Windows 10 PC",topic:{id:"5a09f531-5d09-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57",slug:"windows-10",name:"Windows 10",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"5a09f531-5d09-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57",slug:"windows-10",name:"Windows 10",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"f2d97ea2-8175-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Adrian",lastName:"Kingsley-Hughes",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2",filename:"adrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 14:59:32",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2\u002Fadrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over two decades to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera. Adrian has authored\u002Fco-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include 'Build the Ultimate Custom PC', 'Beginning Programming' and 'The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide'. He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.",profile:b,title:"Contributing Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"9f684a4d-3dff-47b6-998d-b8e5633355ca\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EGoogle Chrome gets better -- a lot better.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"NurPhoto\u002FGetty Images\" data-image-alt-text=\"Closeup of Google Chrome app\" data-image-filename=\"gettyimages-887454052.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F02\u002F22\" data-image-width=\"1024\" data-image-height=\"680\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGoogle has \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwith-this-google-chrome-update-the-browser-should-stop-draining-your-battery-life\u002F\"\u003Efinally rolled out to the mainstream Memory Saver and Energy Saver features\u003C\u002Fa\u003E into the Chrome browser for Windows, MacOS, and ChromeOS.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese features are rolling out to everyone in the latest Chrome 110 update. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-enable-energy-saver-mode-on-google-chrome\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EI've been using these features\u003C\u002Fa\u003E since they were rolled out as experimental features in Chrome 108, and I have to say that I'm impressed by the improvements they bring. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut I'm hearing from several users who aren't seeing the settings for these features.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fif-you-use-google-chrome-you-need-to-install-this-now\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you use Google Chrome, you need to install this feature now\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDon't worry, here's how to switch them on. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow to find Google Chrome's new battery and memory saver features\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"8807a073-c8e1-484a-93ff-ded3d6dda08d\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EYou can check which version you are on by going to the browser's settings and choosing About Chrome, or by typing the following into the address bar and pressing Enter:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003Echrome:\u002F\u002Fsettings\u002Fhelp\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you are not yet running version 110 or higher, you need to update (which you can do from the screen that gives you the version information).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne rub here is that&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fgoogle-chrome-110-arrives-but-not-all-windows-pcs-will-get-it\u002F"\u003EGoogle is dropping support for Windows 7 and Windows 8\u003C\u002Fa\u003E&nbsp;with this release, so if you're still using these aging operating systems, you don't get this update.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"1. Make sure you're running Chrome 110\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"38759cb8-c75e-48bb-9b89-78acdf4c32fc\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis version of Chrome -- Chrome 110 -- is up to date.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Chrome 110 up to date notification\" data-image-filename=\"2023-02-22-10-12-31.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F02\u002F22\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"1095\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"b5330e86-069b-44d1-b7dd-8bbef8c317b5\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EClick on the three dots, then&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ESettings\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, and look for&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPerformance\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;in the left-hand column.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf it's there, you're good.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthree-google-chrome-productivity-boosting-extensions-id-never-heard-of-before\u002F" target="_blank"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E3 Google Chrome extensions to boost productivity that I'd never heard of before\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENote that the&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EBattery Saver\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;feature only shows up on laptops.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf it's not there, read on.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"2. Check your Settings for Performance\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"8c396d07-32b3-4748-b4fd-b700aa50eaba\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EOK, still not seeing&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPerformance\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;or the&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EMemory Saver\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;and&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EBattery Saver\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;in&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ESettings\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETo display&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EMemory Saver\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, type the following into the address bar and press Enter:\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003Echrome:\u002F\u002Fflags\u002F#high-efficiency-mode-available\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\u002Fem\u003EChange the drop-down box to&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EEnabled\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETo display&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EBattery Saver&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E(only do this for laptops), type the following into the address bar and press&nbsp;Enter:\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003Echrome:\u002F\u002Fflags\u002F#battery-saver-mode-available\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\u002Fem\u003EChange the drop-down box to&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EEnabled\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter making these changes, you'll need to relaunch the browser (you can click on the button that will appear at the bottom on the page to do this).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"3. No Performance? Do this\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"231422b8-7aa3-47b2-8f08-4809082a695b\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThese are the settings that need to be changed to Enabled.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Settings that need to be changed to Enabled in Experiments section\" data-image-filename=\"2023-02-22-10-04-21.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F02\u002F22\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"968\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"3d470b2c-63a2-44a4-88f5-df178e3a2560\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EAfter the browser fires back up, go back into Chrome's&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ESettings\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. You should see&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPerformance\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;and the settings you just enabled in there.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fwork-life\u002Fthese-3-free-google-chrome-extensions-can-save-you-time-in-2023\u002F" target="_blank"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThese 3 free Google Google Chrome extensions can save you time\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlso, check that the settings are enabled. If&nbsp;not, you can flip the toggle to switch them on.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"4. Check your settings again\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"2b749626-8a09-4b74-a625-c316ce0bce00\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EMemory Saver and Battery Saver settings in Google Chrome.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Memory Saver and Battery Saver settings in Google Chrome\" data-image-filename=\"2023-02-22-10-04-47.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F02\u002F22\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"900\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"a3eaa1fb-2c69-46c3-a0eb-c9568d432968\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fa3eaa1fb-2c69-46c3-a0eb-c9568d432968\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2023-02-22 14:59:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Google finally rolls out memory and energy saver features to all. But some people can't find the settings.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"85284334-ca0f-4db9-bed6-270609dc07b3",image:{id:"9f684a4d-3dff-47b6-998d-b8e5633355ca",filename:"gettyimages-887454052.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2023-02-22 14:20:33",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Closeup of Google Chrome app",credits:"NurPhoto\u002FGetty Images",caption:"\u003Cp\u003EGoogle Chrome gets better -- a lot better.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F02\u002F22\u002F9f684a4d-3dff-47b6-998d-b8e5633355ca\u002Fgettyimages-887454052.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1024,height:680,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Services & Software",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"cant-find-google-chromes-new-battery-and-memory-saver-features-do-this",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Can't find Google Chrome's new battery and memory saver features? Do this",topic:{id:"96093490-341e-45e4-b27a-bf297aa2c5bb",slug:"services-software",name:"Services & Software",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"96093490-341e-45e4-b27a-bf297aa2c5bb",slug:"services-software",name:"Services & Software",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"1050fa4d-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"google",name:"Google",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"9a23272b-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"David Gewirtz",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"David",lastName:"Gewirtz",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"de4475ef-be59-4858-beb8-6f7696c85945",filename:"david-gewirtz.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:19:52",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fde4475ef-be59-4858-beb8-6f7696c85945\u002Fdavid-gewirtz.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"In addition to hosting the ZDNET Government and ZDNet DIY-IT blogs, David Gewirtz is an author, U.S. policy advisor, and computer scientist. He is featured in The History Channel special The President's Book of Secrets, is one of America's foremost cyber-security experts, and is a top expert on saving and creating jobs. He is also director of the U.S. Strategic Perspective Institute as well as the founder of ZATZ Publishing.\r\n\r\nDavid is a member of FBI InfraGard, the Cyberwarfare Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism & Security Professionals, a columnist for The Journal of Counterterrorism and Homeland Security, and has been a regular CNN contributor, and a guest commentator for the Nieman Watchdog of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. He is the author of Where Have All the Emails Gone?, the definitive study of email in the White House, as well as How To Save Jobs and The Flexible Enterprise, the classic book that served as a foundation for today's agile business movement.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"95ce7760-ed1f-4e7f-843d-53c8d60febbd\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EMac Studio\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"ZDNet screenshot\" data-image-alt-text=\"Apple March 8 Mac Studio Display\" data-image-filename=\"mac-studio-and-display-combow.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F03\u002F08\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"1067\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmac-studio-vs-the-mac-pro-and-the-mac-mini\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethe introduction of the Mac Studio\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, the overall Mac desktop has received a boost long hoped for by many Mac users. Apple now has four shipping desktop products: the Mac mini, the Mac Studio, the iMac, and the Mac Pro. In this article, we'll explore how to choose which machine is right for you.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"e658c585-db33-46c8-918a-752729fe81da\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fe658c585-db33-46c8-918a-752729fe81da\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo be sure, Apple's mobile Mac offerings in the form of the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"9b5ca91e-3257-472e-a43a-b3b9a2977eea\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmacbook-air\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"MacBook Air\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"23957b57-f83d-477c-af05-c3a193007b6c\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmacbook-pro\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"MacBook Pro\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E far outsell desktop Macs. If you're in the market for a Mac laptop, one of those is the way to go. But if you're primarily using your computer at your desk, you may not want to pay the extra cost for the built-in Retina display, battery, trackpad, and keyboard. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat cost can be considerable. Take, for example, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002F16-inch-m1-pro-macbook-pro-the-good-the-bad-and-the-very-very-ugly\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethe 16-inch MacBook Pro\u003C\u002Fa\u003E equipped with a 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 32GB unified memory, and 1TB SSD storage. That configuration lists for $3,499. The identically configured Mac Studio (which adds a 10Gb Ethernet port, one more Thunderbolt 4 port, two more USB C ports, and two USB A ports, but doesn't have the display, battery, keyboard, or trackpad) costs $2,399 -- more than a thousand dollars less expensive. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fupgrading-a-small-fleet-of-older-macs-planning-it-out\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMigrating to M1 Macs: How I'm upgrading my small fleet of older Apple desktops and laptops\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI use both. I have an M1 MacBook Air which works great for basic day-to-day work. But I use a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002F5-reasons-im-not-sorry-i-bought-my-mac-mini-and-didnt-wait-for-the-new-mac-pro\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Edesktop Intel Mac mini\u003C\u002Fa\u003E with a 38-inch monitor and three other 27-inch monitors connected to a ton of devices on my desk. That machine is never going anywhere, and I want it set up for my desk just right. So a desktop machine is the ideal choice. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe'll start by either choosing or eliminating the two easiest to characterize models: the iMac and Mac Pro. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E Do you want an all-in-one machine? \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fproduct\u002Fapple-imac-with-4-5k-retina-display-all-in-one-m1-8-gb-ssd-256-gb-led-24-us-mgpc3lla\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EApple's current iMac offering\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is a beautiful machine, offered in seven gorgeous colors. When you buy it, you get a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display with the computer integrated into it. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut there are limits. The iMac no longer comes in a 27-inch version and while the 24-inch machine is quite lovely, it's a relatively small display for production work. Yes, you can add a second display, but it kind of spoils the slim, color-balanced aesthetic. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's also only available with the base M1 processor, which means you max out on performance and only 16GB RAM. As for ports, the base model only has two Thunderbolt 3, but the slightly higher end model comes with two Thunderbolt 3 and two USB C ports. You can also connect Ethernet through a jack mounted on the power dongle. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"dbc8b039-a9b5-44f4-a7b9-5347bdf91479\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Apple 24-inch iMac\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"imac-24-why-mac.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"ae3f13b8-53dc-49e8-b5f2-25d10335ead0","filename":"imac-24-why-mac.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F03\u002F16\u002Fae3f13b8-53dc-49e8-b5f2-25d10335ead0\u002Fimac-24-why-mac.png","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-03-16 12:24:03","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"ae3f13b8-53dc-49e8-b5f2-25d10335ead0","imageFilename":"imac-24-why-mac.png","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F03\u002F16"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fimac\" data-offerprice=\"1299\" data-offermerchant=\"Apple\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fimac&subId1=[subid_value]\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you want simple, beautiful, functional, but somewhat inflexible, the 24-inch iMac is a good choice. I had an older-model iMac for a long time, but I found I outgrew the display before I outgrew the Mac inside the display. You'll need to decide how long you can live with a small 24-inch display. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E Do you want gobs of Intel power and are willing to pay big bucks for it? \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo here's the thing. The writing is on the wall for the 2019 Mac Pro that's currently shipping. In \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-time-is-apples-event-how-to-watch-and-what-to-expect-from-peek-performance\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EApple's March 2022 event\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, the company said it had one more machine to update, the Mac Pro, but said it was a topic for a future event. Obsolescence is clearly planned for this machine. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat said, there are things this Mac Pro does that nothing else does. It's the only remaining Mac with slots and bays. It's the only Mac that can scale to 1.5TB(!) of RAM. It's the only Mac running Xeon processors, and only one of two running Intel processors. It's the only Mac that can be ordered with rack mounting rails. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"5f165b51-7513-4abb-9700-2bdcddd5b730\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Mac Pro\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"mac-pro-rack-hero-splitter2.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"488a7d10-e366-4f2e-9853-fb84524e6aa5","filename":"mac-pro-rack-hero-splitter2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F03\u002F16\u002F488a7d10-e366-4f2e-9853-fb84524e6aa5\u002Fmac-pro-rack-hero-splitter2.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-03-16 12:28:07","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"488a7d10-e366-4f2e-9853-fb84524e6aa5","imageFilename":"mac-pro-rack-hero-splitter2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F03\u002F16"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-pro\" data-offerprice=\"5999\" data-offermerchant=\"Apple\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut it's also wildly expensive, ranging from a base of $6,000 to over $52,000 fully equipped (not counting the $400 wheels). And, at its Mac Studio launch event last week, Apple pointed out that the considerably less expensive Mac Studio outperforms the Mac Pro in a variety of benchmarks. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fintroducing-my-design-for-an-apple-silicon-based-mac-pro\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntroducing my design for an Apple Silicon-based Mac Pro\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe only reason to buy the Mac Pro now is if you already have Mac Pros in play and you need to keep running with the same solution stack. Basically, unless you already knew you needed a Mac Pro, and why, before reading this article, you shouldn't buy a Mac Pro at this time. It's better to wait and find out what new hotness Apple has on tap. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E Do you want a good, solid, basic machine that's generally under $1,000? \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUp until the Mac Studio was announced, I could honestly say that I found the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"1952ae4e-0405-4dda-a8d4-2ec322acd03b\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-mini\u002Fapple-m1-chip-with-8-core-cpu-and-8-core-gpu-256gb\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"M1 Mac mini\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E to be my go-to machine for a lot of tasks. It's small (only taking up 7.7 by 7.7 inches on a surface), and less than an inch and a half high. It has a fairly good array of ports, including Thunderbolt, USB C, HDMI, and Ethernet. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd, for a Mac, it's inexpensive. The base M1 unit starts at $699 with 8GB RAM and 256GB flash storage. That's actually quite a functional machine, but if you're going to be stressing it at all, I'd recommend punching it up to 16GB RAM for $899. You can always add fast external storage via the Thunderbolt 3\u002FUSB C ports. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the years, I've bought \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fupgrading-a-small-fleet-of-older-macs-planning-it-out\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Equite a few Mac minis\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and they have definitely paid for themselves. I found that my Intel Mac minis (which I've subsequently replaced) each had a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-much-does-it-cost-to-own-a-small-fleet-of-macs-total-cost-of-ownership-explained\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Etotal cost of ownership\u003C\u002Fa\u003E ranging from $128 to $264 per year (depending on the configuration). \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile the M1 Mac mini is the future of the model, Apple is still selling the 2018 Intel-based Mac mini. The still-sold Intel Mac mini has considerably more capacity (especially in terms of RAM) than the M1 Mac minis. It also runs Steam games better, but that requires a big eGPU investment and it's flirting with obsolescence. I expect Apple to stop selling them this year. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmac-studio-vs-intel-mac-mini-which-is-the-better-deal\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMac Studio vs Intel Mac Mini: Which is the better deal?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUntil recently, some folks were still buying the aging Intel Mac mini model from Apple just for access to 32 and 64GB RAM. With the advent of the Mac Studio, the RAM limitations of the M1 are no longer an issue for those needing a lot of RAM. I did a full article comparing those two machines. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe M1 Mac mini is a very nice machine. If you already have a monitor, it's a very easy choice. My wife has her office Mac mini paired with \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"64733f7b-4cbc-45be-afbf-1f62a840422f\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FTCL-4K-Smart-LED-43S435\u002Fdp\u002FB08DHDS4T3\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"a $269 43-inch TCL Roku 4K TV\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. That gives her monitor and speakers when using her Mac, and a full smart TV with Roku when doing other work in her office. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you're not doing any extreme pro work, the Mac Mini is almost always my default desktop recommendation. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fsmart-office\u002Fthis-75-dock-turns-your-mac-mini-into-a-mac-studio-sort-of\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThis $75 dock turns your Mac Mini into a Mac Studio (sort of)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"60a1dd8d-e06a-4c05-bad3-1752dea17fd2\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"M1 Mac mini\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"5ed5a7cf-fd04-485e-bebf-687e2083f6bc","filename":"mac-mini-hero-2020112.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F03\u002F16\u002F5ed5a7cf-fd04-485e-bebf-687e2083f6bc\u002Fmac-mini-hero-2020112.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-03-16 12:31:39","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"5ed5a7cf-fd04-485e-bebf-687e2083f6bc","imageFilename":"mac-mini-hero-2020112.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F03\u002F16"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-mini\u002F\" data-offerprice=\"699\" data-offermerchant=\"Apple\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-mini&subId1=[subid_value]\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E Do you want more, but at a price that's attainable to most pros? \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Mac Studio is as close to the machine pro users wanted as it's possible for Apple to get. It doesn't allow for upgradeable RAM or internal storage, but that lack of slots means data can stay inside the SoC (system on a chip) and move much, much faster between memory and processor. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fapple-silicon-rosetta-m1-m2-soc-what-does-it-all-mean\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EApple Silicon, Rosetta, M1, M2, SoC: Why these terms matter to every computer buyer\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs I \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmac-studio-vs-intel-mac-mini-which-is-the-better-deal\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esaid before\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, \"The introduction of the Mac Studio changes the calculus of buying desktop Macs. The base model outperforms the Mac Pro yet is priced like a well-equipped Mac mini. The fully-equipped model is priced just a bit higher than a base Mac Pro yet has the power to rival a Mac Pro configuration costing six times more.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is the machine to buy if you're an extreme pro but don't want to spend tens of thousands of dollars. I go into depth about the Mac Studio's configuration capabilities \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmac-studio-vs-the-mac-pro-and-the-mac-mini\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehere\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, but suffice it to say that the Mac Studio may well be the Goldilocks machine for most extreme pro Mac users. It's \"just right.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"656813b5-ee84-4ef2-8940-c601c393457f\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Mac Studio\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"mac-studio-select-2022032.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"d54be380-5372-4454-b027-656b5f3c74fe","filename":"mac-studio-select-2022032.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fhub\u002Fi\u002F2022\u002F03\u002F16\u002Fd54be380-5372-4454-b027-656b5f3c74fe\u002Fmac-studio-select-2022032.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-03-16 12:33:38","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"d54be380-5372-4454-b027-656b5f3c74fe","imageFilename":"mac-studio-select-2022032.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F03\u002F16"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-studio\" data-offerprice=\"1999\" data-offermerchant=\"Apple\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E How to decide \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere are some of the choices you might make, and which machine best fits based on your needs. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you want a built-in display\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, but don't mind limiting it to 24 inches, consider an \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"15a0fd9b-9d1c-4e28-a20d-c3e6eb478926\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fimac-24\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fimac-24%2F&subId1=[subid_value]\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iMac.\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you need native Intel\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, you're looking at the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c0aad5fc-1f7c-4fd5-babd-3813c4e60930\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-pro\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac Pro\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E or the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"9123a4ee-c77d-4e53-b328-51387cde7fb1\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-mini\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fmac-mini%2F&subId1=[subid_value]\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Intel Mac mini.\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E Be aware that both of these are likely to be discontinued soon and OS support will probably end in 2-4 years. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you're okay with 16GB RAM or less\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, you're looking at the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"5d947330-522f-4cb4-85da-70168b06ba27\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-mini\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac mini\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E or \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"05e3c73f-4eaf-426e-8fe7-3b13760b71d6\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fimac-24\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fimac-24%2F&subId1=[subid_value]\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iMac,\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E depending on whether you want the built-in display or not. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you need 32-128GB RAM\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"0111d7ab-4bf6-4a34-a3f5-e38d19675cec\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-studio\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac Studio\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E is ideal. But choose the configuration now that has all the RAM you might ever need, because there's no upgrading once the machine ships from the factory. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you need 128GB-1.5TB RAM\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, it's the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"1e66ebde-a2b1-4e0a-9691-4f82f65a7401\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-pro\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fmac-pro%2F&subId1=[subid_value]\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"old Mac Pro.\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E Keep in mind a new Mac Pro will probably be announced this year, and the old 2019 Mac Pro is extremely pricey. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you want to pay less than $1,000 for a versatile machine\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, it's the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"4d1ae783-9484-4505-894b-a34cd24bccaa\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-mini\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fmac-mini%2F&subId1=[subid_value]\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac mini.\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you want a quiet machine that will fit almost anywhere\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, it's the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"3f4675c2-278b-463d-9351-ea5aeb7f36e1\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-mini\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fmac-mini%2F&subId1=[subid_value]\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac mini.\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you want ports and an SDXC card slot on the front (finally!)\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, it's the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"3c04c53a-7387-4087-9da9-b98b3024407f\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-studio\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fmac-studio%2F&subId1=[subid_value]\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac Studio.\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you're composing 8K video in Final Cut\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, it's the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"aaf4c5b7-d4ef-4220-b05b-ed738e020b73\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-studio\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fmac-studio%2F&subId1=[subid_value]\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac Studio.\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you're composing one or two streams of HD or 4K multicam video in Final Cut\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, it's the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"554eb22c-ce66-4b49-abca-c8aa04399359\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-mini\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac mini\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E or \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"f7fbb80a-15df-4668-9f7f-4b06b8a23f1c\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fimac-24\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iMac\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. Or, if you have the budget, \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"9d72360b-15c4-4ceb-a8df-a91803b10adb\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-studio\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"the Mac Studio.\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you're doing AR, VR, high-end video, 3D modeling, scientific applications, or anything else that needs a ton of processor power\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, it's the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"0ab2f98e-ed13-4751-b6cd-d011776e8ffe\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-studio\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac Studio\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E with M1 Ultra. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you want a Mac mini, but just want a bit more RAM and a bit more processing power at a good price\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, it's the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"d7dfb646-2794-45da-bb18-08fc6ba82615\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-studio\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac Studio\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E with M1 Max. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOverall, my elevator pitch would be this: If you must have an aesthetically appealing all-in-one machine color-compatible with your workspace, get the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"7f66dba4-3f94-44a8-8da8-fc153b0201c3\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fimac-24\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fimac-24%2F&subId1=[subid_value]\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iMac.\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003EIf you want an inexpensive, versatile machine, get the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"3f5f3393-ae04-4524-a556-cf46ad965dc1\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-mini\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fmac-mini%2F&subId1=[subid_value]\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac mini.\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E If you want a powerful, capable machine for pro-level and extreme pro work, get the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"ab2aa9c1-048c-48bb-a00a-d95864a5ca70\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-studio\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fmac-studio%2F&subId1=[subid_value]\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac Studio.\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E At this point, unless you have very specific needs, avoid the Mac Pro and the Intel Mac mini. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat about you? Are you considering a desktop Mac? What are you thinking of choosing? Are you planning on upgrading any of your existing machines? Let us know in the comments below. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EYou can follow my day-to-day project updates on social media. Be sure to follow me on Twitter at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002Fdavidgewirtz\"\u003E@DavidGewirtz\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, on Facebook at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fdavidgewirtz\"\u003EFacebook.com\u002FDavidGewirtz\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, on Instagram at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002FDavidGewirtz\u002F\"\u003EInstagram.com\u002FDavidGewirtz\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and on YouTube at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fuser\u002FDavidGewirtzTV\"\u003EYouTube.com\u002FDavidGewirtzTV\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-03-16 13:28:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Apple now has four desktop systems available and shipping: the Mac mini, the Mac Studio, the iMac, and the Mac Pro. How do you decide which machine is right for you? Read on!",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"2ace44ec-47bf-43dd-8dd6-1bcc21e3f0fe",image:{id:"3ae528dc-94af-4952-8b7e-c86eebcd71b5",filename:"screen-shot-2022-03-08-at-1-35-57-pm-2.png",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-03-08 18:39:55",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"screen-shot-2022-03-08-at-1-35-57-pm-2.png",credits:b,caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F03\u002F08\u002F3ae528dc-94af-4952-8b7e-c86eebcd71b5\u002Fscreen-shot-2022-03-08-at-1-35-57-pm-2.png",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:3840,height:2160,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Technology^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"how-to-decide-choosing-a-desktop-mac",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Mac mini, Studio, iMac or Pro? How to choose a desktop Mac in 2022",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"0fbd54d0-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"apple",name:"Apple",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"bc862949-884e-4b7d-8fd8-c1157c82f32f",slug:"computing",name:"Computing",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"9a23272b-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"David Gewirtz",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"David",lastName:"Gewirtz",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"de4475ef-be59-4858-beb8-6f7696c85945",filename:"david-gewirtz.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:19:52",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fde4475ef-be59-4858-beb8-6f7696c85945\u002Fdavid-gewirtz.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"In addition to hosting the ZDNET Government and ZDNet DIY-IT blogs, David Gewirtz is an author, U.S. policy advisor, and computer scientist. He is featured in The History Channel special The President's Book of Secrets, is one of America's foremost cyber-security experts, and is a top expert on saving and creating jobs. He is also director of the U.S. Strategic Perspective Institute as well as the founder of ZATZ Publishing.\r\n\r\nDavid is a member of FBI InfraGard, the Cyberwarfare Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism & Security Professionals, a columnist for The Journal of Counterterrorism and Homeland Security, and has been a regular CNN contributor, and a guest commentator for the Nieman Watchdog of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. He is the author of Where Have All the Emails Gone?, the definitive study of email in the White House, as well as How To Save Jobs and The Flexible Enterprise, the classic book that served as a foundation for today's agile business movement.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"22c74355-df6e-4652-b016-6e05018d0da6\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EMy big pile of parts.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"parts-order\" data-image-filename=\"parts-order.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F10\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"729\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere was a time when I built a \u003Cem\u003Elot\u003C\u002Fem\u003E of PCs. For years, I probably built 10-15 machines a year. Some were for me, some for family, some for friends, and there was a long line of special-purpose servers. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut about 10 years ago, that stopped. Most of my production work shifted to being done on Macs, which come from the factory so turnkey that you can't even install more RAM or storage. I started using \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-network-attached-storage\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENAS appliances\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, which are smaller and quieter. My Linux machines moved from big case servers to tiny \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-raspberry-pi-alternative\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERaspberry Pis\u003C\u002Fa\u003E hanging off the back of my 3D printers. And my Windows machines became an ongoing series of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-windows-laptop\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ealmost-powerful-enough laptops\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-build-a-gaming-pc-for-2500\u002F\"\u003EHow to build a gaming PC for $2,500\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI'm not saying my move away from building PCs was the right move. It just happened to be where my life was going. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut I like games, though I've never been much of a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Ftwitch-announces-a-new-program-to-help-streamers-make-more-money\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETwitch player\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. I like strategy games, city sims, and RPGs. One series of RPGs I particularly gravitate to are those made by \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbethesda.net\u002Fen\u002Fdashboard\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBethesda\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. I played Morrowind on one of the PCs I built, but by the time \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fa.co\u002Fd\u002F9VmpFlf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EOblivion\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fa.co\u002Fd\u002FcK8aovU\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFallout 3,\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fa.co\u002Fd\u002FeRt4HG5\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFallout 4\u003C\u002Fa\u003E came out, I had firmly moved to the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. I've been playing \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fa.co\u002Fd\u002F8KZuEDP\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESkyrim\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (which came out in 2011) on and off on my PS4. While I'm not one to buy a lot of games, I bought two for my PS4, Skyrim and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fa.co\u002Fd\u002FhsGFswV\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDishonored\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Both were Bethesda games. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"dfad8f48-96c4-40a7-b204-a3728a5c76d3\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EInside the build\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"img-7681\" data-image-filename=\"img-7681.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F10\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"4032\" data-image-height=\"3024\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut there was one thing I really missed from my PC Morrowind days: cheating. I'll admit it. I won't make it through one of these games if I can't \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FKobayashi_Maru\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKobayashi Maru\u003C\u002Fa\u003E the gameplay. Yes, Skyrim has limited mods on the PS4, but it's nothing like the ability to completely redefine the game that exists on the PC. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-game-console\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGame console showdown: PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and more\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen, Bethesda announced \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fa.co\u002Fd\u002F0RtcHqj\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EStarfield\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, the first completely new game property from Bethesda in 25 years. I decided I wanted to play it. And I wanted to play it on a PC. I wanted to mod it and tweak it to my heart's content. Tweaking the game is as much fun for me as playing. I'm not alone in my interest in Starfield. It \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.benzinga.com\u002Fgeneral\u002Fgaming\u002F23\u002F09\u002F34800921\u002Fmicrosofts-starfield-rockets-to-record-breaking-10-million-players-in-under-three-weeks\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Erocketed to 10 million players\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in its first three weeks, Bethesda's biggest launch, ever. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI pitched the idea of bringing a gaming PC into the living room. My wife loves video games. She's a far better gamer than me. But we still haven't seen the need to move to the PS5, and adding a whole new machine into our family room was an issue. We used to have a completely overloaded family room, with the tech so loud you could hear it in the kitchen. But now, with just some Macs and the PS4, it's blissfully quiet.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe agreed to having a new PC in the living room, but requested that it be low profile, whisper quiet, and come in at under $1,200. She'd seen me ogling those uber-high-performance rigs touted on YouTube, and there was just no way we could justify spending three or four grand on a gaming PC. But $1,200? \u003Cem\u003EThat\u003C\u002Fem\u003E we could swing. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2051361\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd so, my Starfield gaming PC project was born. Here's what I spec'd out and what I built. It's exactly what we wanted. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E What Starfield wants, Starfield gets \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI started out the build by digging into the Starfield specs. Most games supply a list of minimum system requirements, which means the game will run, barely. What you want to look for are the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.bethesda.net\u002F#en\u002Fanswer\u002F60442\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Erecommended specs\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Here are those for Starfield: \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProcessor: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EAMD Ryzen 5 3600X, Intel i5-10600K\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMemory: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E16 GB RAM\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGraphics: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EAMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDirectX: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EVersion 12\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENetwork:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E Broadband Internet connection\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStorage:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E 125 GB available space\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInterestingly, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.tomshardware.com\u002Ffeatures\u002Fstarfield-pc-performance-how-much-gpu-do-you-need\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EStarfield is an AMD-promoted game\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. This means that the developers had a special incentive to optimize the game to run on AMD hardware. I've built most of my PCs on AMD hardware quite successfully, so that's what I decided to do. I'd build an AMD-based machine. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-vpn\u002F\"\u003EThe best VPN services: Expert tested and reviewed\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince the GPU was the most important (and most expensive) part of the build, that's where I decided to start. I just picked the specific GPU -- the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT -- that the devs recommended. And then I went from there. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"b21581c0-dce7-42de-a7a6-2cf799c89334\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E1x HDMI 2.1 VRR and FRL\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E2x DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E1x USB-C for additional video\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E16GB RAM\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI knew I wanted the RX 6800 XT GPU and I knew I wanted at least 16GB RAM in order to hold all the textures and other game features I might want. There are different models and vendors, but this model, from XFX, was an Amazon's Choice selection.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI based my decision on the rather enthusiastic reviews, and on one more factor: I could have this card within a couple of days. All the other 6800 XTs were going to take two weeks or more. The supply seems to have let up since I ordered, but a few weeks ago, availability was tight.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt $529, this one component used up almost half my budget. But the whole reason for building a gaming PC is to have access to a powerful GPU. It was my most important purchase. Everything else would have to be made to fit into the rest of the budget.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"XFX Speedster MERC319 AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT CORE Gaming Graphics Card\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"gpu","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Amazon","imageData":{"id":"360cfaa7-63ca-468a-ab36-1fb7e28abbf6","title":"gpu","filename":"gpu.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F10\u002F03\u002F360cfaa7-63ca-468a-ab36-1fb7e28abbf6\u002Fgpu.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":206320,"width":1296,"height":729,"dateCreated":{"date":"2023-10-03 08:35:48","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2023-10-03 08:36:06","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Amazon","alt":"gpu","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"360cfaa7-63ca-468a-ab36-1fb7e28abbf6","imageAltText":"gpu","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Amazon","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"gpu.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2023\u002F10\u002F03","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":729,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Amazon\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"529","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB08TJ2BHCQ?th=1","url":""}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"808eae9d-ffe7-495e-8c1b-3008b79b6a20\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECores\u002FThreads\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: 6\u002F12\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBase Clock\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: 3.7 GHz\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMax Boost Clock\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: 4.6 GHz\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECache\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: 35MB (L2 + L3)\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMemory Support\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: DDR4-3200\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere's no doubt that the Ryzen 5 5600X isn't the latest and greatest hotness. But high-end AMD processors can go for $1,000 -- and even more. What I chose was the generation beyond the recommended model for Starfield, which is a slightly older generation CPU and architecture. That helped keep the CPU, motherboard, and RAM prices down, and helped fit everything into my $1,200 budget.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI paid $155 for my CPU. A few weeks later, it's now listed on Amazon for $169.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"AMD Ryzen 5 5600X processor\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"ryzen","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Amazon","imageData":{"id":"07089b6c-b083-4976-a85f-8da91dc7c86d","title":"ryzen","filename":"ryzen.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F10\u002F03\u002F07089b6c-b083-4976-a85f-8da91dc7c86d\u002Fryzen.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":145973,"width":1296,"height":729,"dateCreated":{"date":"2023-10-03 08:36:20","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2023-10-03 08:36:26","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Amazon","alt":"ryzen","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"07089b6c-b083-4976-a85f-8da91dc7c86d","imageAltText":"ryzen","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Amazon","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"ryzen.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2023\u002F10\u002F03","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":729,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Amazon\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"169","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB08166SLDF","url":""}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"523ab711-8706-4cac-93c3-4375e3f71e88\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ELet's talk about motherboards. There's a very big trend in motherboards to display all sorts of RGB lighting effects. In fact, I found it really hard to find a case that didn't have a clear side for displaying those RGB effects. Let me be clear. I dislike RGB lighting in my PCs. I liked it when I could get my PCs in beige. It really bothered me once computers started coming in colors and designer effects. I didn't buy a beige case this time, but black is close enough.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs for the motherboard, I wanted features that were not RGB. (Although this board does have some RBG control features for those who want to enable those.) I wanted onboard Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Bluetooth, as well as onboard audio. I wanted two NVMe ports for storage (so I could later expand easily if I wanted). And I wanted four RAM slots (for the same reason).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-gaming-gpu\u002F"\u003EThe best gaming GPUs (and how much you should spend)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI chose this board from Asus because I've had a lot of success building with Asus boards, and I've also owned a number of Asus laptops, including the one that currently controls my CNC. I found the feature set on this board was ideal for what I needed. It had very solid and well-described Amazon reviews, in which a few folks were happy with the exact configuration I was going with. So I chose it.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt does the job quite well, with the exception of Bluetooth. I just couldn't get Bluetooth to run on this board. Period. See my description of the Bluetooth dongle below for more details.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"ASUS TUF Gaming B550-PLUS WiFi II AMD AM4 ATX Gaming Motherboard\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"motherboard","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"d6c6f211-8a61-4034-ba4b-413952950a02","title":"motherboard","filename":"motherboard.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F10\u002F03\u002Fd6c6f211-8a61-4034-ba4b-413952950a02\u002Fmotherboard.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":440025,"width":1296,"height":729,"dateCreated":{"date":"2023-10-03 08:36:41","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2023-10-03 08:36:59","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET","alt":"motherboard","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"d6c6f211-8a61-4034-ba4b-413952950a02","imageAltText":"motherboard","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"motherboard.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2023\u002F10\u002F03","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":729,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB09K4QMPL9?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"169","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB09K4QMPL9","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB09K4QMPL9?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"d8c121b2-a0a8-433e-91a4-b81c0a4b39d5\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIt took me a lot of digging to find this case. As I mentioned, I wanted a case that was solid. I didn't want some plexiglass side that would show the dirt and magnify the sound. What I wanted was something solid and completely nondescript, so when it was placed in one of our living room furniture units, it would fade into the background.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut I wanted the case to do one other thing: muffle the sound. This case has insulated panels designed to help baffle the sound from reaching the outside of the PC.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Antec P10 FLUX case\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"case","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"7fd1a01d-1bc9-40b4-b6da-94342909bbeb","title":"case","filename":"case.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F10\u002F03\u002F7fd1a01d-1bc9-40b4-b6da-94342909bbeb\u002Fcase.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":115931,"width":1296,"height":729,"dateCreated":{"date":"2023-10-03 08:37:11","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2023-10-03 08:37:16","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET","alt":"case","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"7fd1a01d-1bc9-40b4-b6da-94342909bbeb","imageAltText":"case","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"case.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2023\u002F10\u002F03","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":729,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"99","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB08P5WPFH7","url":""}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can see one such panel through the area marked in red below. That's foam insulation designed to insulate the sound. And it does its job. This is the quietest tower PC I've ever owned. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"de9efe08-3087-4c72-a542-62593cd202db\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"insulation\" data-image-filename=\"insulation.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F10\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"729\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI also chose this case because I've used Antec cases before and had good results with them. The combination of the look, the sound baffling, and a brand I've used (as well as its $99 price) made this the winner in the case contest. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"cb2e6f58-a7af-4089-98a2-b18f4711ec06\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EI decided against using the stock CPU fan because it can be noisy. I also opted against water cooling because liquid and family rooms don't mix. The key was to use a bigger fan moving at a slower speed. What I liked about this unit was that it has a large heat sink and supports a large fan.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-laptop-cooling-pad\u002F"\u003EThe best laptop cooling pads to protect your device from overheating\u003C\u002Fa\u003E&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut what I really liked, and what closed the deal for me, is the fact that it can optionally support a second large fan if more cooling is needed. As I did this build, I didn't know if I'd need another fan, especially after slowing the speed down. So far, I'm running on one CPU fan, but there's a very easy option to expand built right into this cooler. That's a win.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"DeepCool AK400 CPU fan\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"fan","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Amazon","imageData":{"id":"93a1311b-c70e-45b6-b197-044883fd2513","title":"fan","filename":"fan.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F10\u002F03\u002F93a1311b-c70e-45b6-b197-044883fd2513\u002Ffan.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":185335,"width":1296,"height":729,"dateCreated":{"date":"2023-10-03 08:37:30","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2023-10-03 08:37:37","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET","alt":"fan","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"93a1311b-c70e-45b6-b197-044883fd2513","imageAltText":"fan","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Amazon","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"fan.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2023\u002F10\u002F03","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":729,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Amazon\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB09PCWK7SP?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"14","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB09PCWK7SP","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB09PCWK7SP?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"e9f2c70f-a3bb-4b94-88eb-be64e4d49997\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThermaltake is another brand I'm comfortable working with. My selection process was similar to the CPU fan. I read a lot of user reviews, specifically looking for mentions of "quiet". I selected a bunch of 600-800W supplies and sat down to read the reviews. This one had a number of mentions specifically calling out its quiet functionality. And that was that. I bought.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 80+ Gold 600W power supply\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"power","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Amazon","imageData":{"id":"0b16bacc-80a1-456a-89da-16741af0e8e4","title":"power","filename":"power.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F10\u002F03\u002F0b16bacc-80a1-456a-89da-16741af0e8e4\u002Fpower.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":166397,"width":1296,"height":729,"dateCreated":{"date":"2023-10-03 08:37:50","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2023-10-03 08:37:55","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Amazon","alt":"power","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"0b16bacc-80a1-456a-89da-16741af0e8e4","imageAltText":"power","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Amazon","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"power.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2023\u002F10\u002F03","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":729,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Amazon\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"66","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB087CDR14Z","url":""}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"6c12c6ea-bba6-4904-8fd7-89e69b99a44a\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis is another choice optimized by an Amazon's Choice recommendation. I've purchased G.SKILL before and had no issues. The price for 32GB was quite good, so I picked it up.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGame specs recommend 16GB, but I've been standardizing on 32GB and up for a few years now. Given that bumping the build from 16GB up to 32GB was a difference of $32, I paid the few extra bucks and doubled my available RAM.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-ram\u002F"\u003EThe best RAM: Top memory upgrades for work and gaming\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat way, if I do find myself needing to use this machine for something other than gaming, there's enough RAM to get most things done.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series (Intel XMP) DDR4 RAM 32GB\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"memory","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"cfbd5168-f34d-4497-9d09-1bf44da6c851","title":"memory","filename":"memory.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F10\u002F03\u002Fcfbd5168-f34d-4497-9d09-1bf44da6c851\u002Fmemory.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":367784,"width":1296,"height":729,"dateCreated":{"date":"2023-10-03 08:38:28","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2023-10-03 08:38:34","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET","alt":"memory","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"cfbd5168-f34d-4497-9d09-1bf44da6c851","imageAltText":"memory","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"memory.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2023\u002F10\u002F03","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":729,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB07Z45XB3G?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"79","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB07Z45XB3G","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB07Z45XB3G?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"62a392b3-4d33-4b50-944c-83aba9d89eda\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EAnd then there's storage. I paid $79 for this, but when I checked Amazon just now, the price had risen to $103. Even so, it's a far sight better than the $360 that Apple charges to go from 1TB to 2TB of flash storage. Ah, well. Kingston makes fine storage and so I added it to my build. Eliminating the moving platters of hard drives is one more way I can cut out noise. Not to mention how much faster this is than an old-school hard drive. In fact, the Starfield specs specifically require an SSD vs spinning media -- so there's that.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Kingston NV2 2TB M.2 storage\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"storage","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"6541cc6f-aa89-444b-bf63-ce93d7f97b41","title":"storage","filename":"storage.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F10\u002F03\u002F6541cc6f-aa89-444b-bf63-ce93d7f97b41\u002Fstorage.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":361531,"width":1296,"height":729,"dateCreated":{"date":"2023-10-03 08:38:51","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2023-10-03 08:39:03","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET","alt":"storage","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"6541cc6f-aa89-444b-bf63-ce93d7f97b41","imageAltText":"storage","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"storage.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2023\u002F10\u002F03","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":729,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"103","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0BDTC589G","url":""}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"29873e0a-1578-485d-b763-4c865846a410\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EAll that brings me to Bluetooth. I could not get Bluetooth to work on the motherboard. I spent about half a day on it, then gave up. My reasoning is pretty simple: I rely heavily on Bluetooth. There are no speakers on this machine. It will just use Bluetooth earbuds. It also uses Bluetooth for mouse and keyboard. And it all has to be done from a distance. So rather than relying on a radio that's buried inside a sealed metal case, I added a Bluetooth USB dongle. The difference with this one is that it has an external antenna to maximize reception.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-bluetooth-tracker\u002F"\u003EBest Bluetooth trackers: AirTag and alternatives\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe only thing is, buying this put me $3.08 above my $1,200 budget. Oh, well. It's still a very nice machine.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"UGREEN Long Range Bluetooth 5.3 Adapter\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"bluetooth","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"8a1ee88b-0324-4fa1-9a12-bf850d7c92d1","title":"bluetooth","filename":"bluetooth.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F10\u002F03\u002F8a1ee88b-0324-4fa1-9a12-bf850d7c92d1\u002Fbluetooth.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":1732824,"width":4032,"height":3024,"dateCreated":{"date":"2023-10-03 08:39:25","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2023-10-03 08:39:31","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET","alt":"bluetooth","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"8a1ee88b-0324-4fa1-9a12-bf850d7c92d1","imageAltText":"bluetooth","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"bluetooth.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2023\u002F10\u002F03","imageWidth":4032,"imageHeight":3024,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0BXF13GB7?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"17","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0BXF13GB7","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0BXF13GB7?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd there you go, that's my build. I've been playing Starfield on and off for about a week, and I like it a lot. It's a bit different from Fallout 4 and Skyrim, and it's very similar at the same time. If you liked Fallout 4 and Skyrim, you'll like Starfield. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOh, and in case you're curious, this is my spaceman character. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"0ab790d3-6af8-412e-ab6e-1cab85525a7e\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET \" data-image-alt-text=\"starfield-char\" data-image-filename=\"starfield-char.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F10\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"729\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESee you around the galaxy! \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-gaming-pc\u002F\"\u003EThe best gaming PCs: Top prebuilt rigs compared\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, what do you think? Are you playing Starfield? Will you build a gaming rig? Do you keep yours in the family room? What other games are you looking forward to? Let me know in the comments below.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EYou can follow my day-to-day project updates on social media. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly update newsletter \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fadvancedgeekery.substack.com\u002F\"\u003Eon Substack\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and follow me on Twitter at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002Fdavidgewirtz\"\u003E@DavidGewirtz\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, on Facebook at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fdavidgewirtz\"\u003EFacebook.com\u002FDavidGewirtz\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, on Instagram at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002FDavidGewirtz\u002F\"\u003EInstagram.com\u002FDavidGewirtz\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and on YouTube at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fuser\u002FDavidGewirtzTV\"\u003EYouTube.com\u002FDavidGewirtzTV\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2023-10-05 14:49:26",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"I fired up my power screwdriver and built the Starfield gaming rig of my dreams that's spouse-approved and quiet enough to be in a family room. Check out my components.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"e48712fc-3c6c-407f-b967-32833fefd257",image:{id:"0ab790d3-6af8-412e-ab6e-1cab85525a7e",filename:"starfield-char.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2023-10-03 16:09:33",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"starfield-char",credits:"David Gewirtz\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F10\u002F03\u002F0ab790d3-6af8-412e-ab6e-1cab85525a7e\u002Fstarfield-char.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1296,height:729,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"how-i-built-the-ultimate-low-profile-starfield-gaming-pc-for-under-1200",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"How I built the ultimate low-profile Starfield gaming PC for under $1,200",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"294e47d5-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"Ed Bott",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Ed",lastName:"Bott",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e",filename:"ed-bott.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:06:03",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e\u002Fed-bott.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than two decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. He has served as editor of the U.S. edition of PC Computing and managing editor of PC World; both publications had monthly paid circulation in excess of 1 million during his tenure. He is the author of more than 25 books, including Windows 10 Inside Out (now in its 4th edition) and Windows 11 Inside Out (2023).",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"AU",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"ffc97178-a714-49d7-9fe3-471184e0fbc4\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Photo by Beata Zawrzel\u002FNurPhoto via Getty Images\" data-image-alt-text=\"Windows 10 and 11\" data-image-filename=\"gettyimages-1238265123.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F08\u002F07\" data-image-width=\"6720\" data-image-height=\"4480\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPersonal computers used to be the domain of hobbyists, who had no problem rolling up their sleeves and diving into debuggers to figure out why something wasn't working as expected.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fheres-how-you-can-still-get-a-free-windows-10-upgrade\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EYes, you can still get a free Windows 10 upgrade. Here's how\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fwork-life\u002Fhow-to-create-a-drop-down-list-in-excel-quickly-and-easily\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPCs are business productivity tools\u003C\u002Fa\u003E designed for an audience that has neither the patience nor the technical background to fiddle with code or go spelunking in the registry when something goes wrong. If that's you, then you'll be pleased to know that there are a handful of built-in diagnostic and repair tools in Windows 10 and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-11-faq-heres-everything-you-need-to-know\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWindows 11\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that can get you back to work quickly. They offer a wealth of troubleshooting information as well as (if you're lucky) easy solutions.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEven if you think you know these troubleshooting tools, keep reading. You might discover a new trick or two.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E1. Task Manager\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe name of this app, which dates back to the earliest days of Windows, seriously undersells its value in the modern era. Yes, it offers a list of running programs, complete with a way to terminate an app with extreme prejudice if that app starts misbehaving.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2051361\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut it also has some excellent performance-monitoring capabilities that can help you figure out why your laptop is suddenly struggling. And it doesn't require any sophisticated technical knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EHow to use it:\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERight-click any empty space on the taskbar and click Task Manager. Or open the Quick Link menu (right-click Start or press Windows key + X), and click the Task Manager entry. Or use Task Manager's keyboard shortcut, Ctrl + Shift + Esc.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthe-ultimate-windows-troubleshooting-trick\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe ultimate Windows troubleshooting trick\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Windows 11, Task Manager has a navigation menu on the left, with each option representing a different page. Use those options to quickly switch from the Processes page, with its per-app view of resource usage, to the Performance tab, which offers yet another set of tabs, each with a very detailed view of CPU, Memory, Disk, Network, and GPU usage.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"0a7ace6f-d6b3-4610-aeb7-bcba6154eb01\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EClick any heading to sort the items by that value and show which are using the most CPU, memory, and so on.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Ed Bott\u002FZDNET  \" data-image-alt-text=\"task-manager-processes-tab\" data-image-filename=\"task-manager-processes-tab.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F08\u002F04\" data-image-width=\"1044\" data-image-height=\"704\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"7326f616-95c9-47a4-8a45-971795802fcb\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EIf you keep this graph open as you work, you can see how hard your CPU, memory, and disks are working.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Ed Bott\u002FZDNET  \" data-image-alt-text=\"task-manager-performance-tab\" data-image-filename=\"task-manager-performance-tab.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F08\u002F04\" data-image-width=\"1044\" data-image-height=\"704\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd look! In Windows 11, you can use Task Manager in dark mode.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhat you can do with it:\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere's a phenomenal amount of detail on each Task Manager tab. Armed with that information, you can: \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIdentify apps or processes that are slowing down your PC\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E The Performance tabs will tell you if a system resource (CPU or memory, for example) is regularly hitting 100% under certain workloads. Switch to the Processes tab and then leave it open and visible as you work, so you can see which apps are causing the most stress.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKill a misbehaving or hung program.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E If a program is nonresponsive and you're satisfied you've waited long enough, select its name from under the Apps heading and then click End Task.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERestart the Windows shell (Explorer.exe).\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E If the taskbar, Start, File Manager, and other parts of the Windows shell stop responding to input, use the keyboard shortcut to open Task Manager and select Windows Explorer on the Processes tab. At the top of the page, click Restart Task.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPower tip:\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you want Task Manager to always open showing a specific tab, click Settings in the lower left corner and specify your choice from the Default Start Page. (In Windows 10, use the Options > Set Default Tab menu.) On this page, you'll also find an option to speed up, slow down, or pause the real-time counters on the Performance page.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E2. Powercfg\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere's usually a pretty big gap between the battery life a PC manufacturer claims for the laptop it's trying to sell you and what you end up getting. So, how do you get a more accurate picture of your actual battery usage, and how can you tell whether an app is using more of your battery than it has a right to?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-setup-which-user-account-type-should-you-choose\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWindows 11 setup: Which user account type should you choose?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's where the Power Settings Command-Line Tool (Powercfg.exe) shows its strengths.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EHow it works:\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOpen a PowerShell or Command Prompt window and then type \u003Cstrong\u003Epowercfg \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003Efollowed by the command you want to run. For a full list of what commands are available, type \u003Cstrong\u003Epowercfg \u002F? \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003Eand then press Enter.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"b3e8e0ac-2e5b-40ad-89e7-b6417587a9b0\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003ETo run Powercfg, you'll need to open a command window (like Terminal or PowerShell).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Ed Bott\u002FZDNET  \" data-image-alt-text=\"powercfg-lastwake-requestsoverride\" data-image-filename=\"powercfg-lastwake-requestsoverride.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F08\u002F04\" data-image-width=\"542\" data-image-height=\"284\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhat you can do with it:\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFind out why your PC drains the battery instead of sleeping.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E If your system refuses to go to sleep (or wakes up inappropriately), the cause is usually an app or service that refuses to respond to a request from the system for sleep. Use the command \u003Cstrong\u003Epowercfg \u002Frequests\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E to see which process is the culprit.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELast year, I had a Windows laptop that kept waking up when it should have been sleeping peacefully. The culprit was a program called dptf_helper.exe, which is part of the Intel Dynamic Platform and Thermal Framework Utility Application. To solve this problem, I used the following command:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003Epowercfg \u002Frequestsoverride PROCESS dptf_helper.exe DISPLAY SYSTEM\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Fblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can see the full syntax for this command by typing the following: \u003Cstrong\u003Epowercfg \u002Frequestsoverride \u002F?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-build-a-gaming-pc-for-550\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHow to build a gaming PC for $550-ish\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGet a detailed battery report.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E Use \u003Cstrong\u003Epowercfg \u002Fbatteryreport\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E to generate a thorough report showing information about battery usage for the current device over time. Each battery report includes tables and charts showing recent usage, usage history, battery capacity over time, and battery life estimates. You don't need a deep technical background to gather useful information from this report.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPower tip:\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more on this command, as well as other tips for getting better battery life from your Windows PC, see \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-maximize-the-battery-life-of-your-windows-10-pc\u002F\"\u003E\"How to maximize the battery life of your Windows 10 PC\"\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E3. Reliability Monitor\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen you open this app, you will get flashbacks to… well, let's call it 2006. Everything about it has the vintage look and feel of a long-gone Windows user experience, right down to the fact that it's a part of Control Panel, which is slowly being removed from modern versions of Windows.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd yet this tool hangs around, no doubt because someone in Redmond knows that it offers an indispensable display of troubleshooting information that even a nontechnical user can understand.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EHow it works:\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo open Reliability Monitor, just tap the Windows key or click Start and then start typing \u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003Ereli.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E That should be enough to display the View Reliability History shortcut. To create a one-click shortcut, right-click any empty space on the desktop and choose New > Shortcut; enter \u003Cstrong\u003Eperfmon \u002Frel\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E on the first page of the Create Shortcut wizard, give the shortcut a descriptive name (like Reliability Monitor) on the next page, and then click Finish.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"63146ca9-d037-4e07-b2e2-58e90d97a51e\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis day-by-day display of important system events is an indispensable troubleshooting tool.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Ed Bott\u002FZDNET  \" data-image-alt-text=\"reliability-monitor-2023\" data-image-filename=\"reliability-monitor-2023.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F08\u002F04\" data-image-width=\"1105\" data-image-height=\"946\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe display is organized by day, with each day getting its own column in the top of the window. Icons show different types of failures as well as warnings you might receive. The last row, Information, can be useful as well. Instead of focusing on failures, it shows you activities like updates, app installations, and driver reconfigurations that were successful.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhat you can do with it:\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFind details about a crash.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E When an app crashes, you might not even be aware of it, especially if the app was designed to restart automatically after a failure. If Windows crashes, of course, you'll know about it, especially in the case of a Stop error, also known as a \u003Cem\u003Ebug check\u003C\u002Fem\u003E or the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). Whatever kind of crash you're troubleshooting, open its event in Reliability Monitor and look at the technical details (for a BSOD, that's a code like 0x3 DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE). Those details might be inscrutable, but they also might give you enough information to craft a specific search that can turn up a solution.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIdentify possible causes of crashes or slowdowns.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E If an app (or Windows itself) started misbehaving recently, Reliability Monitor can help you answer a crucial troubleshooting question -- has anything changed lately? If the crashes or hangs started on the 10th, look at the Information line for that day and a few days earlier to see whether any new programs or drivers were installed or updated around the same time. Sometimes rolling back the driver installation or uninstalling the app can help determine whether it is causing the problems.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPower tip:\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you're troubleshooting someone else's PC, and want to get a quick survey of what kind of problems it's been experiencing, click View All Problem Reports at the bottom of the main program window. That displays a neatly formatted list, grouped by the source of the problem reports. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-downgrade-from-windows-11-to-windows-10\u002F\"\u003EHow to downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10 (there's a catch)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDouble-click any item in that list to see the technical details for the problem report. When you're working with technical support staff to debug a problem, use the Copy To Clipboard button at the bottom of one of these reports to copy those details and paste them into a trouble ticket or an email.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"77635b39-fa40-48b8-b215-00cf0ab2ae6a\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F77635b39-fa40-48b8-b215-00cf0ab2ae6a\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2023-08-07 14:31:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"If your PC is misbehaving, there's a good chance that one of these free tools can help you figure out why. And they're all included with every Windows installation.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"e6b23d7c-66ec-4b98-9d25-e7cf000e2e11",image:{id:"ffc97178-a714-49d7-9fe3-471184e0fbc4",filename:"gettyimages-1238265123.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2023-08-07 14:57:49",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Person using laptop",credits:"Westend61\u002FGetty Images",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F08\u002F07\u002Fffc97178-a714-49d7-9fe3-471184e0fbc4\u002Fgettyimages-1238265123.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:6720,height:4480,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Services & Software^Operating Systems^Windows",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"3-essential-windows-tools-for-troubleshooting-and-how-to-use-them",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"3 essential Windows tools for troubleshooting (and how to use them)",topic:{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"294e47d5-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"Ed Bott",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Ed",lastName:"Bott",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e",filename:"ed-bott.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:06:03",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e\u002Fed-bott.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than three decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. He has served as editor of the U.S. edition of PC Computing and managing editor of PC World; both publications had monthly paid circulation in excess of 1 million during his tenure. He is the author of more than 25 books, including Windows 10 Inside Out (now in its 4th edition) and Windows 11 Inside Out (2023).",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"02926ead-dd85-40d3-9ec9-e77d4e358452\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Ed Bott\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"ChromeOS homescreen\" data-image-filename=\"1000016640.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F02\u002F12\" data-image-width=\"4000\" data-image-height=\"3000\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDeadlines have a way of sneaking up on you. If you've got an old PC running Windows 10, the deadline you have to keep in mind is the end-of-support date for that operating system: October 14, 2025.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnless you're willing to pay Microsoft, that's the day your old PC will stop receiving security updates. And because it's old, it also \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhen-windows-10-support-ends-you-have-5-options-but-only-2-are-worth-considering\u002F\"\u003Edoesn't qualify to upgrade to Windows 11\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (although there are ways around that).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-screen-record-in-windows-10-or-windows-11\u002F\"\u003EHow to screen record in Windows 10 or Windows 11\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor some of those senior PCs that still have some useful life left, one option is to change operating systems. My ZDNET colleague Jason Perlow raved about his success \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-revived-three-ancient-computers-with-chromeos-flex-and-you-can-too\u002F\"\u003Ereviving three ancient computers with ChromeOS Flex\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and after testing it I agree that, for some use cases, it's an excellent (and free!) alternative.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDo not assume, however, that because Google's OS is lightweight and free you can make the switch without headaches. I am here to testify: Yes, there are headaches.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELet me get the true confession out of the way first: I did \u003Cem\u003Enot\u003C\u002Fem\u003E do my homework before I attempted to install ChromeOS Flex for the first time. Mr. Perlow hadn't flagged any issues with his installations, so this should be a piece of cake, right?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI have been in this business for many years, long enough to know the answer to that question. No, it wasn't easy. But many of the issues I ran into were easily preventable, had I just done a bit of research before diving in.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-laptop\u002F\"\u003EThe best laptops: Expert tested and reviewed\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, I come to share my experiences and advise you on how to avoid making the same mistakes I did.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut let's begin with a little background.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhat is ChromeOS Flex, and what is it good for?\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can think of ChromeOS Flex as Linux Ultra Light. It's very similar to the OS that powers Chromebooks, with some significant differences (most notably the absence of an app store). It's engineered to install as a replacement on old, Intel-powered computers that were originally built to run Windows or OS X or MacOS\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe ChromeOS Flex interface, shown below, has all the bits you would expect from a modern operating system. There's a home button on the lower left, which you can click to open a menu of app shortcuts. Along the bottom of the display is a bar with more shortcuts to apps and pinned files, and there's a region on the lower right where you can click to pop up a display of system settings. If that seems familiar, well ... that's the point, isn't it? When you switch, most of your navigation skills transfer fairly quickly.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"165c92a9-f884-4d31-86f6-f8ae6cc1ac3f\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe ChromeOS Flex interface contains plenty of familiar navigation elements\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Ed Bott\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"chromeos-flex-keyboard-mode\" data-image-filename=\"chromeos-flex-keyboard-mode.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F02\u002F11\" data-image-width=\"1920\" data-image-height=\"1280\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn devices where you can detach the keyboard, ChromeOS Flex does a pretty nifty job of switching into a touch-first tablet mode.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"31d80923-73f0-4e2b-a40c-832fc2df2460\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EWhen you detach the keyboard, ChromeOS Flex shifts into this tablet mode\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Ed Bott\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"chromeos-flex-tablet-mode\" data-image-filename=\"chromeos-flex-tablet-mode.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F02\u002F11\" data-image-width=\"1920\" data-image-height=\"1280\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs I mentioned earlier, there's no app store with ChromeOS Flex, so you're limited to the built-in Google apps and anything that will run in a browser. That's easy if your life is already organized in Google's ecosystem, of course, but it also works surprisingly well with Microsoft 365 apps. The key is installing Outlook, Word, and the rest as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fnow-you-can-run-any-windows-app-on-your-chromebook-thanks-to-this-partnership\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EProgressive Web Apps\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (PWAs).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-turned-my-laptop-into-a-desktop-pc-and-ive-never-been-more-productive\u002F\"\u003EI turned my laptop into a desktop PC and I've never been more productive\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI tested ChromeOS Flex on a Microsoft Surface Go 2 with an Intel Core m3 processor, and it performed its core tasks just fine as long as I didn't let it go to sleep. But if I ignored the system for long enough, it tried to enter sleep mode, which caused it to crash. The only way to recover was with a hard reboot. I was able to work around the crashes by instructing the system to stay awake when I closed the Type Cover and to shut off the display but not sleep after inactivity. Needless to say, that resulted in pretty unimpressive battery life.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere were other issues too. For instance, neither of the built-in cameras (front- or rear-facing) worked, which made this machine incapable of handling even the simplest videoconference.  The touchpad occasionally stopped working as well, but resumed normal function after being detached and then reattached.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUltimately, I was able to use this device long enough to appreciate its potential, but its incurable insomnia made it unusable as a mobile device.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd I would have known that if I had just done my homework. That was my first and biggest mistake.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E1. Don't ignore the documentation\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you've got an old PC or Mac and you're thinking of installing ChromeOS Flex on it, don't do anything until you check Google's official \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.google.com\u002Fchromeosflex\u002Fanswer\u002F11513094\"\u003EChromeOS Flex Certified models list\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthis-botched-migration-shows-why-you-need-to-deal-with-legacy-tech\u002F\"\u003EThis botched migration shows why you need to deal with legacy tech\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe list is organized by manufacturer and model number and is easy to navigate. Devices that have been tested and certified to work without issues get a green checkmark. Each model also gets an End of Support date that's worth checking. It doesn't make much sense to replace Windows 10 with a release of ChromeOS Flex that's also set to end support in 2025 or earlier. According to Google, \"After the Certified until date passes, some devices might still continue to receive updates. However updates might have issues, and are not guaranteed.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere's a fairly long list of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.google.com\u002Fchromeosflex\u002Fanswer\u002F11542901?sjid=15291349930323468861-NA#unsupported\"\u003Efeatures that aren't supported on ChromeOS Flex\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, including CD\u002FDVD drives, fingerprint readers and face recognition cameras, stylus and active pen input, and Thunderbolt functionality. For the full list of features that are guaranteed to work, see this page: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.google.com\u002Fchromeosflex\u002Fanswer\u002F11513815\"\u003E\"About ChromeOS Flex certified models.\"\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere's an entire page of known issues, too. Under the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.google.com\u002Fchromeosflex\u002Fanswer\u002F11541806#zippy=%2Cunsupported-hardware\"\u003E\"Unsupported hardware\"\u003C\u002Fa\u003E section, it points out that \"Mac devices with Touch Bar, T2 security chip, or M1 processor are unsupported and likely to have major bugs even if they work.\" In fact, any Mac or Windows PC with an Arm-based processor is out of luck.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd this paragraph should have stopped me cold:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnless listed as a certified model, Microsoft Surface products are unsupported and likely to have issues with keyboards, touchpads, touchscreens, and webcams.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Fblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnly two Surface models are Certified to work with ChromeOS Flex: The Surface Laptop SE, an ultra-cheap 2022 model aimed at the education market, and the 10-year-old Surface Pro 3.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EOther stuff you need to know\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter spending a few days repeatedly installing ChromeOS Flex, wiping the system, restoring Windows, and then reinstalling ChromeOS Flex, I have a few additional lessons to pass along:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E2. Use Google Chrome to create the installer\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo create a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.google.com\u002Fchromeosflex\u002Fanswer\u002F11541904?hl=en\"\u003Ebootable USB installer for ChromeOS Flex\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, you need to install the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension from the Chrome web store. Even though this extension will install and appear to be available in a Chrome-compatible browser like Microsoft Edge, it won't work. Use Google Chrome.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIgnore the list of specific manufacturers and models. For manufacturer, choose \u003Cstrong\u003EGoogle ChromeOS Flex\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, and for product, select \u003Cstrong\u003EChromeOS Flex\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E3. Disconnect everything before you install\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you have an SD or Micro SD card inserted, remove it. Also remove any USB devices that aren't absolutely necessary. I had a slew of baffling errors until I realized that a Micro SD card was stuck in a hidden slot. Ideally, only your system drive will be available for the ChromeOS Flex installer.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E4. Learn how your hardware's boot settings work\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEvery PC has its own way of forcing the device to boot from removable media. On a PC that's already running Windows 10\u002F11, I've found that the simplest way to boot from the ChromeOS Flex USB installer is as follows:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGo to \u003Cstrong\u003ESettings\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E > \u003Cstrong\u003ESystem\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E > \u003Cstrong\u003ERecovery\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E > \u003Cstrong\u003EAdvanced Startup\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESelect \u003Cstrong\u003ERestart now\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAt the Windows Recovery Environment menu, choose \u003Cstrong\u003EUse a device\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EChoose the \u003Cstrong\u003ELinpus lite\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E option.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Fol\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you just want to kick the tires, you can run ChromeOS Flex from the USB drive. But for a real test, choose the option to install ChromeOS Flex, which will wipe your existing drive and all data on it\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E5. Have a backup plan in case things go wrong\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReplacing your operating system wipes out everything on the system drive, so make sure you've backed up your data files before getting started. I made a Windows recovery drive and a system image of my Windows PC before trying any of this. As a result, I was able to restore my system to its previous state after my experiment had run its course. If you decide ChromeOS Flex isn't for you, your other option is to simply reinstall your current version of Windows.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGood luck!\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"635210bb-41ff-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F635210bb-41ff-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2024-02-12 15:03:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Google's lightweight, free OS is an excellent way to extend the life of an old PC or Mac. But you'll need to do some prep work before installation if you want things to go smoothly.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"26599b17-85ab-4c6c-930c-4d6655ea06cd",image:{id:"02926ead-dd85-40d3-9ec9-e77d4e358452",filename:"1000016640.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2024-02-12 16:02:12",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"ChromeOS homescreen",credits:"Ed Bott\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F02\u002F12\u002F02926ead-dd85-40d3-9ec9-e77d4e358452\u002F1000016640.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:4000,height:3000,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Services & Software^Operating Systems",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"installing-chromeos-flex-5-things-you-need-to-do-first-to-avoid-headaches",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Installing ChromeOS Flex? 5 things you need to do first to avoid headaches",topic:{id:"df75c005-715d-4ff8-82e7-88bbd1c4e6c3",slug:"operating-systems",name:"Operating Systems",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"df75c005-715d-4ff8-82e7-88bbd1c4e6c3",slug:"operating-systems",name:"Operating Systems",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"1050fa4d-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"google",name:"Google",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"8d600230-8175-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"Jack Wallen",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Jack",lastName:"Wallen",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"f03bef9a-858a-451d-bc30-8c603c2ba899",filename:"jack-wallen.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:04:34",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Ff03bef9a-858a-451d-bc30-8c603c2ba899\u002Fjack-wallen.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Jack Wallen is what happens when a Gen Xer mind-melds with present-day snark. Jack is a seeker of truth and a writer of words with a quantum mechanical pencil and a disjointed beat of sound and soul. An award-winning writer and novelist, Jack has been covering Linux, open-source, and other topics since the late 1990s for numerous publications such as ZDNET, CNET, TechRepublic, Linux.com, The New Stack, Linode, TechTarget, and Linux New Media. Jack's also written over 50 novels of fiction, at least one of which focuses on the Linux operating system. For more news about Jack Wallen, visit his website jackwallen.com.",profile:b,title:"Contributing Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"f413ba01-74e1-4edb-8d1e-41b8aa539d45\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EScreen Sharing on MacOS Sonoma\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Jason Perlow\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"fullscreen-1-4-24-7-23pm\" data-image-filename=\"fullscreen-1-4-24-7-23pm.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F01\u002F05\" data-image-width=\"3840\" data-image-height=\"2160\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAny time I see updates available for my MacOS machines, I immediately apply them. Why? Because those updates often contain security patches that keep my computers safe. Those updates might also contain new features for apps or performance and reliability improvements. Either way, I find these updates to be an essential part of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-update-every-apple-device\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emaintaining the security of my devices\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and keeping my mind at ease.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-i-purged-over-175gb-of-files-from-my-mac-in-under-a-minute\u002F\"\u003EHow I purged over 175GB of files from my Mac in under a minute (and you can too)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen I go to update a MacOS device, I know there's more than one way to approach the task -- from the App Store (via the MacOS GUI) or from the command line. Because I've spent decades \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthinking-about-switching-to-linux-things-you-need-to-know\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eworking with Linux\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, I'm 100% comfortable using the command line, so I will sometimes open the terminal app, check for upgrades, and then run them when they're available. Or, if I'm feeling a bit lazy, I'll just go the App Store route.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELet me show you both approaches.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow to update MacOS apps from the App Store\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat you'll need: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EThe only things you'll need are an Apple device (a MacBook or iMac) and a valid user account on the machine. That's it. Let's get to the updates.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"fb708eff-bbe4-4edc-9131-1820174d5c4b\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe fastest way to check and see if there are any updates available is by clicking the Apple button in the upper-left corner, where you might see something like \u003Cem\u003E2 updates \u003C\u002Fem\u003Elisted (indicating you have two apps that have updates available). Click that entry to open the App Store.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"1. Open the App Store\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"2e697c21-c77f-4db4-a178-b38b48838e97\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EI have two available updates on my MacBook Pro.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Jack Wallen\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"The MacOS Apple menu.\" data-image-filename=\"macosupdates1.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F02\u002F21\" data-image-width=\"814\" data-image-height=\"297\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2051361\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"36c966fb-3d37-4636-984b-3843e6511654\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWhen the App Store opens, you can either update the apps individually (by clicking the Update button associated with the app in question) or update them all at once (by clicking Update All). During the update process, you might be prompted to close an app (or even a related app) if it's blocking the update from continuing. Should that be the case, close the app in question, return to the App Store, and click Continue from the pop-up warning.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"2. Update your apps\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"ec23a725-42e8-4ef3-b105-9644f6b01a0f\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThese two apps on my MacBook Pro have pending updates.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Jack Wallen\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"The Apple App Store open to the Updates section.\" data-image-filename=\"macosupdates2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F02\u002F21\" data-image-width=\"2382\" data-image-height=\"818\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce the update is completed, close the App Store and you're done.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow to update MacOS apps from the command line\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is a bit more complicated, for two reasons: first, you have to find out what apps are available for updating, and, second -- as with Linux -- the app names are case-sensitive.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"e683a057-6ea0-47cd-a7f8-c4618ede9e54\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ETo run commands, you must first open the terminal app, which can be done from the Launchpad. Click the Launchpad icon in your Dock and then type \u003Cem\u003Eterminal\u003C\u002Fem\u003E. Click the launcher to open the Terminal app.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"1. Open the Terminal app\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"34a8cf12-8343-4560-837b-60aced173261\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ENext, you need to run the command to check for updates. The command in question is \u003Cem\u003Esoftwareupdate\u003C\u002Fem\u003E and is used for both checking and running the updates. To check for available updates, issue the command:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"2. Check for available updates\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"codesnippet\" data-code=\"c3VkbyBzb2Z0d2FyZXVwZGF0ZSAtbA==\" data-encoding=\"base64\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou will be prompted for your sudo password (which is your MacOS user password). \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-update-every-apple-device\u002F\"\u003EHow to update every Apple device (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, more)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe -l option stands for \u003Cem\u003Elist\u003C\u002Fem\u003E. This will print out any available app updates and, if required, it will inform you if a restart is needed to complete any recent OS updates. If you see such a warning, make sure to do the reboot to complete the process.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a669eb31-bd85-4d9c-b6c9-10c02c04e34d\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ELet's say the command lists that Apple Mail has an update available, which should be listed as \u003Cem\u003EMail \u003C\u002Fem\u003E(remember, case sensitivity). Before you update the app, make sure to close it first. Once closed, update the app with a command like this:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"3. Update the apps\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"codesnippet\" data-code=\"c3VkbyBzb2Z0d2FyZXVwZGF0ZSAtaSBNYWls\" data-encoding=\"base64\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter successfully typing your sudo password, the update will proceed. When the update completes, you may or may not have to restart the machine. (You will be informed if a reboot is necessary.) You can then re-open the app you just updated and enjoy whatever fresh features or security patches the update applied.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthe-apple-products-you-shouldnt-buy-this-month\u002F\"\u003EThe Apple products you shouldn't buy this month\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is about as simple a method as you'll find to help keep your MacOS machines running smoothly and securely. Never leave an app update lingering because it often contains security patches, which are required for the health and well-being of your operating system.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"3be818df-27e4-42c7-813f-c703e2d38814\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F3be818df-27e4-42c7-813f-c703e2d38814\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2024-02-21 17:04:40",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Did you know there's more than one way to keep your Mac secure, stable, and up-to-date? I'll walk you through both approaches.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"02807774-d927-4088-b8a2-2712d30e8940",image:{id:"f413ba01-74e1-4edb-8d1e-41b8aa539d45",filename:"fullscreen-1-4-24-7-23pm.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2024-01-05 00:24:23",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"fullscreen-1-4-24-7-23pm",credits:"Jason Perlow\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003EScreen Sharing on MacOS Sonoma\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F01\u002F05\u002Ff413ba01-74e1-4edb-8d1e-41b8aa539d45\u002Ffullscreen-1-4-24-7-23pm.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:3840,height:2160,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Services & Software^Operating Systems^Mac OS",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"how-to-update-apps-in-macos-two-options",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"How to update apps in MacOS: Two options",topic:{id:"d0aee31d-965e-4a8b-97f0-5c7c1b8bf7f1",slug:"mac-os",name:"Mac OS",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"d0aee31d-965e-4a8b-97f0-5c7c1b8bf7f1",slug:"mac-os",name:"Mac OS",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"0fbd54d0-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"apple",name:"Apple",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"113c25b6-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"security",name:"Security",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"59080956-0412-41e5-8eb9-a44ae4f9a8a9",username:"Michael Gariffo",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Michael",lastName:"Gariffo",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"96ef4095-58f9-4a2f-81e3-f21dc8610bf3",filename:"michael-gariffo.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:27",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F96ef4095-58f9-4a2f-81e3-f21dc8610bf3\u002Fmichael-gariffo.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Michael is a veteran technology writer who has been covering business and consumer-focused hardware and software for over a decade. He has published hundreds of whitepapers and thousands of articles on everything from the handheld technology that makes your daily life a little easier to the global infrastructure that powers the entire Internet.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cp\u003ERaspberry Pi boards are tiny, incredibly versatile computers that have been put to an increasing number of practical, fun, and diverse uses by hobbyists. This exceptional flexibility has only been increased over the years by manufacturers coming out with a plethora of add-ons like \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"cfa80c68-6bd2-4f57-8eca-987482870e71\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fs?k=Raspberry+Pi+sensor&crid=BO6UURZ2BG6K&sprefix=raspberry+pi+sensor%2Caps%2C119&ref=nb_sb_noss_1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"sensors\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"93fc571a-36d3-4913-b9aa-17fc84755898\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRaspberry-Pi-Screen\u002Fs?k=Raspberry+Pi+Screen\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"touchscreens\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"3c86600c-2194-4223-9d85-56db084e8fa1\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRaspberry-Pi-WiFi\u002Fs?k=Raspberry+Pi+WiFi\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"wireless connectivity modules\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, and \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"8f5d6759-b678-4d61-b90f-19e3060d2d49\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fs?k=Raspberry+Pi+case&crid=3QYH47F7IZHCO&sprefix=raspberry+pi+case%2Caps%2C107&ref=nb_sb_noss_1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"purpose-built cases\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-set-up-your-first-raspberry-pi\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to set up your first Raspberry Pi\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll of this popularity created strong demand even before the world's supply chain was struck by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent chip shortages, the effects of which still linger. Matters were made worse by the increasing interest of hobbyists with unexpected free time over the pandemic scooping up boards for use in their various projects. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile there may be \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fstruggling-to-buy-a-raspberry-pi-it-could-be-about-to-get-a-lot-easier\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehope on the horizon\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for easing these supply constraints, the task of finding an in-stock Raspberry Pi board can be frustrating and sometimes, ahem, fruitless. To help you track down these elusive mini PCs, we've created this handy guide. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fthe-best-cooler-for-raspberry-pi-power-users\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe best cooler for Raspberry Pi power users\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you're mostly interested in the best retail sites to check for a reasonably priced Raspberry Pi boards, feel free to scroll through and check them out. But, if you're looking for more in-depth coverage of what \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-raspberry-pi-alternative\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eeach alternative has to offer\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, we've included additional info on each and which are best for specific types of projects.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"408e5eae-1279-4590-83f3-30f7633b5545\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis latest main-line generation from the Raspberry Pi Project includes the Raspberry Pi 4 with 1GB to 8GB of onboard RAM as well as the Pi 400 and Pi Pico, which we'll cover in separate sections below. As the latest model, the Pi 4 is among the hardest to find. It launched about two years ago with an MSRP of $35-$70, depending on the amount of RAM included.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EReview:&nbsp;\u003Ca target="_blank" href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fproduct\u002Fraspberry-pi-4-model-b\u002F"\u003ERaspberry Pi 4 Model B: A capable, flexible and affordable DIY computing platform\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnfortunately, acquiring a Raspberry Pi 4 as a bare board right now will require a lot of patience, a deep pocket book, or both. The original price range has been impacted by price increases at the Raspberry Pi Project (brought on by increasing chip costs) as well as resellers attempting to exploit the scarcity to hike prices up.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile the Raspberry Pi Project does price control the cost of the units at authorized merchants (to about $75 at the moment), those sellers frequently see their stock emptied within minutes of posting new availability, especially now that \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbots-are-making-it-difficult-for-people-to-order-raspberry-pi-computers-says-adafruit\u002F" target="_blank"\u003Ebots are being applied to the task of buying out boards\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for later scalping. Reliable outlets like \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.adafruit.com\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EAdafruit\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (one of the earliest and most trusted sources for Rasperry Pi hardware) have put buying limits and verification technologies in place to prevent being wiped out by bots. But, even then, enough legitimate, human customers remain to drain supplies rapidly.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you need a Pi 4 board immediately, expect to pay anywhere between $125 and $175, depending on the RAM included. If you must have a main-line Pi 4 board, but simply can't stomach that level of price gouging, I'd recommend signing up for email notifications at Adafruit or Micro Center. Both companies offer retail prices far closer, if not in line with, the original MSRPs for Pi 4 boards at various memory levels.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fsmart-office\u002Fthese-are-my-3-must-have-raspberry-pi-accessories\u002F" target="_blank"\u003E3 must-have Raspberry Pi accessories\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you choose to purchase your Raspberry Pi 4 from a seller not listed in this article, please make sure it is a reputable, well-reviewed retailer. The scarcity of Pi boards has led to an explosion in scams surrounding them. If a seller's price for the board you're seeking seems too good to be true, it probably is. Try to have patience, or save up some extra cash, and purchase your board through a reputable retailer, or at least from a reseller offering the product via a website that provides buyer protections in the event your order is not delivered, or is not as described.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Raspberry Pi (4th gen)\" data-superlative=\"The latest and greatest version of the Raspberry Pi\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"raspberry-pi-cm4-main.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Image: Raspberry Pi Foundation","imageData":{"id":"5fb9c356-cc84-48a0-8317-89502181be24","title":"raspberrypi48gb","filename":"raspberrypi48gb.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2020\u002F06\u002F01\u002F5fb9c356-cc84-48a0-8317-89502181be24\u002Fraspberrypi48gb.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":478892,"width":770,"height":578,"dateCreated":{"date":"2020-06-01 12:14:52","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2020-06-01 12:15:03","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Image: Raspberry Pi Foundation","alt":"raspberrypi48gb.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"5fb9c356-cc84-48a0-8317-89502181be24","imageAltText":"raspberry-pi-cm4-main.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Image: Raspberry Pi Foundation","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"raspberrypi48gb.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2020\u002F06\u002F01","imageWidth":770,"imageHeight":578,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Image: Raspberry Pi Foundation\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRaspberry-Model-2019-Quad-Bluetooth\u002Fdp\u002FB07TC2BK1X?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRaspberry-Model-2019-Quad-Bluetooth\u002Fdp\u002FB07TC2BK1X","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRaspberry-Model-2019-Quad-Bluetooth\u002Fdp\u002FB07TC2BK1X?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Adafruit","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.adafruit.com\u002Fproduct\u002F4564","url":""},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Micro Center","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.microcenter.com\u002Fproduct\u002F622539\u002Fraspberry-pi-4-model-b-8gb-ddr4","url":""}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"2ca4bba7-ed7f-479a-870e-a1b815fce705\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe Raspberry Pi 400 is essentially a modified 4GB model of the Raspberry Pi 4 board with additional cooling which makes it safe for the unit's CPU to run at a slightly different clock speed. Rather than being sold as a bare board, the entire Pi 4 is loaded into a compact 60% keyboard with its included I\u002FO ports on the keyboard's top edge.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhands-on-with-the-raspberry-pi-400-pleased-and-impressed\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EHands-on with the Raspberry Pi 400: Pleased and impressed\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe inclusion of the keyboard may make this solution less than ideal for many applications one would want a Raspberry Pi 4 unit for. However, many other uses (gaming, text editing, media server applications, etc.) would have required the connection of a keyboard for control or text entry purposes anyway. Not only does the Pi 400 mean you don't have to add an external peripheral for this purpose, but its unique supply means it also tends to be in stock for MSRP slightly more often than its bare-board cousins.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Pi 400 is also commonly offered as part of kits, frequently for the same price as the unit itself. The Adafruit option below includes a microSD card, data cable, power supply, mouse, and a beginner's guide. You may still be looking at spending over $100 on it, but if you calculate in the cost of a discrete keyboard, that price might sting a bit less.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Raspberry Pi 400\" data-superlative=\"A great alternative for text entry and gaming applications\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"raspberry-pi-400-back-800x571.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003ERaspberry Pi 400 - Rear View\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Raspberry Pi Foundation","imageData":{"id":"22d04a53-27e0-427c-85e9-909671d2d562","title":"raspberry-pi-400-back-800x571","filename":"raspberry-pi-400-back-800x571.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2020\u002F11\u002F05\u002F22d04a53-27e0-427c-85e9-909671d2d562\u002Fraspberry-pi-400-back-800x571.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003ERaspberry Pi 400 - Rear View\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":37700,"width":800,"height":571,"dateCreated":{"date":"2020-11-05 13:46:37","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2020-11-05 13:47:30","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Raspberry Pi Foundation","alt":"raspberry-pi-400-back-800x571.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"22d04a53-27e0-427c-85e9-909671d2d562","imageAltText":"raspberry-pi-400-back-800x571.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003ERaspberry Pi 400 - Rear View\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Raspberry Pi Foundation","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"raspberry-pi-400-back-800x571.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2020\u002F11\u002F05","imageWidth":800,"imageHeight":571,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003ERaspberry Pi 400 - Rear View\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Raspberry Pi Foundation\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRaspberry-400-Computer-Kit-RPI400-US\u002Fdp\u002FB08MYVQW1S?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRaspberry-400-Computer-Kit-RPI400-US\u002Fdp\u002FB08MYVQW1S","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRaspberry-400-Computer-Kit-RPI400-US\u002Fdp\u002FB08MYVQW1S?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fgoto.walmart.com\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F565706\u002F9383?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FRaspberry-PI-400%2F738550721&subId1=subid_value","offerMerchant":"Walmart","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walmart.com\u002Fip\u002FRaspberry-PI-400\u002F738550721","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fgoto.walmart.com\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F565706\u002F9383?&sharedId=zdnet&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FRaspberry-PI-400%2F738550721&subId1=subid_value"},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Adafruit","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.adafruit.com\u002Fproduct\u002F4796","url":""}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"26e678e5-8678-4c9b-9c05-8f72f186ed39\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis even tinier-than-usual board includes only a single MicroUSB port and lots of \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhow-to-solder-tools-tips-and-tricks-to-get-you-started-the-easy-way\u002F" target="_blank"\u003Esolder points\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for headers or components of your choice. While it's not well suited for the more advanced applications its larger brethren can handle, it's perfect for tiny projects such as wearable electronics, single-use sensors, remote monitoring devices, and other uses that require minimal processing power.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Pi Pico can also be expanded via a variety of accessories designed to work with its headers, as well as via custom-designed breadboards, and various other add-ons capable of increasing its versatility. A newer version,&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fraspberry-pi-pico-w-review-the-pis-tiny-sibling-gets-a-wireless-upgrade\u002F" target="_blank"\u003Ethe Raspberry Pi Pico W\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, even includes built-in wireless connectivity now, and the Pico WH comes with pre-soldered 40-pin GPIO header, making it easier to connect to other devices and components without needing to solder the header yourself.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhow-to-solder-tools-tips-and-tricks-to-get-you-started-the-easy-way\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EHow to solder: Tip, tricks, and tools you need to get started\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's also, by far, the cheapest option available right now, and is generally more readily available at or around its MSRP. Even at double the original $4 price point for the wired model or $6 price point for the Pico W, it's still an excellent value for the right project.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Raspberry Pi Pico, Pico W, and Pico WH\" data-superlative=\"A tiny, cheap, and usually available option for compact projects and those just starting out\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"raspberry-pi-pico-at-an-angle-1536x1097.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Raspberry Pi Trading","imageData":{"id":"4ca85635-37d6-4689-a5a2-542d5abc3c78","title":"Raspberry Pi Pico","filename":"raspberry-pi-pico-at-an-angle-1536x1097.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F01\u002F21\u002F4ca85635-37d6-4689-a5a2-542d5abc3c78\u002Fraspberry-pi-pico-at-an-angle-1536x1097.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":1263827,"width":1536,"height":1097,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-01-21 09:55:53","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-01-21 09:56:11","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":"Raspberry Pi Trading","alt":"raspberry-pi-pico-at-an-angle-1536x1097.png","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"4ca85635-37d6-4689-a5a2-542d5abc3c78","imageAltText":"raspberry-pi-pico-at-an-angle-1536x1097.png","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Raspberry Pi Trading","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"raspberry-pi-pico-at-an-angle-1536x1097.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F01\u002F21","imageWidth":1536,"imageHeight":1097,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Raspberry Pi Trading\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fseeed-studio-Raspberry-Microcontroller-Dual-core\u002Fdp\u002FB08TQSDP28?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fseeed-studio-Raspberry-Microcontroller-Dual-core\u002Fdp\u002FB08TQSDP28","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fseeed-studio-Raspberry-Microcontroller-Dual-core\u002Fdp\u002FB08TQSDP28?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FPico-Raspberry-Pre-Soldered-Dual-core-Processor\u002Fdp\u002FB0BK9W4H2Q?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FPico-Raspberry-Pre-Soldered-Dual-core-Processor\u002Fdp\u002FB0BK9W4H2Q","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FPico-Raspberry-Pre-Soldered-Dual-core-Processor\u002Fdp\u002FB0BK9W4H2Q?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGeneric-Raspberry-Pi-Pico-W\u002Fdp\u002FB0B72GV3K3?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGeneric-Raspberry-Pi-Pico-W\u002Fdp\u002FB0B72GV3K3","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGeneric-Raspberry-Pi-Pico-W\u002Fdp\u002FB0B72GV3K3?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"4fba6cdb-03e3-4a82-ae90-7468f2eece19\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe Raspberry Pi Zero line has been around since 2015 to offer a lower-cost option for users that don't need the full computing power and I\u002FO port selection of the full-sized Pi. Over the years, it's been revised to add improved processors, new wireless connectivity options, and other improvements.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EReview:&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fraspberry-pi-zero-2-w-review-performance-in-a-small-form-factor\u002F" target="_blank"\u003ERaspberry Pi Zero 2 W: Low-cost single-board device gets a quad-core upgrade\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe latest version in the line is the Pi Zero 2 W. Launched in late 2021, this model includes a system in a package (SiP) design based on the previous-generation Pi 3. This means it's very close in capability (for the right project) to the Pi 4, and is often more easily acquired due to being a slightly less versatile option than its top-of-the-line siblings.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou should definitely check to see if the project you have in mind can be handled by the less powerful Pi Zero 2 W. But, if it can, you can generally purchase the units for something closer to their original MSRP than you'll ever find a Pi 4. It may be the most cost-effective and readily available option for the right buyer.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W\" data-superlative=\"A mid-range solution based on the previous generation Raspberry Pi\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"raspberry-pi-zero-2-w-header.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Raspberry Pi Project","imageData":{"id":"b536805d-04e6-45d7-a637-4b69e2e99a1d","title":"raspberry-pi-zero-2-w-header","filename":"raspberry-pi-zero-2-w-header.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F04\u002Fb536805d-04e6-45d7-a637-4b69e2e99a1d\u002Fraspberry-pi-zero-2-w-header.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":198827,"width":800,"height":433,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-11-04 14:34:21","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-11-04 14:34:25","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"raspberry-pi-zero-2-w-header.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"b536805d-04e6-45d7-a637-4b69e2e99a1d","imageAltText":"raspberry-pi-zero-2-w-header.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Raspberry Pi Project","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"raspberry-pi-zero-2-w-header.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F11\u002F04","imageWidth":800,"imageHeight":433,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Raspberry Pi Project\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRaspberry-Zero-Bluetooth-RPi-2W\u002Fdp\u002FB09LH5SBPS?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRaspberry-Zero-Bluetooth-RPi-2W\u002Fdp\u002FB09LH5SBPS","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRaspberry-Zero-Bluetooth-RPi-2W\u002Fdp\u002FB09LH5SBPS?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Adafruit","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.adafruit.com\u002Fproduct\u002F5291","url":""}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"2ed99e29-7c88-4c45-99f5-3930c01132e1\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EOne of the most well-liked entries on our \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-raspberry-pi-alternative\u002F'"\u003EBest Raspberry Pi alternatives list\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, the \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fpictures\u002Fnvidia-jetson-nano-2gb-development-kit-with-wi-fi-bundle\u002F7\u002F" target="_blank"\u003ENDVIDIA Jetson Nano\u003C\u002Fa\u003E aims to fill many of the same roles as the Raspberry Pi 4. It provides a similar set of I\u002FO ports, 2GB of RAM, and a fairly identical set of extremely diverse applications.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile its close resemblance to the Raspberry Pi 4 means the Jetson Nano is also being bought up at an alarming rate, it unfortunately had a starting price that was already in excess of what the Pi 4's inflated pricing was. This means you can expect to pay several hundred dollars for it today. Of course, given the scarcity of the Pi 4, it may just be the only option for some hobbyists that need a solution right now. Just make sure whatever plans you have for the NVIDIA Jetson Nano are compatible with its included chipset and I\u002FO.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"NVIDIA Jetson Nano\" data-superlative=\"A Raspberry Pi 4 alternative that may be available when it's not\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"nvidia-jetson-nano-developer-kit.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"NVIDIA","imageData":{"id":"335fe5db-6b0d-4f6e-a712-8a4c394e1390","title":"nvidia-jetson-nano-developer-kit","filename":"nvidia-jetson-nano-developer-kit.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F05\u002F21\u002F335fe5db-6b0d-4f6e-a712-8a4c394e1390\u002Fnvidia-jetson-nano-developer-kit.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":343571,"width":1600,"height":1069,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-05-21 13:09:55","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-05-21 13:09:57","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"nvidia-jetson-nano-developer-kit.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"335fe5db-6b0d-4f6e-a712-8a4c394e1390","imageAltText":"nvidia-jetson-nano-developer-kit.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"NVIDIA","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"nvidia-jetson-nano-developer-kit.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F05\u002F21","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":1069,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"NVIDIA\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FNVIDIA-Jetson-Nano-Developer-945-13450-0000-100\u002Fdp\u002FB084DSDDLT?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FNVIDIA-Jetson-Nano-Developer-945-13450-0000-100\u002Fdp\u002FB084DSDDLT","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FNVIDIA-Jetson-Nano-Developer-945-13450-0000-100\u002Fdp\u002FB084DSDDLT?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAlternatives to Consider\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer Kit isn't the only alternative available. Also consider these options below if you need something right now. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"8d468d4e-433a-4fe3-9b8e-973fa0276d24\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSmartFly-info-Tinker-Mali-T764-Motherboard\u002Fdp\u002FB07WPVVZNH\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB00FS83U42?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Asus Tinker Board S R2.0\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E - A general-purpose kit with 2GB of RAM from one of the biggest PC makers on the planet. \u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"a467eb97-479f-45c1-babb-455fea166314\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FODROID-active-cooler-power-supply\u002Fdp\u002FB0761YJY27\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"ODROID XU4 with Active Cooler and Power Supply\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E - A similarly priced alternative with active cooling for processor-intensive tasks. \u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"36a95998-4118-4287-b2c9-bda7093b4427\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fameridroid.com\u002Fproducts\u002Frock5-model-b\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Radxa Rock 5 Model B\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E - This packs an octa-core processor, dual HDMI, a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, two M.2 slots, and an eMMC module connector, but lacks built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ERaspberry Pi buying FAQ\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"f3def112-5ec1-40c7-80d8-337152996688\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EAs I hinted at in the opening, there's \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fstruggling-to-buy-a-raspberry-pi-it-could-be-about-to-get-a-lot-easier\u002F" target="_blank"\u003Ehope for the first time in a few years\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that supply constraints may be easing. This is because of \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.raspberrypi.com\u002Fnews\u002Fsupply-chain-update-its-good-news\u002F" target="_blank"\u003Eblog post made by Raspberry Pi chief Eben Upton\u003C\u002Fa\u003E&nbsp;in which he predicted that "supplies in Q2 [2023] should recover to pre-pandemic levels." Going on to deliver the long-awaited news that "supply will be 'unlimited' in the second half of 2023."\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOf course, it will take some time for this additional supply to reach consumers. Even then the pent up hunger for units is likely to mean sell-outs will happen fast. But, for the first time in several years, we at least have a timeframe, albeit a loose one, for when we might reach the end of this very dark tunnel.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Is the Raspberry Pi 4 shortage likely to end soon?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"aaf6c0c8-e876-449c-9741-215d584fd3e7\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EYou might expect there to be an updated model waiting in the wings since the Pi 4 is the longest serving flagship board in the series' history. However, it&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fno-there-wont-be-a-raspberry-pi-5-in-2023-and-heres-why\u002F" target="_blank"\u003Edoesn't look like that will be the case\u003C\u002Fa\u003E any time soon. Eben Upton has confirmed that his team is currently focused on recovering from the supply chain shortages for their existing models, rather than creating entirely new SKUs.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003Ca target="_blank" href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-raspberry-pi-kit\u002F"\u003E5 best Raspberry Pi kits: Top starter and pro kits\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUpton \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=P9vna9jao9I" target="_blank"\u003Esaid in a late 2022 interview\u003C\u002Fa\u003E&nbsp;that 2023 will be a "recovery year," and "don't expect a Pi 5 next year." Of course things could change, and new revisions of existing Pi 4 variants could make an appearance. But, it looks like we'll have to wait until at least 2024 for a Pi 5 to make its debut.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Will there be an upgraded Raspberry Pi or Raspberry Pi 5 any time soon?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"59fe7853-b6e2-4423-972e-c143754a9c4a\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis depends largely on the types of projects you'd like to pursue.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you're aiming for something simple, like teaching kids about coding and electronics, something as cheap as the Pi Pico is more than enough to create many fun and educational projects ranging from wearable devices to simple games and even interactive PC peripherals.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fraspberry-pi-4-how-i-built-a-twitterbot-to-track-planes-passing-overhead\u002F" target="_blank"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERaspberry Pi 4: How I built a twitterbot to track planes passing overhead\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you want something a bit more complex but still affordable, consider the Pi Zero family, which offers a much wider array of add-ons such as digital and LCD displays, wireless communication modules, speakers, microphones, and more.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you think this is likely to be a long-term hobby for you or the intended recipient, it might be worth going through the extra effort or cost of buying a full-on Pi 4. This will offer the maximum amount of power, versatility, and flexibility to grow alongside the user as they become more experienced and adventurous. Everything from basic smart-home devices, to remote camera setups, and even retro gaming consoles can be created with just a bit of extra hardware connected to the Pi 4.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Which is the best Raspberry Pi board for beginners?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"c693ff3f-e7a6-4c7c-a7da-a5d288d91c04\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe answer is a very qualified yes. While the I\u002FO ports of a Pi 4 and its onboard processor can indeed replace a PC for basic computing needs, it does not have anywhere near the power required for more advanced operations.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, simple web-browsing, video playback (even at 4K resolutions), retro gaming (think Playstation 1 era and older), and a multitude of other activities you could normally get up to on a PC are completely possible.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003Ca target="_blank" href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fsmart-office\u002Fraspberry-pi-at-10-the-tiny-board-with-a-giant-impact\u002F"\u003ERaspberry Pi: The tiny computer with a giant impact\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, more advanced things like video editing, modern gaming, and advanced productivity tasks will tend to run into some walls. Whether those limitations come from a lack of computing power, incompatible peripherals, or a lack of required I\u002FO, the Pi 4 cannot replace a PC in all situations. But, it can get pretty dang close in a shocking number of them.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Can the Raspberry Pi 4 really replace a PC?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"01c2afa7-a6b9-46b1-9a81-ea28c5e7e692\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis is subtle, but it's important to know the difference.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EW designates that the Pi has built-in Wi-Fi. The original Pico didn't have Wi-Fi capability and if you wanted it had to be added separately.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EH designates that the Pi comes with with a pre-soldered 40-pin GPIO header, making it easier to connect to other devices and components. Board that don't come with pre-soldered headers are smaller but if you need the GPIO pins then you'll have to solder them on yourself (which is a project for the more competent solderers out there).\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWH means that that the Pi comes with both Wi-Fi and pre-soldered 40-pin GPIO header.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\" data-hed=\"What's the difference between the W and WH versions of the Raspberry Pi Pico and Zero?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"a385cf21-fa64-476a-bc7a-170a9da632f8\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fa385cf21-fa64-476a-bc7a-170a9da632f8\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2023-03-15 13:01:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The highly-in-demand Raspberry Pi 4 has been hit hard by component shortages. We can help you help you navigate the scarce supplies, price gouging, and available alternatives.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"31243ed4-447e-40cf-a906-e54201bb9911",image:{id:"b2a2365c-16c9-44a3-b00e-24e251fa0301",filename:"adobestock-338367020-editorial-use-only.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2023-02-08 11:44:34",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"raspberry-pi-cm4-main.jpg",credits:"Image: Raspberry Pi Foundation",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F02\u002F08\u002Fb2a2365c-16c9-44a3-b00e-24e251fa0301\u002Fadobestock-338367020-editorial-use-only.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1600,height:900,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"guide",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"finding-raspberry-pi-where-to-buy-the-latest-model-and-its-alternatives",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Finding Raspberry Pi: Where to buy the latest model and its alternatives",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"8d600230-8175-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"Jack Wallen",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Jack",lastName:"Wallen",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"f03bef9a-858a-451d-bc30-8c603c2ba899",filename:"jack-wallen.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:04:34",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Ff03bef9a-858a-451d-bc30-8c603c2ba899\u002Fjack-wallen.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Jack Wallen is what happens when a Gen Xer mind-melds with present-day snark. Jack is a seeker of truth and a writer of words with a quantum mechanical pencil and a disjointed beat of sound and soul. An award-winning writer and novelist, Jack has been covering Linux, open-source, and other topics since the late 1990s for numerous publications such as ZDNET, CNET, TechRepublic, Linux.com, The New Stack, Linode, TechTarget, and Linux New Media. Jack's also written over 50 novels of fiction, at least one of which focuses on the Linux operating system. For more news about Jack Wallen, visit his website jackwallen.com.",profile:b,title:"Contributing Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"ce582440-1c3b-4355-b0d3-c388ce345159\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Image: Tom Werner\u002FGetty Images\" data-image-alt-text=\"A woman using her laptop in a busy cafe.\" data-image-filename=\"getty-a-woman-working-from-her-laptop-in-a-busy-cafe.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F10\u002F10\" data-image-width=\"2121\" data-image-height=\"1414\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYour computer is filled with various types of files that you don't need or want hanging around. Given the way we work these days, much of that comes by way of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fwork-life\u002Fhow-to-clear-the-opera-browser-cache-and-why-you-should-do-it-regularly\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eweb browser cache\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, downloaded files, and temporary files. If you don't take care and remove those files, the applications that use or save them can become slow to respond or even not run at all.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"61b2fa86-25ca-4edd-8c79-0a571ebf1336\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F61b2fa86-25ca-4edd-8c79-0a571ebf1336\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt doesn't take much in the way of computer savvy to delete the various cached files your browser is saving. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe thing is, you just have to remember to do it. There are, of course, other cached files you might not know about. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOr, there might be applications that save cached files and there's no clear method of deleting those files. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's when a tool like \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bleachbit.org\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBleachBit\u003C\u002Fa\u003E comes in handy. In a single sweep, BleachBit can clear caches, delete cookies, clear your internet history, shred temporary files, delete logs, and toss out junk files. BleachBit is available for both Linux and Windows and works with thousands of applications to keep your system free and clear of buildup.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-clear-the-cache-on-your-android-phone-or-tablet-and-why-you-should\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to clear the cache on your Android phone or tablet (and why)\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI'm going to show you how to install and use this handy tool, so you can keep your system free of unwanted garbage.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow to clean your system and free disk space with BleachBit\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ERequirements\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe only things you'll need for this are a supporting operating system (either Linux or Windows) and (in the case of Linux) a user with sudo privileges. I'll demonstrate the installation on Linux because the Windows installation is just a matter of downloading and double-clicking the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bleachbit.org\u002Fdownload\u002Ffile\u002Ft?file=BleachBit-4.4.2-setup.exe\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBleachBit .exe file\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's it. Let's get to work.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI'm going to demonstrate the installation on both \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fpop-os-might-have-a-complicated-name-but-it-makes-using-linux-so-easy\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPop!_OS Linux\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and Fedora Linux, which will cover both RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux)-based and Ubuntu-based installations.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"8935bde2-f321-419f-a61f-2575717cd039\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EPoint your web browser to the \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bleachbit.org\u002Fdownload\u002Flinux"\u003EBleachBit Linux download site\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and download either the .deb or .rpm package for your distribution.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"1. Download the installer file\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"dbb3ca23-14d2-44ba-85e2-7e32f734d402\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EFor the Ubuntu-based distributions, open a terminal window, change into the Downloads directory (assuming that's where you saved the .deb file), and issue the command below.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-enable-folder-colors-in-ubuntu-based-linux-distributions\u002F" target="_blank"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to enable folder colors in Ubuntu-based Linux distributions\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENotice the * character in the command. That's called a wildcard. I put that in place of the BleachBit release number so that even if you download a newer version than is available on the date I wrote this piece, the installation command will still work.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"2. Install BleachBit on an Ubuntu-based distribution\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"codesnippet\" data-code=\"c3VkbyBkcGdrIC1pIGJsZWFjaGJpdCouZGViIC15\" data-encoding=\"base64\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"0363c530-9007-469e-98cd-b4b6a0e8bcb5\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIf you use a RHEL-based distribution (such as Fedora), the installation command would be:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"3. Install BleachBit on an RHEL-based distribution\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"codesnippet\" data-code=\"c3VkbyBycG0gLWkgYmxlYWNoYml0Ki5ycG0gLXk=\" data-encoding=\"base64\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's it for the installation.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EUsing BleachBit\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere are two ways to open BleachBit, with and without admin privileges. Here's the difference:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWithout admin privileges\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E isn't capable of cleaning files that require admin privileges but will clean your user profile.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWith admin privileges\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E is capable of cleaning files that require admin privileges but cannot clean your user profile.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI will also warn you that running with admin privileges should be done with care, as you could wind up deleting important system files. For example, running BleachBit with admin privileges allows you to clean journald, which cleans the journal (logging data) from the system. The admin privilege run of BleachBit also cleans shared parts of the system and cleans the root account. Because of all this, I would recommend not running BleachBit with elevated privileges. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, when you run BleachBit, make sure you run the version that is not listed as BleachBit (as root)\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fwork-life\u002Fhow-to-clear-the-opera-browser-cache-and-why-you-should-do-it-regularly\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to clear the Opera browser cache and why you should do it regularly\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen the app opens, you'll see a very simple screen where you can select everything you want to clean by clicking the associated checkbox in the left pane. One thing to keep in mind is that, in order to clean saved app files and caches, that app cannot be running. So, before you start BleachBit, close your web browser, email client, or any other app you might want to clear.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"32fd97c2-0d83-4085-affe-511ebb991c3d\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003ERunning BleachBit without root access is your best bet.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Image: Jack Wallen\" data-image-alt-text=\"The BleachBit main window.\" data-image-filename=\"bleachbit1.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F01\u002F25\" data-image-width=\"829\" data-image-height=\"660\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter making your selections in the left pane, click Preview. Why? Because the Preview will tell you how much space will be freed up by the cleaning, what is cleaned, and if there are any errors in the process.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"8a2b0167-5a95-4a0a-b9ba-c2cde36524cf\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EAs you can see, BleachBit would clear up 11.48GB of space and clean over 18,000 files.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Image: Jack Wallen\" data-image-alt-text=\"A preview run report from BleachBit.\" data-image-filename=\"bleachbit2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F01\u002F25\" data-image-width=\"829\" data-image-height=\"660\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you're satisfied with what BleachBit reports, click Clean and the cleaning will begin. Depending on how much you're cleaning, the process can take some time. When the process completes, you'll get another report (very similar to the Preview report) and you can close the application.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-linux-desktops-for-beginners\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe 5 best Linux distros for beginners\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd that's all there is to clean those unwanted files from your computer. I've been using BleachBit for years to clean my systems and have never run into a problem using the tool. Give it a try and see if it doesn't become your go-to for regular system cleaning.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"a79e7679-c6c7-4a8a-b132-d9c5800e2976\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fa79e7679-c6c7-4a8a-b132-d9c5800e2976\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2023-01-25 15:23:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"When your computer slowly fills with files, it can become sluggish and problematic. One easy way to take care of this is with the BleachBit tool.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"072e50ba-7a54-4938-b55e-666bff691e4b",image:{id:"ce582440-1c3b-4355-b0d3-c388ce345159",filename:"getty-a-woman-working-from-her-laptop-in-a-busy-cafe.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-10-10 11:53:41",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"A woman using her laptop in a busy cafe.",credits:"Image: Tom Werner\u002FGetty Images",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F10\u002F10\u002Fce582440-1c3b-4355-b0d3-c388ce345159\u002Fgetty-a-woman-working-from-her-laptop-in-a-busy-cafe.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2121,height:1414,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Services & Software^Open Source",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"how-to-easily-and-quickly-clean-your-system-and-free-disk-space-with-bleachbit",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"How to easily and quickly clean your system and free disk space with BleachBit",topic:{id:"10f422bf-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"open-source",name:"Open Source",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"10f422bf-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"open-source",name:"Open Source",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"b2be23e0-8175-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"sbisson",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Simon",lastName:"Bisson",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e10a5d19-7f20-47e6-874d-5549bd666fde",filename:"simonbisson.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2016-11-21 11:51:18",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2016\u002F11\u002F21\u002Fe10a5d19-7f20-47e6-874d-5549bd666fde\u002Fsimonbisson.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Born on the Channel Island of Jersey, Simon moved to the UK to attend the University of Bath where he studied electrical and electronic engineering. Since then a varied career has included being part of the team building the world's first solid state 30KW HF radio transmitter, writing electromagnetic modelling software for railguns, and testing the first ADSL equipment in the UK. He also built one the UK's first national ISPs, before spending several years developing architectures for large online services for many major brands.\r\n\r\nFor the last decade he's been a freelance writer, specialising in enterprise technologies and development. He works with his wife and writing partner Mary Branscombe from a small house in south west London, or from anywhere there's a WiFi signal and a place for a laptop.",profile:b,title:c,bio:c,bureau:"AU",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"video\" data-uuid=\"86a35928-203b-4900-8667-7b36b2b1f011\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt took far too long for Microsoft to release an upgradeable (and partially repairable) Surface. Even then, on the few recent devices with the capability, it's just the SSD that can be replaced. However, the tiny M.2 2230 drives that Microsoft chose are hard to find, with upgraders having to scavenge them from USB SSDs and from Xbox X and S storage expansion modules. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"0b19438c-bed7-40a8-84c9-9a85920df167\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F0b19438c-bed7-40a8-84c9-9a85920df167\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI'd bought a Surface Pro X shortly after Microsoft launched its ARM-powered hardware, picking a relatively small 256GB option with the intent to eventually upgrade to something a bit heftier. But the complexity of tracking down a suitable drive meant it remained one of those \"someday\" projects. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESEE: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-11-heres-how-to-get-microsofts-free-operating-system-update\u002F#link=%7B%22linkText%22:%22Windows%2011:%20Here's%20how%20to%20get%20Microsoft's%20free%20operating%20system%20update%22,%22target%22:%22_blank%22,%22href%22:%22https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-11-heres-how-to-get-microsofts-free-operating-system-update\u002F%22,%22role%22:%22standard%22,%22absolute%22:%22%22%7D\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWindows 11: Here's how to get Microsoft's free operating system update\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen \"someday\" arrived, with the recent appearance of M.2 2230 drives on Dell's parts site – in the US and in the UK.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"65004e62-2b6f-4745-b529-21c2427302b4\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EComparing a M.2 2230 drive to a 50p piece.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Simon Bisson\" data-image-alt-text=\"Comparing a M.2 2230 drive to a 50p piece.\" data-image-filename=\"pxl-20211128-104756443.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F01\u002F27\" data-image-width=\"2784\" data-image-height=\"1924\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Dell M.2 2230 drive I chose was a 1TB Kioxia-brand NVMe drive. This is a BG4 class drive, a significant upgrade from the BG3 256GB drive bundled with my Surface. While I didn't run any tests on my drive, other upgraders have shown a reasonable boost to drive read speeds and an almost doubling in sequential writes. Random access reads and writes don't show much change, but if you're pushing a lot of data around, working with images or video, you should notice a difference. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo I decided to pull the trigger and do the upgrade. My Pro X was now over two years old, but with Windows 11 adding support for 64-bit Intel emulation, the tablet was getting a new lease of life. At the same time, ARM Android apps could be sideloaded onto the new Windows Subsystem for Android, and more and more native ARM64 code was available. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt was time for more storage. Dell's store took a week or so to get the drive from Ireland to London, giving me time to plan the upgrade. As I use my Surface Pro X as a \"carry-along\" device, I didn't need to do much in the way of backing up the old drive. After all, my files were on OneDrive, and I could quickly reinstall Office and other key applications. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll I needed was a restore image on a suitable 16GB USB stick. While I didn't have a USB C flash drive, I did have a standard USB A drive and a USB A to C adapter, a combination that works well enough.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"2f0fed8b-2834-4804-bb1d-3d344785bdc6\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EA USB C adapter lets you use a standard USB drive to install a recovery image on a Surface Pro X.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Simon Bisson\" data-image-alt-text=\"A USB C adapter lets you use a standard USB drive to install a recovery iage on a Surface Pro X.\" data-image-filename=\"pxl-20211128-111516575.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F01\u002F27\" data-image-width=\"2987\" data-image-height=\"2949\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGetting a restore image from Microsoft for a Windows on ARM system requires your device's serial number. This is printed under the kickstand and can be hard to read. To get a readable picture of the code, light it at an oblique angle with a torch and then photograph it with a phone. You should be able to read the number from the photograph, which will allow you to type it in to start the recovery image download. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce the image is down, unpack the image ZIP file into a directory and copy it on to your recovery flash drive. You're now ready to start the upgrade process. You don't need to make a bootable drive, the Surface firmware will handle a recovery installation for you.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst make sure your Surface Pro X is shut down completely and the power connector removed. To get access to the Surface Pro X drive bay, lift the kickstand to reveal a small compartment on the right of your tablet. This can be opened using a SIM popper tool; insert it into the obvious hole and lift the compartment lid. You'll see a slot for a SIM card along with an encapsulated M.2 2230 drive labelled with the current size.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"409363e7-7fa7-470f-9d38-f63c6daa823e\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EUnveiling the Surface Pro X's stock SSD drive, in the same bay as its SIM slot.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Simon Bisson\" data-image-alt-text=\"Unveiling the Surface Pro X's stock SSD drive, in the same bay as its SIM slot.\" data-image-filename=\"pxl-20211128-105832122.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F01\u002F27\" data-image-width=\"2152\" data-image-height=\"2481\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe system drive is held in place with a single Torx T3 screw. This isn't a common size, with most screwdriver sets only going down to T5. Luckily, I had a set of precision bits as part of a phone repair kit, and could unscrew the system drive. Remember to put the screw somewhere safe, as you'll need it to secure your replacement drive.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"1e29cea2-2635-48c1-9d1a-6221b262f8ca\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EYou'll need a Torx 3 bit to remove the SSD mounting screw.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Simon Bisson\" data-image-alt-text=\"You'll need a Torx 3 bit to remove the SSD mounting screw.\" data-image-filename=\"pxl-20211128-110417939.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F01\u002F27\" data-image-width=\"2671\" data-image-height=\"1759\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne difference between the existing drive and my replacement was the metal casing. This isn't needed, but if you do want to transfer it to the new drive it can be quickly prised off with a small blade. You'll see that there's a small amount of thermal compound on the drive's storage silicon, and you'll need to put a similar amount on the new drive to ensure that there's a good thermal path from chip to case. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI left the Dell drive uncased, as the thermals of the Surface Pro X's metal case are good enough for most use cases. As I'm using my tablet for portable note taking and writing, with a little browsing, it's not especially stressed. All I needed to do was pull out the old SSD and slot in its replacement, securing it with the mounting screw.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"1981aa67-d241-439c-9b49-5ca3c14046b8\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe SSD is now in place, ready to drop back the compartment cover and reinstall Windows.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Simon Bisson\" data-image-alt-text=\"The SSD is now in place, ready to drop back the compartment cover and reinstall Windows.\" data-image-filename=\"pxl-20211128-110809385.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F01\u002F27\" data-image-width=\"2474\" data-image-height=\"1874\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce the drive was in place, I could simply drop the drive bay lid back into place, where it's held by a magnet. I then plugged the Surface back in, and hooked up my recovery USB drive, and using the standard Surface recovery instructions started reinstalling Windows. The process is relatively quick, and after a few minutes I was walking through the familiar Windows 10 out-of-the-box experience. As soon as I was logged in, I upgraded to Windows 11 for its x64 emulator, and waited for OneDrive to sync my files on the new, much larger drive.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"43fa04c6-9dc4-46e7-9193-a059f5e72e07\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EReinstalling the Surface Pro X recovery image.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Simon Bisson\" data-image-alt-text=\"Reinstalling the Surface Pro X recovery image.\" data-image-filename=\"pxl-20211128-112228189.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F01\u002F27\" data-image-width=\"3371\" data-image-height=\"2438\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECompared to early Surfaces, the Pro X's upgradeable storage is a big improvement. Sure, the rest of the device is still bonded glass and glue, but with the SSD one of the parts most likely to fail in a modern tablet, making it replaceable is a good thing. Being able to get more performance with a newer generation of drives is an added bonus.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, am I happy with the upgrade? \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYes. It was quick and easy, with hardware that was clearly designed for the process. And with plenty more storage in a lightweight device, I don't have to worry about running out of space. Now all I need is a meeting that isn't over video... \u003Cbr\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"6ce0e79b-438d-497b-ab2b-ff7b960d3851\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F6ce0e79b-438d-497b-ab2b-ff7b960d3851\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-02-04 11:09:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Microsoft's latest devices let you change out their storage. How easy is it?",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"11fc05da-2a67-4c21-9221-6cadd11160f0",image:{id:"1e29cea2-2635-48c1-9d1a-6221b262f8ca",filename:"pxl-20211128-110417939.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-01-27 20:03:06",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"You'll need a Torx 3 bit to remove the SSD mounting screw.",credits:"Simon Bisson",caption:"\u003Cp\u003EYou'll need a Torx 3 bit to remove the SSD mounting screw.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F01\u002F27\u002F1e29cea2-2635-48c1-9d1a-6221b262f8ca\u002Fpxl-20211128-110417939.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2671,height:1759,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"guide",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^Tablets",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"i-upgraded-the-ssd-in-a-surface-pro-x-this-is-how-it-went",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"I upgraded the SSD in a Surface Pro X. This is how it went",topic:{id:"116c1d92-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"tablets",name:"Tablets",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"116c1d92-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"tablets",name:"Tablets",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"294e47d5-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"Ed Bott",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Ed",lastName:"Bott",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e",filename:"ed-bott.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:06:03",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e\u002Fed-bott.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than two decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. He has served as editor of the U.S. edition of PC Computing and managing editor of PC World; both publications had monthly paid circulation in excess of 1 million during his tenure. He is the author of more than 25 books, including Windows 10 Inside Out (now in its 4th edition) and Windows 11 Inside Out (scheduled for publication in 2022).",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"6419e2e3-0bb0-44d2-84b1-51c08c8bf607\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Getty Images\" data-image-alt-text=\"pile of money dollars\" data-image-filename=\"gettyimages-1327279072-pile-of-money2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F04\u002F04\" data-image-width=\"5113\" data-image-height=\"3834\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen you're about to make a big purchase, you probably do hours of research to find the best deal. Maybe you save a couple of  hundred bucks along the way. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"3f27660f-fa37-417e-ab02-4c2d6088085e\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F3f27660f-fa37-417e-ab02-4c2d6088085e\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut what if I told you that you could save just as much -- and maybe a lot more -- every month? All you have to do is take a closer look at the dozens of small purchases you make every month, especially those automatic monthly bills you pay and don't even think about. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe classic example, of course, is a health club membership, where you sign up in January and make your last visit sometime around Groundhog Day. Gym owners count on people paying even if they don't use the service -- and they make it as difficult as possible to cancel your membership.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn this post, I've collected some of my favorite money-saving tips, most of which come down to reviewing those small transactions regularly, with the help of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-to-do-vs-google-tasks-the-best-list-manager-app-for-you\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ecalendar reminders\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Yes, this stuff can be a hassle, but I prefer to think of it as an investment, just like a stock that pays a dividend. In exchange for a little work now, you get to collect savings every month. At the end of the year, you'll be shocked at how much your total savings will be. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EShift your domains to a lower-cost registrar \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you have a small business, even a side hustle, you probably own a few internet domains. Owners of small to medium-sized businesses sometimes have a substantial collection of these web addresses, each of which comes with an annual bill. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"4e352ee7-9e8b-4e2c-a565-83359ecef1db\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F4e352ee7-9e8b-4e2c-a565-83359ecef1db\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELots of businesses still have domains registered with Network Solutions, which used to be literally the only place where you could register a .com domain -- and the legacy registrar still charges like it has a monopoly. For a two-year domain registration, I was quoted a price of $25 for each of the first two years, with a $37.99 annual cost for subsequent renewals. Oh, and privacy protection is $1.99 every four weeks, or $25.87 per year. After five years, you've paid Network Solutions just under $300 for a single domain. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDomain registrars often attract new customers by offering a great deal on the initial registration, then make up for it by jacking up the price for renewals. GoDaddy, for example, offers a .com domain for a penny for the first year; then, in the small print, they confess that a 2-year purchase is required and the second and subsequent years will be billed at $19.99. Privacy protection is free, at least. After five years, you've spent $80 on that domain. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt $12 a year, you'd come out way ahead with \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"bfaad394-7dd3-4625-b1fd-c68afa7754ce\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdomains.google\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Google Domains\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, which also offers privacy protection for free. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOf course, factors like reliability and security should be at the top of your list, but there are plenty of high-quality domain registrars that don't cost an arm and a leg. Switching to a less expensive domain registrar can cut your annual bill dramatically. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECut your cellphone bill down to size \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHow much do you pay every month for cell phone service? Your current plan was probably a good deal when you signed up for it years ago, but you might be able to find a better deal with a little comparative shopping. Given the competition among US carriers, you might be able to lock in savings that add up to hundreds of dollars over the course of a year. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"bcfcf706-c652-429d-98f8-bc8e678e6ca8\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fbcfcf706-c652-429d-98f8-bc8e678e6ca8\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe best offers are typically available when you change carriers, because those companies are willing to give new customers big incentives to switch, typically as a prepaid credit card. If you're still paying monthly for a phone you purchased last year, for example, the new carrier might be willing to pay off that device as an inducement for you to switch. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEvery carrier offers discounts for active military personnel, veterans, and first responders. Some offer discounts for nurses, teachers, and students as well. If the primary account holder in your family is over 55, it's worth checking out \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"e22d92ff-9633-49c8-a078-502226a03c34\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.t-mobile.com\u002Fcell-phone-plans\u002Funlimited-55-senior-discount-plans\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"T-Mobile's Unlimited 55+ plans\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E; you can get two lines with unlimited data, calls, and texting for $35 each (taxes and fees included). That Magenta 55+ plan is $50 a month less than the exact same Magenta+ plan for customers under 55, for a total savings of at least $600 a year. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you don't want to change carriers, ask your current carrier if they offer an employee discount. If you have a company email address, it's easy to check. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUse a 0% credit card offer to finance your next major purchase \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHow many big purchases are you going to make this year? Are you planning to replace your computer, buy new mobile phones, or upgrade your video conferencing hardware in your conference room? \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Ffinance\u002Fcredit-cards\u002Fbest-business-credit-card-zero-percent-apr\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe best business credit cards with 0% APR\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEven in a small office, that can represent a big expenditure. You could pay for the whole thing in cash, or you could use a line of credit. But why not take advantage of the opportunity to open a new business credit card that offers 0% interest on purchases and balance transfers? This type of offer is available regularly, with no-interest periods that run as long as two years. The result can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars in savings compared to the interest you'd otherwise pay. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGet extra perks from your credit card \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you're not already getting at least 1% of the purchase price back for every transaction you make using your business and personal credit cards, it might be time to switch. It helps if you know where you do most of your spending, because credit cards can have a dizzying matrix of reward categories. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Foc.brcclx.com\u002Ft\u002F?lid=26682604&cr=28296&last_updated=1598579208\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EChase Ink Business Preferred card\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, for example, offers 3X points on each dollar for spending on shipping, search engine advertising, internet, cable, phone services, and travel on the first $150,000 spent each year. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"72269cb0-44b0-42aa-9f63-41d8d950d6ff\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F72269cb0-44b0-42aa-9f63-41d8d950d6ff\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd if you do most of your purchases at Amazon or Costco, check out their personal and business cards, which are especially generous in terms of cash back. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut don't stop at cash back. These days, card issuers compete for your business by offering additional discounts, typically offered as statement credits. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Foc.brcclx.com\u002Ft\u002F?lid=26681953&cr=28268&last_updated=1598565036\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAmerican Express Blue Business Plus card\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is especially rich in this regard, currently offering 10% back on purchases at Dell, with a maximum statement credit of $1500 per year. You also get 50% off FedEx shipping, up to a total of $1000. And there's no annual fee. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Ffinance\u002Fcredit-cards\u002Fbest-amex-business-card\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe best American Express business cards\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFinally, look at extra perks like cell phone protection, which reimburses you if your mobile device is lost, stolen, or damaged. Just be sure you pay your monthly wireless bill in full with the card that offers this coverage. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDon't let free trials turn into recurring charges \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost online services offer a free trial, so you can evaluate the product and see whether it meets your needs. Invariably, they insist that you supply a credit card number that they can begin charging as soon as the free trial ends. If you forget to cancel, the recurring charges can add up: $10 here, $20 there, pretty soon you're talking serious money. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Ffinance\u002Fcredit-cards\u002Fchase-ink-business-cash-vs-preferred-vs-unlimited-which-is-best-for-your-business\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChase Ink Business Cash vs. Preferred vs. Unlimited: Which credit card is best for you?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt sounds counterintuitive, but the best way to avoid those accidental unwanted charges is to sign up for a free trial and then immediately cancel the services. Most services will allow you to continue using the service until the trial period runs out. If you like the service and want to continue, you can return to the account management page and turn those automatic payments back on. If not, you're off the hook. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"45df0e42-b958-4ab7-8b38-aa6976f95b5b\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F45df0e42-b958-4ab7-8b38-aa6976f95b5b\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn even more foolproof way to avoid unwanted charges is to set up a virtual credit card using the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"ebc8d0e6-5a62-414e-baaf-e290a24749d0\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fprivacy.com\u002Fpricing\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"privacy.com service\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. For personal accounts, the service is free and allows you to set up as many as 12 cards a month, each of which can be limited to a specific merchant, to a specific charge amount, or a total amount. They can also be time-limited and canceled with one click. For $10 a month, the Pro account gives you 1% back on purchases along with the ability to create up to 36 cards per month. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERegardless of which method you use, I recommend checking your credit card activity at least twice per month. Those regular inspections allow you to see unexpected charges and dispute them promptly; they also give you a heads-up about any recurring charges that you might need to cancel. If you find even one dubious charge or a subscription you no longer need to pay for, the effort will have been worth it. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPick your next PC a year in advance \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen PC makers unveil new models with fast, cutting-edge CPUs, they rarely offer discounts. If you want to be the first on your block with that technology, you can expect to pay a premium for the privilege. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut guess what? The prices on those models usually go down a few months later, and they'll drop again a year later when the even newer models with the even faster, even more cutting-edge CPUs are introduced. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-chose-the-right-pc-everything-you-need-to-know-about-picking-the-right-computer-for-work\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to choose the right PC: Everything you need to know about picking a computer for work\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you're convinced a just-announced PC model is perfect for you, set a reminder in your calendar for six months later and check the price. Then keep checking every month or so, and be ready to buy when you see a proper price cut. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECheck the online outlet stores before you buy your next PC, tablet, or smartphone \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll of the leading PC makers (including Apple) offer no-questions-asked return policies for the computers they sell online. If you take delivery of a new Windows PC or Mac, you typically have 14 days to try it out. If you don't like it, you can return it for a full refund. If you buy direct from a mobile device manufacturer, you typically get the same return conditions. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"d2c8d2e3-a125-48c1-b8aa-af507b069739\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fd2c8d2e3-a125-48c1-b8aa-af507b069739\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhere-to-buy-used-laptop-deals\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhere to buy a used laptop\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, what happens to those practically brand-new, barely used devices? They become incredible bargains for smart shoppers like you. They're inspected, refurbished, repackaged, and then sold with a full warranty, at a significant discount from the price that you would pay for the exact same product new. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEarlier this year, for example, I saved more than $1,000 on a new Dell Precision Workstation by shopping at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fdfh\u002Fshop\u002Fdell-refurbished\u002Fcp\u002Foutlet\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDell's online outlet store\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInventory turns over quickly at these online outlets, and the best bargains disappear quickly. The best shopping strategy is to visit regularly for a few weeks to get an idea of what models and prices are available, then be ready to buy when you see your ideal configuration appear. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENote: These sites are US only. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EApple\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Frefurbished\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Frefurbished\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDell:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fdfh\u002Fshop\u002Fdell-refurbished\u002Fcp\u002Foutlet\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fdfh\u002Fshop\u002Fdell-refurbished\u002Fcp\u002Foutlet\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELenovo:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.lenovo.com\u002Fus\u002Fen\u002Foutletus\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewww.lenovo.com\u002Fus\u002Fen\u002Foutletus\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHP:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fh41369.www4.hp.com\u002Fpps-offers.php\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttps:\u002F\u002Fh41369.www4.hp.com\u002Fpps-offers.php\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESamsung:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.samsung.com\u002Fus\u002Fsmartphones\u002Fcertified-re-newed-phones\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.samsung.com\u002Fus\u002Fsmartphones\u002Fcertified-re-newed-phones\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"f37a5fad-68fa-4788-b71b-d43cbc406f47\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Ff37a5fad-68fa-4788-b71b-d43cbc406f47\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChange your bank \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA decade ago, more than half of all bank profits came from fees. But as financial tech takes over, those days are ending. If you're still doing your checking and credit card processing with a big national bank, it's worth adding up just how you're paying in fees each month. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn fact, the rise of virtual banks and payment processors means there's plenty of competition for your business. With a little comparison shopping, you can probably get a sign-up bonus and cut those fees dramatically. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EShop around for insurance \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETimes change. So do insurance rates and coverage requirements. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBetween your home and small business, you might have a half-dozen separate insurance policies. It's a good idea to review those policies annually to make sure your coverage is correct and your rates are competitive. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the easiest ways to get significant savings is to consolidate your coverage and take advantage of multi-policy discounts. You might also qualify for a discount if you're over 55 or if you have a monitored security and fire alarm system; some companies even offer discounts for installing smart home technology, like leak detectors that can shut off the water and send you an alert before you incur significant damage. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-04-06 14:25:59",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Our money-saving tips can add up to thousands of dollars back every year. Sometimes it does pay to sweat the small stuff.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"46f37a92-eabd-40c2-9329-b5c5e1744586",image:{id:"6419e2e3-0bb0-44d2-84b1-51c08c8bf607",filename:"gettyimages-1327279072-pile-of-money2.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-04-04 14:28:29",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"pile of money dollars",credits:"Getty Images",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F04\u002F04\u002F6419e2e3-0bb0-44d2-84b1-51c08c8bf607\u002Fgettyimages-1327279072-pile-of-money2.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:5113,height:3834,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"guide",hubTopicPathString:"Business^SMB",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"how-to-save-your-business-500-or-more-every-month",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"How to save your business $500 (or more) every month",topic:{id:"114a15be-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"smb",name:"SMB",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"114a15be-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"smb",name:"SMB",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"0fe9b07a-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"banking",name:"Banking",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"926c7fe3-bac7-46e3-b421-bf633d90ee73",slug:"productivity",name:"Productivity",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"a4a7fc0f-7c4e-4840-b2fa-d95299fe8023",slug:"credit-cards",name:"Credit Cards",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"294e47d5-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"Ed Bott",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Ed",lastName:"Bott",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e",filename:"ed-bott.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:06:03",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e\u002Fed-bott.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than two decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. He has served as editor of the U.S. edition of PC Computing and managing editor of PC World; both publications had monthly paid circulation in excess of 1 million during his tenure. He is the author of more than 25 books, including Windows 10 Inside Out (now in its 4th edition) and Windows 11 Inside Out (2023).",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"56f1c9d3-a4d6-4e55-b8b4-a6a6a32c88d8\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EMaintaining effective security shouldn't take an excessive amount of time.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"d3sign\u002FGetty Images\" data-image-alt-text=\"Windows security abstract concept\" data-image-filename=\"gettyimages-1339965930.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F10\u002F23\" data-image-width=\"2121\" data-image-height=\"1414\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen it comes to digital security at home and in your small business, you're on your own. Large businesses typically have dedicated IT staff tasked with ensuring the security of a corporate network and preventing outsiders from stealing data or planting ransomware. You have ... yourself.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"554f74a9-7b93-4459-a921-9e427dd0d89f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F554f74a9-7b93-4459-a921-9e427dd0d89f\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe worst time to start thinking about security for the PCs on your network is after you've experienced a catastrophic incident. The best time is right now, which is why we've assembled this guide.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFollowing the steps I lay out here should help you understand which security issues are most important and, based on that knowledge, establish a security baseline. This isn't a set-it-and-forget-it task, unfortunately. Online attackers are determined, and the threat landscape is constantly evolving. Maintaining effective security requires continued vigilance and ongoing effort.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDoes that sound overwhelming? Maintaining effective security shouldn't take an excessive amount of time. Spend a few minutes each week reviewing Windows Security to ensure that no red or yellow indicators have appeared, and do a more comprehensive review each month after the Patch Tuesday updates.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2051361\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn this guide, I cover more than just the Windows device itself, because many of the threats come from outside. To stay secure, you need to pay close attention to network traffic, email accounts, authentication mechanisms, and unsophisticated users.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis article focuses primarily on the needs of PC owners managing Windows PCs in a home or small business environment, without full-time IT staff. For installations where you're required to connect to a business network, you'll need to coordinate your personal security configuration with corporate policies. In some cases, device management policies will prevent you from adjusting some settings.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-lock-down-your-microsoft-account-and-guard-it-from-attackers\u002F\"\u003EHow to lock down your Microsoft account and guard it from attackers\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've also provided guidance to help you understand the differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11, as well as the different editions available for both operating systems (Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education). We know there are still \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fcan-you-still-get-a-windows-10-upgrade-for-free\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Elots of PCs running Windows 10\u003C\u002Fa\u003E out there, many of which don't meet the system requirements to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhave-you-upgraded-yet-windows-11-usage-is-creeping-up\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eupgrade to Windows 11\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore you touch a single Windows setting, though, take some time for a threat assessment. In particular, be aware of your legal and regulatory responsibilities in the event of a data breach or other security-related event. Even small businesses can be subject to compliance requirements; if that applies to you, consider hiring a specialist who knows your industry and can ensure that your systems meet all applicable requirements.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"4a02d49e-8ea5-40d2-b924-492818915bd9\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EA yellow exclamation point or red checkmark means you need to resolve the security issue.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Ed Bott\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"windows-security2\" data-image-filename=\"windows-security-issues-to-resolve.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F10\u002F20\" data-image-width=\"1669\" data-image-height=\"991\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"1975ef1f-c4e8-4eac-abb3-eb9ba5541b4d\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIn Windows 10, Microsoft introduced the Windows Security app, which consolidates security settings and status information into a single location. The Windows 11 version of this app follows the same basic design but adds some features specific to newer hardware. Regardless of which operating system is in use, this app should be a regular part of your security monitoring.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-windows-laptop\u002F"\u003EThe best Windows laptop you can buy\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom this starting point, you can inspect (and adjust) settings for antivirus and antimalware software, device security, firewall and network protection, and other crucial security options. Green checkmarks indicate there are no issues that need immediate attention. Yellow and red icons indicate security issues that need to be addressed.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen visiting an app like this, the natural temptation is to click every category and turn on every option you see. Resist that urge, especially in the&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EApp &amp; Browser Control &gt; Exploit Protection\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;section. Changes you make here can have unintended consequences in everyday activities, especially with older apps. The default settings should be adequate for most systems. If you choose to make changes here, do so gradually, and don't make any additional changes until you're certain that the previous adjustments worked as expected.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Where can I get an overview of Windows security?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"ce200567-90eb-4203-a930-2790e1c02d83\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe single most important security setting for any Windows PC is ensuring that updates are being installed on a regular, predictable schedule. That's true of every modern computing device, of course, but the "Windows as a service" model that Microsoft introduced with Windows 10 changes the way you manage updates.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"What's the best way to keep Windows up to date?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore you begin, though, it's important to understand the different types of Windows updates and how they work.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQuality updates\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E are delivered monthly through Windows Update on the second Tuesday of each month. They address security and reliability issues and do not include new features. (These updates also include patches for \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-10-alert-all-versions-get-new-intel-patches-for-spectre-foreshadow-bugs\u002F\"\u003Emicrocode flaws in Intel processors\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.) For particularly severe security issues, Microsoft might choose to release an \u003Cem\u003Eout-of-band update\u003C\u002Fem\u003E that is not tied to the normal monthly schedule. \u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll quality updates are \u003Cem\u003Ecumulative\u003C\u002Fem\u003E, so you no longer have to download dozens or even hundreds of updates after performing a clean install of Windows. Instead, you can install the latest cumulative update and you will be completely up to date.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFeature updates\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E are the equivalent of what used to be called version upgrades. They include new features and require a multi-gigabyte download and a full setup. Windows 10, which is rapidly nearing its end-of-support deadline, no longer receives feature updates. For Windows 11, Microsoft's current policy is to release one feature update per year, in the second half of the year. Feature updates are delivered through Windows Update and are not installed automatically unless the current version has reached the end of its support lifecycle.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-all-in-one-computer\u002F\"\u003EThe best all-in-one computers you can buy\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy default, modern Windows devices download and install quality updates as soon as they're available on Microsoft's update servers. Unless an administrator blocks this action, individual users can pause all updates for up to five weeks, one week at a time.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs with all security decisions, choosing when to install updates involves a trade-off. Installing updates immediately after they're released offers the best protection; deferring updates makes it possible to minimize unscheduled downtime associated with those updates.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn devices running Windows Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions, administrators can defer installation of quality updates by up to 30 days after their release. You can also delay feature updates on these editions by as much as 365 days. On devices running Windows Home edition, there's no supported way to specify exactly when these updates are installed.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDeferring quality updates by 7 to 15 days is a low-risk way of avoiding the possibility of installing a flawed update that can cause stability or compatibility problems. You can adjust Windows Update for Business settings on individual PCs by using the Local Group Policy Editor (Gpedit.msc); the settings you need are available under\u003Cstrong\u003E Local Computer Policy > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002F3-essential-windows-tools-for-troubleshooting-and-how-to-use-them\u002F\"\u003E3 essential Windows tools for troubleshooting (and how to use them)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn larger organizations, administrators can apply Windows Update settings using Group Policy or mobile device management (MDM) software. You can also administer updates centrally by using a management tool such as System Center Configuration Manager or Windows Server Update Services.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFinally, your software update strategy shouldn't stop at Windows itself. Make sure that updates for Windows applications, including Microsoft Office and Adobe applications, are installed automatically.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"4a426ce9-2e5e-4f3c-8d24-5576da18483f\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft sparked controversy with its decision to require a Microsoft account when setting up a PC with Windows 11 Home edition for the first time. I've also seen some online angst over the subsequent change in policy that extends that requirement to Windows 11 Pro machines set up for personal use. There are, of course, workarounds that allow you to bypass this restriction; for full details, see&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-setup-which-user-account-type-should-you-choose\u002F"\u003E"Windows 11 setup: Which user account type should you choose?"\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How do I configure user accounts for maximum security?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you already have a personal Microsoft account tied to services like Microsoft 365 Home or Family or an Xbox Live account, signing in with a Microsoft account makes it easy to access your Office apps and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-overhauls-onedrive-with-new-design-easier-file-views-and-ai-smarts\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EOneDrive storage\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and online gaming.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEven if you have no Microsoft services, however, there's a solid security benefit behind that design decision. Signing in with a Microsoft account on Windows 10 or Windows 11 automatically encrypts the contents of the system drive, and the recovery key is backed up to a secure location, accessible by signing in to that Microsoft account. That minimizes the risk that a forgotten password can lead to catastrophic data loss.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbeyond-passwords-4-key-security-steps-youre-probably-forgetting\u002F\"\u003EBeyond passwords: 4 key security steps you're probably forgetting\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you don't use Microsoft services, feel free to create a brand-new Microsoft account on the fly, as part of the setup process, and use that new account exclusively for signing in to Windows. You get the benefits of full system disk encryption, multi-factor authentication, and (if you choose to use it) 5 GB of OneDrive storage, at no extra cost. Just think of it as a local account whose username has @outlook.com on the end.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you're still determined to use a local account, you can set up Windows using a throwaway Microsoft account first, and then make the switch to a local account. Just be aware that doing so means you'll also have to find a different encryption option, and you won't have any recovery mechanism if you forget your sign-in credentials.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith all that out of the way, do the following as well:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESet up multi-factor authentication for your Microsoft account.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E (You'll find full instructions here: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-lock-down-your-microsoft-account-and-keep-it-safe-from-outside-attackers\u002F\"\u003E\"How to lock down your Microsoft account and keep it safe from outside attackers.\"\u003C\u002Fa\u003E)\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECreate standard accounts\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E for other users (and even for yourself). Your primary account, by default, has administrator privileges. If other people (employees or family members) use the same PC, give them standard accounts that are unable to change system settings or install untrusted software without your approval. You can also give yourself a standard account for everyday use, but that's a needless precaution that will simply force you to type in a password instead of clicking OK to a User Account Control dialog box.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInstall a password manager\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E and make sure all your online accounts have strong, unique login credentials.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESet up multi-factor authentication for online accounts\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E wherever it's available. (See \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmulti-factor-authentication-how-to-enable-2fa-and-boost-your-security\u002F\"\u003E\"Multi-factor authentication: How to enable 2FA to boost your security\"\u003C\u002Fa\u003E)\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor PCs at home, set up children's access using standard accounts and consider \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-create-and-manage-windows-accounts-for-your-family\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esetting up the family safety features\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in Windows 10 and Windows 11. You can use those options to set authorized times for young people to be online and to help keep them from straying into unsavory corners of the internet. You'll find all the links you need in the Windows Security app.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"eb4dce5d-99ac-485f-aedf-ff56fc22c204\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECheck the status of your TPM.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEnsure that Secure Boot is enabled.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETurn on Windows Hello, using biometric authentication if it's available.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Fol\u003E\" data-hed=\"How do I keep Windows 11 hardware secure?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"ecd1aea8-0609-4985-8d7e-d226ee7cb0df\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EIf the specification version says 2.0, the system meets the requirements for Windows 11.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by Ed Bott\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"security-processor-details\" data-image-filename=\"security-processor-details.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F10\u002F20\" data-image-width=\"1008\" data-image-height=\"660\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft's hardware compatibility rules for Windows 11 upped the security game for PCs, although not without controversy. Previously, the governing principle for every new Windows version involved maximum backward compatibility, with even 10-year-old PCs being eligible to install the new operating system.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat all changed with Windows 11. For the first time ever, the official hardware specifications were (a) dramatically increased from the previous version and (b) applied not just to new hardware from PC makers but also to upgraders.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fobsessed-with-privacy-keep-tails-on-a-usb-drive-and-secure-most-any-computer\u002F\"\u003EObsessed with privacy? Keep Tails on a USB drive and secure most any computer\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe biggest change is the requirement for a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0, along with the requirement to enable Secure Boot (a feature that uses cryptographic signatures to ensure that a device boots with an operating system that hasn't been tampered with). If you're willing to make a few registry edits, you can upgrade to Windows 11 from Windows 10 at no charge on a PC with an older TPM version and an unsupported CPU. For details, see this Microsoft support document: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fwindows\u002Fways-to-install-windows-11-e0edbbfb-cfc5-4011-868b-2ce77ac7c70e\"\u003E\"Ways to install Windows 11.\"\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom the Device Security page in the Windows Security app, you can check both of these settings. If you see entries for Security Processor and Secure Boot, you're good to go. If one or both of those entries are missing, you'll need to go into the device's firmware settings to re-enable the setting. Although there are advanced configurations in which you might need to disable Secure Boot for troubleshooting purposes, it's best to leave this setting alone.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFinally, set up a Windows Hello PIN and enable biometric authentication if your device has a fingerprint reader or an infrared camera that supports facial recognition.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"08b8eb2b-f36d-4f2c-be79-53e133877c03\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETurn on BitLocker encryption for all data drives.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBack up your encryption keys.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBack up data files to the cloud.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBack up critical data files to local storage.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Fol\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReplacing a stolen laptop is inconvenient and expensive. Dealing with lost or stolen data is a nightmare. Physical security has its own challenges, but when it comes to keeping your data secure, you have two key goals:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEncrypt your data files.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EIf your computer or storage device is stolen, the thief can't access your files that are protected with robust encryption and a strong password.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBack up your data files.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EWith a good backup plan, you can restore files that are lost or damaged (even if the cause is hardware failure) and get back to work with a minimum of downtime.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThose precautions are especially important for files containing sensitive personal or financial information for customers or clients. If you work in a regulated industry or you're subject to data breach laws, the impact is even worse.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"What's the best way to protect data files?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe single most important configuration change you can make is to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-10-experts-guide-everything-you-need-to-know-about-bitlocker\u002F\"\u003Eenable BitLocker Device Encryption\u003C\u002Fa\u003E on the system drive and on all secondary drives, including USB flash drives. (BitLocker is the brand name that Microsoft uses for the encryption tools available in business editions of Windows. BitLocker features are identical on Windows 10 and Windows 11.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-encrypt-your-email-and-why-you-should\u002F\"\u003EHow to encrypt your email (and why you should)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith BitLocker enabled, every bit of data on the device is encrypted using the XTS-AES standard. BitLocker uses the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip to store the encryption keys.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe steps to turn on encryption features are different depending on which edition of Windows is installed:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWindows 10\u002F11 Home: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EThis edition supports strong device encryption, but only if you're signed in with a Microsoft account. It doesn't allow the management of a BitLocker device.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWindows 10\u002F11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EThese business editions provide full access to BitLocker management tools. For full management capabilities, you'll need to set up BitLocker using an Active Directory account on a Windows domain or an Entra ID (formerly known as Azure Active Directory) account. On an unmanaged device running a business edition of Windows, you can set up BitLocker using a local account or a Microsoft account, but you'll need to use the BitLocker Management tools to enable encryption on available drives.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt is crucial that you backup the recovery key for a BitLocker-encrypted drive. In the event that you ever have to reinstall Windows or experience account problems, you'll need that 48-digit number to access the data.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you sign in with a Microsoft account, the BitLocker recovery key is saved in OneDrive by default. You can access it by signing in at \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fonedrive.com\u002Frecoverykey\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eonedrive.com\u002Frecoverykey\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. I recommend that you print a copy of that key and file it in a safe place, just in case.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn a managed PC using a domain or Entra ID account, the recovery key is saved in a location that is available to the domain or Entra ID administrator. On a personal device, you can use the Manage BitLocker app to save or print a copy of that recovery key.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fdont-make-this-usb-mistake-protect-your-data-with-this-encrypted-gadget-instead\u002F\"\u003EDon't make this USB mistake, protect your data with this encrypted gadget instead\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDon't forget to encrypt portable storage devices. USB flash drives, MicroSD cards used as expansion storage, and portable hard drives are easily lost, but the data can be protected from prying eyes with the use of BitLocker To Go, which uses a password to decrypt the drive's contents. For details, see \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-10-tip-protect-removable-storage-devices-with-bitlocker-encryption\u002F\"\u003E\"Protect removable storage devices with BitLocker encryption\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\")\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFinally, make sure that crucial data files are backed up to the cloud and to local storage (on an encrypted drive, naturally). This precaution can be invaluable if you suffer a disk crash, and it's also excellent protection against \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-ransomware-everything-you-need-to-know-and-how-to-reduce-your-risk\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eransomware attacks\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you're concerned about putting sensitive files in the cloud, encrypt those files using third-party software such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.boxcryptor.com\u002F\"\u003EBoxcryptor\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. OneDrive offers a Personal Vault feature that requires extra verification to access files stored there; Dropbox has a similar feature called \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dropbox.com\u002Ffeatures\u002Fsecurity\u002Fvault\"\u003EDropbox Vault\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"bcfbb3de-e8e3-49a2-9bd2-d62feab26125\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConfigure security software.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConfigure anti-spam protection.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EManage which apps standard user accounts are allowed to run.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Fol\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESecurity software is one layer in a defensive strategy designed to keep threats from ever reaching a PC. It's no longer the most important layer, but it's still crucial to have up-to-date security software.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEvery installation of Windows 10 and Windows 11 includes built-in antivirus, anti-malware software called Microsoft Defender Antivirus, which updates itself using the same mechanism as Windows Update. Microsoft Defender Antivirus is designed to be a set-it-and-forget-it feature and doesn't require any manual configuration. If you install a \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-antivirus\u002F" target="_blank"\u003Ethird-party security package\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, Windows disables the built-in protection and allows that software to detect and remove potential threats.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002F9-top-mobile-security-threats-and-how-you-can-avoid-them\u002F"\u003E9 top mobile security threats and how you can avoid them\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo check the status of Microsoft Defender Antivirus, use the Virus &amp; Threat Protection page in the Windows Security app. (You'll find ransomware protection options under the Controlled Folder Access heading.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELarge organizations that use Windows Enterprise edition can deploy&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fdocs.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fwindows\u002Fsecurity\u002Fthreat-protection\u002Fmicrosoft-defender-atp\u002Fmicrosoft-defender-advanced-threat-protection" target="_blank"\u003EMicrosoft Defender for Endpoint\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, a security platform that monitors Windows 11 PCs and other managed devices using behavioral sensors. Using cloud-based analytics, these tools can identify suspicious behavior and alert administrators to potential threats.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor smaller businesses, the most important challenge is to prevent malicious code from reaching the PC in the first place. Microsoft's SmartScreen technology is another built-in feature that scans downloads and blocks the execution of those that are known to be malicious. The SmartScreen technology also blocks unrecognized programs but allows the user to override those settings if necessary.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Ftheres-been-a-big-rise-in-phishing-attacks-this-one-worked\u002F"\u003EThere's been a big rise in phishing attacks. This one worked\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's worth noting that SmartScreen in Windows works independently of browser-based technology such as \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-the-new-enhanced-safe-browsing-for-gmail-and-should-you-enable-it\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EGoogle's Safe Browsing service\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and the SmartScreen Filter service in Microsoft Edge.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn unmanaged PCs, SmartScreen is another feature that requires no manual configuration. You can adjust its configuration using the App &amp; Browser Control settings in the Windows Security app.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother crucial vector for managing potentially malicious code is email, where seemingly innocuous file attachments and links to malicious websites can result in infection. Although \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-email-hosting\u002F" target="_blank"\u003Eemail client software\u003C\u002Fa\u003E can offer some protection in this regard, blocking these threats at the server level is the most effective way to prevent attacks on PCs.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn effective approach for preventing users with standard accounts from running unwanted programs (including malicious code) is to configure a Windows PC so it's prevented from running any apps except those you specifically authorize. To adjust these settings on a single PC, go to&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ESettings &gt; Apps &gt; Apps &amp; Features\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E; under the&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EChoose Where To Get Apps\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;heading, select&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Microsoft Store Only\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. This setting allows previously installed apps to run, but prevents installation of any downloaded programs from outside the Store. (Note that many traditional desktop programs, including consumer favorites like VLC Media Player and iTunes, are now available from the Microsoft Store.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How do I protect my Windows 11 PC from malicious software?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"21f7679f-7785-46c3-b7e8-5bb9d669bf6e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUse a hardware firewall.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELeave the Windows firewall turned on.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProtect your Wi-Fi account.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Fol\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe gateway for your cable, fiber, DSL, or other wired internet connection should include a firewall feature that prevents outsiders from connecting to PCs that are on your internal network. Check the management interface for that device (access is typically through a web-based portal that connects to a private IP address like 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.1). Make sure those security features are enabled, and consider changing the default administrative credentials (admin\u002Fpassword is common) to something more secure.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEvery version of Windows shipped in the past two decades has included a stateful inspection firewall. In Windows 10 and Windows 11, this firewall is enabled by default and doesn't need any tweaking to be effective. The Windows firewall supports three different network configurations: Domain, Private, and Public. Apps that need access to network resources can generally configure themselves as part of the initial setup.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.techrepublic.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-turn-on-the-microsoft-windows-10-firewall-and-modify-its-configuration-settings\u002F" target="_blank"\u003Eadjust basic Windows firewall settings\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, use the Firewall &amp; Network Protection tab in the Windows Security app. For a far more comprehensive, expert-only set of configuration tools, click&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EAdvanced Settings\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;to open the legacy Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security console. On managed networks, these settings can be controlled through a combination of Group Policy and server-side settings.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-travel-vpn\u002F"\u003EThe best travel VPNs, tested and reviewed\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom a security standpoint, the biggest network-based threats to a Windows PC arise when connecting to wireless networks. Large organizations can significantly improve the security of wireless connections by adding&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002F1.ieee802.org\u002Fsecurity\u002F802-1x\u002F" target="_blank"\u003Esupport for the 802.1x standard\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, which uses access controls instead of shared passwords as in WPA2 wireless networks. Windows 10 and Windows 11 will prompt for a username and password when attempting to connect to this type of network and will reject unauthorized connections. On networks that use a shared password, make sure that visitors connect to a separate guest network.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor times when you must connect using an untrusted wireless network, the best alternative is to set up a virtual private network (VPN). Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 support the most popular VPN packages used on corporate networks; to configure this type of connection, go to \u003Cstrong\u003ESettings\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E &gt; \u003Cstrong\u003ENetwork &amp; Internet\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E &gt; \u003Cstrong\u003EVPN\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. Small businesses and individuals can choose from a variety of \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-vpn\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EWindows-compatible third-party VPN services\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"What's the best way to prevent attacks over the network?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"02e0bbff-86ed-4288-bee3-69282ce80f89\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F02e0bbff-86ed-4288-bee3-69282ce80f89\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2023-10-25 02:45:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The best time to start thinking about security for the PCs on your network is right now. With the help of our step-by-step guide, investing a few minutes each week will keep you well-defended.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"80448eb6-1060-427b-a961-f624253b581e",image:{id:"56f1c9d3-a4d6-4e55-b8b4-a6a6a32c88d8",filename:"gettyimages-1339965930.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2023-10-23 17:23:59",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Window security",credits:"d3sign\u002FGetty Images",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F10\u002F23\u002F56f1c9d3-a4d6-4e55-b8b4-a6a6a32c88d8\u002Fgettyimages-1339965930.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2121,height:1414,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"guide",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Services & Software^Operating Systems^Windows",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"windows-security-how-to-protect-your-home-and-small-business-pcs",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Windows security: How to protect your home and small business PCs",topic:{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"1048432a-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"enterprise-software",name:"Enterprise Software",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"113c25b6-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"security",name:"Security",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"41040cf0-0abb-4cd0-aad1-1cb0e38b334c",slug:"windows-11",name:"Windows 11",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"5a09f531-5d09-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57",slug:"windows-10",name:"Windows 10",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"f2d97ea2-8175-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Adrian",lastName:"Kingsley-Hughes",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2",filename:"adrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 14:59:32",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2\u002Fadrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over two decades to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera. Adrian has authored\u002Fco-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include 'Build the Ultimate Custom PC', 'Beginning Programming' and 'The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide'. He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"e88633e3-e3a5-4d6e-810a-2e6eda2926aa\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Narumon Bowonkitwanchai\u002FGetty\" data-image-alt-text=\"The close up image of the CPU and motherboard\" data-image-filename=\"gettyimages-1298117700.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F11\u002F08\" data-image-width=\"2122\" data-image-height=\"1412\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you want to carry out some PC upgrades -- maybe add \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-ram\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emore RAM\u003C\u002Fa\u003E or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-gaming-cpu\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Echange a CPU\u003C\u002Fa\u003E -- then it's a good idea to know what CPU and motherboard are at the heart of your system. Knowing this means you know what components you need for an upgrade.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthis-thumb-sized-accessory-gave-my-old-pc-an-instant-speed-boost\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDoes your old PC need a speed boost? This thumb-sized accessory did the trick for me\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, how do you find out what's inside your PC? Well, fortunately, there are several easy ways to find out.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow to identify your CPU\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"09d94c88-63b0-4b15-a2c6-452aaf89b2b1\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EProbably the quickest and easiest way to find out what motherboard you have is to use the built-in tools. This approach works for most PCs.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPress Windows + R to open the Run dialog box, and when it opens, type "msinfo32" and then hit Enter.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe System information application should open and display everything you need to know about your PC.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"1. Using the tools built in to Windows\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2051361\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"d192f1a7-7f81-4f03-ba13-979dd74db2e5\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EAnother way to do this task is to download and install \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cpuid.com\u002Fsoftwares\u002Fcpu-z.html" target="_blank"\u003ECPUID\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, an app that gives in-depth info about your PC.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-replace-windows-with-linux-mint-on-your-pc\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EHow to replace Windows with Linux Mint on your PC\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis tool does a lot more than tell you what CPU you have. For example, it can tell you the:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EProcessor name and number, codename, process, package, and cache levels\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMainboard and chipset\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMemory type, size, timings, and module specifications&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EReal-time measurement of each core's internal frequency, and memory frequency\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\" data-hed=\"2. Use CPUID\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow to identify your motherboard\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"aa81c835-fb00-46a9-aa9e-1216dbf204e6\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIf you have a Windows PC, the quickest and easiest way to find out what motherboard you have is to use the built-in tools. This approach works for most PCs out there.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPress Windows + R to open the Run dialog box, and when it opens, type "msinfo32" and then hit Enter.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe System information application should open and display everything you need to know about your PC.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"1. Using the tools built in to Windows\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou're looking for three lines specifically:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBaseBoard Manufacturer - The manufacturer of the motherboard\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBaseBoard Product - The name of the motherboard\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBaseBoard Version - The version number of the motherboard\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETyping these details into a search engine will likely bring up the information you're looking for about the motherboard in your PC.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a38f099f-d96f-4a67-b676-bcdd0b45b27b\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EAs pointed out above, \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cpuid.com\u002Fsoftwares\u002Fcpu-z.html" target="_blank"\u003ECPUID\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is a handy utility that provides a deep dive into your system info. The tool can also give you information about the motherboard inside your system.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"2. Use CPUID\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a51ef308-d417-4530-bd98-1a06a8d98b4d\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWhether you bought your PC ready-made or built it yourself, your PC likely came with information about the motherboard and other components. If you built it yourself, you will have a manual for the motherboard (either a physical one, an electronic copy, or information on where to find an electronic copy).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe motherboard's manual is a veritable treasure trove of information about your PC. It's one of those manuals that's worth keeping. Beyond just telling you what motherboard you have, the manual says what RAM and CPU it supports, explains what error codes or beeps mean, and how to update the motherboard's firmware.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-get-a-free-windows-or-linux-recovery-image-for-your-dell-hp-lenovo-or-microsoft-surface-pc\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EHow to get a free Windows (or Linux) recovery image for your Dell, HP, Lenovo, or Microsoft Surface PC\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile I generally put manuals straight into the recycling bin, I always keep motherboard manuals for future reference.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you know what motherboard you have and need its manual, type the name into a search engine and go to the manufacturer's website -- the manual should be available there.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"3. Check the documentation that came with your PC\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"4dba0d88-f7c0-4dd8-be98-1b27f6e0b9cb\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIf a PC is dead or won't boot up, and I want to know what the motherboard is, so that I can order replacement parts, this is when I turn to a visual inspection. Motherboards usually have the manufacturer or name printed on them somewhere.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"4. Visual inspection\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, take this \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"277d0a59-5591-4509-b677-6bb75c6c2a4f\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FASUS-ROG-II-motherboard-front-panel\u002Fdp\u002FB0CJMQ2S5M\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FASUS-Z690-Creator-Content-Motherboard-Thunderbolt\u002Fdp\u002FB09K92GRQF?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, which has the name printed next to the CPU socket:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"c24bdaea-0e2c-4a85-810f-1334a3f2b83c\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EMotherboards usually have the manufacturer or name printed on them.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"ASUS\" data-image-alt-text=\"A motherboard\" data-image-filename=\"asus-rog-strix-z790-e.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F08\u002F02\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"900\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"enabled\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's all there is to it. Good luck searching for the info you need.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"635210bb-41ff-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F635210bb-41ff-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2024-08-05 09:08:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"If you want to upgrade components inside your PC, it's good to know what CPU and motherboard are at the heart of your system.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"2df2c767-a208-4af7-b2cf-069e1ca285fa",image:{id:"e88633e3-e3a5-4d6e-810a-2e6eda2926aa",filename:"gettyimages-1298117700.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-11-08 17:31:24",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"adobestock-18088355",credits:"Getty \u002F Narumon Bowonkitwanchai",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F11\u002F08\u002Fe88633e3-e3a5-4d6e-810a-2e6eda2926aa\u002Fgettyimages-1298117700.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2122,height:1412,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"how-to",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"How to identify your CPU and motherboard quickly and easily",section:c,slug:"what-cpu-and-motherboard-do-i-have",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"What CPU and motherboard do I have? Here are some fast and easy ways to find out",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d}],componentLabel:"Practical tips, tricks, and advice for getting things done",description:b,filters:b,paging:b,slug:"dynamic-topic-3-story-carousel-how-to",title:"How-to Guides",label:b,viewMoreText:b,viewMoreUrl:b,relatedItems:b},{id:"58d3384f-a0d7-4628-acc1-a44626a03c4e",meta:{componentName:"58d3384f-a0d7-4628-acc1-a44626a03c4e",componentDisplayName:"Analysis & Opinion",componentType:"ContentList"},metadata:{},links:{self:{href:"https:\u002F\u002Fbender.cnetstatic.com\u002Fapi\u002Fneutron\u002Fcomponents\u002Fzdnet\u002Flisting\u002Fdynamic_listing\u002F58d3384f-a0d7-4628-acc1-a44626a03c4e\u002Fweb?searchBy=id&topicSlug=pcs&componentType=ContentList&componentName=58d3384f-a0d7-4628-acc1-a44626a03c4e"}},items:[{author:{id:"b2be23e0-8175-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"sbisson",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Simon",lastName:"Bisson",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e10a5d19-7f20-47e6-874d-5549bd666fde",filename:"simonbisson.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2016-11-21 11:51:18",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2016\u002F11\u002F21\u002Fe10a5d19-7f20-47e6-874d-5549bd666fde\u002Fsimonbisson.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Born on the Channel Island of Jersey, Simon moved to the UK to attend the University of Bath where he studied electrical and electronic engineering. Since then a varied career has included being part of the team building the world's first solid state 30KW HF radio transmitter, writing electromagnetic modelling software for railguns, and testing the first ADSL equipment in the UK. He also built one the UK's first national ISPs, before spending several years developing architectures for large online services for many major brands.\r\n\r\nFor the last decade he's been a freelance writer, specialising in enterprise technologies and development. He works with his wife and writing partner Mary Branscombe from a small house in south west London, or from anywhere there's a WiFi signal and a place for a laptop.",profile:b,title:c,bio:c,bureau:"AU",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"ce5c66e4-c347-4696-b9d3-3491e6541599\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EUbuntu 22.04 LTS running on a Surface Go.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Image: Simon Bisson\" data-image-alt-text=\"Ubuntu running on a Surface Go\" data-image-filename=\"img-9570.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"2173\" data-image-height=\"1965\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe original Surface Go is a nice little tablet that squeezes a lot out of a low-power Pentium-class processor and a 10\" display. It's light and portable, the ideal form factor for a device that you put in a bag, ready to pull out and use whenever and wherever. And with three generations of hardware, the original version is nice and cheap on the second-hand market, one of the better value Surfaces around.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut it does have its limits. For one thing, while it has a TPM, its processor isn't supported for Windows 11. So how do you squeeze more life out of a device that will drop out of support in a couple of years, as Microsoft winds down Windows 10? The answer is a simple one: run Linux on it.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"26d1d292-1768-4c56-bd62-dbc463199bfa\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F26d1d292-1768-4c56-bd62-dbc463199bfa\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOf course, some things are easier said than done. Microsoft uses a lot of custom hardware in its Surface devices. Yes, you can run a standard Linux kernel, but you're going to want more than that. Luckily for us there's \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgithub.com\u002Flinux-surface\u002Flinux-surface\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethe GitHub-hosted Linux Surface\u003C\u002Fa\u003E project, which has built a Surface-optimised kernel that's a drop-in replacement for most existing distros.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESEE: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fferen-os-is-a-linux-distribution-that-is-as-lovely-as-it-is-easy-to-use\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFeren OS is a Linux distribution that is as lovely as it is easy to use\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo then, Linux it is. But which distro? After a bit of research, I found that Ubuntu or similar would be my best option. The Surface Go might not have all the security features required by Windows 11, but like most Windows devices since the launch of Windows 8, it uses secure boot to protect your data. That means using Linux that comes with the appropriate code-signing certificate, unless you want to spend time getting into the Surface UEFI settings and turning off most of the hardware security features – and then going through a relatively complex process to get Linux installed and booting.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESEE: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-i-revived-three-ancient-laptops-with-chrome-os-flex\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHow I revived three ancient computers with ChromeOS Flex\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith Ubuntu I was able to download the latest 22.04 LTS release, before using the familiar Rufus bootable USB creation tool to turn the downloaded ISO into a live USB stick with support for GPT UEFI systems. It helped to have a USB C stick to hand, as the Surface Go only has one USB C port, and there can be issues installing Linux through a USB hub.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGetting installed was easy enough. I started from the Recovery section on the Update screen in Windows 10's Settings app, where I chose to use Advanced startup. This gives you the option of booting your device from a USB device, in this case my Ubuntu live image. With my USB drive inserted I was given the option of booting using Linpus Lite. It's not actually the Linpus distro, it's a bug in the Surface UEFI bootloaders that identify any bootable grub-based Linux media as Linpus. Click it to start the Ubuntu install, first launching a Linux environment, so you can see how it will look on your Surface.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile you can set up dual boot, repartitioning the Surface Go drive, the small size of its eMMC or SSD drives makes it easier to simply wipe Windows and start from scratch with a fresh install. Ubuntu will partition and format the drive for you as part of the install process, switching from Windows' NTFS to Linux's ext4 file system.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESEE: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-create-users-and-groups-in-linux-from-the-command-line\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHow to create users and groups in Linux from the command line\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere was one minor problem here: the Surface Go's 10\" screen isn't fully supported by the Ubuntu installer. As you go through the steps of setting up a wireless network, choosing a keyboard language, and configuring a time zone, you will find yourself having to use tab to get to the button needed to progress to the next step. Alternatively, you can turn your tablet on its side and use touch to drag the buttons into view. Usefully Linux support for the Surface Go touch screen is available right from the start, simplifying using your Surface as a tablet during install rather than having to work with a Surface Go Type Cover keyboard.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce Ubuntu is configured and installed, your Surface will reboot. You can remove the USB stick at this point. After booting for the first time Ubuntu will be working at the Surface Go's native resolution but using 200% scaling. I recommend using the display properties tooling in the Ubuntu settings app to switch to using fractional scaling and run at a more appropriate 125% or 150% scaling. You should next make sure that everything is up to date, using the familiar Debian apt tooling, before installing a custom Surface kernel.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Linux Surface GitHub repo is your next port of call. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgithub.com\u002Flinux-surface\u002Flinux-surface\u002Fwiki\u002FInstallation-and-Setup\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHere you'll find instructions on how to install the latest kernel\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, headers, and key dependencies, including a set of drivers for the Surface touchscreen.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESEE: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Flinux-mint-21-arrives-heres-whats-new\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELinux Mint 21 arrives. Here's what's new\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can copy and paste the commands needed into the Ubuntu terminal, following the instructions for Debian-based Linuxes. First get the keys used to sign packages, before configuring Ubuntu to use the Linux Surface repositories. With these in place, you'll next download and install the new kernel, enabling the screen drivers, and finally downloading the new kernel's secure boot key. This displays instructions in the terminal, so follow them carefully to install the key before updating the grub bootloader and rebooting your Surface.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"237727a2-a280-42de-bf79-464abaaa290e\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EChecking to see that the Surface-optimized kernel has been installed using neofetch.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Image: Simon Bisson\" data-image-alt-text=\"Checking to see that the Surface-optimized kernel has been installed.\" data-image-filename=\"screenshot-from-2022-08-03-10-23-53.png\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"1800\" data-image-height=\"1200\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou should now have a custom Linux kernel running in Ubuntu. Install and use the familiar neofetch to get details of your system, checking that the kernel version includes the string \"surface\".\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELinux runs well on the Surface Go; it's quick and efficient, with good battery life and support for almost all your device's hardware. Unfortunately the 'almost' all means that out the box there's no support for its cameras. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgithub.com\u002Flinux-surface\u002Flinux-surface\u002Fwiki\u002FCamera-Support\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThat means having to compile experimental drivers as part of libcam\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Again, there are instructions in the Linux Surface GitHub repository, along with commands that can be pasted into the terminal. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESEE: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-create-linux-virtual-machine-with-virtualbox\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHow to create a Linux virtual machine with VirtualBox\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI did find that not all the required packages installed as part of the provided apt command. That was because they had their own prerequisites, and so needed to be installed separately. Once installed, I could clone the libcamera git repository and build the camera drivers. And once the drivers are installed, you'll have access to both front and rear cameras from any application that uses libcamera or gstreamer.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"2d8af398-455c-4fb1-bc8b-73f59ad1725d\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EConfiguring Surface Pen support in Ubuntu.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Image: Simon Bisson\" data-image-alt-text=\"Configuring Surface Pen support in Ubuntu\" data-image-filename=\"screenshot-from-2022-08-03-10-31-33.png\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"1800\" data-image-height=\"1200\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe whole process, including compiling the camera drivers, took about an hour. Out the box Ubuntu 22.04 includes the LibreOffice suite, with Firefox as the default browser. I decided to install Microsoft's own Edge as an alternative, using it to host PWAs for Outlook, OneDrive, and Twitter, giving me a basic set of tools that should be enough if I want to throw a lightweight tablet into my backpack, just in case. There's even pen support, using a version of the Ubuntu Wacom tablet drivers that have been modified to support Microsoft's Surface pen protocol. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERunning Linux on older hardware like this definitely gives it a new lease of life, and a long-term future beyond Microsoft's support schedules. It's a process that schools and businesses can use to revitalise hardware that would otherwise be scrapped, bringing older hardware out of retirement, ready for tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"73acd149-be52-4594-aa01-295e1bc9507b\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F73acd149-be52-4594-aa01-295e1bc9507b\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-08-04 12:03:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Can you take an old Surface and run modern Linux on it?",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"051c0ad4-d935-4ee3-8b17-330ecf9f97c1",image:{id:"ce5c66e4-c347-4696-b9d3-3491e6541599",filename:"img-9570.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-03 11:32:40",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Ubuntu running on a Surface Go",credits:"Simon Bisson",caption:"\u003Cp\u003EUbuntu 22.04 LTS running on a Surface Go\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F03\u002Fce5c66e4-c347-4696-b9d3-3491e6541599\u002Fimg-9570.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2173,height:1965,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"how-i-put-linux-on-a-microsoft-surface-go-in-just-an-hour",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"How I put Linux on a Microsoft Surface Go - in just an hour",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10f422bf-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"open-source",name:"Open Source",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"c5f3e698-8175-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"mary.branscombe",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Mary",lastName:"Branscombe",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"7e874878-1175-11e4-9732-00505685119a",filename:"mary-branscombe.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2014-07-22 07:55:06",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2014\u002F07\u002F22\u002F7e874878-1175-11e4-9732-00505685119a\u002Fmary-branscombe.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Mary Branscombe is a freelance tech journalist. Mary has been a technology writer for nearly two decades, covering everything from early versions of Windows and Office to the first smartphones, the arrival of the web and most things inbetween.",profile:b,title:c,bio:c,bureau:"AU",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"8ba744c4-4d65-4af3-ae17-f10a03f148ed\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Image: Microsoft\" data-image-alt-text=\"surface-laptop-studio-hero.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"surface-laptop-studio-hero.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F03\u002F10\" data-image-width=\"770\" data-image-height=\"433\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a laptop, the Surface Laptop Studio is a giant, glorious PC. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe screen is big and beautiful. The trackpad is big. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"d2c8d2e3-a125-48c1-b8aa-af507b069739\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fd2c8d2e3-a125-48c1-b8aa-af507b069739\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe keyboard feels a bit bouncy; as you type the keys almost spring back up, which makes it feel like there's more travel than there actually is. The keyboard keys are boring grey plastic rather than the metallic look of the Surface Book keyboard, but you may find that higher contrast, especially if you use the keyboard backlight. The camera copes better with the brightness of the window I sit in front of in the office than any other Surface I've tried.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut the hinge is the clever bit. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt opens and closes like a laptop, but when you push on the top corners, the screen folds forward – at an angle over the keyboard (rather like an artist's easel) or all the way down as a tablet. Or you can stop the fold halfway down and – like origami or a Victorian children's toy – flip it back so the screen is facing the other way. That's great for giving a presentation where you want everyone else to see your screen, or watching a movie where you want the screen upright on a table but you don't need it to be an extra laptop-length away. I think of it like the movie screen at a drive-in, just hanging there in space. If you still get on planes, it will be great for watching movies.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESEE: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmake-time-for-casual-collisions-six-ways-to-stay-productive-with-remote-work\u002F#link=%7B%22linkText%22:%22Six%20ways%20to%20stay%20productive%20when%20working%20remote%22,%22target%22:%22_blank%22,%22href%22:%22https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmake-time-for-casual-collisions-six-ways-to-stay-productive-with-remote-work\u002F%22,%22role%22:%22standard%22,%22absolute%22:%22%22%7D\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESix ways to stay productive when working remote\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou could do the same thing on the Surface Book by pulling the screen off and putting it back the other way round, but it was certainly more fiddly.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo far, so clever and my colleague Simon Bisson is \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-surface-laptop-studio-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ea big fan of the flexibility of the Surface Laptop Studio\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut some things are sacrificed to have the sleek 'nothing but the screen' surface. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's also more like a mini version of the Surface Studio than an actual tablet, because the expanse of screen is effective but not necessarily portable. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo finish dinner while catching the final After Hours session on the first day of Build, I flipped the Surface Laptop Studio flat like a tablet and carried it into the kitchen. But then I wanted to be able to see the screen from across the room, so I pulled the screen back up and then flipped it over in front of the keyboard. That was great for watching the video, but the sound level that worked in the office was much too loud in the kitchen – and when I reached for the volume controls I expected to find on the side of the screen they weren't there, so I had to flip the screen back into laptop mode to use the keyboard controls. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReally, it would have been easier just to carry a laptop with me and not have the expectations that it would have all the controls I expected on a tablet.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor drawing on screen or writing into OneNote, the pen haptics are supposed to make the experience much more like writing on real paper – and signing my tax documents in Word did feel very smooth and comfortable. But then, doing the same thing on the screen of the Surface Laptop 4 using the new pen had very much the same feel (though obviously without the convenience of being able to fold the keyboard out of the way to do it). And while the screen is gorgeous and the pen smooth as silk, the bulk, heft and weight of the Laptop Studio felt very like the old days of Tablet PCs when balancing an HP or Toshiba tablet in one hand so you could write on it was as hard on the wrist as dragging around a heavy hardback book. This is a long way from the Surface Pro – or pulling the screen off a Surface Book to use as a tablet, which I do about once a week, even around the office.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere isn't a pen well, just a magnet that holds the pen under a lip that would otherwise make the device extremely uncomfortable to hold one-handed. Because the pen is there, you stop trying to pick it up and hold it by that edge, and while the other edges aren't gently rounded the way something you want to hold usually is, they're at least slightly more comfortable to grip. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBetween the pandemic and the 1.8kg weight, I haven't taken the Laptop Studio out and about so I can't tell if the magnet would hold the pen in place in a backpack or the trays going through airport security, where I've lost more than one Surface pen in the past.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother thing I miss from the Surface Book is the angle you get when you flip the screen round to tablet mode; it's maybe not as steep as a traditional drafting table, but just the little lift is really nice for drawing on. With the screen down, the Laptop Studio is just flat.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPerhaps because of Windows 11 (I left it running the shipping version rather than an Insider preview), I had a lot more trouble with the graphics, having to restart more than once because of corruption on the display; if you have similar problems, install the Intel driver utility. It was also more prone to wake up after restarting with the fan running and feeling more like a lap heater than a laptop than any Surface in recent memory. I could get the same effect by asking the (now very limited) Photos app to index my many gigabytes of pictures on OneDrive. That's not ideal for Microsoft's premium hardware device, but it's more of a complaint about Windows 11 than about a laptop distinguished by how very clever its hinge is.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"23481468-2032-4660-84e1-522a46107b4f\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"surface-laptop-studio-hero.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Microsoft","imageData":{"id":"8ba744c4-4d65-4af3-ae17-f10a03f148ed","filename":"surface-laptop-studio-hero.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F03\u002F10\u002F8ba744c4-4d65-4af3-ae17-f10a03f148ed\u002Fsurface-laptop-studio-hero.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-03-10 10:53:26","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"8ba744c4-4d65-4af3-ae17-f10a03f148ed","imageFilename":"surface-laptop-studio-hero.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F03\u002F10"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Microsoft\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fstore\u002Fconfigure\u002FSurface-Laptop-Studio\u002F8SRDF62SWKPF\" data-offermerchant=\"Microsoft\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA game of two screens\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe hinge is also what marks out Microsoft's Surface Duo from other folding phones and the comparison between the two devices is instructive. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn the Surface Duo you definitely have two screens rather than one large one – with the option of dropping back to just one screen if you want to do something that fits better, like using the keyboard with both thumbs. You can drag an app to fill the whole screen but so far, I haven't stopped noticing the dividing hinge: if I'm solving a jigsaw it's nice to put the pieces on one side and the puzzle I'm building on the other, but a photo or video looks sliced in half. Most times, I want to have two apps open, like email and the document I open from the message (I'd like to have Twitter in one screen and web pages I open from tweets in the other, but Twitter doesn't understand the different screens and I can't always be bothered to tap through a menu to send the page to open in Edge).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen you're on a phone call, opening the screens or folding them back to back switches you between speakerphone and a more private call.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo far, so multi-tasking – but the times I most appreciate the hinge are when I don't want to hold the phone or lay it down flat. Pull the screens apart like the pages of a book and you can stand the phone on end (I do that a lot when I'm making phone calls). Pull them round a lot further further and you can stand it on its side like an easel. That's sturdy enough to stay up and let you scroll or tap on screen – just like a mini laptop (or a mini tablet with a kickstand), and handy if you want to follow a recipe. It's a shame there's no way to unlock the device with your face, though: because when it locks while you're halfway through the recipe, you have to pick the whole phone up again to get at the fingerprint sensor if you've put it down with the screen sideways. If you open it like a laptop and remember to have the sensor on top, you can at least press to unlock it again without moving it around, as long as you don't have butter on your fingers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESEE: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-windows-laptop\u002F#link=%7B%22linkText%22:%22Best%20Windows%20laptop%202022:%20Top%20notebooks%20compared%22,%22target%22:%22_blank%22,%22href%22:%22https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-windows-laptop\u002F%22,%22role%22:%22standard%22,%22absolute%22:%22%22%7D\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBest Windows laptop 2022: Top notebooks compared\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe hinge is also sturdy enough that you can fold the screens out at right angles and hang the Duo over the edge of a table or shelf. If you're working on something at ground level, or you're lying down, this is really handy and something you can't really do with any other phone. When my husband was isolating after testing positive with COVID-19, I could keep a video call open while I was kneeling down to unfold the sofa bed in the spare room, which was enormously comforting. The flexibility of the hinge is what makes the Duo shine.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI haven't yet found a situation where the clever hinge on the Surface Laptop Studio has made as much of a difference. Gorgeous as this machine is, I'd rather have the Surface Book.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"f24f8dd8-a487-4cba-b374-dc763ac6661a\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Microsoft Surface Duo 2\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"Microsoft Surface Duo 2","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Image: Microsoft","imageData":{"id":"6a930a02-ab5b-4c83-8b6f-c6a67b8880d0","filename":"microsoft-surface-duo-2-770x433.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F07\u002F14\u002F6a930a02-ab5b-4c83-8b6f-c6a67b8880d0\u002Fmicrosoft-surface-duo-2-770x433.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-07-14 12:37:28","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"6a930a02-ab5b-4c83-8b6f-c6a67b8880d0","imageFilename":"microsoft-surface-duo-2-770x433.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F07\u002F14"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Image: Microsoft\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FMicrosoft-Surface-Duo-256GB-Unlocked\u002Fdp\u002FB09H8ZWQ3V\u002Fref=sr_1_1?crid=2DYOUMGVL6HFJ&keywords=microsoft%2Bsurface%2Bduo%2B2&qid=1657801917&sprefix=microsoft%2Bsurface%2Bduo%2B2%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-1&th=1\" data-offermerchant=\"Amazon\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"1c484d26-6f31-48ab-8c73-282514bb76c1\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F1c484d26-6f31-48ab-8c73-282514bb76c1\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-07-14 14:09:34",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Clever as it is, I don't quite get the point of the Surface Laptop Studio - but the hinge is what makes the Duo special",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"95436459-13bf-477f-8404-01fbe0ee2a10",image:{id:"8ba744c4-4d65-4af3-ae17-f10a03f148ed",filename:"surface-laptop-studio-hero.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-03-10 10:53:26",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"surface-laptop-studio-hero.jpg",credits:"Microsoft",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F03\u002F10\u002F8ba744c4-4d65-4af3-ae17-f10a03f148ed\u002Fsurface-laptop-studio-hero.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:770,height:433,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"microsoft-surface-why-success-hinges-on-the-hinges",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Microsoft Surface: Why success hinges on the hinges",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"25139207-2139-4a8d-8343-bc3744208c0f",username:"RossRubin",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Ross",lastName:"Rubin",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"6a5590cf-f3c4-4e5a-aadf-99894c4e385d",filename:"rossrubinsmileweb-square.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2020-09-28 19:03:19",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2020\u002F09\u002F28\u002F6a5590cf-f3c4-4e5a-aadf-99894c4e385d\u002Frossrubinsmileweb-square.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Ross Rubin is the founder and principal analyst at Reticle Research, editor of the Reticle Research Report newsletter, and co-host of the Techspansive podcast. Ross has been an industry analyst focusing on innovation in the technology, media and telecom markets for over 20 years. Prior to founding Reticle Research, he was executive director and principal analyst at The NPD Group. Prior to NPD, he founded and developed the consumer access and technology service at Jupiter Research (acquired by Forrester Research), where he served as vice president and chief research fellow. He has written hundreds of articles and columns for publications such as CNET, Fast Company, Engadget, and ABCNews.com and is a graduate of Cornell University.",profile:b,title:c,bio:c,bureau:"AU",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cp\u003EWe will \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-10-mobile-is-over-prepare-for-final-security-patches-as-support-ends\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Enever know\u003C\u002Fa\u003E how a thriving app ecosystem on Windows 10 Mobile might have filled the hole of touch-first native Windows apps on the desktop. However, the company's acceptance of Android on mobile is on the brink of progress, with the company steadily \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-starts-rolling-out-android-apps-for-windows-11-other-new-features-to-mainstream-users\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ecracking open the door further\u003C\u002Fa\u003E to Android apps running on Windows 11. That move preceded more recent announcements by Google that it would bring Google Play Games to both Windows 10 and 11. As for Google's other operating system, the company recently rolled out the first public preview of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cnet.com\u002Ftech\u002Fcomputing\u002Fchrome-os-flex-turns-an-aging-laptop-into-a-chromebook-for-free\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EChrome OS Flex\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, its update to Neverware's body-snatching \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-switch-from-windows-7-to-chrome-os-cloudready\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECloudReady OS\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fgoogle-chrome-os-flex-supporting-macs-that-apple-has-long-forgotten\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eturned PCs and Macs into Chromebooks\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"99a9cd9f-54bf-4f53-ac7f-f1c5243e66da\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F99a9cd9f-54bf-4f53-ac7f-f1c5243e66da\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll of these initiatives offer significant limitations. For example, Microsoft's Android efforts include the constrained selection of Amazon's app store that has been relegated to the company's Fire tablets, not the de facto Google Play option familiar to over a billion users. Google will also deprive Windows users of many of its own signature apps by limiting its initial efforts to games. It's hard to see how both Microsoft and Google could dive into making Android apps available for Windows with wildly popular Android apps such as Gmail, YouTube, and the Google Workspace suite not making the journey, but such is the case. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat the two companies are pursuing their own initiatives dampens the odds that Google Play will join the Amazon Appstore as a choice for Microsoft's approach despite Microsoft's stated desire to provide multiple Android app store options. Google promoting Android apps on Windows carries exponentially more promotion weight than today's options such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Frun-android-apps-on-windows-with-bluestacks\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBluestacks\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (which supports Google Play apps beyond games) can deliver, and Google's knowledge of the apps installed on Android phones could lead them to promote those apps' Windows availability. On the other hand, having Google Play available through Microsoft's Windows Subsystem for Android would allow tighter integration into the setup process. Let's hope the rival approaches don't lead to the kind of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fgoogle-is-really-annoyed-youre-using-microsoft-edge\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Edigital goading\u003C\u002Fa\u003E we experience in the turf war between the Edge and Chrome browsers. (Maybe they can bond more over Microsoft removing more \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fout-of-office-the-confusing-removal-of-microsofts-chrome-os-android-office-app\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eapps from Google Play on Chrome OS\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs for Chrome OS Flex, Google's promotion of it to business customers (It is hosted on the Chrome Enterprise portal) represents an upgraded positioning versus that of CloudReady. It represents return fire in the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-google-is-continuing-to-chip-away-at-microsofts-productivity-dominance\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ebattle for business customers\u003C\u002Fa\u003E after Microsoft finally unveiled an alternative for those in Chrome OS's education stronghold in \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fpc-makers-take-the-wraps-off-windows-11-se-devices-for-education\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWindows 11 SE\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. (While Chrome OS Flex will presumably be available to anyone via download as CloudReady has been, Windows 11 SE is available only through the education channel.) Google plays up Chrome OS's manageability and security as an upgrade versus its operation on low-end hardware; for many consumers, CloudReady was the final lap of the PC lifecycle. Of course, as Flex progresses and offers such advantages as being on the same upgrade cycle as Chrome OS proper, having it run on more powerful business-focused PCs should provide a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fon-the-go-and-at-home-hp-branches-out-in-chrome-os-line-expansion\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ebetter user experience\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESee also: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fandroid-on-windows-11-is-it-worth-the-effort\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAndroid on Windows 11: Is it worth the effort?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile these limitations and competitive approaches may slow the impact, the cumulative effect of a growing Android and Chrome OS presence on Windows can only bolster Google's influence on the platform; for example, the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fgoogle-announces-android-12l-designed-specifically-for-tablets-and-foldable-phones\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Elarge-screen features introduced in Android 12L\u003C\u002Fa\u003E would improve the experience of Android apps on Windows devices. While this does little to calm the nerves of those who have accused Microsoft of lowering its prioritization of Windows, it's consistent with the message of openness that Microsoft played up in its introduction of Windows 11 and has recently revisited in the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-outlines-app-store-principles-ahead-of-the-kick-off-of-the-activision-regulatory-reviews\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eapp store principles\u003C\u002Fa\u003E it has shared following the launch of its \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-makes-its-biggest-acquisition-buying-game-developer-activision-blizzard-for-68-7-billion\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Etakeover bid for Activision Blizzard\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. While Microsoft may not be encouraging Google's move to bring Android games to Windows, Google would never be able to launch such a store on, say, the iPad (a hypothetical in that there would be no case for doing so).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn contrast, by the end of this year, Windows 11 users will be able to choose from at least two Android-based app stores (in addition to sideloading support) and should be able to continue using many of their apps years in the future when the current version of Windows becomes too much for their aging architectures to bear.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"1c484d26-6f31-48ab-8c73-282514bb76c1\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F1c484d26-6f31-48ab-8c73-282514bb76c1\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-02-28 22:26:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Rival efforts by both Microsoft and Google to bring Android apps to Windows, as well as Google's pitch to \"upgrade\" PCs from Windows to Chrome OS, are awkwardly increasing Google's influence on the PC.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"5dcc85b3-c560-4ca6-9766-87365e0d7e90",image:{id:"120ce3e8-a4c8-4d15-baaf-75335c8da183",filename:"istock-1154834209.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2020-04-30 17:34:19",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Google office building in the Company's campus in Silicon Valley",credits:"SUNDRY PHOTOGRAPHY \u002F Getty Images",caption:"\u003Cp\u003EJune 8, 2019 Mountain View \u002F CA \u002F USA - Google office building in the Company's campus in Silicon Valley; The \"double o's\" of the logo are decorated in rainbow colors in honor of LGBTQ Rights\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2020\u002F04\u002F30\u002F120ce3e8-a4c8-4d15-baaf-75335c8da183\u002Fistock-1154834209.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1254,height:836,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Services & Software^Operating Systems",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"the-messy-googlefication-of-the-pc",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"The messy Googlefication of the PC",topic:{id:"df75c005-715d-4ff8-82e7-88bbd1c4e6c3",slug:"operating-systems",name:"Operating Systems",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"df75c005-715d-4ff8-82e7-88bbd1c4e6c3",slug:"operating-systems",name:"Operating Systems",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"1050fa4d-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"google",name:"Google",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"a7ecc6fa-8176-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"Mary Jo Foley",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Mary Jo",lastName:"Foley",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"8215236b-63b7-491f-91ad-190439d0bf94",filename:"mary-jo-foley.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 14:57:09",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F8215236b-63b7-491f-91ad-190439d0bf94\u002Fmary-jo-foley.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Mary Jo Foley has covered the tech industry for 30 years for a variety of publications, including ZDNET, eWeek, and Baseline. She is the author of Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft plans to stay relevant in the post-Gates era (John Wiley & Sons, 2008). She also is the co-host of the \"Windows Weekly\" podcast on the TWiT network. \r\n\r\nGot a tip? Send her an email with your rants, rumors, tips, and tattles. Confidentiality guaranteed.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"a92dfe6f-b02a-4e1b-9e4e-582a550e445f\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Credit: @technosarusrex\" data-image-alt-text=\"windows11moments\" data-image-filename=\"windows11moments.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F07\u002F14\" data-image-width=\"877\" data-image-height=\"581\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJust when Windows users were getting used to the largely well-received idea of Microsoft delivering a once-yearly feature update, the company may be about to shift gears yet again. Microsoft may be moving to a schedule where \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.windowscentral.com\u002Fsoftware-apps\u002Fwindows-11\u002Fmicrosoft-moves-to-new-windows-development-cycle-with-major-release-every-three-years-feature-drops-in-between\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Enew Windows 11 features will roll out up to four times a year, and a \"major\" new release will happen every three years\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, according to a July 14 report by \u003Cem\u003EWindows Central.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003EBefore IT admins grab their pitchforks, I think this change may be more of a public-relations move than something that will have major implications for how Windows releases are supported -- which is the main issue for many IT folks when it comes to new Windows releases.\u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003EThe Windows group already started \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-heres-how-windows-11-will-get-new-features\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emuddying the updated waters\u003C\u002Fa\u003E this year. After announcing to the joy of many admins that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwith-rollout-of-21h2-microsoft-moves-windows-10-to-annual-updates\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMicrosoft would move Windows 10 and 11 to an annual feature update cadence\u003C\u002Fa\u003E with longer support terms, Chief Product Officer Panos Panay and the team made it clear that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-starts-rolling-out-android-apps-for-windows-11-other-new-features-to-mainstream-users\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethey would and could roll out new features whenever and however they wanted\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. In February this year, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-starts-rolling-out-android-apps-for-windows-11-other-new-features-to-mainstream-users\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMicrosoft rolled out a handful of new Windows 11 features simultaneously\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and outside of the promised second-half feature update.\u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWindows Central\u003C\u002Fem\u003E says that Microsoft's new plan is to roll out new features outside of major OS releases starting in 2023 as part of a new \"Moments\" engineering effort. (Even the name \"Moments\" has a very PR-ish ring to it.) These drops could happen as many as four times a year, \u003Cem\u003EWinCentral\u003C\u002Fem\u003E says. One of my contacts -- \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002Ftechosarusrex\u002Fstatus\u002F1544779223801511939\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E@techosarusrex on Twitter\u003C\u002Fa\u003E -- showed me last week his servicing search results, which revealed a possible \"Moment\" feature drop. He speculated this drop could be related to the 22622 Windows 11 test build that Microsoft made available to the beta channel last week. (See the screenshot from him embedded above in this post.) \u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003ELike \u003Cem\u003EWindows Central\u003C\u002Fem\u003E, I had heard from one of my sources that the next \"major\" release of Windows client would be known as \"Next Valley,\" or NV. (Windows 11 was codenamed \"Sun Valley,\" or SV.) \u003Cem\u003EWindows Central\u003C\u002Fem\u003E says this client release is happening in 2024 now, not next year. I have not heard a target date for it myself. \u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003EThis report has me wondering about several things, none of which I'm sure Microsoft will explain right now:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWill these servicing changes also apply to Windows 10? If not, I think Microsoft is taking a big risk, as businesses which typically don't want multiple new features delivered willy-nilly may dig in their heels and hold off moving to Windows 11 as long as possible (if ever).\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHow will these changes, if and when they happen, affect the period of time for which Microsoft will offer support for various Windows releases? I'm assuming the Moment feature drops will not trigger a new support countdown clock, as this didn't happen with the February feature drop this year. Will Microsoft actually be extending the Windows support windows, so they last up to three years, timed with new \"major\" releases\"? Many IT folks would welcome that if it were the case. \u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWill Microsoft still offer its yearly Windows feature updates for Windows 10 and 11? This year, Windows 11 22H2 is still on the calendar for some time this fall, and we believe Windows 10 22H2 will show up around the same time, even though officials have said next-to-nothing about Windows 10's update schedule (beyond the fact that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-windows-10-is-a-security-disaster-waiting-to-happen\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esupport for Windows 10 ends in October 2025\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.) From Windows Central's report, it sounds like the annual feature update schedule, announced just a year ago, may already be a thing of the past.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVendors wanting to maintain secrecy around new hardware releases is understandable. But when the majority of a company's customers are business users, similar secrecy -- especially around software and servicing -- is far less so. Businesses need predictability, and over the past year, predictability has been sorely lacking in the Windows space. Many in the Windows team seem to want Windows on PCs to move to the kind of feature update schedule that is accepted on phones and tablets. But this ignores the fact that businesses -- the biggest Windows PC constituency -- are not keen on this.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI will update this post if and when I hear back from Microsoft on the reported Windows servicing changes. I'm not holding my breath for anything beyond \"we have nothing to share,\" but stay tuned.\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUpdate\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: \"Microsoft has nothing to share regarding this speculation. Check out the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogs.windows.com\u002Fwindowsexperience\u002F2022\u002F02\u002F15\u002Fbringing-you-closer-to-what-you-love-with-new-experiences-in-windows-11\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFebruary Windows Experience blog\u003C\u002Fa\u003E from Panos for info on Windows' update cadence,\" a spokesperson said.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"11d06a52-f745-42cd-a335-edf5631018f1\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F11d06a52-f745-42cd-a335-edf5631018f1\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-07-14 14:26:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Microsoft already had been muddying the waters around how and when it planned to bring new features to Windows. Now it sounds as if quarterly new feature 'Moments' updates between 'major' Windows client releases could become the newest servicing roadmap.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"8066e086-0df2-4e91-8bae-2c7e051f7c4c",image:{id:"fb186118-fb0c-430f-88b6-fb77a10a373d",filename:"newwin11servicingplan.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-07-14 14:25:51",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"newwin11servicingplan",credits:"Microsoft",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F07\u002F14\u002Ffb186118-fb0c-430f-88b6-fb77a10a373d\u002Fnewwin11servicingplan.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:932,height:582,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Services & Software^Operating Systems^Windows^Windows 11",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"microsoft-said-to-be-ready-to-shake-up-the-windows-update-schedule-again",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Microsoft said to be ready to shake up the Windows update schedule. Again",topic:{id:"41040cf0-0abb-4cd0-aad1-1cb0e38b334c",slug:"windows-11",name:"Windows 11",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"41040cf0-0abb-4cd0-aad1-1cb0e38b334c",slug:"windows-11",name:"Windows 11",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"109dbc12-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"it-priorities",name:"IT Priorities",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"5a09f531-5d09-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57",slug:"windows-10",name:"Windows 10",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"7fd4ad0a-8175-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"jhiner",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Jason",lastName:"Hiner",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"5289451f-02f9-4941-8358-81a842c1e05e",filename:"2016headshotbwsquare.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-06-10 13:42:49",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F06\u002F10\u002F5289451f-02f9-4941-8358-81a842c1e05e\u002F2016headshotbwsquare.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Jason Hiner is Editor in Chief of ZDNET and Vice President at Red Ventures. He was formerly Senior Editorial Director at CNET and Global Editor in Chief of TechRepublic. He's an award-winning journalist and editor and has done original reporting on Apple's first employee, the revolution in 3D bioprinting, and Israel's journey to become a cybersecurity juggernaut. He's co-author of the book Follow the Geeks.",profile:b,title:"Editor in Chief",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"youtube_video\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-oembed=\"{"author_name":"ZDNET","author_url":"https:\\\u002F\\\u002Fwww.youtube.com\\\u002Fc\\\u002Fzdnetvideo","height":113,"html":"\u003Ciframe width=\\"200\\" height=\\"113\\" src=\\"https:\\\u002F\\\u002Fwww.youtube.com\\\u002Fembed\\\u002FDcP9hiJ8LeQ?autoplay=0&amp;loop=0&amp;fs=1&amp;start=0&amp;rel=1&amp;feature=oembed\\" frameborder=\\"0\\" allow=\\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\\" allowfullscreen title=\\"Mary Jo Foley interview: 16 years of covering Microsoft on ZDNET\\"\u003E\u003C\\\u002Fiframe\u003E","provider_name":"YouTube","provider_url":"https:\\\u002F\\\u002Fwww.youtube.com\\\u002F","thumbnail_height":360,"thumbnail_url":"https:\\\u002F\\\u002Fi.ytimg.com\\\u002Fvi\\\u002FDcP9hiJ8LeQ\\\u002Fhqdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":480,"title":"Mary Jo Foley interview: 16 years of covering Microsoft on ZDNET","type":"video","version":"1.0","width":200}\" data-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FDcP9hiJ8LeQ\" data-autoplay=\"false\" data-loop=\"false\" data-start=\"0\" data-fs=\"true\" data-rel=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fmeet-the-team\u002Fmary-jo-foley\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMary Jo Foley\u003C\u002Fa\u003E started writing for ZDNET in 2006, Bill Gates was still the CEO of Microsoft, Windows and Office software were the nexus of the company, and Microsoft was the fourth largest business in the world by market cap – chasing giants like Exxon, General Electric, and Walmart. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"635210bb-41ff-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F635210bb-41ff-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella runs a much different company that has \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosofts-industry-clouds-more-than-just-a-bunch-of-services-bundles\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ecloud services\u003C\u002Fa\u003E as the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-cloud-and-ai-chief-scott-guthrie-on-whats-new-and-next-for-microsoft-cloud-customers\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eheart of the enterprise\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft is now the third largest company in the world by market cap, but tech companies now dominate five of the top six spots – with Apple, Google, Amazon, and Tesla in the mix.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft made $44 billion dollars in revenue in 2006. That will more than quadruple to over $198 billion in 2022. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Foffice-corporate-vice-president-joe-belfiore-to-leave-microsoft-after-32-years\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOffice Corporate VP Joe Belfiore to leave Microsoft after 32 years\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReporting on all of Microsoft's product changes, business changes, executive changes, and company culture changes during these years, Foley has arguably been the most reliable, the most consistent, and the most valuable source of information on Microsoft in the world.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"f734e8a5-2eed-48fe-9d28-ee063612215b\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EMary Jo Foley and Microsoft's Panos Panay at a 2018 hardware event for Microsoft Surface.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Mary Jo Foley on Twitter\" data-image-alt-text=\"Mary Jo Foley and Panos Panay standing together\" data-image-filename=\"mjf-panos-panay.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F10\u002F28\" data-image-width=\"1200\" data-image-height=\"800\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's been an amazing run. Of course, all good things come to an end, and Mary Jo's time at ZDNET is wrapping up as she heads to the advisor service \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.directionsonmicrosoft.com\u002F\"\u003EDirections on Microsoft\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in November to become its editor-in-chief.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZDNET is very grateful to have been the platform for Mary Jo's outstanding reporting for the past decade and a half and we're thrilled for her in her exciting new role at Directions on Microsoft. Of course, we'll continue to follow her reporting, just like many of you!\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-raspberry-robin-usb-worm-hits-nearly-1000-organizations-in-the-past-month\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMicrosoft warns Raspberry Robin USB worm hit nearly 1,000 organizations this month\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo put a final exclamation point on all of her great work at ZDNET, I interviewed Mary Jo to talk about the amazing timeline of events that she has covered in the transformation of Microsoft. The video is at the top of this article: If you're a Mary Jo Foley fan, you don't want to miss this!\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"2d3194bc-1419-4b15-ad8d-bd577962e830\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EMary Jo Foley tries out a Microsoft HoloLens 2 at a demo in 2019.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Mary Jo Foley on Instagram\" data-image-alt-text=\"Mary Jo Foley wearing a HoloLens 2 in front of a window\" data-image-filename=\"mjf-hololens.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F10\u002F28\" data-image-width=\"1551\" data-image-height=\"1034\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"1c484d26-6f31-48ab-8c73-282514bb76c1\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F1c484d26-6f31-48ab-8c73-282514bb76c1\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-10-28 17:10:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"In the past decade and a half, Microsoft has been through three different CEOs, changed flagship products, and revolutionized the culture of the company. No one has covered it more thoroughly than MJF.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"9c4955ff-be72-4298-9c30-22ea0c4d6a3d",image:{id:"bb4d24bd-1bb7-4e08-8d83-9160f31080c2",filename:"mjf-1200px.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-10-28 16:47:26",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"mjf-1200px",credits:"Courtesy of Mary Jo Foley",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F10\u002F28\u002Fbb4d24bd-1bb7-4e08-8d83-9160f31080c2\u002Fmjf-1200px.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1200,height:800,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Services & Software",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"mary-jo-foley-looks-back-on-a-momentous-16-years-of-covering-microsoft-for-zdnet",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Mary Jo Foley looks back on a momentous 16 years of covering Microsoft for ZDNET",topic:{id:"96093490-341e-45e4-b27a-bf297aa2c5bb",slug:"services-software",name:"Services & Software",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"96093490-341e-45e4-b27a-bf297aa2c5bb",slug:"services-software",name:"Services & Software",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"101518dd-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"cloud",name:"Cloud",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"294e47d5-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"Ed Bott",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Ed",lastName:"Bott",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e",filename:"ed-bott.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:06:03",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e\u002Fed-bott.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than two decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. He has served as editor of the U.S. edition of PC Computing and managing editor of PC World; both publications had monthly paid circulation in excess of 1 million during his tenure. He is the author of more than 25 books, including Windows 10 Inside Out (now in its 4th edition) and Windows 11 Inside Out (scheduled for publication in 2022).",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"3eed79bb-ad07-4c70-bbb2-c1a7b23c4a88\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft Surface Pro X\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Microsoft\" data-image-alt-text=\"Microsoft Surface Pro X 13-inch tablet\" data-image-filename=\"microsoft-surface-pro-x-13-inch-tablet.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F08\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"998\" data-image-height=\"561\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft unveiled the latest members of the Surface family this week, and the rumor mill was correct. The new Surface Pro 9 will indeed offer an unusual configuration option: You'll be able to choose between an Arm-based CPU or this year's latest x86 CPU from Intel.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere's the funny thing, though. Microsoft's already been offering this choice, sort of, for the past year or so with the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"8b7fd175-f6f4-4b37-a1a1-2a469e547a28\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fd\u002Fsurface-pro-8\u002F8qwcrtq8v8xg\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Surface Pro 8\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E (powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i7) and the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"3a7d285a-1978-4352-8488-8bb5c35fab99\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fd\u002Fsurface-pro-x\u002F8xtmb6c575md\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Surface Pro X\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E (with an Arm-based Microsoft SQ1 or SQ2 processor, from Qualcomm). After using both machines extensively for the past few months, I still can't decide which one I prefer.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Feverything-microsoft-announced-at-the-october-surface-event\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEverything Microsoft announced at the October Surface event\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro X are remarkably similar in terms of hardware, there are a number of odd little design differences between them. Each machine has two USB-C ports, but they're on different sides. The Surface Connector is in a slightly different position on each model. The compartment that allows quick access to the NVMe SSD (and, on the Pro X, the SIM slot) is on a different side beneath the kickstand on each model.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Pro X is a bit thinner than the Pro 8. It's also lighter, at 275 g compared to 313 g for the Pro 8. (That's the weight without the Type Cover.) That's only a bit more than an ounce, which isn't immediately obvious when you pick up one device of the other. And because both of my devices have a matte black case, it's really hard to tell the difference without a careful inspection.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut in operation, there were plenty of differences. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe biggest difference: Battery life \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou would expect the Arm-powered Surface Pro X to have significantly better battery life than the Pro 8. But my observed battery life on these two devices, as measured by the Windows Powercfg utility, isn't all that different: If I take the Surface Pro 8 on the road, I can expect the battery to last roughly 6 hours. If I choose the Surface Pro X, I get a little more than 7 hours of usage.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"f2e8d6c4-048b-4d49-aa50-b7e7be77ac68\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Ff2e8d6c4-048b-4d49-aa50-b7e7be77ac68\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat doesn't seem like a big difference, does it? Ah, but those numbers are misleading. The Pro 8, you see, has a fairly hefty 50,230 mWh battery, while the battery in the Pro X is noticeably smaller at 38,200 mWh battery. (That also helps explain the difference in weight between the two machines.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf the Surface Pro X had the same battery as the Pro 8, it's reasonable to expect that battery life would go up by 31.5% (the difference in battery capacity). That would translate to nearly 10 hours of actual, real-world battery life compared to 6 hours for the x86 design.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EReview:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-surface-pro-8-for-business-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESurface Pro 8 with LTE: Still in love\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft confirms that the Arm and Intel versions of the Surface Pro 9 will indeed have the same size battery, with a design capacity of 47,700 mWh, so it's reasonable to expect the Arm-powered device to achieve dramatically better real-world battery life.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EConnectivity: A slight edge for Arm\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Surface Pro X includes a cellular option (with support for physical SIMs and eSIM) for any model, for an extra $150. If you want \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-surface-pro-8-for-business-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emobile data on the Surface Pro 8\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, you'll need to buy from the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"ca2514b3-c35e-4a26-9322-d20bed8bf11b\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fstore\u002Fconfigure\u002FSurface-Pro-8-for-Business\u002F8x957cqqp1t4?crosssellid=&selectedColor=86888a&icid=SFB_CP1_CTA1_SurfacePro8\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Surface for Business store\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, and you'll pay $250 extra for the privilege. On the Surface Pro 9, those options are very different. The Arm-equipped model has a built-in 5G modem, while at this time there's no mobile connectivity option at all for the Intel-based device.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fesim-vs-sim-whats-the-difference\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EeSIM vs. SIM: What's the difference?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've used the cellular modem on my Pro X extensively, with a T-Mobile SIM. It's been problem-free and a great alternative when I've been on the road without Wi-Fi.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ECheap and easy storage upgrades\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHistorically, the Surface Pro has been a sealed device that's downright hostile to any kind of user repairs or upgrades. With the Surface Pro 8 and Pro X, Microsoft made storage upgrades not just possible but easy. I picked up a \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"4358d2c7-455e-4d69-9b1c-c26a2effb7bb\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FWestern-Digital-2230-1024GB-SDBPTPZ-1T00\u002Fdp\u002FB08SL5GY19\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSN530-%EF%BC%8CContain-Microsoft-Surface-Laptop\u002Fdp\u002FB0BGX6M172?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"1 TB SSD (NVMe, in an M.2 2230 package)\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, for a little less than $200. Microsoft charges $600 more for a Surface Pro with a 1TB SSD compared to the 256 GB model. That's a pretty big savings!\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEarlier, I mentioned the compartment under the kickstand. On both models, you pop off the cover the same way you'd open a SIM slot on a mobile phone, by pushing a SIM ejection tool (or a bent paperclip) into the small hole on the cover.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith that out of the way, you need a \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"44b04eaa-bad2-469f-a0ba-2481028abf89\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FiFixit-T3-Torx-Screwdriver-Electronics\u002Fdp\u002FB09LBPKGJG\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Torx T3 screwdriver\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E to remove the single screw that holds the SSD in place. Slide the old drive out, insert the new one, snap the cover back on, and use a recovery drive to install a fresh copy of Windows. It was a remarkably easy process on both devices. I don't expect this to change with the Surface Pro 9.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ECompatibility: Welcome to the gotcha zone\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth of these devices run Windows 11 exceptionally well, and I had no problem installing the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-11-version-22h2-what-to-expect-from-the-2022-update\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Elatest release, version 22H2\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. The x86 compatibility layer on the Surface Pro X is, for the most part, astonishingly good. It runs all the productivity software I normally use, including Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, and Snagit. It even runs the Windows Subsystem for Linux without complaint.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut every so often a compatibility issue rears its ugly head, as a reminder that Arm is not x86.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"378bb9df-dd4b-4075-bf01-4162d0cc12be\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F378bb9df-dd4b-4075-bf01-4162d0cc12be\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, when I was in Portugal a few months ago, I needed to use a VPN to convince some US-based websites that they should show me the content I subscribe to. I wanted to use the highly rated ExpressVPN, but as I found out after an hour or two of tinkering and Googling, its network drivers don't work on Arm-based devices, and there's no workaround.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn fact, drivers are the Achilles heel of Arm-based Windows. Most x86 apps install and run just fine, but drivers have to be compiled for Arm or they won't work. That's true of network and file system drivers as well as for hardware. For example, I had no trouble connecting \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c61de45f-ac3a-45ef-bc6b-2a1b1c49c241\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLogitech-Wireless-Keyboard-Touchpad-PC-connected\u002Fdp\u002FB014EUQOGK\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Logitech's nifty little K400+ keyboard\u002Ftouchpad combo\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E to the Pro X via Bluetooth, but I couldn't run the configuration utility to tweak the touchpad's scrolling direction.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd, oddly, I couldn't boot the Pro X using a recovery drive with a USB Type-A to Type-C adapter. That configuration works on the Surface Pro 8, but for the Pro X it refused to boot. To restore the operating system, I had to create a recovery drive on a USB-C flash drive. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThose are all fairly minor issues, the sort of annoyance you run into every other month. As a basic productivity device, the Arm-powered Surface Pro X makes a compelling case. As a general-purpose PC replacement, those niggling compatibility issues can be a dealbreaker.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd one last note: The Surface Pro 8 supports Thunderbolt; the Pro X doesn't. That limits dock and expansion options for the Pro X somewhat, but that consideration is only relevant if you're planning to use it as a desktop replacement. The Surface Pro 9 will also offer Thunderbolt 4 support only on the Intel configuration, making it the superior option if you plan to use it as a full-strength PC that can go from the desktop to the traveling bag without skipping a beat. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"635210bb-41ff-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F635210bb-41ff-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-10-13 13:23:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"After spending months of hands-on time comparing the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro X, I still can't decide which one I prefer.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"bfaea842-d4f4-4693-8915-49d535066561",image:{id:"3eed79bb-ad07-4c70-bbb2-c1a7b23c4a88",filename:"microsoft-surface-pro-x-13-inch-tablet.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-03 19:50:35",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Microsoft Surface Pro X 13-inch tablet",credits:"Microsoft",caption:"\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft Surface Pro X\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F03\u002F3eed79bb-ad07-4c70-bbb2-c1a7b23c4a88\u002Fmicrosoft-surface-pro-x-13-inch-tablet.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:998,height:561,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"surface-pro-arm-or-intel-the-answers-not-so-simple",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Surface Pro: Arm or Intel? The answer's not so simple",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"41040cf0-0abb-4cd0-aad1-1cb0e38b334c",slug:"windows-11",name:"Windows 11",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"a7ecc6fa-8176-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"Mary Jo Foley",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Mary Jo",lastName:"Foley",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"8215236b-63b7-491f-91ad-190439d0bf94",filename:"mary-jo-foley.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 14:57:09",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F8215236b-63b7-491f-91ad-190439d0bf94\u002Fmary-jo-foley.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Mary Jo Foley has covered the tech industry for 30 years for a variety of publications, including ZDNET, eWeek, and Baseline. She is the author of Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft plans to stay relevant in the post-Gates era (John Wiley & Sons, 2008). She also is the co-host of the \"Windows Weekly\" podcast on the TWiT network. \r\n\r\nGot a tip? Send her an email with your rants, rumors, tips, and tattles. Confidentiality guaranteed.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"90cd3f36-fd29-4a01-a3dc-cedfdeb89a23\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Credit: Microsoft\" data-image-alt-text=\"microsoftcloudpcadvertising\" data-image-filename=\"microsoftcloudpcadvertising.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F10\u002F31\" data-image-width=\"1378\" data-image-height=\"1097\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn April this year, Windows officials talked about \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-provides-a-glimpse-of-future-windows-11-and-cloud-pc-integrations\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eplans to more tightly integrate Windows 365 and Windows\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. So far, they've delivered on one of their promises: A preview of the Windows 365 app that Windows 11 users can pin to their taskbars and Start menus to more easily access their cloud PCs. But Microsoft officials have much bigger plans for Windows 365 and seemingly are counting on it keep Windows relevant, even if the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fpc-sales-are-falling-what-does-that-mean-for-the-price-of-your-new-computer\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPC industry declines\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in the coming months and years. \u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E As many users have noticed, Microsoft increasingly has been squeezing ads into everything from the new Windows 11 search box to the Edge browser (and its other apps). So perhaps it's not too surprising that Microsoft management is pitching Windows as a vehicle for delivering ads -- both first-party Microsoft \"house\" ads and third-party ads, as CEO Satya Nadella himself acknowledged during \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fview.officeapps.live.com\u002Fop\u002Fview.aspx?src=https:\u002F\u002Fc.s-microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002FCMSFiles\u002FTranscriptFY23Q1.docx?version=133e9c66-ae13-63c3-aad8-1bcfd5c6f0d4\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMicrosoft's Q1 FY'23 earnings call\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. (Thanks to Paul Thurrott for pointing this out on \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftwit.tv\u002Fshows\u002Fwindows-weekly\u002Fepisodes\u002F800\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWindows Weekly\u003C\u002Fa\u003E last week.) \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"bc4074e0-359d-459b-b3db-941877b80949\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fbc4074e0-359d-459b-b3db-941877b80949\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut there are even more sweeping plans for creating a new Windows business model, as evidenced in several recent job postings for \"the newly formed Windows Incubation team\" on Microsoft's career site. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat team is looking to tie together Windows and Windows 365 even more tightly by building \"a Web-based shell with direct integration with Windows 365.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe end game? Selling thin-client\u002Flow-cost devices to businesses and consumers and offsetting costs via ads and subscriptions. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmary-jo-foley-looks-back-on-a-momentous-16-years-of-covering-microsoft-for-zdnet\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMary Jo Foley on 16 epic years covering Microsoft for ZDNET\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom the job post: \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The building blocks we create will chart \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcareers.microsoft.com\u002Fus\u002Fen\u002Fjob\u002F1436861\u002FPrincipal-Software-Engineering-Manager\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ea new direction for the experience and business model of Windows\u003C\u002Fa\u003E - from low-cost PCs powered through advertising and subscriptions, to new direct-to-cloud hardware devices across work and life.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft made its \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-brings-windows-to-the-cloud-with-windows-365-and-cloud-pc\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWindows 365\u002FCloud PC service (codenamed Deschutes) generally available in August of 2021\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Windows 365 is a cloud-based virtualization service that builds on top of and complements Azure Virtual Desktop. Windows 365 is for business users only at this point and costs anywhere from \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosofts-windows-365-cloud-pc-service-will-range-from-20-to-162-per-user-per-month\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E$20 to $162 per user per month\u003C\u002Fa\u003E based on cores, RAM and storage. But given that the Windows 365 Business SKU can scale down to businesses with only one employee, it's not too surprising that Microsoft officials already are \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpetri.com\u002Fpodcast\u002Fmjfchat-windows-365-what-you-need-to-know\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethinking about how to deliver Windows 365 for consumers\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E Microsoft quietly \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-adds-cloud-for-sovereignty-to-its-line-up\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emoved the Windows 365 team under Chief Product Officer and Windows chief Panos Panay\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in July. In addition to the Windows 365 App, the team is working on Windows 365 Boot, which will allow users to boot directly to their cloud PCs; Windows 365 Switch, which will allow users to move between their local and cloud PCs as easily as they can move between different desktops today; and Windows 365 Offline, the capability to resync with the Windows 365 service without data loss. Microsoft hasn't provided public delivery targets for any of these capabilities but did \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftechcommunity.microsoft.com\u002Ft5\u002Fwindows-events\u002Fwhat-s-new-and-how-to-deploy-windows-365-business\u002Fec-p\u002F3660520#M1776\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Edemo the Switch feature during a \"Technical Takeoff\" virtual session\u003C\u002Fa\u003E last week. \u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E Meanwhile, Microsoft's WebXT organization, which includes \"several thousand software engineers\" working on Bing, Search, Edge, Maps, Ads, News and other products, is forging ahead with its own set of deliverables for consumers and enterprise users both. The team has been doing a lot of work in machine learning, speech, computer vision, and natural-language processing, which it has been folding into all of the products mentioned above. \u003Cbr\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E It seems like at least some customers are already wondering aloud if and when Microsoft and other PC makers will build thin-client-type devices meant to be used with Windows 365. Who knows ... Maybe there's a Surface Win365book on the road map somewhere? \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"1c484d26-6f31-48ab-8c73-282514bb76c1\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F1c484d26-6f31-48ab-8c73-282514bb76c1\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-10-31 14:33:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Windows 365 and Microsoft's ad business both may have big roles to play in how Microsoft takes Windows forward.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"635fed4a-d374-42c6-85e1-e20628aced08",image:{id:"90cd3f36-fd29-4a01-a3dc-cedfdeb89a23",filename:"microsoftcloudpcadvertising.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-10-31 14:31:11",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"microsoftcloudpcadvertising",credits:"Credit: Microsoft",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F10\u002F31\u002F90cd3f36-fd29-4a01-a3dc-cedfdeb89a23\u002Fmicrosoftcloudpcadvertising.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1378,height:1097,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Services & Software^Operating Systems^Windows",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"whats-next-for-windows-cloud-integration-ad-and-subscription-powered-devices",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"What's next for Windows: Sweeping new strategy for cloud, ads, devices?",topic:{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"101518dd-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"cloud",name:"Cloud",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"11d72d67-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"virtualization",name:"Virtualization",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"294e47d5-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"Ed Bott",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Ed",lastName:"Bott",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e",filename:"ed-bott.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:06:03",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e\u002Fed-bott.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than two decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. He has served as editor of the U.S. edition of PC Computing and managing editor of PC World; both publications had monthly paid circulation in excess of 1 million during his tenure. He is the author of more than 25 books, including Windows 10 Inside Out (now in its 4th edition) and Windows 11 Inside Out (2023).",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"AU",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"8dd991da-a62c-4f64-9a8c-fa3e9e199ecb\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Jupiterimages\u002FGetty Images\" data-image-alt-text=\"roller coaster\" data-image-filename=\"gettyimages-78059264.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F09\u002F22\" data-image-width=\"2122\" data-image-height=\"1412\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDo you like roller coaster rides? Do you crave those \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcoasterpedia.net\u002Fwiki\u002FSteepest_roller_coaster_drops\"\u003Esteep drops\u003C\u002Fa\u003E where the car plunges more than a thousand feet at an insane angle, subjecting your body to a g-force of 3.5?  Do you squirm with anticipation as the car clack-clack-clacks slowly up to the top and then hurtles down, leaving your stomach behind as you speed to the bottom?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fevery-product-microsoft-unveiled-at-its-surface-and-ai-event-today\u002F\"\u003EEvery product Microsoft unveiled at its Surface and AI event\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBuckle up as we go for a decade-long ride with Microsoft's Surface division, which has delivered a performance worthy of a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcoasterpedia.net\u002Fwiki\u002FEuro-Fighter\"\u003EGerstlauer Euro-Fighter 1000\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. After an inauspicious beginning in 2012, the division began growing steadily. Back in 2018, I wrote a recap of that progress, noting that the division had brought in \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fsurface-by-the-numbers-how-microsoft-successfully-reinvented-the-pc\u002F\"\u003Etotal revenue of nearly $5 billion\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENo one in their right mind would have placed a bet on that number five years ago. At the end of FY2013, Microsoft had to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosofts-900-million-surface-rt-write-down-how-did-this-happen\u002F\"\u003Etake a one-time writedown of $900 million\u003C\u002Fa\u003E to account for the spectacular \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002F5-big-things-that-baffle-me-about-microsoft-surface-rt\u002F\"\u003Efailure of its Surface RT\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany companies would have given up at that point, but not one run by Steve Ballmer, who famously described Microsoft's approach as \"long-term, tenacious, and partner-centric.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs he once told an arena full of partners, \"We don't go home. We just keep coming and coming and coming. Tenacious, tenacious, tenacious.\" (As Ashlee Vance noted when transcribing those remarks for the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbits.blogs.nytimes.com\u002F2009\u002F07\u002F14\u002Fsteve-ballmer-shouts-microsoft-will-keep-on-coming\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cem\u003ENew York Times\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, \"The man likes to talk in threes.\")\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn fact, while \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fworldwide-pc-shipments-effectively-flat-in-q1-2018\u002F\"\u003EPC shipments overall have been flat\u003C\u002Fa\u003E or down for the past four years, the Surface business has been growing at a compound annual rate of better than 22 percent a year.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Fblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Surface division hit its high point at the end of FY22, bringing in nearly $7 billion of revenue for Microsoft. And then… Well, see for yourself.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"07ceacbd-5b97-4232-98e6-2be6d00a6e85\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERevenue for 2024 is projected based on y\u002Fy decline of 24%&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Chart by Ed Bott\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"surface-revenue-2014-24\" data-image-filename=\"surface-revenue-2014-24.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F09\u002F22\" data-image-width=\"1653\" data-image-height=\"993\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's a pretty spectacular collapse in FY2023. (Note that the number for FY2024 in the chart above is a projection.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETeasing those numbers out of Microsoft's financial reports was a bit of a challenge. The company stopped reporting actual Surface revenue numbers in FY22, instead choosing to disclose changes from the previous year's revenue in percentage terms. To make comparisons even murkier, the company in 2023 changed the \"Surface revenue\" line item to \"Devices revenue growth,\" folding in revenue it receives from sales of keyboards, mice, and other peripherals.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-quietly-announced-two-products-today-that-business-users-will-love\u002F\"\u003EMicrosoft quietly announced two products that business users will love\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEven with all that massaging, the picture for FY2023 (which ended on July 30, 2023) was grim. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmicrosoft.gcs-web.com\u002Fstatic-files\u002Fe2931fdb-9823-4130-b2a8-f6b8db0b15a9\"\u003EIn its annual report\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, Microsoft noted \"Devices revenue decreased $1.8 billion or 24% as elevated channel inventory levels continued to drive additional weakness beyond declining PC demand.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOr, to put it another way: The PC market is going through a major correction right now, and Surface is doing even worse than its rivals.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2051361\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe carnage isn't over. In the Microsoft FY23 \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fview.officeapps.live.com\u002Fop\u002Fview.aspx?src=https:\u002F\u002Fc.s-microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002FCMSFiles\u002FTranscriptFY23Q4.docx?version=f64b33fa-1c41-799b-70cf-cc2cd098555b\"\u003Efourth quarter earnings conference call\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, Satya Nadella and his team projected that Devices revenue for the quarter ending September 30, 2023 would continue plunging:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Devices, revenue should decline in the mid-30s due to the overall PC market and adjustments we made in our portfolio with an increased focus on our higher margin premium products.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Fblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's hard to imagine that things will get much better before the end of 2023. The most successful Surface products are the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, both of which are more than a year old. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-surface-laptop-studio-2-hands-on-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESurface Laptop Studio 2\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, a high-priced machine made for a niche market, was in the spotlight at this year's fall Surface event in New York City and isn't likely to be a runaway hit.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-windows-laptop\u002F\"\u003EThe best Windows laptop you can buy: Dell, Samsung, Lenovo, and more\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the chart above, I've projected what the Surface revenue number might look like if the company rebounds to a loss of only 24%, repeating this year's performance. Basically, they're back to what the business was in 2016 and 2017, which is… not good?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt Microsoft, a division needs to be able to bring in $10 billion of revenue per year to be considered a \"needle mover.\" Surface once looked like it was on its way to building that kind of steady, growing business. It doesn't anymore.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMaybe this explains the sudden departure of Windows & Devices boss Panos Panay, just days ahead of the company's fall Surface showcase event. His portfolio had expanded dramatically in recent years to cover not just Surface devices but also Windows 11. A \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.businessinsider.com\u002Fwhy-microsoft-windows-surface-panos-panay-left-for-amazon-2023-9\"\u003Ereport in Business Insider\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, quoting \"anonymous insiders,\" says Panay was \"unhappy with recent changes in the Windows + Devices division,\" including \"significant cuts to simplify the Surface business ... and focus more on Microsoft's hits rather than the more experimental devices the company funded in flush times.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Surface Pro and Surface Laptop lines are undoubtedly the \"hits\" referred to in that report. Notably, both products are relatively mature designs whose physical appearance has barely changed in recent years. The addition of Thunderbolt 4 support in the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop 5 was welcome, but otherwise, most upgrades in these product lines have been simple spec bumps, not the sort of thing to win over new customers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fis-windows-10-too-popular-for-its-own-good\u002F\"\u003EIs Windows 10 too popular for its own good?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA pair of high-profile flops probably didn't help anyone making the case for Surface in front of Microsoft management. The Surface Duo, a dual-screen phone powered by Android, was uncomfortably expensive and just plain odd. I bought one shortly after its release in 2019 and returned it six weeks later. (For details, see \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Ffive-reasons-why-i-returned-my-surface-duo\u002F\"\u003E\"Five reasons why I returned my Surface Duo.\"\u003C\u002Fa\u003E)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd then there was the dual-screen Surface Neo, which was announced at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhands-on-at-surface-event-new-direction-or-more-of-the-same-yes-and-yes\u002F\"\u003Ethe same 2019 event\u003C\u002Fa\u003E as the Surface Duo and became one of the first casualties of the pandemic the next year. It never shipped, and neither did the operating system it was supposed to run, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-10x-everything-you-need-to-know-about-microsofts-windows-10-variant\u002F\"\u003EWindows 10X\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. If you've forgotten about that project it's understandable. Hey, a lot happened in 2020! But the bottom line is it was supposed to be a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-10x-microsofts-cloud-powered-chrome-os-competitor-inches-closer\u002F\"\u003E\"cloud-powered\" competitor to ChromeOS\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECEO Satya Nadella has not been shy about pulling the plug on products that aren't pulling their weight. Maybe that will ultimately be the fate of Surface, but I doubt it. In fact, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fre-inventing-windows-from-nt-to-10x-microsofts-never-ending-quest-for-the-better-os\u002F\"\u003Esomething I wrote about Windows 10X back when it was first announced\u003C\u002Fa\u003E seems like it might be relevant today.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 10X is debuting as the native operating system for a new PC form factor, with multiple screens. But its core innovation is the ability to run traditional Windows desktop apps in secure containers that are isolated from the core of the operating system. It's easy to imagine this technology migrating to more traditional form factors before long.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Fblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA dual-screen PC is an expensive gimmick and unlikely to become a mass market hit. That's why the project was killed and why it's unlikely to ever come back. But imagine if you can accomplish many of the same goals of the Windows 10X project on traditional hardware, like (say) an inexpensive laptop. At that point you have a credible competitor to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-chromebook-laptop\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGoogle's Chromebook\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and possibly a way to once again make Windows relevant in schools.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-screen-record-in-windows-10-or-windows-11\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to screen record in Windows 10 or Windows 11\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat is apparently what Microsoft has been working on for the past three years with its CorePC project, which might ship next year (in whole or in part) under the Windows 12 moniker. If you need an explainer, Zac Bowden at Windows Central can fill you in on this \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.windowscentral.com\u002Fsoftware-apps\u002Fwindows-11\u002Fmicrosoft-windows-corepc-modern-platform-hudson-valley-2024\"\u003E\"modular and customizable variant of Windows.\"\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy sources tell me CorePC will allow Microsoft to finally deliver a version of Windows that truly competes with Chromebooks in OS footprint, performance, and capabilities. A version of Windows that only runs Edge, web apps, Android apps (via Project Latte) and Office apps, designed for low-end education PCs is already in early testing internally, and is roughly 60-75% smaller than Windows 11 SE.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Fblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeanwhile, at the \"high-margin, premium device\" end of the PC spectrum, Microsoft desperately needs a way to compete with Apple's M2-powered MacBook line (and Macs based on more powerful M3 processors should be on the shelves in Apple Stores next year). Unfortunately, getting performance and battery life that are competitive with Apple's flagship products is going to require Arm-based processors, and right now the entire PC industry is waiting for Qualcomm to ship its next-generation Nuvia SoCs. This is \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-on-arm-can-microsoft-deliver-a-silicon-surprise-before-years-end\u002F\"\u003Ewhat I wrote on the subject\u003C\u002Fa\u003E a few months ago:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs pretty much every rational observer has noted, Windows on Arm is far behind Apple, at least using Qualcomm's current SoC designs. But they could play catch-up, and maybe even leapfrog their Cupertino competition, with a successful launch of the Nuvia-based Oryon architecture, especially if they can build some custom Windows features into it. (The SQ3-based Surface Pro 9 has a couple of nifty AI-based features not found in its Intel sibling, including eye-tracking and background noise reduction for video calls.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Fblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's probably why Microsoft didn't have anything to say about upcoming iterations of Surface Pro or Surface Laptop at its recent hardware event. Another spec bump won't move the needle at all. But an Arm-powered device that gets double the battery life of x86-based hardware, has a neural processing unit for advanced AI tasks, and can run x86 apps in secure containers? That might be worth waiting for.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-went-hands-on-with-microsofts-new-ai-features-and-these-5-are-the-most-useful\u002F\"\u003EI went hands-on with Microsoft's new AI features, and these 5 are the most useful\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFighting off determined competitors on the low end and the high end at the same time is hard enough, and the challenge is worse when you need to do it in the face of budget cuts and the loss of a key leader. Get ready for another ride on the Surface roller coaster.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"635210bb-41ff-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F635210bb-41ff-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2023-09-22 20:34:35",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"After nearly a decade of steady growth, revenue from Microsoft's Surface devices plunged in 2023, and next year doesn't look much better. Fasten your seatbelts.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"850aa856-f0b0-419b-9219-8d4a84e48770",image:{id:"8dd991da-a62c-4f64-9a8c-fa3e9e199ecb",filename:"gettyimages-78059264.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2023-09-22 19:00:30",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"surface-revenue-2014-24",credits:"Chart by Ed Bott\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERevenue for 2024 is projected based on y\u002Fy decline of 24% \u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F09\u002F22\u002F8dd991da-a62c-4f64-9a8c-fa3e9e199ecb\u002Fgettyimages-78059264.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2122,height:1412,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"can-microsoft-recover-from-the-collapse-of-its-surface-business",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Can Microsoft recover from the collapse of its Surface business?",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"0fbd54d0-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"apple",name:"Apple",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"1050fa4d-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"google",name:"Google",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"2c87ef21-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"jperlow",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Jason",lastName:"Perlow",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"8ee616a1-94ee-439e-9574-58f014ae5ef0",filename:"jason-perlow.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:08:37",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F8ee616a1-94ee-439e-9574-58f014ae5ef0\u002Fjason-perlow.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Jason Perlow is a technologist with over two decades of experience integrating large heterogeneous multi-vendor computing environments in Fortune 500 companies. His expressed views do not necessarily represent those of his employer, The Linux Foundation.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cp\u003EThroughout the 36-year history of Microsoft Windows, we've had wildly popular releases such as Windows 3.1 (1992), which was the first to take off and jumpstarted the PC GUI revolution. We had Windows 95 (1995), the first Internet-enabled Windows out of the box, which had a built-in web browser, the ability to run 32-bit applications, and its iconic Start Menu that persists to this day. We had Windows XP (2001), the first consumer-facing, truly protected mode, multithreaded, preemptive multitasking 32-bit Windows operating system, which had the longest lifecycle of any Windows OS to date.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll of these were successful releases, but we've also had some real clunkers as well. Some of these were early versions of technologies that were to be exploited in more refined iterations, later on, not yet ready for prime time. But some of these were just plain... bad. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe've presented these OS disasters chronologically -- not in the order of how much they suck. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"6a109895-0506-40a9-b3ea-5b248e9347d7\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft already had some experience with GUIs, having worked with Apple to develop applications for the Mac in 1984. So the company tried its hand at making its own GUI that would sit on top of DOS. It was a graphical multitasking shell that could also run DOS programs and apps specifically written for Windows.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe press universally hated it because of performance-related issues and a lack of resources for new users. In addition, most PCs at the time couldn't run it because their hardware specifications weren't powerful enough. But hey, it was a 1.0 product.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Windows 1.0\" data-superlative=\"Release Date: November 1985\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"cmwindows1-0jul15a.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"db9b07b8-1bd3-4451-9365-7bd336f4d7dd","title":"","filename":"cmwindows1-0jul15a.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fgcp-prod-image-resizer.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2015\u002F07\u002F23\u002Fdb9b07b8-1bd3-4451-9365-7bd336f4d7dd\u002Fcmwindows1-0jul15a.jpg","caption":null,"size":218811,"width":620,"height":339,"dateCreated":{"date":"2015-07-23 09:10:42","timezone":"UTC"},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2017-05-10 16:54:20","timezone":"UTC"},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"","alt":"cmwindows1-0jul15a.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"db9b07b8-1bd3-4451-9365-7bd336f4d7dd","imageAltText":"cmwindows1-0jul15a.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"cmwindows1-0jul15a.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2015\u002F07\u002F23","imageWidth":620,"imageHeight":339,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"3f34b079-8ee8-4720-8948-31c894103759\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWindows 2.10 came in two different flavors, one for the Intel 80286 16-bit processor and the other for the Intel 80386 32-bit processor. The 386 version allowed it to run in protected mode, above which applications and the GUI ran as a virtual task in the 8086 instruction set. This allowed it to have a limited form of preemptive multitasking, which was a significant technological improvement for PC OSes. MS-DOS could only run one application simultaneously; Windows 386 allowed DOS apps to run in the background instead of suspended, although timing-sensitive apps had issues.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, Windows 386 had significant stability issues. For example, its memory manager was incompatible with DOS memory managers, such as QEMM or the DOS Extenders needed by applications such as Lotus 1-2-3, the most popular spreadsheet. \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002F1991s-pc-technology-was-unbelievable\u002F"\u003ESo that meant that if you wanted to use those apps, you would need a boot floppy and need to reboot into DOS to run them\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. It's inconceivable now that end-users put up with this stuff, but we did. You also couldn't page out to virtual disk if you started to run out of memory. Some of these issues were rectified in Windows 3.0, which followed in 1990.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Windows\u002F386 2.10\" data-superlative=\"Release date: May 1988\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"cmwindows2-0jul15b.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"a36d827e-fc1a-4895-9398-56aa39185e6a","title":"","filename":"cmwindows2-0jul15b.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fgcp-prod-image-resizer.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2015\u002F07\u002F23\u002Fa36d827e-fc1a-4895-9398-56aa39185e6a\u002Fcmwindows2-0jul15b.jpg","caption":null,"size":196976,"width":512,"height":384,"dateCreated":{"date":"2015-07-23 09:39:10","timezone":"UTC"},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2017-05-10 16:54:20","timezone":"UTC"},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"","alt":"cmwindows2-0jul15b.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"a36d827e-fc1a-4895-9398-56aa39185e6a","imageAltText":"cmwindows2-0jul15b.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"cmwindows2-0jul15b.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2015\u002F07\u002F23","imageWidth":512,"imageHeight":384,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"46e9c5e6-0856-4ef0-9fb9-e4516673f53e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EAlthough this OS is the basis for the kernel that all modern versions of Windows currently are based on, this was a major sea change for the platform, and it had a rocky start. Initially started as a re-write of the OS\u002F2 3.0 operating system that IBM and Microsoft collaborated on, the two companies parted ways, and Microsoft decided to take Windows NT in its own direction, hiring Dave Cutler from DEC, the architect of the VMS operating system, to run the core development team. While the OS shared an identical Windowing interface with Windows 3.1, the popular business version of Windows that ran on top of DOS, the two systems were extremely different architecturally. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows NT was a native protected mode, multiprocessor-capable, multithreaded, multiuser, processor architecture-independent, true preemptive multitasking OS, but it needed to run Win32 apps written specifically to take advantage of those features. 16-bit Windows apps from Windows 3.1 could run on it, but they ran slowly and not very well -- and DOS compatibility was horrible. In addition, Windows NT 3.1 was expensive (the workstation version was $500), had substantial minimum hardware requirements for the time (a 386 processor and 12MB of memory), and ran best on non-Intel systems such as DEC Alpha and the MIPS. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Windows NT 3.1\" data-superlative=\"Release date: July 1993\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"cmwindowsnt3-1jul15d.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJuly 27, 1993\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows NT was born from the wreckage of Microsoft's ill-fated OS\u002F2 partnership with IBM. It was built from the ground up under the leadership of ex-DEC software engineer Dave Cutler as a fully 32-bit pre-emptive multitasking, multithreaded, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with a hybrid kernel and a hardware abstraction layer to facilitate porting between processor platforms. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt was initially developed for the Intel i860, whose N-Ten codename gave NT its name, although later marketing-led revisionism changed this to New Technology. NT variants have appeared on many CPU architectures, including IA-32, x86-64, Alpha, MIPS, PowerPC, ARM and Itanium. Its code base still underpins the current generation of Windows operating systems.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Microsoft","imageData":{"id":"d68dbae9-473d-4121-98ba-5d1243d4582a","title":"Windows NT 3.1","filename":"cmwindowsnt3-1jul15d.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fgcp-prod-image-resizer.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2015\u002F07\u002F23\u002Fd68dbae9-473d-4121-98ba-5d1243d4582a\u002Fcmwindowsnt3-1jul15d.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJuly 27, 1993\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows NT was born from the wreckage of Microsoft's ill-fated OS\u002F2 partnership with IBM. It was built from the ground up under the leadership of ex-DEC software engineer Dave Cutler as a fully 32-bit pre-emptive multitasking, multithreaded, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with a hybrid kernel and a hardware abstraction layer to facilitate porting between processor platforms. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt was initially developed for the Intel i860, whose N-Ten codename gave NT its name, although later marketing-led revisionism changed this to New Technology. NT variants have appeared on many CPU architectures, including IA-32, x86-64, Alpha, MIPS, PowerPC, ARM and Itanium. Its code base still underpins the current generation of Windows operating systems.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":176365,"width":620,"height":465,"dateCreated":{"date":"2015-07-23 10:44:25","timezone":"UTC"},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2017-05-10 16:54:20","timezone":"UTC"},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Microsoft","alt":"cmwindowsnt3-1jul15d.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"d68dbae9-473d-4121-98ba-5d1243d4582a","imageAltText":"cmwindowsnt3-1jul15d.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJuly 27, 1993\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows NT was born from the wreckage of Microsoft's ill-fated OS\u002F2 partnership with IBM. It was built from the ground up under the leadership of ex-DEC software engineer Dave Cutler as a fully 32-bit pre-emptive multitasking, multithreaded, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with a hybrid kernel and a hardware abstraction layer to facilitate porting between processor platforms. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt was initially developed for the Intel i860, whose N-Ten codename gave NT its name, although later marketing-led revisionism changed this to New Technology. NT variants have appeared on many CPU architectures, including IA-32, x86-64, Alpha, MIPS, PowerPC, ARM and Itanium. Its code base still underpins the current generation of Windows operating systems.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Microsoft","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"cmwindowsnt3-1jul15d.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2015\u002F07\u002F23","imageWidth":620,"imageHeight":465,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJuly 27, 1993\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows NT was born from the wreckage of Microsoft's ill-fated OS\u002F2 partnership with IBM. It was built from the ground up under the leadership of ex-DEC software engineer Dave Cutler as a fully 32-bit pre-emptive multitasking, multithreaded, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with a hybrid kernel and a hardware abstraction layer to facilitate porting between processor platforms. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt was initially developed for the Intel i860, whose N-Ten codename gave NT its name, although later marketing-led revisionism changed this to New Technology. NT variants have appeared on many CPU architectures, including IA-32, x86-64, Alpha, MIPS, PowerPC, ARM and Itanium. Its code base still underpins the current generation of Windows operating systems.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Microsoft\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"8f1301c3-635f-418c-b7f8-e3944b7cfac1\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWindows Millennium Edition, or ME, was introduced as an interim refresh of Windows 98 (a refresh of Windows 95) before the NT platform switchover to Windows XP. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt included updated versions of Internet Explorer and Windows Media player, which were add-ons for Windows 98 and Windows 95. While this sounded good on paper, Windows Me was heavily panned because it was unstable, lacked support for legacy real-mode apps that previous versions had, and did not exploit modern PC hardware the way Windows 2000, the business OS Microsoft was shipping at the time, did. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt wasn't until about a year later that the NT-based Windows XP shipped, which became the most successful version of Windows in history.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Windows Me\" data-superlative=\"Release date: September 2000\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"cmwindowsmejul15i.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESeptember 14, 2000\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe last of the DOS-based Windows 9x line, Millennium Edition is widely regarded as one of the worst Windows versions ever released.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnlike Windows 95 and 98, it lacked real-mode DOS support, but did include the useful System Restore feature, which allowed users to take the system back to a previous stable configuration. Just as well, because the hurriedly released Windows ME was notorious for being buggy and crash-prone. It was quickly superseded by the far superior NT-based Windows XP.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMinimum system specifications for Windows ME were a 150MHz Pentium processor with 300MHz recommended, 32MB of RAM with 64MB recommended, and 320MB of hard disk space with 2GB recommended. It could address up to 1.5GB of RAM.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Microsoft","imageData":{"id":"7f882e87-eff6-4501-8335-2956bf6d4077","title":"Windows ME","filename":"cmwindowsmejul15i.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fgcp-prod-image-resizer.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2015\u002F07\u002F23\u002F7f882e87-eff6-4501-8335-2956bf6d4077\u002Fcmwindowsmejul15i.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESeptember 14, 2000\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe last of the DOS-based Windows 9x line, Millennium Edition is widely regarded as one of the worst Windows versions ever released.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnlike Windows 95 and 98, it lacked real-mode DOS support, but did include the useful System Restore feature, which allowed users to take the system back to a previous stable configuration. Just as well, because the hurriedly released Windows ME was notorious for being buggy and crash-prone. It was quickly superseded by the far superior NT-based Windows XP.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMinimum system specifications for Windows ME were a 150MHz Pentium processor with 300MHz recommended, 32MB of RAM with 64MB recommended, and 320MB of hard disk space with 2GB recommended. It could address up to 1.5GB of RAM.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":18395,"width":457,"height":322,"dateCreated":{"date":"2015-07-23 11:26:32","timezone":"UTC"},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2017-05-10 16:54:20","timezone":"UTC"},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Microsoft","alt":"cmwindowsmejul15i.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"7f882e87-eff6-4501-8335-2956bf6d4077","imageAltText":"cmwindowsmejul15i.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESeptember 14, 2000\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe last of the DOS-based Windows 9x line, Millennium Edition is widely regarded as one of the worst Windows versions ever released.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnlike Windows 95 and 98, it lacked real-mode DOS support, but did include the useful System Restore feature, which allowed users to take the system back to a previous stable configuration. Just as well, because the hurriedly released Windows ME was notorious for being buggy and crash-prone. It was quickly superseded by the far superior NT-based Windows XP.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMinimum system specifications for Windows ME were a 150MHz Pentium processor with 300MHz recommended, 32MB of RAM with 64MB recommended, and 320MB of hard disk space with 2GB recommended. It could address up to 1.5GB of RAM.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Microsoft","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"cmwindowsmejul15i.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2015\u002F07\u002F23","imageWidth":457,"imageHeight":322,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESeptember 14, 2000\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe last of the DOS-based Windows 9x line, Millennium Edition is widely regarded as one of the worst Windows versions ever released.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnlike Windows 95 and 98, it lacked real-mode DOS support, but did include the useful System Restore feature, which allowed users to take the system back to a previous stable configuration. Just as well, because the hurriedly released Windows ME was notorious for being buggy and crash-prone. It was quickly superseded by the far superior NT-based Windows XP.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMinimum system specifications for Windows ME were a 150MHz Pentium processor with 300MHz recommended, 32MB of RAM with 64MB recommended, and 320MB of hard disk space with 2GB recommended. It could address up to 1.5GB of RAM.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Microsoft\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"7de1707f-9d0d-4c8e-8c82-e4b3aa21c274\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ESimply mention "Windows Vista" in casual conversation in tech industry circles, and you will get laughs and snickers -- that's how bad a reputation this OS release had. Why was it so awful? High system requirements and onerous licensing terms, longer boot times, software compatibility issues, the use of new DRM technologies, and an extremely annoying and overly-prompting User Account Control feature made this release one tough pill to swallow were the top complaints at the time.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile Vista gets a bad rap, many of the architectural changes introduced still exist in modern versions of Windows today, and Windows 7, one of the most successful Windows releases, is essentially a cleaned-up, streamlined Windows Vista.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Windows Vista\" data-superlative=\"Release date: January 2007\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"cmwindowsvistajul15l.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJanuary 30, 2007\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows Vista had a convoluted gestation, a delayed birth and a relatively short life, and retains a reputation as a particularly ill-conceived Windows release.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe main complaints centred on security features, digital rights management, hardware requirements and performance, and software compatibility.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter a false start on the XP code base, Longhorn (Vista's codename) was built on Windows Server 2003 SP1, having jettisoned key features such as WinFS. Despite an extensive beta test program, general availability of Vista came too late for the key Christmas 2006 PC-buying period.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFeatures that did ship included the Aero interface, which with the right hardware displayed transparent windows and other visual effects, and a redesigned Start menu.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Microsoft","imageData":{"id":"1db8b589-69ba-42e3-99c7-b277eb9cfac3","title":"Windows Vista","filename":"cmwindowsvistajul15l.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fgcp-prod-image-resizer.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2015\u002F07\u002F23\u002F1db8b589-69ba-42e3-99c7-b277eb9cfac3\u002Fcmwindowsvistajul15l.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJanuary 30, 2007\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows Vista had a convoluted gestation, a delayed birth and a relatively short life, and retains a reputation as a particularly ill-conceived Windows release.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe main complaints centred on security features, digital rights management, hardware requirements and performance, and software compatibility.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter a false start on the XP code base, Longhorn (Vista’s codename) was built on Windows Server 2003 SP1, having jettisoned key features such as WinFS. Despite an extensive beta test program, general availability of Vista came too late for the key Christmas 2006 PC-buying period.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFeatures that did ship included the Aero interface, which with the right hardware displayed transparent windows and other visual effects, and a redesigned Start menu.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":237190,"width":620,"height":465,"dateCreated":{"date":"2015-07-23 13:36:25","timezone":"UTC"},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2017-05-10 16:54:20","timezone":"UTC"},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Microsoft","alt":"cmwindowsvistajul15l.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"1db8b589-69ba-42e3-99c7-b277eb9cfac3","imageAltText":"cmwindowsvistajul15l.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJanuary 30, 2007\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows Vista had a convoluted gestation, a delayed birth and a relatively short life, and retains a reputation as a particularly ill-conceived Windows release.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe main complaints centred on security features, digital rights management, hardware requirements and performance, and software compatibility.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter a false start on the XP code base, Longhorn (Vista's codename) was built on Windows Server 2003 SP1, having jettisoned key features such as WinFS. Despite an extensive beta test program, general availability of Vista came too late for the key Christmas 2006 PC-buying period.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFeatures that did ship included the Aero interface, which with the right hardware displayed transparent windows and other visual effects, and a redesigned Start menu.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Microsoft","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"cmwindowsvistajul15l.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2015\u002F07\u002F23","imageWidth":620,"imageHeight":465,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJanuary 30, 2007\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows Vista had a convoluted gestation, a delayed birth and a relatively short life, and retains a reputation as a particularly ill-conceived Windows release.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe main complaints centred on security features, digital rights management, hardware requirements and performance, and software compatibility.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter a false start on the XP code base, Longhorn (Vista's codename) was built on Windows Server 2003 SP1, having jettisoned key features such as WinFS. Despite an extensive beta test program, general availability of Vista came too late for the key Christmas 2006 PC-buying period.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFeatures that did ship included the Aero interface, which with the right hardware displayed transparent windows and other visual effects, and a redesigned Start menu.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Microsoft\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"7668808c-2c59-4fba-94ce-bb7a767302c5\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWhile the core of the OS wasn't much different than Windows 7 -- by far the most successful Windows operating system in recent memory aside from Windows 10 -- the blocky, animated "Metro" user interface, with its live tiles and eschewed the popular "Start menu" certainly turned out to be a major disaster. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft tried to unify the Windows 8 interface with Metro on desktops and tablets, and even Windows Phone, but it didn't catch on. Live Tiles persisted in Windows 10 less prominently and are being unceremoniously ripped out in Windows 11.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Windows 8\" data-superlative=\"Release date: August 2012\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"windows-8-x64-2012-03-01-08-51-03b.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOctober 25, 2012\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 8 came in three 32-bit and 64-bit x86 editions: Windows 8, W8 Pro and W8 Enterprise – plus a fourth, Windows RT for ARM-based systems. The Enterprise edition was only available to Software Assurance customers, and included the Windows To Go feature for creating secure bootable USB flash drives. Pro and Enterprise, which can join Active Directory domains, were the business-oriented editions.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft's primary focus for Windows 8 was to accommodate touchscreen devices such as tablets and laptop\u002Ftablet hybrids, which it did via the flat, tile-based interface formerly known as Metro.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe traditional Windows 7-like Desktop, minus the Start button, was still present, but the system booted into the new-look Start screen.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Microsoft","imageData":{"id":"fd6e534c-341d-417b-a3c8-385355673e37","title":"Windows 8","filename":"windows-8-x64-2012-03-01-08-51-03b.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fgcp-prod-image-resizer.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2015\u002F07\u002F23\u002Ffd6e534c-341d-417b-a3c8-385355673e37\u002Fwindows-8-x64-2012-03-01-08-51-03b.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOctober 25, 2012\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 8 came in three 32-bit and 64-bit x86 editions: Windows 8, W8 Pro and W8 Enterprise – plus a fourth, Windows RT for ARM-based systems. The Enterprise edition was only available to Software Assurance customers, and included the Windows To Go feature for creating secure bootable USB flash drives. Pro and Enterprise, which can join Active Directory domains, were the business-oriented editions.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft's primary focus for Windows 8 was to accommodate touchscreen devices such as tablets and laptop\u002Ftablet hybrids, which it did via the flat, tile-based interface formerly known as Metro.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe traditional Windows 7-like Desktop, minus the Start button, was still present, but the system booted into the new-look Start screen.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":68535,"width":620,"height":465,"dateCreated":{"date":"2015-07-23 14:10:49","timezone":"UTC"},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2017-05-10 16:54:20","timezone":"UTC"},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":"Microsoft","alt":"windows-8-x64-2012-03-01-08-51-03b.png","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"fd6e534c-341d-417b-a3c8-385355673e37","imageAltText":"windows-8-x64-2012-03-01-08-51-03b.png","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOctober 25, 2012\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 8 came in three 32-bit and 64-bit x86 editions: Windows 8, W8 Pro and W8 Enterprise – plus a fourth, Windows RT for ARM-based systems. The Enterprise edition was only available to Software Assurance customers, and included the Windows To Go feature for creating secure bootable USB flash drives. Pro and Enterprise, which can join Active Directory domains, were the business-oriented editions.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft's primary focus for Windows 8 was to accommodate touchscreen devices such as tablets and laptop\u002Ftablet hybrids, which it did via the flat, tile-based interface formerly known as Metro.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe traditional Windows 7-like Desktop, minus the Start button, was still present, but the system booted into the new-look Start screen.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Microsoft","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"windows-8-x64-2012-03-01-08-51-03b.png","imageDateCreated":"2015\u002F07\u002F23","imageWidth":620,"imageHeight":465,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOctober 25, 2012\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 8 came in three 32-bit and 64-bit x86 editions: Windows 8, W8 Pro and W8 Enterprise – plus a fourth, Windows RT for ARM-based systems. The Enterprise edition was only available to Software Assurance customers, and included the Windows To Go feature for creating secure bootable USB flash drives. Pro and Enterprise, which can join Active Directory domains, were the business-oriented editions.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft's primary focus for Windows 8 was to accommodate touchscreen devices such as tablets and laptop\u002Ftablet hybrids, which it did via the flat, tile-based interface formerly known as Metro.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe traditional Windows 7-like Desktop, minus the Start button, was still present, but the system booted into the new-look Start screen.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Microsoft\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"12c63f37-9e25-4235-997d-98ba95f89d91\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIt may be too early to tell if Windows 11 is to become one of the most hated releases ever, as it hasn't even been released yet. But the signs aren't promising for many PC users running Windows 10 that hoped to take this upgrade with minimal impact: that's based on its current system requirements, including a Trusted Platform Module running at version 2.0 and the elimination of all Intel x86 systems Generation 7 and earlier. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese Intel chips shipped beginning in August 2016 and are still sold in retail channels, including Microsoft's Surface Studio systems. Unfortunately, so many PCs will be left out. To quote ZDNet columnist David Gewirtz, the affected systems will "\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-windows-11-means-well-be-stuck-with-millions-of-windows-10-zombies\u002F" target="_blank"\u003Ebecome the walking dead."\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReady or not, Windows 11 is on target to leave stranded hundreds of millions of systems on Windows 10 -- which will still be supported until January of 2025. The sheer amount of bad will created by a software upgrade that essentially doesn't seem like much more than a user interface update is \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwill-your-pc-run-windows-11-even-microsoft-cant-say-for-sure\u002F"\u003Erubbing many Microsoft diehards the wrong way.\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Windows 11\" data-superlative=\"Release date: Fall 2021\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"screen-shot-2021-06-10-at-3-59-10-pm.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003ECan you hear it? Can you feel it?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Screenshot by ZDNet","imageData":{"id":"283aee81-8d79-4812-b897-46d83ffa4b12","title":"screen-shot-2021-06-10-at-3-59-10-pm","filename":"screen-shot-2021-06-10-at-3-59-10-pm.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fgcp-prod-image-resizer.zdnet.com\u002Fi\u002F2021\u002F06\u002F10\u002F283aee81-8d79-4812-b897-46d83ffa4b12\u002Fscreen-shot-2021-06-10-at-3-59-10-pm.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003ECan you hear it? Can you feel it?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":656716,"width":1606,"height":870,"dateCreated":{"date":"2021-06-10 22:59:32","timezone":"UTC"},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2021-06-10 22:59:53","timezone":"UTC"},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fpng","deleted":false,"credits":"Screenshot by ZDNet","alt":"screen-shot-2021-06-10-at-3-59-10-pm.png","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"283aee81-8d79-4812-b897-46d83ffa4b12","imageAltText":"screen-shot-2021-06-10-at-3-59-10-pm.png","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003ECan you hear it? Can you feel it?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Screenshot by ZDNet","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"screen-shot-2021-06-10-at-3-59-10-pm.png","imageDateCreated":"2021\u002F06\u002F10","imageWidth":1606,"imageHeight":870,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003ECan you hear it? Can you feel it?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Screenshot by ZDNet\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"gallery\" data-uuid=\"ac441591-0ba1-46c2-9c8a-ab675f762828\" data-float=\"none\" data-size=\"large\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDid we miss anything? And if we were to sort these by reputation -- from bad to worst -- what would the correct sort order be? \u003Cem\u003ETalkback\u003C\u002Fem\u003E below to let us know. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"codesnippet\" data-code=\"PGlmcmFtZSBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vb3Blbi5zcG90aWZ5LmNvbS9lbWJlZC9lcGlzb2RlLzNDbXdqdjl2Y2hMY3VESmRhZzJLQjE\u002FdD0wIiB3aWR0aD0iMTAwJSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxNTIiIGZyYW1lQm9yZGVyPSIwIiBhbGxvd3RyYW5zcGFyZW5jeT0idHJ1ZSIgYWxsb3c9ImVuY3J5cHRlZC1tZWRpYSI+PC9pZnJhbWU+\" data-encoding=\"base64\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"11d06a52-f745-42cd-a335-edf5631018f1\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F11d06a52-f745-42cd-a335-edf5631018f1\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2021-06-28 15:20:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Not every version would be as beloved as Windows XP or Windows 7. In our humble opinion, these are the seven worst Windows releases ever.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"8c7ed584-b5e7-49fd-a690-74f2a602c2fe",image:{id:"1db8b589-69ba-42e3-99c7-b277eb9cfac3",filename:"cmwindowsvistajul15l.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2015-07-23 13:36:25",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"cmwindowsvistajul15l.jpg",credits:"Microsoft",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJanuary 30, 2007\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows Vista had a convoluted gestation, a delayed birth and a relatively short life, and retains a reputation as a particularly ill-conceived Windows release.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe main complaints centred on security features, digital rights management, hardware requirements and performance, and software compatibility.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter a false start on the XP code base, Longhorn (Vista's codename) was built on Windows Server 2003 SP1, having jettisoned key features such as WinFS. Despite an extensive beta test program, general availability of Vista came too late for the key Christmas 2006 PC-buying period.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFeatures that did ship included the Aero interface, which with the right hardware displayed transparent windows and other visual effects, and a redesigned Start menu.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2015\u002F07\u002F23\u002F1db8b589-69ba-42e3-99c7-b277eb9cfac3\u002Fcmwindowsvistajul15l.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:620,height:465,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Services & Software^Operating Systems^Windows^Windows 11",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"most-hated-microsoft-windows-releases-a-retrospective",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Windows 11, the latest of Microsoft's most hated Windows releases. Too soon?",topic:{id:"41040cf0-0abb-4cd0-aad1-1cb0e38b334c",slug:"windows-11",name:"Windows 11",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"41040cf0-0abb-4cd0-aad1-1cb0e38b334c",slug:"windows-11",name:"Windows 11",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"5a09f531-5d09-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57",slug:"windows-10",name:"Windows 10",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"371a7418-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"sjvn",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Steven",lastName:"Vaughan-Nichols",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e2171bd1-84f6-4ca8-9801-2abdeb61a365",filename:"steven-vaughan-nichols.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 18:47:37",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe2171bd1-84f6-4ca8-9801-2abdeb61a365\u002Fsteven-vaughan-nichols.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols is a freelance writer and technology analyst. Besides ZDNET, he works with Foundry (Formerly IDG Communications), The Register, The New Stack, and Cathey Communications. He does not own stocks or other investments in any technology company.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cp\u003EWant to run whatever browser you want and not be \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-doubles-down-on-its-strategy-to-get-more-windows-11-users-on-edge\u002F\"\u003Eforced into Edge\u003C\u002Fa\u003E? Sick of being told to \"upgrade\" to Windows 11? Tired of one \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-december-2021-patch-tuesday-zero-day-exploited-to-spread-emotet-malware\u002F\"\u003EWindows 10 zero-day\u003C\u002Fa\u003E after another being exploited? I have a radical suggestion: Switch to Linux.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"26d1d292-1768-4c56-bd62-dbc463199bfa\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F26d1d292-1768-4c56-bd62-dbc463199bfa\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, I've been telling you this for years, just like I've been telling you not to use \"password\" for your passwords and to use \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-vpn\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Evirtual private networks\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. In all cases, it's just common sense.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fyour-windows-11-upgrade-is-ready-should-you-do-it\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYour Windows 11 upgrade is ready. Should you do it?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor years there have been lame excuses about why you couldn't switch to Linux. They were bogus, to begin with, and they're nonsense now. The only one that still holds water is that not all Windows applications will run on Linux. But, with the rise of Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Windows programs, there are fewer and fewer such programs. For example, you can now \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.computerworld.com\u002Farticle\u002F3639015\u002Ffinally-adobe-rolls-out-photoshop-and-illustrator-for-daas-users.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Erun Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator on Linux\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Heck, with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.computerworld.com\u002Farticle\u002F3634468\u002Fhow-to-choose-the-best-desktop-as-a-service-solution.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAzure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 Cloud PC\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, you can \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-just-blew-up-the-only-reason-you-cant-use-a-linux-desktop\u002F\"\u003Erun Windows itself remotely on a Linux PC\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGet the picture? Other than habit, there's no good reason to put up with Windows any longer.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo how do you do it? Well, for starters, you can just buy a PC with Linux already installed. Companies such as PC giants \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fwork\u002Fshop\u002Foverview\u002Fcp\u002Flinuxsystems\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDell\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lenovo.com\u002Fus\u002Fen\u002Fd\u002Flinux-laptops-desktops\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELenovo\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and Linux specialty OEMs such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsystem76.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESystem76\u003C\u002Fa\u003E all offer good machines ready to run. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOr, you can do what I usually do and just install Linux on an existing PC. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn this article, I'm going to tell you how to install \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Flinuxmint.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELinux Mint\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Flinux-mint-20-2-arrives-top-desktop-linux-keeps-improving\u002F\"\u003EMint is my favorite Linux desktop\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. But, the basic instructions work with any \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-linux-desktops-for-beginners\u002F\"\u003Edesktop Linux both for newcomers\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and for \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-linux-desktops-for-pros\u002F\"\u003Eexperienced pros\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDownload Linux Mint\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linuxmint.com\u002Fdownload.php\"\u003Edownload the newest version of Linux Mint\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. As I write this, that's Mint 20.2, but Linux Mint 20.3 will be out in early 2022. At about 1.5GB, depending on your internet speed, this may take a while. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMint comes with three different desktop interfaces. These are \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmate-desktop.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMATE\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.xfce.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EXfce\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and its default desktop, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgithub.com\u002Flinuxmint\u002Fcinnamon-desktop\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECinnamon\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. I recommend you go with Cinnamon, for starters. If it turns out you really want to get deep into Linux, you'll have plenty of opportunities to explore the various Linux interfaces. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce you've downloaded Mint, you should try the Linux distro before installing it. Fortunately, unlike other operating systems, Linux distros like Mint make it easy to give them a test run before committing to it.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you don't have an ISO burner program, download one. I recommend freeware programs \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.imgburn.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EImgBurn\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for optical drives and \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.pendrivelinux.com\u002Fyumi-multiboot-usb-creator\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EYumi for Windows\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for USB sticks. Other good choices are \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.linuxliveusb.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELinuxLive USB Creator\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Funetbootin.sourceforge.net\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EUNetbootin\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. These are all free programs.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnless you're using an older PC that won't boot from a USB stick, I strongly recommend using a USB flash drive for your test drive. You can run Linux from a DVD, but it's very slow. But, I might add, Linux Mint will run on pretty much any PC that hasn't turned 10 yet. So, if you have a computer collecting dust in the closet that you want to get some use from, go for it. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPutting Mint to the test\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce you've installed the burner program and have the latest Linux Mint ISO file in hand, use the burner to put the ISO image to your disc or USB stick. Check your newly burned disc for errors if you're using a DVD. Over the years, I've had more problems with running Linux and installing Linux from DVDs from bad discs than all other causes combined.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can also set Mint up with a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fosslinux.com\u002F49280\u002Fpersistent-live-usb-vs-full-linux-install-usb-drive.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EUSB stick with persistent storage\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. With persistent storage, you essentially have a computer on a USB stick. You can store your programs and files on the stick. This way, you can carry Linux and use it as a walk-around operating system for hotel, conference, and library PCs. I've found this to be very handy, and there's always at least one live Linux stick in my laptop bag.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENext, you place your disc or USB stick into your PC and reboot. Stop the boot-up process and get to your PC's UEFI or BIOS settings during the reboot. How you do this varies according to the system. Google for \"UEFI BIOS settings\" for your PC model to find which one will work for you. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can also look for a message as the machine starts up that tells which key or keys you'll need to press in order to get to the BIOS or UEFI. Likely candidates are a function key or the \"Esc\" or \"Delete\" keys. If you don't spot it the first time, don't worry about it. Just reboot and try again.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce you get to the BIOS or UEFI, look for a menu choice labeled \"Boot,\" \"Boot Options,\" or \"Boot Order.\" If you don't see a choice with the word \"boot\" in it, check other menu options such as \"Advanced Options,\" \"Advanced BIOS Features,\" or \"Other Options.\" Once you find this option by any name, set the boot order so that instead of booting from the hard drive first, you boot from either your DVD drive or USB drive.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat done, insert your DVD or USB stick and reboot. You should see a menu giving you several choices. For our purposes, you want to select \"Start Linux Mint\" from the first menu. From here on out, you'll be running Linux Mint.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome Nvidia graphics cards don't work well with Mint's open-source driver. If Linux Mint freezes during boot, use the \"nomodeset\" boot option. You set this to the Start Linux Mint option and press 'e' to modify the boot options. Then, replace \"quiet splash\" with \"nomodeset\" and press F10 to boot. On older PCs using BIOS, press 'tab' instead of 'e.'\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMint will run slower this way, but it will boot and run. If you decide to install Mint, you can permanently fix the problem with the following steps:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERun the Driver Manager\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChoose the NVIDIA drivers and wait for them to be installed\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReboot the computer\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo far, you've not installed anything on your PC. You're just getting a chance to see what running Mint is like. Use this opportunity to play with Mint to see if you like it.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you're running it off a DVD drive, Mint will run slowly, but it will run quickly enough to give you an idea of what it's like to use Mint. With a USB stick, it will run fast enough to give you a good notion of what working with Mint is like.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInstalling Linux and dealing with Secure Boot\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELet's say you like what you see. Now, you're ready to install Mint.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst, make a complete backup of your Windows system. Installing Linux in the way I'm going to describe shouldn't hurt your Windows setup at all, but why take a chance? \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt used to be that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Flinux-developers-working-on-uniting-windows-8-secure-boot-fixes\u002F\"\u003Einstalling Linux on Windows PCs with UEFI and Secure Boot was a major pain\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. It can still be an annoyance, but \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.ubuntu.com\u002F\"\u003EUbuntu\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Flinux-mint-17-hands-on-with-uefi-secure-boot\u002F\"\u003EMint have made booting and installing with the Secure Boot system a non-issue\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. All pre-built binaries intended to be loaded as part of the boot process, with the exception of the initrd image, are signed by Canonical's UEFI certificate, which is implicitly trusted by being embedded in the Microsoft signed shim loader.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf for some reason, you can't install Mint with Secure Boot running on your PC, you can always turn off Secure Boot. There are many \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftechnet.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Flibrary\u002Fdn481258.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eways to switch Secure Boot off\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. All involve going to the UEFI control panel during the boot process and switching it off.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStarting your Linux Mint installation\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENext, make sure your PC is plugged in. Seriously. The last thing you want is to run out of battery power during an operating system install! You'll also need an internet connection and about 8GB of free drive space.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat done, reboot into Linux again. Once you have the Mint display up, one of your icon choices on the left will be to install Mint. Double-click it, and you'll be on your way.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou'll need to walk your way through several menu choices. Most of these decisions will be easy. For example, the language you want Mint to use and your time zone. The one critical choice will be how to partition your hard drive.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPartitioning a hard drive can get really complicated, but there's an easy choice that will let you dual-boot both Windows and Mint. Simply pick the first option on the Installation Type menu: \"Install Linux Mint alongside them.\" No fuss, no muss. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis procedure will install Linux Mint next to your existing Windows system and leave it totally untouched. When I do this, I usually give half my PC's remaining drive space to Mint. You'll be asked to choose which operating system you want to boot by default. You'll get a few seconds to switch to the other operating system, no matter which one you pick.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou'll also be required to give your system a name; pick out a username for yourself, and come up with a password. You can also choose to encrypt your home directory to keep files relatively safe from prying eyes. However, an encrypted home directory slows systems down. It's faster, albeit counterintuitive, to encrypt the entire drive after you have Mint up and running.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Mint setup routine also lets you set up a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Flinuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io\u002Fen\u002Flatest\u002Ftimeshift.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esystem snapshot with Timeshift\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. By doing this, if something goes wrong with Mint later, you can restore your system files and get back to a working system. While you're at this, set up a regular Timeshift schedule. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've never had to restore from Timeshift. Linux Mint is stable as a rock. But, I've also never had a bad accident, but I always put on my seat belt. It's the same thing.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENext, you can have it checked to see if your computer needs any additional drivers. I highly recommend you run this. After this, you can choose to install proprietary multimedia codecs such as drivers to watch DVDs. I think you should do this, as well.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou should also set your PC to update your system to the latest software. Unlike Windows, when you update Mint, you're updating not just your operating system but all the other programs such as the default web browser, Firefox; office-suite, LibreOffice; and any other programs you've installed from Mint's Software Manager. If something doesn't work, you just use Timeshift to get back to a working system.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo do this manually, click on the shield icon in the menu bar. By default, the bar will be on the bottom part of the screen in the Cinnamon desktop, and the icon will be on the right. It will then prompt you for your password and ask if you really want to update your system. Say yes, and you'll be ready to give your new Mint system a real tryout.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe setup routine also offers to let you look at system settings and find new programs with the Software Manager, but since you're probably a new user, you can skip those for now.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's all there is to it. I've installed Linux hundreds of times, and it usually takes me about an hour from starting my download -- the blessings of a Gigabit internet connection -- to moving from booting up to customizing my new Mint PC. If you've never done it before, allow yourself an afternoon or morning for the job.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you do have trouble, look first at the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Flinuxmint.com\u002Fdocumentation.php\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELinux Mint installation documentation\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. If you're still having trouble, head over to the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fforums.linuxmint.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELinux Mint forums\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. For your purposes, start by reading the \"\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fforums.linuxmint.com\u002Fviewtopic.php?f=17&t=83444\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHow to get help\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\" post. Then, the most helpful ones for beginners are the aptly named \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fforums.linuxmint.com\u002Fviewforum.php?f=90\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBeginner Questions\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fforums.linuxmint.com\u002Fviewforum.php?f=46&sid=4ec258bd51f4780f1d747d6d126c9a42\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EInstallation & Boot\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHave fun, get work done, and enjoy.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERelated stories:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-linux-desktops-for-beginners\u002F\"\u003EBest Linux distros for beginners in 2021: You can do this!\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-linux-desktops-for-pros\u002F\"\u003EBest desktop Linux for pros 2021: Our top 5 choices\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Flinux-mint-20-2-arrives-top-desktop-linux-keeps-improving\u002F\"\u003ELinux Mint 20.2 arrives: Top desktop Linux keeps improving\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"32a1154f-70f8-48bf-bcd3-c541419f5b8d\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F32a1154f-70f8-48bf-bcd3-c541419f5b8d\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2021-12-17 17:33:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"It's simple to get Linux Mint up and running on a Windows PC. Here's how you do it.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"4e21c3ed-095d-423b-bbc7-7bbf9cc34377",image:{id:"139b9634-86c7-4152-bf02-4fd42dde3c2d",filename:"linux-mint-20-2.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2021-12-16 23:33:24",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Modified Linux Mint 20.2 desktop",credits:"Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F16\u002F139b9634-86c7-4152-bf02-4fd42dde3c2d\u002Flinux-mint-20-2.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:720,height:405,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Business^Enterprise Software",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"how-to-install-linux-on-your-windows-pc",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"How to install Linux on your Windows PC",topic:{id:"1048432a-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"enterprise-software",name:"Enterprise Software",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"1048432a-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"enterprise-software",name:"Enterprise Software",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10b2a4fa-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"linux",name:"Linux",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10f422bf-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"open-source",name:"Open Source",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"9a23272b-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"David Gewirtz",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"David",lastName:"Gewirtz",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"de4475ef-be59-4858-beb8-6f7696c85945",filename:"david-gewirtz.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:19:52",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fde4475ef-be59-4858-beb8-6f7696c85945\u002Fdavid-gewirtz.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"In addition to hosting the ZDNET Government and ZDNet DIY-IT blogs, David Gewirtz is an author, U.S. policy advisor, and computer scientist. He is featured in The History Channel special The President's Book of Secrets, is one of America's foremost cyber-security experts, and is a top expert on saving and creating jobs. He is also director of the U.S. Strategic Perspective Institute as well as the founder of ZATZ Publishing.\r\n\r\nDavid is a member of FBI InfraGard, the Cyberwarfare Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism & Security Professionals, a columnist for The Journal of Counterterrorism and Homeland Security, and has been a regular CNN contributor, and a guest commentator for the Nieman Watchdog of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. He is the author of Where Have All the Emails Gone?, the definitive study of email in the White House, as well as How To Save Jobs and The Flexible Enterprise, the classic book that served as a foundation for today's agile business movement.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"5ca421b0-fbec-48f0-9019-4c77f9d0f677\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Mac Studio M2 Ultra ports\" data-image-filename=\"mac-studio-m2-ultra-5.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F08\u002F18\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1365\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs soon as Tim Cook faded from the screen, my wife turned to me and asked, \"M3, huh? So, does that mean all our new Macs are now obsolete?\" We had just finished watching \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Feverything-apple-announced-at-its-october-scary-fast-event-m3-macbook-pro-24-inch-imac-more\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethe shortest Apple event in history\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, where the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max processors were announced, along with a new MacBook Pro and iMac. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the past two years, we've upgraded all of our company Macs (about a dozen of them) from Intel to M1 and M2 architectures. My wife's computers are now M2-based, while I'm running a very highly equipped M1 Max Mac Studio, as well as a bunch of M1-based Mac minis and an M1-based MacBook Air.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fapples-m3-m3-pro-and-m3-max-chipsets-everything-you-need-to-know\u002F\"\u003EApple's M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chipsets: Everything you need to know\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe spent quite a lot on these machines. My wife's main machine is a maxed-out M2 MacBook Air, which was \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fm2-macbook-air-zdnets-product-of-the-year\u002F\"\u003EZDNET's Product of the Year for 2022\u003C\u002Fa\u003E; let me tell you, maxing out Mac storage and RAM doesn't come cheap. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy wife's concern about potential obsolescence is valid. Fortunately, it's nothing to worry about. In fact, ZDNET Editor-in-Chief Jason Hiner writes today that \"Apple's desktop-class MacBook Pros have \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fm3-macbook-pro-buying-advice\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eleapt forward again with M3\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. But remember the latest M2 MacBook Air still offers pro-level performance with a more impressive form factor and price tag.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2051361\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn short, the M1 and M2 Macs are still awesome, current, well-tested, and well-functioning machines. But let's dive a little deeper. Why \u003Cem\u003Ewould\u003C\u002Fem\u003E you upgrade fo the M3? \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E Reasons to upgrade \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI regularly upgrade my machines. I'm always chasing the chance to save time. So if I thought that these new devices would give me an extra hour or so in my day, I'd leap at it. But I'm sticking with my M1s because I'm not feeling it. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy \"feeling it,\" I mean that my current machines aren't making me miserable. And believe me, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fintroducing-the-mac-mini-pro\u002F\"\u003EI've known misery\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Back before Apple's spate of upgrades in 2018, the company \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhas-apple-abandoned-professional-mac-users\u002F\"\u003Elet the Mac product line languish\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for years. My work productivity suffered, and I contemplated moving my entire work stack to the PC, which would be a major effort because I use some special purpose software -- \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c70c93cb-7a7b-4032-bd9e-0d0ca4d403b3\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Ffinal-cut-pro\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Final Cut Pro\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"7a97f23f-30e6-4538-8048-9d491e9bce6d\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.keyboardmaestro.com\u002Fmain\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Keyboard Maestro\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, among others -- that is Mac only and forms the basis of my productivity.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFinally, when Apple did a full sweep upgrade, first to a new Intel Mac mini in 2018, and then to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fapple-silicon-m1-chip-heres-what-we-know\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EApple Silicon\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, I was all over it. Because I needed that long-awaited performance. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fupgrading-a-small-fleet-of-older-macs-planning-it-out\u002F\"\u003EMigrating to M1 Macs: How I'm upgrading my small fleet of older Apple desktops and laptops\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELet's look at the main reasons to upgrade a computer. These are general guidelines for making any upgrade decision, not just for the Mac or for the latest M3. They will work for the M3 decision as well. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPerformance leads the pack. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you're feeling a performance pinch:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E When you feel it, you know it. Are those Final Cut renders taking so long that you feel like you'll wither before they're complete? Does it take forever to do something in Photoshop? Is your programming environment sluggish? When you feel like your machine is holding you back, it's time to upgrade. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you need a different configuration:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E Macs come with storage and RAM soldered on the mainboard. While you can hang an external drive off of the machines, it's not as fast as internal storage. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbuying-a-used-mac-laptop-how-to-avoid-scams-and-find-the-best-deals\u002F\"\u003EBuying a used Mac laptop: How to avoid scams and find the best deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe recently replaced my wife's M1 Mac mini with an M2. But we didn't do it because of the M2. Her M1 was a base model, with just a tiny bit of RAM and storage. When we bought the M1, that's all she needed. But she was doing a lot more graphics and needed the extra RAM and storage. So, the upgrade was justified. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat M1 Mac mini is still a fine machine. We moved it into the bedroom and hooked it up to the TV there. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you need a new feature that your current machine is lacking:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E One of the reasons I moved from using my M1 MacBook Air as my primary machine to the Mac Studio was multi-monitor support. I could only hang one spare monitor off the Air. I have three monitors hanging off the Mac Studio. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou might want to upgrade if you need a laptop with a bigger display. Or if you need more ports or a variety of different ports. I wouldn't necessarily plunk down an extra two grand for a Mac Studio just for the front-facing SD card slot, but I find it incredibly useful. It's a feature on my upgraded computer that I use every day. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthe-apple-products-you-shouldnt-buy-this-month\u002F\"\u003EThe Apple products you shouldn't buy this month\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf performance has declined:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E With mobile devices, battery life declines over time. I have upgraded laptops when the battery life just wasn't long enough to be useful. This is different from the performance pinch talked about before. In that case, your demand for performance has increased. In this case, the existing performance has gotten worse. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf your device is no longer compatible:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E This is when the applications or the operating system have left your machine behind. We still have one Intel Mac mini in service, and it works fine. The latest MacOS, Sonoma, still runs on it. But the writing is on the wall. Next year's MacOS (which I fervently hope is called Fresno) will probably no longer support that Intel Mac mini. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy the way, it's not just the obvious things, like OS changes, that might push an upgrade. I had a Mac mini that couldn't support the latest OS, and Gmail and Chrome refused to run. I would have been happy running an older OS version, but when the main tools I used all day stopped running, that machine had to come out of service, and a new machine was purchased to replace it. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E M1 and M2 are far from obsolete \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnless you're jumping from a base M1 to something like an M3 Max, you're unlikely to feel a major performance gain moving from one Apple Silicon generation to another. But if you're running an Intel Mac, that's a whole other consideration. There, you'll see a huge performance boost and you'll find everything runs faster and smoother. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-update-every-apple-device\u002F\"\u003EHow to update every Apple device (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, more)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy recommendation -- for those of you with M1 and M2 machines -- is not to worry about M3 unless one of the reasons above speaks to you. As for me, I'm not feeling any slowdown on my M1 machines, especially my well-configured Mac Studio. Until I start to feel some level of frustration over performance or capability, I'm staying with the hardware I have. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat about you? Are you planning on jumping on the M3 bandwagon? Let us know in the comments below.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EYou can follow my day-to-day project updates on social media. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly update newsletter \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fadvancedgeekery.substack.com\u002F\"\u003Eon Substack\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and follow me on Twitter at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002Fdavidgewirtz\"\u003E@DavidGewirtz\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, on Facebook at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fdavidgewirtz\"\u003EFacebook.com\u002FDavidGewirtz\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, on Instagram at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002FDavidGewirtz\u002F\"\u003EInstagram.com\u002FDavidGewirtz\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and on YouTube at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fuser\u002FDavidGewirtzTV\"\u003EYouTube.com\u002FDavidGewirtzTV\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"3be818df-27e4-42c7-813f-c703e2d38814\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F3be818df-27e4-42c7-813f-c703e2d38814\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2023-11-01 19:11:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The M1 and M2 Macs are still awesome, current, well-tested, and well-functioning machines. But let's dive a little deeper.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"55d9820e-620b-4c8c-93dd-7a070cfec98c",image:{id:"5ca421b0-fbec-48f0-9019-4c77f9d0f677",filename:"mac-studio-m2-ultra-5.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2023-08-18 18:24:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Mac Studio M2 Ultra ports",credits:"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F08\u002F18\u002F5ca421b0-fbec-48f0-9019-4c77f9d0f677\u002Fmac-studio-m2-ultra-5.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2048,height:1365,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"does-apples-m3-chip-obsolete-the-m1-and-m2-heres-when-to-upgrade-and-why",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Does Apple's M3 chip obsolete the M1 and M2? Here's when to upgrade - and why",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"1124f463-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"processors",name:"Processors",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"d0aee31d-965e-4a8b-97f0-5c7c1b8bf7f1",slug:"mac-os",name:"Mac OS",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"d17ddd02-232e-4fbe-84af-201e48b9b852",slug:"companies",name:"Companies",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"371a7418-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"sjvn",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Steven",lastName:"Vaughan-Nichols",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e2171bd1-84f6-4ca8-9801-2abdeb61a365",filename:"steven-vaughan-nichols.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 18:47:37",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe2171bd1-84f6-4ca8-9801-2abdeb61a365\u002Fsteven-vaughan-nichols.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols is a freelance writer and technology analyst. Besides ZDNET, he works with Foundry (Formerly IDG Communications), The Register, The New Stack, and Cathey Communications. He does not own stocks or other investments in any technology company.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"0c8c11e4-e67f-4e3c-b36e-493218fc41d5\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Screenshot by sjvn\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Linux Mint 21.1 desktop \" data-image-filename=\"linux-mint-21-1.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F22\" data-image-width=\"1280\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can keep your \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-11-faq-heres-everything-you-need-to-know\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWindows 11\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002F3-ways-macos-ventura-could-upgrade-your-worklife-hands-on-impressions\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EmacOS Ventura\u003C\u002Fa\u003E on your PCs. On my desktop, what I want is open-source Linux. In particular, I want Linux Mint. Why? Because, it's free, easy to use, and far more secure than its proprietary rivals.   \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe latest version, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Flinuxmint.com\u002Fedition.php?id=302\"\u003ELinux Mint 21.1, Vera,\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is better than ever. If you don't know it, let me introduce you. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002F2022-was-secretly-the-year-of-chromebooks-heres-why\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2022 was secretly the year of Chromebooks. Here's why\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELinux Mint 21.1 is a comprehensive desktop operating system that includes everything you need for home and office work. It comes with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog.documentfoundation.org\u002Fblog\u002F2022\u002F11\u002F03\u002Flibreoffice-7-3-7-community\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELibreOffice 7.3.7\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for office productivity, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mozilla.org\u002Fen-US\u002Ffirefox\u002F108.0.1\u002Freleasenotes\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFirefox 108.0.1\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for web browsing, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.thunderbird.net\u002Fen-US\u002Fthunderbird\u002F102.4.2\u002Freleasenotes\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThunderbird 102.4.2\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for email and calendering, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gimp.org\u002Fnews\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F21\u002Fgimp-2-10-30-released\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGIMP 2.10.30\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for graphics editing. None of this will cost you a thin dime. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"a79e7679-c6c7-4a8a-b132-d9c5800e2976\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fa79e7679-c6c7-4a8a-b132-d9c5800e2976\" data-float=\"right\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMint gives you your choice of three interfaces: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002F9to5linux.com\u002Ffirst-look-at-the-cinnamon-5-6-desktop-environment\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECinnamon 5.6\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmate-desktop.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMATE\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.xfce.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EXfce\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. For me, the Cinnamon interface is the easiest to use. I recommend it to anyone who wants to move from the Mac and Windows world to Linux. It's very simple to pick up. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExperienced Cinnamon users will notice that the default theme features more vibrant colors. It also uses the blue Aqua theme by default, instead of the more familiar mint-green color. Rather use the old one? No problem. Choose the \"Mint-Y-Legacy\" option in the theme options, and you're good to go. You'll find this and all the other desktop customization choices under the System Settings panel. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-i-revived-three-ancient-laptops-with-chrome-os-flex\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow I revived three ancient computers with ChromeOS Flex\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe desktop itself has also been cleaned up. Now, by default, there are far fewer icons. The Home, Computer, Trash, and Network icons are all missing. If, like me, you still like icons, you can easily add them again via the System Settings panel. Mint gives you all the control you could ever want over your desktop to set it up in whatever way makes you happy. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe interface is also just snappier. There have been many changes under the hood to make the display much faster. I noticed this immediately on my main desktop. The new Mint ran like a top on my 2020 Dell Precision 3451. This PC is powered by an Intel 8-core 3GHz i7-9700 CPU. It also includes 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is far more computer than Mint needs. Linux Mint will run on pretty much any computer. If your PC has 2GBs of RAM and 100GB, any graphics card, and a monitor that supports a 1024×768 resolution, you're good to go. If you're not sure if you want to try Mint, you can literally grab pretty much any PC from a second-hand store to play with it. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis version of Mint is built on top of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Freleases.ubuntu.com\u002F22.04\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EUbuntu 22.04\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, known as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fubuntu-22-04-the-linux-desktop-for-work\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EJammy Jellyfish\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. From it, it inherits many business-friendly features, such as full support for Active Directory (AD) with Advanced Group Policy Object. So if you want to run Mint on a business network with a Windows 2012 or newer AD Domain Controller, you're ready for work.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you elect to do that, it's also handy to know that Mint 21.1 is a long-term support (LTS) release. It will be supported for five years, that is, until 2027.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthe-three-tiers-of-linux-distribution-difficulty\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe 3 tiers of Linux distribution difficulty\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt also uses the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.omgubuntu.co.uk\u002F2021\u002F11\u002Flinux-5-15-released-this-is-whats-new\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELinux 5.15 kernel\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. This comes with such business features as improved support for the Windows NTFS file system and an in-kernel SMB 3.0 file server. This also improves its integration with Windows-based systems and file servers. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause of this, Mint also now includes the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwiki.archlinux.org\u002Ftitle\u002Fbluetooth\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBlueman Bluetooth stack\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. This improves Mint's Bluetooth device support for keyboards, mice, and smartphones.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe latest Process Monitor alerts you when any significant actions, such as backups, are happening in the background. The default use of the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) allows for easy printer and scanner setup without needing drivers, although support for other drivers is also available.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-are-hidden-files-in-linux-and-how-do-you-create-them\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to create hidden files in Linux\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERegarding drivers, the Drive Manager no longer requires the root user password. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.freedesktop.org\u002Fsoftware\u002FPackageKit\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPackagekit\u003C\u002Fa\u003E can also purge packages, that is, not only remove them but also remove their configuration files. That means the driver manager now purges removed drivers. This fixes a niche issue with the ever-annoying \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nvidia.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fdrivers\u002Funix\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELinux NVIDIA drivers\u003C\u002Fa\u003E when switching between different driver versions.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMint also now fully supports \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fflatpak.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFlatpak\u003C\u002Fa\u003E program installation from the Software Manager and Update Manager. Flatpak allows developers to easily enable users to install containerized programs on their desktops. Both software installation front-ends make it easy to see the difference between a conventional and a Flatpak installation. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-are-flatpak-and-snap-and-why-are-they-so-important-to-linux\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat are Flatpak and Snap and why are they so important to Linux?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMint's leadership has never cottoned up to the similar \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsnapcraft.io\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESnapcraft\u003C\u002Fa\u003E program manager.  If you want to use snaps anyway -- like I do -- take the following steps from the shell.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$ sudo rm \u002Fetc\u002Fapt\u002Fpreferences.d\u002Fnosnap.pref\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$ apt update\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$ apt install snapd\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd, while the Snap store won't be integrated with the Software and Update Manager, you can install Snap programs.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linuxmint.com\u002Fdownload.php\"\u003Einstall Linux Mint 21.1, you can download it now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. However, if you're already running Linux Mint 21, it's \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog.linuxmint.com\u002F?p=4461\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Etrivial to upgrade to the latest version\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. With my 1 Gigabit down fiber connection, it took me less than 15 minutes.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, if you want a holiday Linux project, or you're ready to kiss Windows goodbye, give Mint a try. You'll be glad you did. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERelated Stories:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-still-insecure-after-all-these-years\u002F\"\u003EWindows: Still insecure after all these years\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-linux-laptop\u002F\"\u003EThe best Linux laptops for consumers and developers\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-openindiana-and-why-does-it-matter\u002F\"\u003EWhat is OpenIndiana and why does it matter?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2022-12-23 14:49:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"This long-term-support version of Linux Mint is a great Linux desktop for both beginners and experts.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"76fba50c-ad00-44ff-9ae0-70df3467003f",image:{id:"0c8c11e4-e67f-4e3c-b36e-493218fc41d5",filename:"linux-mint-21-1.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-12-22 22:29:35",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Linux Mint 21.1",credits:"sjvn",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F12\u002F22\u002F0c8c11e4-e67f-4e3c-b36e-493218fc41d5\u002Flinux-mint-21-1.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1280,height:720,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Services & Software^Operating Systems^Linux",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"linux-mint-21-1-the-better-than-ever-linux-desktop",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Linux Mint 21.1: The better-than-ever Linux desktop",topic:{id:"10b2a4fa-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"linux",name:"Linux",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"10b2a4fa-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"linux",name:"Linux",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10f422bf-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"open-source",name:"Open Source",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"5d68ddc2-d682-11e4-9a74-d4ae52e95e57",slug:"developer",name:"Developer",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"371a7418-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"sjvn",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Steven",lastName:"Vaughan-Nichols",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e2171bd1-84f6-4ca8-9801-2abdeb61a365",filename:"steven-vaughan-nichols.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 18:47:37",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe2171bd1-84f6-4ca8-9801-2abdeb61a365\u002Fsteven-vaughan-nichols.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols is a freelance writer and technology analyst. Besides ZDNET, he works with Foundry (Formerly IDG Communications), The Register, The New Stack, and Cathey Communications. He does not own stocks or other investments in any technology company.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"d36257a4-a928-4391-84da-c2c18435dc47\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"sjvn\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Linux Mint 21.2\" data-image-filename=\"linux-mint-21-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023-07-21 15:35:02.000000\" data-image-width=\"1230\" data-image-height=\"692\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Flinuxmint.com\u002Fedition.php?id=305\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELinux Mint 21.2\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, codenamed \"Victoria,\" is a refreshing update to my favorite Linux desktop distribution. It continues to build on the solid foundation of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fubuntu-22-04-the-linux-desktop-for-work\u002F\"\u003EUbuntu 22.04 Long Term Support (LTS)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Flinux-5-15-just-arrived-and-heres-whats-inside\u002F\"\u003ELinux kernel 5.15\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, offering a stable and reliable operating system for both new and experienced users. This version is also a Mint LTS; you can use it confidently until 2027.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhy do I prefer it over Windows 11 or MacOS Ventura? Besides that it has better security than either one, I also like that it comes with all the free and open-source software I need for work. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthis-beautiful-linux-distribution-makes-it-easy-to-migrate-from-any-os\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThis beautiful Linux distribution makes it easy to migrate from any OS\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELike all Linux desktop distros, Victoria isn't just a comprehensive desktop operating system. It includes all the software you need. It comes with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog.documentfoundation.org\u002Fblog\u002F2022\u002F11\u002F03\u002Flibreoffice-7-3-7-community\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELibreOffice 7.3.7\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for office productivity, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.thunderbird.net\u002Fen-US\u002Fthunderbird\u002F102.4.2\u002Freleasenotes\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThunderbird 102.4\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for email and calendaring, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gimp.org\u002Fnews\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F21\u002Fgimp-2-10-30-released\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGIMP 2.10.30\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for graphics editing, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fconnect.mozilla.org\u002Ft5\u002Fdiscussions\u002Ffirefox-115-0-2\u002Ftd-p\u002F35440\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFirefox 115.02\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for web browsing. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2051361\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWant a different program? No problem. You may have heard installing programs on Linux is a major pain. That's not true. It's simple. Just open up the Software Manager and search for your program. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, if, like me, you prefer Chrome, all I had to do was search for \"Web browser,\" and I have three dozen web browsers to choose from. I found Chrome from a selection that included Microsoft Edge, Brave, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fopera-one-is-officially-out-of-testing\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EOpera\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and -- a real blast from the past -- Mosaic and clicked on it. A minute later, I was in business.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll of these are free.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Software Manager also features a refreshed user interface and the option to download applications via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fflatpak.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFlatpak\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. This is a significant development as Mint is one of the latest Linux distributions to adopt Flatpak. The Software Manager also includes application ratings to help you make informed decisions about your applications.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-linux-laptop\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe best Linux laptops\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFlatpak allows developers to enable users to install containerized programs on their desktops easily. Don't like Flatpak because these containerized applications take up more drive and memory space? No problem. Software Manager makes it easy to see the difference between a conventional and a Flatpak installation. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"03965ebb-c4bc-42d4-a9fb-4139bf7a09d5\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"sjvn\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Linux Mint 21.2 Software Manager\" data-image-filename=\"linux-mint-software-manager.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023-07-21 16:14:04.000000\" data-image-width=\"800\" data-image-height=\"697\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMint's leadership has never liked Flatpak's rival \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsnapcraft.io\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESnap\u003C\u002Fa\u003E program manager.  If you \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-install-software-on-linux-using-snap-and-why-you-should\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewant to use snaps anyway\u003C\u002Fa\u003E -- I do -- take the following steps from the shell.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$ sudo rm \u002Fetc\u002Fapt\u002Fpreferences.d\u002Fnosnap.pref\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$ apt update\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$ apt install snapd\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd, while the Snap store won't be integrated with the Software and Update Manager, you can install Snap programs.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the most significant updates in Linux Mint 21.2 is the enhancement of the Cinnamon desktop environment. Cinnamon, already known for its user-friendly and intuitive interface, has been further polished in this release. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Flinux-has-over-3-of-the-desktop-market-its-more-complicated-than-that\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELinux has over 3% of the desktop market? It's more complicated than that\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe latest version, Cinnamon 5.8, introduces a new concept called Styles, which offers three modes: dark, light, and mixed. These modes, combined with theme variants, allow users to customize the look and feel of their desktop to their liking. Other improvements include improved gesture support for window management, media controls, and workspace management, the ability to resize the main menu manually, and the addition of icons to notification windows to better illustrate the message.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDon't care for Cinnamon? Linux Mint 21.2 also comes with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmate-desktop.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMATE\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.gnome.org\u002Fmisc\u002Frelease-notes\u002F2.0\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGNOME \u003C\u002Fa\u003E2-style desktop, which is no longer in development. If you have a low-powered PC, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linuxmint.com\u002Frel_victoria_xfce_whatsnew.php\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELinux Mint Xfce 21.2\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is also ready to install and run. All are very simple to pick up. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpeaking of computer power, the Cinnamon interface is also faster and snappier. There have been many changes under the hood to speed up the display. I noticed this immediately on my main desktop. The new Mint ran faster than ever on my 2020 Dell Precision 3451. An Intel 8-core 3GHz i7-9700 CPU powers this PC. It also includes 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-linux-desktops-for-beginners\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe best Linux distros for beginners\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is far more computer power than Mint needs. Linux Mint will run on pretty much any computer. You're good to go if your PC has 2GBs of RAM and 100GB, any graphics card, and a monitor that supports a 1024×768 resolution. If you're unsure if you want to try Mint, you can grab almost any PC from a second-hand store to play with it. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELinux Mint 21.2 also introduces expanded video file format support, including support for HEIF and AVIF file formats, and Adobe Illustrator files in the document viewer. This release also features an improved Bluetooth stack and login screen, as well as new wallpapers and themes, including a global dark mode. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fopensource.com\u002Farticle\u002F22\u002F12\u002Flinux-file-manager-nemo\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECinnamon Nemo file manager\u003C\u002Fa\u003E now has new, clearer folder icons, enhancing the overall user experience.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite these significant updates, Linux Mint 21.2 maintains its commitment to simplicity and user-friendliness. It continues offering a traditional, Windows 95-style desktop, which has won over many users over the years. This release does not introduce any radical changes that might shock users. Instead, it focuses on small improvements that enhance the overall user experience.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-create-a-simple-linux-alias-to-run-all-of-your-upgrade-commands-with-a-single-word\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to create a simple Linux alias to run all of your upgrade commands with a single word\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis version of Mint is built on top of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Freleases.ubuntu.com\u002F22.04\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EUbuntu 22.04\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, known as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fubuntu-22-04-the-linux-desktop-for-work\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EJammy Jellyfish\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. It inherits many business-friendly features, such as full Active Directory (AD) support with Advanced Group Policy Object. So if you want to run Mint on a business network with a Windows 2012 or newer AD Domain Controller, you're ready for work.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt also uses the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Flinux-5-15-just-arrived-and-heres-whats-inside\u002F\"\u003ELinux 5.15 kernel\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. This comes with business features, improved Windows NTFS file system support, and an in-kernel SMB 3.0 file server. This also improves its integration with Windows-based systems and file servers. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe desktop itself has also been cleaned up. Now, by default, there are far fewer icons. The Home, Computer, Trash, and Network icons are all missing. If you still like those icons like me, you can easily add them again via the System Settings panel. Mint gives you all the control you could ever want over your desktop to set it up in whatever way makes you happy. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe latest Process Monitor alerts you when any significant actions, like backups, are happening in the background. The default use of the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) allows for easy printer and scanner setup without needing drivers, although support for printer drivers is also available.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-choose-the-right-linux-desktop-distribution-for-you\u002F\"\u003EHow to choose the right Linux desktop distribution for you\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linuxmint.com\u002Fdownload.php\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Einstall Linux Mint 21.2, you can download it now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. If you're already running Linux Mint 21.x, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog.linuxmint.com\u002F?p=4550#:~:text=Launch%20the%20System%20Upgrade%20by,files%2C%20choose%20to%20replace%20them.&text=Linux%20Mint%2021.2%20features%20artwork%20changes.\"\u003Eupgrading to Victoria is trivial\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Using my 1 Gigabit down fiber connection, it took me less than 15 minutes.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo sum it all up, Linux Mint 21.2 \"Victoria\" is a solid update that brings several new features and improvements to the table. It continues offering a user-friendly, stable, and feature-rich operating system for new and veteran users. Whether you're a new user considering switching from Windows to Linux or a seasoned user looking for an upgrade, Linux Mint 21.2 is worth checking out.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMe? I use Linux Mint every day on my main desktops. On it, I write thousands of words a day, test programs of all types and sorts, manage websites and mailing lists, and do just enough programming to keep my hand in. Unless you're doing serious with a capital S photo or video work -- in which case you should use \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-mac\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethe highest-end Mac\u003C\u002Fa\u003E you can afford -- Mint is a great desktop. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"a79e7679-c6c7-4a8a-b132-d9c5800e2976\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fa79e7679-c6c7-4a8a-b132-d9c5800e2976\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2023-07-21 21:07:15",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"This long-term-support version of Linux Mint is a great Linux desktop for both beginners and experts.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"d3421cdb-1a1a-40f7-be27-425805a23932",image:{id:"d36257a4-a928-4391-84da-c2c18435dc47",filename:"linux-mint-21-2.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2023-07-21 15:35:02",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Linux Mint 21.2",credits:b,caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F07\u002F21\u002Fd36257a4-a928-4391-84da-c2c18435dc47\u002Flinux-mint-21-2.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1230,height:692,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Business^Enterprise Software",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"linux-mint-21-2-your-new-and-improved-linux-desktop-for-the-next-three-years",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Linux Mint 21.2: Your new and improved Linux desktop for the next three years",topic:{id:"1048432a-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"enterprise-software",name:"Enterprise Software",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"1048432a-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"enterprise-software",name:"Enterprise Software",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10b2a4fa-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"linux",name:"Linux",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10f422bf-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"open-source",name:"Open Source",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"371a7418-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"sjvn",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Steven",lastName:"Vaughan-Nichols",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e2171bd1-84f6-4ca8-9801-2abdeb61a365",filename:"steven-vaughan-nichols.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 18:47:37",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe2171bd1-84f6-4ca8-9801-2abdeb61a365\u002Fsteven-vaughan-nichols.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols is a freelance writer and technology analyst. Besides ZDNET, he works with Foundry (Formerly IDG Communications), The Register, The New Stack, and Cathey Communications. He does not own stocks or other investments in any technology company.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"5aa92c34-958a-4dd5-bfb0-94172ac6ed7c\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Getty Images\u002FAndriy Onufriyenko\" data-image-alt-text=\"trend lines going up\" data-image-filename=\"gettyimages-1212221568.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F07\u002F13\" data-image-width=\"2070\" data-image-height=\"1449\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEvery few years, people get excited that maybe this will be the year of the Linux desktop. Now, I can argue, and I have, that happened long ago. But when you're talking about the traditional PC running a desktop Linux system such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Flinuxmint.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELinux Mint\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmxlinux.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMX Linux\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, or \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fubuntu.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EUbuntu\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, the numbers remain minute. In \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fstatcounter.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EStatCounter\u003C\u002Fa\u003E's latest desktop market share numbers, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgs.statcounter.com\u002Fos-market-share\u002Fdesktop\u002Fworldwide\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELinux has made it up to 3.08%\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"75ce00a6-5192-4665-961f-f387ba619d48\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EBy StatCounter's reckoning, the Linux desktop has made it over 3% market share.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"sjvn\u002FStatCounter\" data-image-alt-text=\"StatCounter June 2023 Desktop Statistics\" data-image-filename=\"statcounter-desktop-os-june-2023.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F07\u002F13\" data-image-width=\"720\" data-image-height=\"160\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, that's not bad, but it's not good either. In comparison, StatCounter has Windows at 68.15%, MacOS in second place with 21.38%, and Chrome OS taking third at 4.15% But, at least Linux isn't in last place. That dubious honor goes to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.freebsd.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFreeBSD\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, with 0.01%.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-linux-laptop\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe best Linux laptops\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMind you, there are some groups, such as developers, in which Linux is widely used. For example, the market research company \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.statista.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EStatista\u003C\u002Fa\u003E has found \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.statista.com\u002Fstatistics\u002F869211\u002Fworldwide-software-development-operating-system\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E45% of programmers use Linux\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStill, I doubt that even over 3% of average users are running a conventional Linux desktop.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou see, StatCounter uses its own proprietary method for counting desktops, web browsers, and so on. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgs.statcounter.com\u002Ffaq#methodology\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esite calculates its \"Global Stats on the basis of more than 5 billion page views per month\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, by people from all over the world onto our 1.5 million+ member sites.\" That's impressive, but while the company states its numbers are \"independent, unbiased stats on Internet usage trends,\" we don't know exactly how it calculates its numbers. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI prefer to use data from the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdigital.gov\u002Fguides\u002Fdap\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EUS federal government's Digital Analytics Program (DAP)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for the most accurate, albeit US-centric, operating system, and browser numbers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthe-world-is-running-out-of-developers-says-salesforce-exec\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E'The world is running out of developers', says Salesforce exec\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDAP's numbers come from billions of visits over the past 90 days to over \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fanalytics.usa.gov\u002Fdata\u002Flive\u002Fsecond-level-domains.csv\"\u003E400 US executive branch government domains\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. That's \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fanalytics.usa.gov\u002Fdata\u002Flive\u002Fsites.csv\"\u003Eabout 5,000 total websites\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and includes every cabinet department. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDAP gets its raw data from a Google Analytics account. DAP has \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgithub.com\u002FGSA\u002Fanalytics.usa.gov\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eopen-sourced the code, which displays the data on the web\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and its \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgithub.com\u002F18F\u002Fanalytics-reporter\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Edata-collection code\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Best of all, unlike the others, you can download its data in \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fjson.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EJavaScript Object Notation (JSON)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E format so you can analyze the raw numbers yourself.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fanalytics.usa.gov\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EUS Analytics\u003C\u002Fa\u003E site, which summarizes DAP's data, you'll find desktop Linux, as usual, down towards the bottom at 1.7%. Windows, as always, is on top with 30.6%, followed by MacOS at 8.5%, then Linux, and oddly enough, ChromeOS coming in last place with 1.4%. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy gut feeling is that there are far more Chromebook users out there than there are \"Linux\" users. For some reason, ChromeOS doesn't show up that well on anyone's desktop operating system analysis. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Ffive-reasons-chromebooks-are-the-perfect-laptop\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E5 reasons why Chromebooks are the perfect laptop for most people\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChromebook sales numbers tell a different story. In its 2020 personal computing device market analysis, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.canalys.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eresearch firm Canalys\u003C\u002Fa\u003E reported that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.canalys.com\u002Fnewsroom\u002Ftablets-chromebooks-q4-2020\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EChromebook vendors' overall market almost quadrupled in size\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in 2020. Canalys Research Director Rushabh Doshi said, \"Demand for Chromebooks is through the roof.\" Covid drove that jump.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince then, according to research company IDC's count, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.idc.com\u002Fgetdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS50239723\"\u003EChromebook sales numbers have shrunk\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Gartner agrees, but the research powerhouse also pointed out all \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gartner.com\u002Fen\u002Fnewsroom\u002Fpress-releases\u002F2023-01-31-gartner-forecasts-worldwide-device-shipments-to-decline-four-percent-in-2023#:~:text=January%2031%2C%202023-,Gartner%20Forecasts%20Worldwide%20Device%20Shipments%20to%20Decline%204%25%20in%202023,Return%20to%20Normal%20in%202H23.\"\u003EPC sales numbers are expected to be down in 2023\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Even so, by Gartner's math, ChromeOS's market share still has 6.8% of the worldwide PC market in 2022 and 19.7% within the US. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, why don't they show up in the user statistics!? Darned if I know. My educated guess is that many \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002F2022-was-secretly-the-year-of-chromebooks-heres-why\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EChromebooks\u003C\u002Fa\u003E are being counted as other operating systems using the Chrome web browser. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEarlier, I mentioned that we've already seen the year of the Linux desktop. We just didn't recognize it. I can make the arguments on two fronts. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-linux-desktops-for-beginners\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe best Linux distros for beginners\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fnetworking\u002Fcan-the-internet-exist-without-linux\u002F\"\u003E96.3% of the top million web servers run Linux.\u003C\u002Fa\u003EYou name it -- Google, Facebook, Wikipedia, etc.-- it's running Linux. It's the same story with the cloud, where \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.developer.com\u002Fnews\u002F90-of-the-public-cloud-runs-on-linux\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELinux runs 90% of the cloud\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Even \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-developer-reveals-linux-is-now-more-used-on-azure-than-windows-server\u002F\"\u003EMicrosoft Azure users run Linux\u003C\u002Fa\u003E more than they do Windows Server. In other words, if you spend your day using web applications and services, congratulations, you, like most people, are a Linux user.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother way of looking at the question is: \"Are you a Linux end-user?\" In that case, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthe-secret-origins-of-googles-chrome-os\u002F\"\u003EChromeOS, which is just Linux with a Chrome browser interface\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, counts. That brings Linux desktop use up to 7.23% by StatCounter's reckoning. Or, using DAP's data, 3.1%, \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut, wait, I said \"end-user,\" didn't I? So, Android, which is a mobile Linux distro, counts too. By this reckoning, StatCounter now has the Linux family in the top spot, well over Windows, with a grand total of 44.98%! Using this counting methodology, DAP has Linux users at 23.6%. Now, these are significant numbers. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Flinux-distro-hopping-is-a-fun-way-to-find-the-perfect-desktop-operating-system\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELinux distro hopping is a fun way to find the perfect desktop operating system\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat's the difference? We're no longer a PC-driven society. Based on my website analysis, two out of three people use smartphones today. So, it's no surprise that worldwide StatCounter has \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgs.statcounter.com\u002Fos-market-share\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAndroid as the most popular operating system with 40.16%\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, while Apple iOS is at the top of DAP's US-centric count with 35.6%.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo folks, as someone who has been using the Linux desktop since the \"interface\" choice was between csh and Bash instead of Cinnamon, GNOME, and KIDE, I wish the traditional Linux desktop numbers were higher too. We'll just have to be content with the top-dog operating system in all other computing devices -- servers, clouds, supercomputers, and smartphones. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"26d1d292-1768-4c56-bd62-dbc463199bfa\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F26d1d292-1768-4c56-bd62-dbc463199bfa\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2023-07-13 17:56:35",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"StatCounter says it does, but a closer look reveals old-school Linux desktops are still stuck at a lower number. If you take a broader view, however, Linux is the most popular end-user operating system of all.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"8c054dbd-f67b-459b-ba9a-a4b2ed2ba145",image:{id:"5aa92c34-958a-4dd5-bfb0-94172ac6ed7c",filename:"gettyimages-1212221568.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2023-07-13 17:24:17",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"StatCounter June 2023 Desktop Statistics",credits:"sjvn\u002FStatCounter",caption:"\u003Cp\u003EBy StatCounter's reckoning, the Linux desktop has made it over 3% market share. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F07\u002F13\u002F5aa92c34-958a-4dd5-bfb0-94172ac6ed7c\u002Fgettyimages-1212221568.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2070,height:1449,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Business^Enterprise Software",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"linux-has-over-3-of-the-desktop-market-its-more-complicated-than-that",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Linux has over 3% of the desktop market? It's more complicated than that",topic:{id:"1048432a-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"enterprise-software",name:"Enterprise Software",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"1048432a-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"enterprise-software",name:"Enterprise Software",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10b2a4fa-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"linux",name:"Linux",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"1147b242-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"smartphones",name:"Smartphones",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"294e47d5-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"Ed Bott",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Ed",lastName:"Bott",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e",filename:"ed-bott.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:06:03",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e\u002Fed-bott.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than two decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. He has served as editor of the U.S. edition of PC Computing and managing editor of PC World; both publications had monthly paid circulation in excess of 1 million during his tenure. He is the author of more than 25 books, including Windows 10 Inside Out (now in its 4th edition) and Windows 11 Inside Out (2023).",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"AU",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"a1597526-7c5c-4ab7-9c0f-a4ca1a76119c\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003ECould Microsoft's Surface division be on the verge of launching its own Surface-branded silicon capable of competing with Apple's M2 chip and even its forthcoming M3 design?&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"AlexSecret\u002FGetty Images\" data-image-alt-text=\"boxgettyimages-1188403765\" data-image-filename=\"boxgettyimages-1188403765.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F07\u002F24\" data-image-width=\"2070\" data-image-height=\"1449\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft's original Surface RT tablet was one of the great surprise hardware launches of all time. That Arm-based tablet came just a couple years after Apple's \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fa-decade-old-device-why-did-it-take-nine-years-for-the-ipad-to-get-its-own-operating-system\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EiPad launch\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and the dramatic debut event in Southern California shocked the tech press like nothing I've ever seen before.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESadly, that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhands-on-with-microsofts-surface-rt-can-it-hit-the-sweet-spot\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eoriginal Surface device\u003C\u002Fa\u003E was a classic case of too little, too late. Or maybe too early. Although it was a brilliant feat of engineering, its ecosystem was doomed from the start. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhands-on-with-microsofts-surface-rt-can-it-hit-the-sweet-spot\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Elack of apps\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and the kludgey Windows 8 interface were fatal flaws. Microsoft took an enormous write-down on the product, and it took years for the company's reputation to recover.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-surface-pc\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe best Surface PCs: Microsoft's top devices reviewed and compared\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo much for \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-starts-shipping-its-windows-on-arm-device-for-developers-windows-dev-kit-2023\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWindows on Arm processors\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, right?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWell, maybe not. Former CEO Steve Ballmer liked to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Farchive.nytimes.com\u002Fbits.blogs.nytimes.com\u002F2009\u002F07\u002F14\u002Fsteve-ballmer-shouts-microsoft-will-keep-on-coming\u002F\"\u003Edescribe Microsoft's approach to competition\u003C\u002Fa\u003E as \"long-term, tenacious and partner-centric … We don't go home. We just keep coming and coming and coming. Tenacious, tenacious, tenacious.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2051361\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI thought of those remarks as I read through a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fheres-why-windows-pcs-are-only-going-to-get-more-annoying\u002F\"\u003Econfidential Microsoft planning document that was inadvertently made public recently\u003C\u002Fa\u003E as part of an FTC enforcement action. In that document, Microsoft's senior leadership team spends an inordinate amount of time and energy discussing the need to develop their own \"custom silicon\" to compete with Apple and Amazon, and Google.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere's a representative section:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EContinuing to innovate in silicon is key to ensuring the competitiveness of our cloud and device offerings. Our competitors, including AWS with their Graviton server chips, GCP with their TPU, and Apple with their M series have illustrated how custom silicon can result in differentiation for their ecosystems. Our priority is to ensure the competitiveness of Azure and Windows individually but also collectively. To do this we will take an end-to-end systems approach to our roadmap, encompassing application, middleware, infrastructure, and silicon. We will bring our scale in cloud and client, gaming and Al to take full advantage of recent evolution in silicon technology that allow re-use of silicon IP across edge and cloud, and allow us to combine our own silicon IP with IP from 3rd party suppliers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Fblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI counted a half-dozen references to \"custom silicon\" in that strategic planning document (dated June 2022), including a heading that referred to that approach as the way to \"ensure the competitiveness of the entire Windows ecosystem and Surface hardware through investments and partnerships in silicon.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere's also this tantalizing note: \"Continuing to innovate in our Surface devices and underlying silicon will be important to upgrading the performance of Windows. We will also begin moving to an ARM-based silicon-oriented model to ensure the functionality of Windows remains first class…\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fop-ed-windows-isnt-ready-for-arm-developers\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy Windows isn't ready for Arm developers\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf they're really serious about this custom silicon effort, they'd better pick up the pace.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter the failure of the Surface RT, Microsoft licked its wounds for several years. It launched the Arm-powered Surface Pro X in 2019 using a custom-branded Qualcomm processor (Microsoft SQ1 and SQ2). The Surface Pro 9 (released in late 2022) offers an Arm model based on the Microsoft SQ3, which is a variant of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.qualcomm.com\u002Fproducts\u002Fmobile\u002Fsnapdragon\u002Fpcs-and-tablets\u002Fsnapdragon-8-series-mobile-compute-platforms\u002Fsnapdragon-8cx-gen-3-compute-platform\"\u003EQualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx Gen3 compute platform\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Around the same time, the company \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-starts-shipping-its-windows-on-arm-device-for-developers-windows-dev-kit-2023\u002F\"\u003Eshipped the Windows Dev Kit 2023\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (aka Project Volterra), a $599 small-footprint desktop powered by a Qualcomm processor.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENone of those devices really qualify as \"custom silicon,\" at least not in comparison to Apple's Arm CPUs, which are designed to be tightly integrated with its hardware. And publicly, at least, Microsoft's been quiet on the subject. Maybe too quiet.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring that same time, of course, Microsoft's Arm CPU partner Qualcomm has been extremely busy. First, they bought a startup (Nuvia) that had been founded by former Apple Silicon engineers; then they had to fight off a lawsuit from Apple targeting Nuvia's founders. (Apple recently dropped the lawsuit with no explanation.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Farm-processors-everything-you-need-to-know-now\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EArm processors: Everything you need to know now\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMake no mistake, Qualcomm has a serious challenge ahead. Apple's approach ties the silicon and the operating system together in an absolute stranglehold that allows them to build in performance advantages tied directly to the underlying operating system, without the need to pay a third-party chip supplier (like Qualcomm or Intel).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs pretty much every rational observer has noted, Windows on Arm is far behind Apple, at least using Qualcomm's current SoC designs. But they could play catch-up, and maybe even leapfrog their Cupertino competition, with a successful launch of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.qualcomm.com\u002Fnews\u002Fonq\u002F2022\u002F11\u002Fqualcomm-oryon-custom-cpu-at-center-of-next-gen-premium-experiences-on-snapdragon-platforms\"\u003ENuvia-based Oryon architecture\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, especially if they can build some custom Windows features into it. (The SQ3-based Surface Pro 9 has a couple of nifty AI-based features not found in its Intel sibling, including eye-tracking and background noise reduction for video calls.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQualcomm's planning to ship those next-gen Oryon chips at the end of 2023 and claims that the groundbreaking technology in their new SoCs will make them worthy competitors to Apple's M1\u002FM2 chips. Of course, the real competitor is Apple's M3, which is certain to boost performance over its current shipping products.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Microsoft, being able to compete at the silicon layer is crucial to success. Relying on x86 as the core platform is a recipe for a long, slow, painful decline. Qualcomm, thankfully, seems to be a more nimble partner than Intel.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-college-laptop\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe best laptops for college students: Apple, Microsoft, and more compared\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe logical assumption is that Microsoft will deliver a new Arm-based Surface device this fall, based on Qualcomm's new SoCs, with that device serving as a reference for the entire Windows PC ecosystem. If the Nuvia acquisition delivers for Qualcomm, that device should have performance and battery life that are close to Apple's devices and could pass the \"good enough\" test, especially at lower price points. That launch might even be accompanied by a preview of Windows 12, with some Arm-specific enhancements.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOr maybe, just maybe, Microsoft has a surprise in store. Could Microsoft's Surface division be on the verge of launching its own Surface-branded silicon capable of competing with Apple's M2 chip and even its forthcoming M3 design? Currently, the company has dozens of job openings in its Microsoft Silicon division, with senior openings based in Redmond, Hyderabad, and Taipei. Many of those jobs are aimed at Microsoft's cloud-based infrastructure, but all of that technology can be repurposed for Surface.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-mac\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe best and newest Macs compared\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter years of watching Redmond fumble opportunities like this, I'm not willing to make a significant wager on the company. But I am certainly intrigued. A breakthrough Arm-based CPU is exactly the sort of surprise launch I would expect from the team that pulled off the big Surface RT reveal.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMaybe this time, they can carry the ball into the end zone.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"1c484d26-6f31-48ab-8c73-282514bb76c1\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F1c484d26-6f31-48ab-8c73-282514bb76c1\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2023-07-25 12:00:20",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"It's quiet. Too quiet. To any external observer, Apple appears to have built up an insurmountable lead with its custom silicon. What's Microsoft up to?",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"f74921b5-25c2-4112-b97b-d428718933c9",image:{id:"a1597526-7c5c-4ab7-9c0f-a4ca1a76119c",filename:"boxgettyimages-1188403765.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2023-07-24 17:21:33",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"boxgettyimages-1188403765",credits:"AlexSecret\u002FGetty Images",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F07\u002F24\u002Fa1597526-7c5c-4ab7-9c0f-a4ca1a76119c\u002Fboxgettyimages-1188403765.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2070,height:1449,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Business^Companies^Microsoft",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"windows-on-arm-can-microsoft-deliver-a-silicon-surprise-before-years-end",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Windows on Arm redux: Can Microsoft deliver a silicon surprise before year's end?",topic:{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"0fcaf005-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"arm",name:"ARM",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"371a7418-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"sjvn",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Steven",lastName:"Vaughan-Nichols",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e2171bd1-84f6-4ca8-9801-2abdeb61a365",filename:"steven-vaughan-nichols.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 18:47:37",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe2171bd1-84f6-4ca8-9801-2abdeb61a365\u002Fsteven-vaughan-nichols.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols is a freelance writer and technology analyst. Besides ZDNET, he works with Foundry (Formerly IDG Communications), The Register, The New Stack, and Cathey Communications. He does not own stocks or other investments in any technology company.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"b0706264-c6ee-4818-a163-2ecadb75175a\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003ECanonical Ubuntu 23.04, Lunar Lobster.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Image: sjvn\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Canonical Ubuntu 23.04, Lunar Lobster\" data-image-filename=\"ubuntu-23-04.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F04\u002F17\" data-image-width=\"1280\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECanonical has officially released \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Freleases.ubuntu.com\u002F23.04\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EUbuntu 23.04\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, codenamed Lunar Lobster, which is the latest version of its Linux distribution and it boasts improvements for enterprise developer desktops, gaming enhancements, a revamped installer, and an expanded focus on gaming. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"This Ubuntu milestone release demonstrates our progress in raising the bar for the enterprise developer desktops, thanks to our best-in-class Linux integration with Active Directory (AD) Domain Services and now \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fazure.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fproducts\u002Factive-directory\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAzure Active Directory\u003C\u002Fa\u003E,\" said Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fubuntu-lunar-lobster-could-be-the-surprise-hit-of-2023\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUbuntu Lunar Lobster could be the surprise hit of 2023\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe also referred to the fresh focus on gaming: \"Our expanded investment in Ubuntu gaming means your downtime is just as satisfying.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs my Linux-loving colleague Jack Wallen said in his recent early look at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fubuntu-lunar-lobster-could-be-the-surprise-hit-of-2023\u002F\"\u003ELunar Lobster\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, this release \"puts on a masterclass for how an operating system should evolve.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe benefits of the release start with the new, streamlined Ubuntu Desktop installer. While it's designed for enterprise deployment and customization at scale, the one-off installer is attractive. Much as I love Linux, the various distributions' installers can't usually be described as \"handsome\". Whether you're installing an Ubuntu server or desktop, the installation also uses the same auto-install configuration workflows, thanks to the unified \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fubunlog.com\u002Fen\u002Fsubiquity-the-new-canonical-installer-for-ubuntu-server\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESubiquity installation engine\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-install-ubuntu-linux\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to install Ubuntu Linux (It's easy!)\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUbuntu 23.04 aims to make the Linux desktop accessible to all and it sports a refreshed user interface, which supports modern yet familiar first-time user experiences and new enterprise management capabilities. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProof of the distribution's accessibility comes from Thijs van dek Kanp, national director of technical operations at education specialist \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.compudopt.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECompudopt\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, who praised the new installer: \"Our approach combines \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fubuntu.com\u002Flandscape\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELandscape (Ubuntu's administration program)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E management with Subiquity to enable us to deploy and securely manage our devices with ease, regardless of their location. The new desktop installer introduced in Ubuntu 23.04 will greatly simplify our workflows going forward.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor the first time, the Ubuntu Desktop 23.04 offers native user authentication with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fazure.microsoft.com\u002Fnl-nl\u002Fproducts\u002Factive-directory\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAzure Active Directory (Azure AD)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. This addition enables \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fmicrosoft-365\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMicrosoft 365 (M365)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E users to authenticate their Ubuntu desktops with the same credentials used for M365 or Azure. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIT administrators can evaluate the aad-auth feature and provide feedback for backporting to the Ubuntu 22.04 Long-Term Support (LTS) release later this year. If your business is a heavy user of Microsoft Office, this process will enable your organization to keep using Office while running it on the safer, more secure Ubuntu Linux. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fready-to-ditch-windows-for-linux-this-is-the-ideal-distro-for-you\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EReady to ditch Windows for Linux? This is the ideal distro for you\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgithub.com\u002Fubuntu\u002Fadsys\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EActive Directory Bridging Toolsuite (ADsys)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E also now supports \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwiki.samba.org\u002Findex.php\u002FSetting_up_Samba_as_a_Domain_Member\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESamba winbindd Domain Services\u003C\u002Fa\u003E besides \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsssd.io\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESystem Security Services Daemon (SSSD)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. This support means you can use Ubuntu with AD on \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Faws.amazon.com\u002Fworkspaces\u002F\"\u003EAmazon Workspaces\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and older AD configurations. ADsys is available with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fubuntu.com\u002Fpro\"\u003EUbuntu Pro\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, which enables IT administrators to manage mixed Windows and Ubuntu desktop fleets using familiar workflows. This shift is all part of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fubuntu-linux-tries-for-the-office-desktop\u002F\"\u003ECanonical's plans to make Ubuntu an office desktop\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new Ubuntu also includes updated toolchains and runtimes for important programming languages, such as Python, Java, Go, C, C++, Rust, and .Net. It also comes with improved container security and lifecycle management and enhanced debugging support. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fubuntu.com\u002Fcore\u002Fservices\u002Fguide\u002Fsnaps-intro\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDesktop snaps\u003C\u002Fa\u003E now feature refresh awareness, allowing automatic updates of specific snaps to be paused as desired.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany users will find the latest \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffoundation.gnome.org\u002F2023\u002F03\u002F22\u002Fintroducing-gnome-44\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGNOME 44 desktop\u003C\u002Fa\u003E to be a pleasure to use. It provides usability improvements and quick settings options for Bluetooth device management and dark mode. Additionally, the Firefox snap has seen significant performance gains on the Raspberry Pi with hardware-accelerated rendering.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Funiversal-blue-is-a-new-paradigm-for-the-linux-desktop-and-its-brilliant\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUniversal Blue is a new paradigm for the Linux desktop and it's brilliant\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOf course, the new Ubuntu release also comes with the latest versions of the standard Linux programs we know and love, which includes \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mozilla.org\u002Fen-US\u002Ffirefox\u002F112.0\u002Freleasenotes\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFirefox 112\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for web browsing, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog.documentfoundation.org\u002Fblog\u002F2021\u002F04\u002F01\u002Flibreoffice-712\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELibreOffice 7.1.2\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for open-source office use, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.thunderbird.net\u002Fen-US\u002Fthunderbird\u002F102.10.0\u002Freleasenotes\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThunderbird 102.10.0\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for email.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFinally, Ubuntu 23.04 takes Linux gaming to the next level with the promotion of the early access beta \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsnapcraft.io\u002Fsteam\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESteam snap\u003C\u002Fa\u003E to the stable channel. The Steam snap bundles key dependencies to run both new and older titles, including 32-bit libraries and cutting-edge Mesa drivers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn summary, Ubuntu 23.04 is an impressive release. Give it a try -- I think you might like it, whether you use it for development, office work, or just for gaming fun.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"cd27c170-17d5-4ac8-be4e-f83e52a86f69\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fcd27c170-17d5-4ac8-be4e-f83e52a86f69\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2051361\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today - US\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2023-04-20 12:00:21",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Ubuntu wants to be your work and home desktop. The Linux distro's latest version boasts productivity and gaming enhancements.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"fda94137-4a8d-498c-bed6-3dbb3713d11f",image:{id:"b0706264-c6ee-4818-a163-2ecadb75175a",filename:"ubuntu-23-04.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2023-04-17 17:45:16",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Canonical Ubuntu 23.04, Lunar Lobster",credits:"sjvn",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F04\u002F17\u002Fb0706264-c6ee-4818-a163-2ecadb75175a\u002Fubuntu-23-04.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1280,height:720,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Services & Software^Operating Systems^Linux",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"canonical-unveils-ubuntu-23-04-a-lunar-lobster-thats-good-for-work-and-play",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Canonical unveils Ubuntu 23.04 'Lunar Lobster': A Linux distro for work and play",topic:{id:"10b2a4fa-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"linux",name:"Linux",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"10b2a4fa-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"linux",name:"Linux",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10f422bf-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"open-source",name:"Open Source",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"294e47d5-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"Ed Bott",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Ed",lastName:"Bott",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e",filename:"ed-bott.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:06:03",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e\u002Fed-bott.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than three decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. He has served as editor of the U.S. edition of PC Computing and managing editor of PC World; both publications had monthly paid circulation in excess of 1 million during his tenure. He is the author of more than 25 books, including Windows 10 Inside Out (now in its 4th edition) and Windows 11 Inside Out (2023).",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"7fe15a96-71ed-48fc-bdc4-6642ecb9bbc5\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Peter Dazeley\u002FGetty Images\" data-image-alt-text=\"hourglass-computer-gettyimages-951888450\" data-image-filename=\"hourglass-computer-gettyimages-951888450.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F11\u002F16\" data-image-width=\"2159\" data-image-height=\"1388\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen large public companies have good news to share, they write a press release and put it on the wires so that the publications that cover them will blast that message out for everyone to read. When they have bad news to share, they publish a blog post late on a Friday afternoon before a long holiday weekend.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd when they have \u003Cem\u003Ereally\u003C\u002Fem\u003E bad news to share, they bury it at the end of an unrelated press release or blog post, hoping no one will notice.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-windows-laptop\u002F\"\u003EThe best Windows laptop you can buy\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow that you're armed with that knowledge, I invite you to read this unsigned Microsoft support article, published today and titled \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.microsoft.com\u002Fhelp\u002F5033467\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\"How we are maximizing value in Windows 10.\"\u003C\u002Fa\u003E There, in what's essentially a footnote, you will find this casual one-liner:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"The Windows 10 end-of-support date of October 14, 2025, is unchanged.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo the untrained eye, that's a fairly bland statement. If it's unchanged, it must not be news, right?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2051361\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAllow me to translate for you: Many of Microsoft's customers are still running Windows 10. Some of them are doing so by choice; others are doing so because they have perfectly functional PC hardware that runs Windows 10 but doesn't meet \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-11-faq-heres-everything-you-need-to-know\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWindows 11's strict compatibility requirements\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. For all of those PCs in all of those homes and offices, Microsoft is going to stop sending security updates in less than two years, when that end-of-support date rolls around. Those customers will have the difficult choice of continuing to use unsupported software, making them vulnerable to online attackers, or throwing away perfectly good hardware and paying for new PCs.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany of those customers have made it clear to Microsoft that they're not happy about this decision. In California, the nonprofit public-interest group CALPIRG has written an \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpirg.org\u002Fcalifornia\u002Ftake-action\u002Ftell-microsoft-dont-leave-millions-of-computers-behind\u002F\"\u003Eopen letter to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, asking him to rethink that policy, \"Microsoft's decision to end support for Windows 10,\" they argue, \"could cause the single biggest jump in junked computers ever, and make it impossible for Microsoft to hit their sustainability goals.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fheres-why-windows-pcs-are-only-going-to-get-more-annoying\u002F\"\u003EHere's why Windows PCs are only going to get more annoying\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft's announcement today is the company's way of saying, \"Nope. No extension. Sorry, not sorry.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs I've \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-windows-10-is-a-security-disaster-waiting-to-happen\u002F\"\u003Enoted previously\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, Microsoft has painted itself into a very weird corner here, essentially \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fis-windows-10-too-popular-for-its-own-good\u002F\"\u003Ecompeting with itself … and losing\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. The company says there are approximately 1.4 billion Windows PCs in use today. They won't break down how many are still running Windows 10, but third-party statistics suggest that the percentage is still well above 60%, and over 70% in some parts of the world. That's at least 800 million computers. Even if half of them are retired or upgraded in the next two years, that's still a staggering 400 million PCs.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft defenders might argue that Windows 10 has reached the end of its normal 10-year support lifecycle. Windows 7 didn't get a reprieve, and neither did Windows 8, so why should Windows 10 be treated differently? As I noted two years ago, \"[I]n both of those instances, Microsoft could implore its customers to fix the problem by upgrading to a newer version of the Windows operating system.... That's not an option for customers running Windows 10 on hardware that doesn't meet the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-11-microsoft-stands-firm-on-hardware-requirements\u002F\"\u003Estringent hardware compatibility requirements of Windows 11\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. When October 2025 rolls around, those devices will have no Microsoft-supported migration path to a newer version.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo what choices are available for owners of PCs that can't be upgraded to Windows 11?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fcan-you-still-get-a-windows-10-upgrade-for-free\u002F\"\u003ECan you still get a Windows 10 upgrade for free?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a separate post, under the heading \"What about Windows 11?\" Microsoft has this advice for those customers: \"Replace the ineligible Windows 10 devices with new Windows 11 Pro devices.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI suspect that Microsoft will offer corporate customers an escape hatch in the form of an option to pay for extended security updates. After Windows 7 support ended, the company \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-much-will-staying-patched-on-windows-7-cost-you-heres-the-price-list\u002F\"\u003Edid exactly that for three years\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Enterprise administrators might grumble, but they will write those checks.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnfortunately, that choice probably won't be on the table for the very large number of people running Windows 10 on PCs in homes and small businesses, who will probably just keep using their old operating system and ignoring Microsoft's increasingly shrill entreaties to replace their perfectly good computer. Windows 10 will continue working just as it always has, even after the end-of-support deadline passes. But it won't receive security updates, making this option increasingly dangerous and irresponsible.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-downgrade-from-windows-11-to-windows-10\u002F\"\u003EHow to downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10 (there's a catch)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe good news is that Microsoft's brief announcement today doesn't shut the door on a change of heart next year. As I wrote two years ago:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis mess is Microsoft's responsibility, and doing nothing to clean it up isn't an acceptable option.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere is an alternative, though: Microsoft could extend the support deadline for Windows 10 on hardware that isn't compatible with Windows 11.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe company did the same thing, under similar circumstances, in the Windows XP era, and it's a perfectly appropriate solution here. The good news is that Microsoft's spinmeisters have three years to come up with a press release that makes it sound like they planned this all along.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Fblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJust remember to publish that press release late on a Friday afternoon.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"1c484d26-6f31-48ab-8c73-282514bb76c1\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F1c484d26-6f31-48ab-8c73-282514bb76c1\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2023-11-16 18:00:25",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Microsoft announced this week that it's not changing its 2025 support deadline for Windows 10. If you missed the news, maybe you weren't looking in the right place.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"5720e065-14f6-4052-8227-de4c666a850c",image:{id:"7fe15a96-71ed-48fc-bdc4-6642ecb9bbc5",filename:"hourglass-computer-gettyimages-951888450.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2023-11-16 16:12:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"hourglass-computer-gettyimages-951888450",credits:"Peter Dazeley\u002FGetty Images",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F11\u002F16\u002F7fe15a96-71ed-48fc-bdc4-6642ecb9bbc5\u002Fhourglass-computer-gettyimages-951888450.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2159,height:1388,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Services & Software^Operating Systems^Windows",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"hoping-for-a-windows-10-support-extension-microsoft-just-quietly-crushed-your-dreams",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Hoping for a Windows 10 support extension? Microsoft just quietly crushed your dreams",topic:{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"1048432a-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"enterprise-software",name:"Enterprise Software",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"5a09f531-5d09-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57",slug:"windows-10",name:"Windows 10",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"371a7418-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"sjvn",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Steven",lastName:"Vaughan-Nichols",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e2171bd1-84f6-4ca8-9801-2abdeb61a365",filename:"steven-vaughan-nichols.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 18:47:37",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe2171bd1-84f6-4ca8-9801-2abdeb61a365\u002Fsteven-vaughan-nichols.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols is a freelance writer and technology analyst. Besides ZDNET, he works with Foundry (Formerly IDG Communications), The Register, The New Stack, and Cathey Communications. He does not own stocks or other investments in any technology company.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"ac948165-be76-4f54-9f6d-bf6f18c58a95\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Olemedia\u002FGetty Images\" data-image-alt-text=\"Screens with warning symbols\" data-image-filename=\"gettyimages-1410871938.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F12\u002F12\" data-image-width=\"2309\" data-image-height=\"1299\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Binarly REsearch team, a firmware supply chain security platform company, has uncovered a constellation of security vulnerabilities called \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbinarly.io\u002Fposts\u002FThe_Far_Reaching_Consequences_of_LogoFAIL\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELogoFAIL\u003C\u002Fa\u003E hiding with the Unified Extensible Firmware Interfaces (UEFI) that we use for booting almost all modern computing devices. Linux or Windows, ARM or x86, it doesn't matter -- they're all vulnerable.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis threat has been lurking in systems for years, indeed for decades. What makes it particularly concerning is the wide range of affected consumer and enterprise-grade computers. The core of LogoFAIL is its exploitation of logos displayed on the device screen during the early boot process, while UEFI is still running. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-vpn\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe best VPN services (and how to choose the right one for you)\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis exploitation happens during the earliest stages of the boot process, so the attacks bypass UEFI defenses, such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Flearn.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fwindows-hardware\u002Fdesign\u002Fdevice-experiences\u002Foem-secure-boot\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMicrosoft Secure Boot\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.intel.com\u002Fcontent\u002Fwww\u002Fus\u002Fen\u002Fsupport\u002Farticles\u002F000054899\u002Fserver-products\u002Fserver-boards.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EIntel Secure Boot\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, that are meant to block \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.malwarebytes.com\u002Fblog\u002Fdetections\u002Fbootkit\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ebootkit infections\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. This technique is bad, bad news. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2051361\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpecifically, the attack takes advantage of UEFI image parsers. There are programs available that render the boot image logos, so you can see them. This software is incorporated into UEFI by major independent BIOS vendors (IBVs), such as AMI, Insyde, and Phoenix. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe UEFI firmware can contain parsers for images in multiple image formats, including BMP, GIF, JPEG, PCX, and TGA. Altogether, the Binarly team found 29 security issues -- and 15 of those were exploitable for arbitrary code execution.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-iphone-vpn\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe best VPN services for iPhone and iPad (yes, you need to use one)\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn short, these UEFI image parsers were poorly maintained and riddled with critical vulnerabilities. Attackers can replace legitimate logo images with identical-looking ones that have been specially crafted to exploit the bugs. This technique allows for the execution of malicious code at the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.globalspec.com\u002Freference\u002F54254\u002F203279\u002Fchapter-9-dxe-basics-foundation-dispatching-and-drivers\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDriver Execution Environment (DXE)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E phase, a highly sensitive part of the boot process. This attack happens before the operating system starts. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the Binarly researchers said: \"Once arbitrary code execution is achieved during the DXE phase, it's game over for platform security.\" From here on out, the attackers have \"full control over the memory and the disk of the target device, thus including the operating system that will be started.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, once arbitrary code execution is achieved during the DXE phase, an attacker gains full control over the memory and disk of the target device, including the operating system that will be started. This ability means that LogoFAIL can deliver a second-stage payload that drops an executable onto the hard drive before the main operating system has even started. This level of access makes it nearly impossible to detect or remove the infection using current defense mechanisms.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe vulnerabilities were disclosed at the Black Hat Security Conference in London, and the affected parties are releasing advisories that disclose which of their products are vulnerable, and where to obtain security patches. The widespread impact of LogoFAIL is clear as it affects nearly the entirety of the x64 and ARM CPU ecosystem, including UEFI suppliers, device manufacturers, such as Lenovo and HP, and CPU makers, such as Intel, AMD, and ARM CPU designers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-security-key\u002F\"\u003EThe best security keys of 2023\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut why is this attack such a big problem? I mean, who wants to change the bootup logos on their computers? The answer, according to security expert Bruce Schneier, is companies: \"\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.schneier.com\u002Fblog\u002Farchives\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Fnew-windows-linux-firmware-attack.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECorporate buyers want the ability to display their own logos\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. So the ability has to be in the BIOS, which means that the vulnerabilities aren't being protected by any of the OS's defenses. And the BIOS makers probably pulled some random graphics library off the internet and never gave it a moment's thought after that.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ENow for some good news  \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMacs, smartphones, and other devices that don't use UEFI are not vulnerable. Even Intel Apple Macs, which used UEFI to boot, can't be attacked by LogoFAIL. That protection happens because Apple has hardcoded its logo image files into the UEFI and you can't replace them with a malicious duplicate. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost Dell computers aren't vulnerable, either. That's because the company uses Intel Boot Guard to make it impossible to replace the images. In addition, Dell devices, generally speaking, don't allow you to change logo images. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you do have vulnerable machines, you first need to make sure no one can get into the device in the first place. That level of protection means patching your operating system and programs against all known attacks. If you're running Windows, update your antivirus protections. These programs can't stop LogoFAIL, but they can stop you from getting malware that will load LogoFAIL into your system. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-streaming-vpn\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe best VPNs for streaming your favorite shows and sports\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe trick is to keep attackers from getting access to the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.diskpart.com\u002Farticles\u002Fefi-system-partition-4348.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EEFI System Partition (ESP)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in the first place. This hidden part of your drive is where the logo image is stored. If the attackers can't reach the ESP, they can't attack it.   \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe real fix is to upgrade your firmware. Fixes are on their way from \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002F9443417.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net\u002Fhubfs\u002F9443417\u002FSecurity%20Advisories\u002FAMI-SA-2023009.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAMI\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.intel.com\u002Fcontent\u002Fwww\u002Fus\u002Fen\u002Fsecurity-center\u002Fannouncement\u002Fintel-security-announcement-2023-12-06-001.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EIntel\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.insyde.com\u002Fsecurity-pledge\u002FSA-2023053\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EInsyde\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.phoenix.com\u002Fsecurity-notifications\u002Fcve-2023-5058\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPhoenix\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.lenovo.com\u002Fus\u002Fen\u002Fproduct_security\u002FLEN-145284\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELenovo\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. They're not coming out quickly, though. As Intel states: \"Bios updates will be released late Q4 2023 to early Q1 2024.\" Of course, I always wanted to spend the winter holidays updating and hard-booting all my machines -- and I'm sure you did, too.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the meantime, just lock down your systems as much as you can, so a LogoFAIL attacker doesn't get a foothold. Once they're in, you're almost certainly not getting them out. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"6765f19d-41fe-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F6765f19d-41fe-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2023-12-13 15:33:48",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"This obnoxious constellation of firmware attacks takes over computers. Here's which devices are vulnerable and what you can do to protect them.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"b09fbcc0-579b-438a-9697-b0578312afb1",image:{id:"ac948165-be76-4f54-9f6d-bf6f18c58a95",filename:"gettyimages-1410871938.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2023-12-12 23:30:48",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Screens with warning symbols",credits:"Olemedia\u002FGetty Images",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F12\u002F12\u002Fac948165-be76-4f54-9f6d-bf6f18c58a95\u002Fgettyimages-1410871938.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2309,height:1299,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Security",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"this-is-how-to-protect-your-computers-from-logofail-attacks",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"This is how to protect your computers from LogoFAIL attacks",topic:{id:"113c25b6-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"security",name:"Security",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"113c25b6-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"security",name:"Security",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f6766034-0530-4765-8be5-effa45e1c660",slug:"office-hardware-appliances",name:"Office Hardware & Appliances",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"2c87ef21-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"jperlow",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Jason",lastName:"Perlow",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"8ee616a1-94ee-439e-9574-58f014ae5ef0",filename:"jason-perlow.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:08:37",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F8ee616a1-94ee-439e-9574-58f014ae5ef0\u002Fjason-perlow.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Jason Perlow is a technologist with over two decades of experience integrating large heterogeneous multi-vendor computing environments in Fortune 500 companies.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"a5e09869-624b-4a6c-a242-368913d9d2f4\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"John Lamb\u002FGetty Images\" data-image-alt-text=\"glowing computer keyboard\" data-image-filename=\"gettyimages-531961565.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F01\u002F19\" data-image-width=\"2120\" data-image-height=\"1415\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELinux is a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthe-most-important-reason-you-should-be-using-linux-at-home\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Egreat operating system\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. I've expounded its virtues for over 20 years. I was the founding senior technology editor of the now-defunct Linux Magazine in 1999. In my professional technology career, I was a principal consultant for open-source data center technology at Unisys and IBM, and until recently, I was the Linux Foundation's editorial director. So yes, I get Linux.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI have used Linux desktops, such as RedHat Workstation, CentOS, Ubuntu, Mint, Debian, and every GUI for the platform you can imagine, including GNOME, KDE, XFCE, and probably a dozen other weird forks of all of these flavors. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-linux-laptop\u002F\"\u003EThe best Linux laptops you can buy \u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENone of these desktops have ever been exceptionally well-designed systems for regular end users. They are fantastic for developers and technology professionals, but if you are a typical office worker, a student, or just someone at home who wants to get on their sites and do their stuff, Linux desktops are… well, they aren't good. What do I use as a freelance journalist and corporate communications professional who writes about tech? I use a Mac and I have done so since 2018.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2051361\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, it's worth noting that open-source pundits have been proclaiming the 'Year of the Linux Desktop' for a long time, but it's never arrived. While Linux has conquered the cloud, high-performance computing, the Internet of Things, the smartphone industry, and innovative technologies, such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-ai-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-artificial-intelligence\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eartificial intelligence\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and machine learning, Linux desktops have never caught on. So, why is that?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhy-dont-more-people-use-desktop-linux-i-have-a-theory-you-might-not-like\u002F\"\u003EWhy don't more people use desktop Linux? I have a theory you might not like\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIs it a lack of motivation and technical skills needed to transition to Linux? Is it the need to learn something new? After all, if your current OS works fine, why switch? And if you need a tech guru to help you install the darned thing, why go through all that trouble?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYet, change is in the air. I think the calculus might have altered -- but not with the Linux distros we're all familiar with. The flavor of Linux that will transform the industry is ChromeOS. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E ChromeOS Flex just works for a lot of old hardware \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELet's face it: ChromeOS is super-easy to use. Most people already know how to use that web browser, and the laptops that ship with it are inexpensive and \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"5061e297-6df2-4177-8bc9-9781bd0f5e93\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fs?k=chromebook&ascsubtag=4947ac693aab48348664fdf3405c5db1%7C4c784a49-3aa3-4452-9738-9f2f3bf484c8%7Cdtp&crid=2ADDE5JCCJIRR&sprefix=chromebook%2Caps%2C105&tag=zd-buy-button-20&ref=nb_sb_noss_1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"in the $200 to $400 range\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. For your typical end-user, ChromeOS does the job -- especially for people who don't need Microsoft 365 and Windows or a Mac, are okay with Google Workspace, and primarily use web-based apps. That's probably 90% of the user population right there. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Ffive-reasons-chromebooks-are-the-perfect-laptop\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E5 reasons Chromebooks are the perfect laptop (for most users)\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese people don't want to worry about patches or being a systems admin; they just want their darned websites to work. They want their desktop to be responsive and they want to be able to watch their videos, make their video calls, access their documents and data, and use social networks. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"youtube_video\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-oembed=\"{"author_name":"Jason Perlow","author_url":"https:\\\u002F\\\u002Fwww.youtube.com\\\u002F@JasonPerlow","height":113,"html":"\u003Ciframe width=\\"200\\" height=\\"113\\" src=\\"https:\\\u002F\\\u002Fwww.youtube.com\\\u002Fembed\\\u002FuBWx3fmdyCk?autoplay=0&loop=0&fs=1&start=0&rel=1&feature=oembed\\" frameborder=\\"0\\" allow=\\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\\" allowfullscreen title=\\"Running Google Chrome OS Flex on old PCs and Macs\\"\u003E\u003C\\\u002Fiframe\u003E","provider_name":"YouTube","provider_url":"https:\\\u002F\\\u002Fwww.youtube.com\\\u002F","thumbnail_height":360,"thumbnail_url":"https:\\\u002F\\\u002Fi.ytimg.com\\\u002Fvi\\\u002FuBWx3fmdyCk\\\u002Fhqdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":480,"title":"Running Google Chrome OS Flex on old PCs and Macs","type":"video","version":"1.0","width":200}\" data-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FuBWx3fmdyCk\" data-autoplay=\"false\" data-loop=\"false\" data-start=\"0\" data-fs=\"true\" data-rel=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut there is one huge reason why ChromeOS Flex will be big: many old PCs are sitting out in the wild that cannot run on current versions of Windows 10, Windows 11, or MacOS. There is fundamentally nothing wrong with these PCs, but they are just too old to be supported by their original manufacturers. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese devices are not only a support burden. In many cases, the older software running on these PCs isn't fully conforming with modern security standards and runs out-of-date browsers, and other crusty and risky stuff. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChromeOS, by comparison, is very secure -- it isn't vulnerable to many exploits plaguing legacy Windows and Mac systems. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-a-tpm-and-why-does-your-pc-need-one\u002F\"\u003EWhat is a TPM, and why does your PC need one?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYet the reality is that many old PCs and Macs are just sitting on shelves collecting dust, when they could instead lead productive lives again.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith Google's ChromeOS Flex software, you can now revive those old machines and make them secure to use. In fact, that's how I spent an entire weekend. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow I revived old PCs and Macs \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI was intrigued by the idea of taking a bunch of computers just sitting in my closet and making them useful again. The process started with burning the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.google.com\u002Fchromeosflex\u002Fanswer\u002F11541904?hl=en&ref_topic=11551271\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EChromeOS Recovery Media\u003C\u002Fa\u003E onto an 8GB minimum USB flash drive (and the hardest part is choosing \"ChromeOS Flex\" as your Manufacturer and Product, as the recovery media also supports retail Chromebook re-installation).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-i-installed-chromeos-flex-in-30-minutes\u002F\"\u003EHow I installed ChromeOS Flex in 30 minutes\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe first test subject was an eleven-year-old Dell Inspiron 15R-5521 laptop, which originally shipped with Windows 8. With its Intel i7 and 16GB RAM, this older machine was a nightmare on newer Windows OSes. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter choosing the ChromeOS Flex drive as its boot source with the EFI, the device rebooted with the new OS, and to my surprise, it was a completely transformed beast -- fast, responsive, and efficient.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen, I turned to an even older device, my mother-in-law's 2011 iMac. With its modest 4GB RAM and an i5-2500S processor, it was a relic by modern standards. But once I installed ChromeOS Flex, it sprang to life. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth peripherals, and even the Google Assistant were functioning seamlessly. Once considered a goner, the iMac became a fully functional Chrome device. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Feducation\u002Fcomputers-tech\u002Fhave-an-old-laptop-or-computer-give-it-new-life-with-chrome-os-flex\u002F\"\u003EHave an old laptop or computer? Give it new life with ChromeOS Flex\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA 2011 Mac Mini was up next. Too old for the current MacOS versions, this little device was perfect for ChromeOS Flex. After a similar installation, it became a Chrome computer, now serving as a media center connected to my TV. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E But not all systems are good candidates \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, my recent experience with a 2018-era Intel MacBook Pro was a reality check. The bootloader refused to load ChromeOS Flex. This issue highlighted an important lesson -- not every piece of hardware, no matter how powerful, is suitable for ChromeOS Flex. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGoogle's \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsupport.google.com\u002Fchromeosflex\u002Fanswer\u002F11513094?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ecertified models list\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is a must-check resource, detailing which devices are supported and which aren't. The distinction between certified and non-certified models on this list is crucial. Certified models guarantee core functionality, while non-certified models are unpredictable. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Ffive-reasons-chromebooks-are-the-perfect-laptop\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E5 reasons why Chromebooks are the perfect laptop for most people\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile many old systems have a good chance of working fine with ChromeOS Flex, there is one major caveat: the software only runs on 64-bit systems; 32-bit CPUs (increasingly rare, even 10 years ago) will not work. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor those of you wanting to test drive ChromeOS Flex without fully committing, you can run it from the USB media by selecting \"Try it First\" post-bootup. For optimal performance, use a USB-A port that supports USB 3.1 and ensure your thumb drive media is compatible with this standard. This option provides a temporary experience of ChromeOS Flex, allowing users to assess its suitability for their needs before making any permanent changes to their system. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E The SSD advantage \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA common challenge in my efforts to rejuvenate older computers is their outdated platter hard drives, which are prone to failure. Replacing these with solid-state drives (SSDs) is not just about reliability; it significantly boosts performance. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-ssd\u002F\"\u003EThe best SSDs right now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA modest investment in a small-capacity, older-generation SATA SSD (\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"41167c80-bf0a-451f-82d4-ecf8ff74eca2\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fs?k=240GB+SSD+2.5&i=electronics&rh=n%3A1292116011%2Cp_n_feature_three_browse-bin%3A14027458011%2Cp_72%3A1248879011%2Cp_n_feature_forty-one_browse-bin%3A119653281011&s=price-asc-rank&dc&ds=v1%3AB4VntMXpmGMgWPMBmWB8Tmlj%2FhzWRTx66KcAEqmAiog&crid=28SADNOVQGFK&qid=1705426509&rnid=119653280011&sprefix=240gb+ssd+2.5%2Celectronics%2C88&ref=sr_nr_p_n_feature_forty-one_browse-bin_1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"often under $30 from top manufacturers\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E) can greatly enhance a machine's capabilities, aligning well with the minimal storage needs of ChromeOS Flex, a cloud-centric OS.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis upgrade, where affordability meets performance enhancement, is typically more straightforward in desktops and older laptops. The upgrade usually involves unscrewing the case and disconnecting the old hard drive. However, ensuring that your specific model is designed for easy hard drive replacement before installing ChromeOS Flex is essential. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E Looking ahead \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2024, ChromeOS Flex is poised to redefine the tech landscape. More than just a quick fix for aging hardware, the OS promises a future of sustainable and accessible computing. This innovative platform is not only a lifeline for old devices, but also a testament to the untapped potential of existing technology. Whether for students, home users, or professionals, ChromeOS Flex offers a chance to rejuvenate and repurpose our digital tools.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"a3eaa1fb-2c69-46c3-a0eb-c9568d432968\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fa3eaa1fb-2c69-46c3-a0eb-c9568d432968\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2024-01-19 22:14:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Don't throw out your old PC; breathe new life into it with the sustainable and accessible Linux for everyone. It's easier than you think.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"6704c260-07cc-4182-9176-37b0be8822cc",image:{id:"a5e09869-624b-4a6c-a242-368913d9d2f4",filename:"gettyimages-531961565.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2024-01-19 22:12:20",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"img-9792-2",credits:"Jason Perlow\u002FZDNet",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F01\u002F19\u002Fa5e09869-624b-4a6c-a242-368913d9d2f4\u002Fgettyimages-531961565.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2120,height:1415,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"i-revived-three-ancient-computers-with-chromeos-flex-and-you-can-too",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"I revived three ancient computers with ChromeOS Flex, and you can too",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"294e47d5-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"Ed Bott",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Ed",lastName:"Bott",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e",filename:"ed-bott.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:06:03",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e\u002Fed-bott.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than three decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. He has served as editor of the U.S. edition of PC Computing and managing editor of PC World; both publications had monthly paid circulation in excess of 1 million during his tenure. He is the author of more than 25 books, including Windows 10 Inside Out (now in its 4th edition) and Windows 11 Inside Out (2023).",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"21cbb2df-d864-4708-94de-79d0a895574d\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-alt-text=\"windows-10-hero-gif-10x.jpg\" data-image-filename=\"windows-10-hero-gif-10x.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2019\u002F10\u002F02\" data-image-width=\"770\" data-image-height=\"497\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENote: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article was originally published in September 2019 and has been updated significantly and republished several times since then. The current version incorporates details about major changes Microsoft made to the free upgrade program in September 2023.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn January 2017, I wrote a post titled  \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fheres-how-you-can-still-get-a-free-windows-10-upgrade\u002F\"\u003E\"Here's how you can still get a free Windows 10 upgrade.\"\u003C\u002Fa\u003E It became the single most popular post I've ever published at ZDNET, and it is still one of the site's most popular pages.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-screen-record-in-windows-10-or-11\u002F\"\u003EHow to screen record in Windows 10 or 11\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the months after that original publication, I rechecked, revised, and updated the post several times. After the first few updates, though, I ran out of old PCs to upgrade; so I tacked on a note at the end of the article, asking readers who tried this technique to use the contact form and let me know how the experience went.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe response to that request was overwhelming, and I still receive reports today.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlas, these days, most of those reports are from people confirming that the free upgrade offer no longer results in a valid digital license. That loophole officially closed on September 20, 2023, when Microsoft posted an inconspicuous announcement on a website for its hardware partners. (For details, see \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fits-official-no-more-free-windows-10-upgrades\u002F\"\u003E\"It's official: No more free Windows 10 upgrades\"\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fseven-ways-to-make-windows-11-less-annoying\u002F\"\u003E7 ways to make Windows 11 less annoying\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough the upgrade to Windows 10 still works, the newly upgraded PC reports that it's not properly activated. In the Settings app, all options on the Personalization page are unavailable, and this message appears at the top of the page, in red:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"You need to activate Windows before you can personalize your PC.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo why did Microsoft allow those free upgrades in the first place? And is there any chance that it'll \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fis-your-windows-license-legal-should-you-even-care\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Erevoke those digital licenses\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, now that the free upgrade offer is officially defunct?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhy did Microsoft do this?\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe answer to that first question is easy. Remember, Microsoft's Windows business is predicated on its partnership with PC makers, who pay a license fee for every copy of Windows they install on a new PC. Those OEMs are none too happy about the idea of extending the life of an older PC; they would much rather have you buy a brand-new PC instead.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-windows-laptop\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe best Windows laptops you can buy right now\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, to mollify its OEM partners, Microsoft put a time limit on the free upgrade offer, and when it expired after a year, the company simply didn't speak of it. Today, the Windows marketing team enthusiastically promotes new PCs running Windows 11, and the enterprise sales staff continues to sell volume licenses of Windows Enterprise editions and Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Nobody talks about upgrades.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrankly, at this point, the only people who are still interested in a free upgrade to Windows 10 are enthusiasts, home users, and very small businesses running hardware that's at least eight years old. That doesn't mean the upgrade will fail, of course. I've received multiple reports of successful Windows 10 upgrades on PCs that date back to the very beginning of the Windows 7 era in 2009-2011.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut most of those ancient PCs have been retired. The vast majority of Windows PCs sold in the past eight years included Windows 10 licenses, and even businesses who stuck with Windows 7 to the bitter end typically did so by exercising downgrade rights. They're free to install Windows 10 anytime, without having to jump through any hoops.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn PCs that were originally sold with older versions of Windows, Microsoft's calculus is pretty straightforward: It's in the company's best interests to see those old Windows versions replaced, both for support purposes and to improve the security of the Windows ecosystem. There's little or no profit in trying to sell upgrades to that market, and there's plenty of goodwill to reap by making those upgrades easy.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2051361\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EBut is there a catch?\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe second question is a little tougher. \u003Cem\u003EIs\u003C\u002Fem\u003E there a catch? In technical terms, no. A PC that upgraded from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 before the cutoff date in September 2023 reports that it is activated and has a digital license for Windows 10.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-downgrade-from-windows-11-to-windows-10\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIs that license legal? As I've said many times, I am not a lawyer, so I can't offer legal advice. But I have a lot of experience with Windows licensing, and it's literally inconceivable (and yes, that word means exactly what you think it means) that Microsoft would choose to enforce an ambiguous license agreement against its retail customers. They are, after all, prospects to subscribe to Microsoft 365, buy Xbox hardware and games, play Minecraft, use \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-copilot-formerly-bing-chat-heres-everything-you-need-to-know\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMicrosoft Copilot\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and eventually buy a new Windows 11 PC from one of those aforementioned partners.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd whatever pittance Microsoft's bean counters might be able to squeeze out of those upgrades wouldn't come close to balancing the very, very bad publicity that would come from sending threatening letters to retirees and mom-and-pop businesses that are trying to squeeze a few extra years of life out of their old hardware.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you're running a business, of course, the calculation is different. Do you really want to be unsure about whether your business software assets are properly licensed? (Your accountant will tell you no.) But here too I'm convinced that there's roughly zero likelihood that the software police are going to haul any consumers or small business owners away because they decided to upgrade an old PC.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-send-and-receive-imessages-on-windows\u002F\"\u003EHow to send and receive iMessages on Windows\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUltimately, this all ties into the new Windows retail licensing model Microsoft introduced with Windows 10 way back in 2015. You only have to buy the license once, usually with a new PC, and after that, all the upgrades are free, as long as the hardware allows it. That's the official policy with Windows 10 and Windows 11, and it's clear that the unofficial policy includes older Windows versions too.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"635210bb-41ff-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F635210bb-41ff-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2024-05-16 12:09:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"For seven years after Microsoft's free upgrade offer officially ended, people were still reporting successful Windows 10 upgrades from older machines. Were all those loophole digital licenses legit?",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"95e2f8e0-9915-4d86-ac2b-aaf20e2a721b",image:{id:"628e0f11-0157-426b-af16-80aa0ef653d3",filename:"windows-10-hero-gif.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2018-10-05 13:20:59",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"windows-in-reach.jpg",credits:c,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F05\u002F628e0f11-0157-426b-af16-80aa0ef653d3\u002Fwindows-10-hero-gif.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:770,height:497,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Services & Software^Operating Systems^Windows^Windows 10",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"what-ever-happened-to-the-free-windows-10-upgrade-offer",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"What ever happened to the free Windows 10 upgrade offer?",topic:{id:"5a09f531-5d09-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57",slug:"windows-10",name:"Windows 10",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"5a09f531-5d09-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57",slug:"windows-10",name:"Windows 10",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"1048432a-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"enterprise-software",name:"Enterprise Software",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"294e47d5-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"Ed Bott",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Ed",lastName:"Bott",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e",filename:"ed-bott.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:06:03",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e\u002Fed-bott.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than three decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. He has served as editor of the U.S. edition of PC Computing and managing editor of PC World; both publications had monthly paid circulation in excess of 1 million during his tenure. He is the author of more than 25 books, including Windows 10 Inside Out (now in its 4th edition) and Windows 11 Inside Out (2023).",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"ef68a551-ce69-4159-8cce-3e88681376d3\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"June Wan\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 at NYC event\" data-image-filename=\"microsoft-surface-laptop-studio-2-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F11\u002F30\" data-image-width=\"4240\" data-image-height=\"2384\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen Microsoft \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-unveils-surface-pro-10-and-laptop-6-with-ai-upgrades-heres-whats-new\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eunveiled its latest members of the Surface family\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in March, the most important news out of the event was what the company \u003Cem\u003Edidn't \u003C\u002Fem\u003Etalk about. The new Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6, powered by Intel processors, are being marketed and sold exclusively to business customers. Meanwhile, the more exciting models -- with Arm-based SoCs inside -- remained firmly under wraps.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.windowscentral.com\u002Fhardware\u002Fsurface\u002Farm-powered-surface-pro-10-with-10-core-snapdragon-x-plus-soc-leaks-will-16gb-ram-be-the-new-baseline\"\u003EWindows Central\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, Zac Bowden found evidence that a new Surface Pro 10 running on an SoC from the new Snapdragon X family is being tested now. It's widely expected that several new Arm-based Surface machines will debut at a Microsoft event in Seattle on May 20. In addition to Microsoft's reveal, expect to see parallel announcements of new PCs using the latest Qualcomm chips from \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.windowscentral.com\u002Fhardware\u002Flaptops\u002Fsnapdragon-x-elite-yoga-slim-7-leak\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELenovo \u003C\u002Fa\u003Eand \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.tomshardware.com\u002Flaptops\u002Fsamsungs-snapdragon-elite-x-powered-galaxy-book4-edge-will-reportedly-cost-as-much-as-premium-intel-and-apple-alternatives\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESamsung\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, among others.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-laptop\u002F\"\u003EThe best laptops you can buy: Expert tested\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis week, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2024\u002F4\u002F24\u002F24138768\u002Fqualcomm-snapdragon-x-plus-elite-processors\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EQualcomm officially announced the Snapdragon X Plus SoC\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, the entry-level alternative to the previously announced Snapdragon X Elite. And although Microsoft and Qualcomm have managed -- so far -- to keep a tight lid on leaks of the actual machines and corresponding benchmarks, they've also strategically \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2024\u002F4\u002F24\u002F24138768\u002Fqualcomm-snapdragon-x-plus-elite-processors\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eshared accounts of their confidence\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that Windows on Arm is finally ready to take on Apple's powerful M-series processors.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELast year \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-on-arm-can-microsoft-deliver-a-silicon-surprise-before-years-end\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EI wrote\u003C\u002Fa\u003E about Microsoft's efforts to move Windows to an Arm-based model, with an emphasis on \"custom silicon to ... ensure the competitiveness of the entire Windows ecosystem and Surface hardware.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2051361\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs I noted then, \"If they're really serious about this custom silicon effort, they'd better pick up the pace.\" Unfortunately, Microsoft's historical reliance on investments and partnerships is a real handicap in terms of keeping up with Apple, which develops its \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fintroducing-my-design-for-an-apple-silicon-based-mac-pro\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eown custom silicon\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for iPhones, iPads, and Macs in lockstep with the operating system developers. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fapple-silicon-rosetta-m1-m2-m3-soc-why-these-terms-matter-to-every-computer-buyer\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EApple's approach\u003C\u002Fa\u003E ties the silicon and the operating system together in a way that allows them to optimize for performance and battery life without the need to pay a third-party chip supplier (like Qualcomm or Intel). \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESee also: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-on-arm-can-microsoft-deliver-a-silicon-surprise-before-years-end\u002F\"\u003ECan Microsoft deliver a silicon surprise before year's end?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's why Apple has been shipping \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fm3-apple-silicon-is-here-and-theres-more-to-it-than-new-laptops-and-all-in-ones\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethird-generation Apple Silicon devices\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for months, while Microsoft is still yet to announce, much less ship, its first Surface devices built using custom silicon. (The current Arm-powered Surface devices are based on slightly customized versions of Qualcomm processors but can't really be considered \"custom silicon.\")\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn early 2023, Qualcomm forecasted optimistically that it would ship devices based on the next-generation SoC, which was eventually branded as the Snapdragon X Elite, before the end of the year. That obviously didn't happen, which is why those new Arm-based Surface PCs are still just rumors. That delay has given Apple crucial months to sell its \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fapple-m3-macbook-air-hands-on-these-3-new-features-stood-out-to-me-most\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ebrand-new M3 MacBook Airs\u003C\u002Fa\u003E without the competition that the new Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 might provide.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe biggest advantage of the Arm architecture, of course, is its power efficiency. Existing Arm-based Surface models are thin and light and get vastly better battery life than their Intel-based rivals, without generating heat and requiring fans. (My first-generation Surface Pro X, for example, averaged well over 8 hours of real-world battery usage per charge.) The trouble is those numbers are hours less than, say, a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fm3-macbook-air-vs-m2-macbook-air\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMacBook Air with an M2 or M3 processor\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. And Apple's laptops blow the doors off their current Surface rivals for more demanding tasks. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fm3-macbook-air-review\u002F\"\u003EM3 MacBook Air review: Apple's AI computer for the masses\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBowden's sources tell Windows Central that \"these new chips will enable huge performance and efficiency gains over previous Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models.\" They'd better. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeanwhile, someone at Microsoft \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2024\u002F4\u002F24\u002F24138768\u002Fqualcomm-snapdragon-x-plus-elite-processors\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Etold Tom Warren at The Verge\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that the company is \"so confident in these new Qualcomm chips that it's planning a number of demos that will show how these processors will be faster than an M3 MacBook Air for CPU tasks,\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's pretty bold talk, and longtime Microsoft watchers are understandably skeptical. But this is a make-or-break moment for Redmond. If Microsoft wants the market to take its new devices seriously, it has to deliver huge improvements in performance and battery life over its current models, and it has to be competitive with what Apple is shipping today.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost importantly, those Surface devices have to be good enough to convince the two largest PC OEMs, HP and Dell, to begin the big shift to an Arm-based model and away from the classic \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fintel-spotlights-ai-in-new-core-ultra-5th-gen-xeon-chips\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EIntel architecture\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's no accident that these new devices are being touted as purpose-built for AI, with neural processing units that can shift demanding AI workloads away from the GPU, as well as a Copilot key that hops straight into Windows 11's AI features. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESee also: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-an-ai-pc-and-should-you-buy-one\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat is an AI PC? (And should you buy one?)\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the end of 2023, it seemed like a sure bet that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwindows-12-faq-yes-its-coming-in-2024-and-more-surprising-predictions\u002F\"\u003EMicrosoft would release Windows 12 this year\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. I think we'll probably still see preview releases before the end of 2024, but the official release might wait until next year. If so, that gives Apple another year to extend its lead in hardware and software. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"73acd149-be52-4594-aa01-295e1bc9507b\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F73acd149-be52-4594-aa01-295e1bc9507b\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2024-04-24 18:58:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Microsoft and its OEM partners are poised to announce a crop of new Arm-based laptops. Can those devices really compete with Apple's mature M-series designs?",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"9970d003-25a9-47aa-9886-57b294d50292",image:{id:"ef68a551-ce69-4159-8cce-3e88681376d3",filename:"microsoft-surface-laptop-studio-2-2.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2023-11-30 23:59:18",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 at NYC event",credits:"June Wan\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F11\u002F30\u002Fef68a551-ce69-4159-8cce-3e88681376d3\u002Fmicrosoft-surface-laptop-studio-2-2.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:4240,height:2384,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"could-windows-finally-get-arm-right-and-outperform-apple-silicon",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Could Windows finally get ARM right and outperform Apple silicon?",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"0fbd54d0-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"apple",name:"Apple",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"41040cf0-0abb-4cd0-aad1-1cb0e38b334c",slug:"windows-11",name:"Windows 11",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"5a505bd7-edd5-4501-b6a1-0b4b0149318e",username:"Jason Cipriani",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Jason",lastName:"Cipriani",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"ec9503e9-68fc-4acb-b714-31487e597154",filename:"jason-cipriani.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:09:23",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fec9503e9-68fc-4acb-b714-31487e597154\u002Fjason-cipriani.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Jason Cipriani is based out of beautiful Colorado and has been covering technology news and reviewing the latest gadgets as a freelance journalist for the past 13 years. His work can be found all across the Internet and in print. When he's not writing, he can be found hanging out with his family, gaming, or trying to force himself to read a book.",profile:b,title:"Contributing Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"37a15d37-f0d7-4179-92d3-560f68f514ef\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EIs there a touchscreen MacBook in Apple's future?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Image: Getty\u002FBloomberg\" data-image-alt-text=\"getty-bloomberg-m2-macbook-air-cook\" data-image-filename=\"getty-bloomberg-m2-macbook-air-cook.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2022\u002F12\u002F27\" data-image-width=\"4000\" data-image-height=\"2666\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple is \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fis-it-finally-happening-apple-is-apparently-working-on-a-touchscreen-macbook\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ereportedly working on a touchscreen MacBook\u003C\u002Fa\u003E: something that some Apple fans have long wanted, while others -- including company insiders -- have long resisted. ZDNET asked two of its experts with differing opinions to present their views. Jason Cipriani thinks a touchscreen MacBook would be a great idea; Michael Gariffo thinks it will never work.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthe-results-are-in-zdnets-linkedin-fans-want-a-touchscreen-macbook-too\u002F\"\u003EZDNET's LinkedIn fans want a touchscreen MacBook, too\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EJason Cipriani: \"Apple is combining the best of both the Mac and iPad\"\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMicrosoft has proven touchscreen computers are a good idea\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI love \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"22b8dd1b-41d5-45a6-a7c5-36b6878f4ec0\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fsurface\u002Fdevices\u002Fcompare-devices\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Microsoft's Surface Pro line\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. I even wrote a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.technologyforyou.org\u002Fmicrosoft-surface-pro-8-for-business-review-a-love-letter\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Elove letter to the Surface Pro 8\u003C\u002Fa\u003E a while back. It's the ideal combination of portability and usability, with the touchscreen bringing true benefits to the user experience, while still giving you access to a full PC. But the Surface line has a major drawback for my workflow -- it runs Windows. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fdear-apple-we-need-a-touchscreen-macbook-the-surface-laptop-studio-proves-it\u002F\"\u003EWe need a touchscreen MacBook. The Surface Laptop Studio proves it\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI know the current rumors are that Apple will release a MacBook Pro that looks like the current version, but with an additional touchscreen display. It's not an ideal form factor for a touchscreen device, I'll admit that. But name a single first-generation product from Apple that's ever not had some form of major compromise? \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMacOS and iPadOS are already very similar, but…\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the last few years Apple has spent a lot of energy on software updates that either make the Mac look and work more like iPadOS or vice-versa. For example, both \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-macos-stage-manager-and-how-do-you-enable-it\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMacOS\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fipados-16-1-stage-manager-multitasking-basics-how-to-use-the-new-ipad-feature\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EiPadOS\u003C\u002Fa\u003E have a Stage Manager feature that looks and works in nearly identical fashion on both platforms. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEven with the similarities, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-survived-using-my-ipad-pro-as-my-main-desktop-pc-for-a-day-mostly\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eusing an iPad Pro as their lone computer\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for many -- myself included -- just isn't possible because of limitations in iPadOS. Be it multitasking needs, or the availability of specific or pro-level applications, there are countless reasons why this is the case. By adding touch capabilities, and maybe, eventually, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-take-notes-on-your-ipad-with-an-apple-pencil-3-very-simple-ways\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EApple Pencil\u003C\u002Fa\u003E support, Apple is combining the best of both the Mac and iPad. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Mac and iPad product offering gets stronger\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause the Mac and iPad are more similar than ever, any enhancements Apple makes to the touchscreen experience -- particularly when it comes with running a more robust operating system -- will also benefit the company's iPad lineup. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EActually, that's a two-way street. Apple is surely going to use lessons learned from the iPad (more specifically, \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"4948c930-cf8d-46e4-8ca8-9155ea06dc00\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fipad-pro\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iPad Pro\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E) line to improve the touchscreen Mac experience. All Apple users will benefit from that. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJust because Apple said \"never,\" doesn't mean it actually believes it\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERemember when \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fsteve-jobs-attacks-android-mess-small-tablets\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESteve Jobs made fun of smaller tablets\u003C\u002Fa\u003E? He even made a joke about users needing a piece of sandpaper to make the tips of their fingers smaller. Or what about when Jobs first introduced us to the iPad and immediately dismissed a stylus as a tool to improve the tablet experience? Then there was the time when Jobs said no one would ever buy big phones, and yet, we have the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"a968961e-b1f6-42a9-b194-8986864b4ccf\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fapple-iphone-14-pro-max-256gb-deep-purple-sprint\u002F6487336.p?skuId=6487336\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iPhone 14 Pro Max\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fiphone-14-pro-vs-iphone-14-pro-max\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EiPhone 14 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Which is right for you?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMore recently, Apple CEO Tim Cook and fellow executives have downplayed making a touchscreen Mac, but that doesn't mean the company hasn't been experimenting, tweaking and improving on the overall experience and shortfalls they've cited as reasons not to make the product. There's no chance that the mythical touchscreen MacBook Pro with MacOS looks and works like the MacBook Pro Apple currently offers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EMichael Gariffo: \"What would adding touch to a MacBook really do to benefit you?\"\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMacOS was never meant for a touchscreen\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdding touch support to a MacBook will require a full OS revamp to avoid the frustration of struggling with tiny elements designed for on-screen cursors. Anyone that's used a Windows laptop that wasn't optimized for touch can understand how maddening it is to fail again and again when trying to select tiny interface elements with a disastrously inaccurate digit. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple itself understood this as recently as 2021 when John Ternus, Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wsj.com\u002Farticles\u002Fapple-macbook-pro-laptop-review-2021-11635451575?mod=djemptech_t\"\u003Etold The Wall Street Journal\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \"We make the world's best touch computer on an iPad. It's totally optimized for that. And the Mac is totally optimized for indirect input. We haven't really felt a reason to change that.\" For an example of the danger Apple was avoiding by keeping these worlds separate, just look at the disaster \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Ffive-reasons-why-windows-8-has-failed\u002F\"\u003EWindows 8's Metro interface became\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EApple already gave us its best shot at a touchscreen laptop\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's called the iPad. The company has spent years using its \"what's a computer?\" tagline to show that its tablet line can be just as good a laptop as, well, a laptop. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-use-an-ipad-pro-to-power-your-home-office\u002F\"\u003EAlthough this may be true for a few\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, MacBooks continue to be the better tools for getting work done. Given how powerful the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fipad-pro-2022-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Elatest iPad Pro models\u003C\u002Fa\u003E have become with the M2 chip, it's clear it's only the interface that's really holding the iPad back from truly matching a MacBook for productivity. And what's holding that interface back? The need to accommodate touch input. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fm1-ipad-pro-2021-vs-m2-ipad-pro-2022-which-one-is-right-for-you\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EM1 iPad Pro (2021) vs. M2 iPad Pro (2022): Is it worth the upgrade?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIt needs to fold flat      \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe rumor that spurred this whole conversation suggests Apple's touchscreen laptop will use a standard form factor. This means that it won't have a fold-flat display or 360-degree hinge. Have you tried using a vertical touchscreen for extended periods of time? It's exhausting. The result is that most sane users will either fold their touchscreens flat (apparently not an option) or simply revert back to touchpad and keyboard inputs to rest their tired arms.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Touch Bar was discontinued for a reason: most people hated it\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOf course, you could make the argument that it was more the removal of a useful section of the keyboard rather than \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fapple-finally-admits-it-made-a-mistake-and-backtracks-on-three-foolish-macbook-pro-design-decisions\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethe Touch Bar itself that annoyed folks\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. However, I'd counter that users didn't like having to reach all the way up to the top of their keyboards for interface elements and actions that should've only taken a 1-2-inch flick of their finger to actuate. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, imagine if those same elements are even further away on the laptop display itself. You'll probably just use the fingers already planted on the touchpad to get to them. If so, just re-read the above three points and wonder: What did adding touch to a MacBook really do to benefit you?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"3be818df-27e4-42c7-813f-c703e2d38814\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F3be818df-27e4-42c7-813f-c703e2d38814\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2023-01-13 16:10:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"You'd buy a touchscreen MacBook, wouldn't you? Would you?",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"e16dcac8-d6d0-44dd-ada6-3f3d4df807bc",image:{id:"62f088e7-1642-4ce2-a187-20d6fe6f0b09",filename:"getty-bloomberg-m2-macbook-air.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-12-27 18:53:06",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"getty-bloomberg-m2-macbook-air-cook",credits:"Getty\u002FBloomberg",caption:"\u003Cp\u003EIs there a touchscreen MacBook in Apple's future?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F12\u002F27\u002F62f088e7-1642-4ce2-a187-20d6fe6f0b09\u002Fgetty-bloomberg-m2-macbook-air.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:4000,height:2666,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"touchscreen-macbook-4-reasons-why-we-love-the-idea-and-4-reasons-why-we-dont",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Touchscreen MacBook: 4 reasons why we love the idea - and 4 reasons why we don't",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"0fbd54d0-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"apple",name:"Apple",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"294e47d5-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"Ed Bott",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Ed",lastName:"Bott",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e",filename:"ed-bott.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:06:03",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e\u002Fed-bott.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than three decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. He has served as editor of the U.S. edition of PC Computing and managing editor of PC World; both publications had monthly paid circulation in excess of 1 million during his tenure. He is the author of more than 25 books, including Windows 10 Inside Out (now in its 4th edition) and Windows 11 Inside Out (2023).",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"8968b01d-8b50-4f03-9961-92ea3f64be86\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe 15-inch laptop display makes an excellent auxiliary screen without interfering with work\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Ed Bott\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"edbott-desktop-laptop\" data-image-filename=\"edbott-desktop-laptop.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F02\u002F07\" data-image-width=\"1889\" data-image-height=\"1088\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"enabled\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy office has changed dramatically in the past few years. Part of that makeover is just a matter of logistics: Three years ago, I moved from the Southwest to the Southeast. As part of the great downsizing, my office became significantly smaller. It's essentially a very spacious cubicle in the guest room. A nice cubicle, in a nice guest room! But still, a lot smaller.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDownsizing is a major factor, but it's not the only consideration driving the way my office setup has changed. An equally important part of the equation is technological progress. Over the years, PC hardware has gotten faster, smarter, smaller, cheaper, and more full-featured. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-windows-laptop\u002F\"\u003EThe best Windows laptops: Expert tested and reviewed\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor decades, I did most of my work on a traditional desktop PC, which was housed in a tower case and usually sat under my desk. A second desktop PC sat under a second desk. (If you're curious, I wrote about that configuration a few years ago: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fed-botts-home-office-two-of-everything\u002F\"\u003E\"Inside Ed Bott's home office: 'Two of everything.'\"\u003C\u002Fa\u003E)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat all ended when we left New Mexico. I donated or sold every bit of desktop PC hardware before we hit the road. But I didn't leave the desktop experience behind. In my new office, I've assembled a functional but extremely compact workspace that does everything I need without bulky desktop hardware. The secret is tying everything together with Thunderbolt 4.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere's a look at the technology I'm using today to make that transformation.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhen is a desktop not a desktop?\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy desktop PC of choice these days is … a laptop. And not just any laptop. Technically, it's a Dell Precision 5560 Mobile Workstation, whose name suggests that it has better-than-average specs for its class. This is a two-year-old machine that should have a useful life of at least three more years. Its successor, the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"068c3e77-9127-4a33-9ea3-93b330eee3a0\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fshop\u002Fdell-laptops\u002Fprecision-5680-workstation\u002Fspd\u002Fprecision-16-5680-laptop\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Precision 5680\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, has a 16-inch display but is otherwise similar in design. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E(The configuration I bought had a list price of around $3600; I paid $1850, including tax and shipping, by buying from the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"28d41187-4025-437b-b4ea-1b324a2798f5\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fdfh\u002Flp\u002Foutlet\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Dell Outlet\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. This laptop is indistinguishable from one that was brand new.) \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhen-windows-10-support-ends-you-have-5-options-but-only-2-are-worth-considering\u002F\"\u003EWhen Windows 10 support runs out, you have 5 options but only 2 are worth considering\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI'm not sure anything about this well-built PC qualifies it as an actual workstation, although it could probably hold its own on light AutoCAD and video editing chores. But even if it falls a bit short on the kind of power that the most advanced users might want, it works just fine for me; it doesn't even break a sweat on business tasks. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe CPU is an 11th Gen Intel i7-11850H; it has a very fast 1TB NVMe SSD that uses PCIe 4. For networking, it offers a WiFi 6E adapter. It has 64 GB of RAM. (Yes, 64 GB might be overkill, but I occasionally work on projects that require running multiple virtual machines simultaneously, and it's nice not to have to worry about running out of memory.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 15.6-inch IPS LCD (non-touchscreen) has a 1920 x 1200 resolution with very slim bezels. Although it has a discrete graphics processor in addition to the Intel integrated graphics, its Nvidia T1200 Laptop GPU is not exactly a powerhouse when it comes to intense graphics workloads. But it will do for the business software I'm mostly running.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat hardware is significantly more power-hungry than your average business-class notebook, so this laptop requires a 130W power supply. (That detail will become important later.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor biometric authentication, this PC offers both an infrared camera for Windows Hello face recognition and an integrated fingerprint reader. Having the fingerprint option comes in handy when I'm working very early (or very late) in a dimly lit office and the Windows Hello camera can't recognize my face.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fheres-why-windows-pcs-are-only-going-to-get-more-annoying\u002F\"\u003EHere's why Windows PCs are only going to get more annoying\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd crucially, this machine has three USB Type-C ports, two of which support Thunderbolt 4. Those ports connect to the next link in the hardware chain.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EChoosing a Thunderbolt 4 dock\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the past two years, I've tested a half-dozen Thunderbolt (3 and 4) docks. They all deliver on the promise of one-cable connectivity to a full complement of external devices, and every one of the Thunderbolt 4 docks I've tested offers a roughly similar feature set:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EYou can connect to one or more external monitors, usually two 4K displays or one 5K display, using your choice of connector types, including HDMI and DisplayPort. \u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAn RJ45 connector and a built-in Gigabit Ethernet adapter allow you to access a wired network.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOne Thunderbolt port (usually clearly labeled) is for connecting your Thunderbolt-compatible PC to the dock. That connection supplies power to the laptop (via USB Power Delivery) and also manages the flow of data to and from devices plugged into the dock.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe dock itself includes an extra two or three Thunderbolt ports that can connect to high-performance gaming monitors, external storage devices, and external capture devices.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAnd, of course, there are plenty of USB ports (Type A and Type C), with some also capable of charging mobile devices.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is all packaged in a rectangular enclosure device that's only as big as it needs to be to accommodate a small mainboard and all those ports. This, for example, is the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"75b08327-7693-4e53-bf5a-5b2eb1ffc73a\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FStarTech-com-Thunderbolt-Delivery-Monitor-TB4CDOCK\u002Fdp\u002FB09N56SXYV\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"StarTech.com Thunderbolt 4 Dock\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, which goes for under $300 at Amazon.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"4396b44d-c574-4a47-bd27-cfe1e2ec7bdf\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003ERear view of StarTech.com Thunderbolt 4 Dock\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"StarTech.com\" data-image-alt-text=\"startech-tb4cdock-rear\" data-image-filename=\"startech-tb4cdock-rear.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F02\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"2000\" data-image-height=\"1022\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf I had just about any other mainstream Windows laptop or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fm3-macbook-pro-buying-advice\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMacBook Pro\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, the 96W available via USB Power Delivery from the StarTech dock would be more than adequate and I would be happily using that model.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI'd also recommend Kensington's sleek \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"9c90a1aa-4cc0-4a75-8d1e-b39ef8ce1237\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FKensington-SD5760T-Thunderbolt-Docking-K34110NA\u002Fdp\u002FB0BZ3LBCBT\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"SD5760T Thunderbolt 4 dock\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, or the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"4f4ee1dd-21d0-4517-95d7-c843d6250720\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FKensington-SD5750T-Thunderbolt-Microsoft-K37899NA\u002Fdp\u002FB09HT2TYWR\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"SD5750T\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, which has a similar feature set but was designed for use with Thunderbolt 4-compatible Surface devices, including Surface Pro 8, Surface Pro 9, and Surface Laptop 5. Both models offer 90-100W using USB Power Delivery.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fwork-life\u002Fheres-the-best-way-to-transfer-large-files-between-your-laptop-and-desktop\u002F\"\u003EHere's the best way to transfer large files between your laptop and desktop\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERemember earlier when I mentioned that my Dell Precision Workstation requires a 130W power supply? They're not kidding. If I plug in a dock that offers 90-100W of Power Delivery, I'll see a constant reminder that my power supply is inadequate. I might even find the battery draining (albeit slowly) if I set it to a particularly demanding and time-consuming task. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2051361\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring my testing, I worked around that limitation by keeping the laptop's original power supply plugged into one Thunderbolt port and connecting the docking station to the other port. That works, but it also cuts off access to that extra port, which I prefer to use for an external hard drive.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd that's why I ultimately chose \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"763650db-0871-4027-870a-12738531f48f\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FDell-ThunderBolt-Dock-WD22TB4-Black\u002Fdp\u002FB0B7P6ZNFB\u002F?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Dell's WD22TB4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, which was made specifically for use with Dell-branded laptops like this one. It's able to deliver 130W of USB PD to Dell devices (but only 90W to non-Dell laptops), which gives it a clear edge for my use case. I find it mildly annoying that the dock doesn't include an audio jack for output, and it only has a single USB 3.2 Gen 2 port (the other two USB ports are USB 3.2 Gen 1). But it gets the job done.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow it all works\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, let me be clear here. I use this laptop PC as if it were a desktop PC. It is always connected to external power, and it is always connected to an external display (a 38-inch Dell Thunderbolt 3-compatible monitor), with a full-sized keyboard and Bluetooth mouse. The only time I ever use the built-in keyboard and trackpad is when the external devices aren't working or I'm doing maintenance tasks while disconnected from the dock.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen I need a PC to use elsewhere, I have a MacBook Air and a Surface Pro 9 to choose from, synced to the same cloud services I use on the desktop\u002Flaptop.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf that all seems weird to you, I get it. But here's why this setup works for me.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-thought-software-subscriptions-were-a-ripoff-until-i-did-the-math\u002F\"\u003EI thought software subscriptions were a ripoff until I did the math\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst, it's the ideal arrangement of dual displays for what I do.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI spent years working with a pair of side-by-side 24-inch LCD monitors. But I've found this configuration is much more practical. The laptop sits off to the side, and I regularly use its display to keep tabs on social media sites and Slack; it's also ideal for hosting Zoom and Teams meetings and watching YouTube clips while I work with two or three apps (typically arranged side by side) on the larger display.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll that hardware is set up on a \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"3ee9f02f-602d-441d-8e8b-2d350e81cb00\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bludot.com\u002Fdesk-51.html\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Blu Dot Desk 51\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E which has a built-in keyboard tray that's at exactly the right height. The desk is big enough to accommodate both the ultyra-wide display and the laptop on the side without feeling cramped. The docking station sits within easy reach.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStaying permanently connected means I always have an external keyboard and mouse available, which I find essential for extended working. I do a lot of work in Excel, too, so I really need the full-size number pad, which you can't get on a typical laptop keyboard.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs for anxiety over travel weight and battery life, I have none, because this machine is always connected to external power and rarely leaves my office. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-password-manager\u002F\"\u003EThe best password managers to protect and streamline your logins\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen there's wired Gigabit Ethernet, which is about 33% faster than the built-in WiFi and much better for applications like videoconferencing.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd it's all so much less cluttered and messy than my old desktop. It occupies way less space, with fewer cables, and those cables are easier to manage. I'm not constantly bumping my knee on a tower PC case, and the constant fan noise (and heat) are gone for good.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy setup wound up being all-Dell for one simple reason related to power requirements, and I'm perfectly happy with the dock. But that Dell dock is less than ideal when connected with a laptop from any other OEM. It's particularly ill-suited for use with a MacBook Pro, where you'll have to deal with an \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fsupport\u002Fkbdoc\u002Fen-us\u002F000124312\u002Fdell-thunderbolt-dock-wd19tb-and-apple-usb-c-hosts\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Earray of known limitations\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, some serious. You can do better elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you'd like to replicate a setup like this one, I recommend getting a laptop with at least a 15-inch display to maximize its effectiveness as a second monitor. As long as both the dock and the laptop support the same Thunderbolt version, you should have excellent expansion options. Just remember to check that your dock is delivering enough power to drive your PC. Some lower-priced docks top out at 60W of USB PD, which isn't enough for a high-end laptop.   \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"635210bb-41ff-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F635210bb-41ff-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2024-02-07 21:46:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"When is a desktop not a desktop? When it's a mobile workstation connected to a Thunderbolt 4 dock. Here's how I've combined this technology in my home office.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"659af7e8-8ab8-4841-a1b8-2955d2ad12ec",image:{id:"8968b01d-8b50-4f03-9961-92ea3f64be86",filename:"edbott-desktop-laptop.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2024-02-07 20:12:03",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"edbott-desktop-laptop",credits:"Photo by Ed Bott",caption:"\u003Cp\u003EThe 15-inch laptop display makes an excellent auxiliary screen without interfering with work\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F02\u002F07\u002F8968b01d-8b50-4f03-9961-92ea3f64be86\u002Fedbott-desktop-laptop.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1889,height:1088,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"i-turned-my-laptop-into-a-desktop-pc-and-ive-never-been-more-productive",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"I turned my laptop into a desktop PC and I've never been more productive",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"926c7fe3-bac7-46e3-b421-bf633d90ee73",slug:"productivity",name:"Productivity",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"2c87ef21-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"jperlow",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Jason",lastName:"Perlow",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"8ee616a1-94ee-439e-9574-58f014ae5ef0",filename:"jason-perlow.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:08:37",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F8ee616a1-94ee-439e-9574-58f014ae5ef0\u002Fjason-perlow.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Jason Perlow is a technologist with over two decades of experience integrating large heterogeneous multi-vendor computing environments in Fortune 500 companies.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"7ffee409-d4d5-4408-af39-6784685c87ff\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Michael Gariffo\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"An M2 Mac Mini on a desk with other accessories\" data-image-filename=\"m2-mac-mini-review-hero.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F02\u002F10\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"900\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the bustling landscape of 2024's technology market, where \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-laptop\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehigh-end laptops\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and desktops often grab the media spotlight, finding a desktop computer that combines affordability with dependable performance remains a critical yet daunting challenge for many. This reality hits home for a diverse group of users -- be they job seekers, students, seniors on social security, or, as in my friend's case, individuals living on a limited disability income. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-revived-three-ancient-computers-with-chromeos-flex-and-you-can-too\u002F\"\u003EI revived three ancient computers with ChromeOS Flex, and you can too\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETasked with finding a replacement for his outdated 2016 desktop within a strict budget of $1,000 -- encompassing the computer, monitor, and essential upgrades -- we embarked on an eye-opening journey through the intricate and sometimes ruthless world of modern PC shopping.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2050571\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe challenge: performance needs vs. a tight budget\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOur mission was specific: a system with no less than 16GB of RAM (32GB would be ideal) and an i7 processor powerful enough for a demanding workload. For my budget-conscious friend, this was more than finding the best value for money; it was about securing a future-proof system that wouldn't become quickly obsolete in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Our budget had to cover the PC, a monitor, and potential additions like an entry-level GPU and extra RAM.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Flenovo-made-a-mac-studio-for-windows-users-and-it-might-even-be-better\u002F\"\u003ELenovo made a Mac Studio for Windows users, and it might even be better\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe quickly faced a harsh reality: the market's scarcity of mid-range PCs that balance performance and affordability. After scouring Amazon, the usual big box and warehouse store suspects, and direct manufacturer online sales websites, many of the new systems within our budget were disappointingly underpowered, hardly an upgrade. Meanwhile, while the price was attractive and meeting our performance criteria, refurbished models were often several years old, posing significant concerns about their longevity and future compatibility, particularly with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fsix-things-you-should-do-right-away-with-your-new-windows-11-pc\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWindows updates\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe ecosystem shift: considering Apple\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring our search, we also considered the Apple ecosystem. The \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"de4e3fee-b2ab-4b31-8cdc-2bdf059877ca\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FApple-Desktop-Computer-10%E2%80%91core-Ethernet\u002Fdp\u002FB0BSHGHGXR\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"entry-level Mac Mini M2\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, known for its efficiency and power, emerged as a surprisingly affordable option. Although typically featuring less onboard RAM than their PC counterparts, their unified memory architecture offers significant performance advantages, especially over mid-range PCs with i3, i5, and Ryzen 5 processors. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EReview: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fapple-mac-mini-2023-review\u002F\"\u003EApple Mac Mini (2023): Faster, cheaper, better\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe switch to a different operating system can be daunting, and for many, there are cultural biases against Macs, often seen as overpriced status symbols. However, for users open to a change, the Mac Mini M2 could be a compelling choice, particularly with the increasing shift towards web-based and mobile applications.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHP and the Ryzen 5 factor\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOur journey also revealed HP's strategic positioning in the mid-range PC market. By leveraging the Ryzen 5 processor, HP has effectively cornered this segment. These processors, much more affordable than their Intel equivalents, allow HP to offer systems that strike a rare balance between cost and performance, a boon for mid-range consumers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHP's dominance in the mid-range market was evident, with \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c92757d9-fd41-4de0-ab6b-3c55a2dc147e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hp.com\u002Fus-en\u002Fshop\u002Fvwa\u002Fdesktops\u002Fform=Tower;proc=AMD-Ryzen-5;segm=Home\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"several Ryzen 5 systems\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E at attractive price points. Lenovo was also in the mix, offering \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"19ac68a4-9737-4de1-9c18-db9720f49be9\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fs?k=lenovo+ryzen+5+desktop&i=computers&rh=n%3A565098%\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"compact, budget-friendly models\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. However, these smaller units often required GPU upgrades, and finding compatible graphics cards for these compact models proved to be a significant challenge, adding to the overall cost and complexity. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fsix-things-you-should-do-right-away-with-your-new-windows-11-pc\u002F\"\u003EWindows 11: Do these six things right away after you finish setup\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the price point he wanted, Asus also had a few desktop systems primarily geared toward \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"67e1b304-a98e-4ff6-b62b-78fd1fbca66f\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fs?k=asus+all+in+one&i=electronics\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"all-in-ones with lower memory configurations\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. But Asus also have compelling, inexpensive laptops, such as its \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"4b574e45-7924-4f77-a104-8cab29a1880c\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FASUS-Vivobook-Graphics-Lay-Flat-Bluetooth\u002Fdp\u002FB0CKZZTD5D\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"sub-$700 Vivobook with a Ryzen 7 processor\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and a 16\" screen. Although the latter was a strong contender and could have been paired with a monitor and a keyboard, my friend preferred the simplicity of a desktop system with a large monitor and a full-size keyboard. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUltimately, we decided on the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"6f96d1e8-9c89-4be0-9d63-3be67a47ff2c\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHP-Victus-Desktop-Windows-TG02-0013w\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBRS8TVK\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"HP Victus 15L Gaming Desktop PC\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. Priced at $659, it boasted an AMD Ryzen 5 5600G, AMD RX6400, 32GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD -- meeting all our specifications and also leaving us enough of a budget for a 24-inch monitor. Ironically, a gaming PC, initially not our primary focus, offered the best value, highlighting the skewed priorities of the current market and the unexpected places one might find a suitable solution.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"950ee3f3-64cb-488c-84bd-1d6e2f168627\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"ZDNET Recommends: HP Victus 15L Gaming Desktop PC\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"HP Victus 15L Gaming Desktop on blue background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"ZDNET","imageData":{"id":"d5c6c222-2213-45b8-8aab-1f30e02303da","filename":"hp-victus-15l-hero-image.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F11\u002F28\u002Fd5c6c222-2213-45b8-8aab-1f30e02303da\u002Fhp-victus-15l-hero-image.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2023-11-28 01:42:18","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"d5c6c222-2213-45b8-8aab-1f30e02303da","imageFilename":"hp-victus-15l-hero-image.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2023\u002F11\u002F28"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"ZDNET\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHP-Victus-Desktop-Windows-TG02-0013w\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBRS8TVK?th=1\" data-offermerchant=\"Amazon\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EExploring DIY options\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn our quest, we flirted with assembling a Ryzen 5 PC from scratch, picking out a mainboard, CPU, RAM, case, and power supply. But here's the catch: the cost of building a custom system was comparable to pre-built options, nullifying a DIY build's perceived advantage. This realization underscored custom PC assembly's hidden costs and complexities, particularly under tight budget constraints.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EZDNET's buying advice\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis journey mirrors a broader dilemma many face: a market that often overlooks the needs of mid-range buyers. My advice? Venture beyond traditional categories. Overcoming biases and exploring different ecosystems, such as Macs or unconventional PC types, can lead to surprising and satisfying solutions. In today's rapidly evolving tech environment, prioritizing future-proofing is crucial.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fwork-life\u002Fwindows-and-mac-software-my-11-essential-apps-and-services\u002F\"\u003EWindows and Mac software: My 11 essential apps and services\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMoreover, this search for an appropriate PC for my friend highlighted the challenges within the Wintel ecosystem. It underscored the emerging competition from ARM-based SoCs, as seen in systems like the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"7eca5482-37d9-4086-b44d-31a1f11476b9\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-mini\u002Fapple-m2-chip-with-8-core-cpu-and-10-core-gpu-256gb\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac Mini M2\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and various \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-chromebook-laptop\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EChromebooks\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. These alternatives are gaining traction, offering competitive pricing and features that align well with the increasing reliance on web and mobile-based applications. This shift suggests a significant paradigm change in home computing, where traditional Windows-based systems are no longer the only viable option for users seeking power and affordability.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOur foray into the 2024 PC market was more than just a quest for hardware; it was a revelation about the changing landscape of home computing. As we move forward, the industry must adapt, offering more versatile and affordable solutions to bridge the gap in the mid-range market. Until then, consumers must navigate this evolving terrain with an open mind and a readiness to embrace new technologies and ecosystems.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"47b1617b-799d-4263-9878-ccc4bc00d4b9\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F47b1617b-799d-4263-9878-ccc4bc00d4b9\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2024-02-15 17:43:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The best mid-range PC desktop of 2024 is not at all what I expected.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"6afda78b-7b6d-4c4e-a763-ca0126cfdae0",image:{id:"7ffee409-d4d5-4408-af39-6784685c87ff",filename:"m2-mac-mini-review-hero.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2023-02-10 19:17:57",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Close-up of the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i, next to a Philips 27-inch monitor. The glass panel has been removed from the tower.",credits:"Taylor Clemons\u002FLenovo\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F02\u002F10\u002F7ffee409-d4d5-4408-af39-6784685c87ff\u002Fm2-mac-mini-review-hero.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1600,height:900,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"can-anything-beat-mac-mini-in-search-of-the-elusive-mid-range-pc-desktop-in-2024",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Can anything beat Mac Mini? In search of the elusive mid-range PC desktop in 2024",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"41040cf0-0abb-4cd0-aad1-1cb0e38b334c",slug:"windows-11",name:"Windows 11",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"9d3e6108-0023-11e4-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"innovation",name:"Innovation",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"d0aee31d-965e-4a8b-97f0-5c7c1b8bf7f1",slug:"mac-os",name:"Mac OS",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d}],componentLabel:"Explore a fresh perspective",description:b,filters:b,paging:b,slug:"dynamic-topic-3-story-carousel-analysis",title:"Analysis & Opinion",label:b,viewMoreText:b,viewMoreUrl:b,relatedItems:b},{id:"ddc9226f-14b1-4a1c-9cfa-46a60a305f1f",meta:{componentName:"ddc9226f-14b1-4a1c-9cfa-46a60a305f1f",componentDisplayName:"Latest",componentType:"ContentList"},metadata:{},links:{self:{href:"https:\u002F\u002Fbender.cnetstatic.com\u002Fapi\u002Fneutron\u002Fcomponents\u002Fzdnet\u002Flisting\u002Fdynamic_listing\u002Fddc9226f-14b1-4a1c-9cfa-46a60a305f1f\u002Fweb?searchBy=id&topicSlug=pcs&componentType=ContentList&componentName=ddc9226f-14b1-4a1c-9cfa-46a60a305f1f"}},items:[{author:{id:"0765e4d4-53d3-4b04-878c-c0532f646fc4",username:"Sabrina Ortiz",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Sabrina",lastName:"Ortiz",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"74b6bbc3-0c60-4d1f-9b02-7ee0f003bf11",filename:"screenshot-2024-03-27-at-4-28-37pm.png",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2024-03-27 23:36:25",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F03\u002F27\u002F74b6bbc3-0c60-4d1f-9b02-7ee0f003bf11\u002Fscreenshot-2024-03-27-at-4-28-37pm.png",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Sabrina Ortiz is an editor for ZDNET based in New York City. She covers technology news for ZDNET, specializing in generative AI. Sabrina graduated with a B.A. in Media and Journalism and Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.",profile:b,title:"Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"a9473de2-a79c-4772-acea-1cee2cf9009d\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Sabrina Ortiz\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Copilot+PC\" data-image-filename=\"img-3311.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F05\u002F22\" data-image-width=\"4030\" data-image-height=\"2267\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-ai-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-artificial-intelligence\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eartificial intelligence\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (AI) boom is transforming industries and reshaping work. Now, it's setting its sights on a long-overlooked tool: your work laptop.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe reach and capabilities of AI models go far beyond what people have seen from tinkering around with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-chatgpt-how-the-worlds-most-popular-ai-chatbot-can-benefit-you\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EChatGPT\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, which, although a great tool for \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002F5-ways-chatgpt-can-help-you-write-essays\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eproofreading\u003C\u002Fa\u003E or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-use-chatgpt-to-write-code-and-my-favorite-trick-to-debug-what-it-generates\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Edebugging code,\u003C\u002Fa\u003E only gives a brief glimpse into what large language models (LLMs), the technology powering tools like the chatbot, can do. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-an-ai-pc-exactly-and-should-you-buy-one-in-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWhat is an AI PC exactly? And should you buy one in 2025?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor instance, HCLTech, a consulting firm, worked with one of the largest end-to-end healthcare providers in the US to help implement a user-friendly, compliant AI clinical advisor. The clinical advisor, trained using one of the world's largest clinical libraries, allows medical professionals to conversationally ask for the information they need to consult without spending time digging for it. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Alan Flower, EVP and head of AI & Cloud Native Labs at HCLTech, running the models locally on the device was key to effectively implementing this model.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fnvidia-dominates-in-gen-ai-benchmarks-clobbering-2-rival-ai-chips\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENvidia dominates in gen AI benchmarks, clobbering 2 rival AI chips\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"By using the clinician's laptop, it frees up clinician time whilst also ensuring the privacy and security of the patient's information,\" said Flower. \"It has that secondary advantage -- it reduces the cost to run the solution since we're not consuming expensive cloud tokens when we can use the neural processing unit on an AI PC, effectively, for free.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFlower said that since implementing the AI clinical advisor, within a typical 20-minute consultation with a doctor, the AI clinical advisor has freed up three minutes from the appointment, time the doctor can spend researching and focusing on the patient's care. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Freasoning-ai-models-are-overwhelming-the-benchmark-tests-its-time-for-human-evaluation\u002F\"\u003EWith AI models clobbering every benchmark, it's time for human evaluation\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECompanies are discovering that if they want to take full advantage of AI and run models locally, they need to upgrade their employees' laptops. This realization has introduced a hardware revolution, with the desire to update tech shifting from an afterthought to a priority and attracting significant investment from companies. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4914532\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis trend is reflected in the numbers. Researcher IDC predicts that AI PCs designed to run generative AI tasks locally will grow from nearly 50 million units in 2024 to over 167 million by 2027, eventually accounting for almost 60% of all PC shipments worldwide. The latest data from analyst firm Gartner suggests 63% of all PCs will be AI-enabled by the end of 2026. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis acceleration in PC investment aligns with a decade-long trend, where factors such as improved design, exemplified by the shift from bulky laptops to ultraslim notebooks, have steadily driven up the average selling price of PCs, an indicator of shifting consumer preferences and market trends, according to Linn Huang, research vice president of devices and displays at IDC.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe industry has seen selling prices \"steadily climb over the past decade,\" said Huang. \"AI PCs will undoubtedly accelerate this trend in the coming years as new AI-enabled workloads, use cases, and features enter the market.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis new category of AI PCs is differentiated from legacy PCs by having an NPU, or neural processing unit, which is designed to turbocharge AI tasks and allow models to run right on the device. The benefits of running locally include cost, privacy, and security. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fchatgpts-new-image-generator-shattered-my-expectations-and-now-its-free-to-try\u002F\"\u003EChatGPT's new image generator shattered my expectations - and now it's free to try\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost AI products, like ChatGPT, send information to the cloud to be processed. This information is then sent back to the device, which allows for the potential for the data to be hacked, leaked, or mishandled in transit. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstead, running models locally gives organizations more control over their information and reduces reliance on third-party services. That setup is crucial for companies in financial services, healthcare, and other industries where privacy is a big concern or a regulatory requirement.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"For them, an on-device AI computer, it's not a nice to have; it's a need to have for fiduciary and HIPAA reasons, respectively,\" said Mike Bechtel, managing director and the chief futurist at Deloitte Consulting LLP. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother advantage is that local running reduces lag and creates a smoother user experience, which is especially valuable for optimizing business applications. That speed is key because the appeal of AI solutions, like chatbots, is that they can respond at the touch of a button. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDevice manufacturers are already seeing this growing interest in AI PCs. Microsoft, a major player in the AI market, a key partner of model specialist OpenAI, and the creator of AI tools like Copilot, has introduced a new hardware category called \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosofts-new-copilot-surface-devices-are-built-for-business-with-intel-inside\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECopilot+PCs\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, developed with partners such as HP, Dell, and Lenovo. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fanthropic-launches-claude-for-education-an-ai-to-help-students-think-critically\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAnthropic launches Claude for Education, an AI to help students think critically\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMark Linton, vice president of device partner sales at Microsoft, said business leaders have shown strong interest in purchasing and trialing these new devices. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Leaders are particularly focused on integrating on-device AI capabilities into their broader AI business and technology strategies,\" said Linton. \"This interest is reflected in adoption rates -- 20 times faster than touch PC adoption -- demonstrating the urgency with which organizations are approaching this transformation.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe benefits of AI PCs go beyond running AI models on devices. For example, a PC can overheat when it uses a power-intensive application, the fan may start blowing, and the device might begin running slowly. That situation can occur partially because the excessive workload is offloaded to the CPU or GPU, other key components of PCs. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAI PCs use NPUs to handle AI tasks more efficiently, reducing the load on the CPU and improving overall system performance. This capability covers non-AI tasks that are compute-intensive, such as editing video or even having a video call. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-enterprise-general-intelligence-how-the-next-stage-of-ai-affects-you\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWhat is Enterprise General Intelligence? How the next stage of AI affects you\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"AI PCs deliver significant performance improvements for the apps users already use, leveraging new CPU, GPU, and NPU architectures,\" said Alex Thatcher, senior director of AI experiences, business personal systems, at HP Inc. \"AI PCs also deliver significant improvements in battery life due to the inclusion of small cores and highly power efficient NPUs.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the refresh cycle for many businesses' hardware approaches, and its advance is accelerated by other external factors, such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fif-your-windows-10-pc-cant-be-upgraded-you-have-5-options-before-time-runs-out\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMicrosoft's end of support for Windows 10,\u003C\u002Fa\u003E many organizations are forced to purchase new devices. This leaves one question: should businesses go for legacy or AI-capable devices? \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause of the productivity advantages, most industry experts, including Flower or Bechtel, who are in positions to advise clients on the next steps, agree that upgrading to AI-capable PCs is the obvious choice. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"It's a big brainer: make sure that your next wave of capital expenditure has the set of bells or whistles, else you're going to be considering an extra refresh in the next couple of years,\" said Bechtel. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosofts-new-ai-agents-aim-to-help-security-pros-combat-the-latest-threats\u002F\"\u003EMicrosoft's new AI agents aim to help security pros combat the latest threats\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs more companies get in on the action and AI-capable computers become ubiquitous, the premium price of AI PCs will continue to drop. Furthermore, Flower said the potential gains in performance offset any price differences. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"In those high-value professions, the productivity gain is so significant that whatever small premium you're paying for that AI-enhanced device, the payback will be nearly immediate,\" said Flower. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUpgrading technology keeps companies at the forefront of innovation, giving them the flexibility to invest in AI applications, whether they're ready to dive in now or not. As more companies opt for AI-capable PCs, this shift paves the way for deeper AI integration into business processes. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe result of this investment is an ecosystem where the promise of AI applications drives hardware upgrades, and the upgraded hardware, in turn, accelerates AI adoption in the workforce, rapidly transforming industries and reshaping how professionals work. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"c1c64b97-f918-4f5b-acae-43981f87d8e6\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fc1c64b97-f918-4f5b-acae-43981f87d8e6\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-04 08:40:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The AI race has led to a hardware revolution, with businesses investing in new types of PCs.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"bbe5846c-607c-4a7f-a20b-d20ffd39acf9",image:{id:"a9473de2-a79c-4772-acea-1cee2cf9009d",filename:"img-3311.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2024-05-22 17:12:41",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Copilot+PC",credits:"Sabrina Ortiz\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F05\u002F22\u002Fa9473de2-a79c-4772-acea-1cee2cf9009d\u002Fimg-3311.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:4030,height:2267,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"news",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Artificial Intelligence",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"the-rise-of-ai-pcs-how-businesses-are-reshaping-their-tech-to-keep-up",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"The rise of AI PCs: How businesses are reshaping their tech to keep up",topic:{id:"3414bf30-82eb-4a6a-a561-f193482f1643",slug:"artificial-intelligence",name:"Artificial Intelligence",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"3414bf30-82eb-4a6a-a561-f193482f1643",slug:"artificial-intelligence",name:"Artificial Intelligence",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"9a23272b-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"David Gewirtz",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"David",lastName:"Gewirtz",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"de4475ef-be59-4858-beb8-6f7696c85945",filename:"david-gewirtz.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:19:52",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fde4475ef-be59-4858-beb8-6f7696c85945\u002Fdavid-gewirtz.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"In addition to hosting the ZDNET Government and ZDNet DIY-IT blogs, David Gewirtz is an author, U.S. policy advisor, and computer scientist. He is featured in The History Channel special The President's Book of Secrets, is one of America's foremost cyber-security experts, and is a top expert on saving and creating jobs. He is also director of the U.S. Strategic Perspective Institute as well as the founder of ZATZ Publishing.\r\n\r\nDavid is a member of FBI InfraGard, the Cyberwarfare Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism & Security Professionals, a columnist for The Journal of Counterterrorism and Homeland Security, and has been a regular CNN contributor, and a guest commentator for the Nieman Watchdog of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. He is the author of Where Have All the Emails Gone?, the definitive study of email in the White House, as well as How To Save Jobs and The Flexible Enterprise, the classic book that served as a foundation for today's agile business movement.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"ec0759f9-4340-4646-beef-b98e108fc719\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe Altair 8800, the first commercially successful personal computing device.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Boston Globe\u002FGetty Images\" data-image-alt-text=\"altair1974gettyimages-1237272219\" data-image-filename=\"altair1974gettyimages-1237272219.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F04\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"1024\" data-image-height=\"669\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHave I told you the story about Bill Gates and me in those early days of personal computing?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo be clear: Bill Gates is older than I am. In 1975, as Bill was leaving Harvard to start Microsoft, I had just skipped my last year of high school and started college. I was the youngest student in engineering school that first year -- the same year Bill and I were using \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Ffrom-paper-tape-to-the-altair-8800-the-story-of-my-first-computers\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethe same computer technology\u003C\u002Fa\u003E: the Altair 8800 and the Digital Equipment PDP-10.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy high school computing experience -- like Bill's -- was formative. However, I never wanted to be a computer scientist. I wanted to build nuclear reactors. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-at-50-its-incredible-rise-15-lost-years-and-stunning-comeback-in-four-charts\u002F\"\u003EMicrosoft at 50: Its incredible rise, 15 lost years, and stunning comeback - in 4 charts\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn high school, I was still grappling with being a teenager, convincing the adults that I needed to be in engineering school instead of coasting through senior year, trying to persuade Amy Katz to let me buy her ice cream, failing the high school's mandatory typing class, and wondering how I was supposed to deal with the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FTeleprinter\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eteletype\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that was initially the sole component of our computer \"lab.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFrom nukes to PCs\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere's what broke me and sent me on this wacky course I call my career. I sat down at that teletype and pressed the Return key. It responded with \"READY.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou need to put this in a 1970s perspective. Today, we \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-use-chatgpt-a-beginners-guide-to-the-most-popular-ai-chatbot\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Etalk to ChatGPT\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and get Star Trek computer-like responses. But back then, machines were not interactive. So when that teletype responded with \"READY,\" it rewired my brain forever. It was interactive. It was different. It changed everything about what my relationship with machines could be.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4914532\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut let's take a moment and return to when Gates and Paul Allen started Microsoft. I mentioned the Altair 8800 because that machine was the first commercially successful personal computing device. Before Ed Roberts started \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FMicro_Instrumentation_and_Telemetry_Systems\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMITS\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (the company that made the Altair), computers were big -- room-scale, gymnasium-size big. The idea of a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthirty-years-ago-my-first-computer-was-an-ibm-pc\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Epersonal computer\u003C\u002Fa\u003E was pure science fiction. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen, in 1974, Roberts introduced the Altair 8800 through an article in Popular Electronics. Roberts and the magazine editors were offering regular people the opportunity to own and use a computer.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPCMag:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pcmag.com\u002Farticles\u002Fbreakthrough-microsoft-products\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERemember these 10 breakthrough Microsoft products?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the story goes, the Altair didn't come with any software. Geeks could tinker with it and toggle programs on the front panel, but there wasn't any real programming language beyond the Intel 8080 assembly language. Gates and Allen saw the opportunity to produce a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-takes-you-back-to-1983-its-just-open-sourced-its-gw-basic-interpreter\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBASIC interpreter\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for the machine and pitched it to Roberts. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to legend, no code had been written when they originally spoke to MITS about their programming language. It was only once they were invited to show the code to Roberts and his team that Gates and Allen got to coding. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe full story of that experience is chronicled in a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgatesnot.es\u002F3FF4Sbv\"\u003E50th Anniversary blog post\u003C\u002Fa\u003E by Gates published this week. I recommend you read it. I mentioned our mutual use of the DEC PDP-10 computer. Well, Gates and Allen wrote the original BASIC on Harvard's PDP-10, before bringing it down to Albuquerque-based MITS to demonstrate. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EBuilding my own Altair 8800 \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUntil I built my first Altair 8800, I lived in my engineering school's computer center, typing code into our \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Frip-ken-olsen-pioneer-of-interactive-computing\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPDP-10\u003C\u002Fa\u003E until the wee hours of the night (and often through the night and into the next day). \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI couldn't afford the $1,500 or so that the original fully assembled Altair 8800 cost back then, which would be more than $7,000 now. So I waited a few years until people started to get tired of their Altairs or failed to make them work. I bought parts at swap meets at very steep discounts and horse-traded my way to having enough components to build a full machine. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECNET:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cnet.com\u002Ftech\u002Fcomputing\u002Fbill-gates-publishes-original-microsoft-source-code-in-a-blog-post\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBill Gates publishes original Microsoft source code in a blog post\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the course of a summer at my parent's home, I built the machine, hand-soldered the hundreds of wires to the front panel, and even toggled in a bootloader that enabled BASIC to be loaded into the machine.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter about a week toggling all that code in, one byte at a time, my Dad decided to work on a circuit somewhere in the house and shut off the power to my room. I had to spend another week doing it all over again, but I eventually got a working computer.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe also need to put Microsoft's BASIC language into perspective. Programming languages are often described as \"higher-level languages.\" That's because the native language of the machine, called machine language or assembly language, is both very tied to a given machine's architecture and very granular. You don't add two numbers together. You move bits around -- bit-by-bit -- until some set of combinatorial operations results in a sum. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHigher-level languages are written with more functionality per statement. The code is compiled (converted all at once) or interpreted (converted statement by statement) into something the machine can understand. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGates and Allen first wrote a program on the PDP-10 that emulated the machine code of the Intel 8080; then they wrote an interpreter that translated BASIC code dynamically and interactively into 8080 code the processor could run. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fits-baaack-microsoft-and-ibm-open-source-ms-dos-4-0\u002F\"\u003EIt's back! Microsoft and IBM open source MS-DOS 4.0\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWriting in BASIC was fun, creative, and empowering. Writing in machine code or its related assembler language was tedious and incredibly time-consuming. So, without a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbasic-turns-60-why-simplicity-was-this-programming-languages-blessing-and-its-curse\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBASIC programming language\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for the Altair (and later for Apple machines), the personal computer industry wouldn't have taken off. Individual computers would have been too painful to use and likely would have seen service only in labs and industrial uses.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe brilliance of Altair BASIC\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlso, don't discount the feat of coder brilliance that Allen and Gates pulled off. It was impressive as hell to code an 8080 emulator and an entire BASIC interpreter in those days. If you look through that first code that they produced, you can see the care they took to make it both functional and maintainable. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYes, I said, \"If you look through that first code.\" That's because, concurrent with Bill's blog entry celebrating 50 years, he's also releasing a PDF of that first Altair BASIC source code. I haven't read through all 157 pages of tractor-feed fan-fold paper, but I have had the pleasure of scanning several pages. This is some seriously old-school, hard-core stuff right there.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYoung Bill and Paul had some serious chops. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI met Bill only once. I had dinner with him about a dozen years after Microsoft was formed. He was well on his way to making his first billion, and I had just started my first software company. MS-DOS was dominant on PCs, and Windows was still mostly a concept prototype. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fdell-turns-40-how-a-teenager-transformed-1000-worth-of-pc-parts-into-a-tech-giant\u002F\"\u003EDell turns 40: How a teenager transformed $1,000 worth of PC parts into a tech giant\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe met because he was the guest speaker -- and I was on the board of directors -- for Silicon Valley's Software Entrepreneurs' Forum. One of the perks of board membership was sharing the head table with our guest speakers each month. I made it my business to sit right across from each of the luminaries at each event. Not only did I get to meet them, I got to talk to them and learn from them. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EBill's unexpected advice\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI asked Bill what advice he had for a newly minted software startup founder. I expected some wisdom about software lifecycles or hiring good engineers. Instead, he told me to mind my cash flow. \"Cash flow is everything,\" he said. Yes, the advice I got from the guy who would become the richest man in the world (at least until recently) was about minding my cash flow. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI took that lesson to heart and my businesses did pretty well. Not millionaire or billionaire well, but they did well enough to support my family and those of the people who worked for me. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThinking back on that BASIC implementation and the Bill and Paul of 50 years ago, it's clear that my career as a whole benefited from their work. While no longer a popular language, BASIC was easy to learn and use. It's fallen out of favor because it's not that easy to maintain and doesn't scale as well as modern languages. But it was a gateway drug for a lot of early PC programmers. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fdell-turns-40-how-a-teenager-transformed-1000-worth-of-pc-parts-into-a-tech-giant\u002F\"\u003EDell turns 40: How a teenager transformed $1,000 worth of PC parts into a tech giant\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen I was in engineering school, I used big iron. But it was PCs that sparked my imagination. It turned out I was very good at operating system design, language design, and overall computer science. Unfortunately, despite my desire to go into nuclear engineering, I was far from a star nuke student. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy sophomore year, I'd used up all the college's computing curricula and started taking (and then teaching) graduate school computer science courses. I was still barely making it through the first few physics classes required for nuclear engineering. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy academic advisor, who knew of my Altair build and my affinity for these new personal computers, strongly advocated I move out of the nuclear engineering program and fully embrace computer science. I don't know if I'd have had that affinity for PCs if Microsoft's Altair BASIC didn't run on them. I never liked assembly language programming. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI wonder whether I would have been stuck underground, getting my body parts irradiated, and living on the edge of civilization as a barely adequate nuclear engineer had I not developed an affinity for PCs -- an affinity that Altair BASIC made possible in my very early formative years. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs one does, I eventually moved on to other languages -- and, in fact, to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthe-most-popular-programming-languages-in-2024-and-what-that-even-means\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emany other languages\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. But BASIC, and particularly that BASIC for that Altair 8800 machine, still holds a special place in my heart. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthe-mac-turns-40-how-apples-rebel-pc-almost-failed-again-and-again\u002F\"\u003EThe Mac turns 40: How Apple's rebel PC almost failed again and again\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, on behalf of all the middle-aged programming geeks worldwide who cut their teeth on Microsoft BASIC, I raise my cup of Kirkland Pacific Bold to Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Ed Roberts, and all the early ones -- yes, that includes Steve and Steve from Apple -- who brought personal computing to the rest of us. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat about you? Did you get your start in computing with BASIC, or maybe even on an Altair or PDP-10? Were you around when Microsoft first entered the scene -- or did you come in later and discover the magic of early personal computing secondhand? How did you first get hooked on programming, and what role did Microsoft's early software play, if any? Let us know in the comments below. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EYou can follow my day-to-day project updates on social media. Be sure to subscribe to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fadvancedgeekery.substack.com\u002F\"\u003Emy weekly update newsletter\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and follow me on Twitter\u002FX at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002Fdavidgewirtz\"\u003E@DavidGewirtz\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, on Facebook at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fdavidgewirtz\"\u003EFacebook.com\u002FDavidGewirtz\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, on Instagram at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002FDavidGewirtz\u002F\"\u003EInstagram.com\u002FDavidGewirtz\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, on Bluesky at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbsky.app\u002Fprofile\u002Fdavidgewirtz.com\"\u003E@DavidGewirtz.com\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and on YouTube at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fuser\u002FDavidGewirtzTV\"\u003EYouTube.com\u002FDavidGewirtzTV\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGet the biggest stories in tech every Friday with ZDNET's \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWeek in Review newsletter\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"1c484d26-6f31-48ab-8c73-282514bb76c1\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F1c484d26-6f31-48ab-8c73-282514bb76c1\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-03 18:14:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"In 1975, Bill and I were using the same computing tech - the Altair 8800 and DEC's PDP-10 - as BASIC became a gateway for generations of developers. Where were you all those decades ago?",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"3585a1a2-3e0f-4ab8-b83e-8c2a7173e3d6",image:{id:"ec0759f9-4340-4646-beef-b98e108fc719",filename:"altair1974gettyimages-1237272219.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2025-04-03 18:04:02",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"altair1974gettyimages-1237272219",credits:"Boston Globe\u002FGetty Images",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F04\u002F03\u002Fec0759f9-4340-4646-beef-b98e108fc719\u002Faltair1974gettyimages-1237272219.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1024,height:669,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Business^Companies^Microsoft",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"how-bill-gates-the-altair-8800-and-basic-propelled-me-into-the-pc-revolution",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"How Bill Gates, the Altair 8800 and BASIC propelled me into the PC revolution",topic:{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"1124f463-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"processors",name:"Processors",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"5d68ddc2-d682-11e4-9a74-d4ae52e95e57",slug:"developer",name:"Developer",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"f2d97ea2-8175-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Adrian",lastName:"Kingsley-Hughes",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2",filename:"adrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 14:59:32",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2\u002Fadrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over two decades to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera. Adrian has authored\u002Fco-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include 'Build the Ultimate Custom PC', 'Beginning Programming' and 'The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide'. He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-gaming-pc\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPCs\u003C\u002Fa\u003E have been through a number of evolutions in terms of form factor -- a fancy word for size. The once bulky and ugly beige boxes that devoured desk real estate are now the size of a hardback book but can still handle the most demanding workload.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESay hello to the mini PC! This compact powerhouse is just as comfortable tucked behind your TV, perched on a shelf, or hidden away in a cupboard as it is sitting on your desk. Mini PCs pack a punch, offering everything you could want from a modern computer while taking up the least amount of space possible. They're perfect for today's busy lifestyles and can also serve as a fantastic foundation for your next project. Whether you're streaming your favorite shows, working from home, or diving into creative endeavors, a mini PC is a versatile companion that fits seamlessly into any environment. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best power banks: Expert tested\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhat is the best mini PC right now?\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've tested and researched the current mini PC offerings on the market, examining specs and paying close attention to user reviews, and my top pick for the best mini PC is the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"68d9ad17-5a1c-4592-8643-def928eb2c40\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FNUC13ANHi7-i7-1360P-Computers-Business-Thunderbolt-dp-B0C8NSPFTD\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Intel NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. Whether you want a mini PC for the home, office, or meeting room, this is a solid choice. But I understand that this might not be for everyone, so I've picked a handful more mini PCs, each aimed at a specific use case.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd there's never been a better time to buy, because at the time of update, prices have come down dramatically opretty much across the board. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe best mini PCs of 2025\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"2869633c-add8-4055-9874-55f85096cf8a\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWhen it comes to mini PCs, it's hard to beat a mini PC built to the Intel NUC specs. I've owned and tested a number of them myself and have been very happy with them.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith this model, we have a system running a 16-core Core i7 chip that can power up to 3.7 GHz with a built-in Iris Xe GPU. Backing that is 32GB of RAM and 1TB M.2 SSD -- that's quite a spec for a system you can hold in the palm of your hand. As for ports, this system has a multitude of USB ports, along with Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, and Ethernet.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs mini PCs go, this one is likely overkill for most, but if you are looking for a really powerful system that runs whisper-quiet and can be mounted behind a TV or put on a shelf, this is the system for you.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGiven the price of this system, there aren't a lot of reviews for it, but the ones that owners have written are overwhelmingly positive.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntel NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon tech specs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E 12th Generation Intel Core i7-1360P | Intel Iris Xe Graphics 96EU | 32GB DDR4 RAM | 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD | 3x USB 3.2 type A, 1x USB-A, 2x Thunderbolt 4, 2x HDMI, Ethernet, audio jack | Windows 11 Pro\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Intel NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon\" data-superlative=\"Best mini PC overall\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"zdnet-image-instructions","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Intel\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"356a5a37-b607-4bef-b3a5-9f60e1bef4a8","title":"intel-nuc-13-pro-arena-canyon-mini-pc","filename":"intel-nuc-13-pro-arena-canyon.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F08\u002F21\u002F356a5a37-b607-4bef-b3a5-9f60e1bef4a8\u002Fintel-nuc-13-pro-arena-canyon.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":49519,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-08-21 17:47:42","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-08-21 17:47:57","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Intel\u002FZDNET","alt":"intel-nuc-13-pro-arena-canyon","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"356a5a37-b607-4bef-b3a5-9f60e1bef4a8","imageAltText":"zdnet-image-instructions","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Intel\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"intel-nuc-13-pro-arena-canyon.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F08\u002F21","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Intel\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FNUC13ANHi7-i7-1360P-Computers-Business-Thunderbolt\u002Fdp\u002FB0BYNC9W8D?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FNUC13ANHi7-i7-1360P-Computers-Business-Thunderbolt\u002Fdp\u002FB0BYNC9W8D","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FNUC13ANHi7-i7-1360P-Computers-Business-Thunderbolt\u002Fdp\u002FB0BYNC9W8D?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"~Powerful ~Quiet ~Excellent reviews\" data-dislike=\"~Expensive\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"78000d68-5c97-40b9-95c5-77631010cc05\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EJust when you thought this list would only include Windows systems, we've got the Mac Mini. This was one of the original mini PCs, and with the switch to Apple Silicon processors, it has seen a new lease of life.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EConsidered at one point the gateway Mac that got people over to MacOS from Windows (because they could replace their Windows PC with the Mac Mini and keep using their existing keyboard, mouse, and monitor with their new Mac), it's now a staple of the Mac lineup, and the perfect choice for those who want a compact system.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've owned a few different Mac Mini systems over the years, and I've been more than satisfied by them. They're reliable, well-built, and run cool and quiet. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe biggest downside to this system is upgrading -- bottom line, this Mac will live and die with the same processor, RAM, and storage that it left the factory with. If you want to give it a storage boost, Satechi makes a hub\u002Fstand for it that adds a bunch of ports and a port for an \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-m2-ssd\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EM.2 SSD\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs I'd expect from an Apple product, the reviews are strongly positive, with users reporting that they are happy with the performance and overall reliability of the system.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EApple 2023 Mac mini tech specs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E Apple Silicon M4 processor with 10 CPU cores, 10 GPU cores | 16GB RAM | 256GB storage | 2x USB-C, 3x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, Ethernet, audio jack | MacOS&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Apple Mac Mini (2024)\" data-superlative=\"Best mini PC for Apple users\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"Mac Mini M4 Pro from the back","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"365d4315-eb61-400d-afdd-f5deee1f3a41","title":"Mac Mini M4 Pro from the back","filename":"mac-mini-m4-pro-7.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F11\u002F04\u002F365d4315-eb61-400d-afdd-f5deee1f3a41\u002Fmac-mini-m4-pro-7.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":422166,"width":2048,"height":1152,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-11-04 18:54:02","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-11-04 18:54:21","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET","alt":"Mac Mini M4 Pro from the back","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"365d4315-eb61-400d-afdd-f5deee1f3a41","imageAltText":"Mac Mini M4 Pro from the back","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"mac-mini-m4-pro-7.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F11\u002F04","imageWidth":2048,"imageHeight":1152,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FApple-2024-Desktop-Computer-10%E2%80%91core\u002Fdp\u002FB0DLBTPDCS?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FApple-2024-Desktop-Computer-10%E2%80%91core\u002Fdp\u002FB0DLBTPDCS","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FApple-2024-Desktop-Computer-10%E2%80%91core\u002Fdp\u002FB0DLBTPDCS?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fapple-mac-mini-desktop-latest-model-m4-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-16gb-memory-256gb-ssd-silver%2F6566918.p&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value","offerMerchant":"Best Buy","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fapple-mac-mini-desktop-latest-model-m4-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-16gb-memory-256gb-ssd-silver\u002F6566918.p","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fapple-mac-mini-desktop-latest-model-m4-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-16gb-memory-256gb-ssd-silver%2F6566918.p&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value"},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedid=zdnet&partnerpropertyid=1980086&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-mac%2Fmac-mini&subId1=subid_value","offerMerchant":"Apple","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-mini","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedid=zdnet&partnerpropertyid=1980086&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-mac%2Fmac-mini&subId1=subid_value"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"~Powerful ~Close to silent ~Excellent Apple build quality\" data-dislike=\"~Runs MacOS (although you can run Windows on it using virtualization) ~Limited upgrade options\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"fbcf7c40-812b-49b2-b8f7-1337da4ec796\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis is a tiny mini PC that is a cube measuring 72 x 72 x 44.5mm, weighing only 206g. Inside the cube is a 4-core Intel N5105 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128HB M.2 SSD running Windows 10 Pro.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite the tiny size, this mini PC features a handful of USB ports, two HDMI ports, an audio jack, and an Ethernet port. This system has no problems running two 4K@60FPS displays for maximum productivity.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd yet given the power, this system is quiet and very energy efficient (using only 10W), making it a great choice for someone who wants a PC for the home, office, or meeting room, or even to drive digital signage.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReviewers of this system comment on the performance and overall value of the system, and it's an outstanding system for the price.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGMKtec Mini PC tech specs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E 11th Generation Intel N5105 | Intel UHD Graphics | 8GB DDR4 RAM | 128GB M.2 NVMe SSD | 3x USB 3.2 type A, USB-C, 2x HDMI, Ethernet, TF\u002FmicroSD slot, audio jack | Windows 11 Pro\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"GMKtec Mini PC\" data-superlative=\"Best mini PC for those who want a truly mini PC\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"zdnet-image-instructions","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Amazon\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"d9c8c53b-27c1-48f4-b2c7-d8457bd099ca","title":"gmktec-mini-pc","filename":"gmktec-mini-pc.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F08\u002F21\u002Fd9c8c53b-27c1-48f4-b2c7-d8457bd099ca\u002Fgmktec-mini-pc.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":56667,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-08-21 17:50:59","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-08-21 17:51:05","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Amazon\u002FZDNET","alt":"gmktec-mini-pc","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"d9c8c53b-27c1-48f4-b2c7-d8457bd099ca","imageAltText":"zdnet-image-instructions","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Amazon\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"gmktec-mini-pc.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F08\u002F21","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Amazon\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGMKtec-Nucbox5-Desktop-Computer-Windows\u002Fdp\u002FB0B75PT2RY?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGMKtec-Nucbox5-Desktop-Computer-Windows\u002Fdp\u002FB0B75PT2RY","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGMKtec-Nucbox5-Desktop-Computer-Windows\u002Fdp\u002FB0B75PT2RY?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"~Tiny ~Powerful enough to drive two 4K displays\" data-dislike=\"~Not fanless, so may become a little noisy when pushed with heavy workloads\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"49f53d39-1f54-40fc-9b80-19ea978fa6e3\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe price of this system makes it a perfect choice for those who want a cheap yet powerful mini PC -- as long as you're not running AAA-title games or other heavy workloads, this system has you covered.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe only con to this system is that it runs the older 12th-gen Intel silicon, but for $160, this is still a system that both holds its own and won't break the bank.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReviews of this system are strongly positive, with owners praising the power and performance of the system, and how quiet it is in day-to-day use.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBeelink S12 Mini PC tech specs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E 12th Generation Intel N100 | Intel UHD Graphics | 16GB DDR4 RAM | 500GB SSD | 4x USB 3.2 type A, 2x HDMI, Ethernet, audio jack | Windows 11\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Beelink S12 Pro Mini PC\" data-superlative=\"Best budget mini PC\" 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PC","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"5a1a2f6c-bc32-49a9-931a-eb74d65cb8a0","imageAltText":"zdnet-image-instructions","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Amazon\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"2025-03-22-11-17-38.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F22","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":900,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Amazon\u002FZDNET\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"8cb89b0d-74b6-44c8-bef3-bdd0ae567d10","slug":"beelink-mini-pc-mini-s12-pro-intel-12th-gen-4-core-n100-up-to-3-4ghz-mini-computer-16gb-ddr4-ram-500gb-ssd-desktop-pc-dual","name":"Beelink Mini PC, Mini S12 Pro Intel 12th Gen 4-Core N100(up to 3.4GHz), Mini Computer 16GB DDR4 RAM 500GB SSD, Desktop PC Dual HDMI 4K UHD\u002FGigabit Ethernet\u002FWiFi6\u002FBT5.2\u002FHTPC","productType":"SERIES","updateType":"AUTOPID","mod":1742646638424,"displayDate":"Sat Mar 22 2025 08:30:38 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FBeelink-SEI10-i3-10110U-Computer-Performance\u002Fdp\u002FB08XBVXNFP?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FBeelink-SEI10-i3-10110U-Computer-Performance\u002Fdp\u002FB08XBVXNFP","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FBeelink-SEI10-i3-10110U-Computer-Performance\u002Fdp\u002FB08XBVXNFP?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"~Solid little PC, perfect for office applications, video conferencing, browsing the web. ~ Effective heat dissipation without too much fan noise.\" data-dislike=\"~Older, 12th-generation processors\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"78c885fe-2858-4700-80df-904a0a8908f7\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis mini PC describes itself as a gaming system, and with good reason. The combination of AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX and AMD Radeon 680M GPU gives this system a lot of horsepower to tackle a variety of workloads, from work to games.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt also throws away the design rulebook. While most mini PCs are cube-like, this one is an upright tent shape. While that might seem like purely a design choice, it does in fact make opening up the system to carry out upgrades a snap as the side panel is held in place with magnets. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis system features a power dial on the top to switch it between silent mode, auto, and performance, depending on whether you want power or silence. It also includes a multitude of LED lights, which you might love or hate. If you love them, great, if not, there's an app that turns them off for you.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut the lights aside, this is the perfect mini PC for those looking for a gaming system but who don't want to have a huge box on their desk or beside their TV. There's no harder set of people to please than gamers, which is why it's quite reassuring to find strong reviews for this gaming mini PC.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAceMagician AMD Ryzen 9 Mini PC tech specs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EAMD Ryzen 9 6900HX | AMD Radeon 680M GPU | 32GB DDR4 RAM | 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD | 3x USB 3.2 type A, 2x HDMI, Ethernet, USB-C, audio jack | Windows 11 Pro\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"AceMagician AMD Ryzen 9 Mini PC\" data-superlative=\"Best mini PC for gamers\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"placeholder-product-image-for-best-lists.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Amazon\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"300897c9-52de-47c7-9762-a2888eb4ebb6","title":"acemagician-mini-pc","filename":"ace-magician-mini-pc.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F08\u002F21\u002F300897c9-52de-47c7-9762-a2888eb4ebb6\u002Face-magician-mini-pc.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":75137,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-08-21 17:55:47","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-08-21 17:55:55","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Amazon\u002FZDNET","alt":"ace-magician-mini-pc","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"300897c9-52de-47c7-9762-a2888eb4ebb6","imageAltText":"placeholder-product-image-for-best-lists.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Amazon\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"ace-magician-mini-pc.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F08\u002F21","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Amazon\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FACEMAGICIAN-Mini-Gaming-Ryzen-6900HX\u002Fdp\u002FB0D3KWGKRD?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FACEMAGICIAN-Mini-Gaming-Ryzen-6900HX\u002Fdp\u002FB0D3KWGKRD","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FACEMAGICIAN-Mini-Gaming-Ryzen-6900HX\u002Fdp\u002FB0D3KWGKRD?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"~A mini PC that legitimately describes itself as a gaming system ~Powerful AMD processor and GPU ~Convenient dial for switching between power modes\" data-dislike=\"~Different shape ~LED lights might be annoying\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"96297580-6e29-4029-a0fb-1928f7271e62\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ENot something that people immediately think of as a mini PC, but the new 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 certainly has the horsepower to handle some quite demanding workloads. Given the push that the Raspberry Pi Foundation has done in the direction of AI, it's the perfect starting point for a lot of AI projects.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut it doesn't end there, the Pi 5 is perfect as the basis for a NAS box, a PiHole router, home automation hub, and much more.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead the review: \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Ffinally-a-16gb-raspberry-pi-5-but-at-this-price-point-does-a-mini-pc-make-more-sense\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EFinally, a 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 - but does a mini PC make more sense at this price?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERaspberry Pi 5 16GB tech specs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EBroadcom BCM2712 2.4GHz quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 CPU | VideoCore VII GPU&nbsp;| LPDDR4X-4267 SDRAM&nbsp;| No built-in storage | 2× USB 3.0 ports, 2× USB 2.0 ports, and Gigabit Ethernet | Raspberry Pi OS\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Raspberry Pi 5 16GB\" data-superlative=\"Best mini PC for tinkerers\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"Raspberry Pi 5 16GB","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Raspberry Pi","imageData":{"id":"34be2e2e-3ad2-4266-b673-bf3584ccd58b","title":"Raspberry Pi 5 16GB","filename":"raspberry-pi-5-16gb-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F01\u002F09\u002F34be2e2e-3ad2-4266-b673-bf3584ccd58b\u002Fraspberry-pi-5-16gb-2.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":349606,"width":1600,"height":899,"dateCreated":{"date":"2025-01-09 16:55:00","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2025-01-09 16:55:18","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Raspberry Pi","alt":"Raspberry Pi 5 16GB","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"34be2e2e-3ad2-4266-b673-bf3584ccd58b","imageAltText":"Raspberry Pi 5 16GB","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Raspberry Pi","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"raspberry-pi-5-16gb-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F01\u002F09","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":899,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Raspberry Pi\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Raspberry Pi","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.raspberrypi.com\u002Fproducts\u002Fraspberry-pi-5\u002F","url":""},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FCanaKit-Raspberry-Starter-Kit-PRO\u002Fdp\u002FB0CRSNCJ6Y\u002F?th=1","url":""}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"8e068ed3-abb4-472a-a2c2-1ca8604bcf1d\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Ctable\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMini PC\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrice\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProcessor\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGPU\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERAM\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStorage\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOperating system\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$859 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel Core i7-1360P \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel Iris Xe Graphics 96EU&nbsp; \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E32GB DDR4&nbsp; \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E2TB M.2 NVMe SSD \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 11 Pro \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple 2024 Mac Mini \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$549\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple Silicon M4 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple Silicon M4 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E16GB DDR4 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E256GB SSD \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMacOS 15 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGMKtec Mini PC \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$130\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel N5105&nbsp; \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel UHD Graphics \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E8GB DDR4 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E128GB M.2 NVMe SSD \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 11 Pro \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeelink S12 Pro Mini PC \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$149\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel N100 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel UHD Graphics&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E16GB DDR4 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E500GB M.2 NVMe SSD \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 11 Pro \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAceMagician AMD Ryzen 9 Mini PC \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$549\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAMD Ryzen 9 6900HX&nbsp; \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAMD Radeon 680M \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E32GB DDR4 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E1TB SSD \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 11&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERaspberry Pi 5 16GB\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$120\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBroadcom BCM2712&nbsp; \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVideoCore VII GPU \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E16GB LPDDR4X-4267 SDRAM\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENo built in storage\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERaspberry Pi OS\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003C\u002Ftbody\u003E\u003C\u002Ftable\u003E\" data-hed=\"What is the best mini PC?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"65474b26-90c2-4eee-bda5-a005bcbe6f10\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Ctable\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChoose this mini PC…\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you want…\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA general-purpose mini PC. The Intel NUC PCs continue to be the best all-around mini PCs on the market. Yes, there are better, faster, cheaper systems out there, but these systems have continually impressed me over the years. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple 2024 Mac Mini \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo go with MacOS. The Mac Mini used to be the way that Windows PC users would start to make the transition over to Mac. Nowadays, they are all-purpose desktop computers that are perfect for anyone who doesn't want a portable system, from students to developers. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGMKtec Mini PC \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA truly tiny PC. This is one of the smallest systems I've seen, but it packs quite a punch, hitting well above its size and weight. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeelink S12 Pro Mini PC \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA great budget mini PC. Cheap and cheerful, yet packing enough power to be a perfectly capable PC for school, work, or for home entrainment.. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAceMagician AMD Ryzen 9 Mini PC \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA proper mini gaming PC. Here you have a full gaming PC packed into a tiny footprint. Sure, there are going to be desktop systems that are way more powerful than this system, but for the size, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything faster. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERaspberry Pi 5 16GB\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA computer that will form the basis of a project. Maybe you want to build a NAS system, a home automation project, or a weather station, then this platform will be an excellent starting point.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003C\u002Ftbody\u003E\u003C\u002Ftable\u003E\u003Cp\u003E&nbsp; \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Which is the right mini PC for you?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a6b61a7d-64b5-4cc4-bf4a-8cfbff854ee8\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIn many ways, choosing a mini PC is much like a regular PC. There are all the usual performance, price, and support for all your peripherals to keep in mind. But if you are after a mini PC, then the mini part does come into play, so there is a size issue to bear in mind. The good news is that mini PCs come in a range of sizes, from systems that can fit in the palm of your hand to systems so small you could fit several of them in the palm of your hand.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDo you need a mini PC? \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EThis is the top question when choosing a mini PC. Do you actually need one, or do you just need a regular PC?\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESize\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: This really is the differentiator when it comes to mini PCs. Do you want a PC that's the size of a biscuit tin, or something significantly smaller?\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPerformance\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: Pretty standard PC consideration here. What do you want your system to do? Do you want to carry out general PC tasks like word processing and spreadsheets and browsing the web, or do you have more specialist needs in mind, such as gaming?\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBudget\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: Small doesn't always mean cheap, but you can save money by choosing a mini PC that suits your needs.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPorts\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: Most mini PCs come with a decent array of ports, but if you need something like two Ethernet ports or a bunch of USB ports, you need to ensure you're getting the right mini PC for you.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\" data-hed=\"Factors to consider when choosing a mini PC\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"023f67f2-1e4e-4603-921c-efe3f9fdd0e9\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThere are a lot of mini PCs on the market from a variety of different vendors, and I've tested and used mini PCs from all the vendors listed here, I've based my selections on my experience using these brands, as well as current model user reviews.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProduct specs and price also come into play, but being able to draw on dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of other people's views allows me to get a broad sense of how well-received a selected mini PC is. I've paid particular attention to reports of performance, stability, how quiet or noisy the PC is, and weeded out many that seemed to have a poor lifespan.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat we're left with is the best of the best, in a broad selection of categories that are applicable to mini PCs.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How did we choose these mini PCs?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFAQs on mini PCs\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"e338db83-da68-4ce6-9398-b4683b088f84\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EA mini PC is a compact yet fully functional computer that offers many, if not all of, the capabilities of a desktop PC, but is packaged into a smaller form factor. Mini PCs are designed to save space and can be used for a variety of tasks, from basic computing to more demanding applications such as programming or even gaming.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"What is a mini PC?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"d19732e9-2115-46ee-bd0c-8d50d410ef31\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EPeople often choose to invest in a mini PC for these reasons:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESpace-saving:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;The top benefit of going for a mini PC is that it takes up significantly less space than traditional desktop PCs.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPortable\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Mini PCs are lightweight and easy to move, making them ideal for users who need computing power on the go.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEnergy efficiency:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Most mini PCs consume significantly less power than a similarly-specced desktop system, which can lead to cost savings on electricity.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQuiet:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Some models are fanless, resulting in quieter operation, and even those that still have a fan are far quieter than a standard desktop system.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\" data-hed=\"What are the advantages of using a mini PC?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"cdb4d865-c9ed-437a-969c-f41b27684f88\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIt depends on the model. Some mini PCs allow for upgrades -- sometimes very easy upgrades -- to components like RAM and storage, while others have fixed configurations.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn the whole however, like laptops, mini PCs are better aimed at those situations where you buy the PC with the spec that you need rather than relying on an upgrade down the line.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Are mini PCs upgradeable?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EOther mini PCs worth considering\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"bebb6e56-1846-4cb7-a634-5fd147011fcf\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ENot just a mini PC, this is a mini PC stick. This system is designed to connect directly to a display and offers the most portable PC experience you can get, making it perfect for scenarios like conference rooms and offices, and even setting up specialist IoT setups.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"MeLE PCG02 Mini PC Stick\" data-superlative=\"Best mini PC stick\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"zdnet-image-instructions","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"MeLE","imageData":{"id":"f4aec8bc-acfe-4f8d-8940-a128e1c135f1","title":"MeLE PCG02 Mini PC Stick","filename":"mele-pcg02-mini-pc-stick.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F08\u002F20\u002Ff4aec8bc-acfe-4f8d-8940-a128e1c135f1\u002Fmele-pcg02-mini-pc-stick.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":262647,"width":1600,"height":900,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-08-20 19:06:38","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-08-20 19:06:53","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"MeLE","alt":"MeLE PCG02 Mini PC Stick","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"f4aec8bc-acfe-4f8d-8940-a128e1c135f1","imageAltText":"zdnet-image-instructions","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"MeLE","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"mele-pcg02-mini-pc-stick.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F08\u002F20","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":900,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"MeLE\" data-linktext=\"Best compact alternative\" data-linkurl=\"Design: Mini Listicle\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0C3CHF1RV?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0C3CHF1RV","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0C3CHF1RV?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2050571\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-03 01:25:56",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Having a powerful PC doesn't mean you have to have a full-size tower. We tested the best mini PCs from Apple, Intel, and more.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"0757cceb-0d2e-41e2-90db-20704d44baa8",image:{id:"14130694-de77-4f5d-876e-45f786959e6f",filename:"mac-mini-m4-pro-8.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2024-11-04 18:55:15",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Mac Mini M4 Pro",credits:"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F11\u002F04\u002F14130694-de77-4f5d-876e-45f786959e6f\u002Fmac-mini-m4-pro-8.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2048,height:1152,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"best-list",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"The best mini PCs you can buy",section:c,slug:"best-mini-pc",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"The best mini PCs of 2025: Expert recommended from Apple, Intel, and more",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"20ba7b16-3cb9-434f-ab92-be1ae59d088e\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Samsung\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"samsung-t5-evo-black-friday\" data-image-filename=\"samsung-t5.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F20\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you've been looking for a new digital storage option, Samsung has a deal on the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"fbe0aad4-560b-4918-aea1-8bf6c34724a2\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.samsung.com\u002Fus\u002Fcomputing\u002Fmemory-storage\u002Fportable-solid-state-drives\u002Fportable-ssd-t5-evo-usb-3-2-4tb-black-mu-ph4t0s-am\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.samsung.com%2Fus%2Fcomputing%2Fmemory-storage%2Fportable-solid-state-drives%2Fportable-ssd-t5-evo-usb-3-2-8tb-black-mu-ph8t0s-am%2F&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"4TB Samsung T5 Evo\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E portable SSD for just $230, plus get a 256GB Sonic the Hedgehog microSDXC card for free. With that much storage, the device is perfect for large digital game libraries, raw video and photo files, raw and rendered digital art, and other important programs and documents you may need to take on the go. And you won't want to wait to take advantage of this deal, the T5 is a popular SSD and stock never lasts long.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-m2-ssd\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best M.2 SSDs you can buy\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"710ffd8f-b930-4dfd-913a-0f9bd7bf289e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Samsung T5 Evo 8TB for $230 plus free 256GB microSDXC (save $120 at Samsung)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"86d9d0b1-7604-4b4e-a6b9-cb00cd4d5f5b","filename":"samsung-t5-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F20\u002F86d9d0b1-7604-4b4e-a6b9-cb00cd4d5f5b\u002Fsamsung-t5-2.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-20 19:17:54","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"86d9d0b1-7604-4b4e-a6b9-cb00cd4d5f5b","imageFilename":"samsung-t5-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F20"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.samsung.com\u002Fus\u002Fcomputing\u002Fmemory-storage\u002Fportable-solid-state-drives\u002Fportable-ssd-t5-evo-usb-3-2-4tb-black-mu-ph4t0s-am\u002F\" data-offerprice=\"230\" data-offerpricerange=\"5\" data-offerpricetext=\"BOGO offer\" data-offermerchant=\"Samsung\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.samsung.com\u002Fus\u002Fcomputing\u002Fmemory-storage\u002Fportable-solid-state-drives\u002Fportable-ssd-t5-evo-usb-3-2-8tb-black-mu-ph8t0s-am\u002F&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith an impressive amount of storage space, you'll get read and write speeds of up to 460 MB\u002Fs each, letting you transfer large files more quickly than a traditional hard disk drive. With support for USB 3.2, you'll get more reliable data transfers, which means you won't have to worry about possible data corruption due to interruptions. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong with great read and write speeds and more reliable data transfers, the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"fc55575c-ecc5-43d5-871a-d6ce13fc27de\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.samsung.com\u002Fus\u002Fcomputing\u002Fmemory-storage\u002Fportable-solid-state-drives\u002Fportable-ssd-t5-evo-usb-3-2-4tb-black-mu-ph4t0s-am\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.samsung.com%2Fus%2Fcomputing%2Fmemory-storage%2Fportable-solid-state-drives%2Fportable-ssd-t5-evo-usb-3-2-8tb-black-mu-ph8t0s-am%2F&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung T5 Evo\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E features 256-bit AES encryption to keep personal data and sensitive information safe from unauthorized access. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fssd-vs-hdd-whats-the-difference-and-which-should-you-buy\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESSD vs. HDD: What's the difference, and which should you buy?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe drive's outer casing is drop- and shock-resistant and can withstand falls up to six feet, making it perfect for on-location photographers and other mobile professionals who need a tough storage drive for offloading raw photos from camera storage or transferring important projects and documents between their home office and mobile work location.   \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003EZDNET Recommends\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow I rated this deal \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI give the Samsung SSD deal a 5\u002F5 Editor's deal rating not because it's the lowest price I've seen on the 8TB version (it was almost 60% off around December 2024), but because it's excellent value for such a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-m2-ssd\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehigh-capacity SSD\u003C\u002Fa\u003E plus a microSDXC that's perfect for expanding storage on your Nintendo Switch\u002FSwitch 2.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"3f1e70db-625b-4dda-bd59-485712352f28\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWhile the Samsung T5 Evo portable SSD listing doesn't have a countdown timer, it is labeled a limited-time sale. That means that Samsung may have only approved a certain number of units that can be sold at this price, and the stock may not last.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"When will this deal expire?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"662c8a8f-6744-45fb-b928-f245c4a6c2c1\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWe aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor's deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members' expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhow-we-rate-deals-at-zdnet-in-2025\u002F"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow we rate deals at ZDNET in 2025\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How do we rate deals at ZDNET?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-02 18:57:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The Amazon Spring Sale is almost over, and if you haven't found any good deals on SSDs, you can save $120 on the 4TB Samsung T5 Evo, plus get a 256GB Sonic the Hedgehog microSDXC for free.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"86745563-ec29-48bb-a9e4-b32c6b484269",image:{id:"33305c14-66a9-4eb2-9569-d726c53b4cce",filename:"samsung-t5.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2025-03-20 19:18:38",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"samsung-t5-evo-black-friday",credits:"Samsung\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F20\u002F33305c14-66a9-4eb2-9569-d726c53b4cce\u002Fsamsung-t5.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1296,height:720,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"deals",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^Storage",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"samsung-t5-ssd-deal-04-02-2025",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Save $120 on the 4TB Samsung T5 and get a 256GB microSDXC card free",topic:{id:"11601750-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"storage",name:"Storage",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"11601750-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"storage",name:"Storage",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"116c1d92-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"tablets",name:"Tablets",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"91a4cdc7-83f0-4ac1-9561-628db15e2c76",slug:"smart-office",name:"Smart Office",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"926c7fe3-bac7-46e3-b421-bf633d90ee73",slug:"productivity",name:"Productivity",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"9841d7c0-1be2-42d4-963b-3d0c080290bc",slug:"tech",name:"Tech",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cp\u003EAs the adage goes in content creation, audiences can forgive sub-par writing and camera missteps, but \"\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.rockadove.co.uk\u002Fimportance-of-sound-in-video-production\u002F#:~:text=Your%20audience%20might%20forgive%20a,what%20they%20are%20talking%20about.\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethey won't forgive bad sound\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\" Whether you're an experienced or novice content creator (or just want higher-quality work calls), you need a high-quality streaming microphone--it immediately and substantially ups the production value and puts your work in a higher echelon of media. Fortunately, you no longer need to break the bank for studio-level recording equipment--many reputable brands offer budget-friendly devices. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-streaming-webcam\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWhat are the best webcams for streaming, and are 4K ones worth it?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeginners and smaller creators will want to stick with a USB-powered microphone, which are typically incredibly easy to use. Seasoned streamers and vloggers will want an XLR mic for higher-quality audio and high-end production. I've tested a series of microphones from both camps to help creators pick the perfect device for their needs. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhat is the best streaming microphone right now?\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBased on hands-on testing, I chose the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"ff118c54-c93e-4280-9fb6-50abeb5ded2a\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fshure-mv7-dynamic-cardioid-usb-microphone\u002F6439009.p?skuId=6439009\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Shure MV7\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E as my number one pick for the best streaming microphone because of its flexible USB and XLR connectivity, studio-quality output, and robust equalizer settings. Keep reading below to learn more about the Shure MV7 and my other picks for the best streaming microphones available.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe best streaming microphones of 2025\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"375c13a0-e378-4f0a-b8fa-a5cd06a8705e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fsmart-office\u002Fshure-mv7-review\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EShure MV7\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is a quality microphone for both live streaming and recording vocals, music, and interviews. It features a similar build to its big brother, the&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.shure.com\u002Fen-US\u002Fproducts\u002Fmicrophones\u002Fsm7b?variant=SM7B" target="_blank"\u003EShure SM7B,\u003C\u002Fa\u003E&nbsp;which is a popular choice for experienced content creators, but offers more flexibility and a gentler learning curve for beginners.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-twitch-streaming-software\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EYou can go live on Twitch with streaming software, but which is the best?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt connects to your PC via USB for both power and audio (which is ideal for beginners) or&nbsp; XLR cable for more advanced audio setups. This allows the microphone to adapt to your changing needs as your audience grows. When I tested the MV7, I was very impressed by the broadcast quality output and the plug-and-play compatibility with both Windows and macOS computers.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EShure MV7 features – Type:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EDynamic |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECapsule:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Single |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EConnectivity:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Micro USB Type-C, XLR, 3.5mm AUX |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPolar pattern:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Cardioid |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EFrequency response:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;50Hz – 16,000Hz |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDimensions:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;6.5 x 3.6 x 6 inches&nbsp;|&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EWeight:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;1.21 pounds |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERGB:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;No&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Shure MV7\" data-superlative=\"Best streaming microphone overall\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"shure-mv7","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"ZDNet","imageData":{"id":"f5985465-f8db-4568-9cec-c8bc4204f161","title":"shure-mv7","filename":"shure-mv7.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F22\u002Ff5985465-f8db-4568-9cec-c8bc4204f161\u002Fshure-mv7.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":108890,"width":1296,"height":729,"dateCreated":{"date":"2022-08-22 19:08:03","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2022-08-22 19:08:09","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"ZDNet","alt":"shure-mv7","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"f5985465-f8db-4568-9cec-c8bc4204f161","imageAltText":"shure-mv7","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"ZDNet","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"shure-mv7.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F08\u002F22","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":729,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"ZDNet\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"266f38c2-5b93-4730-a45c-712cf955c900","slug":"shure-mv7-plus-k-podcast-xlr-usb-microphone-bundle-with-gator-desktop-stand-black","name":"Shure MV7+-K Podcast XLR\u002FUSB Microphone Bundle with Gator Desktop Stand (Black)","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"AUTOPID","mod":1742586362101,"displayDate":"Fri Mar 21 2025 15:46:02 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0CTJ8BSWN?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0CTJ8BSWN?th=1","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0CTJ8BSWN?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"Windows and Mac compatibility ~ USB and XLR connections ~ Broadcast quality output\" data-dislike=\"Very heavy ~ XLR connection requires preamp and phantom power\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"75345fa2-c9fd-4243-affe-f140d6ca714f\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ESteelSeries tailor-made the Alias Pro XLR microphone for content creators. It comes packaged with an audio mixer base station that doubles as a preamp and phantom power, streamlining the setup for XLR newcomers and those recording audio in smaller spaces. What makes the Alias Pro stand out from other XLR options is its ability to connect to two PCs at once, making it an excellent choice for established creators running dual PC streaming rigs.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe base station connects to your streaming PC and gaming PC via USB-C while the Sonar desktop app provides in-depth equalizing and live-mixing tools. Creators can separate individual programs into different mixer presets for unprecedented control over your input and stream output. The main dial and right mute buttons on the base station can also be programmed to control the volume on different peripherals and programs.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESteelSeries Alias Pro features - Type:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003ECondenser |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECapsule:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;1-inch Clear Cast |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EConnectivity:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EXLR, 3.5mm AUX |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPolar pattern:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Cardioid |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EFrequency response:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;50Hz - 20KHz |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDimensions:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;4.3 x 501 x 9 inches |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EWeight:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;169.5g without stand&nbsp;|&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERGB:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Yes, base station only&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"SteelSeries Alias Pro\" data-superlative=\"Best streaming microphone for dual streaming rigs\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"Close-up of a SteelSeries Alias Pro XLR microphone and base station","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"c6d2f2f8-4445-42d7-8a8c-d5801ef6f892","title":"steelseries-alias-pro","filename":"steelseries-alias-pro.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F01\u002F31\u002Fc6d2f2f8-4445-42d7-8a8c-d5801ef6f892\u002Fsteelseries-alias-pro.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":440600,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-01-31 20:41:11","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-01-31 20:41:34","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET","alt":"Close-up of a SteelSeries Alias Pro XLR microphone and base station","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"c6d2f2f8-4445-42d7-8a8c-d5801ef6f892","imageAltText":"Close-up of a SteelSeries Alias Pro XLR microphone and base station","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"steelseries-alias-pro.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F01\u002F31","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Alias-Pro-Kit-Podcasting\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBNVCCPJ?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Alias-Pro-Kit-Podcasting\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBNVCCPJ","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Alias-Pro-Kit-Podcasting\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBNVCCPJ?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fsteelseries-alias-pro-xlr-microphone%2F6555807.p%3FskuId%3D6555807&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value","offerMerchant":"Best Buy","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fsteelseries-alias-pro-xlr-microphone\u002F6555807.p?skuId=6555807","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fsteelseries-alias-pro-xlr-microphone%2F6555807.p%3FskuId%3D6555807&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"Preamp\u002Fphantom power unit included ~ Packaged with XLR cable ~ Excellent audio output quality\" data-dislike=\"Expensive ~ Sonar app has a bit of a learning curve\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"521b4133-6a8e-47cd-9b1b-e189a920904c\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fhyperx-quadcast-s-review\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EHyperX QuadCast S\u003C\u002Fa\u003E has been my go-to microphone for about 2 years. While it mostly gets used for Slack and Zoom, the QuadCast S can easily switch between work and play. The microphone body features two dials: one for gain adjustment and the other for switching the polar pattern. One feature I really appreciate is that the polar pattern only changes if the HyperX Ngenuity app is open and running, meaning you won't accidentally switch in the middle of a presentation (and my cats can't mess with it while trying to climb the boom arm).&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe HyperX QuadCast S comes with a fairly lightweight desk stand that gives you tons of placement options, as well as an adapter for use on a boom arm (which I prefer, as it helps eliminate thumps and bumps from typing or taking notes during meetings). The QuadCast S has a pop filter built in as well, meaning you won't have to spend extra money or time getting another accessory for better-quality audio. Plus, with its dynamic RGB lighting, you can show off your personal style or match your company's branding.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHyperX QuadCast S features - Type:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003ECondenser |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECapsule:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;3x 14mm |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EConnectivity:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;USB-C, 3.5mm AUX&nbsp; |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPolar pattern:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Multidirectional |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EFrequency response:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;20Hz - 20KHz |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDimensions:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;9.8 x 5.1 x 4 inches |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EWeight:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;.56 pounds |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERGB:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Yes &nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"HyperX QuadCast S\" data-superlative=\"Best USB microphone for streaming\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"untitled-2.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet","imageData":{"id":"200c49d7-4d6f-4111-88ce-ec5f5a5b02d0","title":"untitled-2","filename":"untitled-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F04\u002F12\u002F200c49d7-4d6f-4111-88ce-ec5f5a5b02d0\u002Funtitled-2.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":347845,"width":1600,"height":933,"dateCreated":{"date":"2022-04-12 19:43:01","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2022-04-12 19:43:06","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet","alt":"untitled-2.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"200c49d7-4d6f-4111-88ce-ec5f5a5b02d0","imageAltText":"untitled-2.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"untitled-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F04\u002F12","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":933,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"f229d943-6fb1-43d5-993b-1bda6de91105","slug":"hyperx-quadcast-s-rgb-usb-condenser-microphone-for-pc-ps4-ps5-and-mac-anti-vibration-shock-mount-4-polar-patterns-pop","name":"HyperX QuadCast S – RGB USB Condenser Microphone for PC, PS4, PS5 and Mac, Anti-Vibration Shock Mount, 4 Polar Patterns, Pop Filter, Gain Control, Gaming, Streaming, Podcasts, Twitch, YouTube, Discord","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1742586362232,"displayDate":"Fri Mar 21 2025 15:46:02 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHyperX-QuadCast-Condenser-Microphone-Anti-Vibration\u002Fdp\u002FB08G8WH435?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHyperX-QuadCast-Condenser-Microphone-Anti-Vibration\u002Fdp\u002FB08G8WH435","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHyperX-QuadCast-Condenser-Microphone-Anti-Vibration\u002Fdp\u002FB08G8WH435?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"Great for work and gaming ~ Works with stand and boom arm ~ Simplified controls ~ Built-in pop filter\" data-dislike=\"RGB lighting can be distracting in shared environments ~ Very large ~ Shock mount feels a bit cheap\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"b11d2020-e90e-4b4b-9d69-da72f74aef18\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIf you're looking for a microphone that offers great audio output and costs less than $100, the Blue Snowball Ice is an excellent option. Its compact design is ideal for smaller desks and recording spaces, and the adjustable tripod stand lets you set the perfect height for interviews or monologues. &nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Blue Snowball Ice connects to your computer via USB and has plug-and-play compatibility for both Windows and macOS devices. The mic is also Discord and Skype certified for compatibility, meaning you won't end up tearing your hair out trying to talk to friends and colleagues.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBlue Snowball Ice features - Type:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003ECondenser |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECapsule:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Single&nbsp;|&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EConnectivity:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;USB Type-A |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPolar pattern:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Cardioid |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EFrequency response:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;40Hz - 18KHz |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDimensions:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;4-inch sphere |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EWeight:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;1.01 pounds |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERGB:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;No&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Blue Snowball Ice\" data-superlative=\"Best budget microphone for streaming\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"zdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"a06d8923-4b42-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57","title":"zdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","filename":"zdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2014\u002F10\u002F03\u002Fa06d8923-4b42-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\u002Fzdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","caption":null,"size":37799,"width":460,"height":345,"author":null,"dateCreated":{"date":"2014-10-03 21:17:06","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2014-10-03 21:17:06","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"zdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"a06d8923-4b42-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57","imageAltText":"zdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"zdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2014\u002F10\u002F03","imageWidth":460,"imageHeight":345,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLogitech-Microphone-Streaming-Podcasting-Play-Black\u002Fdp\u002FB006DIA77E\u002F?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLogitech-Microphone-Streaming-Podcasting-Play-Black\u002Fdp\u002FB006DIA77E\u002F","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLogitech-Microphone-Streaming-Podcasting-Play-Black\u002Fdp\u002FB006DIA77E\u002F?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"Under $100 ~ Adjustable tripod stand ~ Compact design\" data-dislike=\"No mute indicator LED ~ Not compatible with boom arm mounting\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"2f6a6ed5-e129-479b-9fb2-7d227aa6dfcd\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmy-go-to-microphone-for-podcasting-and-streaming-over-the-past-decade\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EBlue Yeti\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is one of, if not the most popular microphones for streamers and content creators -- for great reason. The Blue Yeti gives you multiple polar patterns, studio quality output, live headphone monitoring, and plug-and-play compatibility with both Windows and macOS computers for a reasonable price.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt comes with a desk stand but is also compatible with boom arm setups, as long as you get a 5\u002F8-inch threaded adapter. Blue also offers the Yeti in three different colors (silver, black, and blue) to let you show off your style or blend into your studio aesthetic. It is a very large and heavy microphone though, so no matter how you set it up, you'll need a bit more space than you think.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBlue Yeti features - Type:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003ECondenser |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECapsule:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;3x half-inch |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EConnectivity:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;USB, 3.5mm AUX |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPolar pattern:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Multidirectional |\u003Cstrong\u003E&nbsp;Frequency response:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;20Hz - 20KHz |\u003Cstrong\u003E&nbsp;Dimensions:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;4.72 x 4.92 x 11.61 inches |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EWeight:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;1.2 pounds without stand |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERGB:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;No&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Blue Yeti\" data-superlative=\"Best multi-pattern microphone for streaming\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"A silver Blue Yeti microphone next to an open Apple MacBook","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Allison Murray\u002FBlue Microphones\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"3f103c85-cb9c-443d-b4ab-ce38aec7dfb0","title":"Blue Yeti","filename":"img-4635.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F01\u002F31\u002F3f103c85-cb9c-443d-b4ab-ce38aec7dfb0\u002Fimg-4635.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":322673,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-01-31 19:36:38","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-01-31 19:37:11","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Allison Murray\u002FBlue Microphones\u002FZDNET","alt":"A silver Blue Yeti microphone next to an open Apple MacBook","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"3f103c85-cb9c-443d-b4ab-ce38aec7dfb0","imageAltText":"A silver Blue Yeti microphone next to an open Apple MacBook","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Allison Murray\u002FBlue Microphones\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"img-4635.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F01\u002F31","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Allison Murray\u002FBlue Microphones\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Flogitech-blue-yeti-professional-multi-pattern-usb-condenser-gaming-microphone-with-exclusive-streamlabs-themes%2F6511342.p&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value","offerMerchant":"Best Buy","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Flogitech-blue-yeti-professional-multi-pattern-usb-condenser-gaming-microphone-with-exclusive-streamlabs-themes\u002F6511342.p","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Flogitech-blue-yeti-professional-multi-pattern-usb-condenser-gaming-microphone-with-exclusive-streamlabs-themes%2F6511342.p&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"High quality audio output ~ Popular with established creators ~ Multiple polar patterns ~ Stand and boom arm compatibility\" data-dislike=\"Very large and heavy ~ Boom mounting requires adapter ~ Very basic EQ settings\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"99fd82b0-7a7b-4c1c-9be6-26846acba857\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EMy pick for the best streaming microphone is the Shure MV7. Along with broadcast-quality audio, it works with both USB and XLR connections for flexible setup options. It also allows the microphone to adapt to your needs as your audience grows. It also uses a capacitive touch button for muting, reducing harsh "thumps" from traditional inputs. And with the Shure Motive desktop app, you can customize your settings to refine your sound.&nbsp; \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ctable data-title="6x4 Table"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBest mic for streaming\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrice\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConnection\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPattern\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShure MV7 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$299\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUSB\u002FXLR \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMultidirectional \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESteelSeries Alias Pro \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$280\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXLR \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnidirectional cardioid \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHyperX QuadCast S \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$120\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUSB \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMultidirectional \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBlue Snowball Ice \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$60\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUSB \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnidirectional cardioid \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBlue Yeti \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$100\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUSB \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMultidirectional \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003C\u002Ftbody\u003E\u003C\u002Ftable\u003E\u003Cp\u003E*Lowest, non-discounted price at the time of writing. Please note that actual prices may vary depending on available sales, deals, discounts, and coupons.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"What's the best streaming mic?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"571d44ad-1f55-4605-a5f5-09aea98b81dc\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThat mostly depends on your skill level. If you're just starting out or don't have a ton of experience with streaming and recording, you'll want a USB mic with plug-and-play connectivity. If you're an old pro, an XLR mic with fancy preamps, phantom power units, and mixing boards will be more your speed. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ctable data-title="6x2 Table"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuy this best mic for streaming...\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you need...\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShure MV7 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA well-rounded, high-quality microphone for content creation. The Shure MV7 connects via either USB or XLR for flexible use options. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESteelSeries Alias Pro \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA professional quality XLR microphone. The Alias Pro comes packaged with an audio mixer module that doubles as a preamp and phantom power for a streamlined setup. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHyperX QuadCast S \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA USB-connected microphone for streaming. The HyperX QuadCast S features multiple pickup patterns and RGB lighting. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBlue Snowball Ice \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA budget-friendly streaming microphone. The Blue Snowball Ice retails for about $50, letting you save big while still providing quality audio output. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBlue Yeti \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA multidirectional microphone for interviews and podcasts. You can change the pickup pattern on-the-fly for producing different content types. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003C\u002Ftbody\u003E\u003C\u002Ftable\u003E\" data-hed=\"Which streaming mic is right for you?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"d8cb602c-0211-4ba2-99f5-9892c8c5d8e7\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWhile researching and testing each microphone on this list, I and other ZDNET experts kept these criteria in mind:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConnectivity:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EUSB-powered microphones are the simplest to use, and the most affordable, making them perfect for beginners and smaller creators. XLR models require more experience and knowledge, making them more suited to experienced streamers and podcasters.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPickup patterns:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EModern content creators need to be able to produce many different types of videos and audio samples. Some streaming microphone models allow you to change pickup patterns on-the-fly to quickly and easily set up for new media like interviews or single-person long plays.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrice:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EStreaming mics don't have to cost a fortune. Beginners and smaller creators can get high quality sound from just about any USB-powered microphone without spending a mountain of cash. More experienced creators may want to invest in more expensive equipment to keep up with channel growth or changing production needs.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\" data-hed=\"How did we choose these streaming mics?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFAQs on streaming mics\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a37f7e32-cff0-45bf-826b-852c292fa197\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EYou absolutely could, and there are headsets out there with really good microphones (like the \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHyperX-Cloud-Alpha-Adjustable-Leatherette\u002Fdp\u002FB07X6HDSDY\u002F?tag-zdnet-deals-20"\u003EHyperX Cloud Alpha S\u003C\u002Fa\u003E). The downside is that even the best headsets still won't give you the level of audio quality and control that a dedicated microphone will.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Can you just use a headset?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a390faed-251c-4404-8930-960cbb6ed753\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThey are two different connection types, with USB being the most affordable and easiest to use. It works like any other wired USB peripheral. An XLR microphone has a special 3 to 7 pin connector that plugs into a power source or preamp module in order to be functional. Microphones with XLR connections are more commonly found in professional recording studios and radio stations, though there are plenty of models out there available to regular shoppers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"What's the difference between USB and XLR?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"8fe46435-1cd5-4016-a63d-59ff50e09954\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ENot at all! The beauty of a USB microphone is that it will use a single cable for both power and data transmission. Not only does this take up considerably less space than an XLR system, it also allows you to plug-and-play with any compatible device. This means you don't have to lug around a ton of equipment to set up collaboration projects or on-site interviews.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Do USB mics need a pre-amp or phantom power? \" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"01eccfb8-753a-40e3-8bfa-982cbff3f7ce\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003E&nbsp; A lot of modern microphones, both USB and XLR alike, have some sort of noise reduction algorithm they work with to help get rid of background noise. This usually works best for eliminating white noise (that "hiss" you hear during dead air) and most other background sounds. However, no microphone will completely eliminate background noise on its own; you'll most likely have to poke around your stream settings to set up \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fobsproject.com\u002Fkb\u002Fnoise-gate-filter" target="_blank"\u003Enoise gates\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and compression modules to get closer to clean, studio quality output.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Is there a microphone that eliminates background noise?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EOther streaming mics worth considering\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"fe9ff2fa-c650-47d5-aa89-6b61482f5cf3\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe SteelSeries Alias USB is an excellent plug-and-play microphone for both beginner and experienced content creators. It uses a unidirectional pattern and 1-inch capsule for broadcast quality vocals perfect for podcasts, interviews, and gaming.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"SteelSeries Alias\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"Close-up of a SteelSeries Alias USB microphone mounted horizontally on a boom arm","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"11cabba9-1dd1-411e-81ab-d92ed8e6e538","title":"steelseries-alias","filename":"steelseries-alias.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F01\u002F31\u002F11cabba9-1dd1-411e-81ab-d92ed8e6e538\u002Fsteelseries-alias.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":436606,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-01-31 20:15:01","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-01-31 20:15:31","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET","alt":"Close-up of a SteelSeries Alias USB microphone mounted horizontally on a boom arm","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"11cabba9-1dd1-411e-81ab-d92ed8e6e538","imageAltText":"Close-up of a SteelSeries Alias USB microphone mounted horizontally on a boom arm","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"steelseries-alias.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F01\u002F31","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET\" data-linktext=\"Pro sound, beginner price\" data-linkurl=\"Design: Mini Listicle\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"f4681fd0-aa2d-46e5-a23b-9403613ed94b","slug":"steelseries-alias-usb-microphone","name":"SteelSeries - Alias USB Microphone","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1742586366294,"displayDate":"Fri Mar 21 2025 15:46:06 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Alias-USB-Mic-Podcasting\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBNTXNWV?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Alias-USB-Mic-Podcasting\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBNTXNWV","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Alias-USB-Mic-Podcasting\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBNTXNWV?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a7b870a5-20ba-45e0-a93f-a0e024ab2f8d\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe Sennheiser MKE 200 is a perfect choice for mobile content creators. It uses a 3.5mm AUX jack to connect to camera bodies, smartphones, and other devices for fast setup and quality audio just about anywhere.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Sennheiser MKE 200\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"The Sennheiser MKE 200 mounted to a camera, which is on a white background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Sennheiser","imageData":{"id":"734ce361-0730-4b37-9611-73151215264b","title":"sennheiser-mke-200","filename":"sennheiser-mke-200.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F10\u002F12\u002F734ce361-0730-4b37-9611-73151215264b\u002Fsennheiser-mke-200.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":95360,"width":1366,"height":768,"dateCreated":{"date":"2022-10-12 15:19:45","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2022-10-12 15:20:23","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Sennheiser","alt":"The Sennheiser MKE 200 mounted to a camera, which is on a white background","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"734ce361-0730-4b37-9611-73151215264b","imageAltText":"The Sennheiser MKE 200 mounted to a camera, which is on a white background","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Sennheiser","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"sennheiser-mke-200.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F10\u002F12","imageWidth":1366,"imageHeight":768,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Sennheiser\" data-linktext=\"Best mic for on-the-go\" data-linkurl=\"Design: Mini Listicle\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSennheiser-Pro-Audio-microphone-MKE200\u002Fdp\u002FB08C8Y5XDC?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSennheiser-Pro-Audio-microphone-MKE200\u002Fdp\u002FB08C8Y5XDC","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSennheiser-Pro-Audio-microphone-MKE200\u002Fdp\u002FB08C8Y5XDC?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-01 16:22:16",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Ensure your audio is crystal-clear with the top-rated streaming mics for gaming, social media content, podcasts, calls, and more.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"6b6469d4-678a-4055-a41b-69057240bace",image:{id:"f5985465-f8db-4568-9cec-c8bc4204f161",filename:"shure-mv7.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-22 19:08:03",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"shure-mv7",credits:"ZDNet",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F22\u002Ff5985465-f8db-4568-9cec-c8bc4204f161\u002Fshure-mv7.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1296,height:729,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"best-list",hubTopicPathString:"Home & Office^Home Entertainment^Streaming & Services",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"The best streaming mics: Expert tested",section:c,slug:"best-streaming-mic",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"The best streaming mics of 2025: Expert tested",topic:{id:"3fe5970c-6fc5-4541-8760-6b7d755293f7",slug:"streaming-services",name:"Streaming & Services",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"3fe5970c-6fc5-4541-8760-6b7d755293f7",slug:"streaming-services",name:"Streaming & Services",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"af36937c-c95c-4bf0-9c02-831f70ad9a0c",slug:"best-lists",name:"Best Lists",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f1f7db06-c6f9-4e80-8187-60ad48f035a1",slug:"zdnet-recommends",name:"ZDNET Recommends",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d}],componentLabel:b,description:b,filters:b,paging:b,slug:"dynamic-topic-listing-right-rail-basic-latest",title:"Latest",label:b,viewMoreText:b,viewMoreUrl:b,relatedItems:b},{id:"2ffa34dd-efe5-440b-bcdf-7eae560bba29",meta:{componentName:"2ffa34dd-efe5-440b-bcdf-7eae560bba29",componentDisplayName:b,componentType:"ContentList"},metadata:{},links:{self:{href:"https:\u002F\u002Fbender.cnetstatic.com\u002Fapi\u002Fneutron\u002Fcomponents\u002Fzdnet\u002Flisting\u002Fdynamic_listing\u002F2ffa34dd-efe5-440b-bcdf-7eae560bba29\u002Fweb?searchBy=id&topicSlug=pcs&componentType=ContentList&componentName=2ffa34dd-efe5-440b-bcdf-7eae560bba29"}},items:[{author:{id:"0765e4d4-53d3-4b04-878c-c0532f646fc4",username:"Sabrina Ortiz",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Sabrina",lastName:"Ortiz",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"74b6bbc3-0c60-4d1f-9b02-7ee0f003bf11",filename:"screenshot-2024-03-27-at-4-28-37pm.png",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2024-03-27 23:36:25",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F03\u002F27\u002F74b6bbc3-0c60-4d1f-9b02-7ee0f003bf11\u002Fscreenshot-2024-03-27-at-4-28-37pm.png",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Sabrina Ortiz is an editor for ZDNET based in New York City. She covers technology news for ZDNET, specializing in generative AI. Sabrina graduated with a B.A. in Media and Journalism and Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.",profile:b,title:"Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"a9473de2-a79c-4772-acea-1cee2cf9009d\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Sabrina Ortiz\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Copilot+PC\" data-image-filename=\"img-3311.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F05\u002F22\" data-image-width=\"4030\" data-image-height=\"2267\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-ai-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-artificial-intelligence\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eartificial intelligence\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (AI) boom is transforming industries and reshaping work. Now, it's setting its sights on a long-overlooked tool: your work laptop.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe reach and capabilities of AI models go far beyond what people have seen from tinkering around with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-chatgpt-how-the-worlds-most-popular-ai-chatbot-can-benefit-you\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EChatGPT\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, which, although a great tool for \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002F5-ways-chatgpt-can-help-you-write-essays\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eproofreading\u003C\u002Fa\u003E or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-use-chatgpt-to-write-code-and-my-favorite-trick-to-debug-what-it-generates\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Edebugging code,\u003C\u002Fa\u003E only gives a brief glimpse into what large language models (LLMs), the technology powering tools like the chatbot, can do. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-an-ai-pc-exactly-and-should-you-buy-one-in-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWhat is an AI PC exactly? And should you buy one in 2025?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor instance, HCLTech, a consulting firm, worked with one of the largest end-to-end healthcare providers in the US to help implement a user-friendly, compliant AI clinical advisor. The clinical advisor, trained using one of the world's largest clinical libraries, allows medical professionals to conversationally ask for the information they need to consult without spending time digging for it. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Alan Flower, EVP and head of AI & Cloud Native Labs at HCLTech, running the models locally on the device was key to effectively implementing this model.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fnvidia-dominates-in-gen-ai-benchmarks-clobbering-2-rival-ai-chips\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENvidia dominates in gen AI benchmarks, clobbering 2 rival AI chips\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"By using the clinician's laptop, it frees up clinician time whilst also ensuring the privacy and security of the patient's information,\" said Flower. \"It has that secondary advantage -- it reduces the cost to run the solution since we're not consuming expensive cloud tokens when we can use the neural processing unit on an AI PC, effectively, for free.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFlower said that since implementing the AI clinical advisor, within a typical 20-minute consultation with a doctor, the AI clinical advisor has freed up three minutes from the appointment, time the doctor can spend researching and focusing on the patient's care. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Freasoning-ai-models-are-overwhelming-the-benchmark-tests-its-time-for-human-evaluation\u002F\"\u003EWith AI models clobbering every benchmark, it's time for human evaluation\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECompanies are discovering that if they want to take full advantage of AI and run models locally, they need to upgrade their employees' laptops. This realization has introduced a hardware revolution, with the desire to update tech shifting from an afterthought to a priority and attracting significant investment from companies. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4914532\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis trend is reflected in the numbers. Researcher IDC predicts that AI PCs designed to run generative AI tasks locally will grow from nearly 50 million units in 2024 to over 167 million by 2027, eventually accounting for almost 60% of all PC shipments worldwide. The latest data from analyst firm Gartner suggests 63% of all PCs will be AI-enabled by the end of 2026. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis acceleration in PC investment aligns with a decade-long trend, where factors such as improved design, exemplified by the shift from bulky laptops to ultraslim notebooks, have steadily driven up the average selling price of PCs, an indicator of shifting consumer preferences and market trends, according to Linn Huang, research vice president of devices and displays at IDC.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe industry has seen selling prices \"steadily climb over the past decade,\" said Huang. \"AI PCs will undoubtedly accelerate this trend in the coming years as new AI-enabled workloads, use cases, and features enter the market.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis new category of AI PCs is differentiated from legacy PCs by having an NPU, or neural processing unit, which is designed to turbocharge AI tasks and allow models to run right on the device. The benefits of running locally include cost, privacy, and security. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fchatgpts-new-image-generator-shattered-my-expectations-and-now-its-free-to-try\u002F\"\u003EChatGPT's new image generator shattered my expectations - and now it's free to try\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost AI products, like ChatGPT, send information to the cloud to be processed. This information is then sent back to the device, which allows for the potential for the data to be hacked, leaked, or mishandled in transit. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstead, running models locally gives organizations more control over their information and reduces reliance on third-party services. That setup is crucial for companies in financial services, healthcare, and other industries where privacy is a big concern or a regulatory requirement.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"For them, an on-device AI computer, it's not a nice to have; it's a need to have for fiduciary and HIPAA reasons, respectively,\" said Mike Bechtel, managing director and the chief futurist at Deloitte Consulting LLP. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother advantage is that local running reduces lag and creates a smoother user experience, which is especially valuable for optimizing business applications. That speed is key because the appeal of AI solutions, like chatbots, is that they can respond at the touch of a button. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDevice manufacturers are already seeing this growing interest in AI PCs. Microsoft, a major player in the AI market, a key partner of model specialist OpenAI, and the creator of AI tools like Copilot, has introduced a new hardware category called \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosofts-new-copilot-surface-devices-are-built-for-business-with-intel-inside\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECopilot+PCs\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, developed with partners such as HP, Dell, and Lenovo. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fanthropic-launches-claude-for-education-an-ai-to-help-students-think-critically\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAnthropic launches Claude for Education, an AI to help students think critically\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMark Linton, vice president of device partner sales at Microsoft, said business leaders have shown strong interest in purchasing and trialing these new devices. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Leaders are particularly focused on integrating on-device AI capabilities into their broader AI business and technology strategies,\" said Linton. \"This interest is reflected in adoption rates -- 20 times faster than touch PC adoption -- demonstrating the urgency with which organizations are approaching this transformation.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe benefits of AI PCs go beyond running AI models on devices. For example, a PC can overheat when it uses a power-intensive application, the fan may start blowing, and the device might begin running slowly. That situation can occur partially because the excessive workload is offloaded to the CPU or GPU, other key components of PCs. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAI PCs use NPUs to handle AI tasks more efficiently, reducing the load on the CPU and improving overall system performance. This capability covers non-AI tasks that are compute-intensive, such as editing video or even having a video call. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-enterprise-general-intelligence-how-the-next-stage-of-ai-affects-you\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWhat is Enterprise General Intelligence? How the next stage of AI affects you\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"AI PCs deliver significant performance improvements for the apps users already use, leveraging new CPU, GPU, and NPU architectures,\" said Alex Thatcher, senior director of AI experiences, business personal systems, at HP Inc. \"AI PCs also deliver significant improvements in battery life due to the inclusion of small cores and highly power efficient NPUs.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the refresh cycle for many businesses' hardware approaches, and its advance is accelerated by other external factors, such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fif-your-windows-10-pc-cant-be-upgraded-you-have-5-options-before-time-runs-out\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMicrosoft's end of support for Windows 10,\u003C\u002Fa\u003E many organizations are forced to purchase new devices. This leaves one question: should businesses go for legacy or AI-capable devices? \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause of the productivity advantages, most industry experts, including Flower or Bechtel, who are in positions to advise clients on the next steps, agree that upgrading to AI-capable PCs is the obvious choice. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"It's a big brainer: make sure that your next wave of capital expenditure has the set of bells or whistles, else you're going to be considering an extra refresh in the next couple of years,\" said Bechtel. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosofts-new-ai-agents-aim-to-help-security-pros-combat-the-latest-threats\u002F\"\u003EMicrosoft's new AI agents aim to help security pros combat the latest threats\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs more companies get in on the action and AI-capable computers become ubiquitous, the premium price of AI PCs will continue to drop. Furthermore, Flower said the potential gains in performance offset any price differences. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"In those high-value professions, the productivity gain is so significant that whatever small premium you're paying for that AI-enhanced device, the payback will be nearly immediate,\" said Flower. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUpgrading technology keeps companies at the forefront of innovation, giving them the flexibility to invest in AI applications, whether they're ready to dive in now or not. As more companies opt for AI-capable PCs, this shift paves the way for deeper AI integration into business processes. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe result of this investment is an ecosystem where the promise of AI applications drives hardware upgrades, and the upgraded hardware, in turn, accelerates AI adoption in the workforce, rapidly transforming industries and reshaping how professionals work. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"c1c64b97-f918-4f5b-acae-43981f87d8e6\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fc1c64b97-f918-4f5b-acae-43981f87d8e6\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-04 08:40:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The AI race has led to a hardware revolution, with businesses investing in new types of PCs.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"bbe5846c-607c-4a7f-a20b-d20ffd39acf9",image:{id:"a9473de2-a79c-4772-acea-1cee2cf9009d",filename:"img-3311.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2024-05-22 17:12:41",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Copilot+PC",credits:"Sabrina Ortiz\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F05\u002F22\u002Fa9473de2-a79c-4772-acea-1cee2cf9009d\u002Fimg-3311.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:4030,height:2267,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"news",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Artificial Intelligence",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"the-rise-of-ai-pcs-how-businesses-are-reshaping-their-tech-to-keep-up",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"The rise of AI PCs: How businesses are reshaping their tech to keep up",topic:{id:"3414bf30-82eb-4a6a-a561-f193482f1643",slug:"artificial-intelligence",name:"Artificial Intelligence",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"3414bf30-82eb-4a6a-a561-f193482f1643",slug:"artificial-intelligence",name:"Artificial Intelligence",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"9a23272b-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"David Gewirtz",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"David",lastName:"Gewirtz",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"de4475ef-be59-4858-beb8-6f7696c85945",filename:"david-gewirtz.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:19:52",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fde4475ef-be59-4858-beb8-6f7696c85945\u002Fdavid-gewirtz.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"In addition to hosting the ZDNET Government and ZDNet DIY-IT blogs, David Gewirtz is an author, U.S. policy advisor, and computer scientist. He is featured in The History Channel special The President's Book of Secrets, is one of America's foremost cyber-security experts, and is a top expert on saving and creating jobs. He is also director of the U.S. Strategic Perspective Institute as well as the founder of ZATZ Publishing.\r\n\r\nDavid is a member of FBI InfraGard, the Cyberwarfare Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism & Security Professionals, a columnist for The Journal of Counterterrorism and Homeland Security, and has been a regular CNN contributor, and a guest commentator for the Nieman Watchdog of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. He is the author of Where Have All the Emails Gone?, the definitive study of email in the White House, as well as How To Save Jobs and The Flexible Enterprise, the classic book that served as a foundation for today's agile business movement.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"ec0759f9-4340-4646-beef-b98e108fc719\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe Altair 8800, the first commercially successful personal computing device.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Boston Globe\u002FGetty Images\" data-image-alt-text=\"altair1974gettyimages-1237272219\" data-image-filename=\"altair1974gettyimages-1237272219.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F04\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"1024\" data-image-height=\"669\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHave I told you the story about Bill Gates and me in those early days of personal computing?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo be clear: Bill Gates is older than I am. In 1975, as Bill was leaving Harvard to start Microsoft, I had just skipped my last year of high school and started college. I was the youngest student in engineering school that first year -- the same year Bill and I were using \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Ffrom-paper-tape-to-the-altair-8800-the-story-of-my-first-computers\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethe same computer technology\u003C\u002Fa\u003E: the Altair 8800 and the Digital Equipment PDP-10.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy high school computing experience -- like Bill's -- was formative. However, I never wanted to be a computer scientist. I wanted to build nuclear reactors. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-at-50-its-incredible-rise-15-lost-years-and-stunning-comeback-in-four-charts\u002F\"\u003EMicrosoft at 50: Its incredible rise, 15 lost years, and stunning comeback - in 4 charts\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn high school, I was still grappling with being a teenager, convincing the adults that I needed to be in engineering school instead of coasting through senior year, trying to persuade Amy Katz to let me buy her ice cream, failing the high school's mandatory typing class, and wondering how I was supposed to deal with the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FTeleprinter\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eteletype\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that was initially the sole component of our computer \"lab.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFrom nukes to PCs\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere's what broke me and sent me on this wacky course I call my career. I sat down at that teletype and pressed the Return key. It responded with \"READY.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou need to put this in a 1970s perspective. Today, we \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-use-chatgpt-a-beginners-guide-to-the-most-popular-ai-chatbot\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Etalk to ChatGPT\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and get Star Trek computer-like responses. But back then, machines were not interactive. So when that teletype responded with \"READY,\" it rewired my brain forever. It was interactive. It was different. It changed everything about what my relationship with machines could be.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4914532\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut let's take a moment and return to when Gates and Paul Allen started Microsoft. I mentioned the Altair 8800 because that machine was the first commercially successful personal computing device. Before Ed Roberts started \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FMicro_Instrumentation_and_Telemetry_Systems\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMITS\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (the company that made the Altair), computers were big -- room-scale, gymnasium-size big. The idea of a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthirty-years-ago-my-first-computer-was-an-ibm-pc\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Epersonal computer\u003C\u002Fa\u003E was pure science fiction. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen, in 1974, Roberts introduced the Altair 8800 through an article in Popular Electronics. Roberts and the magazine editors were offering regular people the opportunity to own and use a computer.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPCMag:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pcmag.com\u002Farticles\u002Fbreakthrough-microsoft-products\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERemember these 10 breakthrough Microsoft products?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the story goes, the Altair didn't come with any software. Geeks could tinker with it and toggle programs on the front panel, but there wasn't any real programming language beyond the Intel 8080 assembly language. Gates and Allen saw the opportunity to produce a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-takes-you-back-to-1983-its-just-open-sourced-its-gw-basic-interpreter\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBASIC interpreter\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for the machine and pitched it to Roberts. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to legend, no code had been written when they originally spoke to MITS about their programming language. It was only once they were invited to show the code to Roberts and his team that Gates and Allen got to coding. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe full story of that experience is chronicled in a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgatesnot.es\u002F3FF4Sbv\"\u003E50th Anniversary blog post\u003C\u002Fa\u003E by Gates published this week. I recommend you read it. I mentioned our mutual use of the DEC PDP-10 computer. Well, Gates and Allen wrote the original BASIC on Harvard's PDP-10, before bringing it down to Albuquerque-based MITS to demonstrate. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EBuilding my own Altair 8800 \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUntil I built my first Altair 8800, I lived in my engineering school's computer center, typing code into our \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Frip-ken-olsen-pioneer-of-interactive-computing\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPDP-10\u003C\u002Fa\u003E until the wee hours of the night (and often through the night and into the next day). \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI couldn't afford the $1,500 or so that the original fully assembled Altair 8800 cost back then, which would be more than $7,000 now. So I waited a few years until people started to get tired of their Altairs or failed to make them work. I bought parts at swap meets at very steep discounts and horse-traded my way to having enough components to build a full machine. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECNET:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cnet.com\u002Ftech\u002Fcomputing\u002Fbill-gates-publishes-original-microsoft-source-code-in-a-blog-post\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBill Gates publishes original Microsoft source code in a blog post\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the course of a summer at my parent's home, I built the machine, hand-soldered the hundreds of wires to the front panel, and even toggled in a bootloader that enabled BASIC to be loaded into the machine.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter about a week toggling all that code in, one byte at a time, my Dad decided to work on a circuit somewhere in the house and shut off the power to my room. I had to spend another week doing it all over again, but I eventually got a working computer.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe also need to put Microsoft's BASIC language into perspective. Programming languages are often described as \"higher-level languages.\" That's because the native language of the machine, called machine language or assembly language, is both very tied to a given machine's architecture and very granular. You don't add two numbers together. You move bits around -- bit-by-bit -- until some set of combinatorial operations results in a sum. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHigher-level languages are written with more functionality per statement. The code is compiled (converted all at once) or interpreted (converted statement by statement) into something the machine can understand. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGates and Allen first wrote a program on the PDP-10 that emulated the machine code of the Intel 8080; then they wrote an interpreter that translated BASIC code dynamically and interactively into 8080 code the processor could run. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fits-baaack-microsoft-and-ibm-open-source-ms-dos-4-0\u002F\"\u003EIt's back! Microsoft and IBM open source MS-DOS 4.0\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWriting in BASIC was fun, creative, and empowering. Writing in machine code or its related assembler language was tedious and incredibly time-consuming. So, without a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbasic-turns-60-why-simplicity-was-this-programming-languages-blessing-and-its-curse\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBASIC programming language\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for the Altair (and later for Apple machines), the personal computer industry wouldn't have taken off. Individual computers would have been too painful to use and likely would have seen service only in labs and industrial uses.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe brilliance of Altair BASIC\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlso, don't discount the feat of coder brilliance that Allen and Gates pulled off. It was impressive as hell to code an 8080 emulator and an entire BASIC interpreter in those days. If you look through that first code that they produced, you can see the care they took to make it both functional and maintainable. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYes, I said, \"If you look through that first code.\" That's because, concurrent with Bill's blog entry celebrating 50 years, he's also releasing a PDF of that first Altair BASIC source code. I haven't read through all 157 pages of tractor-feed fan-fold paper, but I have had the pleasure of scanning several pages. This is some seriously old-school, hard-core stuff right there.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYoung Bill and Paul had some serious chops. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI met Bill only once. I had dinner with him about a dozen years after Microsoft was formed. He was well on his way to making his first billion, and I had just started my first software company. MS-DOS was dominant on PCs, and Windows was still mostly a concept prototype. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fdell-turns-40-how-a-teenager-transformed-1000-worth-of-pc-parts-into-a-tech-giant\u002F\"\u003EDell turns 40: How a teenager transformed $1,000 worth of PC parts into a tech giant\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe met because he was the guest speaker -- and I was on the board of directors -- for Silicon Valley's Software Entrepreneurs' Forum. One of the perks of board membership was sharing the head table with our guest speakers each month. I made it my business to sit right across from each of the luminaries at each event. Not only did I get to meet them, I got to talk to them and learn from them. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EBill's unexpected advice\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI asked Bill what advice he had for a newly minted software startup founder. I expected some wisdom about software lifecycles or hiring good engineers. Instead, he told me to mind my cash flow. \"Cash flow is everything,\" he said. Yes, the advice I got from the guy who would become the richest man in the world (at least until recently) was about minding my cash flow. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI took that lesson to heart and my businesses did pretty well. Not millionaire or billionaire well, but they did well enough to support my family and those of the people who worked for me. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThinking back on that BASIC implementation and the Bill and Paul of 50 years ago, it's clear that my career as a whole benefited from their work. While no longer a popular language, BASIC was easy to learn and use. It's fallen out of favor because it's not that easy to maintain and doesn't scale as well as modern languages. But it was a gateway drug for a lot of early PC programmers. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fdell-turns-40-how-a-teenager-transformed-1000-worth-of-pc-parts-into-a-tech-giant\u002F\"\u003EDell turns 40: How a teenager transformed $1,000 worth of PC parts into a tech giant\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen I was in engineering school, I used big iron. But it was PCs that sparked my imagination. It turned out I was very good at operating system design, language design, and overall computer science. Unfortunately, despite my desire to go into nuclear engineering, I was far from a star nuke student. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy sophomore year, I'd used up all the college's computing curricula and started taking (and then teaching) graduate school computer science courses. I was still barely making it through the first few physics classes required for nuclear engineering. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy academic advisor, who knew of my Altair build and my affinity for these new personal computers, strongly advocated I move out of the nuclear engineering program and fully embrace computer science. I don't know if I'd have had that affinity for PCs if Microsoft's Altair BASIC didn't run on them. I never liked assembly language programming. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI wonder whether I would have been stuck underground, getting my body parts irradiated, and living on the edge of civilization as a barely adequate nuclear engineer had I not developed an affinity for PCs -- an affinity that Altair BASIC made possible in my very early formative years. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs one does, I eventually moved on to other languages -- and, in fact, to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthe-most-popular-programming-languages-in-2024-and-what-that-even-means\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emany other languages\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. But BASIC, and particularly that BASIC for that Altair 8800 machine, still holds a special place in my heart. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthe-mac-turns-40-how-apples-rebel-pc-almost-failed-again-and-again\u002F\"\u003EThe Mac turns 40: How Apple's rebel PC almost failed again and again\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, on behalf of all the middle-aged programming geeks worldwide who cut their teeth on Microsoft BASIC, I raise my cup of Kirkland Pacific Bold to Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Ed Roberts, and all the early ones -- yes, that includes Steve and Steve from Apple -- who brought personal computing to the rest of us. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat about you? Did you get your start in computing with BASIC, or maybe even on an Altair or PDP-10? Were you around when Microsoft first entered the scene -- or did you come in later and discover the magic of early personal computing secondhand? How did you first get hooked on programming, and what role did Microsoft's early software play, if any? Let us know in the comments below. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EYou can follow my day-to-day project updates on social media. Be sure to subscribe to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fadvancedgeekery.substack.com\u002F\"\u003Emy weekly update newsletter\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and follow me on Twitter\u002FX at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002Fdavidgewirtz\"\u003E@DavidGewirtz\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, on Facebook at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fdavidgewirtz\"\u003EFacebook.com\u002FDavidGewirtz\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, on Instagram at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002FDavidGewirtz\u002F\"\u003EInstagram.com\u002FDavidGewirtz\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, on Bluesky at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbsky.app\u002Fprofile\u002Fdavidgewirtz.com\"\u003E@DavidGewirtz.com\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and on YouTube at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fuser\u002FDavidGewirtzTV\"\u003EYouTube.com\u002FDavidGewirtzTV\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGet the biggest stories in tech every Friday with ZDNET's \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWeek in Review newsletter\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"1c484d26-6f31-48ab-8c73-282514bb76c1\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F1c484d26-6f31-48ab-8c73-282514bb76c1\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-03 18:14:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"In 1975, Bill and I were using the same computing tech - the Altair 8800 and DEC's PDP-10 - as BASIC became a gateway for generations of developers. Where were you all those decades ago?",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"3585a1a2-3e0f-4ab8-b83e-8c2a7173e3d6",image:{id:"ec0759f9-4340-4646-beef-b98e108fc719",filename:"altair1974gettyimages-1237272219.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2025-04-03 18:04:02",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"altair1974gettyimages-1237272219",credits:"Boston Globe\u002FGetty Images",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F04\u002F03\u002Fec0759f9-4340-4646-beef-b98e108fc719\u002Faltair1974gettyimages-1237272219.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1024,height:669,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Business^Companies^Microsoft",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"how-bill-gates-the-altair-8800-and-basic-propelled-me-into-the-pc-revolution",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"How Bill Gates, the Altair 8800 and BASIC propelled me into the PC revolution",topic:{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"1124f463-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"processors",name:"Processors",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"5d68ddc2-d682-11e4-9a74-d4ae52e95e57",slug:"developer",name:"Developer",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"f2d97ea2-8175-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Adrian",lastName:"Kingsley-Hughes",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2",filename:"adrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 14:59:32",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2\u002Fadrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over two decades to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera. Adrian has authored\u002Fco-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include 'Build the Ultimate Custom PC', 'Beginning Programming' and 'The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide'. He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-gaming-pc\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPCs\u003C\u002Fa\u003E have been through a number of evolutions in terms of form factor -- a fancy word for size. The once bulky and ugly beige boxes that devoured desk real estate are now the size of a hardback book but can still handle the most demanding workload.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESay hello to the mini PC! This compact powerhouse is just as comfortable tucked behind your TV, perched on a shelf, or hidden away in a cupboard as it is sitting on your desk. Mini PCs pack a punch, offering everything you could want from a modern computer while taking up the least amount of space possible. They're perfect for today's busy lifestyles and can also serve as a fantastic foundation for your next project. Whether you're streaming your favorite shows, working from home, or diving into creative endeavors, a mini PC is a versatile companion that fits seamlessly into any environment. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best power banks: Expert tested\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhat is the best mini PC right now?\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've tested and researched the current mini PC offerings on the market, examining specs and paying close attention to user reviews, and my top pick for the best mini PC is the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"68d9ad17-5a1c-4592-8643-def928eb2c40\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FNUC13ANHi7-i7-1360P-Computers-Business-Thunderbolt-dp-B0C8NSPFTD\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Intel NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. Whether you want a mini PC for the home, office, or meeting room, this is a solid choice. But I understand that this might not be for everyone, so I've picked a handful more mini PCs, each aimed at a specific use case.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd there's never been a better time to buy, because at the time of update, prices have come down dramatically opretty much across the board. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe best mini PCs of 2025\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"2869633c-add8-4055-9874-55f85096cf8a\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWhen it comes to mini PCs, it's hard to beat a mini PC built to the Intel NUC specs. I've owned and tested a number of them myself and have been very happy with them.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith this model, we have a system running a 16-core Core i7 chip that can power up to 3.7 GHz with a built-in Iris Xe GPU. Backing that is 32GB of RAM and 1TB M.2 SSD -- that's quite a spec for a system you can hold in the palm of your hand. As for ports, this system has a multitude of USB ports, along with Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, and Ethernet.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs mini PCs go, this one is likely overkill for most, but if you are looking for a really powerful system that runs whisper-quiet and can be mounted behind a TV or put on a shelf, this is the system for you.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGiven the price of this system, there aren't a lot of reviews for it, but the ones that owners have written are overwhelmingly positive.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntel NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon tech specs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E 12th Generation Intel Core i7-1360P | Intel Iris Xe Graphics 96EU | 32GB DDR4 RAM | 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD | 3x USB 3.2 type A, 1x USB-A, 2x Thunderbolt 4, 2x HDMI, Ethernet, audio jack | Windows 11 Pro\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Intel NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon\" data-superlative=\"Best mini PC overall\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"zdnet-image-instructions","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Intel\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"356a5a37-b607-4bef-b3a5-9f60e1bef4a8","title":"intel-nuc-13-pro-arena-canyon-mini-pc","filename":"intel-nuc-13-pro-arena-canyon.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F08\u002F21\u002F356a5a37-b607-4bef-b3a5-9f60e1bef4a8\u002Fintel-nuc-13-pro-arena-canyon.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":49519,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-08-21 17:47:42","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-08-21 17:47:57","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Intel\u002FZDNET","alt":"intel-nuc-13-pro-arena-canyon","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"356a5a37-b607-4bef-b3a5-9f60e1bef4a8","imageAltText":"zdnet-image-instructions","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Intel\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"intel-nuc-13-pro-arena-canyon.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F08\u002F21","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Intel\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FNUC13ANHi7-i7-1360P-Computers-Business-Thunderbolt\u002Fdp\u002FB0BYNC9W8D?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FNUC13ANHi7-i7-1360P-Computers-Business-Thunderbolt\u002Fdp\u002FB0BYNC9W8D","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FNUC13ANHi7-i7-1360P-Computers-Business-Thunderbolt\u002Fdp\u002FB0BYNC9W8D?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"~Powerful ~Quiet ~Excellent reviews\" data-dislike=\"~Expensive\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"78000d68-5c97-40b9-95c5-77631010cc05\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EJust when you thought this list would only include Windows systems, we've got the Mac Mini. This was one of the original mini PCs, and with the switch to Apple Silicon processors, it has seen a new lease of life.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EConsidered at one point the gateway Mac that got people over to MacOS from Windows (because they could replace their Windows PC with the Mac Mini and keep using their existing keyboard, mouse, and monitor with their new Mac), it's now a staple of the Mac lineup, and the perfect choice for those who want a compact system.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've owned a few different Mac Mini systems over the years, and I've been more than satisfied by them. They're reliable, well-built, and run cool and quiet. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe biggest downside to this system is upgrading -- bottom line, this Mac will live and die with the same processor, RAM, and storage that it left the factory with. If you want to give it a storage boost, Satechi makes a hub\u002Fstand for it that adds a bunch of ports and a port for an \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-m2-ssd\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EM.2 SSD\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs I'd expect from an Apple product, the reviews are strongly positive, with users reporting that they are happy with the performance and overall reliability of the system.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EApple 2023 Mac mini tech specs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E Apple Silicon M4 processor with 10 CPU cores, 10 GPU cores | 16GB RAM | 256GB storage | 2x USB-C, 3x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, Ethernet, audio jack | MacOS&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Apple Mac Mini (2024)\" data-superlative=\"Best mini PC for Apple users\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"Mac Mini M4 Pro from the back","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"365d4315-eb61-400d-afdd-f5deee1f3a41","title":"Mac Mini M4 Pro from the back","filename":"mac-mini-m4-pro-7.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F11\u002F04\u002F365d4315-eb61-400d-afdd-f5deee1f3a41\u002Fmac-mini-m4-pro-7.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":422166,"width":2048,"height":1152,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-11-04 18:54:02","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-11-04 18:54:21","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET","alt":"Mac Mini M4 Pro from the back","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"365d4315-eb61-400d-afdd-f5deee1f3a41","imageAltText":"Mac Mini M4 Pro from the back","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"mac-mini-m4-pro-7.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F11\u002F04","imageWidth":2048,"imageHeight":1152,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FApple-2024-Desktop-Computer-10%E2%80%91core\u002Fdp\u002FB0DLBTPDCS?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FApple-2024-Desktop-Computer-10%E2%80%91core\u002Fdp\u002FB0DLBTPDCS","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FApple-2024-Desktop-Computer-10%E2%80%91core\u002Fdp\u002FB0DLBTPDCS?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fapple-mac-mini-desktop-latest-model-m4-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-16gb-memory-256gb-ssd-silver%2F6566918.p&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value","offerMerchant":"Best Buy","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fapple-mac-mini-desktop-latest-model-m4-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-16gb-memory-256gb-ssd-silver\u002F6566918.p","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fapple-mac-mini-desktop-latest-model-m4-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-16gb-memory-256gb-ssd-silver%2F6566918.p&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value"},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedid=zdnet&partnerpropertyid=1980086&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-mac%2Fmac-mini&subId1=subid_value","offerMerchant":"Apple","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-mini","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedid=zdnet&partnerpropertyid=1980086&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-mac%2Fmac-mini&subId1=subid_value"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"~Powerful ~Close to silent ~Excellent Apple build quality\" data-dislike=\"~Runs MacOS (although you can run Windows on it using virtualization) ~Limited upgrade options\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"fbcf7c40-812b-49b2-b8f7-1337da4ec796\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis is a tiny mini PC that is a cube measuring 72 x 72 x 44.5mm, weighing only 206g. Inside the cube is a 4-core Intel N5105 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128HB M.2 SSD running Windows 10 Pro.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite the tiny size, this mini PC features a handful of USB ports, two HDMI ports, an audio jack, and an Ethernet port. This system has no problems running two 4K@60FPS displays for maximum productivity.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd yet given the power, this system is quiet and very energy efficient (using only 10W), making it a great choice for someone who wants a PC for the home, office, or meeting room, or even to drive digital signage.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReviewers of this system comment on the performance and overall value of the system, and it's an outstanding system for the price.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGMKtec Mini PC tech specs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E 11th Generation Intel N5105 | Intel UHD Graphics | 8GB DDR4 RAM | 128GB M.2 NVMe SSD | 3x USB 3.2 type A, USB-C, 2x HDMI, Ethernet, TF\u002FmicroSD slot, audio jack | Windows 11 Pro\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"GMKtec Mini PC\" data-superlative=\"Best mini PC for those who want a truly mini PC\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"zdnet-image-instructions","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Amazon\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"d9c8c53b-27c1-48f4-b2c7-d8457bd099ca","title":"gmktec-mini-pc","filename":"gmktec-mini-pc.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F08\u002F21\u002Fd9c8c53b-27c1-48f4-b2c7-d8457bd099ca\u002Fgmktec-mini-pc.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":56667,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-08-21 17:50:59","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-08-21 17:51:05","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Amazon\u002FZDNET","alt":"gmktec-mini-pc","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"d9c8c53b-27c1-48f4-b2c7-d8457bd099ca","imageAltText":"zdnet-image-instructions","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Amazon\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"gmktec-mini-pc.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F08\u002F21","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Amazon\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGMKtec-Nucbox5-Desktop-Computer-Windows\u002Fdp\u002FB0B75PT2RY?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGMKtec-Nucbox5-Desktop-Computer-Windows\u002Fdp\u002FB0B75PT2RY","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGMKtec-Nucbox5-Desktop-Computer-Windows\u002Fdp\u002FB0B75PT2RY?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"~Tiny ~Powerful enough to drive two 4K displays\" data-dislike=\"~Not fanless, so may become a little noisy when pushed with heavy workloads\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"49f53d39-1f54-40fc-9b80-19ea978fa6e3\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe price of this system makes it a perfect choice for those who want a cheap yet powerful mini PC -- as long as you're not running AAA-title games or other heavy workloads, this system has you covered.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe only con to this system is that it runs the older 12th-gen Intel silicon, but for $160, this is still a system that both holds its own and won't break the bank.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReviews of this system are strongly positive, with owners praising the power and performance of the system, and how quiet it is in day-to-day use.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBeelink S12 Mini PC tech specs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E 12th Generation Intel N100 | Intel UHD Graphics | 16GB DDR4 RAM | 500GB SSD | 4x USB 3.2 type A, 2x HDMI, Ethernet, audio jack | Windows 11\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Beelink S12 Pro Mini PC\" data-superlative=\"Best budget mini PC\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"zdnet-image-instructions","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Amazon\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"5a1a2f6c-bc32-49a9-931a-eb74d65cb8a0","title":"Beelink S12 Pro Mini PC","filename":"2025-03-22-11-17-38.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F22\u002F5a1a2f6c-bc32-49a9-931a-eb74d65cb8a0\u002F2025-03-22-11-17-38.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":190320,"width":1600,"height":900,"dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-22 11:18:17","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2025-03-22 11:18:28","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Beelink\u002FZDNET","alt":"Beelink S12 Pro Mini PC","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"5a1a2f6c-bc32-49a9-931a-eb74d65cb8a0","imageAltText":"zdnet-image-instructions","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Amazon\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"2025-03-22-11-17-38.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F22","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":900,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Amazon\u002FZDNET\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"8cb89b0d-74b6-44c8-bef3-bdd0ae567d10","slug":"beelink-mini-pc-mini-s12-pro-intel-12th-gen-4-core-n100-up-to-3-4ghz-mini-computer-16gb-ddr4-ram-500gb-ssd-desktop-pc-dual","name":"Beelink Mini PC, Mini S12 Pro Intel 12th Gen 4-Core N100(up to 3.4GHz), Mini Computer 16GB DDR4 RAM 500GB SSD, Desktop PC Dual HDMI 4K UHD\u002FGigabit Ethernet\u002FWiFi6\u002FBT5.2\u002FHTPC","productType":"SERIES","updateType":"AUTOPID","mod":1742646638424,"displayDate":"Sat Mar 22 2025 08:30:38 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FBeelink-SEI10-i3-10110U-Computer-Performance\u002Fdp\u002FB08XBVXNFP?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FBeelink-SEI10-i3-10110U-Computer-Performance\u002Fdp\u002FB08XBVXNFP","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FBeelink-SEI10-i3-10110U-Computer-Performance\u002Fdp\u002FB08XBVXNFP?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"~Solid little PC, perfect for office applications, video conferencing, browsing the web. ~ Effective heat dissipation without too much fan noise.\" data-dislike=\"~Older, 12th-generation processors\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"78c885fe-2858-4700-80df-904a0a8908f7\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThis mini PC describes itself as a gaming system, and with good reason. The combination of AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX and AMD Radeon 680M GPU gives this system a lot of horsepower to tackle a variety of workloads, from work to games.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt also throws away the design rulebook. While most mini PCs are cube-like, this one is an upright tent shape. While that might seem like purely a design choice, it does in fact make opening up the system to carry out upgrades a snap as the side panel is held in place with magnets. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis system features a power dial on the top to switch it between silent mode, auto, and performance, depending on whether you want power or silence. It also includes a multitude of LED lights, which you might love or hate. If you love them, great, if not, there's an app that turns them off for you.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut the lights aside, this is the perfect mini PC for those looking for a gaming system but who don't want to have a huge box on their desk or beside their TV. There's no harder set of people to please than gamers, which is why it's quite reassuring to find strong reviews for this gaming mini PC.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAceMagician AMD Ryzen 9 Mini PC tech specs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EAMD Ryzen 9 6900HX | AMD Radeon 680M GPU | 32GB DDR4 RAM | 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD | 3x USB 3.2 type A, 2x HDMI, Ethernet, USB-C, audio jack | Windows 11 Pro\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"AceMagician AMD Ryzen 9 Mini PC\" data-superlative=\"Best mini PC for gamers\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"placeholder-product-image-for-best-lists.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Amazon\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"300897c9-52de-47c7-9762-a2888eb4ebb6","title":"acemagician-mini-pc","filename":"ace-magician-mini-pc.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F08\u002F21\u002F300897c9-52de-47c7-9762-a2888eb4ebb6\u002Face-magician-mini-pc.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":75137,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-08-21 17:55:47","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-08-21 17:55:55","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Amazon\u002FZDNET","alt":"ace-magician-mini-pc","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"300897c9-52de-47c7-9762-a2888eb4ebb6","imageAltText":"placeholder-product-image-for-best-lists.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Amazon\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"ace-magician-mini-pc.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F08\u002F21","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Amazon\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FACEMAGICIAN-Mini-Gaming-Ryzen-6900HX\u002Fdp\u002FB0D3KWGKRD?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FACEMAGICIAN-Mini-Gaming-Ryzen-6900HX\u002Fdp\u002FB0D3KWGKRD","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FACEMAGICIAN-Mini-Gaming-Ryzen-6900HX\u002Fdp\u002FB0D3KWGKRD?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"~A mini PC that legitimately describes itself as a gaming system ~Powerful AMD processor and GPU ~Convenient dial for switching between power modes\" data-dislike=\"~Different shape ~LED lights might be annoying\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"96297580-6e29-4029-a0fb-1928f7271e62\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ENot something that people immediately think of as a mini PC, but the new 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 certainly has the horsepower to handle some quite demanding workloads. Given the push that the Raspberry Pi Foundation has done in the direction of AI, it's the perfect starting point for a lot of AI projects.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut it doesn't end there, the Pi 5 is perfect as the basis for a NAS box, a PiHole router, home automation hub, and much more.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead the review: \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Ffinally-a-16gb-raspberry-pi-5-but-at-this-price-point-does-a-mini-pc-make-more-sense\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EFinally, a 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 - but does a mini PC make more sense at this price?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERaspberry Pi 5 16GB tech specs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EBroadcom BCM2712 2.4GHz quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 CPU | VideoCore VII GPU&nbsp;| LPDDR4X-4267 SDRAM&nbsp;| No built-in storage | 2× USB 3.0 ports, 2× USB 2.0 ports, and Gigabit Ethernet | Raspberry Pi OS\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Raspberry Pi 5 16GB\" data-superlative=\"Best mini PC for tinkerers\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"Raspberry Pi 5 16GB","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Raspberry Pi","imageData":{"id":"34be2e2e-3ad2-4266-b673-bf3584ccd58b","title":"Raspberry Pi 5 16GB","filename":"raspberry-pi-5-16gb-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F01\u002F09\u002F34be2e2e-3ad2-4266-b673-bf3584ccd58b\u002Fraspberry-pi-5-16gb-2.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":349606,"width":1600,"height":899,"dateCreated":{"date":"2025-01-09 16:55:00","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2025-01-09 16:55:18","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Raspberry Pi","alt":"Raspberry Pi 5 16GB","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"34be2e2e-3ad2-4266-b673-bf3584ccd58b","imageAltText":"Raspberry Pi 5 16GB","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Raspberry Pi","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"raspberry-pi-5-16gb-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F01\u002F09","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":899,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Raspberry Pi\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Raspberry Pi","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.raspberrypi.com\u002Fproducts\u002Fraspberry-pi-5\u002F","url":""},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FCanaKit-Raspberry-Starter-Kit-PRO\u002Fdp\u002FB0CRSNCJ6Y\u002F?th=1","url":""}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"8e068ed3-abb4-472a-a2c2-1ca8604bcf1d\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Ctable\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMini PC\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrice\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProcessor\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGPU\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERAM\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStorage\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOperating system\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$859 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel Core i7-1360P \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel Iris Xe Graphics 96EU&nbsp; \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E32GB DDR4&nbsp; \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E2TB M.2 NVMe SSD \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 11 Pro \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple 2024 Mac Mini \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$549\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple Silicon M4 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple Silicon M4 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E16GB DDR4 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E256GB SSD \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMacOS 15 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGMKtec Mini PC \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$130\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel N5105&nbsp; \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel UHD Graphics \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E8GB DDR4 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E128GB M.2 NVMe SSD \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 11 Pro \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeelink S12 Pro Mini PC \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$149\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel N100 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel UHD Graphics&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E16GB DDR4 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E500GB M.2 NVMe SSD \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 11 Pro \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAceMagician AMD Ryzen 9 Mini PC \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$549\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAMD Ryzen 9 6900HX&nbsp; \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAMD Radeon 680M \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E32GB DDR4 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E1TB SSD \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 11&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERaspberry Pi 5 16GB\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$120\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBroadcom BCM2712&nbsp; \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVideoCore VII GPU \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E16GB LPDDR4X-4267 SDRAM\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENo built in storage\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERaspberry Pi OS\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003C\u002Ftbody\u003E\u003C\u002Ftable\u003E\" data-hed=\"What is the best mini PC?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"65474b26-90c2-4eee-bda5-a005bcbe6f10\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Ctable\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChoose this mini PC…\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you want…\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA general-purpose mini PC. The Intel NUC PCs continue to be the best all-around mini PCs on the market. Yes, there are better, faster, cheaper systems out there, but these systems have continually impressed me over the years. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple 2024 Mac Mini \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo go with MacOS. The Mac Mini used to be the way that Windows PC users would start to make the transition over to Mac. Nowadays, they are all-purpose desktop computers that are perfect for anyone who doesn't want a portable system, from students to developers. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGMKtec Mini PC \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA truly tiny PC. This is one of the smallest systems I've seen, but it packs quite a punch, hitting well above its size and weight. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeelink S12 Pro Mini PC \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA great budget mini PC. Cheap and cheerful, yet packing enough power to be a perfectly capable PC for school, work, or for home entrainment.. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAceMagician AMD Ryzen 9 Mini PC \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA proper mini gaming PC. Here you have a full gaming PC packed into a tiny footprint. Sure, there are going to be desktop systems that are way more powerful than this system, but for the size, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything faster. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERaspberry Pi 5 16GB\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA computer that will form the basis of a project. Maybe you want to build a NAS system, a home automation project, or a weather station, then this platform will be an excellent starting point.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003C\u002Ftbody\u003E\u003C\u002Ftable\u003E\u003Cp\u003E&nbsp; \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Which is the right mini PC for you?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a6b61a7d-64b5-4cc4-bf4a-8cfbff854ee8\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIn many ways, choosing a mini PC is much like a regular PC. There are all the usual performance, price, and support for all your peripherals to keep in mind. But if you are after a mini PC, then the mini part does come into play, so there is a size issue to bear in mind. The good news is that mini PCs come in a range of sizes, from systems that can fit in the palm of your hand to systems so small you could fit several of them in the palm of your hand.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDo you need a mini PC? \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EThis is the top question when choosing a mini PC. Do you actually need one, or do you just need a regular PC?\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESize\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: This really is the differentiator when it comes to mini PCs. Do you want a PC that's the size of a biscuit tin, or something significantly smaller?\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPerformance\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: Pretty standard PC consideration here. What do you want your system to do? Do you want to carry out general PC tasks like word processing and spreadsheets and browsing the web, or do you have more specialist needs in mind, such as gaming?\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBudget\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: Small doesn't always mean cheap, but you can save money by choosing a mini PC that suits your needs.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPorts\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: Most mini PCs come with a decent array of ports, but if you need something like two Ethernet ports or a bunch of USB ports, you need to ensure you're getting the right mini PC for you.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\" data-hed=\"Factors to consider when choosing a mini PC\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"023f67f2-1e4e-4603-921c-efe3f9fdd0e9\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThere are a lot of mini PCs on the market from a variety of different vendors, and I've tested and used mini PCs from all the vendors listed here, I've based my selections on my experience using these brands, as well as current model user reviews.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProduct specs and price also come into play, but being able to draw on dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of other people's views allows me to get a broad sense of how well-received a selected mini PC is. I've paid particular attention to reports of performance, stability, how quiet or noisy the PC is, and weeded out many that seemed to have a poor lifespan.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat we're left with is the best of the best, in a broad selection of categories that are applicable to mini PCs.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How did we choose these mini PCs?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFAQs on mini PCs\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"e338db83-da68-4ce6-9398-b4683b088f84\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EA mini PC is a compact yet fully functional computer that offers many, if not all of, the capabilities of a desktop PC, but is packaged into a smaller form factor. Mini PCs are designed to save space and can be used for a variety of tasks, from basic computing to more demanding applications such as programming or even gaming.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"What is a mini PC?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"d19732e9-2115-46ee-bd0c-8d50d410ef31\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EPeople often choose to invest in a mini PC for these reasons:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESpace-saving:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;The top benefit of going for a mini PC is that it takes up significantly less space than traditional desktop PCs.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPortable\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Mini PCs are lightweight and easy to move, making them ideal for users who need computing power on the go.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEnergy efficiency:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Most mini PCs consume significantly less power than a similarly-specced desktop system, which can lead to cost savings on electricity.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQuiet:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Some models are fanless, resulting in quieter operation, and even those that still have a fan are far quieter than a standard desktop system.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\" data-hed=\"What are the advantages of using a mini PC?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"cdb4d865-c9ed-437a-969c-f41b27684f88\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIt depends on the model. Some mini PCs allow for upgrades -- sometimes very easy upgrades -- to components like RAM and storage, while others have fixed configurations.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn the whole however, like laptops, mini PCs are better aimed at those situations where you buy the PC with the spec that you need rather than relying on an upgrade down the line.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Are mini PCs upgradeable?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EOther mini PCs worth considering\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"bebb6e56-1846-4cb7-a634-5fd147011fcf\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ENot just a mini PC, this is a mini PC stick. This system is designed to connect directly to a display and offers the most portable PC experience you can get, making it perfect for scenarios like conference rooms and offices, and even setting up specialist IoT setups.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"MeLE PCG02 Mini PC Stick\" data-superlative=\"Best mini PC stick\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"zdnet-image-instructions","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"MeLE","imageData":{"id":"f4aec8bc-acfe-4f8d-8940-a128e1c135f1","title":"MeLE PCG02 Mini PC Stick","filename":"mele-pcg02-mini-pc-stick.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F08\u002F20\u002Ff4aec8bc-acfe-4f8d-8940-a128e1c135f1\u002Fmele-pcg02-mini-pc-stick.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":262647,"width":1600,"height":900,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-08-20 19:06:38","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-08-20 19:06:53","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"MeLE","alt":"MeLE PCG02 Mini PC Stick","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"f4aec8bc-acfe-4f8d-8940-a128e1c135f1","imageAltText":"zdnet-image-instructions","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"MeLE","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"mele-pcg02-mini-pc-stick.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F08\u002F20","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":900,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"MeLE\" data-linktext=\"Best compact alternative\" data-linkurl=\"Design: Mini Listicle\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0C3CHF1RV?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0C3CHF1RV","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0C3CHF1RV?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2050571\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-03 01:25:56",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Having a powerful PC doesn't mean you have to have a full-size tower. We tested the best mini PCs from Apple, Intel, and more.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"0757cceb-0d2e-41e2-90db-20704d44baa8",image:{id:"14130694-de77-4f5d-876e-45f786959e6f",filename:"mac-mini-m4-pro-8.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2024-11-04 18:55:15",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Mac Mini M4 Pro",credits:"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F11\u002F04\u002F14130694-de77-4f5d-876e-45f786959e6f\u002Fmac-mini-m4-pro-8.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2048,height:1152,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"best-list",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"The best mini PCs you can buy",section:c,slug:"best-mini-pc",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"The best mini PCs of 2025: Expert recommended from Apple, Intel, and more",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"20ba7b16-3cb9-434f-ab92-be1ae59d088e\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Samsung\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"samsung-t5-evo-black-friday\" data-image-filename=\"samsung-t5.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F20\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you've been looking for a new digital storage option, Samsung has a deal on the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"fbe0aad4-560b-4918-aea1-8bf6c34724a2\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.samsung.com\u002Fus\u002Fcomputing\u002Fmemory-storage\u002Fportable-solid-state-drives\u002Fportable-ssd-t5-evo-usb-3-2-4tb-black-mu-ph4t0s-am\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.samsung.com%2Fus%2Fcomputing%2Fmemory-storage%2Fportable-solid-state-drives%2Fportable-ssd-t5-evo-usb-3-2-8tb-black-mu-ph8t0s-am%2F&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"4TB Samsung T5 Evo\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E portable SSD for just $230, plus get a 256GB Sonic the Hedgehog microSDXC card for free. With that much storage, the device is perfect for large digital game libraries, raw video and photo files, raw and rendered digital art, and other important programs and documents you may need to take on the go. And you won't want to wait to take advantage of this deal, the T5 is a popular SSD and stock never lasts long.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-m2-ssd\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best M.2 SSDs you can buy\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"710ffd8f-b930-4dfd-913a-0f9bd7bf289e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Samsung T5 Evo 8TB for $230 plus free 256GB microSDXC (save $120 at Samsung)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"86d9d0b1-7604-4b4e-a6b9-cb00cd4d5f5b","filename":"samsung-t5-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F20\u002F86d9d0b1-7604-4b4e-a6b9-cb00cd4d5f5b\u002Fsamsung-t5-2.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-20 19:17:54","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"86d9d0b1-7604-4b4e-a6b9-cb00cd4d5f5b","imageFilename":"samsung-t5-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F20"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.samsung.com\u002Fus\u002Fcomputing\u002Fmemory-storage\u002Fportable-solid-state-drives\u002Fportable-ssd-t5-evo-usb-3-2-4tb-black-mu-ph4t0s-am\u002F\" data-offerprice=\"230\" data-offerpricerange=\"5\" data-offerpricetext=\"BOGO offer\" data-offermerchant=\"Samsung\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.samsung.com\u002Fus\u002Fcomputing\u002Fmemory-storage\u002Fportable-solid-state-drives\u002Fportable-ssd-t5-evo-usb-3-2-8tb-black-mu-ph8t0s-am\u002F&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith an impressive amount of storage space, you'll get read and write speeds of up to 460 MB\u002Fs each, letting you transfer large files more quickly than a traditional hard disk drive. With support for USB 3.2, you'll get more reliable data transfers, which means you won't have to worry about possible data corruption due to interruptions. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong with great read and write speeds and more reliable data transfers, the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"fc55575c-ecc5-43d5-871a-d6ce13fc27de\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.samsung.com\u002Fus\u002Fcomputing\u002Fmemory-storage\u002Fportable-solid-state-drives\u002Fportable-ssd-t5-evo-usb-3-2-4tb-black-mu-ph4t0s-am\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.samsung.com%2Fus%2Fcomputing%2Fmemory-storage%2Fportable-solid-state-drives%2Fportable-ssd-t5-evo-usb-3-2-8tb-black-mu-ph8t0s-am%2F&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung T5 Evo\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E features 256-bit AES encryption to keep personal data and sensitive information safe from unauthorized access. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fssd-vs-hdd-whats-the-difference-and-which-should-you-buy\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESSD vs. HDD: What's the difference, and which should you buy?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe drive's outer casing is drop- and shock-resistant and can withstand falls up to six feet, making it perfect for on-location photographers and other mobile professionals who need a tough storage drive for offloading raw photos from camera storage or transferring important projects and documents between their home office and mobile work location.   \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003EZDNET Recommends\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow I rated this deal \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI give the Samsung SSD deal a 5\u002F5 Editor's deal rating not because it's the lowest price I've seen on the 8TB version (it was almost 60% off around December 2024), but because it's excellent value for such a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-m2-ssd\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehigh-capacity SSD\u003C\u002Fa\u003E plus a microSDXC that's perfect for expanding storage on your Nintendo Switch\u002FSwitch 2.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"3f1e70db-625b-4dda-bd59-485712352f28\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWhile the Samsung T5 Evo portable SSD listing doesn't have a countdown timer, it is labeled a limited-time sale. That means that Samsung may have only approved a certain number of units that can be sold at this price, and the stock may not last.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"When will this deal expire?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"662c8a8f-6744-45fb-b928-f245c4a6c2c1\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWe aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor's deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members' expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhow-we-rate-deals-at-zdnet-in-2025\u002F"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow we rate deals at ZDNET in 2025\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How do we rate deals at ZDNET?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-02 18:57:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The Amazon Spring Sale is almost over, and if you haven't found any good deals on SSDs, you can save $120 on the 4TB Samsung T5 Evo, plus get a 256GB Sonic the Hedgehog microSDXC for free.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"86745563-ec29-48bb-a9e4-b32c6b484269",image:{id:"33305c14-66a9-4eb2-9569-d726c53b4cce",filename:"samsung-t5.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2025-03-20 19:18:38",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"samsung-t5-evo-black-friday",credits:"Samsung\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F20\u002F33305c14-66a9-4eb2-9569-d726c53b4cce\u002Fsamsung-t5.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1296,height:720,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"deals",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^Storage",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"samsung-t5-ssd-deal-04-02-2025",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Save $120 on the 4TB Samsung T5 and get a 256GB microSDXC card free",topic:{id:"11601750-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"storage",name:"Storage",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"11601750-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"storage",name:"Storage",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"116c1d92-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"tablets",name:"Tablets",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"91a4cdc7-83f0-4ac1-9561-628db15e2c76",slug:"smart-office",name:"Smart Office",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"926c7fe3-bac7-46e3-b421-bf633d90ee73",slug:"productivity",name:"Productivity",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"9841d7c0-1be2-42d4-963b-3d0c080290bc",slug:"tech",name:"Tech",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cp\u003EAs the adage goes in content creation, audiences can forgive sub-par writing and camera missteps, but \"\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.rockadove.co.uk\u002Fimportance-of-sound-in-video-production\u002F#:~:text=Your%20audience%20might%20forgive%20a,what%20they%20are%20talking%20about.\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethey won't forgive bad sound\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\" Whether you're an experienced or novice content creator (or just want higher-quality work calls), you need a high-quality streaming microphone--it immediately and substantially ups the production value and puts your work in a higher echelon of media. Fortunately, you no longer need to break the bank for studio-level recording equipment--many reputable brands offer budget-friendly devices. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-streaming-webcam\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWhat are the best webcams for streaming, and are 4K ones worth it?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeginners and smaller creators will want to stick with a USB-powered microphone, which are typically incredibly easy to use. Seasoned streamers and vloggers will want an XLR mic for higher-quality audio and high-end production. I've tested a series of microphones from both camps to help creators pick the perfect device for their needs. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhat is the best streaming microphone right now?\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBased on hands-on testing, I chose the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"ff118c54-c93e-4280-9fb6-50abeb5ded2a\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fshure-mv7-dynamic-cardioid-usb-microphone\u002F6439009.p?skuId=6439009\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Shure MV7\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E as my number one pick for the best streaming microphone because of its flexible USB and XLR connectivity, studio-quality output, and robust equalizer settings. Keep reading below to learn more about the Shure MV7 and my other picks for the best streaming microphones available.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe best streaming microphones of 2025\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"375c13a0-e378-4f0a-b8fa-a5cd06a8705e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fsmart-office\u002Fshure-mv7-review\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EShure MV7\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is a quality microphone for both live streaming and recording vocals, music, and interviews. It features a similar build to its big brother, the&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.shure.com\u002Fen-US\u002Fproducts\u002Fmicrophones\u002Fsm7b?variant=SM7B" target="_blank"\u003EShure SM7B,\u003C\u002Fa\u003E&nbsp;which is a popular choice for experienced content creators, but offers more flexibility and a gentler learning curve for beginners.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-twitch-streaming-software\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EYou can go live on Twitch with streaming software, but which is the best?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt connects to your PC via USB for both power and audio (which is ideal for beginners) or&nbsp; XLR cable for more advanced audio setups. This allows the microphone to adapt to your changing needs as your audience grows. When I tested the MV7, I was very impressed by the broadcast quality output and the plug-and-play compatibility with both Windows and macOS computers.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EShure MV7 features – Type:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EDynamic |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECapsule:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Single |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EConnectivity:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Micro USB Type-C, XLR, 3.5mm AUX |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPolar pattern:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Cardioid |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EFrequency response:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;50Hz – 16,000Hz |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDimensions:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;6.5 x 3.6 x 6 inches&nbsp;|&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EWeight:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;1.21 pounds |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERGB:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;No&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Shure MV7\" data-superlative=\"Best streaming microphone overall\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"shure-mv7","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"ZDNet","imageData":{"id":"f5985465-f8db-4568-9cec-c8bc4204f161","title":"shure-mv7","filename":"shure-mv7.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F22\u002Ff5985465-f8db-4568-9cec-c8bc4204f161\u002Fshure-mv7.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":108890,"width":1296,"height":729,"dateCreated":{"date":"2022-08-22 19:08:03","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2022-08-22 19:08:09","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"ZDNet","alt":"shure-mv7","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"f5985465-f8db-4568-9cec-c8bc4204f161","imageAltText":"shure-mv7","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"ZDNet","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"shure-mv7.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F08\u002F22","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":729,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"ZDNet\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"266f38c2-5b93-4730-a45c-712cf955c900","slug":"shure-mv7-plus-k-podcast-xlr-usb-microphone-bundle-with-gator-desktop-stand-black","name":"Shure MV7+-K Podcast XLR\u002FUSB Microphone Bundle with Gator Desktop Stand (Black)","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"AUTOPID","mod":1742586362101,"displayDate":"Fri Mar 21 2025 15:46:02 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0CTJ8BSWN?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0CTJ8BSWN?th=1","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0CTJ8BSWN?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"Windows and Mac compatibility ~ USB and XLR connections ~ Broadcast quality output\" data-dislike=\"Very heavy ~ XLR connection requires preamp and phantom power\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"75345fa2-c9fd-4243-affe-f140d6ca714f\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ESteelSeries tailor-made the Alias Pro XLR microphone for content creators. It comes packaged with an audio mixer base station that doubles as a preamp and phantom power, streamlining the setup for XLR newcomers and those recording audio in smaller spaces. What makes the Alias Pro stand out from other XLR options is its ability to connect to two PCs at once, making it an excellent choice for established creators running dual PC streaming rigs.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe base station connects to your streaming PC and gaming PC via USB-C while the Sonar desktop app provides in-depth equalizing and live-mixing tools. Creators can separate individual programs into different mixer presets for unprecedented control over your input and stream output. The main dial and right mute buttons on the base station can also be programmed to control the volume on different peripherals and programs.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESteelSeries Alias Pro features - Type:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003ECondenser |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECapsule:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;1-inch Clear Cast |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EConnectivity:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EXLR, 3.5mm AUX |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPolar pattern:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Cardioid |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EFrequency response:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;50Hz - 20KHz |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDimensions:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;4.3 x 501 x 9 inches |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EWeight:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;169.5g without stand&nbsp;|&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERGB:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Yes, base station only&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"SteelSeries Alias Pro\" data-superlative=\"Best streaming microphone for dual streaming rigs\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"Close-up of a SteelSeries Alias Pro XLR microphone and base station","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"c6d2f2f8-4445-42d7-8a8c-d5801ef6f892","title":"steelseries-alias-pro","filename":"steelseries-alias-pro.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F01\u002F31\u002Fc6d2f2f8-4445-42d7-8a8c-d5801ef6f892\u002Fsteelseries-alias-pro.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":440600,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-01-31 20:41:11","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-01-31 20:41:34","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET","alt":"Close-up of a SteelSeries Alias Pro XLR microphone and base station","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"c6d2f2f8-4445-42d7-8a8c-d5801ef6f892","imageAltText":"Close-up of a SteelSeries Alias Pro XLR microphone and base station","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"steelseries-alias-pro.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F01\u002F31","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Alias-Pro-Kit-Podcasting\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBNVCCPJ?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Alias-Pro-Kit-Podcasting\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBNVCCPJ","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Alias-Pro-Kit-Podcasting\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBNVCCPJ?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fsteelseries-alias-pro-xlr-microphone%2F6555807.p%3FskuId%3D6555807&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value","offerMerchant":"Best Buy","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fsteelseries-alias-pro-xlr-microphone\u002F6555807.p?skuId=6555807","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fsteelseries-alias-pro-xlr-microphone%2F6555807.p%3FskuId%3D6555807&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"Preamp\u002Fphantom power unit included ~ Packaged with XLR cable ~ Excellent audio output quality\" data-dislike=\"Expensive ~ Sonar app has a bit of a learning curve\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"521b4133-6a8e-47cd-9b1b-e189a920904c\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fhyperx-quadcast-s-review\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EHyperX QuadCast S\u003C\u002Fa\u003E has been my go-to microphone for about 2 years. While it mostly gets used for Slack and Zoom, the QuadCast S can easily switch between work and play. The microphone body features two dials: one for gain adjustment and the other for switching the polar pattern. One feature I really appreciate is that the polar pattern only changes if the HyperX Ngenuity app is open and running, meaning you won't accidentally switch in the middle of a presentation (and my cats can't mess with it while trying to climb the boom arm).&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe HyperX QuadCast S comes with a fairly lightweight desk stand that gives you tons of placement options, as well as an adapter for use on a boom arm (which I prefer, as it helps eliminate thumps and bumps from typing or taking notes during meetings). The QuadCast S has a pop filter built in as well, meaning you won't have to spend extra money or time getting another accessory for better-quality audio. Plus, with its dynamic RGB lighting, you can show off your personal style or match your company's branding.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHyperX QuadCast S features - Type:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003ECondenser |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECapsule:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;3x 14mm |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EConnectivity:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;USB-C, 3.5mm AUX&nbsp; |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPolar pattern:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Multidirectional |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EFrequency response:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;20Hz - 20KHz |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDimensions:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;9.8 x 5.1 x 4 inches |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EWeight:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;.56 pounds |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERGB:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Yes &nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"HyperX QuadCast S\" data-superlative=\"Best USB microphone for streaming\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"untitled-2.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet","imageData":{"id":"200c49d7-4d6f-4111-88ce-ec5f5a5b02d0","title":"untitled-2","filename":"untitled-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F04\u002F12\u002F200c49d7-4d6f-4111-88ce-ec5f5a5b02d0\u002Funtitled-2.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":347845,"width":1600,"height":933,"dateCreated":{"date":"2022-04-12 19:43:01","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2022-04-12 19:43:06","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet","alt":"untitled-2.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"200c49d7-4d6f-4111-88ce-ec5f5a5b02d0","imageAltText":"untitled-2.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"untitled-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F04\u002F12","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":933,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"f229d943-6fb1-43d5-993b-1bda6de91105","slug":"hyperx-quadcast-s-rgb-usb-condenser-microphone-for-pc-ps4-ps5-and-mac-anti-vibration-shock-mount-4-polar-patterns-pop","name":"HyperX QuadCast S – RGB USB Condenser Microphone for PC, PS4, PS5 and Mac, Anti-Vibration Shock Mount, 4 Polar Patterns, Pop Filter, Gain Control, Gaming, Streaming, Podcasts, Twitch, YouTube, Discord","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1742586362232,"displayDate":"Fri Mar 21 2025 15:46:02 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHyperX-QuadCast-Condenser-Microphone-Anti-Vibration\u002Fdp\u002FB08G8WH435?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHyperX-QuadCast-Condenser-Microphone-Anti-Vibration\u002Fdp\u002FB08G8WH435","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHyperX-QuadCast-Condenser-Microphone-Anti-Vibration\u002Fdp\u002FB08G8WH435?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"Great for work and gaming ~ Works with stand and boom arm ~ Simplified controls ~ Built-in pop filter\" data-dislike=\"RGB lighting can be distracting in shared environments ~ Very large ~ Shock mount feels a bit cheap\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"b11d2020-e90e-4b4b-9d69-da72f74aef18\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIf you're looking for a microphone that offers great audio output and costs less than $100, the Blue Snowball Ice is an excellent option. Its compact design is ideal for smaller desks and recording spaces, and the adjustable tripod stand lets you set the perfect height for interviews or monologues. &nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Blue Snowball Ice connects to your computer via USB and has plug-and-play compatibility for both Windows and macOS devices. The mic is also Discord and Skype certified for compatibility, meaning you won't end up tearing your hair out trying to talk to friends and colleagues.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBlue Snowball Ice features - Type:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003ECondenser |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECapsule:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Single&nbsp;|&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EConnectivity:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;USB Type-A |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPolar pattern:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Cardioid |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EFrequency response:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;40Hz - 18KHz |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDimensions:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;4-inch sphere |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EWeight:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;1.01 pounds |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERGB:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;No&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Blue Snowball Ice\" data-superlative=\"Best budget microphone for streaming\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"zdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"a06d8923-4b42-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57","title":"zdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","filename":"zdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2014\u002F10\u002F03\u002Fa06d8923-4b42-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\u002Fzdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","caption":null,"size":37799,"width":460,"height":345,"author":null,"dateCreated":{"date":"2014-10-03 21:17:06","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2014-10-03 21:17:06","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"zdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"a06d8923-4b42-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57","imageAltText":"zdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"zdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2014\u002F10\u002F03","imageWidth":460,"imageHeight":345,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLogitech-Microphone-Streaming-Podcasting-Play-Black\u002Fdp\u002FB006DIA77E\u002F?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLogitech-Microphone-Streaming-Podcasting-Play-Black\u002Fdp\u002FB006DIA77E\u002F","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLogitech-Microphone-Streaming-Podcasting-Play-Black\u002Fdp\u002FB006DIA77E\u002F?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"Under $100 ~ Adjustable tripod stand ~ Compact design\" data-dislike=\"No mute indicator LED ~ Not compatible with boom arm mounting\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"2f6a6ed5-e129-479b-9fb2-7d227aa6dfcd\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmy-go-to-microphone-for-podcasting-and-streaming-over-the-past-decade\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EBlue Yeti\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is one of, if not the most popular microphones for streamers and content creators -- for great reason. The Blue Yeti gives you multiple polar patterns, studio quality output, live headphone monitoring, and plug-and-play compatibility with both Windows and macOS computers for a reasonable price.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt comes with a desk stand but is also compatible with boom arm setups, as long as you get a 5\u002F8-inch threaded adapter. Blue also offers the Yeti in three different colors (silver, black, and blue) to let you show off your style or blend into your studio aesthetic. It is a very large and heavy microphone though, so no matter how you set it up, you'll need a bit more space than you think.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBlue Yeti features - Type:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003ECondenser |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECapsule:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;3x half-inch |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EConnectivity:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;USB, 3.5mm AUX |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPolar pattern:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Multidirectional |\u003Cstrong\u003E&nbsp;Frequency response:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;20Hz - 20KHz |\u003Cstrong\u003E&nbsp;Dimensions:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;4.72 x 4.92 x 11.61 inches |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EWeight:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;1.2 pounds without stand |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERGB:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;No&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Blue Yeti\" data-superlative=\"Best multi-pattern microphone for streaming\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"A silver Blue Yeti microphone next to an open Apple MacBook","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Allison Murray\u002FBlue Microphones\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"3f103c85-cb9c-443d-b4ab-ce38aec7dfb0","title":"Blue Yeti","filename":"img-4635.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F01\u002F31\u002F3f103c85-cb9c-443d-b4ab-ce38aec7dfb0\u002Fimg-4635.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":322673,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-01-31 19:36:38","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-01-31 19:37:11","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Allison Murray\u002FBlue Microphones\u002FZDNET","alt":"A silver Blue Yeti microphone next to an open Apple MacBook","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"3f103c85-cb9c-443d-b4ab-ce38aec7dfb0","imageAltText":"A silver Blue Yeti microphone next to an open Apple MacBook","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Allison Murray\u002FBlue Microphones\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"img-4635.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F01\u002F31","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Allison Murray\u002FBlue Microphones\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Flogitech-blue-yeti-professional-multi-pattern-usb-condenser-gaming-microphone-with-exclusive-streamlabs-themes%2F6511342.p&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value","offerMerchant":"Best Buy","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Flogitech-blue-yeti-professional-multi-pattern-usb-condenser-gaming-microphone-with-exclusive-streamlabs-themes\u002F6511342.p","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Flogitech-blue-yeti-professional-multi-pattern-usb-condenser-gaming-microphone-with-exclusive-streamlabs-themes%2F6511342.p&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"High quality audio output ~ Popular with established creators ~ Multiple polar patterns ~ Stand and boom arm compatibility\" data-dislike=\"Very large and heavy ~ Boom mounting requires adapter ~ Very basic EQ settings\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"99fd82b0-7a7b-4c1c-9be6-26846acba857\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EMy pick for the best streaming microphone is the Shure MV7. Along with broadcast-quality audio, it works with both USB and XLR connections for flexible setup options. It also allows the microphone to adapt to your needs as your audience grows. It also uses a capacitive touch button for muting, reducing harsh "thumps" from traditional inputs. And with the Shure Motive desktop app, you can customize your settings to refine your sound.&nbsp; \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ctable data-title="6x4 Table"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBest mic for streaming\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrice\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConnection\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPattern\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShure MV7 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$299\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUSB\u002FXLR \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMultidirectional \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESteelSeries Alias Pro \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$280\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXLR \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnidirectional cardioid \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHyperX QuadCast S \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$120\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUSB \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMultidirectional \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBlue Snowball Ice \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$60\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUSB \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnidirectional cardioid \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBlue Yeti \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$100\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUSB \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMultidirectional \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003C\u002Ftbody\u003E\u003C\u002Ftable\u003E\u003Cp\u003E*Lowest, non-discounted price at the time of writing. Please note that actual prices may vary depending on available sales, deals, discounts, and coupons.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"What's the best streaming mic?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"571d44ad-1f55-4605-a5f5-09aea98b81dc\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThat mostly depends on your skill level. If you're just starting out or don't have a ton of experience with streaming and recording, you'll want a USB mic with plug-and-play connectivity. If you're an old pro, an XLR mic with fancy preamps, phantom power units, and mixing boards will be more your speed. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ctable data-title="6x2 Table"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuy this best mic for streaming...\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you need...\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShure MV7 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA well-rounded, high-quality microphone for content creation. The Shure MV7 connects via either USB or XLR for flexible use options. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESteelSeries Alias Pro \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA professional quality XLR microphone. The Alias Pro comes packaged with an audio mixer module that doubles as a preamp and phantom power for a streamlined setup. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHyperX QuadCast S \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA USB-connected microphone for streaming. The HyperX QuadCast S features multiple pickup patterns and RGB lighting. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBlue Snowball Ice \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA budget-friendly streaming microphone. The Blue Snowball Ice retails for about $50, letting you save big while still providing quality audio output. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBlue Yeti \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA multidirectional microphone for interviews and podcasts. You can change the pickup pattern on-the-fly for producing different content types. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003C\u002Ftbody\u003E\u003C\u002Ftable\u003E\" data-hed=\"Which streaming mic is right for you?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"d8cb602c-0211-4ba2-99f5-9892c8c5d8e7\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWhile researching and testing each microphone on this list, I and other ZDNET experts kept these criteria in mind:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConnectivity:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EUSB-powered microphones are the simplest to use, and the most affordable, making them perfect for beginners and smaller creators. XLR models require more experience and knowledge, making them more suited to experienced streamers and podcasters.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPickup patterns:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EModern content creators need to be able to produce many different types of videos and audio samples. Some streaming microphone models allow you to change pickup patterns on-the-fly to quickly and easily set up for new media like interviews or single-person long plays.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrice:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EStreaming mics don't have to cost a fortune. Beginners and smaller creators can get high quality sound from just about any USB-powered microphone without spending a mountain of cash. More experienced creators may want to invest in more expensive equipment to keep up with channel growth or changing production needs.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\" data-hed=\"How did we choose these streaming mics?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFAQs on streaming mics\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a37f7e32-cff0-45bf-826b-852c292fa197\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EYou absolutely could, and there are headsets out there with really good microphones (like the \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHyperX-Cloud-Alpha-Adjustable-Leatherette\u002Fdp\u002FB07X6HDSDY\u002F?tag-zdnet-deals-20"\u003EHyperX Cloud Alpha S\u003C\u002Fa\u003E). The downside is that even the best headsets still won't give you the level of audio quality and control that a dedicated microphone will.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Can you just use a headset?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a390faed-251c-4404-8930-960cbb6ed753\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThey are two different connection types, with USB being the most affordable and easiest to use. It works like any other wired USB peripheral. An XLR microphone has a special 3 to 7 pin connector that plugs into a power source or preamp module in order to be functional. Microphones with XLR connections are more commonly found in professional recording studios and radio stations, though there are plenty of models out there available to regular shoppers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"What's the difference between USB and XLR?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"8fe46435-1cd5-4016-a63d-59ff50e09954\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ENot at all! The beauty of a USB microphone is that it will use a single cable for both power and data transmission. Not only does this take up considerably less space than an XLR system, it also allows you to plug-and-play with any compatible device. This means you don't have to lug around a ton of equipment to set up collaboration projects or on-site interviews.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Do USB mics need a pre-amp or phantom power? \" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"01eccfb8-753a-40e3-8bfa-982cbff3f7ce\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003E&nbsp; A lot of modern microphones, both USB and XLR alike, have some sort of noise reduction algorithm they work with to help get rid of background noise. This usually works best for eliminating white noise (that "hiss" you hear during dead air) and most other background sounds. However, no microphone will completely eliminate background noise on its own; you'll most likely have to poke around your stream settings to set up \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fobsproject.com\u002Fkb\u002Fnoise-gate-filter" target="_blank"\u003Enoise gates\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and compression modules to get closer to clean, studio quality output.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Is there a microphone that eliminates background noise?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EOther streaming mics worth considering\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"fe9ff2fa-c650-47d5-aa89-6b61482f5cf3\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe SteelSeries Alias USB is an excellent plug-and-play microphone for both beginner and experienced content creators. It uses a unidirectional pattern and 1-inch capsule for broadcast quality vocals perfect for podcasts, interviews, and gaming.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"SteelSeries Alias\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"Close-up of a SteelSeries Alias USB microphone mounted horizontally on a boom arm","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"11cabba9-1dd1-411e-81ab-d92ed8e6e538","title":"steelseries-alias","filename":"steelseries-alias.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F01\u002F31\u002F11cabba9-1dd1-411e-81ab-d92ed8e6e538\u002Fsteelseries-alias.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":436606,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-01-31 20:15:01","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-01-31 20:15:31","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET","alt":"Close-up of a SteelSeries Alias USB microphone mounted horizontally on a boom arm","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"11cabba9-1dd1-411e-81ab-d92ed8e6e538","imageAltText":"Close-up of a SteelSeries Alias USB microphone mounted horizontally on a boom arm","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"steelseries-alias.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F01\u002F31","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET\" data-linktext=\"Pro sound, beginner price\" data-linkurl=\"Design: Mini Listicle\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"f4681fd0-aa2d-46e5-a23b-9403613ed94b","slug":"steelseries-alias-usb-microphone","name":"SteelSeries - Alias USB Microphone","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1742586366294,"displayDate":"Fri Mar 21 2025 15:46:06 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Alias-USB-Mic-Podcasting\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBNTXNWV?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Alias-USB-Mic-Podcasting\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBNTXNWV","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Alias-USB-Mic-Podcasting\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBNTXNWV?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a7b870a5-20ba-45e0-a93f-a0e024ab2f8d\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe Sennheiser MKE 200 is a perfect choice for mobile content creators. It uses a 3.5mm AUX jack to connect to camera bodies, smartphones, and other devices for fast setup and quality audio just about anywhere.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Sennheiser MKE 200\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"The Sennheiser MKE 200 mounted to a camera, which is on a white background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Sennheiser","imageData":{"id":"734ce361-0730-4b37-9611-73151215264b","title":"sennheiser-mke-200","filename":"sennheiser-mke-200.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F10\u002F12\u002F734ce361-0730-4b37-9611-73151215264b\u002Fsennheiser-mke-200.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":95360,"width":1366,"height":768,"dateCreated":{"date":"2022-10-12 15:19:45","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2022-10-12 15:20:23","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Sennheiser","alt":"The Sennheiser MKE 200 mounted to a camera, which is on a white background","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"734ce361-0730-4b37-9611-73151215264b","imageAltText":"The Sennheiser MKE 200 mounted to a camera, which is on a white background","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Sennheiser","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"sennheiser-mke-200.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F10\u002F12","imageWidth":1366,"imageHeight":768,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Sennheiser\" data-linktext=\"Best mic for on-the-go\" data-linkurl=\"Design: Mini Listicle\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSennheiser-Pro-Audio-microphone-MKE200\u002Fdp\u002FB08C8Y5XDC?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSennheiser-Pro-Audio-microphone-MKE200\u002Fdp\u002FB08C8Y5XDC","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSennheiser-Pro-Audio-microphone-MKE200\u002Fdp\u002FB08C8Y5XDC?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-01 16:22:16",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Ensure your audio is crystal-clear with the top-rated streaming mics for gaming, social media content, podcasts, calls, and more.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"6b6469d4-678a-4055-a41b-69057240bace",image:{id:"f5985465-f8db-4568-9cec-c8bc4204f161",filename:"shure-mv7.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-22 19:08:03",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"shure-mv7",credits:"ZDNet",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F22\u002Ff5985465-f8db-4568-9cec-c8bc4204f161\u002Fshure-mv7.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1296,height:729,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"best-list",hubTopicPathString:"Home & Office^Home Entertainment^Streaming & Services",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"The best streaming mics: Expert tested",section:c,slug:"best-streaming-mic",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"The best streaming mics of 2025: Expert tested",topic:{id:"3fe5970c-6fc5-4541-8760-6b7d755293f7",slug:"streaming-services",name:"Streaming & Services",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"3fe5970c-6fc5-4541-8760-6b7d755293f7",slug:"streaming-services",name:"Streaming & Services",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"af36937c-c95c-4bf0-9c02-831f70ad9a0c",slug:"best-lists",name:"Best Lists",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f1f7db06-c6f9-4e80-8187-60ad48f035a1",slug:"zdnet-recommends",name:"ZDNET Recommends",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Famazons-big-spring-sale-is-back-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-to-shop-savvy\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAmazon Big Spring Sale\u003C\u002Fa\u003E may be officially over, but you can still find great deals if you've been on the fence about picking up any upgrades for your gaming space for less. Other retailers like \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"1c68c745-1d6b-4f32-8ec3-7df535cbb0d4\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Best Buy\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"ff7da142-c875-4fc0-97ea-928e7510323e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walmart.com\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Walmart\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E are also offering their own discounts on gaming tech like laptops, desktops, and gaming monitors, so even if you do miss out, there's a chance you can still catch it on sale somewhere else.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-tech-deals-3-29-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best Amazon Big Spring Sale deals live now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENot only can you find discounts on everything you need for PC gaming, but you can also find markdowns across Amazon for PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch games, console bundles, and accessories. And with new deals going live almost every hour, I've created a list of the best deals for gaming PCs, consoles, and accessories to help you find the right fit for your budget.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercebutton\" data-id=\"78880954-3809-4e71-9827-5d849c0d0a3d\" data-button-text=\"See at Amazon\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fevents\u002Fbigspringsale\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fevents\u002Fbigspringsale?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EBest gaming deals for Amazon Big Spring Sale 2025\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"239f9a54-e0e1-43bc-b807-7887701c2f1b\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FASUS-Display-GeForce-Windows-FA707NV-ES74\u002Fdp\u002FB0C56T56WQ\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Asus TUF A17 gaming laptop\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $1,100 (save $400): An excellent midrange gaming laptop with a 17.3-inch display, 144Hz refresh rate, RTX 4060 graphics card, and AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS processor.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"2db655e1-0874-4f62-9bd1-f67ad53a0ecf\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Portable-Photographers-MU-PE2T0K-AM\u002Fdp\u002FB09VLHP827\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung T7 Shield 2TB portable SSD\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $150 (save $135): Expand your game storage with this rugged 2TB portable SSD, with IP65 moisture and dust resistance and protection against shocks and drops.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"86669229-3891-4ca0-8f09-b8c2adfe6914\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGIGABYTE-2560x1600-GeForce-i7-14650HX-ASG-53USC64SH\u002Fdp\u002FB0CW27V4HC\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Gigabyte Aorus 16X\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $1,500 (save $450): A high-end gaming laptop with a 165Hz refresh rate, RTX 4070 GPU, and Intel Core i7-14650HZ processor.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EGreat gaming deals at other retailers\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBest Buy: \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"71cc4cc2-21b1-4f91-a184-d834bc9bc77f\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fmsi-stealth-18-ai-18-120hz-uhd-ultra-thin-gaming-laptop-intel-core-ultra9-185h-with-32gb-memory-rtx-4080-1tb-ssd-star-blue\u002F6575347.p?skuId=6575347\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Save $800 on the MSI Stealth 18 AI\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWalmart: \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"bf434481-de82-4283-849e-dbca3ba40a3b\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walmart.com\u002Fip\u002FPS5-Digital-Bundle-Astrobot\u002F15223609143?classType=REGULAR&athbdg=L1600&from=\u002Fsearch\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Save $110 on the PlayStation 5 Digital Slim and Astro Bot bundle\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EB&H Photo: \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"5f64ff44-0e33-41c0-85f7-080cae63768e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bhphotovideo.com\u002Fc\u002Fproduct\u002F1878969-REG\u002Facer_ph16_72_96vc_16_predator_helios_16.html\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Save $600 on the Acer Predator Helios 16 gaming laptop\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENewegg: \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"52875d96-df20-4081-96bf-2a45c6b4ade4\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newegg.com\u002Facer-swift-edge-16-home-personal-16-0-amd-ryzen-7-7840u-16gb-memory-1-tb-pcie-ssd-amd-radeon-780m-olivine-black\u002Fp\u002FN82E16834360379?Item=N82E16834360379\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fclick.linksynergy.com\u002Fdeeplink?id=IokOf8qagZo&mid=44583&u1=subid_value&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newegg.com%2Facer-swift-edge-16-home-personal-16-0-amd-ryzen-7-7840u-16gb-memory-1-tb-pcie-ssd-amd-radeon-780m-olivine-black%2Fp%2FN82E16834360379%3FItem%3DN82E16834360379\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Save $570 on the Acer Swift Edge OLED 16\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDell: \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"834803e3-a352-4524-99ff-e826f1a22b60\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fshop\u002Fdell-laptops\u002Falienware-x16-r2-gaming-laptop\u002Fspd\u002Falienware-x16-r2-laptop\u002F#offers-anchor\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.kqzyfj.com\u002Fclick-9041660-15734614?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dell.com%2Fen-us%2Fshop%2Fdell-laptops%2Falienware-x16-r2-gaming-laptop%2Fspd%2Falienware-x16-r2-laptop%2F%23offers-anchor&sid=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Save $500 on the Alienware x16 R2 gaming laptop\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"19ae30eb-1e12-4dbd-8228-12188756abf4\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECurrent price: $1,100\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOriginal price: $1,500\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA mid-range gaming laptop with a 17-inch display that supports a 144Hz refresh rate, and is built with an RTX 4060 graphics card, AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS processor, 1TB SSD, and 16GB of RAM.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Asus TUF A17\" data-superlative=\"for $1,100 (save $400)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"screenshot-2025-02-28-at-12-12-59pm.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Asus\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"eb703870-c1d1-4572-8f0b-4886a70560b1","title":"asus-tuf-a17","filename":"asus-tuf-a17.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F19\u002Feb703870-c1d1-4572-8f0b-4886a70560b1\u002Fasus-tuf-a17.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":271308,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-19 18:23:41","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2025-03-19 18:23:53","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Asus\u002FZDNET","alt":"An Asus TUF A17 laptop on a yellow background","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"eb703870-c1d1-4572-8f0b-4886a70560b1","imageAltText":"screenshot-2025-02-28-at-12-12-59pm.png","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Asus\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"asus-tuf-a17.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F19","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Asus\u002FZDNET\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"86807005-e08c-4b70-8a04-926f281006d2","slug":"asus-tuf-gaming-a17-17-3-144hz-gaming-laptop-fhd-amd-ryzen-7-7735hs-with-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4060-1tb-ssd-mecha","name":"\\"ASUS - TUF Gaming A17 17.3\\"\\" 144Hz Gaming Laptop FHD - AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS with 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 - 1TB SSD - Mecha Gray\\"","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1743516797963,"displayDate":"Tue Apr 01 2025 10:13:17 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FASUS-Display-GeForce-Windows-FA707NV-ES74\u002Fdp\u002FB0C56T56WQ?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single 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The device is built with an Intel Core i7-14650HX CPU, RTX 4070 graphics card, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Gigabyte Aorus 16X\" data-superlative=\"for $1,500 (save $450)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"screenshot-2025-02-28-at-12-12-59pm.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Gigabyte\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"456445df-b3e8-44d4-9a1d-90b4345ebd62","title":"gigabyte-aorus-16x","filename":"gigabyte-aorus-16x.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F19\u002F456445df-b3e8-44d4-9a1d-90b4345ebd62\u002Fgigabyte-aorus-16x.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":327828,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-19 18:30:53","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2025-03-19 18:31:07","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Gigabyte\u002FZDNET","alt":"A Gigabyte Aorus 16X laptop on a yellow background","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"456445df-b3e8-44d4-9a1d-90b4345ebd62","imageAltText":"screenshot-2025-02-28-at-12-12-59pm.png","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Gigabyte\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"gigabyte-aorus-16x.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F19","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Gigabyte\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGIGABYTE-2560x1600-GeForce-i7-14650HX-ASG-53USC64SH\u002Fdp\u002FB0CW27V4HC?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGIGABYTE-2560x1600-GeForce-i7-14650HX-ASG-53USC64SH\u002Fdp\u002FB0CW27V4HC","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGIGABYTE-2560x1600-GeForce-i7-14650HX-ASG-53USC64SH\u002Fdp\u002FB0CW27V4HC?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAmazon Spring Sale 2025 gaming accessories deals\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"049deb2a-14f2-4acb-b2ef-72c0c221c6d4\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"HyperX\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"A HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless gaming headset on a green background\" data-image-filename=\"cloud-alpha-wireless.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F26\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"def61a2b-866b-4872-9663-837f49d91446\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHyperX-Cloud-Alpha-Wireless-Noise-canceling\u002Fdp\u002FB09TRW57WB\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $143 (save $57): The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fhyperx-cloud-alpha-wireless-black-friday-deal-11-27-2024\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECloud Alpha Wireless\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is one of my favorite gaming headsets. It has a 300-hour battery life, DTS Headphone:X spatial audio support, and a noise-canceling mic.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"2e455825-d59d-44cb-9830-c8d72a8ef8b3\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-HyperSpeed-Wireless-Gaming-Mouse\u002Fdp\u002FB09VCR969M\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Razer Viper V2 Pro HyperSpeed wireless\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $100 (save $50): An excellent wireless gaming mouse with a 30K DPI sensor, 90-hour battery life, and 5 programmable buttons.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"36c4aa23-7b75-47ef-99f7-7b583e2a7d31\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Aerox-Wireless-Ultra-Lightweight-Resistant\u002Fdp\u002FB09KMCYKHR\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Aerox-Wireless-Ultra-Lightweight-Resistant\u002Fdp\u002FB09KMCYKHR?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"SteelSeries Aerox 3 wireless\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $60 (save $40): This is a great wireless gaming mouse with an 18K DPI sensor, an ultra-lightweight design, and IP54 moisture and dust resistance.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"2454f686-f75d-4b18-9548-47fcd0e4eb92\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLogitech-Tenkeyless-Lightspeed-Mechanical-LIGHTSYNC\u002Fdp\u002FB085RLZ1C4\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Logitech G915 TKL\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $120 (save $110): A compact, tenkey-less gaming keyboard with integrated RGB lighting, low-profile switches, and 40 hours of playtime.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c0f389e7-9ada-4ef6-9395-e2102648a70e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-BlackWidow-HyperSpeed-Wireless-Mechanical\u002Fdp\u002FB094L5MT97\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $100 (save $100): A tenkey-less, wireless version of Razer's flagship BlackWidow gaming keyboard with Phantom Pudding keycaps, a 200-hour battery, and linear silent switches.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"ee06175a-e020-4c2e-bf24-153831294f62\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLogitech-G502-Performance-Gaming-Mouse\u002Fdp\u002FB07GBZ4Q68\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Logitech G502 Hero\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $39 (save $40): A midrange wired gaming mouse with 11 programmable buttons, adjustable weights, integrated RGB lighting, and a 25K DPI sensor.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"abf99ee2-bd03-4643-93e7-71e411bd389c\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-HyperSpeed-Wireless-Headset-Playstation\u002Fdp\u002FB0BFG1M31B?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Razer Kaira HyperSpeed wireless\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $87 (save $43): This wireless gaming headset for the PS5 features a 30-hour battery life, Bluetooth and USB-C connectivity, and an attached microphone.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"bab72016-47fb-4076-ae09-f613f5a3378e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECurrent price: $110\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegular price: $150\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA high-quality wireless gaming mouse with a 90-hour battery life, 30K DPI optical sensor, 5 programmable buttons, and a total weight of just 63 grams.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro\" data-superlative=\"for $110 (save $40)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"A Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro gaming mouse on a green background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Razer\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"06e8ab34-b74a-4228-917e-edad36bdd9cf","title":"razer-deathadder-v3-pro","filename":"razer-deathadder-v3-pro.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F26\u002F06e8ab34-b74a-4228-917e-edad36bdd9cf\u002Frazer-deathadder-v3-pro.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":141944,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-26 16:23:10","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2025-03-26 16:23:25","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Razer\u002FZDNET","alt":"A Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro gaming mouse on a green background","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"06e8ab34-b74a-4228-917e-edad36bdd9cf","imageAltText":"A Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro gaming mouse on a green background","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Razer\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"razer-deathadder-v3-pro.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F26","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Razer\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-DeathAdder-Wireless-Gaming-Mouse\u002Fdp\u002FB0B6XZLNHQ?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-DeathAdder-Wireless-Gaming-Mouse\u002Fdp\u002FB0B6XZLNHQ","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-DeathAdder-Wireless-Gaming-Mouse\u002Fdp\u002FB0B6XZLNHQ?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAmazon Spring Sale 2025 gaming desktop deals\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"7587a31b-8044-4720-996b-4f83668ff67b\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"MSI\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"An MSI gaming dekstop on a pink background\" data-image-filename=\"gaming-desktop.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F24\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c6303d49-a934-4e77-a19c-6cbd9f257473\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FMSI-Aegis-Gaming-Desktop-C7NUC-817US\u002Fdp\u002FB0D9RGY8PD?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"MSI Aegis Z2\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $1,050 (save $200): A mid-range gaming desktop built with an AMD Ryzen 7 7700 CPU, RTX 4060, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"59ebc982-37c6-4aa1-920b-cc9a1bebdb83\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FAegis-RS2-C14NUE7-818US-i7-14700KF-GeForce\u002Fdp\u002FB0D1H5KHPL?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"MSI Aegis RS2\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $1,900 (save $250): A high-end gaming rig with a 14th gen Intel Core i7 CPU, RTX 4070 Super GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB SSD.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"3200853e-882d-4da2-8c80-541f88f7affb\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSkytech-Gaming-Nebula-PC-Desktop\u002Fdp\u002FB0C8RPW8DS?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Skytech Nebula\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $564 (save $136): An entry-grade gaming desktop built with an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU, Nvidia GTX 1650 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and 500GB SSD.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"1ae9a161-dbac-4a5b-a97d-b10f70f7e303\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECurrent price: $2,200\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegular price: $2,500\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA creator-grade gaming desktop built with an Intel Core i7-14700KF processor, Nvidia RTX 4070 Super graphics card, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Corsair Vengeance i7500\" data-superlative=\"for $2,200 (save $300)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"A Corsair Vengeance i7500 on a purple 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data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"56567d15-d16a-4d54-a55f-23e2bc73cfaf","slug":"corsair-vengeance-i7500-gaming-pc-liquid-cooled-intel-core-i7-14700kf-cpu-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4070-super-gpu-32gb","name":"Corsair Vengeance i7500 Gaming PC – Liquid Cooled Intel Core i7-14700KF CPU – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super GPU – 32GB Vengeance RGB DDR5 Memory – 1TB M.2 SSD – Black","productType":"SERIES","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1743090979119,"displayDate":"Thu Mar 27 2025 11:56:19 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FCorsair-Vengeance-i7500-Gaming-i7-14700KF\u002Fdp\u002FB0DVGX6XLN?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single 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data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"9842cf64-d6c3-4221-94bf-a569be20ecb4\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FMadden-NFL-25-PlayStation-5\u002Fdp\u002FB0D3PGHSM3\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Madden NFL 25\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $30 (save $40): The latest entry in the long-running Madden NFL franchise with updated team rosters and streamlined controls.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"316e68ca-bd02-4f27-a1d0-3c99ea62479b\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FStar-Wars-Outlaws-Limited-Exclusive-PlayStation\u002Fdp\u002FB0D187PJHJ\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Star Wars Outlaws Amazon Exclusive Limited Edition\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $46 (save $24): This Amazon-exclusive version of the game includes character cosmetics for Kay and Nix. \u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"94d0e291-b00d-4e6e-b7a9-93a8e36cd7c5\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FASSASSINS-CREED-MIRAGE-DELUXE-PLAYSTATION-5\u002Fdp\u002FB0BDTR84RP\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Assassin's Creed Mirage Deluxe Edition\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $27 (save $33): A return to form for the Assassin's Creed franchise that has players journey to Alamut, the home of the Assassins to uncover mysteries and take down the Templars.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"201db966-423b-40ea-bfe2-76a7aa15f907\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRatchet-Clank-Rift-Apart-PlayStation-5\u002Fdp\u002FB095T8C99C\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $40 (save $30): Ratchet & Clank are back in an all-new adventure to stop an interdimensional robotic emperor from conquering the universe.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"2ebc0cdb-10e9-4a57-82f9-dafa5e527dd3\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FDead-Island-2-Ultimate-PlayStation-5\u002Fdp\u002FB0DGMPHVC2\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Dead Island 2 Ultimate Edition\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $40 (save $30): This version includes the base game, both Haus and SoLA expansions, three weapons packs, and 7 character cosmetics packs.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c20f558a-5995-41e9-832e-dc3a07b59cfa\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FFinal-Fantasy-VII-Rebirth-PlayStation-5\u002Fdp\u002FB0CGXZQ4CD\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Final Fantasy VII Rebirth exclusive Amazon Edition\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $50 (save $10): The second half of the highly-anticipated FFVII remake, and includes an exclusive Cloud and Sephiroth skin for your PS5 controller.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"401b5bce-7843-4f3a-b483-c95e4976f854\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSilent-Hill-2-PS5-PlayStation-5\u002Fdp\u002FB0CMC3C3Z9\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Silent Hill 2 (2024)\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $60 (save $10): A remake of the PS2 classic with updated visuals and modern mechanics.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"32523aa2-3aaa-4bde-a7fb-67b33a8dd515\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FDragon-Age-Veilguard-PlayStation-5\u002Fdp\u002FB0DCMN43SC\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Dragon Age: The Veilguard standard edition\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $35 (save $35): Enter the world of Thedas and join a team of seven companions to stop corrupt gods from destorying the world.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"0cfff914-aca4-40da-8e94-d037a5d89d21\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FDiablo-IV-PlayStation-5\u002Fdp\u002FB0BPPPPYK7\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Diablo IV standard edition\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $30 (save $40): With both solo and co-op play modes, you can tackle bosses and dungeons and even PVP zones; supports cross-play and cross-progression.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"b5ab6e8e-86e2-41db-87ff-17d2c68f8d81\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSid-Meiers-Civilization%C2%AE-VII-Deluxe-PlayStation\u002Fdp\u002FB0DDR4SQYF?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Sid Meier's Civilization VII deluxe edition\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $90 (save $10): This version includes the base game, Tecumseh and Shawnee pack, Crossroads of the World Collection, 2 bonus leaders, 4 extra profile customizations, and an alternate scout skin.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAmazon Spring Sale 2025 Nintendo Switch deals\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"39872c45-ad94-47b7-8773-373e625884b5\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Nintendo\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"A Nintendo Switch console on a purple background\" data-image-filename=\"nintendo-switch.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F19\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"45cf54e7-f82b-4e8c-a9d9-5aebffb10c68\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSonic-X-Shadow-Generations-Nintendo-Switch\u002Fdp\u002FB0D6JKTRHP\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Sonic X Shadow Generations\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $35 (save $15): Modern and Classic Sonic team up with Shadow the Hedgehog to take on Dr. Eggman and the Time Eater.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"be4d9ccc-c3c3-4b0f-b07d-0a7b20e87861\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FStar-Wars-Heritage-Pack-Nintendo-Switch\u002Fdp\u002FB0CK4Y8YLG\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Star Wars Heritage Pack\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $45 (save $15): This bundle includes seven classic Star Wars game titles, including Republic Commando and Knights of the Old Republic.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"1c7ff2bf-ef5a-42ee-b8a8-bd899dc77402\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLegend-Zelda-Breath-Wild-Nintendo-Switch\u002Fdp\u002FB097B2YWFX\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $53 (save $18): Link returns to Hyrule with new abilities and allies to take on Ganon.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c02b4970-8093-40e2-8776-836b847fe3cb\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FMario-Kart-8-Deluxe-Nintendo-Switch\u002Fdp\u002FB01N1037CV\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mario Kart 8 Deluxe\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $50 (save $10): The ever-popular kart racing game lets you take on friends in local or online matches or test your skill against several race modes.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"6f90cb85-dd7b-4753-8fce-ac5e087e57f3\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSuper-Mario-Odyssey-US-Version-Switch\u002Fdp\u002FB01MY7GHKJ\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Super Mario Odyssey\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $45 (save $15): Mario's new ally Cappy gives him all-new powers to solve puzzles and save Princess Peach from Bowser's wedding plans.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"f3479d4d-649d-4146-888c-0a1b1dfcf248\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECurrent price: $50\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegular price: $60\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlay as Princess Zelda as she embarks on a journey across Hyrule to save Link and the kingdom from the evil of Ganon.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom\" data-superlative=\"for $47 (save $13)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"The game case for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom on a purple background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Nintendo\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"925d8ddc-f4f6-492f-b6c2-fc4f4130758c","title":"The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of 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data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLegend-Zelda-Echoes-Wisdom-Nintendo-Switch\u002Fdp\u002FB0D8SDKKVW?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLegend-Zelda-Echoes-Wisdom-Nintendo-Switch\u002Fdp\u002FB0D8SDKKVW","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLegend-Zelda-Echoes-Wisdom-Nintendo-Switch\u002Fdp\u002FB0D8SDKKVW?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAmazon Spring Sale 2025 Xbox Series X|S deals\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"15b09a97-0d05-4933-a021-d7ae78ece562\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Microsoft\u002FXbox\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"An Xbox Series X console and controller on a green background\" data-image-filename=\"xbox-series-x.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F19\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"71532d94-f081-476e-b476-5bf29388b27f\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FMetaphor-ReFantazio-Launch-Xbox-X\u002Fdp\u002FB0D2GBL8L2\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Metaphor ReFantazio Launch Edition\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $45 (save $25): A turn-based RPG from the developers behind the popular Persona series.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c0e486e9-5109-4605-b448-936dc20ece17\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FS-T-L-K-R-Heart-Chernobyl-Xbox\u002Fdp\u002FB09F1D1WXJ\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $40 (save $20): Explore the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone and shape your own destiny as you fight dangerous enemies and collect powerful artifacts.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"2a9e49d4-23f6-4ad8-9e17-155b65c5372a\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FStarfield-Standard-Xbox-X\u002Fdp\u002FB0C7PN2L5V\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Starfield standard edition\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $48 (save $20): Bethesda's first new universe in over 25 years has players jet-setting across the stars to settle new planets and try to answer humanity's greatest mystery.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"b28ff3ef-53db-4e21-8b64-9e1d2940ff3e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FAlone-Dark-Xbox-X-S\u002Fdp\u002FB0B9HP9JF8?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Alone in the Dark (2022)\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $33 (save $27): A remake of the cult-classic 90s horror game with two playable characters to choose from, ramped-up psychological horror, and a great doom-jazz soundtrack.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"0f0e0540-7cd4-4ccc-9ed0-0e5a30b478b4\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECurrent price: $40\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegular price: $70\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChoose from one of 6 characters to fight your way through the streets of HELL-A in this zombie melee sandbox. The ultimate edition includes the base game, Haus and SoLA expansions, 6 character packs, weapons packs, and other exclusive in-game cosmetics.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Dead Island 2 Ultimate Edition\" data-superlative=\"for $40 (save $30)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"The cover art for Dead Island 2 on a purple background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Microsoft\u002FDeep Silver\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"eddabf83-5d09-4413-b36c-e1ccdda1c25f","title":"dead-island-2","filename":"dead-island-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F26\u002Feddabf83-5d09-4413-b36c-e1ccdda1c25f\u002Fdead-island-2.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":437408,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-26 17:02:07","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2025-03-26 17:02:26","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Microsoft\u002FDeep Silver\u002FZDNET","alt":"The cover art for Dead Island 2 on a purple background","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"eddabf83-5d09-4413-b36c-e1ccdda1c25f","imageAltText":"The cover art for Dead Island 2 on a purple background","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Microsoft\u002FDeep Silver\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"dead-island-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F26","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Microsoft\u002FDeep Silver\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FDead-Island-2-Ultimate-Xbox-X\u002Fdp\u002FB0DGM8V62V?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FDead-Island-2-Ultimate-Xbox-X\u002Fdp\u002FB0DGM8V62V","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FDead-Island-2-Ultimate-Xbox-X\u002Fdp\u002FB0DGM8V62V?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAmazon Spring Sale SSD and storage deals\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"7168a389-7bb8-4b47-856b-3dcc7757e599\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Samsung\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"ssd\" data-image-filename=\"ssd.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F21\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"f3804ac4-10aa-47ab-85f4-d0d3a916c4e7\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Expansion-Compatible-Playstation5-MZ-V9P2T0CW\u002Fdp\u002FB0BHJDY57J\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Expansion-Compatible-Playstation5-MZ-V9P2T0CW\u002Fdp\u002FB0BHJDY57J?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung 990 Pro 2TB with heatsink\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $180 (save $90): This 2TB internal SSD features an integrated heatsink to help keep the drive running at optimal temperatures.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"4b5631ec-c516-486b-8bef-a32ccdeb28bc\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Technology-Intelligent-Turbowrite-MZ-V9S4T0B\u002Fdp\u002FB0DHLBDSP7?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung 990 Evo Plus 4TB M.2 SSD\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $250 (save $95): This internal SSD gives you read and write speeds up to 7250MB\u002Fs and is great for desktops, laptops, and consoles.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"fc15ed95-6d7b-44c1-a0a2-b823e1fb278c\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-microSD-MicroSDXC-MB-MD512SA-AM\u002Fdp\u002FB0C1PRYPYX\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung Pro Plus microSD 512GB\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $40 (save $35): This microSD card includes a full-sized adapter and is perfect for expanding storage on your gaming smartphone or Nintendo Switch.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"d32dfb5b-093a-40a2-b408-c88f08167998\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FKingston-Renegade-Internal-SFYRD-4000G\u002Fdp\u002FB09K3PSWD2\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Kingston Fury Renegade 4TB M.2 SSD\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $280 (save $104): An excellent choice for expanding your desktop, laptop, or PlayStation 5 storage with 4TB of space and read\u002Fwrite speeds up to 7300MB\u002Fs.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"d66d8f11-b0b8-4f84-99c6-3812933372c9\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Inch-Internal-MZ-77E1T0B-AM\u002Fdp\u002FB08QBJ2YMG?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung 870 Evo SATA III 1TB SSD\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $97 (save $50): A budget-friendly SATA SSD with 1TB of storage, making it perfect for smaller game libraries.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"8639b7db-64df-41e2-8cca-b4560cc954b1\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSanDisk-Extreme-Solid-State-Flash\u002Fdp\u002FB08GYPZ8GN\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB SSD flashdrive\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $90 (save $55): Get the speed and reliability of an SSD with the portability of a flash drive with this 1TB option.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"7a2cd92c-3be4-475f-bc1f-cba629dbf6c0\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECurrent price: $180\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegular price: $300\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA tough portable SSD with an integrated thermal guard, AES 256-bit encryption, and a case that can handle drops up to 10 feet.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Samsung T9 2TB portable SSD\" data-superlative=\"for $180 (save $120)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"A Samsung T9 portable SSD on a pink background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Samsung\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"6d5a50e7-0876-4cda-b018-0eba07da60d9","title":"samsung-t9","filename":"samsung-t9.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F26\u002F6d5a50e7-0876-4cda-b018-0eba07da60d9\u002Fsamsung-t9.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":187234,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-26 17:07:32","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2025-03-26 17:07:45","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Samsung\u002FZDNET","alt":"A Samsung T9 portable SSD on a pink background","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"6d5a50e7-0876-4cda-b018-0eba07da60d9","imageAltText":"A Samsung T9 portable SSD on a pink background","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Samsung\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"samsung-t9.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F26","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Samsung\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Portable-Professionals-MU-PG2T0B-AM\u002Fdp\u002FB0CHFS9K14?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Portable-Professionals-MU-PG2T0B-AM\u002Fdp\u002FB0CHFS9K14","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Portable-Professionals-MU-PG2T0B-AM\u002Fdp\u002FB0CHFS9K14?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAmazon Spring Sale gaming monitor deals\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"216c5153-8331-4381-a4cd-824fec85f7b8\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Acer\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"gaming-monitor\" data-image-filename=\"gaming-monitor.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F20\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"e9f5d53c-859c-4f6e-bac7-0bd2e53afe4e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FAlienware-AW3423DWF-Curved-QD-OLED-Monitor\u002Fdp\u002FB09VQ48X5Q\u002F?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Alienware AW3423DW 34-inch curved monitor\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $700 (save $400): This curved gaming monitor uses a QD-OLED panel for better color accuracy and contrast as well as 1440p resolution, a 175Hz refresh rate, and 0.1ms response time.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"edf27056-e74f-4a82-8d2d-ac8e6bb6b205\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FPredator-Monitor-FreeSync-Premium-1000nits\u002Fdp\u002FB0C9L9MQF3\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Acer Predator X27U 27-inch\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $500 (save $500): This high-end gaming monitor is built with an OLED panel for better color and contrast and up to a 240Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium VRR support, and a 0.01ms response time.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"8fed3e71-fa80-45db-acd3-a9f8b3f22f55\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Odyssey-Gaming-Curved-Monitor\u002Fdp\u002FB0BJHQ4LXR?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung Odyssey G6 curved 32-inch\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $400 (save $400): A mid-range gaming monitor with a 32-inch display, 1440p resolution, and 240Hz refresh rate.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"7d9b2530-d27b-4adf-ac27-aeef68374fbb\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Mini-LED-FreeSync-Adjustable-LS55CG970NNXGO\u002Fdp\u002FB0CDQKYXTC?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung Odyssey Ark 2nd gen 55-inch\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $1,800 (save $900): A truly impressive 55-inch Mini-LED gaming monitor with a 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, HDR10+, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR support.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"09c2f37c-0a75-45fc-b246-a9b01ddc67da\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLG-UltraGear-34GP63A-B-Compatibility-FreeSync\u002Fdp\u002FB0B928B6BC\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"LG UltraGear 34-inch curved gaming monitor\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $260 (save $140): This widescreen gaming monitor gives you a 160Hz refresh rate, HDR10 support, and AMD FreeSync Premium VRR to prevent screen tearing and stuttering.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"9f7c96e2-38ee-4b05-a4da-dcc3a3058fea\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLG-45GS95QE-UltraGear-DisplayHDR-DisplayPort\u002Fdp\u002FB0CV1WNF1Q\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"LG UltraGear OLED 54-inch curved gaming monitor\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $1,050 (save $650): A high-end OLED gaming monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate. 0.03ms response time, and support for both AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync VRR.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"a4428d89-f51d-4390-b3b3-95e5c474587d\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Facer-Predator-Quantum-FreeSync-1000nits\u002Fdp\u002FB0D8LFHH4D\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Acer Predator X32 OLED 32-inch\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $900 (save $300): This high-end gaming monitor uses an OLED panel for better contrast, detailing, and color accuracy. You'll get 4K resolution, a 250Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms response time, and AMD FreeSync Premium VRR support.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"bf024407-b85c-4a8f-8d67-60ab33f2ca2e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECurrent price: $720\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegular price: $1,300\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA high-end gaming and content creation monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and support for both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 32-inch\" data-superlative=\"for $720 (save $580)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"A Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 monitor on a blue background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Samsung\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"79e9a288-543f-4e6f-b85d-e7fa8ee34425","title":"samsung-odyssey-neo-g8","filename":"samsung-odyssey-neo-g8.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F31\u002F79e9a288-543f-4e6f-b85d-e7fa8ee34425\u002Fsamsung-odyssey-neo-g8.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":262493,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-31 16:32:04","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2025-03-31 16:32:17","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Samsung\u002FZDNET","alt":"A Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 monitor on a blue background","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"79e9a288-543f-4e6f-b85d-e7fa8ee34425","imageAltText":"A Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 monitor on a blue background","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Samsung\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"samsung-odyssey-neo-g8.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F31","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Samsung\u002FZDNET\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"371f607c-2e4e-43f9-8c5c-b48f4f282d10","slug":"samsung-32-odyssey-neo-g8-curved-4k-uhd-freesync-premium-pro-g-sync-compatible-240hz-1ms-gaming-monitor-black","name":"\\"Samsung - 32\\"\\" Odyssey Neo G8 Curved 4K UHD FreeSync Premium Pro & G-Sync Compatible 240Hz 1ms Gaming Monitor - Black\\"","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1743516857485,"displayDate":"Tue Apr 01 2025 10:14:17 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Odyssey-FreeSync-Ultrawide-DisplayPort\u002Fdp\u002FB09ZH3WM47?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Odyssey-FreeSync-Ultrawide-DisplayPort\u002Fdp\u002FB09ZH3WM47","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Odyssey-FreeSync-Ultrawide-DisplayPort\u002Fdp\u002FB09ZH3WM47?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFAQs\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhen is Amazon's Spring Sale 2025? \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmazon's Spring Sale runs from March 25 through March 31. This gives you almost an entire week to snag deep discounts on everything from SSDs and gaming laptops to digital game titles and headsets. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EAre games, consoles, and gaming accessories really cheaper during Amazon sales? \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey can be. While we usually see the best discounts on all things gaming during the winter holidays, Amazon's Spring Sale and competing events at retailers like Best Buy and Walmart mean you can compare prices and discounts to get the best deals.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EHow did we choose these Spring Sale deals?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile plenty of gaming laptops and accessories are discounted for the Amazon Spring Sale, not all sales are created equal. I focused on reputable brands like PowerA, SteelSeries, HyperX, and more to find the best value in accessories and peripherals. I also focused on top brands like HP, MSI, and Asus for gaming laptops and desktops with higher-end builds to help you find the best configurations for the best prices.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhat are the best Amazon Spring Sale 2025 deals?  \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZDNET's experts are searching through Amazon Spring Sale deals to find the best discounts by category. These are the best deals so far:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-tech-deals-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest Spring Sale deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-laptop-deals-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest laptop deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-tv-deals-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest TV deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-phone-deals-3-27-25\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest phone deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-apple-deals-march-2025-amazon-spring-sale\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest Apple deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fkitchen-household\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-robot-vacuum-deals-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest robot vacuum deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-gaming-deals-3-25-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest gaming, PC, and Nintendo deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-health-and-fitness-wearable-deals-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest smartwatch and fitness wearable deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-headphone-deals-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest headphone deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can also find the best Amazon Spring Sale deals by price:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-deals-under-25-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest deals under $25\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-deals-under-50-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest deals under $50\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd the best deals from other retailers this week:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-anti-amazon-spring-sale-deals-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest anti-Amazon Spring Sale deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003EZDNET Recommends\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"9cf46855-fbde-486c-a507-8ff081f08d87\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F9cf46855-fbde-486c-a507-8ff081f08d87\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-01 14:29:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The Amazon Spring Sale may have ended yesterday, but you can still find great deals on PS5 games, gaming monitors, and more.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"c347c7f0-78b9-4be7-a828-05b15225ae8a",image:{id:"ba44ed51-68be-4688-8f5d-99e11c975dc9",filename:"gaming-deals-spring-sale.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2025-03-28 03:15:25",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"gaming-deals-spring-sale",credits:"ZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F28\u002Fba44ed51-68be-4688-8f5d-99e11c975dc9\u002Fgaming-deals-spring-sale.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2000,height:1125,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"deals-roundup",hubTopicPathString:"Home & Office^Home Entertainment^Gaming",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"The 59 best Amazon Spring Sale gaming deals: Last chance to save on laptops, PS5 games, and more",section:c,slug:"best-amazon-spring-sale-gaming-deals-4-01-2025",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"I found the 59 best Amazon Spring Sale gaming deals still available",topic:{id:"f07e8684-3ad4-438d-a6b4-0665b9de2f60",slug:"gaming",name:"Gaming",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"f07e8684-3ad4-438d-a6b4-0665b9de2f60",slug:"gaming",name:"Gaming",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"0fb7a83c-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"amazon",name:"Amazon",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"9841d7c0-1be2-42d4-963b-3d0c080290bc",slug:"tech",name:"Tech",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"eaece766-f666-4dd7-a912-a57ae1cbb714",slug:"gaming-devices",name:"Gaming Devices",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"294e47d5-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"Ed Bott",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Ed",lastName:"Bott",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e",filename:"ed-bott.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:06:03",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e\u002Fed-bott.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than three decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. He has served as editor of the U.S. edition of PC Computing and managing editor of PC World; both publications had monthly paid circulation in excess of 1 million during his tenure. He is the author of more than 25 books, including Windows 10 Inside Out (now in its 4th edition) and Windows 11 Inside Out (2023).",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"91ea08f4-f573-4224-a5ea-d8f29110d98f\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Olemedia\u002FGetty Images\" data-image-alt-text=\"data tunnel concept\" data-image-filename=\"gettyimages-2166499240.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F31\" data-image-width=\"2309\" data-image-height=\"1299\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-a-vpn-and-why-do-you-need-one-all-your-virtual-private-network-questions-answered\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Evirtual private network\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (VPN) can be an important tool in your online protection routine, but only if you know exactly what a VPN can and can't do. Used properly, a VPN can enhance your security and privacy, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-travel-vpn\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eespecially when traveling\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, but it's not a replacement for other tools. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe basic concept behind a VPN is simple: Software running on your PC encrypts every bit of network traffic before it reaches your PC's network adapter, then it sends that encrypted data to a remote server operated by the VPN service. That remote server sends the data to the public internet. The encrypted \"tunnel\" between your device and the VPN server is what makes the network both \u003Cem\u003Evirtual\u003C\u002Fem\u003E and \u003Cem\u003Eprivate\u003C\u002Fem\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-use-public-wi-fi-safely\u002F\"\u003EHow to use public Wi-Fi safely: 5 things to know before you connect\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany corporate networks will only allow remote connections over a VPN, usually using software tightly integrated with the corporate network. If you manage your own PC and network, you can install consumer-grade VPN software for connecting to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhy-you-shouldnt-connect-to-insecure-networks-with-your-mobile-device\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Euntrusted networks\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, such as those in airports and coffee shops.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhen and why to use a VPN\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe benefit of this type of network is twofold. First, it prevents anyone on your local network from spying on your internet traffic. That's especially important if you're connected to a Wi-Fi network that's not under your control. Using a VPN also prevents your internet service provider from snooping on your activity. It can see your connection to the VPN, but ts has no visibility into the traffic within that encrypted tunnel.   \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4914532\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESecond, it allows you to disguise your location, which prevents some types of tracking and also makes it possible to bypass geographic restrictions on some services. For example, if you're in Europe and want to watch a movie that's restricted to the US, you might be able to fool the streaming service by connecting to a VPN in the US.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut even the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-vpn\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ebest VPNs\u003C\u002Fa\u003E are resource-intensive and can significantly impact your network bandwidth, so you should only employ them when needed.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fis-a-vpn-ready-router-secretly-the-best-wi-fi-upgrade-i-tested-one-and-heres-my-advice\u002F\"\u003EIs a VPN-ready router secretly the best Wi-Fi upgrade? I tested one to find out\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen I'm in an airport or hotel, I prefer to tether my mobile phone to my laptop (or bring a device with a built-in cellular connection) to avoid the risks of that untrusted network. But if the cellular signal is weak or unavailable and I have no choice but to connect to that public Wi-Fi, I use the paid \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"ebf1da05-3d91-4736-a33a-de0b93eba66a\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.namecheap.com\u002Fvpn\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"FastVPN\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"62141fb4-7629-412d-a93b-6244d4ceb12f\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fprotonvpn.com\u002Fpricing\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Proton VPN\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E service. My colleague \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fmeet-the-team\u002Fjason-perlow\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EJason Perlow\u003C\u002Fa\u003E uses \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"15db99bd-bd5c-4b97-8a4f-1f0ff3382e3e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.expressvpn.com\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"ExpressVPN\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"It's compatible with OpenVPN, an open-source VPN protocol,\" Perlow says, \"which means I can use it with all the devices I own -- iOS, Android, Windows, even on my network firewall.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe most detailed comparison of VPN providers around is in this \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdocs.google.com\u002Fspreadsheets\u002Fd\u002F1CRtEQzSVE59jj5ROKZlttkRtUpJfcc4mgMT7Wn1aBcA\u002Fpubhtml\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Espreadsheet\u003C\u002Fa\u003E maintained by a very dedicated \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.reddit.com\u002Fr\u002FrateVPNs\u002Fcomments\u002F1gw58mk\u002Fthe_ultimate_vpn_comparison_spreadsheet\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EReddit moderator\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EVPNs don't protect you from malware \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERegardless of which option you choose, nothing in that VPN looks for threats to your PC. If you download malicious software or visit a website containing a drive-by exploit, the fact that your network is private is irrelevant. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-travel-vpn\u002F\"\u003EThe best travel VPNs of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe same is true if you or someone in your home or office gets taken in by a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-phishing-how-to-protect-yourself-from-scam-emails-and-more\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ephishing email\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Typing your credentials into a bogus website generally leads to bad outcomes, and a VPN won't magically protect you from that sort of error.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor effective protection against malware, you need \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-antivirus\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esecurity software\u003C\u002Fa\u003E specifically designed to sniff out malicious software, regardless of how it's delivered.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EStay ahead of security news with \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003ETech Today\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, delivered to your inbox every morning.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"6765f19d-41fe-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F6765f19d-41fe-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-01 10:00:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"There are many good reasons to use a VPN, especially when traveling. But be sure you know exactly where that protection starts and stops.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"89c4fcc8-8373-4d17-bbd2-54b4c1a02b08",image:{id:"91ea08f4-f573-4224-a5ea-d8f29110d98f",filename:"gettyimages-2166499240.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2025-03-31 23:23:21",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"aavpnpool-gettyimages-1305304275",credits:"grinvalds\u002FGetty Images",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F31\u002F91ea08f4-f573-4224-a5ea-d8f29110d98f\u002Fgettyimages-2166499240.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2309,height:1299,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Security^VPN",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"will-using-a-vpn-help-protect-you-from-malware-or-ransomware",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Will using a VPN help protect you from malware or ransomware?",topic:{id:"e5be9bf6-59dd-4954-b3b3-ee691565f832",slug:"vpn",name:"VPN",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"e5be9bf6-59dd-4954-b3b3-ee691565f832",slug:"vpn",name:"VPN",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10e2a445-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"networking",name:"Networking",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"41040cf0-0abb-4cd0-aad1-1cb0e38b334c",slug:"windows-11",name:"Windows 11",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"926c7fe3-bac7-46e3-b421-bf633d90ee73",slug:"productivity",name:"Productivity",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"a1b0bfb9-f561-4420-a0d7-d5825ba93aa4\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Sapphire\u002FAMD\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"A Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT graphics card on an orange background\" data-image-filename=\"sapphire-radeon.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F28\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you've been disappointed by the lack of graphics card deals during the Amazon Spring Sale, right now at Walmart you can pick up a \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"efd8eaec-364f-4592-a758-77a3d23e300d\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walmart.com\u002Fip\u002FSAPPHIRE-PULSE-Radeon-RX-7800-XT-16GB-GDDR6-PCI-Express-4-0-x16-ATX-Video-Card-11330-02-20G\u002F5018880824\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E for $690. That's a discount of $335 that you can put towards upgrading the rest of your gaming setup.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-anti-amazon-spring-sale-deals-3-28-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best anti-Amazon Spring Sale deals live now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"710ffd8f-b930-4dfd-913a-0f9bd7bf289e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT for $691 (save $335 at Walmart)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"A Sapphire Radeon RX 7800 XT graphics card on an orange background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Sapphire\u002FAMD\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"c5c9d83a-4f30-4031-82cd-00210a2a2762","filename":"sapphire-radeon-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F28\u002Fc5c9d83a-4f30-4031-82cd-00210a2a2762\u002Fsapphire-radeon-2.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-28 22:11:28","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"c5c9d83a-4f30-4031-82cd-00210a2a2762","imageFilename":"sapphire-radeon-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F28"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Sapphire\u002FAMD\u002FZDNET\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walmart.com\u002Fip\u002FSAPPHIRE-PULSE-Radeon-RX-7800-XT-16GB-GDDR6-PCI-Express-4-0-x16-ATX-Video-Card-11330-02-20G\u002F5018880824\" data-offerprice=\"691\" data-offerpricerange=\"4\" data-offerpricetext=\"Save 33%\" data-offermerchant=\"Walmart\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgoto.walmart.com\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F565706\u002F9383?&sharedid=zdnet&partnerpropertyid=1980086&u=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walmart.com\u002Fip\u002FSAPPHIRE-PULSE-Radeon-RX-7800-XT-16GB-GDDR6-PCI-Express-4-0-x16-ATX-Video-Card-11330-02-20G\u002F5018880824&subId1=subid_value\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"85b3628f-49ef-4e87-8f70-b19cdcbfbb6d","slug":"sapphire-pulse-radeon-rx-7800-xt-16gb-gddr6-pci-express-4-0-x16-atx-video-card-11330-02-20g","name":"SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB GDDR6 PCI Express 4.0 x16 ATX Video Card 11330-02-20G","productType":"SERIES","updateType":"AUTOPID","mod":1743198591897,"displayDate":"Fri Mar 28 2025 17:49:51 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis AMD desktop graphics card has 16GB of DDR6 VRAM and a base clock speed of 2124MHz, which is plenty of power to handle just about any triple-A game in your library or on your wishlist. But if you want to get just a little more out of your GPU, it's able to be overclocked to 2430MHz -- though this is only recommended for experienced PC builders and gamers, as overclocking your components may void warranties or damage delicate electronics if not done correctly.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead more:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-gaming-deals-3-28-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best Amazon Spring Sale 2025 gaming deals you can buy now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith 2 HDMI and 2 DisplayPort outputs, the RX 7800 XT is capable of supporting up to four external displays, making it perfect for content creators and other creative professionals who may need a multi-screen setup to streamline their workflow and multitask in various programs and applications for projects and livestreams. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EZDNET Recommends\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd unlike the high-end Nvidia 40 Series GPUs, you won't have to invest in a new, full-size tower case to make sure it fits. With dual cooling fans and a compact 11 x 5.1 x 2.1 inch design, it's a near-perfect fit for many mid- and full-size towers; and if you're running a mini-ATX or other micro-compact format like a fanless laptop and looking to pick up the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"1e3a5e4d-75f6-47fb-80bd-d8cb0fe9465e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walmart.com\u002Fip\u002FSAPPHIRE-PULSE-Radeon-RX-7800-XT-16GB-GDDR6-PCI-Express-4-0-x16-ATX-Video-Card-11330-02-20G\u002F5018880824\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, you might want to pick up an external GPU housing for a hassle-free way to instantly boost your PC's graphics capabilities.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow I rated this deal:\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile this isn't the deepest discount I've seen on this particular graphics card (it was 55% off during Walmart's Black Friday sale), it's still the steepest markdown I can find on any GPU available at any retailer. With many stores only offering a disappointing $50-100 off both Nvidia and AMD options, Walmart has this AMD card marked down almost $350.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"3f1e70db-625b-4dda-bd59-485712352f28\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWhile Walmart doesn't list a definitive end-date for the discount on the Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT graphics card, you won't want to wait around to pick one up. Not only is this one of the best GPU deals I've seen since before the chip shortage, Walmart and Sapphire have limited stock available at this price. This means that the discount may end when they sell a certain number of units. Walmart may also have low physical stock in general, which means a deal this good will make it harder to find in your area the longer you wait.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"When will this deal expire?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"0e88d422-b314-4fb1-91c8-eb6d5975f868\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWe aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor's deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members' expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhow-we-rate-deals-at-zdnet-in-2025\u002F"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow we rate deals at ZDNET in 2025\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How do we rate deals at ZDNET?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"9cf46855-fbde-486c-a507-8ff081f08d87\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F9cf46855-fbde-486c-a507-8ff081f08d87\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-03-31 22:16:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Whether you're building a new gaming PC or just looking to upgrade your current build, you can save $335 on a Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT at Walmart. But you'll have to hurry - it's selling fast",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"bffd1c61-59c8-4437-b760-10965335ac02",image:{id:"a1b0bfb9-f561-4420-a0d7-d5825ba93aa4",filename:"sapphire-radeon.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2025-03-28 22:10:44",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"A Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT graphics card on an orange background",credits:"Sapphire\u002FAMD\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F28\u002Fa1b0bfb9-f561-4420-a0d7-d5825ba93aa4\u002Fsapphire-radeon.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1296,height:720,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"deals",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"Save $335 on the Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT at Walmart",section:c,slug:"radeon-rx-7800-xt-graphics-card-amazon-spring-sale-deal-03-28-2025",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"The best graphics card deal this week isn't part of Amazon's Spring Sale - and it's back in stock",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"9841d7c0-1be2-42d4-963b-3d0c080290bc",slug:"tech",name:"Tech",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"9e387438-bfb1-47c2-a8a5-71be354f69de",slug:"home-entertainment",name:"Home Entertainment",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"eaece766-f666-4dd7-a912-a57ae1cbb714",slug:"gaming-devices",name:"Gaming Devices",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f07e8684-3ad4-438d-a6b4-0665b9de2f60",slug:"gaming",name:"Gaming",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"55becc1b-193f-4a07-841a-4950ce305d4b\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"HP\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Two HP Victus 16 gaming laptops on an orange background\" data-image-filename=\"hp-victus-16-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F26\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"4077f291-8c79-479b-9a37-0b3321960a35\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fhp-victus-16-1-gaming-laptop-amd-ryzen-7-8845hs-16gb-ddr5-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4070-512gb-ssd-mica-silver\u002F6578934.p?skuId=6578934\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fhp-victus-15-6-full-hd-144hz-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-3050-512gb-ssd-performance-blue%2F6570600.p%3FskuId%3D6570600&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"HP Victus 16\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E is a solid gaming laptop built with an AMD Ryzen 7 8000 series CPU, RTX 4070 graphics card, and 16GB of RAM. Now, Best Buy has this 16-inch model at 40% off. That means you can save $600 and pay just $900 for an excellent gaming laptop that won't break the bank. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-tech-deals-3-26-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best Amazon Spring Sale deals live now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"3e46bc52-7352-45d8-b4f4-755859b6f4c6\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"HP Victus 16 for $900 (save $600)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"An HP Victus 16 gaming laptop on an orange background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"HP\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"ea590e60-5b65-4f5f-9c24-a836876d889f","filename":"hp-victus-16-1.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F26\u002Fea590e60-5b65-4f5f-9c24-a836876d889f\u002Fhp-victus-16-1.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-26 18:08:35","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"ea590e60-5b65-4f5f-9c24-a836876d889f","imageFilename":"hp-victus-16-1.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F26"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"HP\u002FZDNET\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fhp-victus-16-1-gaming-laptop-amd-ryzen-7-8845hs-16gb-ddr5-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4070-512gb-ssd-mica-silver\u002F6578934.p?skuId=6578934\" data-offerprice=\"900\" data-offerpricerange=\"5\" data-offerpricetext=\"Save 40%\" data-offermerchant=\"Best Buy\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fhp-victus-16-1-gaming-laptop-amd-ryzen-7-8845hs-16gb-ddr5-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4070-512gb-ssd-mica-silver\u002F6578934.p?skuId=6578934&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"af58b0ef-c42f-4c09-8e56-e338c9c9d7a4","slug":"hp-victus-16-1-gaming-laptop-amd-ryzen-7-8845hs-16gb-ddr5-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4070-512gb-ssd-mica-silver","name":"\\"HP - Victus 16.1\\"\\" Gaming Laptop - AMD Ryzen 7-8845HS - 16GB DDR5 Memory - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 - 512GB SSD - Mica Silver\\"","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1743012508589,"displayDate":"Wed Mar 26 2025 14:08:28 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis Victus 16 configuration includes an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card and a screen capable of a 144Hz refresh rate for buttery smooth action during fast-paced or action-heavy scenes in your favorite games. Additionally, this laptop uses an advanced technique for cooling the computer: Hot air is blown out of the bottom of the laptop to ensure the computer maintains a good temperature while you game.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-gaming-deals-3-26-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best Amazon Spring Sale gaming deals you can shop now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EZDNET Recommends\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and an AMD Ryzen 7-8845HS processor, this system can put the power to where your system needs it most during gaming. You'd think with all the powerful components in this laptop, the battery life would suffer. But it doesn't. This laptop features a battery that can last up to 8 hours and 15 minutes while being able to be charged up to 50% in as little as 30 minutes.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow I rated this deal:\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is a 40% markdown on a great mid-range gaming laptop from one of the most reputable brands in home computing. For the price of an entry-level version, you'll get premium features like an RTX 4070 graphics card, Wi-Fi 6 support, and Bluetooth connectivity.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"abce2275-b77a-454d-b079-13c867e160bd\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EDeals are subject to sell out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We're sorry if you've missed out on this deal, but don't fret -- we constantly finding new chances to save and share them with you on&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002F"\u003EZDNET.com\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"When will this deal expire?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"2eeaa0bb-6fbf-4f35-869d-f4118c4ccab8\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWe aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor's deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members' expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhow-we-rate-deals-at-zdnet-in-2025\u002F"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow we rate deals at ZDNET in 2025\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How do we rate deals at ZDNET?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"3aa16d16-8ccd-4f94-b2cc-91f3af21b2ff\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F3aa16d16-8ccd-4f94-b2cc-91f3af21b2ff\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-03-31 22:13:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"If you've been looking to upgrade your gaming laptop, you can save $600 on the HP Victus 15 at Best Buy.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"a7b56738-9561-4b19-b2ff-8df6070ca1e5",image:{id:"6fc6559d-3216-4a14-b00c-6029c3f5fad6",filename:"hp-victus-15-laptop.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2024-11-21 15:39:47",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"The ZDNET logo, Best Buy logo, and an HP Victus 15 gaming laptop on an orange background",credits:"Best Buy\u002FHP\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F11\u002F21\u002F6fc6559d-3216-4a14-b00c-6029c3f5fad6\u002Fhp-victus-15-laptop.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1296,height:720,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"deals",hubTopicPathString:"Home & Office^Home Entertainment^Gaming^Gaming Devices",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"Grab the HP Victus 15 gaming laptop for $600 off at Best Buy",section:c,slug:"hp-victus-15-best-buy-deal-03-31-2025",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Snag the HP Victus 16 laptop for just $900 at Best Buy",topic:{id:"eaece766-f666-4dd7-a912-a57ae1cbb714",slug:"gaming-devices",name:"Gaming Devices",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"eaece766-f666-4dd7-a912-a57ae1cbb714",slug:"gaming-devices",name:"Gaming Devices",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f07e8684-3ad4-438d-a6b4-0665b9de2f60",slug:"gaming",name:"Gaming",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f1f7db06-c6f9-4e80-8187-60ad48f035a1",slug:"zdnet-recommends",name:"ZDNET Recommends",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"f2d97ea2-8175-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Adrian",lastName:"Kingsley-Hughes",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2",filename:"adrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 14:59:32",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2\u002Fadrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over two decades to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera. Adrian has authored\u002Fco-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include 'Build the Ultimate Custom PC', 'Beginning Programming' and 'The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide'. He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"6d3b3efe-d3e2-44b3-80d5-2729dafdb065\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Apple\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"3 products you shouldn't buy from Apple this month (and 10 products to buy instead)\" data-image-filename=\"3-products-you-shouldnt-buy-from-apple-this-month-and-10-products-to-buy-instead.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F10\" data-image-width=\"4080\" data-image-height=\"2295\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's been a busy few weeks for Apple, and an equally busy time for the wallets of Apple fans. We got a brand-new \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c58c6248-a5be-4bbe-8b4b-fc761546e3cc\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-iphone\u002Fiphone-16e\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iPhone 16e\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E -- Apple's replacement to the iPhone SE -- as well as a new \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"6e6f0264-2cb2-4381-ae82-2e832843fbc9\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-ipad\u002Fipad\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iPad\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"538f225a-6734-482a-8f79-adffb5b1609e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-ipad\u002Fipad-air\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iPad Air\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, both of which really needed an update. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-replaced-my-iphone-16-pro-with-the-16e-for-a-week-heres-my-buying-advice-now\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EI replaced my iPhone 16 Pro with the 16e for a week - here's my buying advice now\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere was also a new \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"ee5727bb-8c94-4098-9cdc-c0dd8a8d2ebc\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmacbook-air\u002F13-inch\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"13-inch\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"bad6107a-7f4a-4ea3-a4e5-1945b8e37805\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmacbook-air\u002F15-inch\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"15-inch MacBook Air\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, both upgraded with the M4 chip, while the pro-oriented \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"07f47239-97d4-416f-89a3-af7a9ae2a7ac\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-studio\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac Studio\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E got the much-anticipated M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo what's left for Apple to do this year? Quite a bit, actually. We can expect a new iPad Pro, iPhone, Apple Watch, MacBook Pro with the upcoming M5 processor, and more. Here's what products to watch out for, and which to hold on purchasing in 2025. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ETariffs and trade wars\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETariffs are big news now, and they have the potential to upend things. Remember that Canada ranks fourth in Apple markets by revenue share behind the United States, Japan, and China: another country in this administration's tariff sights. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen asked about any potential tariff impacts during Apple's last earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook had this to say: \"We are monitoring the situation and don't have anything more to add than that.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fis-this-the-end-of-multi-year-applecare-plans-whats-replacing-them-and-why\u002F\"\u003EIs this the end of multi-year AppleCare+ plans? What's replacing them and why\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's rather vague, and it's unclear what effect this will have on prices (both overall and specific to Apple). However, smart money is betting that costs are unlikely to fall, and given the uncertainty, it might be better to make your Apple purchases \u003Cem\u003Enow \u003C\u002Fem\u003Erather than later. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EUpcoming Apple products to spring for (near and far) \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E1. M5 chip\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"8ca9fb2a-cf0a-46e6-92b8-4bbfb0926510\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EApple MacBook Air M4\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Kyle Kucharski\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Apple MacBook Air M4 in Sky Blue\" data-image-filename=\"img-0550.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F12\" data-image-width=\"4032\" data-image-height=\"2268\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe're still hot on the heels of the M4 processor in the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-finally-replaced-my-m1-macbook-pro-with-a-base-model-m4-and-the-upgrades-were-worth-it\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMacBook Pro\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-cant-recommend-the-m4-15-inch-macbook-air-enough-even-if-its-not-for-me\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMacBook Air\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, but yes, the M5 chip is already on the horizon. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bloomberg.com\u002Fnews\u002Fnewsletters\u002F2025-03-30\u002Fapple-readies-biggest-push-into-health-yet-with-revamped-app-ai-doctor-service-m8vl97k2\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPower On\u003C\u002Fa\u003E newsletter, the M5 will find its way into the MacBook Pro and iPad Pro later this year, most likely in the fall.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E2. Apple TV \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's coming; we're just not sure when. It's rumored to make use of Apple's new networking chip, adding support for Wi-Fi 6E, and will be powered by the A15 chip, which opens the door to Apple Intelligence features. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E3. AirTag update \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"13145e1c-bbce-4c26-a261-3036e0c902f7\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EApple AirTag\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Maria Diaz\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Apple AirTag\" data-image-filename=\"untitled-1.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F07\" data-image-width=\"1920\" data-image-height=\"1080\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new AirTags are expected to use a new Ultra Wideband chip, bringing improved range and accuracy. Apparently, the speaker will also be more difficult to disable, serving as a countermeasure to prevent tags from being used to stalk people. Given how trivial it is to modify AirTags, and how you can even buy them already modified, this will be a welcome change. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fyour-next-apple-watch-or-smart-ring-could-have-a-feature-that-transforms-healthcare\u002F\"\u003EYour next Apple Watch or smart ring could have a feature that transforms healthcare\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E4. Hypertension Detection for Apple Watch \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Apple Watch can already do a lot, uncovering hidden medical conditions such as atrial fibrillation and sleep apnea. Adding the ability to detect high blood pressure would reinforce its place as a personal, wrist-mounted physician. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, let's look at Apple tech that you might want to wait on. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E \tThe 'Naughty' list \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGive these Apple devices a pass for now, as we're likely to see refreshed versions soon. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EApple TV\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: Last updated in October 2022, this device is \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fapple-tv-vs-roku-which-streaming-device-should-you-buy\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Edue for a refresh\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. When? Rumors suggest a fourth-gen Apple TV 4K will be announced during the first half of this year.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHomePod Mini\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: Released in October 2020, this is officially \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fhomepod-vs-homepod-mini-which-one-of-apples-smart-speakers-is-right-for-you\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EApple's oldest product\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. While there's nothing wrong with it technically, it's hard to recommend dropping full price for such old hardware. \u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVision Pro\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: It's hard to bet against Apple, and it's difficult to put \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-tried-apple-vision-pro-for-a-weekend-and-here-are-my-3-biggest-takeaways\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esomething with so much potential\u003C\u002Fa\u003E on the naughty list, but if the rumors are true that Apple has pulled the plug on production because sales have slumped, it's hard to have faith in the product. I'd hold out and see what Apple has planned.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen there are these, which aren't a hard pass, but it's definitely worth thinking if you can't wait a few months for a refresh to land, especially if you want to get a few years out of the device:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EiPad Pro\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: this is rumored to be getting the M5 chip upgrade, which should offer a very significant boost in performance over \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fipad-pro-2024-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethe existing silicon\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMacBook Pro\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: Again, with the M5 chip on the horizon, it might be worth making your existing hardware last a few more months and picking up the latest and greatest.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe 'Nice' list \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese Apple devices are worth springing for now, since it'll be a while before we see significant hardware upgrades. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t1. iPad Air \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"7276baa5-c977-45d3-b196-e1028795def0\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Apple\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"iPad Air (2025)\" data-image-filename=\"ipad.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F04\" data-image-width=\"1920\" data-image-height=\"1080\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe newly refreshed \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c799c1f4-41d3-45d6-a61e-123b859f2e47\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-ipad\u002Fipad-air\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iPad Air\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E is decked out with the M3 chip. Prices start at $599 for the 11-inch version and $799 for the 13-inch version. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t2. MacBook Air \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"cf46d3fa-18b7-4c4f-973f-e74db9c7d6c3\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Apple\" data-image-alt-text=\"Apple MacBook Air M4 in Sky Blue\" data-image-filename=\"img-0551.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F12\" data-image-width=\"4032\" data-image-height=\"2268\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"65768acd-71ab-4270-866c-298278f1af61\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmacbook-air\u002F13-inch\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"13-inch\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"6956f5b5-5457-41db-96ad-0b937ea19196\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmacbook-air\u002F15-inch\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"15-inch MacBook Air\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E laptops get an upgrade to the 10-core CPU\u002F10-core GPU \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-cant-recommend-the-m4-15-inch-macbook-air-enough-even-if-its-not-for-me\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EM4 processor\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and also see battery life boosted to as much as 18 hours. Prices start at $999, but throw enough upgrades at the system, and you can get it up to $2,399. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t3. Mac Studio \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"dfc4ccb3-4125-4c8f-851e-454abf570181\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Cesar Cadenas\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Mac Studio\" data-image-filename=\"mac-studio-m4-max-front.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F10\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"900\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-replaced-my-windows-pc-with-a-mac-studio-for-a-week-here-are-my-takeaways-so-far\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EApple's pro-grade alternative to the Mac Mini\u003C\u002Fa\u003E gets a serious processing boost, with the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"4d48e88c-80b2-4c41-b10a-b261062a6ca6\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-studio\u002Fapple-m4-max-with-14-core-cpu-and-32-core-gpu-36gb-memory-512gb\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"M4 Max\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"a10fc902-5df2-401d-8b37-d865e54ca4e8\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-studio\u002Fapple-m3-ultra-with-28-core-cpu-and-60-core-gpu-96gb-memory-1tb\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"M3 chips\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E offered in a range of configurations. Prices start at $1,999, but can go as high as \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"bead1fdc-dacb-4924-9740-12442f457623\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-studio\u002Fapple-m3-ultra-with-28-core-cpu-and-60-core-gpu-96gb-memory-1tb\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"$14,099 for a fully tricked-out system\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t4. Apple iMac \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"dff4d235-f5ce-4841-9ab0-197a10748529\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E2024 iMac\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Kyle Kucharski\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"iMac\" data-image-filename=\"img-8318.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F11\u002F07\" data-image-width=\"4032\" data-image-height=\"2268\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"5d04fb18-2131-4008-a95c-84421eb82350\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fimac\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedid=zdnet&partnerpropertyid=1980086&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-mac%2Fimac&subId1=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"M4 iMac\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E got a refresh to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-tested-the-new-imac-m4-and-one-of-the-standout-upgrades-is-also-the-least-flashy\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ebring it up to speed with Apple Intelligence\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. With specs ranging from 8 CPU and GPU cores, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage priced at $1,299, all the way up to 10 CPU and GPU cores, 24GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for $1,899, there's an iMac to suit most workloads and budgets. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t5. Apple Mac Mini \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"f0b91162-2d6b-4e4f-8c01-c28b0da9acb2\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Apple Mac Mini\" data-image-filename=\"mac-mini-m4-pro-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F11\u002F04\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple's smallest Mac got an upgrade to the M4 and M4 Pro processors. It's also the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-still-recommend-the-mac-mini-m4-for-these-two-major-reasons-plus-its-on-sale\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Echeapest Mac you can buy\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, as a \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"2073ba91-ed78-4c1d-b65e-d6831e5494d1\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-mini\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac Mini\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E with the 10-core CPU and GPU model, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage costing only $599. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t6. Apple iPad Mini \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"420fc987-ce4f-4f7d-a6bd-e830c5862601\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E2024 iPad Mini\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Prakhar Khanna\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"2024 iPad Mini\" data-image-filename=\"ipad-mini-7-233217.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F11\u002F12\" data-image-width=\"2884\" data-image-height=\"1616\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"b2fdefe1-0ae3-403e-894a-082f96d6d939\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-ipad\u002Fipad-mini\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedid=zdnet&partnerpropertyid=1980086&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-ipad%2Fipad-mini&subId1=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"all-new 2024 iPad Mini\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E replaced the three-year-old model with one powered by an A17 Pro chip that's Apple Intelligence-ready and comes in a range of colors (blue, purple, starlight, and space gray) and storage capacities (128GB, 256GB, and 512GB) to suit everyone. Prices range from $499 to $799. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t7. Apple iPhone 16 \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"b0a06ebc-0118-4110-a3ef-0f8796d24d12\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EiPhone 16\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Kerry Wan\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"iPhone 16\" data-image-filename=\"dsc02129.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F09\u002F09\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom a Camera Control button, an Action button, and the new \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhy-apples-new-a18-chipsets-make-the-iphone-16-models-worth-upgrading-to\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EA18 chipset\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"486e7836-5d00-4936-a695-e6e5819c7a46\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-iphone\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iPhone 16\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E has been built from the ground up to handle AI workloads. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t8. Apple Watch Series 10 \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"44099116-5af0-4f13-acbe-dcf3754a7fa9\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EApple Watch Series 10\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Kerry Wan\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Apple Watch Series 10\" data-image-filename=\"dsc02038.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F09\u002F09\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"8569b1f0-4a7a-4e40-92b2-e2beeeeda7ca\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-watch\u002Fapple-watch\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Apple Watch Series 10\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E starts at $399 for GPS and $499 for cellular. It comes in three colors: jet black, rose gold, and silver aluminum. The new black \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"bd711b33-2919-45ac-9e3b-d99a9299d8fa\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-watch\u002Fapple-watch-ultra\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Apple Watch Ultra 2\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E starts at $799. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t9. Apple M4 MacBook Pro \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"5deaa4ab-7b44-4b09-984f-5e0d38f4a272\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EApple MacBook Pro M4\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Kerry Wan\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Apple MacBook Pro M4\" data-image-filename=\"dsc02534-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F11\u002F06\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENeed a Mac that combines portability with power? You need a MacBook Pro. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fis-your-iphone-rebooting-after-being-inactive-its-a-feature-not-a-bug\u002F\"\u003EIs your iPhone rebooting after being inactive? It's a feature, not a bug\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut it's less a case of how fast a laptop you need and more a case of how much you want to spend. With prices for the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c77b62da-adde-40ee-9ba7-0c35c3b526f4\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmacbook-pro\u002F14-inch-space-black-standard-display-apple-m4-chip-with-10-core-cpu-and-10-core-gpu-16gb-memory-512gb\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedid=zdnet&partnerpropertyid=1980086&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-mac%2Fmacbook-air%2F13-inch-midnight-apple-m3-chip-with-8-core-cpu-and-8-core-gpu-8gb-memory-256gb&subId1=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"14-inch M4 MacBook Pro starting at $1,599\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, and the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"490f24e3-f87c-40f5-b9e9-029af8a684e6\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmacbook-pro\u002F16-inch-space-black-standard-display-apple-m4-pro-with-14-core-cpu-and-20-core-gpu-24gb-memory-512gb\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedid=zdnet&partnerpropertyid=1980086&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-mac%2Fmacbook-air%2F15-inch-midnight-apple-m3-chip-with-8-core-cpu-and-10-core-gpu-8gb-memory-256gb&subId1=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"16-inch version starting at $900 more\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E (and going all the way up to \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"9a172140-9e9d-4433-a5f7-8d8d098bc21e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmacbook-pro\u002F16-inch-space-black-standard-display-apple-m4-max-with-16-core-cpu-and-40-core-gpu-48gb-memory-1tb\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"a whopping $7,349\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E for the 40-core, 128GB RAM, 8TB storage behemoth), these systems represent some serious processing power, but power that comes at a price. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t10. Apple AirTag \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"16bed821-221f-4af3-aa35-0043a2afc64c\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Kayla Solino\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Hand holding AirTag\" data-image-filename=\"img-0685.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F02\u002F20\" data-image-crop=\"5165x2902+22+890\" data-image-width=\"6000\" data-image-height=\"4000\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple's \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"999c0fbd-640e-4d08-9296-18c3734db774\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FApple-MX532AM-A-AirTag\u002Fdp\u002FB0933BVK6T?tag=zd-buy-button-20&ascsubtag=f936e500be7d4741a46cc171e38a299f%7C951732c3-2282-4f48-aa88-76846eba31a3%7Cdtp\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"AirTags\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E are the perfect gift for someone who constantly loses things. You can add them to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fairline-backtracks-on-apple-airtag-ban-in-checked-luggage\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eyour luggage\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, attach them to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-hide-an-apple-airtag-on-your-bike-and-why-you-should\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eyour bike\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fthis-accessory-lets-you-add-an-airtag-to-your-apple-tv-remote\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eyour remote\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, or even your \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fshe-didnt-trust-her-movers-a-single-apple-airtag-showed-she-was-right\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emoving boxes\u003C\u002Fa\u003E -- the possibilities are endless. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-find-out-if-an-airtag-is-tracking-you\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to find out if an AirTag is tracking you\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWell-made, robust, and with a replaceable battery, these will make misplaced keys or lost wallets things of the past. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFAQs\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhat is Apple Intelligence?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fios-18-1-with-apple-intelligence-is-here-try-these-5-ai-features-first\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EApple Intelligence\u003C\u002Fa\u003E -- technology that leverages the processing power of Apple silicon to understand and generate language, providing personalized assistance and insights -- has been driving the latest wave of Apple hardware upgrades, with the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"fda46f77-723f-4ca1-a8a3-90fa724e6df2\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fimac\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"new iMac\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"f1b7aecd-c5a1-4422-b532-ff0eeb5ff7e0\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-mini\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedid=zdnet&partnerpropertyid=1980086&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fmac-mini%2F&subId1=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"new Mac Mini\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E joining the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"88d2b67c-c758-47e5-b801-5a1859cd974e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-ipad\u002Fipad-mini\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"new iPad Mini\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"2f722ac4-c5fc-4be7-bbc3-441092cdb940\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-iphone\u002Fiphone-16\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iPhone 16\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"3c9d8914-c411-4dd2-b975-0d76fd670b11\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-iphone\u002Fiphone-16-pro\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iPhone 16 Pro\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and a swath of newer products that are being promoted as the hardware to buy if you want access to Apple's vision for AI. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOlder hardware offers access to some of the features, but the experience will be somewhat patchy. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhat's happening with Vision Pro?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's been a year since the release of the Vision Pro, and it hasn't been the success that Apple -- and many pundits -- expected it to be. While the hardware itself has benefitted from numerous software updates, sales have been lackluster. After all, it doesn't matter how high-tech and sci-fi something is; a three-and-a-half-thousand-dollar price tag is an impossible barrier for most. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple has allegedly discontinued production of Vision Pro headsets because they're piling up and not selling. That's not a great sign for the product's future. Apple is still selling them, but it's now hard to recommend someone spend thousands of dollars on a product that is on the ropes. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fapple-vision-pro-finally-supports-ultra-wide-displays-but-is-it-worth-the-price-here-are-the-results\u002F\"\u003EApple Vision Pro's killer feature is finally here -- and made my $3,500 investment more worth it\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is in addition to rumors suggesting that a cheaper unit -- with a more modest $2,000 price tag -- would land toward the end of this year, but indications now suggest this has been pushed back to 2027. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut the Vision Pro rumors don't end there. There are whispers that suggest the Vision Pro will be superseded by the Vision Pro 2, a new headset -- sorry, Apple calls it a spatial computer -- powered by the M4 chip and Apple Intelligence support. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-03-31 15:41:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Before you click buy on that shiny new Apple gadget, check out where it fits into Apple's product release plans.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"f313209f-cf9a-4d63-9c1a-2cf8214c8fe4",image:{id:"6d3b3efe-d3e2-44b3-80d5-2729dafdb065",filename:"3-products-you-shouldnt-buy-from-apple-this-month-and-10-products-to-buy-instead.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2025-03-10 15:42:02",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"AirPods Pro 2 in hand",credits:"Christina Darby\u002F ZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F10\u002F6d3b3efe-d3e2-44b3-80d5-2729dafdb065\u002F3-products-you-shouldnt-buy-from-apple-this-month-and-10-products-to-buy-instead.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:4080,height:2295,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"product-promo",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Smartphones",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"3-apple-devices-you-definitely-shouldnt-buy-this-month-and-10-to-get-instead",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"3 Apple devices you definitely shouldn't buy this month (and 10 to get instead)",topic:{id:"1147b242-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"smartphones",name:"Smartphones",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"1147b242-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"smartphones",name:"Smartphones",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"0fbd54d0-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"apple",name:"Apple",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10666ed8-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"hardware",name:"Hardware",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"1091623b-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"ipad",name:"iPad",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"1093d9cb-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"iphone",name:"iPhone",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"116c1d92-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"tablets",name:"Tablets",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"d0aee31d-965e-4a8b-97f0-5c7c1b8bf7f1",slug:"mac-os",name:"Mac OS",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"eca19898-12cf-4e3a-bca9-73b9d72c405c",slug:"wearables",name:"Wearables",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d}],componentLabel:b,description:b,filters:b,paging:b,slug:"dynamic-topic-five-story-feature-latest-offset-5",title:b,label:b,viewMoreText:b,viewMoreUrl:b,relatedItems:b},{id:"61aded77-4ad4-412f-850f-e183cdc51b1d",meta:{componentName:"61aded77-4ad4-412f-850f-e183cdc51b1d",componentDisplayName:b,componentType:"ContentList"},metadata:{},links:{self:{href:"https:\u002F\u002Fbender.cnetstatic.com\u002Fapi\u002Fneutron\u002Fcomponents\u002Fzdnet\u002Flisting\u002Fdynamic_listing\u002F61aded77-4ad4-412f-850f-e183cdc51b1d\u002Fweb?searchBy=id&topicSlug=pcs&componentType=ContentList&componentName=61aded77-4ad4-412f-850f-e183cdc51b1d",meta:{pageNum:1,count:15}},prev:{href:b,meta:b},next:{href:"https:\u002F\u002Fbender.cnetstatic.com\u002Fapi\u002Fneutron\u002Fcomponents\u002Fzdnet\u002Flisting\u002Fdynamic_listing\u002F61aded77-4ad4-412f-850f-e183cdc51b1d\u002Fweb?searchBy=id&topicSlug=pcs&componentType=ContentList&componentName=61aded77-4ad4-412f-850f-e183cdc51b1d&offset=15&limit=15",meta:{pageNum:2,count:15}},first:{href:"https:\u002F\u002Fbender.cnetstatic.com\u002Fapi\u002Fneutron\u002Fcomponents\u002Fzdnet\u002Flisting\u002Fdynamic_listing\u002F61aded77-4ad4-412f-850f-e183cdc51b1d\u002Fweb?searchBy=id&topicSlug=pcs&componentType=ContentList&componentName=61aded77-4ad4-412f-850f-e183cdc51b1d&offset=0&limit=15",meta:{pageNum:1,count:15}},last:{href:"https:\u002F\u002Fbender.cnetstatic.com\u002Fapi\u002Fneutron\u002Fcomponents\u002Fzdnet\u002Flisting\u002Fdynamic_listing\u002F61aded77-4ad4-412f-850f-e183cdc51b1d\u002Fweb?searchBy=id&topicSlug=pcs&componentType=ContentList&componentName=61aded77-4ad4-412f-850f-e183cdc51b1d&offset=7920&limit=15",meta:{pageNum:529,count:10}}},items:[{author:{id:"0765e4d4-53d3-4b04-878c-c0532f646fc4",username:"Sabrina Ortiz",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Sabrina",lastName:"Ortiz",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"74b6bbc3-0c60-4d1f-9b02-7ee0f003bf11",filename:"screenshot-2024-03-27-at-4-28-37pm.png",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2024-03-27 23:36:25",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F03\u002F27\u002F74b6bbc3-0c60-4d1f-9b02-7ee0f003bf11\u002Fscreenshot-2024-03-27-at-4-28-37pm.png",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Sabrina Ortiz is an editor for ZDNET based in New York City. She covers technology news for ZDNET, specializing in generative AI. Sabrina graduated with a B.A. in Media and Journalism and Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.",profile:b,title:"Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"a9473de2-a79c-4772-acea-1cee2cf9009d\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Sabrina Ortiz\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Copilot+PC\" data-image-filename=\"img-3311.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F05\u002F22\" data-image-width=\"4030\" data-image-height=\"2267\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-ai-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-artificial-intelligence\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eartificial intelligence\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (AI) boom is transforming industries and reshaping work. Now, it's setting its sights on a long-overlooked tool: your work laptop.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe reach and capabilities of AI models go far beyond what people have seen from tinkering around with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-chatgpt-how-the-worlds-most-popular-ai-chatbot-can-benefit-you\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EChatGPT\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, which, although a great tool for \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002F5-ways-chatgpt-can-help-you-write-essays\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eproofreading\u003C\u002Fa\u003E or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-use-chatgpt-to-write-code-and-my-favorite-trick-to-debug-what-it-generates\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Edebugging code,\u003C\u002Fa\u003E only gives a brief glimpse into what large language models (LLMs), the technology powering tools like the chatbot, can do. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-an-ai-pc-exactly-and-should-you-buy-one-in-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWhat is an AI PC exactly? And should you buy one in 2025?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor instance, HCLTech, a consulting firm, worked with one of the largest end-to-end healthcare providers in the US to help implement a user-friendly, compliant AI clinical advisor. The clinical advisor, trained using one of the world's largest clinical libraries, allows medical professionals to conversationally ask for the information they need to consult without spending time digging for it. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Alan Flower, EVP and head of AI & Cloud Native Labs at HCLTech, running the models locally on the device was key to effectively implementing this model.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fnvidia-dominates-in-gen-ai-benchmarks-clobbering-2-rival-ai-chips\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENvidia dominates in gen AI benchmarks, clobbering 2 rival AI chips\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"By using the clinician's laptop, it frees up clinician time whilst also ensuring the privacy and security of the patient's information,\" said Flower. \"It has that secondary advantage -- it reduces the cost to run the solution since we're not consuming expensive cloud tokens when we can use the neural processing unit on an AI PC, effectively, for free.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFlower said that since implementing the AI clinical advisor, within a typical 20-minute consultation with a doctor, the AI clinical advisor has freed up three minutes from the appointment, time the doctor can spend researching and focusing on the patient's care. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Freasoning-ai-models-are-overwhelming-the-benchmark-tests-its-time-for-human-evaluation\u002F\"\u003EWith AI models clobbering every benchmark, it's time for human evaluation\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECompanies are discovering that if they want to take full advantage of AI and run models locally, they need to upgrade their employees' laptops. This realization has introduced a hardware revolution, with the desire to update tech shifting from an afterthought to a priority and attracting significant investment from companies. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4914532\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis trend is reflected in the numbers. Researcher IDC predicts that AI PCs designed to run generative AI tasks locally will grow from nearly 50 million units in 2024 to over 167 million by 2027, eventually accounting for almost 60% of all PC shipments worldwide. The latest data from analyst firm Gartner suggests 63% of all PCs will be AI-enabled by the end of 2026. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis acceleration in PC investment aligns with a decade-long trend, where factors such as improved design, exemplified by the shift from bulky laptops to ultraslim notebooks, have steadily driven up the average selling price of PCs, an indicator of shifting consumer preferences and market trends, according to Linn Huang, research vice president of devices and displays at IDC.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe industry has seen selling prices \"steadily climb over the past decade,\" said Huang. \"AI PCs will undoubtedly accelerate this trend in the coming years as new AI-enabled workloads, use cases, and features enter the market.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis new category of AI PCs is differentiated from legacy PCs by having an NPU, or neural processing unit, which is designed to turbocharge AI tasks and allow models to run right on the device. The benefits of running locally include cost, privacy, and security. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fchatgpts-new-image-generator-shattered-my-expectations-and-now-its-free-to-try\u002F\"\u003EChatGPT's new image generator shattered my expectations - and now it's free to try\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost AI products, like ChatGPT, send information to the cloud to be processed. This information is then sent back to the device, which allows for the potential for the data to be hacked, leaked, or mishandled in transit. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstead, running models locally gives organizations more control over their information and reduces reliance on third-party services. That setup is crucial for companies in financial services, healthcare, and other industries where privacy is a big concern or a regulatory requirement.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"For them, an on-device AI computer, it's not a nice to have; it's a need to have for fiduciary and HIPAA reasons, respectively,\" said Mike Bechtel, managing director and the chief futurist at Deloitte Consulting LLP. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother advantage is that local running reduces lag and creates a smoother user experience, which is especially valuable for optimizing business applications. That speed is key because the appeal of AI solutions, like chatbots, is that they can respond at the touch of a button. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDevice manufacturers are already seeing this growing interest in AI PCs. Microsoft, a major player in the AI market, a key partner of model specialist OpenAI, and the creator of AI tools like Copilot, has introduced a new hardware category called \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosofts-new-copilot-surface-devices-are-built-for-business-with-intel-inside\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECopilot+PCs\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, developed with partners such as HP, Dell, and Lenovo. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fanthropic-launches-claude-for-education-an-ai-to-help-students-think-critically\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAnthropic launches Claude for Education, an AI to help students think critically\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMark Linton, vice president of device partner sales at Microsoft, said business leaders have shown strong interest in purchasing and trialing these new devices. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"Leaders are particularly focused on integrating on-device AI capabilities into their broader AI business and technology strategies,\" said Linton. \"This interest is reflected in adoption rates -- 20 times faster than touch PC adoption -- demonstrating the urgency with which organizations are approaching this transformation.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe benefits of AI PCs go beyond running AI models on devices. For example, a PC can overheat when it uses a power-intensive application, the fan may start blowing, and the device might begin running slowly. That situation can occur partially because the excessive workload is offloaded to the CPU or GPU, other key components of PCs. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAI PCs use NPUs to handle AI tasks more efficiently, reducing the load on the CPU and improving overall system performance. This capability covers non-AI tasks that are compute-intensive, such as editing video or even having a video call. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-enterprise-general-intelligence-how-the-next-stage-of-ai-affects-you\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWhat is Enterprise General Intelligence? How the next stage of AI affects you\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"AI PCs deliver significant performance improvements for the apps users already use, leveraging new CPU, GPU, and NPU architectures,\" said Alex Thatcher, senior director of AI experiences, business personal systems, at HP Inc. \"AI PCs also deliver significant improvements in battery life due to the inclusion of small cores and highly power efficient NPUs.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the refresh cycle for many businesses' hardware approaches, and its advance is accelerated by other external factors, such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fif-your-windows-10-pc-cant-be-upgraded-you-have-5-options-before-time-runs-out\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMicrosoft's end of support for Windows 10,\u003C\u002Fa\u003E many organizations are forced to purchase new devices. This leaves one question: should businesses go for legacy or AI-capable devices? \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause of the productivity advantages, most industry experts, including Flower or Bechtel, who are in positions to advise clients on the next steps, agree that upgrading to AI-capable PCs is the obvious choice. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"It's a big brainer: make sure that your next wave of capital expenditure has the set of bells or whistles, else you're going to be considering an extra refresh in the next couple of years,\" said Bechtel. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosofts-new-ai-agents-aim-to-help-security-pros-combat-the-latest-threats\u002F\"\u003EMicrosoft's new AI agents aim to help security pros combat the latest threats\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs more companies get in on the action and AI-capable computers become ubiquitous, the premium price of AI PCs will continue to drop. Furthermore, Flower said the potential gains in performance offset any price differences. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"In those high-value professions, the productivity gain is so significant that whatever small premium you're paying for that AI-enhanced device, the payback will be nearly immediate,\" said Flower. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUpgrading technology keeps companies at the forefront of innovation, giving them the flexibility to invest in AI applications, whether they're ready to dive in now or not. As more companies opt for AI-capable PCs, this shift paves the way for deeper AI integration into business processes. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe result of this investment is an ecosystem where the promise of AI applications drives hardware upgrades, and the upgraded hardware, in turn, accelerates AI adoption in the workforce, rapidly transforming industries and reshaping how professionals work. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"c1c64b97-f918-4f5b-acae-43981f87d8e6\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002Fc1c64b97-f918-4f5b-acae-43981f87d8e6\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-04 08:40:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The AI race has led to a hardware revolution, with businesses investing in new types of PCs.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"bbe5846c-607c-4a7f-a20b-d20ffd39acf9",image:{id:"a9473de2-a79c-4772-acea-1cee2cf9009d",filename:"img-3311.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2024-05-22 17:12:41",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Copilot+PC",credits:"Sabrina Ortiz\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F05\u002F22\u002Fa9473de2-a79c-4772-acea-1cee2cf9009d\u002Fimg-3311.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:4030,height:2267,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"news",hubTopicPathString:"Innovation^Artificial Intelligence",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"the-rise-of-ai-pcs-how-businesses-are-reshaping-their-tech-to-keep-up",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"The rise of AI PCs: How businesses are reshaping their tech to keep up",topic:{id:"3414bf30-82eb-4a6a-a561-f193482f1643",slug:"artificial-intelligence",name:"Artificial Intelligence",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"3414bf30-82eb-4a6a-a561-f193482f1643",slug:"artificial-intelligence",name:"Artificial Intelligence",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"9a23272b-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"David Gewirtz",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"David",lastName:"Gewirtz",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"de4475ef-be59-4858-beb8-6f7696c85945",filename:"david-gewirtz.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:19:52",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fde4475ef-be59-4858-beb8-6f7696c85945\u002Fdavid-gewirtz.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"In addition to hosting the ZDNET Government and ZDNet DIY-IT blogs, David Gewirtz is an author, U.S. policy advisor, and computer scientist. He is featured in The History Channel special The President's Book of Secrets, is one of America's foremost cyber-security experts, and is a top expert on saving and creating jobs. He is also director of the U.S. Strategic Perspective Institute as well as the founder of ZATZ Publishing.\r\n\r\nDavid is a member of FBI InfraGard, the Cyberwarfare Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism & Security Professionals, a columnist for The Journal of Counterterrorism and Homeland Security, and has been a regular CNN contributor, and a guest commentator for the Nieman Watchdog of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. He is the author of Where Have All the Emails Gone?, the definitive study of email in the White House, as well as How To Save Jobs and The Flexible Enterprise, the classic book that served as a foundation for today's agile business movement.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"ec0759f9-4340-4646-beef-b98e108fc719\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe Altair 8800, the first commercially successful personal computing device.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Boston Globe\u002FGetty Images\" data-image-alt-text=\"altair1974gettyimages-1237272219\" data-image-filename=\"altair1974gettyimages-1237272219.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F04\u002F03\" data-image-width=\"1024\" data-image-height=\"669\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHave I told you the story about Bill Gates and me in those early days of personal computing?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo be clear: Bill Gates is older than I am. In 1975, as Bill was leaving Harvard to start Microsoft, I had just skipped my last year of high school and started college. I was the youngest student in engineering school that first year -- the same year Bill and I were using \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Ffrom-paper-tape-to-the-altair-8800-the-story-of-my-first-computers\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethe same computer technology\u003C\u002Fa\u003E: the Altair 8800 and the Digital Equipment PDP-10.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy high school computing experience -- like Bill's -- was formative. However, I never wanted to be a computer scientist. I wanted to build nuclear reactors. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-at-50-its-incredible-rise-15-lost-years-and-stunning-comeback-in-four-charts\u002F\"\u003EMicrosoft at 50: Its incredible rise, 15 lost years, and stunning comeback - in 4 charts\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn high school, I was still grappling with being a teenager, convincing the adults that I needed to be in engineering school instead of coasting through senior year, trying to persuade Amy Katz to let me buy her ice cream, failing the high school's mandatory typing class, and wondering how I was supposed to deal with the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FTeleprinter\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eteletype\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that was initially the sole component of our computer \"lab.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFrom nukes to PCs\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere's what broke me and sent me on this wacky course I call my career. I sat down at that teletype and pressed the Return key. It responded with \"READY.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou need to put this in a 1970s perspective. Today, we \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-use-chatgpt-a-beginners-guide-to-the-most-popular-ai-chatbot\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Etalk to ChatGPT\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and get Star Trek computer-like responses. But back then, machines were not interactive. So when that teletype responded with \"READY,\" it rewired my brain forever. It was interactive. It was different. It changed everything about what my relationship with machines could be.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4914532\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut let's take a moment and return to when Gates and Paul Allen started Microsoft. I mentioned the Altair 8800 because that machine was the first commercially successful personal computing device. Before Ed Roberts started \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FMicro_Instrumentation_and_Telemetry_Systems\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMITS\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (the company that made the Altair), computers were big -- room-scale, gymnasium-size big. The idea of a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthirty-years-ago-my-first-computer-was-an-ibm-pc\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Epersonal computer\u003C\u002Fa\u003E was pure science fiction. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen, in 1974, Roberts introduced the Altair 8800 through an article in Popular Electronics. Roberts and the magazine editors were offering regular people the opportunity to own and use a computer.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPCMag:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pcmag.com\u002Farticles\u002Fbreakthrough-microsoft-products\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERemember these 10 breakthrough Microsoft products?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the story goes, the Altair didn't come with any software. Geeks could tinker with it and toggle programs on the front panel, but there wasn't any real programming language beyond the Intel 8080 assembly language. Gates and Allen saw the opportunity to produce a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmicrosoft-takes-you-back-to-1983-its-just-open-sourced-its-gw-basic-interpreter\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBASIC interpreter\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for the machine and pitched it to Roberts. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to legend, no code had been written when they originally spoke to MITS about their programming language. It was only once they were invited to show the code to Roberts and his team that Gates and Allen got to coding. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe full story of that experience is chronicled in a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgatesnot.es\u002F3FF4Sbv\"\u003E50th Anniversary blog post\u003C\u002Fa\u003E by Gates published this week. I recommend you read it. I mentioned our mutual use of the DEC PDP-10 computer. Well, Gates and Allen wrote the original BASIC on Harvard's PDP-10, before bringing it down to Albuquerque-based MITS to demonstrate. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EBuilding my own Altair 8800 \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUntil I built my first Altair 8800, I lived in my engineering school's computer center, typing code into our \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Frip-ken-olsen-pioneer-of-interactive-computing\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPDP-10\u003C\u002Fa\u003E until the wee hours of the night (and often through the night and into the next day). \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI couldn't afford the $1,500 or so that the original fully assembled Altair 8800 cost back then, which would be more than $7,000 now. So I waited a few years until people started to get tired of their Altairs or failed to make them work. I bought parts at swap meets at very steep discounts and horse-traded my way to having enough components to build a full machine. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECNET:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cnet.com\u002Ftech\u002Fcomputing\u002Fbill-gates-publishes-original-microsoft-source-code-in-a-blog-post\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBill Gates publishes original Microsoft source code in a blog post\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the course of a summer at my parent's home, I built the machine, hand-soldered the hundreds of wires to the front panel, and even toggled in a bootloader that enabled BASIC to be loaded into the machine.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter about a week toggling all that code in, one byte at a time, my Dad decided to work on a circuit somewhere in the house and shut off the power to my room. I had to spend another week doing it all over again, but I eventually got a working computer.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe also need to put Microsoft's BASIC language into perspective. Programming languages are often described as \"higher-level languages.\" That's because the native language of the machine, called machine language or assembly language, is both very tied to a given machine's architecture and very granular. You don't add two numbers together. You move bits around -- bit-by-bit -- until some set of combinatorial operations results in a sum. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHigher-level languages are written with more functionality per statement. The code is compiled (converted all at once) or interpreted (converted statement by statement) into something the machine can understand. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGates and Allen first wrote a program on the PDP-10 that emulated the machine code of the Intel 8080; then they wrote an interpreter that translated BASIC code dynamically and interactively into 8080 code the processor could run. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fits-baaack-microsoft-and-ibm-open-source-ms-dos-4-0\u002F\"\u003EIt's back! Microsoft and IBM open source MS-DOS 4.0\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWriting in BASIC was fun, creative, and empowering. Writing in machine code or its related assembler language was tedious and incredibly time-consuming. So, without a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbasic-turns-60-why-simplicity-was-this-programming-languages-blessing-and-its-curse\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBASIC programming language\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for the Altair (and later for Apple machines), the personal computer industry wouldn't have taken off. Individual computers would have been too painful to use and likely would have seen service only in labs and industrial uses.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe brilliance of Altair BASIC\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlso, don't discount the feat of coder brilliance that Allen and Gates pulled off. It was impressive as hell to code an 8080 emulator and an entire BASIC interpreter in those days. If you look through that first code that they produced, you can see the care they took to make it both functional and maintainable. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYes, I said, \"If you look through that first code.\" That's because, concurrent with Bill's blog entry celebrating 50 years, he's also releasing a PDF of that first Altair BASIC source code. I haven't read through all 157 pages of tractor-feed fan-fold paper, but I have had the pleasure of scanning several pages. This is some seriously old-school, hard-core stuff right there.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYoung Bill and Paul had some serious chops. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI met Bill only once. I had dinner with him about a dozen years after Microsoft was formed. He was well on his way to making his first billion, and I had just started my first software company. MS-DOS was dominant on PCs, and Windows was still mostly a concept prototype. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fdell-turns-40-how-a-teenager-transformed-1000-worth-of-pc-parts-into-a-tech-giant\u002F\"\u003EDell turns 40: How a teenager transformed $1,000 worth of PC parts into a tech giant\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe met because he was the guest speaker -- and I was on the board of directors -- for Silicon Valley's Software Entrepreneurs' Forum. One of the perks of board membership was sharing the head table with our guest speakers each month. I made it my business to sit right across from each of the luminaries at each event. Not only did I get to meet them, I got to talk to them and learn from them. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EBill's unexpected advice\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI asked Bill what advice he had for a newly minted software startup founder. I expected some wisdom about software lifecycles or hiring good engineers. Instead, he told me to mind my cash flow. \"Cash flow is everything,\" he said. Yes, the advice I got from the guy who would become the richest man in the world (at least until recently) was about minding my cash flow. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI took that lesson to heart and my businesses did pretty well. Not millionaire or billionaire well, but they did well enough to support my family and those of the people who worked for me. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThinking back on that BASIC implementation and the Bill and Paul of 50 years ago, it's clear that my career as a whole benefited from their work. While no longer a popular language, BASIC was easy to learn and use. It's fallen out of favor because it's not that easy to maintain and doesn't scale as well as modern languages. But it was a gateway drug for a lot of early PC programmers. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fdell-turns-40-how-a-teenager-transformed-1000-worth-of-pc-parts-into-a-tech-giant\u002F\"\u003EDell turns 40: How a teenager transformed $1,000 worth of PC parts into a tech giant\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen I was in engineering school, I used big iron. But it was PCs that sparked my imagination. It turned out I was very good at operating system design, language design, and overall computer science. Unfortunately, despite my desire to go into nuclear engineering, I was far from a star nuke student. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy sophomore year, I'd used up all the college's computing curricula and started taking (and then teaching) graduate school computer science courses. I was still barely making it through the first few physics classes required for nuclear engineering. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy academic advisor, who knew of my Altair build and my affinity for these new personal computers, strongly advocated I move out of the nuclear engineering program and fully embrace computer science. I don't know if I'd have had that affinity for PCs if Microsoft's Altair BASIC didn't run on them. I never liked assembly language programming. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI wonder whether I would have been stuck underground, getting my body parts irradiated, and living on the edge of civilization as a barely adequate nuclear engineer had I not developed an affinity for PCs -- an affinity that Altair BASIC made possible in my very early formative years. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs one does, I eventually moved on to other languages -- and, in fact, to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthe-most-popular-programming-languages-in-2024-and-what-that-even-means\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emany other languages\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. But BASIC, and particularly that BASIC for that Altair 8800 machine, still holds a special place in my heart. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthe-mac-turns-40-how-apples-rebel-pc-almost-failed-again-and-again\u002F\"\u003EThe Mac turns 40: How Apple's rebel PC almost failed again and again\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, on behalf of all the middle-aged programming geeks worldwide who cut their teeth on Microsoft BASIC, I raise my cup of Kirkland Pacific Bold to Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Ed Roberts, and all the early ones -- yes, that includes Steve and Steve from Apple -- who brought personal computing to the rest of us. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat about you? Did you get your start in computing with BASIC, or maybe even on an Altair or PDP-10? Were you around when Microsoft first entered the scene -- or did you come in later and discover the magic of early personal computing secondhand? How did you first get hooked on programming, and what role did Microsoft's early software play, if any? Let us know in the comments below. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EYou can follow my day-to-day project updates on social media. Be sure to subscribe to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fadvancedgeekery.substack.com\u002F\"\u003Emy weekly update newsletter\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and follow me on Twitter\u002FX at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002Fdavidgewirtz\"\u003E@DavidGewirtz\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, on Facebook at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fdavidgewirtz\"\u003EFacebook.com\u002FDavidGewirtz\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, on Instagram at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002FDavidGewirtz\u002F\"\u003EInstagram.com\u002FDavidGewirtz\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, on Bluesky at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbsky.app\u002Fprofile\u002Fdavidgewirtz.com\"\u003E@DavidGewirtz.com\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and on YouTube at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fuser\u002FDavidGewirtzTV\"\u003EYouTube.com\u002FDavidGewirtzTV\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGet the biggest stories in tech every Friday with ZDNET's \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWeek in Review newsletter\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"1c484d26-6f31-48ab-8c73-282514bb76c1\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F1c484d26-6f31-48ab-8c73-282514bb76c1\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-03 18:14:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"In 1975, Bill and I were using the same computing tech - the Altair 8800 and DEC's PDP-10 - as BASIC became a gateway for generations of developers. Where were you all those decades ago?",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"3585a1a2-3e0f-4ab8-b83e-8c2a7173e3d6",image:{id:"ec0759f9-4340-4646-beef-b98e108fc719",filename:"altair1974gettyimages-1237272219.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2025-04-03 18:04:02",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"altair1974gettyimages-1237272219",credits:"Boston Globe\u002FGetty Images",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F04\u002F03\u002Fec0759f9-4340-4646-beef-b98e108fc719\u002Faltair1974gettyimages-1237272219.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1024,height:669,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Business^Companies^Microsoft",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"how-bill-gates-the-altair-8800-and-basic-propelled-me-into-the-pc-revolution",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"How Bill Gates, the Altair 8800 and BASIC propelled me into the PC revolution",topic:{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"10c1d40e-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"microsoft",name:"Microsoft",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"1124f463-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"processors",name:"Processors",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"5d68ddc2-d682-11e4-9a74-d4ae52e95e57",slug:"developer",name:"Developer",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"f2d97ea2-8175-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Adrian",lastName:"Kingsley-Hughes",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2",filename:"adrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 14:59:32",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2\u002Fadrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over two decades to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera. Adrian has authored\u002Fco-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include 'Build the Ultimate Custom PC', 'Beginning Programming' and 'The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide'. He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-gaming-pc\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPCs\u003C\u002Fa\u003E have been through a number of evolutions in terms of form factor -- a fancy word for size. The once bulky and ugly beige boxes that devoured desk real estate are now the size of a hardback book but can still handle the most demanding workload.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESay hello to the mini PC! This compact powerhouse is just as comfortable tucked behind your TV, perched on a shelf, or hidden away in a cupboard as it is sitting on your desk. Mini PCs pack a punch, offering everything you could want from a modern computer while taking up the least amount of space possible. They're perfect for today's busy lifestyles and can also serve as a fantastic foundation for your next project. Whether you're streaming your favorite shows, working from home, or diving into creative endeavors, a mini PC is a versatile companion that fits seamlessly into any environment. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best power banks: Expert tested\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhat is the best mini PC right now?\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've tested and researched the current mini PC offerings on the market, examining specs and paying close attention to user reviews, and my top pick for the best mini PC is the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"68d9ad17-5a1c-4592-8643-def928eb2c40\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FNUC13ANHi7-i7-1360P-Computers-Business-Thunderbolt-dp-B0C8NSPFTD\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Intel NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. Whether you want a mini PC for the home, office, or meeting room, this is a solid choice. But I understand that this might not be for everyone, so I've picked a handful more mini PCs, each aimed at a specific use case.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd there's never been a better time to buy, because at the time of update, prices have come down dramatically opretty much across the board. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe best mini PCs of 2025\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"2869633c-add8-4055-9874-55f85096cf8a\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWhen it comes to mini PCs, it's hard to beat a mini PC built to the Intel NUC specs. I've owned and tested a number of them myself and have been very happy with them.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith this model, we have a system running a 16-core Core i7 chip that can power up to 3.7 GHz with a built-in Iris Xe GPU. Backing that is 32GB of RAM and 1TB M.2 SSD -- that's quite a spec for a system you can hold in the palm of your hand. As for ports, this system has a multitude of USB ports, along with Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, and Ethernet.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs mini PCs go, this one is likely overkill for most, but if you are looking for a really powerful system that runs whisper-quiet and can be mounted behind a TV or put on a shelf, this is the system for you.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGiven the price of this system, there aren't a lot of reviews for it, but the ones that owners have written are overwhelmingly positive.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntel NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon tech specs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E 12th Generation Intel Core i7-1360P | Intel Iris Xe Graphics 96EU | 32GB DDR4 RAM | 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD | 3x USB 3.2 type A, 1x USB-A, 2x Thunderbolt 4, 2x HDMI, Ethernet, audio jack | Windows 11 Pro\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Intel NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon\" data-superlative=\"Best mini PC overall\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"zdnet-image-instructions","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Intel\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"356a5a37-b607-4bef-b3a5-9f60e1bef4a8","title":"intel-nuc-13-pro-arena-canyon-mini-pc","filename":"intel-nuc-13-pro-arena-canyon.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F08\u002F21\u002F356a5a37-b607-4bef-b3a5-9f60e1bef4a8\u002Fintel-nuc-13-pro-arena-canyon.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":49519,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-08-21 17:47:42","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-08-21 17:47:57","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Intel\u002FZDNET","alt":"intel-nuc-13-pro-arena-canyon","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"356a5a37-b607-4bef-b3a5-9f60e1bef4a8","imageAltText":"zdnet-image-instructions","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Intel\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"intel-nuc-13-pro-arena-canyon.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F08\u002F21","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Intel\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FNUC13ANHi7-i7-1360P-Computers-Business-Thunderbolt\u002Fdp\u002FB0BYNC9W8D?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FNUC13ANHi7-i7-1360P-Computers-Business-Thunderbolt\u002Fdp\u002FB0BYNC9W8D","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FNUC13ANHi7-i7-1360P-Computers-Business-Thunderbolt\u002Fdp\u002FB0BYNC9W8D?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"~Powerful ~Quiet ~Excellent reviews\" data-dislike=\"~Expensive\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"78000d68-5c97-40b9-95c5-77631010cc05\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EJust when you thought this list would only include Windows systems, we've got the Mac Mini. This was one of the original mini PCs, and with the switch to Apple Silicon processors, it has seen a new lease of life.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EConsidered at one point the gateway Mac that got people over to MacOS from Windows (because they could replace their Windows PC with the Mac Mini and keep using their existing keyboard, mouse, and monitor with their new Mac), it's now a staple of the Mac lineup, and the perfect choice for those who want a compact system.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've owned a few different Mac Mini systems over the years, and I've been more than satisfied by them. They're reliable, well-built, and run cool and quiet. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe biggest downside to this system is upgrading -- bottom line, this Mac will live and die with the same processor, RAM, and storage that it left the factory with. If you want to give it a storage boost, Satechi makes a hub\u002Fstand for it that adds a bunch of ports and a port for an \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-m2-ssd\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EM.2 SSD\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs I'd expect from an Apple product, the reviews are strongly positive, with users reporting that they are happy with the performance and overall reliability of the system.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EApple 2023 Mac mini tech specs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E Apple Silicon M4 processor with 10 CPU cores, 10 GPU cores | 16GB RAM | 256GB storage | 2x USB-C, 3x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, Ethernet, audio jack | MacOS&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Apple Mac Mini (2024)\" data-superlative=\"Best mini PC for Apple users\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"Mac Mini M4 Pro from the back","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"365d4315-eb61-400d-afdd-f5deee1f3a41","title":"Mac Mini M4 Pro from the back","filename":"mac-mini-m4-pro-7.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F11\u002F04\u002F365d4315-eb61-400d-afdd-f5deee1f3a41\u002Fmac-mini-m4-pro-7.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":422166,"width":2048,"height":1152,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-11-04 18:54:02","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-11-04 18:54:21","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET","alt":"Mac Mini M4 Pro from the back","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"365d4315-eb61-400d-afdd-f5deee1f3a41","imageAltText":"Mac Mini M4 Pro from the back","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"mac-mini-m4-pro-7.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F11\u002F04","imageWidth":2048,"imageHeight":1152,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET\" 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The combination of AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX and AMD Radeon 680M GPU gives this system a lot of horsepower to tackle a variety of workloads, from work to games.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt also throws away the design rulebook. While most mini PCs are cube-like, this one is an upright tent shape. While that might seem like purely a design choice, it does in fact make opening up the system to carry out upgrades a snap as the side panel is held in place with magnets. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis system features a power dial on the top to switch it between silent mode, auto, and performance, depending on whether you want power or silence. It also includes a multitude of LED lights, which you might love or hate. If you love them, great, if not, there's an app that turns them off for you.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut the lights aside, this is the perfect mini PC for those looking for a gaming system but who don't want to have a huge box on their desk or beside their TV. There's no harder set of people to please than gamers, which is why it's quite reassuring to find strong reviews for this gaming mini PC.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAceMagician AMD Ryzen 9 Mini PC tech specs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EAMD Ryzen 9 6900HX | AMD Radeon 680M GPU | 32GB DDR4 RAM | 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD | 3x USB 3.2 type A, 2x HDMI, Ethernet, USB-C, audio jack | Windows 11 Pro\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"AceMagician AMD Ryzen 9 Mini PC\" data-superlative=\"Best mini PC for gamers\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"placeholder-product-image-for-best-lists.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Amazon\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"300897c9-52de-47c7-9762-a2888eb4ebb6","title":"acemagician-mini-pc","filename":"ace-magician-mini-pc.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F08\u002F21\u002F300897c9-52de-47c7-9762-a2888eb4ebb6\u002Face-magician-mini-pc.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":75137,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-08-21 17:55:47","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-08-21 17:55:55","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Amazon\u002FZDNET","alt":"ace-magician-mini-pc","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"300897c9-52de-47c7-9762-a2888eb4ebb6","imageAltText":"placeholder-product-image-for-best-lists.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Amazon\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"ace-magician-mini-pc.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F08\u002F21","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Amazon\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FACEMAGICIAN-Mini-Gaming-Ryzen-6900HX\u002Fdp\u002FB0D3KWGKRD?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FACEMAGICIAN-Mini-Gaming-Ryzen-6900HX\u002Fdp\u002FB0D3KWGKRD","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FACEMAGICIAN-Mini-Gaming-Ryzen-6900HX\u002Fdp\u002FB0D3KWGKRD?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"~A mini PC that legitimately describes itself as a gaming system ~Powerful AMD processor and GPU ~Convenient dial for switching between power modes\" data-dislike=\"~Different shape ~LED lights might be annoying\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"96297580-6e29-4029-a0fb-1928f7271e62\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ENot something that people immediately think of as a mini PC, but the new 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 certainly has the horsepower to handle some quite demanding workloads. Given the push that the Raspberry Pi Foundation has done in the direction of AI, it's the perfect starting point for a lot of AI projects.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut it doesn't end there, the Pi 5 is perfect as the basis for a NAS box, a PiHole router, home automation hub, and much more.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead the review: \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Ffinally-a-16gb-raspberry-pi-5-but-at-this-price-point-does-a-mini-pc-make-more-sense\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EFinally, a 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 - but does a mini PC make more sense at this price?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERaspberry Pi 5 16GB tech specs\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EBroadcom BCM2712 2.4GHz quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 CPU | VideoCore VII GPU&nbsp;| LPDDR4X-4267 SDRAM&nbsp;| No built-in storage | 2× USB 3.0 ports, 2× USB 2.0 ports, and Gigabit Ethernet | Raspberry Pi OS\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Raspberry Pi 5 16GB\" data-superlative=\"Best mini PC for tinkerers\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"Raspberry Pi 5 16GB","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Raspberry Pi","imageData":{"id":"34be2e2e-3ad2-4266-b673-bf3584ccd58b","title":"Raspberry Pi 5 16GB","filename":"raspberry-pi-5-16gb-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F01\u002F09\u002F34be2e2e-3ad2-4266-b673-bf3584ccd58b\u002Fraspberry-pi-5-16gb-2.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":349606,"width":1600,"height":899,"dateCreated":{"date":"2025-01-09 16:55:00","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2025-01-09 16:55:18","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Raspberry Pi","alt":"Raspberry Pi 5 16GB","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"34be2e2e-3ad2-4266-b673-bf3584ccd58b","imageAltText":"Raspberry Pi 5 16GB","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Raspberry Pi","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"raspberry-pi-5-16gb-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F01\u002F09","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":899,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Raspberry Pi\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Raspberry Pi","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.raspberrypi.com\u002Fproducts\u002Fraspberry-pi-5\u002F","url":""},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FCanaKit-Raspberry-Starter-Kit-PRO\u002Fdp\u002FB0CRSNCJ6Y\u002F?th=1","url":""}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"8e068ed3-abb4-472a-a2c2-1ca8604bcf1d\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Ctable\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMini PC\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrice\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProcessor\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGPU\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERAM\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStorage\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOperating system\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$859 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel Core i7-1360P \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel Iris Xe Graphics 96EU&nbsp; \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E32GB DDR4&nbsp; \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E2TB M.2 NVMe SSD \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 11 Pro \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple 2024 Mac Mini \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$549\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple Silicon M4 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple Silicon M4 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E16GB DDR4 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E256GB SSD \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMacOS 15 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGMKtec Mini PC \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$130\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel N5105&nbsp; \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel UHD Graphics \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E8GB DDR4 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E128GB M.2 NVMe SSD \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 11 Pro \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeelink S12 Pro Mini PC \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$149\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel N100 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel UHD Graphics&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E16GB DDR4 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E500GB M.2 NVMe SSD \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 11 Pro \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAceMagician AMD Ryzen 9 Mini PC \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$549\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAMD Ryzen 9 6900HX&nbsp; \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAMD Radeon 680M \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E32GB DDR4 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E1TB SSD \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWindows 11&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERaspberry Pi 5 16GB\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$120\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBroadcom BCM2712&nbsp; \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVideoCore VII GPU \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E16GB LPDDR4X-4267 SDRAM\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENo built in storage\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERaspberry Pi OS\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003C\u002Ftbody\u003E\u003C\u002Ftable\u003E\" data-hed=\"What is the best mini PC?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"65474b26-90c2-4eee-bda5-a005bcbe6f10\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Ctable\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChoose this mini PC…\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you want…\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntel NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA general-purpose mini PC. The Intel NUC PCs continue to be the best all-around mini PCs on the market. Yes, there are better, faster, cheaper systems out there, but these systems have continually impressed me over the years. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple 2024 Mac Mini \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo go with MacOS. The Mac Mini used to be the way that Windows PC users would start to make the transition over to Mac. Nowadays, they are all-purpose desktop computers that are perfect for anyone who doesn't want a portable system, from students to developers. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGMKtec Mini PC \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA truly tiny PC. This is one of the smallest systems I've seen, but it packs quite a punch, hitting well above its size and weight. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeelink S12 Pro Mini PC \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA great budget mini PC. Cheap and cheerful, yet packing enough power to be a perfectly capable PC for school, work, or for home entrainment.. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAceMagician AMD Ryzen 9 Mini PC \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA proper mini gaming PC. Here you have a full gaming PC packed into a tiny footprint. Sure, there are going to be desktop systems that are way more powerful than this system, but for the size, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything faster. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERaspberry Pi 5 16GB\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA computer that will form the basis of a project. Maybe you want to build a NAS system, a home automation project, or a weather station, then this platform will be an excellent starting point.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003C\u002Ftbody\u003E\u003C\u002Ftable\u003E\u003Cp\u003E&nbsp; \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Which is the right mini PC for you?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a6b61a7d-64b5-4cc4-bf4a-8cfbff854ee8\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIn many ways, choosing a mini PC is much like a regular PC. There are all the usual performance, price, and support for all your peripherals to keep in mind. But if you are after a mini PC, then the mini part does come into play, so there is a size issue to bear in mind. The good news is that mini PCs come in a range of sizes, from systems that can fit in the palm of your hand to systems so small you could fit several of them in the palm of your hand.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDo you need a mini PC? \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EThis is the top question when choosing a mini PC. Do you actually need one, or do you just need a regular PC?\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESize\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: This really is the differentiator when it comes to mini PCs. Do you want a PC that's the size of a biscuit tin, or something significantly smaller?\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPerformance\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: Pretty standard PC consideration here. What do you want your system to do? Do you want to carry out general PC tasks like word processing and spreadsheets and browsing the web, or do you have more specialist needs in mind, such as gaming?\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBudget\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: Small doesn't always mean cheap, but you can save money by choosing a mini PC that suits your needs.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPorts\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: Most mini PCs come with a decent array of ports, but if you need something like two Ethernet ports or a bunch of USB ports, you need to ensure you're getting the right mini PC for you.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\" data-hed=\"Factors to consider when choosing a mini PC\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"023f67f2-1e4e-4603-921c-efe3f9fdd0e9\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThere are a lot of mini PCs on the market from a variety of different vendors, and I've tested and used mini PCs from all the vendors listed here, I've based my selections on my experience using these brands, as well as current model user reviews.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProduct specs and price also come into play, but being able to draw on dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of other people's views allows me to get a broad sense of how well-received a selected mini PC is. I've paid particular attention to reports of performance, stability, how quiet or noisy the PC is, and weeded out many that seemed to have a poor lifespan.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat we're left with is the best of the best, in a broad selection of categories that are applicable to mini PCs.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How did we choose these mini PCs?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFAQs on mini PCs\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"e338db83-da68-4ce6-9398-b4683b088f84\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EA mini PC is a compact yet fully functional computer that offers many, if not all of, the capabilities of a desktop PC, but is packaged into a smaller form factor. Mini PCs are designed to save space and can be used for a variety of tasks, from basic computing to more demanding applications such as programming or even gaming.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"What is a mini PC?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"d19732e9-2115-46ee-bd0c-8d50d410ef31\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EPeople often choose to invest in a mini PC for these reasons:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESpace-saving:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;The top benefit of going for a mini PC is that it takes up significantly less space than traditional desktop PCs.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPortable\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Mini PCs are lightweight and easy to move, making them ideal for users who need computing power on the go.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEnergy efficiency:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Most mini PCs consume significantly less power than a similarly-specced desktop system, which can lead to cost savings on electricity.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQuiet:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Some models are fanless, resulting in quieter operation, and even those that still have a fan are far quieter than a standard desktop system.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\" data-hed=\"What are the advantages of using a mini PC?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"cdb4d865-c9ed-437a-969c-f41b27684f88\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIt depends on the model. Some mini PCs allow for upgrades -- sometimes very easy upgrades -- to components like RAM and storage, while others have fixed configurations.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn the whole however, like laptops, mini PCs are better aimed at those situations where you buy the PC with the spec that you need rather than relying on an upgrade down the line.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Are mini PCs upgradeable?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EOther mini PCs worth considering\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"bebb6e56-1846-4cb7-a634-5fd147011fcf\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ENot just a mini PC, this is a mini PC stick. This system is designed to connect directly to a display and offers the most portable PC experience you can get, making it perfect for scenarios like conference rooms and offices, and even setting up specialist IoT setups.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"MeLE PCG02 Mini PC Stick\" data-superlative=\"Best mini PC stick\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"zdnet-image-instructions","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"MeLE","imageData":{"id":"f4aec8bc-acfe-4f8d-8940-a128e1c135f1","title":"MeLE PCG02 Mini PC Stick","filename":"mele-pcg02-mini-pc-stick.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F08\u002F20\u002Ff4aec8bc-acfe-4f8d-8940-a128e1c135f1\u002Fmele-pcg02-mini-pc-stick.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":262647,"width":1600,"height":900,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-08-20 19:06:38","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-08-20 19:06:53","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"MeLE","alt":"MeLE PCG02 Mini PC Stick","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"f4aec8bc-acfe-4f8d-8940-a128e1c135f1","imageAltText":"zdnet-image-instructions","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"MeLE","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"mele-pcg02-mini-pc-stick.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F08\u002F20","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":900,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"MeLE\" data-linktext=\"Best compact alternative\" data-linkurl=\"Design: Mini Listicle\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0C3CHF1RV?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0C3CHF1RV","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0C3CHF1RV?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"2050571\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-03 01:25:56",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Having a powerful PC doesn't mean you have to have a full-size tower. We tested the best mini PCs from Apple, Intel, and more.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"0757cceb-0d2e-41e2-90db-20704d44baa8",image:{id:"14130694-de77-4f5d-876e-45f786959e6f",filename:"mac-mini-m4-pro-8.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2024-11-04 18:55:15",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Mac Mini M4 Pro",credits:"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F11\u002F04\u002F14130694-de77-4f5d-876e-45f786959e6f\u002Fmac-mini-m4-pro-8.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2048,height:1152,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"best-list",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"The best mini PCs you can buy",section:c,slug:"best-mini-pc",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"The best mini PCs of 2025: Expert recommended from Apple, Intel, and more",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"11ec38e5-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"windows",name:"Windows",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"20ba7b16-3cb9-434f-ab92-be1ae59d088e\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Samsung\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"samsung-t5-evo-black-friday\" data-image-filename=\"samsung-t5.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F20\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you've been looking for a new digital storage option, Samsung has a deal on the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"fbe0aad4-560b-4918-aea1-8bf6c34724a2\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.samsung.com\u002Fus\u002Fcomputing\u002Fmemory-storage\u002Fportable-solid-state-drives\u002Fportable-ssd-t5-evo-usb-3-2-4tb-black-mu-ph4t0s-am\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.samsung.com%2Fus%2Fcomputing%2Fmemory-storage%2Fportable-solid-state-drives%2Fportable-ssd-t5-evo-usb-3-2-8tb-black-mu-ph8t0s-am%2F&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"4TB Samsung T5 Evo\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E portable SSD for just $230, plus get a 256GB Sonic the Hedgehog microSDXC card for free. With that much storage, the device is perfect for large digital game libraries, raw video and photo files, raw and rendered digital art, and other important programs and documents you may need to take on the go. And you won't want to wait to take advantage of this deal, the T5 is a popular SSD and stock never lasts long.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-m2-ssd\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best M.2 SSDs you can buy\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"710ffd8f-b930-4dfd-913a-0f9bd7bf289e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Samsung T5 Evo 8TB for $230 plus free 256GB microSDXC (save $120 at Samsung)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"86d9d0b1-7604-4b4e-a6b9-cb00cd4d5f5b","filename":"samsung-t5-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F20\u002F86d9d0b1-7604-4b4e-a6b9-cb00cd4d5f5b\u002Fsamsung-t5-2.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-20 19:17:54","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"86d9d0b1-7604-4b4e-a6b9-cb00cd4d5f5b","imageFilename":"samsung-t5-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F20"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.samsung.com\u002Fus\u002Fcomputing\u002Fmemory-storage\u002Fportable-solid-state-drives\u002Fportable-ssd-t5-evo-usb-3-2-4tb-black-mu-ph4t0s-am\u002F\" data-offerprice=\"230\" data-offerpricerange=\"5\" data-offerpricetext=\"BOGO offer\" data-offermerchant=\"Samsung\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.samsung.com\u002Fus\u002Fcomputing\u002Fmemory-storage\u002Fportable-solid-state-drives\u002Fportable-ssd-t5-evo-usb-3-2-8tb-black-mu-ph8t0s-am\u002F&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith an impressive amount of storage space, you'll get read and write speeds of up to 460 MB\u002Fs each, letting you transfer large files more quickly than a traditional hard disk drive. With support for USB 3.2, you'll get more reliable data transfers, which means you won't have to worry about possible data corruption due to interruptions. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong with great read and write speeds and more reliable data transfers, the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"fc55575c-ecc5-43d5-871a-d6ce13fc27de\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.samsung.com\u002Fus\u002Fcomputing\u002Fmemory-storage\u002Fportable-solid-state-drives\u002Fportable-ssd-t5-evo-usb-3-2-4tb-black-mu-ph4t0s-am\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.samsung.com%2Fus%2Fcomputing%2Fmemory-storage%2Fportable-solid-state-drives%2Fportable-ssd-t5-evo-usb-3-2-8tb-black-mu-ph8t0s-am%2F&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung T5 Evo\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E features 256-bit AES encryption to keep personal data and sensitive information safe from unauthorized access. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fssd-vs-hdd-whats-the-difference-and-which-should-you-buy\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESSD vs. HDD: What's the difference, and which should you buy?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe drive's outer casing is drop- and shock-resistant and can withstand falls up to six feet, making it perfect for on-location photographers and other mobile professionals who need a tough storage drive for offloading raw photos from camera storage or transferring important projects and documents between their home office and mobile work location.   \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003EZDNET Recommends\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow I rated this deal \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI give the Samsung SSD deal a 5\u002F5 Editor's deal rating not because it's the lowest price I've seen on the 8TB version (it was almost 60% off around December 2024), but because it's excellent value for such a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-m2-ssd\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehigh-capacity SSD\u003C\u002Fa\u003E plus a microSDXC that's perfect for expanding storage on your Nintendo Switch\u002FSwitch 2.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"3f1e70db-625b-4dda-bd59-485712352f28\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWhile the Samsung T5 Evo portable SSD listing doesn't have a countdown timer, it is labeled a limited-time sale. That means that Samsung may have only approved a certain number of units that can be sold at this price, and the stock may not last.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"When will this deal expire?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"662c8a8f-6744-45fb-b928-f245c4a6c2c1\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWe aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor's deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members' expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhow-we-rate-deals-at-zdnet-in-2025\u002F"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow we rate deals at ZDNET in 2025\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How do we rate deals at ZDNET?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-02 18:57:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The Amazon Spring Sale is almost over, and if you haven't found any good deals on SSDs, you can save $120 on the 4TB Samsung T5 Evo, plus get a 256GB Sonic the Hedgehog microSDXC for free.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"86745563-ec29-48bb-a9e4-b32c6b484269",image:{id:"33305c14-66a9-4eb2-9569-d726c53b4cce",filename:"samsung-t5.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2025-03-20 19:18:38",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"samsung-t5-evo-black-friday",credits:"Samsung\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F20\u002F33305c14-66a9-4eb2-9569-d726c53b4cce\u002Fsamsung-t5.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1296,height:720,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"deals",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^Storage",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"samsung-t5-ssd-deal-04-02-2025",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Save $120 on the 4TB Samsung T5 and get a 256GB microSDXC card free",topic:{id:"11601750-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"storage",name:"Storage",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"11601750-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"storage",name:"Storage",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"116c1d92-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"tablets",name:"Tablets",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"91a4cdc7-83f0-4ac1-9561-628db15e2c76",slug:"smart-office",name:"Smart Office",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"926c7fe3-bac7-46e3-b421-bf633d90ee73",slug:"productivity",name:"Productivity",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"9841d7c0-1be2-42d4-963b-3d0c080290bc",slug:"tech",name:"Tech",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cp\u003EAs the adage goes in content creation, audiences can forgive sub-par writing and camera missteps, but \"\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.rockadove.co.uk\u002Fimportance-of-sound-in-video-production\u002F#:~:text=Your%20audience%20might%20forgive%20a,what%20they%20are%20talking%20about.\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethey won't forgive bad sound\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\" Whether you're an experienced or novice content creator (or just want higher-quality work calls), you need a high-quality streaming microphone--it immediately and substantially ups the production value and puts your work in a higher echelon of media. Fortunately, you no longer need to break the bank for studio-level recording equipment--many reputable brands offer budget-friendly devices. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-streaming-webcam\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWhat are the best webcams for streaming, and are 4K ones worth it?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeginners and smaller creators will want to stick with a USB-powered microphone, which are typically incredibly easy to use. Seasoned streamers and vloggers will want an XLR mic for higher-quality audio and high-end production. I've tested a series of microphones from both camps to help creators pick the perfect device for their needs. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhat is the best streaming microphone right now?\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBased on hands-on testing, I chose the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"ff118c54-c93e-4280-9fb6-50abeb5ded2a\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fshure-mv7-dynamic-cardioid-usb-microphone\u002F6439009.p?skuId=6439009\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Shure MV7\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E as my number one pick for the best streaming microphone because of its flexible USB and XLR connectivity, studio-quality output, and robust equalizer settings. Keep reading below to learn more about the Shure MV7 and my other picks for the best streaming microphones available.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe best streaming microphones of 2025\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"375c13a0-e378-4f0a-b8fa-a5cd06a8705e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fsmart-office\u002Fshure-mv7-review\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EShure MV7\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is a quality microphone for both live streaming and recording vocals, music, and interviews. It features a similar build to its big brother, the&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.shure.com\u002Fen-US\u002Fproducts\u002Fmicrophones\u002Fsm7b?variant=SM7B" target="_blank"\u003EShure SM7B,\u003C\u002Fa\u003E&nbsp;which is a popular choice for experienced content creators, but offers more flexibility and a gentler learning curve for beginners.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-twitch-streaming-software\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EYou can go live on Twitch with streaming software, but which is the best?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt connects to your PC via USB for both power and audio (which is ideal for beginners) or&nbsp; XLR cable for more advanced audio setups. This allows the microphone to adapt to your changing needs as your audience grows. When I tested the MV7, I was very impressed by the broadcast quality output and the plug-and-play compatibility with both Windows and macOS computers.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EShure MV7 features – Type:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EDynamic |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECapsule:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Single |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EConnectivity:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Micro USB Type-C, XLR, 3.5mm AUX |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPolar pattern:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Cardioid |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EFrequency response:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;50Hz – 16,000Hz |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDimensions:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;6.5 x 3.6 x 6 inches&nbsp;|&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EWeight:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;1.21 pounds |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERGB:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;No&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Shure MV7\" data-superlative=\"Best streaming microphone overall\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"shure-mv7","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"ZDNet","imageData":{"id":"f5985465-f8db-4568-9cec-c8bc4204f161","title":"shure-mv7","filename":"shure-mv7.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F22\u002Ff5985465-f8db-4568-9cec-c8bc4204f161\u002Fshure-mv7.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":108890,"width":1296,"height":729,"dateCreated":{"date":"2022-08-22 19:08:03","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2022-08-22 19:08:09","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"ZDNet","alt":"shure-mv7","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"f5985465-f8db-4568-9cec-c8bc4204f161","imageAltText":"shure-mv7","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"ZDNet","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"shure-mv7.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F08\u002F22","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":729,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"ZDNet\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"266f38c2-5b93-4730-a45c-712cf955c900","slug":"shure-mv7-plus-k-podcast-xlr-usb-microphone-bundle-with-gator-desktop-stand-black","name":"Shure MV7+-K Podcast XLR\u002FUSB Microphone Bundle with Gator Desktop Stand (Black)","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"AUTOPID","mod":1742586362101,"displayDate":"Fri Mar 21 2025 15:46:02 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0CTJ8BSWN?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0CTJ8BSWN?th=1","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0CTJ8BSWN?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"Windows and Mac compatibility ~ USB and XLR connections ~ Broadcast quality output\" data-dislike=\"Very heavy ~ XLR connection requires preamp and phantom power\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"75345fa2-c9fd-4243-affe-f140d6ca714f\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ESteelSeries tailor-made the Alias Pro XLR microphone for content creators. It comes packaged with an audio mixer base station that doubles as a preamp and phantom power, streamlining the setup for XLR newcomers and those recording audio in smaller spaces. What makes the Alias Pro stand out from other XLR options is its ability to connect to two PCs at once, making it an excellent choice for established creators running dual PC streaming rigs.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe base station connects to your streaming PC and gaming PC via USB-C while the Sonar desktop app provides in-depth equalizing and live-mixing tools. Creators can separate individual programs into different mixer presets for unprecedented control over your input and stream output. The main dial and right mute buttons on the base station can also be programmed to control the volume on different peripherals and programs.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESteelSeries Alias Pro features - Type:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003ECondenser |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECapsule:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;1-inch Clear Cast |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EConnectivity:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EXLR, 3.5mm AUX |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPolar pattern:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Cardioid |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EFrequency response:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;50Hz - 20KHz |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDimensions:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;4.3 x 501 x 9 inches |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EWeight:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;169.5g without stand&nbsp;|&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERGB:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Yes, base station only&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"SteelSeries Alias Pro\" data-superlative=\"Best streaming microphone for dual streaming rigs\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"Close-up of a SteelSeries Alias Pro XLR microphone and base station","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"c6d2f2f8-4445-42d7-8a8c-d5801ef6f892","title":"steelseries-alias-pro","filename":"steelseries-alias-pro.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F01\u002F31\u002Fc6d2f2f8-4445-42d7-8a8c-d5801ef6f892\u002Fsteelseries-alias-pro.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":440600,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-01-31 20:41:11","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-01-31 20:41:34","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET","alt":"Close-up of a SteelSeries Alias Pro XLR microphone and base station","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"c6d2f2f8-4445-42d7-8a8c-d5801ef6f892","imageAltText":"Close-up of a SteelSeries Alias Pro XLR microphone and base station","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"steelseries-alias-pro.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F01\u002F31","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Alias-Pro-Kit-Podcasting\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBNVCCPJ?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Alias-Pro-Kit-Podcasting\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBNVCCPJ","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Alias-Pro-Kit-Podcasting\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBNVCCPJ?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"},{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fsteelseries-alias-pro-xlr-microphone%2F6555807.p%3FskuId%3D6555807&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value","offerMerchant":"Best Buy","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fsteelseries-alias-pro-xlr-microphone\u002F6555807.p?skuId=6555807","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fsteelseries-alias-pro-xlr-microphone%2F6555807.p%3FskuId%3D6555807&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"Preamp\u002Fphantom power unit included ~ Packaged with XLR cable ~ Excellent audio output quality\" data-dislike=\"Expensive ~ Sonar app has a bit of a learning curve\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"521b4133-6a8e-47cd-9b1b-e189a920904c\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fhyperx-quadcast-s-review\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EHyperX QuadCast S\u003C\u002Fa\u003E has been my go-to microphone for about 2 years. While it mostly gets used for Slack and Zoom, the QuadCast S can easily switch between work and play. The microphone body features two dials: one for gain adjustment and the other for switching the polar pattern. One feature I really appreciate is that the polar pattern only changes if the HyperX Ngenuity app is open and running, meaning you won't accidentally switch in the middle of a presentation (and my cats can't mess with it while trying to climb the boom arm).&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe HyperX QuadCast S comes with a fairly lightweight desk stand that gives you tons of placement options, as well as an adapter for use on a boom arm (which I prefer, as it helps eliminate thumps and bumps from typing or taking notes during meetings). The QuadCast S has a pop filter built in as well, meaning you won't have to spend extra money or time getting another accessory for better-quality audio. Plus, with its dynamic RGB lighting, you can show off your personal style or match your company's branding.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHyperX QuadCast S features - Type:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003ECondenser |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECapsule:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;3x 14mm |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EConnectivity:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;USB-C, 3.5mm AUX&nbsp; |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPolar pattern:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Multidirectional |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EFrequency response:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;20Hz - 20KHz |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDimensions:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;9.8 x 5.1 x 4 inches |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EWeight:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;.56 pounds |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERGB:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Yes &nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"HyperX QuadCast S\" data-superlative=\"Best USB microphone for streaming\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"untitled-2.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet","imageData":{"id":"200c49d7-4d6f-4111-88ce-ec5f5a5b02d0","title":"untitled-2","filename":"untitled-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F04\u002F12\u002F200c49d7-4d6f-4111-88ce-ec5f5a5b02d0\u002Funtitled-2.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":347845,"width":1600,"height":933,"dateCreated":{"date":"2022-04-12 19:43:01","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2022-04-12 19:43:06","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet","alt":"untitled-2.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"200c49d7-4d6f-4111-88ce-ec5f5a5b02d0","imageAltText":"untitled-2.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"untitled-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F04\u002F12","imageWidth":1600,"imageHeight":933,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FZDNet\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"f229d943-6fb1-43d5-993b-1bda6de91105","slug":"hyperx-quadcast-s-rgb-usb-condenser-microphone-for-pc-ps4-ps5-and-mac-anti-vibration-shock-mount-4-polar-patterns-pop","name":"HyperX QuadCast S – RGB USB Condenser Microphone for PC, PS4, PS5 and Mac, Anti-Vibration Shock Mount, 4 Polar Patterns, Pop Filter, Gain Control, Gaming, Streaming, Podcasts, Twitch, YouTube, Discord","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1742586362232,"displayDate":"Fri Mar 21 2025 15:46:02 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHyperX-QuadCast-Condenser-Microphone-Anti-Vibration\u002Fdp\u002FB08G8WH435?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHyperX-QuadCast-Condenser-Microphone-Anti-Vibration\u002Fdp\u002FB08G8WH435","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHyperX-QuadCast-Condenser-Microphone-Anti-Vibration\u002Fdp\u002FB08G8WH435?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"Great for work and gaming ~ Works with stand and boom arm ~ Simplified controls ~ Built-in pop filter\" data-dislike=\"RGB lighting can be distracting in shared environments ~ Very large ~ Shock mount feels a bit cheap\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"b11d2020-e90e-4b4b-9d69-da72f74aef18\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIf you're looking for a microphone that offers great audio output and costs less than $100, the Blue Snowball Ice is an excellent option. Its compact design is ideal for smaller desks and recording spaces, and the adjustable tripod stand lets you set the perfect height for interviews or monologues. &nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Blue Snowball Ice connects to your computer via USB and has plug-and-play compatibility for both Windows and macOS devices. The mic is also Discord and Skype certified for compatibility, meaning you won't end up tearing your hair out trying to talk to friends and colleagues.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBlue Snowball Ice features - Type:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003ECondenser |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECapsule:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Single&nbsp;|&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EConnectivity:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;USB Type-A |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPolar pattern:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Cardioid |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EFrequency response:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;40Hz - 18KHz |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDimensions:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;4-inch sphere |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EWeight:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;1.01 pounds |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERGB:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;No&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Blue Snowball Ice\" data-superlative=\"Best budget microphone for streaming\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"zdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"a06d8923-4b42-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57","title":"zdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","filename":"zdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2014\u002F10\u002F03\u002Fa06d8923-4b42-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\u002Fzdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","caption":null,"size":37799,"width":460,"height":345,"author":null,"dateCreated":{"date":"2014-10-03 21:17:06","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2014-10-03 21:17:06","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"zdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"a06d8923-4b42-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57","imageAltText":"zdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"zdnet-rachel-king-blue-mic-snowball-002.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2014\u002F10\u002F03","imageWidth":460,"imageHeight":345,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLogitech-Microphone-Streaming-Podcasting-Play-Black\u002Fdp\u002FB006DIA77E\u002F?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLogitech-Microphone-Streaming-Podcasting-Play-Black\u002Fdp\u002FB006DIA77E\u002F","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLogitech-Microphone-Streaming-Podcasting-Play-Black\u002Fdp\u002FB006DIA77E\u002F?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"Under $100 ~ Adjustable tripod stand ~ Compact design\" data-dislike=\"No mute indicator LED ~ Not compatible with boom arm mounting\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"2f6a6ed5-e129-479b-9fb2-7d227aa6dfcd\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmy-go-to-microphone-for-podcasting-and-streaming-over-the-past-decade\u002F" target="_blank"\u003EBlue Yeti\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is one of, if not the most popular microphones for streamers and content creators -- for great reason. The Blue Yeti gives you multiple polar patterns, studio quality output, live headphone monitoring, and plug-and-play compatibility with both Windows and macOS computers for a reasonable price.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt comes with a desk stand but is also compatible with boom arm setups, as long as you get a 5\u002F8-inch threaded adapter. Blue also offers the Yeti in three different colors (silver, black, and blue) to let you show off your style or blend into your studio aesthetic. It is a very large and heavy microphone though, so no matter how you set it up, you'll need a bit more space than you think.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBlue Yeti features - Type:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003ECondenser |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECapsule:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;3x half-inch |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EConnectivity:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;USB, 3.5mm AUX |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPolar pattern:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Multidirectional |\u003Cstrong\u003E&nbsp;Frequency response:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;20Hz - 20KHz |\u003Cstrong\u003E&nbsp;Dimensions:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;4.72 x 4.92 x 11.61 inches |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EWeight:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;1.2 pounds without stand |&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERGB:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;No&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Blue Yeti\" data-superlative=\"Best multi-pattern microphone for streaming\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"A silver Blue Yeti microphone next to an open Apple MacBook","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Allison Murray\u002FBlue Microphones\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"3f103c85-cb9c-443d-b4ab-ce38aec7dfb0","title":"Blue Yeti","filename":"img-4635.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F01\u002F31\u002F3f103c85-cb9c-443d-b4ab-ce38aec7dfb0\u002Fimg-4635.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":322673,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-01-31 19:36:38","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-01-31 19:37:11","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Allison Murray\u002FBlue Microphones\u002FZDNET","alt":"A silver Blue Yeti microphone next to an open Apple MacBook","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"3f103c85-cb9c-443d-b4ab-ce38aec7dfb0","imageAltText":"A silver Blue Yeti microphone next to an open Apple MacBook","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Allison Murray\u002FBlue Microphones\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"img-4635.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F01\u002F31","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Allison Murray\u002FBlue Microphones\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Flogitech-blue-yeti-professional-multi-pattern-usb-condenser-gaming-microphone-with-exclusive-streamlabs-themes%2F6511342.p&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value","offerMerchant":"Best Buy","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Flogitech-blue-yeti-professional-multi-pattern-usb-condenser-gaming-microphone-with-exclusive-streamlabs-themes\u002F6511342.p","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Flogitech-blue-yeti-professional-multi-pattern-usb-condenser-gaming-microphone-with-exclusive-streamlabs-themes%2F6511342.p&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\" data-like=\"High quality audio output ~ Popular with established creators ~ Multiple polar patterns ~ Stand and boom arm compatibility\" data-dislike=\"Very large and heavy ~ Boom mounting requires adapter ~ Very basic EQ settings\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"99fd82b0-7a7b-4c1c-9be6-26846acba857\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EMy pick for the best streaming microphone is the Shure MV7. Along with broadcast-quality audio, it works with both USB and XLR connections for flexible setup options. It also allows the microphone to adapt to your needs as your audience grows. It also uses a capacitive touch button for muting, reducing harsh "thumps" from traditional inputs. And with the Shure Motive desktop app, you can customize your settings to refine your sound.&nbsp; \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ctable data-title="6x4 Table"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBest mic for streaming\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrice\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConnection\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPattern\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShure MV7 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$299\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUSB\u002FXLR \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMultidirectional \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESteelSeries Alias Pro \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$280\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXLR \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnidirectional cardioid \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHyperX QuadCast S \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$120\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUSB \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMultidirectional \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBlue Snowball Ice \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$60\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUSB \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnidirectional cardioid \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBlue Yeti \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E$100\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUSB \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMultidirectional \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003C\u002Ftbody\u003E\u003C\u002Ftable\u003E\u003Cp\u003E*Lowest, non-discounted price at the time of writing. Please note that actual prices may vary depending on available sales, deals, discounts, and coupons.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"What's the best streaming mic?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"571d44ad-1f55-4605-a5f5-09aea98b81dc\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThat mostly depends on your skill level. If you're just starting out or don't have a ton of experience with streaming and recording, you'll want a USB mic with plug-and-play connectivity. If you're an old pro, an XLR mic with fancy preamps, phantom power units, and mixing boards will be more your speed. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ctable data-title="6x2 Table"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuy this best mic for streaming...\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you need...\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShure MV7 \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA well-rounded, high-quality microphone for content creation. The Shure MV7 connects via either USB or XLR for flexible use options. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESteelSeries Alias Pro \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA professional quality XLR microphone. The Alias Pro comes packaged with an audio mixer module that doubles as a preamp and phantom power for a streamlined setup. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHyperX QuadCast S \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA USB-connected microphone for streaming. The HyperX QuadCast S features multiple pickup patterns and RGB lighting. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBlue Snowball Ice \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA budget-friendly streaming microphone. The Blue Snowball Ice retails for about $50, letting you save big while still providing quality audio output. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBlue Yeti \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA multidirectional microphone for interviews and podcasts. You can change the pickup pattern on-the-fly for producing different content types. \t\t\t\t\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003C\u002Ftd\u003E\u003C\u002Ftr\u003E\u003C\u002Ftbody\u003E\u003C\u002Ftable\u003E\" data-hed=\"Which streaming mic is right for you?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"d8cb602c-0211-4ba2-99f5-9892c8c5d8e7\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWhile researching and testing each microphone on this list, I and other ZDNET experts kept these criteria in mind:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConnectivity:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EUSB-powered microphones are the simplest to use, and the most affordable, making them perfect for beginners and smaller creators. XLR models require more experience and knowledge, making them more suited to experienced streamers and podcasters.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPickup patterns:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EModern content creators need to be able to produce many different types of videos and audio samples. Some streaming microphone models allow you to change pickup patterns on-the-fly to quickly and easily set up for new media like interviews or single-person long plays.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrice:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EStreaming mics don't have to cost a fortune. Beginners and smaller creators can get high quality sound from just about any USB-powered microphone without spending a mountain of cash. More experienced creators may want to invest in more expensive equipment to keep up with channel growth or changing production needs.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\" data-hed=\"How did we choose these streaming mics?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFAQs on streaming mics\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a37f7e32-cff0-45bf-826b-852c292fa197\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EYou absolutely could, and there are headsets out there with really good microphones (like the \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHyperX-Cloud-Alpha-Adjustable-Leatherette\u002Fdp\u002FB07X6HDSDY\u002F?tag-zdnet-deals-20"\u003EHyperX Cloud Alpha S\u003C\u002Fa\u003E). The downside is that even the best headsets still won't give you the level of audio quality and control that a dedicated microphone will.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Can you just use a headset?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a390faed-251c-4404-8930-960cbb6ed753\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThey are two different connection types, with USB being the most affordable and easiest to use. It works like any other wired USB peripheral. An XLR microphone has a special 3 to 7 pin connector that plugs into a power source or preamp module in order to be functional. Microphones with XLR connections are more commonly found in professional recording studios and radio stations, though there are plenty of models out there available to regular shoppers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"What's the difference between USB and XLR?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"8fe46435-1cd5-4016-a63d-59ff50e09954\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003ENot at all! The beauty of a USB microphone is that it will use a single cable for both power and data transmission. Not only does this take up considerably less space than an XLR system, it also allows you to plug-and-play with any compatible device. This means you don't have to lug around a ton of equipment to set up collaboration projects or on-site interviews.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Do USB mics need a pre-amp or phantom power? \" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"01eccfb8-753a-40e3-8bfa-982cbff3f7ce\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003E&nbsp; A lot of modern microphones, both USB and XLR alike, have some sort of noise reduction algorithm they work with to help get rid of background noise. This usually works best for eliminating white noise (that "hiss" you hear during dead air) and most other background sounds. However, no microphone will completely eliminate background noise on its own; you'll most likely have to poke around your stream settings to set up \u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fobsproject.com\u002Fkb\u002Fnoise-gate-filter" target="_blank"\u003Enoise gates\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and compression modules to get closer to clean, studio quality output.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Is there a microphone that eliminates background noise?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EOther streaming mics worth considering\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"fe9ff2fa-c650-47d5-aa89-6b61482f5cf3\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe SteelSeries Alias USB is an excellent plug-and-play microphone for both beginner and experienced content creators. It uses a unidirectional pattern and 1-inch capsule for broadcast quality vocals perfect for podcasts, interviews, and gaming.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"SteelSeries Alias\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"Close-up of a SteelSeries Alias USB microphone mounted horizontally on a boom arm","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"11cabba9-1dd1-411e-81ab-d92ed8e6e538","title":"steelseries-alias","filename":"steelseries-alias.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F01\u002F31\u002F11cabba9-1dd1-411e-81ab-d92ed8e6e538\u002Fsteelseries-alias.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":436606,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2024-01-31 20:15:01","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2024-01-31 20:15:31","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET","alt":"Close-up of a SteelSeries Alias USB microphone mounted horizontally on a boom arm","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"11cabba9-1dd1-411e-81ab-d92ed8e6e538","imageAltText":"Close-up of a SteelSeries Alias USB microphone mounted horizontally on a boom arm","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"steelseries-alias.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2024\u002F01\u002F31","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Taylor Clemons\u002FSteelSeries\u002FZDNET\" data-linktext=\"Pro sound, beginner price\" data-linkurl=\"Design: Mini Listicle\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"f4681fd0-aa2d-46e5-a23b-9403613ed94b","slug":"steelseries-alias-usb-microphone","name":"SteelSeries - Alias USB Microphone","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1742586366294,"displayDate":"Fri Mar 21 2025 15:46:06 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Alias-USB-Mic-Podcasting\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBNTXNWV?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Alias-USB-Mic-Podcasting\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBNTXNWV","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Alias-USB-Mic-Podcasting\u002Fdp\u002FB0CBNTXNWV?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"a7b870a5-20ba-45e0-a93f-a0e024ab2f8d\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe Sennheiser MKE 200 is a perfect choice for mobile content creators. It uses a 3.5mm AUX jack to connect to camera bodies, smartphones, and other devices for fast setup and quality audio just about anywhere.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Sennheiser MKE 200\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"The Sennheiser MKE 200 mounted to a camera, which is on a white background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Sennheiser","imageData":{"id":"734ce361-0730-4b37-9611-73151215264b","title":"sennheiser-mke-200","filename":"sennheiser-mke-200.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F10\u002F12\u002F734ce361-0730-4b37-9611-73151215264b\u002Fsennheiser-mke-200.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":95360,"width":1366,"height":768,"dateCreated":{"date":"2022-10-12 15:19:45","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2022-10-12 15:20:23","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Sennheiser","alt":"The Sennheiser MKE 200 mounted to a camera, which is on a white background","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"734ce361-0730-4b37-9611-73151215264b","imageAltText":"The Sennheiser MKE 200 mounted to a camera, which is on a white background","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Sennheiser","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"sennheiser-mke-200.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022\u002F10\u002F12","imageWidth":1366,"imageHeight":768,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Sennheiser\" data-linktext=\"Best mic for on-the-go\" data-linkurl=\"Design: Mini Listicle\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSennheiser-Pro-Audio-microphone-MKE200\u002Fdp\u002FB08C8Y5XDC?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSennheiser-Pro-Audio-microphone-MKE200\u002Fdp\u002FB08C8Y5XDC","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSennheiser-Pro-Audio-microphone-MKE200\u002Fdp\u002FB08C8Y5XDC?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-01 16:22:16",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Ensure your audio is crystal-clear with the top-rated streaming mics for gaming, social media content, podcasts, calls, and more.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"6b6469d4-678a-4055-a41b-69057240bace",image:{id:"f5985465-f8db-4568-9cec-c8bc4204f161",filename:"shure-mv7.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-22 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Services",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"af36937c-c95c-4bf0-9c02-831f70ad9a0c",slug:"best-lists",name:"Best Lists",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f1f7db06-c6f9-4e80-8187-60ad48f035a1",slug:"zdnet-recommends",name:"ZDNET Recommends",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Famazons-big-spring-sale-is-back-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-to-shop-savvy\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAmazon Big Spring Sale\u003C\u002Fa\u003E may be officially over, but you can still find great deals if you've been on the fence about picking up any upgrades for your gaming space for less. Other retailers like \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"1c68c745-1d6b-4f32-8ec3-7df535cbb0d4\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Best Buy\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"ff7da142-c875-4fc0-97ea-928e7510323e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walmart.com\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Walmart\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E are also offering their own discounts on gaming tech like laptops, desktops, and gaming monitors, so even if you do miss out, there's a chance you can still catch it on sale somewhere else.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-tech-deals-3-29-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best Amazon Big Spring Sale deals live now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENot only can you find discounts on everything you need for PC gaming, but you can also find markdowns across Amazon for PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch games, console bundles, and accessories. And with new deals going live almost every hour, I've created a list of the best deals for gaming PCs, consoles, and accessories to help you find the right fit for your budget.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercebutton\" data-id=\"78880954-3809-4e71-9827-5d849c0d0a3d\" data-button-text=\"See at Amazon\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fevents\u002Fbigspringsale\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fevents\u002Fbigspringsale?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EBest gaming deals for Amazon Big Spring Sale 2025\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"239f9a54-e0e1-43bc-b807-7887701c2f1b\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FASUS-Display-GeForce-Windows-FA707NV-ES74\u002Fdp\u002FB0C56T56WQ\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Asus TUF A17 gaming laptop\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $1,100 (save $400): An excellent midrange gaming laptop with a 17.3-inch display, 144Hz refresh rate, RTX 4060 graphics card, and AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS processor.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"2db655e1-0874-4f62-9bd1-f67ad53a0ecf\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Portable-Photographers-MU-PE2T0K-AM\u002Fdp\u002FB09VLHP827\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung T7 Shield 2TB portable SSD\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $150 (save $135): Expand your game storage with this rugged 2TB portable SSD, with IP65 moisture and dust resistance and protection against shocks and drops.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"86669229-3891-4ca0-8f09-b8c2adfe6914\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGIGABYTE-2560x1600-GeForce-i7-14650HX-ASG-53USC64SH\u002Fdp\u002FB0CW27V4HC\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Gigabyte Aorus 16X\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $1,500 (save $450): A high-end gaming laptop with a 165Hz refresh rate, RTX 4070 GPU, and Intel Core i7-14650HZ processor.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EGreat gaming deals at other retailers\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBest Buy: \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"71cc4cc2-21b1-4f91-a184-d834bc9bc77f\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fmsi-stealth-18-ai-18-120hz-uhd-ultra-thin-gaming-laptop-intel-core-ultra9-185h-with-32gb-memory-rtx-4080-1tb-ssd-star-blue\u002F6575347.p?skuId=6575347\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Save $800 on the MSI Stealth 18 AI\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWalmart: \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"bf434481-de82-4283-849e-dbca3ba40a3b\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walmart.com\u002Fip\u002FPS5-Digital-Bundle-Astrobot\u002F15223609143?classType=REGULAR&athbdg=L1600&from=\u002Fsearch\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Save $110 on the PlayStation 5 Digital Slim and Astro Bot bundle\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EB&H Photo: \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"5f64ff44-0e33-41c0-85f7-080cae63768e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bhphotovideo.com\u002Fc\u002Fproduct\u002F1878969-REG\u002Facer_ph16_72_96vc_16_predator_helios_16.html\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Save $600 on the Acer Predator Helios 16 gaming laptop\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENewegg: \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"52875d96-df20-4081-96bf-2a45c6b4ade4\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newegg.com\u002Facer-swift-edge-16-home-personal-16-0-amd-ryzen-7-7840u-16gb-memory-1-tb-pcie-ssd-amd-radeon-780m-olivine-black\u002Fp\u002FN82E16834360379?Item=N82E16834360379\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fclick.linksynergy.com\u002Fdeeplink?id=IokOf8qagZo&mid=44583&u1=subid_value&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newegg.com%2Facer-swift-edge-16-home-personal-16-0-amd-ryzen-7-7840u-16gb-memory-1-tb-pcie-ssd-amd-radeon-780m-olivine-black%2Fp%2FN82E16834360379%3FItem%3DN82E16834360379\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Save $570 on the Acer Swift Edge OLED 16\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDell: \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"834803e3-a352-4524-99ff-e826f1a22b60\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dell.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fshop\u002Fdell-laptops\u002Falienware-x16-r2-gaming-laptop\u002Fspd\u002Falienware-x16-r2-laptop\u002F#offers-anchor\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.kqzyfj.com\u002Fclick-9041660-15734614?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dell.com%2Fen-us%2Fshop%2Fdell-laptops%2Falienware-x16-r2-gaming-laptop%2Fspd%2Falienware-x16-r2-laptop%2F%23offers-anchor&sid=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Save $500 on the Alienware x16 R2 gaming laptop\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"19ae30eb-1e12-4dbd-8228-12188756abf4\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECurrent price: $1,100\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOriginal price: $1,500\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA mid-range gaming laptop with a 17-inch display that supports a 144Hz refresh rate, and is built with an RTX 4060 graphics card, AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS processor, 1TB SSD, and 16GB of RAM.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Asus TUF A17\" data-superlative=\"for $1,100 (save $400)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"screenshot-2025-02-28-at-12-12-59pm.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Asus\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"eb703870-c1d1-4572-8f0b-4886a70560b1","title":"asus-tuf-a17","filename":"asus-tuf-a17.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F19\u002Feb703870-c1d1-4572-8f0b-4886a70560b1\u002Fasus-tuf-a17.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":271308,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-19 18:23:41","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2025-03-19 18:23:53","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Asus\u002FZDNET","alt":"An Asus TUF A17 laptop on a yellow background","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"eb703870-c1d1-4572-8f0b-4886a70560b1","imageAltText":"screenshot-2025-02-28-at-12-12-59pm.png","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Asus\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"asus-tuf-a17.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F19","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" 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data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"screenshot-2025-02-28-at-12-12-59pm.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Samsung\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"d6c07c26-54e2-4d89-9567-b58be07d0aae","title":"samsung-t7-shield","filename":"samsung-t7-shield.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F19\u002Fd6c07c26-54e2-4d89-9567-b58be07d0aae\u002Fsamsung-t7-shield.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":244040,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-19 18:27:05","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2025-03-19 18:27:18","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Samsung\u002FZDNET","alt":"A Samsung T7 Shield portable SSD on a yellow 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data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"3d33bd92-eeb4-4d1a-be0e-6bb6c5b1e425","slug":"samsung-t7-shield-2tb-portable-ssd-up-to-1050mb-s-usb-3-2-gen2-rugged-ip65-rated-for-photographers-content-creators-and-mupe2t0kam","name":"SAMSUNG T7 Shield 2TB, Portable SSD, up to 1050MB\u002Fs, USB 3.2 Gen2, Rugged, IP65 Rated, for Photographers, Content Creators and Gaming, External Solid State Drive ‎(MU-PE2T0K\u002FAM, 2022), Beige","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1743090998425,"displayDate":"Thu Mar 27 2025 11:56:38 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Portable-Photographers-MU-PE2T0K-AM\u002Fdp\u002FB09VLHP827?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single 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The device is built with an Intel Core i7-14650HX CPU, RTX 4070 graphics card, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Gigabyte Aorus 16X\" data-superlative=\"for $1,500 (save $450)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"screenshot-2025-02-28-at-12-12-59pm.png","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Gigabyte\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"456445df-b3e8-44d4-9a1d-90b4345ebd62","title":"gigabyte-aorus-16x","filename":"gigabyte-aorus-16x.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F19\u002F456445df-b3e8-44d4-9a1d-90b4345ebd62\u002Fgigabyte-aorus-16x.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":327828,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-19 18:30:53","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2025-03-19 18:31:07","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Gigabyte\u002FZDNET","alt":"A Gigabyte Aorus 16X laptop on a yellow background","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"456445df-b3e8-44d4-9a1d-90b4345ebd62","imageAltText":"screenshot-2025-02-28-at-12-12-59pm.png","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Gigabyte\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"gigabyte-aorus-16x.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F19","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Gigabyte\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGIGABYTE-2560x1600-GeForce-i7-14650HX-ASG-53USC64SH\u002Fdp\u002FB0CW27V4HC?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGIGABYTE-2560x1600-GeForce-i7-14650HX-ASG-53USC64SH\u002Fdp\u002FB0CW27V4HC","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FGIGABYTE-2560x1600-GeForce-i7-14650HX-ASG-53USC64SH\u002Fdp\u002FB0CW27V4HC?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAmazon Spring Sale 2025 gaming accessories deals\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"049deb2a-14f2-4acb-b2ef-72c0c221c6d4\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"HyperX\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"A HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless gaming headset on a green background\" data-image-filename=\"cloud-alpha-wireless.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F26\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"def61a2b-866b-4872-9663-837f49d91446\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FHyperX-Cloud-Alpha-Wireless-Noise-canceling\u002Fdp\u002FB09TRW57WB\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $143 (save $57): The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fhyperx-cloud-alpha-wireless-black-friday-deal-11-27-2024\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECloud Alpha Wireless\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is one of my favorite gaming headsets. It has a 300-hour battery life, DTS Headphone:X spatial audio support, and a noise-canceling mic.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"2e455825-d59d-44cb-9830-c8d72a8ef8b3\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-HyperSpeed-Wireless-Gaming-Mouse\u002Fdp\u002FB09VCR969M\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Razer Viper V2 Pro HyperSpeed wireless\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $100 (save $50): An excellent wireless gaming mouse with a 30K DPI sensor, 90-hour battery life, and 5 programmable buttons.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"36c4aa23-7b75-47ef-99f7-7b583e2a7d31\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Aerox-Wireless-Ultra-Lightweight-Resistant\u002Fdp\u002FB09KMCYKHR\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSteelSeries-Aerox-Wireless-Ultra-Lightweight-Resistant\u002Fdp\u002FB09KMCYKHR?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"SteelSeries Aerox 3 wireless\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $60 (save $40): This is a great wireless gaming mouse with an 18K DPI sensor, an ultra-lightweight design, and IP54 moisture and dust resistance.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"2454f686-f75d-4b18-9548-47fcd0e4eb92\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLogitech-Tenkeyless-Lightspeed-Mechanical-LIGHTSYNC\u002Fdp\u002FB085RLZ1C4\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Logitech G915 TKL\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $120 (save $110): A compact, tenkey-less gaming keyboard with integrated RGB lighting, low-profile switches, and 40 hours of playtime.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c0f389e7-9ada-4ef6-9395-e2102648a70e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-BlackWidow-HyperSpeed-Wireless-Mechanical\u002Fdp\u002FB094L5MT97\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $100 (save $100): A tenkey-less, wireless version of Razer's flagship BlackWidow gaming keyboard with Phantom Pudding keycaps, a 200-hour battery, and linear silent switches.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"ee06175a-e020-4c2e-bf24-153831294f62\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLogitech-G502-Performance-Gaming-Mouse\u002Fdp\u002FB07GBZ4Q68\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Logitech G502 Hero\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $39 (save $40): A midrange wired gaming mouse with 11 programmable buttons, adjustable weights, integrated RGB lighting, and a 25K DPI sensor.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"abf99ee2-bd03-4643-93e7-71e411bd389c\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-HyperSpeed-Wireless-Headset-Playstation\u002Fdp\u002FB0BFG1M31B?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Razer Kaira HyperSpeed wireless\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $87 (save $43): This wireless gaming headset for the PS5 features a 30-hour battery life, Bluetooth and USB-C connectivity, and an attached microphone.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"bab72016-47fb-4076-ae09-f613f5a3378e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECurrent price: $110\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegular price: $150\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA high-quality wireless gaming mouse with a 90-hour battery life, 30K DPI optical sensor, 5 programmable buttons, and a total weight of just 63 grams.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro\" data-superlative=\"for $110 (save $40)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"A Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro gaming mouse on a green background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Razer\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"06e8ab34-b74a-4228-917e-edad36bdd9cf","title":"razer-deathadder-v3-pro","filename":"razer-deathadder-v3-pro.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F26\u002F06e8ab34-b74a-4228-917e-edad36bdd9cf\u002Frazer-deathadder-v3-pro.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":141944,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-26 16:23:10","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2025-03-26 16:23:25","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Razer\u002FZDNET","alt":"A Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro gaming mouse on a green background","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"06e8ab34-b74a-4228-917e-edad36bdd9cf","imageAltText":"A Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro gaming mouse on a green background","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Razer\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"razer-deathadder-v3-pro.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F26","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Razer\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-DeathAdder-Wireless-Gaming-Mouse\u002Fdp\u002FB0B6XZLNHQ?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-DeathAdder-Wireless-Gaming-Mouse\u002Fdp\u002FB0B6XZLNHQ","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRazer-DeathAdder-Wireless-Gaming-Mouse\u002Fdp\u002FB0B6XZLNHQ?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAmazon Spring Sale 2025 gaming desktop deals\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"7587a31b-8044-4720-996b-4f83668ff67b\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"MSI\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"An MSI gaming dekstop on a pink background\" data-image-filename=\"gaming-desktop.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F24\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c6303d49-a934-4e77-a19c-6cbd9f257473\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FMSI-Aegis-Gaming-Desktop-C7NUC-817US\u002Fdp\u002FB0D9RGY8PD?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"MSI Aegis Z2\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $1,050 (save $200): A mid-range gaming desktop built with an AMD Ryzen 7 7700 CPU, RTX 4060, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"59ebc982-37c6-4aa1-920b-cc9a1bebdb83\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FAegis-RS2-C14NUE7-818US-i7-14700KF-GeForce\u002Fdp\u002FB0D1H5KHPL?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"MSI Aegis RS2\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $1,900 (save $250): A high-end gaming rig with a 14th gen Intel Core i7 CPU, RTX 4070 Super GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB SSD.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"3200853e-882d-4da2-8c80-541f88f7affb\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSkytech-Gaming-Nebula-PC-Desktop\u002Fdp\u002FB0C8RPW8DS?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Skytech Nebula\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $564 (save $136): An entry-grade gaming desktop built with an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU, Nvidia GTX 1650 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and 500GB SSD.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"1ae9a161-dbac-4a5b-a97d-b10f70f7e303\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECurrent price: $2,200\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegular price: $2,500\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA creator-grade gaming desktop built with an Intel Core i7-14700KF processor, Nvidia RTX 4070 Super graphics card, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Corsair Vengeance i7500\" data-superlative=\"for $2,200 (save $300)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"A Corsair Vengeance i7500 on a purple 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background","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"858a04d1-c287-4821-b51c-a0f6d2c29ab8","imageAltText":"A Corsair Vengeance i7500 on a purple background","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Corsair\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"corsair-vengeance-i7500.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F26","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Corsair\u002FZDNET\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"56567d15-d16a-4d54-a55f-23e2bc73cfaf","slug":"corsair-vengeance-i7500-gaming-pc-liquid-cooled-intel-core-i7-14700kf-cpu-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4070-super-gpu-32gb","name":"Corsair Vengeance i7500 Gaming PC – Liquid Cooled Intel Core i7-14700KF CPU – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super GPU – 32GB Vengeance RGB DDR5 Memory – 1TB M.2 SSD – Black","productType":"SERIES","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1743090979119,"displayDate":"Thu Mar 27 2025 11:56:19 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FCorsair-Vengeance-i7500-Gaming-i7-14700KF\u002Fdp\u002FB0DVGX6XLN?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single 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data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"9842cf64-d6c3-4221-94bf-a569be20ecb4\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FMadden-NFL-25-PlayStation-5\u002Fdp\u002FB0D3PGHSM3\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Madden NFL 25\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $30 (save $40): The latest entry in the long-running Madden NFL franchise with updated team rosters and streamlined controls.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"316e68ca-bd02-4f27-a1d0-3c99ea62479b\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FStar-Wars-Outlaws-Limited-Exclusive-PlayStation\u002Fdp\u002FB0D187PJHJ\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Star Wars Outlaws Amazon Exclusive Limited Edition\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $46 (save $24): This Amazon-exclusive version of the game includes character cosmetics for Kay and Nix. \u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"94d0e291-b00d-4e6e-b7a9-93a8e36cd7c5\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FASSASSINS-CREED-MIRAGE-DELUXE-PLAYSTATION-5\u002Fdp\u002FB0BDTR84RP\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Assassin's Creed Mirage Deluxe Edition\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $27 (save $33): A return to form for the Assassin's Creed franchise that has players journey to Alamut, the home of the Assassins to uncover mysteries and take down the Templars.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"201db966-423b-40ea-bfe2-76a7aa15f907\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FRatchet-Clank-Rift-Apart-PlayStation-5\u002Fdp\u002FB095T8C99C\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $40 (save $30): Ratchet & Clank are back in an all-new adventure to stop an interdimensional robotic emperor from conquering the universe.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"2ebc0cdb-10e9-4a57-82f9-dafa5e527dd3\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FDead-Island-2-Ultimate-PlayStation-5\u002Fdp\u002FB0DGMPHVC2\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Dead Island 2 Ultimate Edition\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $40 (save $30): This version includes the base game, both Haus and SoLA expansions, three weapons packs, and 7 character cosmetics packs.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c20f558a-5995-41e9-832e-dc3a07b59cfa\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FFinal-Fantasy-VII-Rebirth-PlayStation-5\u002Fdp\u002FB0CGXZQ4CD\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Final Fantasy VII Rebirth exclusive Amazon Edition\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $50 (save $10): The second half of the highly-anticipated FFVII remake, and includes an exclusive Cloud and Sephiroth skin for your PS5 controller.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"401b5bce-7843-4f3a-b483-c95e4976f854\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSilent-Hill-2-PS5-PlayStation-5\u002Fdp\u002FB0CMC3C3Z9\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Silent Hill 2 (2024)\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $60 (save $10): A remake of the PS2 classic with updated visuals and modern mechanics.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"32523aa2-3aaa-4bde-a7fb-67b33a8dd515\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FDragon-Age-Veilguard-PlayStation-5\u002Fdp\u002FB0DCMN43SC\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Dragon Age: The Veilguard standard edition\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $35 (save $35): Enter the world of Thedas and join a team of seven companions to stop corrupt gods from destorying the world.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"0cfff914-aca4-40da-8e94-d037a5d89d21\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FDiablo-IV-PlayStation-5\u002Fdp\u002FB0BPPPPYK7\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Diablo IV standard edition\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $30 (save $40): With both solo and co-op play modes, you can tackle bosses and dungeons and even PVP zones; supports cross-play and cross-progression.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"b5ab6e8e-86e2-41db-87ff-17d2c68f8d81\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSid-Meiers-Civilization%C2%AE-VII-Deluxe-PlayStation\u002Fdp\u002FB0DDR4SQYF?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Sid Meier's Civilization VII deluxe edition\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $90 (save $10): This version includes the base game, Tecumseh and Shawnee pack, Crossroads of the World Collection, 2 bonus leaders, 4 extra profile customizations, and an alternate scout skin.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAmazon Spring Sale 2025 Nintendo Switch deals\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"39872c45-ad94-47b7-8773-373e625884b5\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Nintendo\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"A Nintendo Switch console on a purple background\" data-image-filename=\"nintendo-switch.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F19\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"45cf54e7-f82b-4e8c-a9d9-5aebffb10c68\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSonic-X-Shadow-Generations-Nintendo-Switch\u002Fdp\u002FB0D6JKTRHP\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Sonic X Shadow Generations\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $35 (save $15): Modern and Classic Sonic team up with Shadow the Hedgehog to take on Dr. Eggman and the Time Eater.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"be4d9ccc-c3c3-4b0f-b07d-0a7b20e87861\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FStar-Wars-Heritage-Pack-Nintendo-Switch\u002Fdp\u002FB0CK4Y8YLG\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Star Wars Heritage Pack\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $45 (save $15): This bundle includes seven classic Star Wars game titles, including Republic Commando and Knights of the Old Republic.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"1c7ff2bf-ef5a-42ee-b8a8-bd899dc77402\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLegend-Zelda-Breath-Wild-Nintendo-Switch\u002Fdp\u002FB097B2YWFX\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $53 (save $18): Link returns to Hyrule with new abilities and allies to take on Ganon.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c02b4970-8093-40e2-8776-836b847fe3cb\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FMario-Kart-8-Deluxe-Nintendo-Switch\u002Fdp\u002FB01N1037CV\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mario Kart 8 Deluxe\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $50 (save $10): The ever-popular kart racing game lets you take on friends in local or online matches or test your skill against several race modes.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"6f90cb85-dd7b-4753-8fce-ac5e087e57f3\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSuper-Mario-Odyssey-US-Version-Switch\u002Fdp\u002FB01MY7GHKJ\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Super Mario Odyssey\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $45 (save $15): Mario's new ally Cappy gives him all-new powers to solve puzzles and save Princess Peach from Bowser's wedding plans.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"f3479d4d-649d-4146-888c-0a1b1dfcf248\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECurrent price: $50\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegular price: $60\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlay as Princess Zelda as she embarks on a journey across Hyrule to save Link and the kingdom from the evil of Ganon.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom\" data-superlative=\"for $47 (save $13)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"The game case for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom on a purple background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Nintendo\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"925d8ddc-f4f6-492f-b6c2-fc4f4130758c","title":"The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of 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data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLegend-Zelda-Echoes-Wisdom-Nintendo-Switch\u002Fdp\u002FB0D8SDKKVW?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLegend-Zelda-Echoes-Wisdom-Nintendo-Switch\u002Fdp\u002FB0D8SDKKVW","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLegend-Zelda-Echoes-Wisdom-Nintendo-Switch\u002Fdp\u002FB0D8SDKKVW?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAmazon Spring Sale 2025 Xbox Series X|S deals\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"15b09a97-0d05-4933-a021-d7ae78ece562\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Microsoft\u002FXbox\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"An Xbox Series X console and controller on a green background\" data-image-filename=\"xbox-series-x.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F19\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"71532d94-f081-476e-b476-5bf29388b27f\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FMetaphor-ReFantazio-Launch-Xbox-X\u002Fdp\u002FB0D2GBL8L2\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Metaphor ReFantazio Launch Edition\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $45 (save $25): A turn-based RPG from the developers behind the popular Persona series.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c0e486e9-5109-4605-b448-936dc20ece17\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FS-T-L-K-R-Heart-Chernobyl-Xbox\u002Fdp\u002FB09F1D1WXJ\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $40 (save $20): Explore the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone and shape your own destiny as you fight dangerous enemies and collect powerful artifacts.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"2a9e49d4-23f6-4ad8-9e17-155b65c5372a\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FStarfield-Standard-Xbox-X\u002Fdp\u002FB0C7PN2L5V\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Starfield standard edition\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $48 (save $20): Bethesda's first new universe in over 25 years has players jet-setting across the stars to settle new planets and try to answer humanity's greatest mystery.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"b28ff3ef-53db-4e21-8b64-9e1d2940ff3e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FAlone-Dark-Xbox-X-S\u002Fdp\u002FB0B9HP9JF8?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Alone in the Dark (2022)\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $33 (save $27): A remake of the cult-classic 90s horror game with two playable characters to choose from, ramped-up psychological horror, and a great doom-jazz soundtrack.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"0f0e0540-7cd4-4ccc-9ed0-0e5a30b478b4\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECurrent price: $40\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegular price: $70\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChoose from one of 6 characters to fight your way through the streets of HELL-A in this zombie melee sandbox. The ultimate edition includes the base game, Haus and SoLA expansions, 6 character packs, weapons packs, and other exclusive in-game cosmetics.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Dead Island 2 Ultimate Edition\" data-superlative=\"for $40 (save $30)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"The cover art for Dead Island 2 on a purple background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Microsoft\u002FDeep Silver\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"eddabf83-5d09-4413-b36c-e1ccdda1c25f","title":"dead-island-2","filename":"dead-island-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F26\u002Feddabf83-5d09-4413-b36c-e1ccdda1c25f\u002Fdead-island-2.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":437408,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-26 17:02:07","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2025-03-26 17:02:26","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Microsoft\u002FDeep Silver\u002FZDNET","alt":"The cover art for Dead Island 2 on a purple background","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"eddabf83-5d09-4413-b36c-e1ccdda1c25f","imageAltText":"The cover art for Dead Island 2 on a purple background","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Microsoft\u002FDeep Silver\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"dead-island-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F26","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Microsoft\u002FDeep Silver\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FDead-Island-2-Ultimate-Xbox-X\u002Fdp\u002FB0DGM8V62V?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FDead-Island-2-Ultimate-Xbox-X\u002Fdp\u002FB0DGM8V62V","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FDead-Island-2-Ultimate-Xbox-X\u002Fdp\u002FB0DGM8V62V?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAmazon Spring Sale SSD and storage deals\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"7168a389-7bb8-4b47-856b-3dcc7757e599\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Samsung\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"ssd\" data-image-filename=\"ssd.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F21\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"f3804ac4-10aa-47ab-85f4-d0d3a916c4e7\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Expansion-Compatible-Playstation5-MZ-V9P2T0CW\u002Fdp\u002FB0BHJDY57J\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Expansion-Compatible-Playstation5-MZ-V9P2T0CW\u002Fdp\u002FB0BHJDY57J?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung 990 Pro 2TB with heatsink\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $180 (save $90): This 2TB internal SSD features an integrated heatsink to help keep the drive running at optimal temperatures.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"4b5631ec-c516-486b-8bef-a32ccdeb28bc\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Technology-Intelligent-Turbowrite-MZ-V9S4T0B\u002Fdp\u002FB0DHLBDSP7?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung 990 Evo Plus 4TB M.2 SSD\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $250 (save $95): This internal SSD gives you read and write speeds up to 7250MB\u002Fs and is great for desktops, laptops, and consoles.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"fc15ed95-6d7b-44c1-a0a2-b823e1fb278c\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-microSD-MicroSDXC-MB-MD512SA-AM\u002Fdp\u002FB0C1PRYPYX\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung Pro Plus microSD 512GB\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $40 (save $35): This microSD card includes a full-sized adapter and is perfect for expanding storage on your gaming smartphone or Nintendo Switch.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"d32dfb5b-093a-40a2-b408-c88f08167998\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FKingston-Renegade-Internal-SFYRD-4000G\u002Fdp\u002FB09K3PSWD2\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Kingston Fury Renegade 4TB M.2 SSD\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $280 (save $104): An excellent choice for expanding your desktop, laptop, or PlayStation 5 storage with 4TB of space and read\u002Fwrite speeds up to 7300MB\u002Fs.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"d66d8f11-b0b8-4f84-99c6-3812933372c9\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Inch-Internal-MZ-77E1T0B-AM\u002Fdp\u002FB08QBJ2YMG?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung 870 Evo SATA III 1TB SSD\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $97 (save $50): A budget-friendly SATA SSD with 1TB of storage, making it perfect for smaller game libraries.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"8639b7db-64df-41e2-8cca-b4560cc954b1\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSanDisk-Extreme-Solid-State-Flash\u002Fdp\u002FB08GYPZ8GN\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB SSD flashdrive\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $90 (save $55): Get the speed and reliability of an SSD with the portability of a flash drive with this 1TB option.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"7a2cd92c-3be4-475f-bc1f-cba629dbf6c0\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECurrent price: $180\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegular price: $300\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA tough portable SSD with an integrated thermal guard, AES 256-bit encryption, and a case that can handle drops up to 10 feet.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Samsung T9 2TB portable SSD\" data-superlative=\"for $180 (save $120)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"A Samsung T9 portable SSD on a pink background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Samsung\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"6d5a50e7-0876-4cda-b018-0eba07da60d9","title":"samsung-t9","filename":"samsung-t9.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F26\u002F6d5a50e7-0876-4cda-b018-0eba07da60d9\u002Fsamsung-t9.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":187234,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-26 17:07:32","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2025-03-26 17:07:45","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Samsung\u002FZDNET","alt":"A Samsung T9 portable SSD on a pink background","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"6d5a50e7-0876-4cda-b018-0eba07da60d9","imageAltText":"A Samsung T9 portable SSD on a pink background","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Samsung\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"samsung-t9.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F26","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Samsung\u002FZDNET\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Portable-Professionals-MU-PG2T0B-AM\u002Fdp\u002FB0CHFS9K14?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Portable-Professionals-MU-PG2T0B-AM\u002Fdp\u002FB0CHFS9K14","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Portable-Professionals-MU-PG2T0B-AM\u002Fdp\u002FB0CHFS9K14?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAmazon Spring Sale gaming monitor deals\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"216c5153-8331-4381-a4cd-824fec85f7b8\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Acer\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"gaming-monitor\" data-image-filename=\"gaming-monitor.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F20\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"e9f5d53c-859c-4f6e-bac7-0bd2e53afe4e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FAlienware-AW3423DWF-Curved-QD-OLED-Monitor\u002Fdp\u002FB09VQ48X5Q\u002F?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Alienware AW3423DW 34-inch curved monitor\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $700 (save $400): This curved gaming monitor uses a QD-OLED panel for better color accuracy and contrast as well as 1440p resolution, a 175Hz refresh rate, and 0.1ms response time.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"edf27056-e74f-4a82-8d2d-ac8e6bb6b205\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FPredator-Monitor-FreeSync-Premium-1000nits\u002Fdp\u002FB0C9L9MQF3\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Acer Predator X27U 27-inch\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $500 (save $500): This high-end gaming monitor is built with an OLED panel for better color and contrast and up to a 240Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium VRR support, and a 0.01ms response time.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"8fed3e71-fa80-45db-acd3-a9f8b3f22f55\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Odyssey-Gaming-Curved-Monitor\u002Fdp\u002FB0BJHQ4LXR?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung Odyssey G6 curved 32-inch\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $400 (save $400): A mid-range gaming monitor with a 32-inch display, 1440p resolution, and 240Hz refresh rate.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"7d9b2530-d27b-4adf-ac27-aeef68374fbb\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Mini-LED-FreeSync-Adjustable-LS55CG970NNXGO\u002Fdp\u002FB0CDQKYXTC?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung Odyssey Ark 2nd gen 55-inch\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $1,800 (save $900): A truly impressive 55-inch Mini-LED gaming monitor with a 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, HDR10+, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR support.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"09c2f37c-0a75-45fc-b246-a9b01ddc67da\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLG-UltraGear-34GP63A-B-Compatibility-FreeSync\u002Fdp\u002FB0B928B6BC\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"LG UltraGear 34-inch curved gaming monitor\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $260 (save $140): This widescreen gaming monitor gives you a 160Hz refresh rate, HDR10 support, and AMD FreeSync Premium VRR to prevent screen tearing and stuttering.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"9f7c96e2-38ee-4b05-a4da-dcc3a3058fea\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FLG-45GS95QE-UltraGear-DisplayHDR-DisplayPort\u002Fdp\u002FB0CV1WNF1Q\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"LG UltraGear OLED 54-inch curved gaming monitor\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $1,050 (save $650): A high-end OLED gaming monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate. 0.03ms response time, and support for both AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync VRR.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"a4428d89-f51d-4390-b3b3-95e5c474587d\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Facer-Predator-Quantum-FreeSync-1000nits\u002Fdp\u002FB0D8LFHH4D\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Acer Predator X32 OLED 32-inch\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E: $900 (save $300): This high-end gaming monitor uses an OLED panel for better contrast, detailing, and color accuracy. You'll get 4K resolution, a 250Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms response time, and AMD FreeSync Premium VRR support.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"bf024407-b85c-4a8f-8d67-60ab33f2ca2e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECurrent price: $720\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegular price: $1,300\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA high-end gaming and content creation monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and support for both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 32-inch\" data-superlative=\"for $720 (save $580)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"A Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 monitor on a blue background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Samsung\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"79e9a288-543f-4e6f-b85d-e7fa8ee34425","title":"samsung-odyssey-neo-g8","filename":"samsung-odyssey-neo-g8.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F31\u002F79e9a288-543f-4e6f-b85d-e7fa8ee34425\u002Fsamsung-odyssey-neo-g8.jpg","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","size":262493,"width":1296,"height":720,"dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-31 16:32:04","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2025-03-31 16:32:17","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Samsung\u002FZDNET","alt":"A Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 monitor on a blue background","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"79e9a288-543f-4e6f-b85d-e7fa8ee34425","imageAltText":"A Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 monitor on a blue background","imageCaption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","imageCredit":"Samsung\u002FZDNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"samsung-odyssey-neo-g8.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F31","imageWidth":1296,"imageHeight":720,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Samsung\u002FZDNET\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"371f607c-2e4e-43f9-8c5c-b48f4f282d10","slug":"samsung-32-odyssey-neo-g8-curved-4k-uhd-freesync-premium-pro-g-sync-compatible-240hz-1ms-gaming-monitor-black","name":"\\"Samsung - 32\\"\\" Odyssey Neo G8 Curved 4K UHD FreeSync Premium Pro & G-Sync Compatible 240Hz 1ms Gaming Monitor - Black\\"","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1743516857485,"displayDate":"Tue Apr 01 2025 10:14:17 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[{"useMonetization":true,"monetizedUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Odyssey-FreeSync-Ultrawide-DisplayPort\u002Fdp\u002FB09ZH3WM47?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20","offerMerchant":"Amazon","offerPrice":"","offerPriceRange":"","offerPriceText":"","offerType":"Single Product","monetizationStatus":"on","rawUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Odyssey-FreeSync-Ultrawide-DisplayPort\u002Fdp\u002FB09ZH3WM47","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FSAMSUNG-Odyssey-FreeSync-Ultrawide-DisplayPort\u002Fdp\u002FB09ZH3WM47?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20"}]\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFAQs\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhen is Amazon's Spring Sale 2025? \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmazon's Spring Sale runs from March 25 through March 31. This gives you almost an entire week to snag deep discounts on everything from SSDs and gaming laptops to digital game titles and headsets. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EAre games, consoles, and gaming accessories really cheaper during Amazon sales? \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey can be. While we usually see the best discounts on all things gaming during the winter holidays, Amazon's Spring Sale and competing events at retailers like Best Buy and Walmart mean you can compare prices and discounts to get the best deals.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EHow did we choose these Spring Sale deals?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile plenty of gaming laptops and accessories are discounted for the Amazon Spring Sale, not all sales are created equal. I focused on reputable brands like PowerA, SteelSeries, HyperX, and more to find the best value in accessories and peripherals. I also focused on top brands like HP, MSI, and Asus for gaming laptops and desktops with higher-end builds to help you find the best configurations for the best prices.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhat are the best Amazon Spring Sale 2025 deals?  \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZDNET's experts are searching through Amazon Spring Sale deals to find the best discounts by category. These are the best deals so far:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-tech-deals-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest Spring Sale deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-laptop-deals-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest laptop deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-tv-deals-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest TV deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-phone-deals-3-27-25\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest phone deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-apple-deals-march-2025-amazon-spring-sale\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest Apple deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fkitchen-household\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-robot-vacuum-deals-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest robot vacuum deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-gaming-deals-3-25-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest gaming, PC, and Nintendo deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-health-and-fitness-wearable-deals-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest smartwatch and fitness wearable deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-headphone-deals-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest headphone deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can also find the best Amazon Spring Sale deals by price:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-deals-under-25-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest deals under $25\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-deals-under-50-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest deals under $50\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd the best deals from other retailers this week:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-anti-amazon-spring-sale-deals-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBest anti-Amazon Spring Sale deals\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003EZDNET Recommends\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"9cf46855-fbde-486c-a507-8ff081f08d87\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F9cf46855-fbde-486c-a507-8ff081f08d87\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-01 14:29:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The Amazon Spring Sale may have ended yesterday, but you can still find great deals on PS5 games, gaming monitors, and more.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"c347c7f0-78b9-4be7-a828-05b15225ae8a",image:{id:"ba44ed51-68be-4688-8f5d-99e11c975dc9",filename:"gaming-deals-spring-sale.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2025-03-28 03:15:25",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"gaming-deals-spring-sale",credits:"ZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F28\u002Fba44ed51-68be-4688-8f5d-99e11c975dc9\u002Fgaming-deals-spring-sale.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2000,height:1125,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"deals-roundup",hubTopicPathString:"Home & Office^Home Entertainment^Gaming",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"The 59 best Amazon Spring Sale gaming deals: Last chance to save on laptops, PS5 games, and more",section:c,slug:"best-amazon-spring-sale-gaming-deals-4-01-2025",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"I found the 59 best Amazon Spring Sale gaming deals still available",topic:{id:"f07e8684-3ad4-438d-a6b4-0665b9de2f60",slug:"gaming",name:"Gaming",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"f07e8684-3ad4-438d-a6b4-0665b9de2f60",slug:"gaming",name:"Gaming",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"0fb7a83c-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"amazon",name:"Amazon",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"9841d7c0-1be2-42d4-963b-3d0c080290bc",slug:"tech",name:"Tech",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"eaece766-f666-4dd7-a912-a57ae1cbb714",slug:"gaming-devices",name:"Gaming Devices",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"294e47d5-10d6-11e4-9732-00505685119a",username:"Ed Bott",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Ed",lastName:"Bott",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"e98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e",filename:"ed-bott.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:06:03",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fe98b0a76-a96a-4fbb-be02-00807405874e\u002Fed-bott.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than three decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. He has served as editor of the U.S. edition of PC Computing and managing editor of PC World; both publications had monthly paid circulation in excess of 1 million during his tenure. He is the author of more than 25 books, including Windows 10 Inside Out (now in its 4th edition) and Windows 11 Inside Out (2023).",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"91ea08f4-f573-4224-a5ea-d8f29110d98f\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Olemedia\u002FGetty Images\" data-image-alt-text=\"data tunnel concept\" data-image-filename=\"gettyimages-2166499240.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F31\" data-image-width=\"2309\" data-image-height=\"1299\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-a-vpn-and-why-do-you-need-one-all-your-virtual-private-network-questions-answered\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Evirtual private network\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (VPN) can be an important tool in your online protection routine, but only if you know exactly what a VPN can and can't do. Used properly, a VPN can enhance your security and privacy, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-travel-vpn\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eespecially when traveling\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, but it's not a replacement for other tools. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe basic concept behind a VPN is simple: Software running on your PC encrypts every bit of network traffic before it reaches your PC's network adapter, then it sends that encrypted data to a remote server operated by the VPN service. That remote server sends the data to the public internet. The encrypted \"tunnel\" between your device and the VPN server is what makes the network both \u003Cem\u003Evirtual\u003C\u002Fem\u003E and \u003Cem\u003Eprivate\u003C\u002Fem\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-use-public-wi-fi-safely\u002F\"\u003EHow to use public Wi-Fi safely: 5 things to know before you connect\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany corporate networks will only allow remote connections over a VPN, usually using software tightly integrated with the corporate network. If you manage your own PC and network, you can install consumer-grade VPN software for connecting to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhy-you-shouldnt-connect-to-insecure-networks-with-your-mobile-device\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Euntrusted networks\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, such as those in airports and coffee shops.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhen and why to use a VPN\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe benefit of this type of network is twofold. First, it prevents anyone on your local network from spying on your internet traffic. That's especially important if you're connected to a Wi-Fi network that's not under your control. Using a VPN also prevents your internet service provider from snooping on your activity. It can see your connection to the VPN, but ts has no visibility into the traffic within that encrypted tunnel.   \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4914532\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Tech Today\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESecond, it allows you to disguise your location, which prevents some types of tracking and also makes it possible to bypass geographic restrictions on some services. For example, if you're in Europe and want to watch a movie that's restricted to the US, you might be able to fool the streaming service by connecting to a VPN in the US.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut even the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-vpn\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ebest VPNs\u003C\u002Fa\u003E are resource-intensive and can significantly impact your network bandwidth, so you should only employ them when needed.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fis-a-vpn-ready-router-secretly-the-best-wi-fi-upgrade-i-tested-one-and-heres-my-advice\u002F\"\u003EIs a VPN-ready router secretly the best Wi-Fi upgrade? I tested one to find out\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen I'm in an airport or hotel, I prefer to tether my mobile phone to my laptop (or bring a device with a built-in cellular connection) to avoid the risks of that untrusted network. But if the cellular signal is weak or unavailable and I have no choice but to connect to that public Wi-Fi, I use the paid \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"ebf1da05-3d91-4736-a33a-de0b93eba66a\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.namecheap.com\u002Fvpn\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"FastVPN\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E\u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"62141fb4-7629-412d-a93b-6244d4ceb12f\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fprotonvpn.com\u002Fpricing\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Proton VPN\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E service. My colleague \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fmeet-the-team\u002Fjason-perlow\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EJason Perlow\u003C\u002Fa\u003E uses \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"15db99bd-bd5c-4b97-8a4f-1f0ff3382e3e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.expressvpn.com\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"ExpressVPN\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"It's compatible with OpenVPN, an open-source VPN protocol,\" Perlow says, \"which means I can use it with all the devices I own -- iOS, Android, Windows, even on my network firewall.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe most detailed comparison of VPN providers around is in this \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdocs.google.com\u002Fspreadsheets\u002Fd\u002F1CRtEQzSVE59jj5ROKZlttkRtUpJfcc4mgMT7Wn1aBcA\u002Fpubhtml\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Espreadsheet\u003C\u002Fa\u003E maintained by a very dedicated \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.reddit.com\u002Fr\u002FrateVPNs\u002Fcomments\u002F1gw58mk\u002Fthe_ultimate_vpn_comparison_spreadsheet\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EReddit moderator\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EVPNs don't protect you from malware \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERegardless of which option you choose, nothing in that VPN looks for threats to your PC. If you download malicious software or visit a website containing a drive-by exploit, the fact that your network is private is irrelevant. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-travel-vpn\u002F\"\u003EThe best travel VPNs of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe same is true if you or someone in your home or office gets taken in by a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhat-is-phishing-how-to-protect-yourself-from-scam-emails-and-more\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ephishing email\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Typing your credentials into a bogus website generally leads to bad outcomes, and a VPN won't magically protect you from that sort of error.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor effective protection against malware, you need \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-antivirus\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esecurity software\u003C\u002Fa\u003E specifically designed to sniff out malicious software, regardless of how it's delivered.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EStay ahead of security news with \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003ETech Today\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, delivered to your inbox every morning.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"6765f19d-41fe-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F6765f19d-41fe-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-04-01 10:00:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"There are many good reasons to use a VPN, especially when traveling. But be sure you know exactly where that protection starts and stops.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"89c4fcc8-8373-4d17-bbd2-54b4c1a02b08",image:{id:"91ea08f4-f573-4224-a5ea-d8f29110d98f",filename:"gettyimages-2166499240.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2025-03-31 23:23:21",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"aavpnpool-gettyimages-1305304275",credits:"grinvalds\u002FGetty Images",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F31\u002F91ea08f4-f573-4224-a5ea-d8f29110d98f\u002Fgettyimages-2166499240.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:2309,height:1299,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"analysis\u002Fopinion",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Security^VPN",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"will-using-a-vpn-help-protect-you-from-malware-or-ransomware",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Will using a VPN help protect you from malware or ransomware?",topic:{id:"e5be9bf6-59dd-4954-b3b3-ee691565f832",slug:"vpn",name:"VPN",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"e5be9bf6-59dd-4954-b3b3-ee691565f832",slug:"vpn",name:"VPN",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10e2a445-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"networking",name:"Networking",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"41040cf0-0abb-4cd0-aad1-1cb0e38b334c",slug:"windows-11",name:"Windows 11",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"926c7fe3-bac7-46e3-b421-bf633d90ee73",slug:"productivity",name:"Productivity",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"a1b0bfb9-f561-4420-a0d7-d5825ba93aa4\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Sapphire\u002FAMD\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"A Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT graphics card on an orange background\" data-image-filename=\"sapphire-radeon.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F28\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you've been disappointed by the lack of graphics card deals during the Amazon Spring Sale, right now at Walmart you can pick up a \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"efd8eaec-364f-4592-a758-77a3d23e300d\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walmart.com\u002Fip\u002FSAPPHIRE-PULSE-Radeon-RX-7800-XT-16GB-GDDR6-PCI-Express-4-0-x16-ATX-Video-Card-11330-02-20G\u002F5018880824\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E for $690. That's a discount of $335 that you can put towards upgrading the rest of your gaming setup.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-anti-amazon-spring-sale-deals-3-28-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best anti-Amazon Spring Sale deals live now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"710ffd8f-b930-4dfd-913a-0f9bd7bf289e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT for $691 (save $335 at Walmart)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"A Sapphire Radeon RX 7800 XT graphics card on an orange background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Sapphire\u002FAMD\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"c5c9d83a-4f30-4031-82cd-00210a2a2762","filename":"sapphire-radeon-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F28\u002Fc5c9d83a-4f30-4031-82cd-00210a2a2762\u002Fsapphire-radeon-2.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-28 22:11:28","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"c5c9d83a-4f30-4031-82cd-00210a2a2762","imageFilename":"sapphire-radeon-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F28"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Sapphire\u002FAMD\u002FZDNET\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walmart.com\u002Fip\u002FSAPPHIRE-PULSE-Radeon-RX-7800-XT-16GB-GDDR6-PCI-Express-4-0-x16-ATX-Video-Card-11330-02-20G\u002F5018880824\" data-offerprice=\"691\" data-offerpricerange=\"4\" data-offerpricetext=\"Save 33%\" data-offermerchant=\"Walmart\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgoto.walmart.com\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F565706\u002F9383?&sharedid=zdnet&partnerpropertyid=1980086&u=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walmart.com\u002Fip\u002FSAPPHIRE-PULSE-Radeon-RX-7800-XT-16GB-GDDR6-PCI-Express-4-0-x16-ATX-Video-Card-11330-02-20G\u002F5018880824&subId1=subid_value\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"85b3628f-49ef-4e87-8f70-b19cdcbfbb6d","slug":"sapphire-pulse-radeon-rx-7800-xt-16gb-gddr6-pci-express-4-0-x16-atx-video-card-11330-02-20g","name":"SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB GDDR6 PCI Express 4.0 x16 ATX Video Card 11330-02-20G","productType":"SERIES","updateType":"AUTOPID","mod":1743198591897,"displayDate":"Fri Mar 28 2025 17:49:51 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis AMD desktop graphics card has 16GB of DDR6 VRAM and a base clock speed of 2124MHz, which is plenty of power to handle just about any triple-A game in your library or on your wishlist. But if you want to get just a little more out of your GPU, it's able to be overclocked to 2430MHz -- though this is only recommended for experienced PC builders and gamers, as overclocking your components may void warranties or damage delicate electronics if not done correctly.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead more:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-gaming-deals-3-28-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best Amazon Spring Sale 2025 gaming deals you can buy now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith 2 HDMI and 2 DisplayPort outputs, the RX 7800 XT is capable of supporting up to four external displays, making it perfect for content creators and other creative professionals who may need a multi-screen setup to streamline their workflow and multitask in various programs and applications for projects and livestreams. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EZDNET Recommends\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd unlike the high-end Nvidia 40 Series GPUs, you won't have to invest in a new, full-size tower case to make sure it fits. With dual cooling fans and a compact 11 x 5.1 x 2.1 inch design, it's a near-perfect fit for many mid- and full-size towers; and if you're running a mini-ATX or other micro-compact format like a fanless laptop and looking to pick up the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"1e3a5e4d-75f6-47fb-80bd-d8cb0fe9465e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walmart.com\u002Fip\u002FSAPPHIRE-PULSE-Radeon-RX-7800-XT-16GB-GDDR6-PCI-Express-4-0-x16-ATX-Video-Card-11330-02-20G\u002F5018880824\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, you might want to pick up an external GPU housing for a hassle-free way to instantly boost your PC's graphics capabilities.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow I rated this deal:\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile this isn't the deepest discount I've seen on this particular graphics card (it was 55% off during Walmart's Black Friday sale), it's still the steepest markdown I can find on any GPU available at any retailer. With many stores only offering a disappointing $50-100 off both Nvidia and AMD options, Walmart has this AMD card marked down almost $350.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"3f1e70db-625b-4dda-bd59-485712352f28\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWhile Walmart doesn't list a definitive end-date for the discount on the Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT graphics card, you won't want to wait around to pick one up. Not only is this one of the best GPU deals I've seen since before the chip shortage, Walmart and Sapphire have limited stock available at this price. This means that the discount may end when they sell a certain number of units. Walmart may also have low physical stock in general, which means a deal this good will make it harder to find in your area the longer you wait.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"When will this deal expire?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"0e88d422-b314-4fb1-91c8-eb6d5975f868\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWe aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor's deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members' expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhow-we-rate-deals-at-zdnet-in-2025\u002F"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow we rate deals at ZDNET in 2025\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How do we rate deals at ZDNET?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"9cf46855-fbde-486c-a507-8ff081f08d87\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F9cf46855-fbde-486c-a507-8ff081f08d87\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-03-31 22:16:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Whether you're building a new gaming PC or just looking to upgrade your current build, you can save $335 on a Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT at Walmart. But you'll have to hurry - it's selling fast",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"bffd1c61-59c8-4437-b760-10965335ac02",image:{id:"a1b0bfb9-f561-4420-a0d7-d5825ba93aa4",filename:"sapphire-radeon.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2025-03-28 22:10:44",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"A Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT graphics card on an orange background",credits:"Sapphire\u002FAMD\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F28\u002Fa1b0bfb9-f561-4420-a0d7-d5825ba93aa4\u002Fsapphire-radeon.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1296,height:720,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"deals",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^PCs",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"Save $335 on the Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7800 XT at Walmart",section:c,slug:"radeon-rx-7800-xt-graphics-card-amazon-spring-sale-deal-03-28-2025",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"The best graphics card deal this week isn't part of Amazon's Spring Sale - and it's back in stock",topic:{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"4ccc7a51-db4d-46e5-834a-6da2306636bb",slug:"gaming-accessories",name:"Gaming Accessories",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"9841d7c0-1be2-42d4-963b-3d0c080290bc",slug:"tech",name:"Tech",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"9e387438-bfb1-47c2-a8a5-71be354f69de",slug:"home-entertainment",name:"Home Entertainment",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"eaece766-f666-4dd7-a912-a57ae1cbb714",slug:"gaming-devices",name:"Gaming Devices",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f07e8684-3ad4-438d-a6b4-0665b9de2f60",slug:"gaming",name:"Gaming",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"55becc1b-193f-4a07-841a-4950ce305d4b\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"HP\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Two HP Victus 16 gaming laptops on an orange background\" data-image-filename=\"hp-victus-16-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F26\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"4077f291-8c79-479b-9a37-0b3321960a35\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fhp-victus-16-1-gaming-laptop-amd-ryzen-7-8845hs-16gb-ddr5-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4070-512gb-ssd-mica-silver\u002F6578934.p?skuId=6578934\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fhp-victus-15-6-full-hd-144hz-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-3050-512gb-ssd-performance-blue%2F6570600.p%3FskuId%3D6570600&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"HP Victus 16\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E is a solid gaming laptop built with an AMD Ryzen 7 8000 series CPU, RTX 4070 graphics card, and 16GB of RAM. Now, Best Buy has this 16-inch model at 40% off. That means you can save $600 and pay just $900 for an excellent gaming laptop that won't break the bank. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-tech-deals-3-26-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best Amazon Spring Sale deals live now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"3e46bc52-7352-45d8-b4f4-755859b6f4c6\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"HP Victus 16 for $900 (save $600)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"An HP Victus 16 gaming laptop on an orange background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"HP\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"ea590e60-5b65-4f5f-9c24-a836876d889f","filename":"hp-victus-16-1.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F26\u002Fea590e60-5b65-4f5f-9c24-a836876d889f\u002Fhp-victus-16-1.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-26 18:08:35","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"ea590e60-5b65-4f5f-9c24-a836876d889f","imageFilename":"hp-victus-16-1.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F26"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"HP\u002FZDNET\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fhp-victus-16-1-gaming-laptop-amd-ryzen-7-8845hs-16gb-ddr5-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4070-512gb-ssd-mica-silver\u002F6578934.p?skuId=6578934\" data-offerprice=\"900\" data-offerpricerange=\"5\" data-offerpricetext=\"Save 40%\" data-offermerchant=\"Best Buy\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fhp-victus-16-1-gaming-laptop-amd-ryzen-7-8845hs-16gb-ddr5-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4070-512gb-ssd-mica-silver\u002F6578934.p?skuId=6578934&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"af58b0ef-c42f-4c09-8e56-e338c9c9d7a4","slug":"hp-victus-16-1-gaming-laptop-amd-ryzen-7-8845hs-16gb-ddr5-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4070-512gb-ssd-mica-silver","name":"\\"HP - Victus 16.1\\"\\" Gaming Laptop - AMD Ryzen 7-8845HS - 16GB DDR5 Memory - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 - 512GB SSD - Mica Silver\\"","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1743012508589,"displayDate":"Wed Mar 26 2025 14:08:28 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis Victus 16 configuration includes an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card and a screen capable of a 144Hz refresh rate for buttery smooth action during fast-paced or action-heavy scenes in your favorite games. Additionally, this laptop uses an advanced technique for cooling the computer: Hot air is blown out of the bottom of the laptop to ensure the computer maintains a good temperature while you game.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-gaming-deals-3-26-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best Amazon Spring Sale gaming deals you can shop now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EZDNET Recommends\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and an AMD Ryzen 7-8845HS processor, this system can put the power to where your system needs it most during gaming. You'd think with all the powerful components in this laptop, the battery life would suffer. But it doesn't. This laptop features a battery that can last up to 8 hours and 15 minutes while being able to be charged up to 50% in as little as 30 minutes.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow I rated this deal:\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is a 40% markdown on a great mid-range gaming laptop from one of the most reputable brands in home computing. For the price of an entry-level version, you'll get premium features like an RTX 4070 graphics card, Wi-Fi 6 support, and Bluetooth connectivity.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"abce2275-b77a-454d-b079-13c867e160bd\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EDeals are subject to sell out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We're sorry if you've missed out on this deal, but don't fret -- we constantly finding new chances to save and share them with you on&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002F"\u003EZDNET.com\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"When will this deal expire?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"2eeaa0bb-6fbf-4f35-869d-f4118c4ccab8\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWe aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor's deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members' expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhow-we-rate-deals-at-zdnet-in-2025\u002F"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow we rate deals at ZDNET in 2025\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How do we rate deals at ZDNET?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"3aa16d16-8ccd-4f94-b2cc-91f3af21b2ff\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F3aa16d16-8ccd-4f94-b2cc-91f3af21b2ff\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-03-31 22:13:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"If you've been looking to upgrade your gaming laptop, you can save $600 on the HP Victus 15 at Best Buy.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"a7b56738-9561-4b19-b2ff-8df6070ca1e5",image:{id:"6fc6559d-3216-4a14-b00c-6029c3f5fad6",filename:"hp-victus-15-laptop.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2024-11-21 15:39:47",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"The ZDNET logo, Best Buy logo, and an HP Victus 15 gaming laptop on an orange background",credits:"Best Buy\u002FHP\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2024\u002F11\u002F21\u002F6fc6559d-3216-4a14-b00c-6029c3f5fad6\u002Fhp-victus-15-laptop.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1296,height:720,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"deals",hubTopicPathString:"Home & Office^Home Entertainment^Gaming^Gaming Devices",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"Grab the HP Victus 15 gaming laptop for $600 off at Best Buy",section:c,slug:"hp-victus-15-best-buy-deal-03-31-2025",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Snag the HP Victus 16 laptop for just $900 at Best Buy",topic:{id:"eaece766-f666-4dd7-a912-a57ae1cbb714",slug:"gaming-devices",name:"Gaming Devices",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"eaece766-f666-4dd7-a912-a57ae1cbb714",slug:"gaming-devices",name:"Gaming Devices",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f07e8684-3ad4-438d-a6b4-0665b9de2f60",slug:"gaming",name:"Gaming",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f1f7db06-c6f9-4e80-8187-60ad48f035a1",slug:"zdnet-recommends",name:"ZDNET Recommends",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"f2d97ea2-8175-11e2-9d12-0018fe8a00b0",username:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Adrian",lastName:"Kingsley-Hughes",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2",filename:"adrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 14:59:32",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002F11c625de-cb18-4e3f-8614-5010553831f2\u002Fadrian-kingsley-hughes.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over two decades to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera. Adrian has authored\u002Fco-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include 'Build the Ultimate Custom PC', 'Beginning Programming' and 'The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide'. He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.",profile:b,title:"Senior Contributing Editor",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"6d3b3efe-d3e2-44b3-80d5-2729dafdb065\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Apple\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"3 products you shouldn't buy from Apple this month (and 10 products to buy instead)\" data-image-filename=\"3-products-you-shouldnt-buy-from-apple-this-month-and-10-products-to-buy-instead.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F10\" data-image-width=\"4080\" data-image-height=\"2295\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's been a busy few weeks for Apple, and an equally busy time for the wallets of Apple fans. We got a brand-new \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c58c6248-a5be-4bbe-8b4b-fc761546e3cc\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-iphone\u002Fiphone-16e\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iPhone 16e\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E -- Apple's replacement to the iPhone SE -- as well as a new \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"6e6f0264-2cb2-4381-ae82-2e832843fbc9\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-ipad\u002Fipad\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iPad\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"538f225a-6734-482a-8f79-adffb5b1609e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-ipad\u002Fipad-air\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iPad Air\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, both of which really needed an update. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-replaced-my-iphone-16-pro-with-the-16e-for-a-week-heres-my-buying-advice-now\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EI replaced my iPhone 16 Pro with the 16e for a week - here's my buying advice now\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere was also a new \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"ee5727bb-8c94-4098-9cdc-c0dd8a8d2ebc\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmacbook-air\u002F13-inch\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"13-inch\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"bad6107a-7f4a-4ea3-a4e5-1945b8e37805\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmacbook-air\u002F15-inch\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"15-inch MacBook Air\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, both upgraded with the M4 chip, while the pro-oriented \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"07f47239-97d4-416f-89a3-af7a9ae2a7ac\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-studio\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac Studio\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E got the much-anticipated M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo what's left for Apple to do this year? Quite a bit, actually. We can expect a new iPad Pro, iPhone, Apple Watch, MacBook Pro with the upcoming M5 processor, and more. Here's what products to watch out for, and which to hold on purchasing in 2025. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ETariffs and trade wars\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETariffs are big news now, and they have the potential to upend things. Remember that Canada ranks fourth in Apple markets by revenue share behind the United States, Japan, and China: another country in this administration's tariff sights. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen asked about any potential tariff impacts during Apple's last earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook had this to say: \"We are monitoring the situation and don't have anything more to add than that.\" \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fis-this-the-end-of-multi-year-applecare-plans-whats-replacing-them-and-why\u002F\"\u003EIs this the end of multi-year AppleCare+ plans? What's replacing them and why\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's rather vague, and it's unclear what effect this will have on prices (both overall and specific to Apple). However, smart money is betting that costs are unlikely to fall, and given the uncertainty, it might be better to make your Apple purchases \u003Cem\u003Enow \u003C\u002Fem\u003Erather than later. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EUpcoming Apple products to spring for (near and far) \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E1. M5 chip\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"8ca9fb2a-cf0a-46e6-92b8-4bbfb0926510\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EApple MacBook Air M4\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Kyle Kucharski\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Apple MacBook Air M4 in Sky Blue\" data-image-filename=\"img-0550.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F12\" data-image-width=\"4032\" data-image-height=\"2268\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe're still hot on the heels of the M4 processor in the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-finally-replaced-my-m1-macbook-pro-with-a-base-model-m4-and-the-upgrades-were-worth-it\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMacBook Pro\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-cant-recommend-the-m4-15-inch-macbook-air-enough-even-if-its-not-for-me\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMacBook Air\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, but yes, the M5 chip is already on the horizon. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bloomberg.com\u002Fnews\u002Fnewsletters\u002F2025-03-30\u002Fapple-readies-biggest-push-into-health-yet-with-revamped-app-ai-doctor-service-m8vl97k2\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPower On\u003C\u002Fa\u003E newsletter, the M5 will find its way into the MacBook Pro and iPad Pro later this year, most likely in the fall.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E2. Apple TV \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's coming; we're just not sure when. It's rumored to make use of Apple's new networking chip, adding support for Wi-Fi 6E, and will be powered by the A15 chip, which opens the door to Apple Intelligence features. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E3. AirTag update \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"13145e1c-bbce-4c26-a261-3036e0c902f7\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EApple AirTag\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Maria Diaz\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Apple AirTag\" data-image-filename=\"untitled-1.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F07\" data-image-width=\"1920\" data-image-height=\"1080\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new AirTags are expected to use a new Ultra Wideband chip, bringing improved range and accuracy. Apparently, the speaker will also be more difficult to disable, serving as a countermeasure to prevent tags from being used to stalk people. Given how trivial it is to modify AirTags, and how you can even buy them already modified, this will be a welcome change. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fyour-next-apple-watch-or-smart-ring-could-have-a-feature-that-transforms-healthcare\u002F\"\u003EYour next Apple Watch or smart ring could have a feature that transforms healthcare\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E4. Hypertension Detection for Apple Watch \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Apple Watch can already do a lot, uncovering hidden medical conditions such as atrial fibrillation and sleep apnea. Adding the ability to detect high blood pressure would reinforce its place as a personal, wrist-mounted physician. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, let's look at Apple tech that you might want to wait on. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E \tThe 'Naughty' list \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGive these Apple devices a pass for now, as we're likely to see refreshed versions soon. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EApple TV\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: Last updated in October 2022, this device is \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fapple-tv-vs-roku-which-streaming-device-should-you-buy\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Edue for a refresh\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. When? Rumors suggest a fourth-gen Apple TV 4K will be announced during the first half of this year.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHomePod Mini\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: Released in October 2020, this is officially \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fhomepod-vs-homepod-mini-which-one-of-apples-smart-speakers-is-right-for-you\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EApple's oldest product\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. While there's nothing wrong with it technically, it's hard to recommend dropping full price for such old hardware. \u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVision Pro\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: It's hard to bet against Apple, and it's difficult to put \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-tried-apple-vision-pro-for-a-weekend-and-here-are-my-3-biggest-takeaways\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esomething with so much potential\u003C\u002Fa\u003E on the naughty list, but if the rumors are true that Apple has pulled the plug on production because sales have slumped, it's hard to have faith in the product. I'd hold out and see what Apple has planned.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen there are these, which aren't a hard pass, but it's definitely worth thinking if you can't wait a few months for a refresh to land, especially if you want to get a few years out of the device:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EiPad Pro\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: this is rumored to be getting the M5 chip upgrade, which should offer a very significant boost in performance over \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fipad-pro-2024-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethe existing silicon\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMacBook Pro\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E: Again, with the M5 chip on the horizon, it might be worth making your existing hardware last a few more months and picking up the latest and greatest.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe 'Nice' list \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese Apple devices are worth springing for now, since it'll be a while before we see significant hardware upgrades. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t1. iPad Air \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"7276baa5-c977-45d3-b196-e1028795def0\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Apple\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"iPad Air (2025)\" data-image-filename=\"ipad.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F04\" data-image-width=\"1920\" data-image-height=\"1080\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe newly refreshed \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c799c1f4-41d3-45d6-a61e-123b859f2e47\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-ipad\u002Fipad-air\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iPad Air\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E is decked out with the M3 chip. Prices start at $599 for the 11-inch version and $799 for the 13-inch version. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t2. MacBook Air \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"cf46d3fa-18b7-4c4f-973f-e74db9c7d6c3\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Apple\" data-image-alt-text=\"Apple MacBook Air M4 in Sky Blue\" data-image-filename=\"img-0551.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F12\" data-image-width=\"4032\" data-image-height=\"2268\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"65768acd-71ab-4270-866c-298278f1af61\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmacbook-air\u002F13-inch\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"13-inch\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"6956f5b5-5457-41db-96ad-0b937ea19196\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmacbook-air\u002F15-inch\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"15-inch MacBook Air\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E laptops get an upgrade to the 10-core CPU\u002F10-core GPU \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-cant-recommend-the-m4-15-inch-macbook-air-enough-even-if-its-not-for-me\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EM4 processor\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and also see battery life boosted to as much as 18 hours. Prices start at $999, but throw enough upgrades at the system, and you can get it up to $2,399. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t3. Mac Studio \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"dfc4ccb3-4125-4c8f-851e-454abf570181\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Cesar Cadenas\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Mac Studio\" data-image-filename=\"mac-studio-m4-max-front.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F10\" data-image-width=\"1600\" data-image-height=\"900\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-replaced-my-windows-pc-with-a-mac-studio-for-a-week-here-are-my-takeaways-so-far\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EApple's pro-grade alternative to the Mac Mini\u003C\u002Fa\u003E gets a serious processing boost, with the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"4d48e88c-80b2-4c41-b10a-b261062a6ca6\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-studio\u002Fapple-m4-max-with-14-core-cpu-and-32-core-gpu-36gb-memory-512gb\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"M4 Max\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"a10fc902-5df2-401d-8b37-d865e54ca4e8\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-studio\u002Fapple-m3-ultra-with-28-core-cpu-and-60-core-gpu-96gb-memory-1tb\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"M3 chips\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E offered in a range of configurations. Prices start at $1,999, but can go as high as \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"bead1fdc-dacb-4924-9740-12442f457623\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-studio\u002Fapple-m3-ultra-with-28-core-cpu-and-60-core-gpu-96gb-memory-1tb\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"$14,099 for a fully tricked-out system\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t4. Apple iMac \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"dff4d235-f5ce-4841-9ab0-197a10748529\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E2024 iMac\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Kyle Kucharski\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"iMac\" data-image-filename=\"img-8318.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F11\u002F07\" data-image-width=\"4032\" data-image-height=\"2268\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"5d04fb18-2131-4008-a95c-84421eb82350\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fimac\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedid=zdnet&partnerpropertyid=1980086&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-mac%2Fimac&subId1=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"M4 iMac\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E got a refresh to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-tested-the-new-imac-m4-and-one-of-the-standout-upgrades-is-also-the-least-flashy\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ebring it up to speed with Apple Intelligence\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. With specs ranging from 8 CPU and GPU cores, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage priced at $1,299, all the way up to 10 CPU and GPU cores, 24GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for $1,899, there's an iMac to suit most workloads and budgets. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t5. Apple Mac Mini \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"f0b91162-2d6b-4e4f-8c01-c28b0da9acb2\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Apple Mac Mini\" data-image-filename=\"mac-mini-m4-pro-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F11\u002F04\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple's smallest Mac got an upgrade to the M4 and M4 Pro processors. It's also the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-still-recommend-the-mac-mini-m4-for-these-two-major-reasons-plus-its-on-sale\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Echeapest Mac you can buy\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, as a \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"2073ba91-ed78-4c1d-b65e-d6831e5494d1\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmac-mini\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac Mini\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E with the 10-core CPU and GPU model, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage costing only $599. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t6. Apple iPad Mini \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"420fc987-ce4f-4f7d-a6bd-e830c5862601\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E2024 iPad Mini\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Prakhar Khanna\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"2024 iPad Mini\" data-image-filename=\"ipad-mini-7-233217.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F11\u002F12\" data-image-width=\"2884\" data-image-height=\"1616\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"b2fdefe1-0ae3-403e-894a-082f96d6d939\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-ipad\u002Fipad-mini\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedid=zdnet&partnerpropertyid=1980086&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-ipad%2Fipad-mini&subId1=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"all-new 2024 iPad Mini\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E replaced the three-year-old model with one powered by an A17 Pro chip that's Apple Intelligence-ready and comes in a range of colors (blue, purple, starlight, and space gray) and storage capacities (128GB, 256GB, and 512GB) to suit everyone. Prices range from $499 to $799. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t7. Apple iPhone 16 \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"b0a06ebc-0118-4110-a3ef-0f8796d24d12\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EiPhone 16\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Kerry Wan\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"iPhone 16\" data-image-filename=\"dsc02129.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F09\u002F09\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom a Camera Control button, an Action button, and the new \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fwhy-apples-new-a18-chipsets-make-the-iphone-16-models-worth-upgrading-to\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EA18 chipset\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"486e7836-5d00-4936-a695-e6e5819c7a46\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-iphone\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iPhone 16\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E has been built from the ground up to handle AI workloads. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t8. Apple Watch Series 10 \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"44099116-5af0-4f13-acbe-dcf3754a7fa9\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EApple Watch Series 10\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Kerry Wan\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Apple Watch Series 10\" data-image-filename=\"dsc02038.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F09\u002F09\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"8569b1f0-4a7a-4e40-92b2-e2beeeeda7ca\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-watch\u002Fapple-watch\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Apple Watch Series 10\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E starts at $399 for GPS and $499 for cellular. It comes in three colors: jet black, rose gold, and silver aluminum. The new black \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"bd711b33-2919-45ac-9e3b-d99a9299d8fa\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-watch\u002Fapple-watch-ultra\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Apple Watch Ultra 2\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E starts at $799. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t9. Apple M4 MacBook Pro \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"5deaa4ab-7b44-4b09-984f-5e0d38f4a272\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003EApple MacBook Pro M4\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Kerry Wan\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Apple MacBook Pro M4\" data-image-filename=\"dsc02534-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F11\u002F06\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENeed a Mac that combines portability with power? You need a MacBook Pro. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fis-your-iphone-rebooting-after-being-inactive-its-a-feature-not-a-bug\u002F\"\u003EIs your iPhone rebooting after being inactive? It's a feature, not a bug\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut it's less a case of how fast a laptop you need and more a case of how much you want to spend. With prices for the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"c77b62da-adde-40ee-9ba7-0c35c3b526f4\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmacbook-pro\u002F14-inch-space-black-standard-display-apple-m4-chip-with-10-core-cpu-and-10-core-gpu-16gb-memory-512gb\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedid=zdnet&partnerpropertyid=1980086&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-mac%2Fmacbook-air%2F13-inch-midnight-apple-m3-chip-with-8-core-cpu-and-8-core-gpu-8gb-memory-256gb&subId1=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"14-inch M4 MacBook Pro starting at $1,599\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, and the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"490f24e3-f87c-40f5-b9e9-029af8a684e6\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmacbook-pro\u002F16-inch-space-black-standard-display-apple-m4-pro-with-14-core-cpu-and-20-core-gpu-24gb-memory-512gb\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedid=zdnet&partnerpropertyid=1980086&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-mac%2Fmacbook-air%2F15-inch-midnight-apple-m3-chip-with-8-core-cpu-and-10-core-gpu-8gb-memory-256gb&subId1=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"16-inch version starting at $900 more\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E (and going all the way up to \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"9a172140-9e9d-4433-a5f7-8d8d098bc21e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-mac\u002Fmacbook-pro\u002F16-inch-space-black-standard-display-apple-m4-max-with-16-core-cpu-and-40-core-gpu-48gb-memory-1tb\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"a whopping $7,349\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E for the 40-core, 128GB RAM, 8TB storage behemoth), these systems represent some serious processing power, but power that comes at a price. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E \t10. Apple AirTag \u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"16bed821-221f-4af3-aa35-0043a2afc64c\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Kayla Solino\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Hand holding AirTag\" data-image-filename=\"img-0685.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F02\u002F20\" data-image-crop=\"5165x2902+22+890\" data-image-width=\"6000\" data-image-height=\"4000\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple's \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"999c0fbd-640e-4d08-9296-18c3734db774\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FApple-MX532AM-A-AirTag\u002Fdp\u002FB0933BVK6T?tag=zd-buy-button-20&ascsubtag=f936e500be7d4741a46cc171e38a299f%7C951732c3-2282-4f48-aa88-76846eba31a3%7Cdtp\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"AirTags\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E are the perfect gift for someone who constantly loses things. You can add them to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fairline-backtracks-on-apple-airtag-ban-in-checked-luggage\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eyour luggage\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, attach them to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-hide-an-apple-airtag-on-your-bike-and-why-you-should\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eyour bike\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fthis-accessory-lets-you-add-an-airtag-to-your-apple-tv-remote\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eyour remote\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, or even your \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fshe-didnt-trust-her-movers-a-single-apple-airtag-showed-she-was-right\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emoving boxes\u003C\u002Fa\u003E -- the possibilities are endless. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-to-find-out-if-an-airtag-is-tracking-you\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to find out if an AirTag is tracking you\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWell-made, robust, and with a replaceable battery, these will make misplaced keys or lost wallets things of the past. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFAQs\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhat is Apple Intelligence?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fios-18-1-with-apple-intelligence-is-here-try-these-5-ai-features-first\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EApple Intelligence\u003C\u002Fa\u003E -- technology that leverages the processing power of Apple silicon to understand and generate language, providing personalized assistance and insights -- has been driving the latest wave of Apple hardware upgrades, with the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"fda46f77-723f-4ca1-a8a3-90fa724e6df2\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fimac\u002F\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"new iMac\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"f1b7aecd-c5a1-4422-b532-ff0eeb5ff7e0\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fmac-mini\u002F\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapple.sjv.io\u002Fc\u002F159047\u002F435031\u002F7613?&sharedid=zdnet&partnerpropertyid=1980086&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fmac-mini%2F&subId1=subid_value\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"new Mac Mini\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E joining the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"88d2b67c-c758-47e5-b801-5a1859cd974e\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-ipad\u002Fipad-mini\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"new iPad Mini\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"2f722ac4-c5fc-4be7-bbc3-441092cdb940\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-iphone\u002Fiphone-16\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iPhone 16\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"3c9d8914-c411-4dd2-b975-0d76fd670b11\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apple.com\u002Fshop\u002Fbuy-iphone\u002Fiphone-16-pro\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"iPhone 16 Pro\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E and a swath of newer products that are being promoted as the hardware to buy if you want access to Apple's vision for AI. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOlder hardware offers access to some of the features, but the experience will be somewhat patchy. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhat's happening with Vision Pro?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's been a year since the release of the Vision Pro, and it hasn't been the success that Apple -- and many pundits -- expected it to be. While the hardware itself has benefitted from numerous software updates, sales have been lackluster. After all, it doesn't matter how high-tech and sci-fi something is; a three-and-a-half-thousand-dollar price tag is an impossible barrier for most. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple has allegedly discontinued production of Vision Pro headsets because they're piling up and not selling. That's not a great sign for the product's future. Apple is still selling them, but it's now hard to recommend someone spend thousands of dollars on a product that is on the ropes. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fapple-vision-pro-finally-supports-ultra-wide-displays-but-is-it-worth-the-price-here-are-the-results\u002F\"\u003EApple Vision Pro's killer feature is finally here -- and made my $3,500 investment more worth it\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is in addition to rumors suggesting that a cheaper unit -- with a more modest $2,000 price tag -- would land toward the end of this year, but indications now suggest this has been pushed back to 2027. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut the Vision Pro rumors don't end there. There are whispers that suggest the Vision Pro will be superseded by the Vision Pro 2, a new headset -- sorry, Apple calls it a spatial computer -- powered by the M4 chip and Apple Intelligence support. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F12922153-5c9c-495e-a36a-5dbbc9302a9f\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-03-31 15:41:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Before you click buy on that shiny new Apple gadget, check out where it fits into Apple's product release plans.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"f313209f-cf9a-4d63-9c1a-2cf8214c8fe4",image:{id:"6d3b3efe-d3e2-44b3-80d5-2729dafdb065",filename:"3-products-you-shouldnt-buy-from-apple-this-month-and-10-products-to-buy-instead.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2025-03-10 15:42:02",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"AirPods Pro 2 in hand",credits:"Christina Darby\u002F ZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F10\u002F6d3b3efe-d3e2-44b3-80d5-2729dafdb065\u002F3-products-you-shouldnt-buy-from-apple-this-month-and-10-products-to-buy-instead.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:4080,height:2295,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"product-promo",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Smartphones",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"3-apple-devices-you-definitely-shouldnt-buy-this-month-and-10-to-get-instead",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"3 Apple devices you definitely shouldn't buy this month (and 10 to get instead)",topic:{id:"1147b242-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"smartphones",name:"Smartphones",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"1147b242-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"smartphones",name:"Smartphones",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"0fbd54d0-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"apple",name:"Apple",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"10666ed8-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"hardware",name:"Hardware",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"1091623b-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"ipad",name:"iPad",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"1093d9cb-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"iphone",name:"iPhone",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"116c1d92-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"tablets",name:"Tablets",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"d0aee31d-965e-4a8b-97f0-5c7c1b8bf7f1",slug:"mac-os",name:"Mac OS",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"eca19898-12cf-4e3a-bca9-73b9d72c405c",slug:"wearables",name:"Wearables",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"fffab326-d9a6-4491-aadb-e18e8e906d5f",username:"cecadenas",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Cesar",lastName:"Cadenas",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"73d84d86-ff96-42ac-9c31-eef4cc1750a4",filename:"1608345669637.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2023-07-21 15:02:50",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2023\u002F07\u002F21\u002F73d84d86-ff96-42ac-9c31-eef4cc1750a4\u002F1608345669637.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Cesar Cadenas has been writing about the tech industry for several years now specializing in consumer electronics, entertainment devices, Windows, and generative AIs. But he's also passionate about smartphones, GPUs, and cybersecurity.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"0bc02387-c046-4006-8e0f-47a1ce6c6403\" data-size=\"large\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Jason Hiner\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Mac Mini M4 Pro on desk\" data-image-filename=\"mac-mini-m4-pro-1.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2024\u002F11\u002F04\" data-image-width=\"2048\" data-image-height=\"1152\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmazon's Spring Sale is reaching its final days, yet the great deals continue. Case in point: \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"0c871460-cff1-4c11-90bf-976dee8cfe3b\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0DLBTPDCS?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Apple's M4 Mac Mini\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E just received a $70 discount, dropping to $529. This isn't the lowest it's ever been, but I strongly recommend taking advantage of the promotion if you're in the market for a new computer or looking to upgrade from a MacBook.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-tech-deals-3-28-2025\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EI picked the 160+ best deals for Amazon's Spring Sale\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOther configurations are on sale, too. For example, the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"a338a9be-2fc1-4b6d-83a5-4069531cad80\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0DLBX4B1K?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"M4 Mac Mini with 16GB of memory and a 512GB SSD\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E retails for $743. The \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"1bb70130-6b0d-43ed-8681-8e84147f802b\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0DLBV145M?th=1\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"24GB RAM and 512GB SSD model\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E currently cost $900. If you want better hardware, the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"88fc3307-4077-4c94-b102-f44f619ff8b7\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bhphotovideo.com\u002Fc\u002Fproduct\u002F1859310-REG\u002Fapple_z1jv_macmini51_mac_mini_m4_pro_12c.html?\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0DLBVHSLD?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"M4 Pro Mac Mini\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E is on sale for $1,300, but at B&H Photo Video and not Amazon.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-switched-to-mac-studio-m4-for-two-weeks-a-windows-pc-users-buying-advice\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EI switched to Mac Studio M4 for two weeks - a Windows PC user's buying advice\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBe aware that these prices do not include AppleCare+. Choosing the three-year warranty plan adds an extra $100 to the final price.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"558f30fa-2425-4e77-bf8c-6f7cddce430a\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Apple Mac Mini M4 for $529 (save $70 at Amazon)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"","imageData":{"id":"87516b50-e673-4918-a4c7-2625db61ed84","filename":"m4-mac-mini-promo-pic-spring-sale.png","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F24\u002F87516b50-e673-4918-a4c7-2625db61ed84\u002Fm4-mac-mini-promo-pic-spring-sale.png","dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-24 18:57:18","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"87516b50-e673-4918-a4c7-2625db61ed84","imageFilename":"m4-mac-mini-promo-pic-spring-sale.png","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F24"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0DLBTPDCS?\" data-offerprice=\"529\" data-offerpricerange=\"2\" data-offerpricetext=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-offermerchant=\"Amazon\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0DLBTPDCS?tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"ba3aaa2d-a923-4073-b990-2fb1fcf3f10d","slug":"apple-mac-mini-desktop-latest-model-m4-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-16gb-memory-256gb-ssd-silver","name":"Apple - Mac mini Desktop - Latest Model - M4 chip - Built for Apple Intelligence - 16GB Memory - 256GB SSD - Silver","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1743182109906,"displayDate":"Fri Mar 28 2025 10:15:09 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time)"}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt is surprising to see the Mac Mini M4 on sale across multiple platforms outside a significant holiday or sales event. The current desktop system has only been around since November 2024. You might see these prices during a substantial event like Amazon Prime Day. Regardless, I'm happy to see the discounts because the Mac Mini M4 is a solid computer.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to ZDNET editor Jason Hiner, the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002F2-reasons-why-i-recommend-the-m4-mac-mini-to-everyone-and-its-100-off-right-now\u002F#link={\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMac Mini M4 introduced\u003C\u002Fa\u003E a \"long-awaited redesign [to] one of Apple's quirkiest and most utilitarian products. \" It's more compact than the previous generation, weighing 1.5 pounds and measuring 5 by 5 inches.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHiner describes Apple's M4 chipset as providing \"next-level performance,\" enabling the computer to tackle challenging workflows like music production, video editing, and other forms of content creation. These applications are boosted by the fact that the base M4 Mac Mini comes with 16GB of RAM, compared to older Mac Minis, which sported 8GB of memory. That's fine for casual usage but buckles under demanding tasks. And with the introduction of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fapple-intelligence-now-needs-7gb-of-storage-up-from-4gb-heres-why\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EApple Intelligence\u003C\u002Fa\u003E into the mix, Apple had to give its hardware a much-needed upgrade.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthese-airpods-are-our-first-pick-out-of-every-model-and-theyre-80-off-during-amazons-spring-sale\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThese AirPods are our first pick out of every model, and they're $80 off during Amazon's Spring Sale\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI recommend the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"b1a5cd7e-4adf-4bc1-90f9-6e3420379d49\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002Fdp\u002FB0DLBTPDCS?\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Mac Mini M4\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E to people who want the latest Apple tech without the high cost. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fi-tested-the-new-imac-m4-and-one-of-the-standout-upgrades-is-also-the-least-flashy\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EM4 iMac\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fapples-boringly-awesome-reason-to-buy-the-m4-macbook-pro-and-why-im-sold-on-it\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMacBook Pro\u003C\u002Fa\u003E deliver a similar experience, but prices for those devices start at over $1,000.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EZDNET Recommends\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow I rated this deal\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe M4 Mac Mini is highly recommended to people and creative professionals who want some of the best hardware Apple offers but don't have a lot of desk space or the cash necessary to buy an expensive model. This compact desktop performs well thanks to its design. Plus, it delivers the next generation of Apple's AI tech.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause of the considerable price drop, ZDNET's rating system grants this promotion a 2\u002F5 Editor's deal rating. It's a good deal at the moment. However, it's not as good as past deals. I've seen the desktop drop down to $499. Still, a discount is a discount, and I hope to see steeper price cuts shortly\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"c39c7b30-7add-4ac5-a5ba-7b1489daa8d5\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EIt's unknown exactly how long this deal will last as an expiration date wasn't given, but don't expect it to last for very long. Act fast and take advantage of the discounts while they last.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDeals are subject to sell out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We're sorry if you've missed out on a deal, but don't fret -- we constantly find new chances to save and share them with you on&nbsp;\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002F"\u003EZDNET.com\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"When will this deal expire?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"c77c0931-ad9d-419b-825c-ad0b0c5be94d\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWe aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor's deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members' expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals are chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhow-we-rate-deals-at-zdnet-in-2025\u002F"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow we rate deals at ZDNET in 2025\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How do we rate deals at ZDNET?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"9cf46855-fbde-486c-a507-8ff081f08d87\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F9cf46855-fbde-486c-a507-8ff081f08d87\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-03-29 18:39:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Amazon lowered the price on most M4 Mac Mini desktops. You can purchase the base model for as low as $529.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"6bee3bf0-9005-4d4b-beac-7d8ab24172e8",image:{id:"87516b50-e673-4918-a4c7-2625db61ed84",filename:"m4-mac-mini-promo-pic-spring-sale.png",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2025-03-24 18:57:18",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"m4-mac-mini",credits:"Apple\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F24\u002F87516b50-e673-4918-a4c7-2625db61ed84\u002Fm4-mac-mini-promo-pic-spring-sale.png",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1600,height:900,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"deals",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Services & Software^Operating Systems^Mac OS",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"the-m4-mac-mini-has-dropped-to-a-new-low-price-at-amazon-get-it-while-the-deal-lasts",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"The M4 Mac Mini has dropped to a new low price at Amazon - get it while the deal lasts",topic:{id:"d0aee31d-965e-4a8b-97f0-5c7c1b8bf7f1",slug:"mac-os",name:"Mac OS",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"d0aee31d-965e-4a8b-97f0-5c7c1b8bf7f1",slug:"mac-os",name:"Mac OS",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"0fbd54d0-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"apple",name:"Apple",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"b9f328b5-029b-40b1-8ec5-4aa095d33afe\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"PNY\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Two PNY CS900 internal SSDs on a purple background\" data-image-filename=\"pny-cs900-1.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F28\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmazon is offering a great deal on storage right now during their Big Spring Sale: When you buy a \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"95902619-be00-4e31-860a-1a3959fd41d0\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FPNY-CS900-Internal-Solid-State\u002Fdp\u002FB0CYZJQWQ7\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"1TB PNY CS900 internal SSD\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, you'll get a 500GB \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-ssd\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESSD\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for free.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"66d9f6f0-7c38-4838-abde-132f943ff088\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FPNY-CS900-Internal-Solid-State\u002Fdp\u002FB0CYZJQWQ7\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FPNY-CS900-Internal-Solid-State\u002Fdp\u002FB0CYZJQWQ7?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"PNY CS900\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E is an internal SATA III SSD, which means it needs to be permanently installed in your PC or laptop. But what you sacrifice in portability, you make up for in versatility. With read and write speeds of up to 550 and 515MB\u002Fs, respectively, you can quickly copy and transfer files between your main storage drive and external storage. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-tech-deals-3-28-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best Amazon Spring Sale 2025 tech deals live now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"710ffd8f-b930-4dfd-913a-0f9bd7bf289e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"PNY CS900 1TB + 500GB for $80 (save $30 at Amazon)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"A PNY CS900 SSD on a purple background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"PNY\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"1944b0f9-327c-49e2-9ac2-f3860b4501ea","filename":"pny-cs900-2.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F28\u002F1944b0f9-327c-49e2-9ac2-f3860b4501ea\u002Fpny-cs900-2.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-28 18:53:14","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"1944b0f9-327c-49e2-9ac2-f3860b4501ea","imageFilename":"pny-cs900-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F28"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"PNY\u002FZDNET\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FPNY-CS900-Internal-Solid-State\u002Fdp\u002FB0CYZJQWQ7?th=1\" data-offerprice=\"80\" data-offerpricerange=\"4\" data-offerpricetext=\"BOGO deal\" data-offermerchant=\"Amazon\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FPNY-CS900-Internal-Solid-State\u002Fdp\u002FB0CYZJQWQ7?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"f1d98274-ed50-466d-9049-bda281776e50","slug":"pny-cs900-1tb-500gb-2-5-sata-iii-internal-ssds-bundle","name":"PNY CS900 1TB & 500GB 2.5\\" SATA III Internal SSDs Bundle","productType":"SERIES","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1743187452578,"displayDate":"Fri Mar 28 2025 14:44:12 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis bundle deal from Amazon includes two CS900 drives: one with 1TB of space, and the other with 500GB. The smaller drive is the perfect size to designate as the dedicated boot drive, storing essentials like your PC's operating system and your most-used programs and files. The 1TB drive is perfect as a main storage drive, with plenty of space for photos and videos, games, and documents. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead more:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-m2-ssd\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best M.2 SSDs you can buy\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"62c821eb-dfdb-4593-a82d-bd91461d765d\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FPNY-CS900-Internal-Solid-State\u002Fdp\u002FB0CYZJQWQ7\" data-monetized-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FPNY-CS900-Internal-Solid-State\u002Fdp\u002FB0CYZJQWQ7?th=1&tag=zdnet-buy-button-20\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"PNY CS900\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E SSDs use flash memory rather than physical disks, you'll get faster booting and loading times for your laptop and most-used programs and files. Flash memory is also ideal for stable, long-term storage of important data since, unlike traditional hard-disk drives, there aren't any moving parts you need to worry about getting damaged or causing data loss and corruption.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EZDNET Recommends\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe CS900 is designed to be power efficient as well, giving you better data performance and storage capacity without putting extra strain on your laptop's battery -- which is good news for gamers who have to deal with already less-than-impressive laptop battery lives, depending on their configuration.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow I rated this deal:\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile these aren't the highest-capacity SSDs you can find, they're a great way to add extra storage to budget-grade office and gaming laptops as your needs change. You'll also get 1.5TB of storage for the price of 1TB, making this deal a great value for any DIY PC modder who likes to run dual boot and storage drives.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"3f1e70db-625b-4dda-bd59-485712352f28\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EThe Amazon Big Spring Sale started on March 25 and will run through March 31. While Amazon hasn't put a countdown timer or any other indication of a hard-and-fast end-date for this PNY CS900 SSD bundle deal, you won't want to wait around to take advantage of this discount. Amazon and PNY may only have a certain number of units available for this bundle or at this price. This means the sale may end when a certain number of SSDs are bought. And with 1.5TB of storage for the price of a single SSD, you might not see another bundle deal this good until Black Friday.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"When will this deal expire?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"03bb2e1e-e297-4f33-b7ae-deea7a880046\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWe aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor's deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members' expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhow-we-rate-deals-at-zdnet-in-2025\u002F"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow we rate deals at ZDNET in 2025\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How do we rate deals at ZDNET?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"9cf46855-fbde-486c-a507-8ff081f08d87\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F9cf46855-fbde-486c-a507-8ff081f08d87\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-03-28 18:54:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Need to upgrade your laptop's storage, or looking to set up a dual-drive gaming laptop? Right now at Amazon, when you buy a 1TB PNY CS900 internal SSD, you'll get a 500GB SSD for free.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"7666e294-65a9-4e55-8fc6-1bcc6ec8f20e",image:{id:"b9f328b5-029b-40b1-8ec5-4aa095d33afe",filename:"pny-cs900-1.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2025-03-28 18:52:35",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Two PNY CS900 internal SSDs on a purple background",credits:"PNY\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F28\u002Fb9f328b5-029b-40b1-8ec5-4aa095d33afe\u002Fpny-cs900-1.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1296,height:720,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"deals",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^Storage",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"Get a 1TB and 500GB PNY CS900 internal SSD for $80 at Amazon during the Big Spring Sale",section:c,slug:"pny-cs900-ssd-amazon-spring-sale-deal-03-28-2025",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Spring Sale BOGO deal: Get 2 PNY laptop SSDs for the price of 1 at Amazon",topic:{id:"11601750-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"storage",name:"Storage",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"11601750-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"storage",name:"Storage",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"9841d7c0-1be2-42d4-963b-3d0c080290bc",slug:"tech",name:"Tech",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f07e8684-3ad4-438d-a6b4-0665b9de2f60",slug:"gaming",name:"Gaming",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"d5c6c222-2213-45b8-8aab-1f30e02303da\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"HP\" data-image-alt-text=\"holiday-placeholder-image\" data-image-filename=\"hp-victus-15l-hero-image.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2023\u002F11\u002F28\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGaming desktops can get pretty expensive, but right now you can snag the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"657e53b1-8eab-41cc-bb62-6a45bb42b429\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hp.com\u002Fus-en\u002Fshop\u002Fpdp\u002Fvictus-by-hp-15l-gaming-desktop-tg02-0055t?jumpid=ma_weekly-deals_product-tile_gaming_29_b17nmaa_victus-by-hp-15l-gam\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"HP Victus 15L\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E direct from HP.com for 42% off with this anti-Amazon Spring Sale deal. And just because this PC is under $1,000 doesn't mean it skimps on quality components.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"41fafbce-55e7-4b31-91d0-32db48fb1865\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"HP Victus 15L for $590 (save $440 at HP.com)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"An HP Victus 15L gaming desktop tower on a blue background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"HP\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"01ac2107-daa9-436a-a506-a00e32e4da50","filename":"victus-15l.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F28\u002F01ac2107-daa9-436a-a506-a00e32e4da50\u002Fvictus-15l.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-28 16:39:04","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"01ac2107-daa9-436a-a506-a00e32e4da50","imageFilename":"victus-15l.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F28"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"HP\u002FZDNET\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hp.com\u002Fus-en\u002Fshop\u002Fpdp\u002Fvictus-by-hp-15l-gaming-desktop-tg02-0055t?jumpid=ma_weekly-deals_product-tile_gaming_29_b17nmaa_victus-by-hp-15l-gam\" data-offerprice=\"590\" data-offerpricerange=\"4\" data-offerpricetext=\"Save 42%\" data-offermerchant=\"Hp\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.jdoqocy.com\u002Fclick-9041660-15850793?url=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hp.com\u002Fus-en\u002Fshop\u002Fpdp\u002Fvictus-by-hp-15l-gaming-desktop-tg02-0055t?jumpid=ma_weekly-deals_product-tile_gaming_29_b17nmaa_victus-by-hp-15l-gam&sid=subid_value\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis configuration is built with a 12th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, Intel Arc A380 graphics card, and 512GB SSD making it a perfect choice for kids, teens, or adults looking to get started with PC gaming. It has a second M.2 SSD slot, allowing you to set up multiple storage drives to handle all of your files and programs as well as your gaming library. It also supports up to 32GB of RAM, which means you can upgrade the desktop memory yourself down the line as your needs change.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-gaming-deals-3-28-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best Amazon Spring Sale 2025 gaming deals you can buy now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EZDNET Recommends\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe HP Victus 15L includes a basic mouse and keyboard so you can get started playing your favorite games right out of the box. With both Wi-Fi and Ethernet options for internet connectivity, you can easily switch between the reliability of a wired connection and the convenience of Wi-Fi on the fly. The HP Victus 15L's compact design makes it perfect for smaller desks and gaming spaces.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow I rated this deal:\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe HP Victus 15L is already an incredible value when it comes to entry-level gaming desktops, and with a markdown of over 40%, you can save even more while still getting great features like quality components, 5.1CH surround sound support, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth connectivity.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"21b5aa33-65ed-4729-9d93-cd205a8ade86\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWhile HP hasn't marked this deal on the HP Victus 15L as a limited time offering, stock may not last at this ultra-low price. And HP allows customers to reconfigure build options, which may affect the final price and overall savings if you stray from the base model.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"When will this deal expire?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"7a505694-5f50-40fe-8e64-7698bc1e08fd\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWe aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor's deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members' expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhow-we-rate-deals-at-zdnet-in-2025\u002F"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow we rate deals at ZDNET in 2025\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How do we rate deals at ZDNET?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"9cf46855-fbde-486c-a507-8ff081f08d87\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F9cf46855-fbde-486c-a507-8ff081f08d87\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-03-28 16:40:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"Right now at HP, you can pick up the Victus 15L gaming desktop with a 12th gen Intel Core i5 CPU and Intel Arc A380 GPU for just $590 -- that's 42% off.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"05ce623f-e2bd-4ee0-b0ad-017f6f16ec28",image:{id:"0fd961ce-1293-407d-b237-132706f6fc2b",filename:"hp-victus-15l.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2025-03-28 16:38:31",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Two HP Victus 15L gaming desktops on a blue background",credits:"HP\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F28\u002F0fd961ce-1293-407d-b237-132706f6fc2b\u002Fhp-victus-15l.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1296,height:720,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"deals",hubTopicPathString:"Home & Office^Home Entertainment^Gaming^Gaming Devices",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:"Save $440 on the Victus 15L gaming desktop when you buy from HP",section:c,slug:"hp-victus-15l-amazon-spring-sale-deal-03-28-2025",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"I found one of the best gaming desktop deals - and it's not on Amazon",topic:{id:"eaece766-f666-4dd7-a912-a57ae1cbb714",slug:"gaming-devices",name:"Gaming Devices",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"eaece766-f666-4dd7-a912-a57ae1cbb714",slug:"gaming-devices",name:"Gaming Devices",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"9841d7c0-1be2-42d4-963b-3d0c080290bc",slug:"tech",name:"Tech",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"9e387438-bfb1-47c2-a8a5-71be354f69de",slug:"home-entertainment",name:"Home Entertainment",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"a1897105-61bd-4610-abb3-4804906d4a9a",slug:"home-and-office",name:"Home & Office",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"9008d1c7-a995-42c4-a444-ab4c8771d0c9\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"<p><\u002Fp>\" data-image-credit=\"Acer\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Two Acer Nitro V gaming laptops on a green background\" data-image-filename=\"acer-nitro-v-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F28\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EThe \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"1d7c9559-fd4c-44b8-8c48-9f0ceb39f8ec\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Facer-nitro-v-anv15-41-r2y3-gaming-laptop-15-6-full-hd-144hz-amd-ryzen-5-7535hs-geforce-rtx-4050-16gb-ddr5-512gb-ssd-obsidian-black\u002F6576633.p?skuId=6576633\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Acer Nitro V\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E 15-inch \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-gaming-laptop\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Egaming laptop\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is a great entry-level model for kids and teens with a great balance between power, performance, and a budget-friendly price. And right now at Best Buy, you can grab one for just $600, saving $350 on a quality gaming laptop.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-tech-deals-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best Amazon Spring Sale deals live now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"465f2b22-b132-4942-b108-389a2be03317\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Acer Nitro V 15-inch\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"An Acer Nitro V gaming laptop on a green background","caption":"<p><\u002Fp>","credits":"Acer\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"813c4a02-67ff-4859-ab4c-57455fa79213","filename":"acer-nitro-v-1.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F28\u002F813c4a02-67ff-4859-ab4c-57455fa79213\u002Facer-nitro-v-1.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-28 00:32:32","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"813c4a02-67ff-4859-ab4c-57455fa79213","imageFilename":"acer-nitro-v-1.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F28"}\" data-overridecaption=\"<p><\u002Fp>\" data-overridecredit=\"Acer\u002FZDNET\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Facer-nitro-v-anv15-41-r2y3-gaming-laptop-15-6-full-hd-144hz-amd-ryzen-5-7535hs-geforce-rtx-4050-16gb-ddr5-512gb-ssd-obsidian-black\u002F6576633.p?skuId=6576633\" data-offerprice=\"600\" data-offerpricerange=\"4\" data-offerpricetext=\"Save almost 40%\" data-offermerchant=\"Best Buy\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Facer-nitro-v-anv15-41-r2y3-gaming-laptop-15-6-full-hd-144hz-amd-ryzen-5-7535hs-geforce-rtx-4050-16gb-ddr5-512gb-ssd-obsidian-black\u002F6576633.p?skuId=6576633&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"e7182f44-f24f-45b5-9aaa-5b82422d8038","slug":"acer-nitro-v-anv15-41-r2y3-gaming-laptop-15-6-full-hd-144hz-amd-ryzen-5-7535hs-geforce-rtx-4050-16gb-ddr5-512gb-ssd-obsidian","name":"\\"Acer - Nitro V ANV15-41-R2Y3 Gaming Laptop– 15.6\\"\\" Full HD 144Hz – AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS – GeForce RTX 4050 - 16GB DDR5 – 512GB SSD - Obsidian Black\\"","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1743120962057,"displayDate":"Fri Mar 28 2025 00:16:02 GMT+0000 (Greenwich Mean Time)"}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's built with an AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS processor, 16GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card, and a 512GB SSD for all the power and performance you need to tackle your favorite triple-A and indie game titles. The integrated speakers support DTS X: Ultra audio for more immersive sound without a headset. The speakers also use Acer's Purified Voice noise reduction technology for clearer dialogue and audio cues.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-gaming-deals-3-27-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best Amazon Spring Sale 2025 gaming deals you can buy now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 15.6-inch IPS display has up to a 144Hz refresh rate for smoother motion, even during fast-paced action scenes, and 1080p resolution for clean details and bright colors. Wi-Fi 6 support gives you faster, more reliable wireless internet connectivity for online matches, and you can create a fully wireless setup with Bluetooth connectivity for your headsets, mice, and keyboards. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EZDNET Recommends\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow I rated this deal \u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Acer Nitro V is already excellent value for an entry-level gaming laptop, and with a nearly 40% markdown, you'll get even more bang for your buck. For half the price of its competitors, you'll get an RTX 4050 graphics card, a great AMD Ryzen processor, and a decent amount of internal storage to jumpstart your game library.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"55fac60d-1f41-4922-a76a-eb6bc83929db\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"<p>The Amazon Big Spring Sale started on March 25 and will run through March 31, giving you six days of deals. However, individual deals are subject to frequent change. This means that while the listing doesn't have an official countdown timer, it may end suddenly, or there may be limited stock available at this price.<\u002Fp>\" data-hed=\"When will this deal expire?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"c3194be9-a07c-4878-8913-a4303507a29a\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"<p>We aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech.&nbsp;<\u002Fp><p>In 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor's deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.<\u002Fp><p>At the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members' expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.&nbsp;<\u002Fp><p><strong>Also: <\u002Fstrong><a href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhow-we-rate-deals-at-zdnet-in-2025\u002F"><strong>How we rate deals at ZDNET in 2025<\u002Fstrong><\u002Fa><\u002Fp>\" data-hed=\"How do we rate deals at ZDNET?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"9cf46855-fbde-486c-a507-8ff081f08d87\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F9cf46855-fbde-486c-a507-8ff081f08d87\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-03-28 08:56:56",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"If the gaming laptop deals during the Amazon Big Spring Sale aren't to your liking, you can save $350 on the 15-inch Acer Nitro V right now at Best Buy.",filterKey:b,filterLabel:b,genreGroups:b,icon:c,nodeId:c,subCategory:b,id:"ec3080af-4b3e-4a93-b693-80bc44b2b504",image:{id:"9008d1c7-a995-42c4-a444-ab4c8771d0c9",filename:"acer-nitro-v-2.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2025-03-28 00:32:07",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:"Two Acer Nitro V gaming laptops on a green background",credits:"Acer\u002FZDNET",caption:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F28\u002F9008d1c7-a995-42c4-a444-ab4c8771d0c9\u002Facer-nitro-v-2.jpg",cropGravity:p,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:1296,height:720,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},label:c,metaData:{typeTitle:"deals",hubTopicPathString:"Tech^Computing^Laptops",relatedItems:[]},name:c,promoTitle:c,section:c,slug:"grab-the-acer-nitro-v-for-just-600-at-best-buy",startYear:b,summary:c,title:"Grab the Acer Nitro V for just $600 at Best Buy",topic:{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},topics:[{id:"10a72f10-ec91-11e3-95d2-02911863765e",slug:"laptops",name:"Laptops",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:a,topicPath:[]},{id:i,slug:"pcs",name:"PCs",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]},{id:"f07e8684-3ad4-438d-a6b4-0665b9de2f60",slug:"gaming",name:"Gaming",typeName:"content_topic",uuid:c,primary:d,topicPath:[]}],hubTopicPathString:b,type:"content_article",typeName:c,url:c,isSponsored:d},{author:{id:"e7582209-1d56-45da-8e5c-6d042b18e212",username:"tclemons1",profileUrl:b,email:b,firstName:"Taylor",lastName:"Clemons",jobTitle:b,dateCreated:{created:b,date:b,timezone:b,updated:b,published:b},image:{id:"c646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03",filename:"taylor-clemons.jpg",dateCreated:{created:b,date:"2022-08-05 15:37:46",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},alt:b,credits:b,caption:b,path:"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2022\u002F08\u002F05\u002Fc646bb0f-81fb-4b32-97e3-e73a4d0d1f03\u002Ftaylor-clemons.jpg",cropGravity:b,crop:b,typeName:"content_image",imageUrl:b,width:b,height:b,bucketPath:b,bucketType:b,title:b},socialProfileIds:b,authorBio:"Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes.",profile:b,title:"Staff Writer",bio:c,bureau:"US",awards:c,expertise:c,authorDisclosure:b},body:"\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"image\" data-uuid=\"99828454-dd11-418b-8e70-50c5b3ad8fd5\" data-size=\"original\" data-float=\"none\" data-image-caption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-image-credit=\"Samsung\u002FZDNET\" data-image-alt-text=\"Two Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 gaming monitors an a blue background\" data-image-filename=\"samsung-odyssey-neo-g8-2.jpg\" data-image-date-created=\"2025\u002F03\u002F26\" data-image-width=\"1296\" data-image-height=\"720\" data-image-do-not-crop=\"false\" data-image-do-not-resize=\"false\" data-image-watermark=\"false\" data-lightbox=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI edit a lot of photos for work; whether it's hands-on photos for reviews or composite images for best lists, I need a monitor that not only has plenty of screen space for me to comfortably work in but also has the best color accuracy and resolution that my budget allows. The \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"89c9e31d-ba0d-4eb1-a2b1-9abcefa5b418\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fsamsung-odyssey-neo-g8-32-curved-4k-uhd-freesync-premium-pro-g-sync-compatible-240hz-1ms-gaming-monitor-black\u002F6507933.p?skuId=6507933\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Samsung Odyssey Neo G8\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E is on the pricey side, but absolutely worth the investment if your day job involves any sort of creative work or graphic design. And right now at Best Buy, you can save $550.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Farticle\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-tech-deals-3-26-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best Amazon Spring Sale 2025 deals live now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"commercepromo\" data-id=\"710ffd8f-b930-4dfd-913a-0f9bd7bf289e\" data-edition=\"us\" data-hed=\"Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 32-inch monitor for $750 (save $550 at Best Buy)\" data-imagegroup=\"{"alt":"A Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 gaming monitor on a blue background","caption":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","credits":"Samsung\u002FZDNET","imageData":{"id":"86657207-f427-4c1d-b4c2-21349482b422","filename":"samsung-odyssey-neo-g8-1.jpg","path":"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fa\u002Fimg\u002F2025\u002F03\u002F26\u002F86657207-f427-4c1d-b4c2-21349482b422\u002Fsamsung-odyssey-neo-g8-1.jpg","dateCreated":{"date":"2025-03-26 17:51:10","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"uuid":"86657207-f427-4c1d-b4c2-21349482b422","imageFilename":"samsung-odyssey-neo-g8-1.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2025\u002F03\u002F26"}\" data-overridecaption=\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-overridecredit=\"Samsung\u002FZDNET\" data-offerurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fsamsung-odyssey-neo-g8-32-curved-4k-uhd-freesync-premium-pro-g-sync-compatible-240hz-1ms-gaming-monitor-black\u002F6507933.p?skuId=6507933\" data-offerprice=\"750\" data-offerpricerange=\"5\" data-offerpricetext=\"Save almost 50%\" data-offermerchant=\"Best Buy\" data-monetizedurl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fshop-links.co\u002Flink\u002F?url=https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fsamsung-odyssey-neo-g8-32-curved-4k-uhd-freesync-premium-pro-g-sync-compatible-240hz-1ms-gaming-monitor-black\u002F6507933.p?skuId=6507933&publisher_slug=zdnet&article_name=__ARTICLE_NAME__&article_url=__ARTICLE_URL__&exclusive=1&u1=subid_value\" data-techobjectinfo=\"{"uuid":"371f607c-2e4e-43f9-8c5c-b48f4f282d10","slug":"samsung-32-odyssey-neo-g8-curved-4k-uhd-freesync-premium-pro-g-sync-compatible-240hz-1ms-gaming-monitor-black","name":"\\"Samsung - 32\\"\\" Odyssey Neo G8 Curved 4K UHD FreeSync Premium Pro & G-Sync Compatible 240Hz 1ms Gaming Monitor - Black\\"","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1743010812028,"displayDate":"Wed Mar 26 2025 13:40:12 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}\" data-usemonetization=\"true\" data-usepricing=\"false\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 32-inch panel of the Neo G8 is curved to help prevent glare from overhead lighting as well as better color accuracy at different viewing angles. This is crucial when doing color corrections in photos and video files or choosing a palette for graphic design or digital artwork. It's capable of 4K resolution as long as your graphics card also supports UHD output, and it has a 240Hz refresh rate which is perfect for video editing and reviewing projects before rendering and exporting finalized files. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead more: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhome-entertainment\u002Fbest-amazon-spring-sale-gaming-deals-3-26-2025\u002F\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe best Amazon Spring Sale 2025 gaming deals you can shop now\u003C\u002Fa\u003E \u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's also a top-notch gaming monitor with support for both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro variable refresh rate technology to help your monitor and graphics card match their output to prevent annoying screen tearing and stuttering that can grind even the best gaming experiences to a halt and ruin online matches. The 1ms response time gives you near-instant reactions to your keystrokes and mouse button inputs, which is crucial for online multiplayer games and competitive tournaments. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"newsletter\" data-id=\"4930834\" data-copy=\"ZDNET Recommends\" data-image=\"{"id":null,"alt":null}\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fnewsletters\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EZDNET Recommends\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the more interesting features of the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"e6546911-44df-4814-9e94-351839f70206\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fsamsung-odyssey-neo-g8-32-curved-4k-uhd-freesync-premium-pro-g-sync-compatible-240hz-1ms-gaming-monitor-black\u002F6507933.p?skuId=6507933\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Odyssey Neo G8\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E is its ability to automatically detect which inputs are sending a video signal and switch between them. This means you can have it connected to both a gaming PC and console like the \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"4587be40-fab2-46cd-adcc-4341033a2f6d\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bestbuy.com\u002Fsite\u002Fsony-playstation-5-slim-console-white\u002F6566039.p?skuId=6566039\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"PS5\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"efeaa5cf-9722-4676-9957-f020bb0dc89a\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FNintendo-Switch-Neon-Blue-Joy%E2%80%91\u002Fdp\u002FB07VGRJDFY\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Nintendo Switch\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E, or \u003Cspan data-shortcode=\"commercelinkshortcode\" data-id=\"19bc6bfb-55ef-4f4d-8979-5e837edda24b\" data-raw-url=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amazon.com\u002FMicrosoft-Xbox-Gaming-Console-video-game\u002Fdp\u002FB08H75RTZ8\" data-link-shortcode-text=\"Xbox Series X|S\" data-use-monetization=\"true\" data-edition=\"us\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fspan\u003E or a dedicated workstation and separate gaming PC and quickly switch between them as needed.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow I rated this deal:\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith a discount of almost 50% off, this is an excellent deal on a great gaming monitor. The Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 is a great value with 4K resolution, AMD Freesync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync VRR support, a 240hz refresh rate, and 1ms response time.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"3f1e70db-625b-4dda-bd59-485712352f28\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EBest Buy hasn't indicated any definitive end-dates for the $500 discount on the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 32-inch curved gaming monitor, but you won't want to wait around to take advantage of the sale. Samsung or Best Buy may only have a certain number of monitors available at this price, which means the discount may end when they have sold a certain amount. And if you prefer brick-and-mortar shopping, physical stores have very limited stock, and may sell out quickly.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"When will this deal expire?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"cnetlisticle\" data-id=\"d823d612-e104-4564-ba7a-cbbc9f3b62fa\" data-edition=\"us\" data-description=\"\u003Cp\u003EWe aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor's deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members' expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso:&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Ca href="https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zdnet.com\u002Fhome-and-office\u002Fhow-we-rate-deals-at-zdnet-in-2025\u002F"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow we rate deals at ZDNET in 2025\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\" data-hed=\"How do we rate deals at ZDNET?\" data-imagegroup=\"{}\" data-merchantoffers=\"[]\" data-usepricing=\"true\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv data-shortcode=\"pinbox\" data-uuid=\"3aa16d16-8ccd-4f94-b2cc-91f3af21b2ff\" data-uri=\"\u002Fapi\u002Fcomponent\u002Feditorial\u002F3aa16d16-8ccd-4f94-b2cc-91f3af21b2ff\" data-float=\"none\"\u003E\u003C\u002Fdiv\u003E",gallery:b,category:b,children:b,contentType:c,contentUrl:c,coreImages:b,date:b,datePublished:{created:b,date:"2025-03-26 17:51:00",timezone:"UTC",updated:b,published:b},description:"The Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 is a 32-inch curved monitor perfect for everything between gaming, video production, photo editing, and streaming. 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