Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. Features

Reader poll: Ready to try your hand at cryptocurrency mining?

By
Add as a preferred source on Google

As the price for Bitcoin rises and falls dramatically, more users are wondering how they can get in on the action — and for good reason. Earning a few Bitcoin, or Ethereum, or any of the other cryptocurrency, could mean thousands of dollars in profit, and your home gaming machine may be able to churn them out using some simple software. Have you tried to mine bitcoin? Are you thinking about setting up a mining rig? Are you already swimming in a Scrooge McDuck-style room full of them? Let us know in this week’s reader poll.

How interested are you in #cryptocurrency? We'll be discussing results on the Close to the Metal podcast tomorrow. https://t.co/tmZvPewZcx

— Digital Trends (@DigitalTrends) July 10, 2017

Mining cryptocurrency is surprisingly easy, assuming you have the proper hardware. Our handy guide to mining will walk you through all the steps necessary to start making money, if you’re so inclined. Just make sure to take into account the increase in your power bill that comes along with it.

Recommended Videos

You should know, however, that cryptocurrency is a volatile market, and not just in the sense that the value can change overnight. Without much regulation, sites that act as wallets may be shut down by hackers or those interested in taking the coins for themselves, or the site’s proprietors may shut it down and disappear in the night with your hard-earned cash. There are ways around this, and they involve keeping codes locally stored, or even using a physical coin wallet that keeps your money safely stored away from the prying eyes of the Internet.

It isn’t just Bitcoin that’s causing quite a stir over the last few weeks. Another cryptocurrency, Ethereum, has begun to take hold thanks to some innovative new practices and support from the tech community. It’s just one of many cryptocurrency options out there, and like any of them, hype and user interest will drive its success.

Join us at 10:00 AM PST on Tuesday, July 11th as we discuss the implications of the newfound vigor for cryptocurrency, as the Bitcoin price skyrockets into thousands of dollars each. We’ll also talk hardware pricing, and try to explain the sharp rise in price on mid-range cards like the RX 480 and RX 580 on the secondary market.

Brad Bourque
Brad Bourque
Former Staff Writer
Brad Bourque is a native Portlander, devout nerd, and craft beer enthusiast. He studied creative writing at Willamette…
Topics
A Google Pixel laptop might be on its way, but does anyone actually want one?
A new Google laptop might be coming, and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the odds are not in its favor.
Google Pixelbook in silver.

It looks like a new member is joining the Pixel family, adding to its resurgent smartphone lineup. Code analysis of the latest Android beta points toward a new Pixel laptop that Google might be planning to launch in the near future. Google last launched a laptop, the Pixelbook Go, in 2019, an affordable version of the Pixelbook it put on the shelves back in 2017.

Both the Pixelbook and Pixelbook Go, along with the earlier Chromebook Pixel models, were not what you would call a smash hit with the audience or a runaway commercial success. Ultimately, they triggered Big G's departure from the laptop segment and a shift in focus toward Pixel smartphones.

Read more
AI is entering the Skynet debate moment in the social media hype circles
AI might end the world - but first, it’ll trend on social media
Representative Image

A growing wave of online voices warning about the dangers of artificial intelligence—often dubbed “AI doom influencers” - is reshaping how the public and policymakers view the technology. According to a report by The Washington Post, these influencers, including researchers, tech leaders, and content creators, are increasingly highlighting worst-case scenarios, from mass job loss to existential risks posed by advanced AI systems.

While critics argue that some of this messaging borders on alarmism, the conversation is no longer confined to speculation. Real-world developments in AI are beginning to mirror some of the concerns being raised, blurring the line between hype and legitimate risk.

Read more
You won’t believe it, but Motorola actually makes a terrific head-turner of a laptop
Motorola’s Moto Book 60 Pro is surprisingly stylish, and the pricing makes it even better
Moto Book 60 Pro in PANTONE Bronze Green

Motorola is not the name I expect to see on a genuinely good laptop. A stylish phone? Sure. A foldable with some personality? Absolutely. But a thin-and-light notebook that actually feels well judged on both design and value was a genuine surprise. And yet, the Moto Book 60 Pro is one of the more quietly impressive laptops in its segment.

With the broader laptop market being in a mess, Motorola's laptops feel refreshing. It is capable, attractive, and still approachable at a time when pricing elsewhere has become increasingly rough.

Read more