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best products of year computing 2015 dell xps

Best Products of 2015: Computing

Windows notebooks have always struggled to attract high prices, surrendering to Apple in the luxury market. Dell’s XPS 13 steals the MacBook’s crown, and sets a new standard for notebook design.
Computing Best Ofs
close to the metal podcast 2 chipchatend

Close to the Metal Ep. 2: Is the RX 480 too powerful for its own good, and what size monitor is best?

The RX 480's fantastic reviews are followed by power draw problems, a VR porn festival in Japan is shut down by overcrowding, and Acer's Predator Z35 gaming monitor proves why bigger isn't always better.
Podcasts Computing
Best Desktop Computer Falcon Northwest Mach V

Close to the Metal Ep. 3: Is Falcon’s $8,700 Mach V desktop a justifiable expense?

The Falcon Northwest Mach V is one of the most expensive PCs. Is its high price tag worthwhile? What's real difference between it and a mid-range rig?
Podcasts Computing
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Close to the Metal Episode 4: Who makes the best video card?

Most PC gamers need a discrete graphics card, and options from AMD and Nvidia have dominated the market for almost two decades. Which has the edge in 2016?
Podcasts Computing
close to the metal back school pc ctm full

Close to the Metal Episode 5: Windows 10’s free upgrade is almost gone – should you upgrade?

Windows 10's free upgrade is about to go extinct, and many users are stressing over whether switching to the new OS is worthwhile. We have the answer.
Podcasts Computing
close to the metal back school pc ctm full

Close to the Metal Ep. 6: Is the Xbox One S the console for PC gamers?

Microsoft has released its revised Xbox One S. Smaller than the original, and now with 4K support, it's a decent piece of hardware. But Xbox isn't just targeting console players with this release -- its audience is broader than that.
Podcasts
No Man's Sky

‘No Man’s Sky’ has sprung a ton of leaks — here’s where to watch them

Despite Hello Games' best efforts, retailer leaks have put numerous copies of No Man's Sky into gamer's hands. Now, they're streaming all they can.
Gaming News
Windows 10 home screen

Windows 10 review

Windows 10 scores a major victory for desktop users with a hoard of handy new features, but Microsoft still has work to do on the touchscreen experience.
Computing Reviews
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Today is the last day to grab Windows 10 for free — do it before it's too late

Microsoft's free upgrade to Windows 10 expires after today, which means you'll have to pay if you want the latest operating system.
Computing News
chip chat podcast amd radeon rx 480 chipchatend

Close to the Metal Ep.1: Does the Radeon RX 480 leave Nvidia eating AMD’s dust?

AMD's new Radeon RX 480 is the best thing to happen to budget gaming in years, but is it enough to pull the company out of its recent downward spiral?
Podcasts Computing
Windows 10

The latest Windows 10 Insider builds are all about bashing bugs

Microsoft has released Windows 10 Insider build 14366 for desktop and 14364 for mobile. Both of them focus on stability, and even offer bug-bashing quests.
Computing News
microsoft e3 2018 changes 2016 xbox project scorpio

The Xbox and PC are closer than ever, but still not close enough

Microsoft focused its big E3 2016 announcements on crossplay with Windows 10 PC, promising 10 titles that can be enjoyed on either an Xbox or a computer.
Computing News
windows 10 free update promotion file removal dark

New Windows 10 build available, adding LastPass support and Windows Ink improvements

Microsoft has released build 14361 to Windows 10 Insider. It makes Edge officially compatible with the LastPass extension.
Computing News
asus avalon modular pc hands on asusavalon

Asus’ Avalon brings the modular PC dream closer to reality

The modular PC concept has appeared time and time again, but the companies that conceive of it never pull it off. Asus' Avalon is a different story.
Computing News
Mechanical keyboards computex

The mechanical keyboards at Computex prove Steve Jobs was wrong about the PC

The halls of Computex are filled to the brim with keyboards, even while some repeat predictions of the PC's doom. Is the keyboard's popularity a fluke? Or does it reveal something deeper about computers?
Computing News
amd computex 2016 opinion radeon rx 480

AMD is fighting for middle-class gamers, but it needs world-class hardware

AMD focused on value at this year's Computex by announcing a mid-range, Polaris-based video card that almost any gamer can afford. But the company lacks the performance wins it sorely needs.
Computing News
AMD 7th Generation

AMD debuts full 7th-gen APU line at Computex, claims CPU boost of up to 56 percent

After months of teases, AMD has revealed its full 7th-generation APU line. The company claims a performance boost of up to 56 percent.
Computing News
plextor m8pe ssd computex plextorssd 1

Plextor’s newest solid state drive puts gamers in its crosshairs

Plextor's newest solid state drive hopes a combination of cutting-edge technology and racy styling will catch the attention of hardcore gamers worldwide.
Computing News
asus transformer pro 3 hands on transformer3pro 5

Hands on: Asus Transformer Pro 3

The latest 2-in-1 device from Asus owes a lot to Microsoft's Surface Pro, but it hopes to beat Redmond's engineers at their own game with a bigger screen and lower price tag.
Tablets Computing
Asus Zenbook 3

Nobody wants Intel’s Core M processor, and Computex proves it

Core M was built to enable a new generation of 2-in-1 devices thinner, lighter, and quicker than any before. But companies like Asus and HP have turned away from it.
Computing Features
Asus Zenbook 3

Hands on: Asus Zenbook 3

Asus has built a MacBook challenger -- the Zenbook 3. It's similar in size to Apple's notebook, yet has a faster CPU, and bigger screen, at a lower price.
Computing Reviews
what to expect at computex 2016 feature02

Get a peek inside your next PC with our preview of Computex 2016

Computex, help in Taipei, begins on June 1. It will hold a lot of news for PC enthusiasts, including potential new hardware from both AMD and Intel. There may even be a few surprises.
Computing News

Razer Blade Review

The Blade 14-inch is a unique combination of Ultrabook and gaming laptop – two breeds that so far have proven difficult to fuse. Has Razer found a secret formula, or does this system fall short of larger competitors?
Computing Reviews
Smartphone-Future-0001 how to reduce your data usage

The smartphone’s scattershot future looks a lot like the PC’s past

Smartphones aren’t novel anymore. Now that everyone has one, the rapid advancements that marked the dawn of the smartphone age will give way to an age of different shapes, sizes, and speeds.
Phones Mobile
Windows 10

Microsoft’s latest Windows Insider build is basically the Windows 10 Anniversary update

Microsoft's latest Preview build, 14328, is essentially the Windows 10 Anniversary update in beta form. It has Windows Ink, Cortana improvements, and more.
Computing News
Acer Predator 17 X

Chromebook for Work, liquid-cooled 2-in-1 steal the show at Acer’s New York PC refresh

Acer went all-in on the PC, refreshing its line-up. The new hardware includes the first Chromebook for Work and a fanless 2-in-1 with liquid cooling.
Computing News
hp z1 g3 launch hpfeatured

Want to add a powerful PC to your cluttered desk? HP's Z1 G3 all-in-one will fit

HP has shrunk its all-in-one workstation, reducing the display size from 27 to 24 inches, but the PC has retained its user serviceability.
Computing News
HoloLens Opinion

While VR submerges you in other worlds, HoloLens just lets you peek

Microsoft’s latest HoloLens demo, made available at BUILD 2016, is ambitious in scale and disarming in its honesty. But it also highlights the headset’s limitations in ways that weren’t obvious before.
Computing News
microsofts bot framework is more revolutionary than you think microsoft bots 0006

Microsoft’s vision of the future is Skynet for ordering pizza

Microsoft isn’t a big name in AI, but Redmond’s top management wants to change that. The company envisions a world full of bots, and the consequences of that vision could change the world.
Computing News
microsoft is trying to build skynet not windows shifting its focus again

Is Microsoft shifting its focus again, or losing it?

Microsoft’s Build 2016 wasn’t the most exciting two and a half hours, and light on Windows features or products, but it gave the company a chance to outline its new AI platforms that developers can easily harness for their own software.
Computing News
how to speed up your mac

Neglected again, Apple’s dusty MacBooks are outdated, underpowered and overpriced

Apple's latest event was a snoozer, but Mac fans should pay close attention. The company's continued silence on updates for the MacBook Air and Pro says plenty about its attitude towards old-school computing.
Computing News
Dell XPS 13 Gold 2016

Dell’s gold XPS 13 proves Windows laptops can be fashion accessories, too

Dell's recently announced gold XPS 13 just arrived in our office, and it's easily the most attractive Windows PC we've used.
Computing
name os x 10 11 apple tv giveaway osx feature

Guess the name of OS X 10.11 for a chance to win an Apple TV!

No one knows the name of OS X 10.11, the next Mac operating system. Correctly read the mind of Cupertino's brand managers, and win an Apple TV.
Computing News
microsoft xbox one unify with pc remote

Microsoft’s plan to unify the Xbox and PC is doomed

Microsoft wants to unify the Xbox and PC platforms, but it's more difficult than flipping a switch -- and the company may not be up to the challenge.
Computing News
Asus Zenbook UX305CA

The laptop I’m bringing to Las Vegas for CES might surprise you

Choosing the right laptop for CES is as important as picking comfortable shoes, and there were plenty of options. An unexpected system made the final cut.
Computing News
encryption explainer protects your most private data

Even the FBI can’t defeat good encryption – here’s why it works

What is encryption, and how does it protect you? Understanding it takes some effort, but reveals a lot about modern digital security.
Phones Apple
Audi Virtual Reality Experience

AMD and AP partner up to produce cutting-edge VR content

AMD and the Associated Press have announced a virtual reality collaboration that the duo hopes will take journalism boldly into this experimental format.
Computing News
amd expands wraiths chilly influence over fx lineup amdwraithcooler

AMD's new processors won't blow your mind, but its quiet CPU coolers will bring you peace

AMD has added three new processors: the A10-7860K, A6-7470K, and Athlon X4 845. It has also announced minor updates to its motherboards, and new coolers.
Computing News
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