In the ever-evolving landscape of operating systems, the choice between Windows and Linux has become a topic of significant interest for many users. As technology advances, so do user needs and preferences, leading some to explore alternatives that may offer a more tailored experience. Avram Piltch, who embarked on a ten-day journey to immerse himself in the Linux environment, delves into the exploration of Linux as a viable alternative to Windows.

The Frustrations with Windows

Avram has a growing annoyance with Windows. As users become more accustomed to the conveniences of modern technology, they often find themselves frustrated by intrusive prompts and advertisements for services they do not wish to engage with, such as subscription models for Xbox Game Pass or other Microsoft services. This sentiment resonates with many users who feel that their operating system is becoming increasingly cluttered with commercial distractions, detracting from the overall user experience.

Avram's dissatisfaction with Windows serves as a catalyst for his exploration of Linux. The desire for an alternative that prioritizes user autonomy over commercial interests is a significant motivator for many who consider switching to Linux. Unlike Windows, which is often criticized for its heavy integration of advertising and subscription services, Linux distributions are generally open-source and community-driven, allowing users to tailor their experience to their specific needs without the burden of unnecessary commercial pressures.

The Linux Experience

In his quest for an alternative, Avram chose to install Ubuntu, one of the most popular Linux distributions, specifically the latest version known as "Plucky Puffin" (Ubuntu 22.04). This choice is significant, as Ubuntu is known for its user-friendly interface and extensive community support, making it an ideal starting point for those new to Linux.

His decision to use Linux as his everyday operating system for both work and personal tasks highlights the versatility and capability of modern Linux distributions. Historically, Linux has been perceived as a platform primarily for developers and tech enthusiasts. However, advancements in usability, software availability, and hardware compatibility have transformed it into a viable option for everyday users.

During his ten-day exploration, Avram encountered various aspects of the Linux experience, including its robust security features, customization options, and the absence of bloatware that often plagues Windows installations. Linux's open-source nature allows users to modify and optimize their systems according to their preferences, fostering a sense of ownership and control that many find appealing.

Overcoming Challenges

While the switch to Linux can be liberating, it is not without its challenges. Users accustomed to Windows may initially struggle with differences in user interface and software availability. Many popular applications, particularly those in the realm of gaming and specialized professional software, may not have direct counterparts on Linux. However, the growing ecosystem of Linux-compatible applications and the availability of alternatives or workarounds, such as Wine or virtualization software, have made it increasingly feasible for users to transition without sacrificing functionality.

Moreover, the Linux community is renowned for its support and resources. Forums, documentation, and tutorials abound, providing users with the assistance they need to navigate their new environment. This communal aspect of Linux not only fosters a sense of belonging but also encourages continuous learning and exploration.

Conclusion

Avram's exploration of Linux as a Windows alternative encapsulates a broader trend among users seeking more control over their computing experience. As frustrations with Windows mount, many are turning to Linux for its open-source nature, customization capabilities, and the promise of a distraction-free environment. While challenges remain, the ongoing development of user-friendly distributions like Ubuntu demonstrates that Linux is not just a niche operating system but a legitimate contender for everyday use. For those willing to embark on the journey, Linux offers a refreshing alternative that prioritizes user empowerment and autonomy in a world increasingly dominated by commercial interests.

In the digital age, efficiency and speed are paramount, especially for those who rely heavily on computers for work and leisure. Keyboard shortcuts have emerged as essential tools for enhancing productivity, allowing users to execute commands with a mere flick of their fingers. However, as beneficial as these shortcuts can be, they can also lead to unintended consequences, particularly when users accidentally trigger them. Avram Piltch sheds light on the potential pitfalls of accidental Windows keyboard shortcuts, emphasizing the importance of awareness and understanding of these features.

One of the most notorious accidental keyboard shortcuts is the combination of Windows + Control + Enter, which activates the Narrator feature. While this accessibility tool is designed to assist users with visual impairments by reading aloud the text displayed on the screen, it can be quite disconcerting for those who do not intend to use it. Imagine being in a quiet office or a shared living space, only to have your computer suddenly announce every word on your screen. This scenario underscores the need for users to familiarize themselves with the shortcuts they might inadvertently activate and to know how to disable them quickly. Fortunately, users can prevent this from happening by navigating to the Accessibility settings and turning off the keyboard shortcut for Narrator.

Another shortcut that can lead to confusion is the activation of Sticky Keys by pressing the Shift key five times. Sticky Keys is a feature designed to assist individuals with mobility challenges, allowing them to press one key at a time instead of requiring simultaneous key presses. However, for the average user, this feature can result in unintended commands that disrupt workflow. For instance, if a user inadvertently activates Sticky Keys while typing, they might accidentally cut text by pressing Control and then X, leading to frustration and confusion. Like the Narrator feature, users can disable the Sticky Keys shortcut through the Accessibility settings, thereby reducing the risk of accidental activation.

Web browsers also present their own set of accidental shortcuts that can bewilder users. For example, pressing Control + Shift + I or F12 in a browser window opens the developer console, displaying a plethora of code that can be intimidating for those unfamiliar with programming. While developers may find this feature useful, it can leave the average user perplexed and unsure of how to return to their original task. Interestingly, different browsers handle this scenario differently; for instance, Microsoft Edge prompts users with a warning about the developer tools, whereas Chrome does not, leaving users to navigate the console on their own. This disparity highlights the importance of understanding not just the shortcuts themselves, but also the context in which they operate.

Avram illustrates that while keyboard shortcuts can significantly enhance productivity, they also come with the risk of unintended consequences. Users who are unaware of the potential for accidental activation may find themselves grappling with unexpected changes to their computer's behavior. Therefore, it is crucial for individuals to educate themselves about the shortcuts available on their systems and to take proactive steps to mitigate the risks associated with them.

In conclusion, the world of keyboard shortcuts is a double-edged sword; while they can streamline tasks and improve efficiency, they also pose the risk of accidental activations that can disrupt productivity and cause confusion. By being aware of the shortcuts they use and understanding how to manage them, users can harness the power of keyboard shortcuts while minimizing the potential for mishaps. Awareness and education are key to navigating the complexities of modern computing, ensuring that users can maintain control over their digital environments.

The landscape of graphics card pricing has undergone significant upheaval in recent months, leading to a situation where consumers are faced with inflated prices and limited availability. The current state of the GPU market is characterized by a combination of new product releases, supply chain challenges, and shifts in consumer demand, all of which have contributed to a crisis for gamers and PC builders alike.

GPU Prices Are Currently Inflated

One of the primary drivers of the current price hikes is the recent introduction of Nvidia's latest GPU models, including the 5070 Ti, 5080, and 5090. While these cards promise enhanced performance and features, they have also resulted in the discontinuation of previous models such as the 4090, 4080, and 4070 Ti. This transition has created a vacuum in the market for mid-range graphics cards, as manufacturers have cut back on production of older models, leaving consumers scrambling to find suitable alternatives. The discontinuation has been exacerbated by scalpers who have seized the opportunity to resell these coveted GPUs at exorbitant prices, further inflating the market.

Additionally, AMD's older graphics cards have also seen a spike in prices. With the influx of new models from both Nvidia and AMD, consumers are left with limited options, and those options come at a steep cost. This situation has made it particularly challenging for gamers looking to build or upgrade their PCs without breaking the bank. Avram notes that now may not be the best time to purchase a graphics card, as prices have soared to levels that many consumers find difficult to justify.

Not All is Lost in GPUs

Despite the turmoil, Avram does highlight a silver lining in the form of Intel's graphics offerings, particularly the Intel Arc A380. This card represents a more affordable option for budget-conscious gamers, allowing them to build a capable gaming PC for around $480. While it may not compete with the high-end offerings from Nvidia and AMD, it serves as a viable entry point for those looking to enjoy gaming at 1080p without incurring the costs associated with more powerful GPUs.

As consumers consider their options, Avram provides a range of recommended builds at various price points. For instance, with a budget of around $800, gamers can opt for a Core i5 paired with an AMD Radeon 7600, which offers improved performance for 1080p gaming. However, as one moves up the price ladder, the cost of GPUs continues to escalate. For example, the NVIDIA RTX 4060, which was once available for under $300, is now frequently listed for over $400, illustrating the dramatic price inflation that has occurred in just a short period.

The situation becomes even more dire for those looking to invest in higher-end builds. The NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti, while offering only marginal improvements in performance, commands a significantly higher price, reflecting the broader trend of escalating GPU costs. Furthermore, the introduction of the new 5070 Ti has led to prices on platforms like eBay soaring to around $1,100, far exceeding its intended MSRP of $749. This disparity underscores the challenges consumers face in securing the latest technology at fair prices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the current state of GPU pricing is a reflection of a complex interplay of market forces that have led to inflated costs and limited availability. For consumers, this means carefully considering their options and potentially waiting for more favorable market conditions before making a significant investment in new graphics technology. The current crisis serves as a reminder of the volatility of the tech market and the importance of being informed when navigating such turbulent waters.

In today's fast-paced technological landscape, the rapid evolution of hardware often leaves older devices obsolete, particularly when it comes to operating systems. The increasing requirements for modern operating systems, such as Windows 11, pose significant challenges for charities and individuals looking to repurpose older laptops. However, one viable solution that not only extends the life of these devices but also promotes sustainability is the installation of Linux operating systems.

The Challenge of Obsolescence

As technology advances, operating systems and software applications demand more from hardware. Windows 11, for instance, requires at least an 8th generation Intel CPU, along with other specifications that many older laptops do not meet. This creates a dilemma for organizations like charities that receive donated laptops. While these devices may be functional, their inability to run the latest operating systems often leads to their disposal or relegation to e-waste recycling - a process that is not only environmentally taxing but also wasteful.

The Benefits of Linux

Linux emerges as a powerful alternative for repurposing old laptops. Unlike Windows, Linux distributions (or "distros") are designed to be lightweight and flexible, making them suitable for older hardware. Here are several compelling reasons to consider Linux for repurposing old laptops:

Compatibility with Older Hardware

Many Linux distributions are specifically tailored to run on older machines. Distros like Ubuntu MATE, Lubuntu, and Xubuntu are known for their efficiency and can breathe new life into laptops that struggle with more demanding operating systems.

Cost-Effective

Linux is open-source and free to use, which means that charities and individuals can install it without incurring licensing fees. This is particularly beneficial for organizations that operate on tight budgets and seek to maximize the resources they have.

Security and Updates

While Windows 10 is approaching its end of life and will no longer receive security updates unless users pay for extended support, many Linux distributions offer regular updates and support from their communities. This ensures that users can maintain a secure computing environment without the looming threat of outdated software.

Diverse Software Ecosystem

Linux provides access to a vast array of software applications for various needs, from productivity tools to multimedia editing. Users can find alternatives to popular software that runs on Windows, allowing them to perform everyday tasks without the need for expensive licenses.

Community Support

The Linux community is known for its robust support networks. Users can easily find help through forums, online documentation, and user groups, making it easier for those unfamiliar with Linux to transition smoothly.

Environmental Impact

By choosing to install Linux on older laptops, we are not only extending the life of these devices but also contributing to a more sustainable future. E-waste is a growing concern, with millions of tons generated each year. Repurposing laptops with Linux helps reduce this waste by keeping devices in use longer and minimizing the demand for new hardware. In an era where environmental sustainability is paramount, this practice aligns with broader efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and promote responsible consumption.

Conclusion

Repurposing old laptops with Linux is a practical and sustainable approach to technology that benefits both individuals and the environment. As discussed in the Piltch Point podcast, the challenges posed by modern operating systems can be mitigated through the adoption of Linux, which offers compatibility, cost savings, security, and community support. By embracing this alternative, we can ensure that older laptops continue to serve their purpose, providing valuable resources to those in need while reducing electronic waste. In doing so, we take a meaningful step towards a more sustainable and responsible technological future.

In the ever-evolving landscape of laptop technology, Intel's recent announcement of the Lunar Lake processors, officially known as the Core Ultra 200 V series, has stirred considerable interest among consumers and tech enthusiasts alike. However, this new architecture brings with it a notable limitation regarding RAM options, which could significantly impact user experience and purchasing decisions. Avram explores the implications of the Lunar Lake architecture on RAM configurations, particularly the constraints it imposes on consumers seeking higher memory capacities.

Lunar Lake limits RAM options significantly

One of the most striking features of the Lunar Lake processors is the integration of RAM directly onto the CPU package. This marks a significant shift in the design of PC CPUs, as it restricts laptop manufacturers to offer only specific RAM configurations - namely, 16GB and 32GB options. While this may suffice for many users, it presents a substantial limitation for power users who require more memory for demanding tasks. For instance, someone who regularly runs virtual machines or engages in heavy multitasking may find 32GB inadequate, especially as software requirements continue to grow.

The absence of an option for 64GB of RAM in the Lunar Lake lineup raises concerns about the long-term viability of these laptops for users who tend to keep their devices for several years. Avram notes that the need for higher RAM capacities is becoming increasingly crucial, particularly for those who utilize their laptops for resource-intensive applications or who maintain numerous browser tabs and software programs concurrently. For power users, the inability to upgrade beyond 32GB could lead to frustration and dissatisfaction as their computing needs evolve.

Moreover, he highlights the implications of this limitation for specific use cases, such as running virtual machines. Users who want to experiment with different operating systems or software configurations often require a significant portion of their RAM to be allocated to these virtual environments. In this scenario, a laptop with only 32GB of RAM can quickly become restrictive, as allocating 16GB to a virtual machine leaves only 16GB for the host operating system and other applications. This could result in sluggish performance and hinder the overall user experience.

Despite the impressive advancements in processing power and efficiency that Lunar Lake processors promise - such as improved battery life and enhanced AI capabilities-the RAM limitation remains a critical drawback. Avram emphasizes that while many consumers may find 32GB sufficient for their needs today, the rapid pace of software development and increasing demands for memory-intensive applications suggest that this may not hold true in the near future. Thus, the lack of flexibility in RAM configurations could deter potential buyers who are looking for a laptop that will remain relevant and capable over time.

Conclucion: Lack of upgradability limited choices

In conclusion, while Intel's Lunar Lake processors bring notable advancements in processing power and efficiency, the significant limitation on RAM options cannot be overlooked. The integration of RAM directly onto the CPU package, capping at 32GB, poses a substantial challenge for power users and those with evolving computing needs. As software demands continue to grow, the inability to upgrade beyond 32GB could lead to dissatisfaction among users who require higher memory capacities for resource-intensive tasks. Therefore, despite the promising features of Lunar Lake, the restricted RAM configurations may ultimately influence purchasing decisions and the long-term viability of these laptops for a broader range of consumers.

The ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is an impressive laptop that offers a range of features and capabilities that make it stand out in the market. One of the key highlights of this laptop is its exceptional battery life, lasting an impressive 21 hours and three minutes on a battery test that involves surfing the web at 150 nits of brightness. This is significantly higher than most lightweight laptops on the market and even outperforms popular models like the MacBooks and the Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon processors.

In addition to its impressive battery life, the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 also offers a range of other notable features. It comes equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, specifically the Snapdragon X Elite X1 E7100, which offers strong performance on tasks like the handbrake test and Geekbench. The laptop also features a 1920 by 1200 display that can be configured with up to a 2080 by 1800 OLED panel for a high-quality viewing experience.

The design of the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is also worth mentioning. It is lightweight, weighing only 2.6 pounds, making it easy to carry around. The laptop features a full-size HDMI out, two USB-C ports, two USB type A ports, and Wi-Fi 7 for connectivity. The laptop also includes a 1080p webcam with IR for facial recognition for Windows Hello, providing added security and convenience.

One of the standout features of the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is its strong battery life, which is made possible by the power-efficient Snapdragon processor. While there may be some compatibility issues with certain software that require emulation mode, most tasks can be easily handled by the laptop. The laptop is not recommended for gaming, but it excels in providing a long-lasting battery life for everyday use.

Overall, the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is a highly impressive laptop that offers a combination of strong performance, excellent battery life, and a range of useful features. With its sleek design, powerful processor, and high-quality display, the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is a great option for users looking for a reliable and efficient laptop for work or personal use.

Qualcomm pushing into Windows market

One of the standout features of the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is its use of a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, a departure from the traditional Intel and AMD processors commonly found in laptops. The use of a Snapdragon chip in a Windows laptop is a bold move by Qualcomm, as it represents a push into the Windows market and a direct challenge to the dominance of Intel and AMD in the industry.

The Snapdragon chip in the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 offers impressive battery life, with the laptop achieving an impressive 21 hours of battery life on a single charge. This is significantly longer than what is typically seen with laptops powered by Intel or AMD processors, showcasing the power efficiency of the Snapdragon chip.

While the Snapdragon chip may raise concerns about compatibility with Windows software, the performance of the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 suggests that Qualcomm is making strides in ensuring that their chips are capable of running a wide range of applications. The recent release of an ARM version of DaVinci Resolve further demonstrates Qualcomm's commitment to expanding their presence in the Windows market and addressing compatibility issues.

The introduction of Qualcomm chips in Windows laptops is also pushing Intel and AMD to innovate and improve their own products. This competition is beneficial for consumers, as it encourages all companies to strive for better performance, efficiency, and compatibility in their products.

Overall, Qualcomm's push into the Windows market with the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is a positive development for the industry. The laptop showcases the potential of Snapdragon chips in providing long battery life and strong performance, while also driving innovation and competition in the market. As Qualcomm continues to make strides in the Windows market, it will be interesting to see how their presence impacts the industry and drives further advancements in laptop technology.

Retro gaming is making a comeback, and it's not just for nostalgia's sake. Avram Piltch discusses his son's interest in retro games and how it has sparked a renewed interest in old consoles and games. Avram's son, who is only 12 years old, is more interested in retro games than in the latest games. He watches videos about old games, quizzes his father on trivia about old consoles and games, and gets excited about playing old games in their original format.

Retro gaming is in the spotlight

Avram discusses his visit to a retro game festival in New York, where he shares pictures of his son looking at old consoles and games. The festival had every major console in historical order, starting from the Magnavox Odyssey, and attendees could play on them. Avram also came across a tool called Taz bot, which automates gameplay on certain old consoles like the GameCube. This tool allows players to program joystick moves and button presses to play the perfect game.

While some may question the purpose of using a tool like Taz bot to automate gameplay, it highlights the growing interest in retro gaming and the desire to experience old games in new ways. The festival also featured old consoles like the RCA Studio II, Atari Lynx, PSP, Xbox 360, and original Game Boy, showcasing the variety of retro gaming options available.

One of the key reasons for the resurgence of retro gaming is the unique experience it offers. Playing old games on original consoles and CRT TVs provides a different feel and look compared to modern gaming setups. Additionally, there is a sense of nostalgia and appreciation for the history of gaming that comes with playing retro games.

Furthermore, retro gaming is not just about reliving the past but also about preserving gaming history. Events like retro game festivals and tools like Taz bot help keep old consoles and games alive for future generations to enjoy. The interest in retro gaming is not limited to older gamers but is also seen in younger generations like Avram's son, who are discovering the charm of old games.

Old school gaming nostalgia fest

In addition, Avram discusses a wide range of gaming devices, from the Space Ace and Dragon's Lair DVD games to the Virtual Boy and N64 playing Banjo-Kazooie. He also highlights unique consoles like the Game Tank, a homebrew console with its own set of games and cartridges, and the Dreamcast with its quirky peripherals like the fishing rod game.

One of the most interesting aspects of the event was old educational systems like the Socrates and Sega pods, as well as handheld games like Merlin. The hosts also explore the evolution of gaming technology, from the Commodore PET and K-Pro computers to the Amstrad with its tape drive built into the keyboard.

Avram and Scott share their experiences playing retro games and exploring the history of gaming, highlighting the creativity and innovation of early game developers. They also discuss the appeal of retro gaming for both seasoned gamers and newcomers, emphasizing the nostalgia and sense of nostalgia that comes with revisiting classic games and consoles.

Controller matters for retro gaming

Avram and Scott discuss the importance of controllers in retro gaming. They highlight the significance of using the original controllers that were designed for specific gaming consoles, as opposed to using modern controllers or emulators. They emphasize that the controller matters greatly in the gaming experience, as it affects the feel and gameplay of the retro games.

Avram mentions examples of retro gaming controllers, such as the Atari joystick and the wheel controller for Atari Pong games. He discusses how the design and functionality of these controllers contribute to the overall gaming experience and how using the original controllers can enhance the nostalgia and authenticity of playing retro games.

Additionally, the pair touches upon the idea of modifying retro gaming controllers to work with modern devices, such as installing USB connections in the controllers to use them with newer gaming systems. They explore the technical aspects of retrofitting retro controllers and the potential challenges involved in the process.

Furthermore, Scott discusses the significance of Nintendo releasing wireless NES and SNES controllers for the Switch to enhance the gameplay experience of playing classic games on modern consoles. He emphasizes that the design and functionality of the controllers are integral to the gaming experience and that using the original controllers can enhance the overall gameplay and nostalgia of retro gaming.

Avram shares his recent work on testing and reviewing web hosting services for Tom's Hardware. He highlights the various types of web hosting available, including shared hosting, VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting, and cloud hosting. Avram explains the pros and cons of each type, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right hosting plan based on your needs.

Choose a separate domain registrar wisely

When it comes to setting up a website, one of the most important decisions you will make is choosing a domain registrar. A domain registrar is a company that allows you to register and manage your domain name. While many web hosting services offer the option to register a domain through them, it is often recommended to choose a separate domain registrar wisely.

One of the main reasons for this is the potential hassle of transferring your domain if you decide to switch hosting providers in the future. If your domain is tied to your hosting service, it can make the process of moving your website to a new host more complicated and time-consuming. This is because some hosting providers may make it difficult for you to transfer your domain away from them, especially if they offered you a free or discounted domain as part of your hosting package.

By choosing a separate domain registrar, you have more control over your domain and can easily transfer it to a new hosting provider if needed. Popular domain registrars like Namecheap and GoDaddy offer competitive pricing and user-friendly interfaces for managing your domain. These registrars also typically offer additional services such as domain privacy protection and email hosting.

Another important factor to consider when choosing a domain registrar is the renewal pricing. Some registrars may offer a low introductory price for the first year of registration, but then significantly increase the price for renewals. By choosing a reputable registrar with transparent pricing policies, you can avoid any unexpected price hikes when it comes time to renew your domain.

Choose VPS for flexibility & control

When it comes to choosing a hosting plan for your website, the podcast highlights the importance of selecting the right option based on your specific needs. Shared hosting may be suitable for simple websites with minimal traffic, but it has limitations in terms of control and flexibility. On the other hand, VPS hosting offers a higher level of control over your server, allowing you to reboot the server, install software, upgrade the OS, and run various scripts with ease.

VPS hosting, which stands for virtual private server, provides a virtual full server experience while sharing a physical server with other users. This means that you have more control and flexibility compared to shared hosting plans. With VPS hosting, you can customize your server to meet your specific requirements, ensuring optimal performance for your website.

Cloud hosting provides speed

Cloud web hosting utilizes a network of virtual and physical servers to host websites, offering a significant advantage over traditional single-server hosting. This network of servers pools computing resources, providing greater scalability and flexibility, which enables quick changes and high uptime for your website.

One of the key benefits of cloud hosting is its resilience. If any server in the network experiences issues, your site will remain operational, and its performance will not be affected. This is particularly beneficial for businesses and organizations that require high availability and reliability. Moreover, cloud hosting services provide broad platform support, including various CMS options like WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, and more. They also offer flexible pricing models, ensuring you are charged only for the resources you use.

While cloud hosting can offer speed and performance benefits, it may have limitations in terms of control and flexibility compared to VPS hosting. Cloud hosting allocates resources efficiently to serve traffic quickly, making it a suitable option for websites with high traffic volumes.

Conclusion

The most important thing to remember when trying to choose a host and a hosting style is that your needs will determine your choice. For some, bandwidth is an important factor. For others, the most important thing is scalability and speed. For other users, configuration is essential. But, in the end, choose the hosting style that is most useful for your needs.

Copilot+ PCs are a new line of laptops that have recently been released, featuring Qualcomm Snapdragon X processors and running Windows. These PCs come with exclusive features that are not available on other Windows devices with Intel or AMD processors. Avram discussed these exclusive features and their functionalities.

Exclusive features on Copilot+ PC

One of the exclusive features on Copilot+ PCs is Recall, which allows users to have a digital perfect memory. This feature has been advertised by Microsoft in recent days, although it has been delayed indefinitely. Recall is designed to constantly spy on users and remember their digital activities, providing a unique and potentially controversial functionality.

Another exclusive feature on Copilot+ PCs is Cocreator, which is integrated into Microsoft Paint. Cocreator is a tool that assists users in drawing by providing prompts and suggestions. For example, users can draw a simple line and then prompt the tool to generate ideas, such as a cat driving a car. While this feature may not be groundbreaking, it adds a fun and interactive element to the drawing experience on these devices.

Windows on ARM technical achievement

Additionally, Avram discusses the technical achievements of Windows on ARM, specifically in terms of performance and battery life. The Snapdragon processors in these laptops are said to be on par with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and offer good battery life, although not groundbreaking. While the performance and battery life of these laptops are commendable, they may not necessarily be a selling point for consumers, especially given the higher price point compared to Intel and AMD processors.

Furthermore, he highlights the compatibility of Windows on ARM with x86 software, although there are still some compatibility issues with certain games. The podcast suggests that while Windows on ARM is a technical achievement in terms of compatibility and performance, it may not be a necessary purchase for consumers, especially considering the upcoming advancements in Intel and AMD processors.

In conclusion, Windows on ARM is seen as a technical achievement in terms of performance, battery life, and compatibility with x86 software. However, the limited offline functionality and higher price point compared to traditional processors may make it a less appealing option for consumers. Moving forward, it will be important for Microsoft and Qualcomm to continue improving compatibility and performance to make Windows on ARM a more competitive option in the market.

Snapdragon laptops have competition coming

One key point mentioned is the upcoming release of new AMD and Intel laptops with faster NPUs. This indicates that competition in the market is increasing, and consumers will have more options to choose from. Additionally, the possibility of laptops powered by different ARM CPUs in the future could lead to more affordable options for consumers.

Avram also highlights the challenges faced in testing local AI workloads on Snapdragon laptops due to the limitations of Qualcomm's developer center. This indicates that there is still room for improvement in terms of compatibility and performance with certain workloads. However, the potential for faster transcription, image generation, and recognition tasks on Snapdragon processors shows promise for future advancements.

Conclusion: A step forward for ARM without much benefit

The end result is that the advancement of Windows on ARM is a positive one for the technology. Improved battery life and application compatibility make the hardware a more attractive possibility than previous iterations. However, the benefits of Copilot+ PCs is undercut by the fact that the exclusive features are not that interesting or missing entirely.

This week, Avram Piltch discusses his concerns about the use of AI to generate and present information as an arbiter of truth. He specifically talks about Google's AI overview, previously known as Google SGE, which has recently been rolled out to everyone in the United States. He expresses his strong feelings about the potential for AI-generated information to be misleading, especially when presented as authoritative facts without acknowledging differing viewpoints or ongoing legal disputes.

AI-generated information can be misleading

He gives an example of a search query about whether training data is considered fair use under US copyright law. The AI overview provided by Google confidently states that training AI models using publicly available internet materials is generally considered fair use. However, Avram points out that this statement is presented as a fact, without mentioning the ongoing lawsuits against OpenAI and the debate surrounding the issue.

He highlights the danger of people trusting AI-generated information blindly, assuming that Google's answers are always correct. He emphasizes the importance of presenting information in a balanced and objective manner, acknowledging different perspectives and ongoing legal disputes.

Customize search results with an extension

Avram has created a browser extension that allows users to skip the AI-generated answers and get right to the results. The extension, called Bye Bye, Google AI uses CSS manipulation in order to suppress the AI areas of the search results. This approach allows the extension to work without the user having to do anything special.

One of the key benefits of customizing search results with CSS is the ability to personalize the browsing experience and filter out irrelevant or distracting content. Avram discusses how he was inspired to create his own browser extension after seeing another extension that allowed users to hide elements on Google search results pages. By developing his own extension, He was able to provide users with more options for customizing their search experience and tailor the results to their liking.

However, Avram also acknowledges the limitations of using CSS to customize search results. He notes that Google can update its algorithms at any time, potentially breaking the functionality of his extension and causing unexpected issues, such as making certain elements disappear from the page. Despite these challenges, he remains committed to refining his extension and addressing any issues that may arise, demonstrating his dedication to providing users with a valuable tool for customizing their search experience.

Avoid AI by using web tab

Avram discusses the issue of AI-generated search results and offers a solution for those who prefer to avoid them. He introduces the concept of the "web tab," which presents search results in a more traditional format without AI-generated content such as featured snippets, videos, and discussions. He acknowledges that while AI technology can be helpful, it is not always accurate or reliable, leading some users to seek alternatives.

He also provides a workaround for accessing the web tab directly without the need for his extension. By creating a custom search engine in the browser settings with the parameter "UDM=14," users can bypass AI-generated search results and go straight to the web tab. This allows users to access a more traditional search experience without the influence of AI-generated content.

However, Avram notes that this solution may not be as easily accessible on mobile devices, as popular mobile browsers like Chrome and Safari do not offer the same customization options for search engines. While Firefox does provide a feature for adding custom search engines, users of other mobile browsers may have limited options for avoiding AI-generated content.

AI-generated search results can be misleading

AI-generated search results can be misleading. Avram discusses his experiences with AI-generated search results and highlights the potential for misinformation and inaccuracies to be presented as authoritative truth. He notes that AI-generated responses may not always provide accurate information and can sometimes offer questionable advice or opinions.

One example Avram mentions is receiving conflicting advice on how to prevent or cure kidney stones, with some responses suggesting drinking urine as a remedy. This highlights the potential dangers of relying on AI-generated information without proper verification or critical thinking. Additionally, he discusses instances where AI-generated responses offer incorrect or potentially harmful advice, such as recommending opening a camera to remove stuck film.

Furthermore, Avram points out that AI-generated responses may not always consider differing viewpoints or present information in a balanced manner. For example, in cases where there is controversy or debate, AI may present a single opinion as fact without acknowledging opposing perspectives. This can lead to a skewed presentation of information and misinform users who rely on AI-generated search results.

Overall, Avram's discussion underscores the importance of being critical consumers of information and questioning the reliability of AI-generated search results. While AI technology has the potential to provide valuable insights and assistance, it is crucial for users to verify information, consider multiple sources, and exercise caution when relying on AI-generated responses. By being aware of the limitations and potential pitfalls of AI-generated search results, users can better navigate the digital landscape and avoid falling victim to misinformation and inaccuracies.

For more information on AI in Google Search, check out Avram's full article.

The tech topic of 2024 has been and will continue to be AI. And, as with any tech trend, software inevitably begets dedicated hardware. The first generation of AI-focused hardware appears to be a collection of solutions searching for a problem to solve.

AI pin is overpriced and unnecessary

The AI pin is a novel hardware product that has recently hit the market, but it is receiving negative reviews due to its high price and lack of practicality. Priced at $699 plus a $24 monthly subscription fee, the Humane AI pin is designed to be worn on the body and act as a standalone device with its own cellular connection. However, despite its futuristic design and features, it has failed to impress consumers and tech experts alike.

One of the main criticisms of the AI pin is its high price point. At nearly $700, the device is significantly more expensive than most smartphones on the market. This steep price tag, combined with the additional monthly subscription fee, makes it a luxury item that many consumers may not be willing to invest in. Furthermore, the AI pin's limited functionality and performance issues make it difficult to justify its high cost.

In terms of functionality, the AI pin falls short of expectations. While it is marketed as a voice-activated assistant that can answer questions, take pictures, and provide information, users have reported that it is slow, unreliable, and lacks basic features that are commonly found on smartphones. For example, the AI pin struggles to set timers, has a limited battery life, and is uncomfortable to wear due to overheating issues. Additionally, its projection-based interface is clunky and difficult to use, further diminishing its appeal.

Ultimately, the AI pin's lackluster performance and high price make it an unnecessary and impractical device for most consumers. With smartphones already offering a wide range of features and capabilities, there is little incentive for users to invest in a separate device that offers inferior functionality. While the concept of a wearable AI assistant may be appealing in theory, the AI pin fails to deliver on its promises and falls short of expectations. In conclusion, the AI pin is overpriced and unnecessary, and consumers would be better off sticking with their smartphones for their digital assistant needs.

Rabbit R1 phone is questionable

The Rabbit R1 phone is a questionable product that has raised concerns among consumers and tech enthusiasts. The podcast transcript highlights several key issues with the device, including its high price, limited functionality, and questionable marketing tactics.

One of the main criticisms of the Rabbit R1 is its price point, which is described as outrageous. The podcast hosts compare it to the Palm Phone, another niche device with a high price tag. The fact that the Rabbit R1 is not even wearable adds to the confusion surrounding its purpose and value proposition.

The lack of practicality and usefulness of the Rabbit R1 is also called into question. The hosts express confusion over the concept of leaving your phone at home only to carry a separate device that essentially functions as a phone. They suggest that a 4G watch would serve a similar purpose more effectively, as it is smaller and more convenient to use.

Furthermore, the podcast hosts discuss the device's battery life, which is reported to be only two hours. This is a major drawback for a device that is supposed to replace or supplement a smartphone. The comparison is made to other products on the market that offer longer battery life and better functionality at a lower price point.

The marketing tactics employed by Rabbit, such as not sending out review units and claiming to have sold 100,000 units before the product was even launched, raise further suspicions about the legitimacy of the company and its product. The hosts express skepticism about these claims and question the motives behind such tactics.

In conclusion, the Rabbit R1 phone is a questionable product that raises concerns about its price, functionality, and marketing tactics. Negative reviews and feedback are important in the marketplace to inform consumers and hold companies accountable for their products. It is essential for companies to listen to and learn from negative feedback in order to improve their products and maintain a loyal customer base. Ultimately, the Rabbit R1 serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of transparency, honesty, and consumer trust in the tech industry.

The Vintage Computer Festival East is an annual event held in New Jersey that celebrates the history and nostalgia of old computers. Attending this festival is like taking a trip down memory lane, where you can see, touch, and even play with vintage computers from the past. The Vintage Computer Festival East was a showcase of a wide array of old computers, each evoking a sense of nostalgia and admiration. The unique features of each computer were highlighted, from the small keyboard of the Cosmac to the green CRT monitors that are no longer commonly used.

Vintage Computer Festival East memories

One of the highlights of the festival is the museum portion, where visitors can see a collection of old CPUs, including the 8086, 286, 386, and 486. These CPUs may bring back memories for those who have used them in the past, and it's a reminder not to throw away old technology as it can still hold value and significance.

Another interesting exhibit at the festival was the Xerox Star 8010, a computer with a GUI that predates the Macintosh GUI. This computer was primarily used for business purposes but had a user interface that resembled the iconic Mac interface we know today. It's fascinating to see the evolution of technology and how certain features and designs have influenced modern computing.

The festival also featured the PCjr, a less successful sibling of the IBM PC, and a TI-branded luggable computer. These computers may not have been as popular or successful as their counterparts, but they still hold a special place in computer history.

One of the most memorable experiences at the festival was playing with an original Commodore PET. The PET was Commodore's first major personal computer, released around the same time as the Apple II and the TRS-80 in 1977. Playing with this computer brought back memories of the early days of personal computing and the excitement of exploring new technology.

Overall, the Vintage Computer Festival East is a unique and nostalgic experience for computer enthusiasts and history buffs alike. It's a reminder of how far technology has come and the impact that these vintage computers have had on the evolution of computing. Attending this festival is not just a trip down memory lane, but a celebration of the history and innovation of old computers.

Old computers evoke nostalgia

A key theme that emerged from the event was the sentimental value that these old computers hold for the attendees. Stories were shared about first computers, such as the TI-99/4A and the Apple II, and anecdotes about the software and games that used to run on these machines. These old computers evoke a sense of nostalgia, transporting individuals back to a simpler time when computing was still in its infancy.

Technical aspects of the vintage computers were also discussed, such as the PowerPC chip inside the BeBox and the monochrome screens of the Osborne and TRS-80 computers. There was a fascination with the sharpness of the text on these old monitors and a lament for the inability to replicate the same experience on modern LCD screens. This longing for the unique features of old computers speaks to the emotional connection that individuals have with these machines, beyond just their functionality.

The history of certain prototype computers, such as Microsoft Neptune and the Mac OS version that never came to fruition, was also explored. These failed attempts at innovation serve as a reminder of the risks and challenges that come with pushing the boundaries of technology. Despite their lack of success, these prototype computers still hold a special place in the hearts of computer enthusiasts, as they represent a glimpse into what could have been.

Conclusion: History and nostalgia at once

In conclusion, the Vintage Computer Festival East exemplifies the nostalgia and reverence that old computers evoke in individuals. These vintage machines are not just relics of the past, but symbols of innovation, perseverance, and the enduring impact of technology on society. Events like the Vintage Computer Festival allow individuals to connect with the history of computing and appreciate the journey that has led to the advanced technology we have today.

Customizing the right-click menu in Windows can greatly enhance the user experience and productivity. By making a few simple tweaks, users can access a wider range of options and functions directly from the context menu, without the need to navigate through multiple menus or windows.

Customize Windows right-click menu

One of the most common complaints about the right-click menu in Windows 11 is the limited number of options that are displayed by default. Users often have to click on "Show More Options" to access additional functions, which can be time-consuming and frustrating, especially when working on complex tasks.

Fortunately, there is a simple solution to this problem. By editing the Windows registry, users can customize the right-click menu to display all available options without the need for extra clicks. This can be done by creating a new registry key and setting the default value to blank, which will remove the "Show More Options" prompt and display all options directly in the context menu.

To customize the right-click menu, users can follow these steps:
1. Launch the registry editor by searching for "regedit" and opening it.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareClassesCLSID and create a new key with the name "{86CA1AA0-34AA-AE8B-A509-50C905BAE2A2}" if it does not already exist.
3. Create a new key under that key called "InprocServer32".
4. Set the default value of "InprocServer32" to blank and close the registry editor.
5. Sign out and sign back in to see the changes reflected in the right-click menu.

By customizing the right-click menu in Windows, users can access a wide range of options and functions directly from the context menu, making it easier to perform tasks and navigate through the operating system. This simple tweak can greatly improve the user experience and efficiency when using Windows 11 or Windows 10.

Customize right-click menu shortcuts

Avram also discusses various methods for customizing right-click menu shortcuts in Windows, offering tips and tricks to make accessing frequently used programs and functions easier and more convenient. Adding a custom item to the menu is a useful capability, allowing users to quickly launch an app with just a few clicks. This is achieved through the use of the registry editor, where users can create new keys and commands to add custom shortcuts to the menu.

In order to add your own custom menu item, users can follow these steps:
1. Launch the registry editor by searching for "regedit" and opening it.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectoryBackgroundshell and create a new key with the name you want to show in the menu - in this case "Avram".
3. Under your new key, create another key called "Command" where capitalization matters.
4. Under "Command" open the "Default" entry and set the value data to the full path to the application you want to run.
5. Sign out and sign back in to see the changes reflected in the right-click menu.

Custom search engines for efficiency

Custom search engines are another powerful tool that can greatly enhance efficiency when browsing the internet. By creating custom search engines in browsers like Chrome, users can streamline their search process and quickly access information from their favorite websites.

Avram mentioned two ways to create custom search engines in Chrome. The first method involves installing an extension he created called Search My Site, which allows users to set up specific search parameters for a particular website. By simply typing a designated key followed by a space in the address bar, users can instantly search the specified website without having to navigate to the site first.

The second method involves manually creating a custom search engine in Chrome settings. By assigning a name and a key to the search engine, users can input the search string for the website they want to search. This method allows for more customization, as users can specify additional parameters such as excluding certain domains or filtering search results based on specific criteria.

By creating custom search engines for frequently visited websites, users can save time and effort by eliminating the need to type out the full website address or navigate through search results. This not only speeds up the search process but also ensures that users are accessing the most relevant and up-to-date information from their preferred sources.

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is an impressive ultra-portable laptop that is Lenovo's flagship model. Designed for business use, it is also suitable for anyone who needs a lightweight and durable device for work or school. The X1 Carbon is known for its durability, having undergone mil-spec testing and other durability tests to ensure its reliability.

The technical details

In terms of hardware, the X1 Carbon 12th gen boasts a full array of ports, including two USB Type-A ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a full-size HDMI out. The inclusion of these ports ensures that users have plenty of options for connecting peripherals and accessories, making it a versatile option for a wide range of users.

The X1 Carbon 12th gen also features a Meteor Lake processor, which offers superior graphics performance and local AI processing capabilities. This combination of hardware allows for smooth and efficient multitasking, as well as the ability to handle demanding tasks such as image generation and speech-to-text processing.

In terms of battery life, the X1 Carbon 12th gen offers a respectable nine-and-a-half hours of continuous use on a single charge. While this may not be the longest battery life on the market, it is still sufficient for most users' needs and can easily get through a full day of work or school without needing to be recharged.

Retaining the best of the past

The X1 Carbon retains the classic ThinkPad features, such as the track point, a small red nub that allows for precise cursor control without lifting your hands off the keyboard. Additionally, the laptop features a large glass trackpad for those who prefer a more traditional input method.

For the design, the X1 Carbon is made of carbon fiber and other materials, giving it a sleek and modern look. The addition of a communication bar, which houses the webcam and IR sensor for facial login, adds a new element to the laptop's design and functionality. The 1080p webcam provides high-quality video conferencing capabilities, improving the overall user experience.

New and improved features

One of the new features introduced in the X1 Carbon is the special quick menu for the track point. By double-tapping on the track point, users can access a quick menu for easy navigation and multitasking. This feature enhances productivity and efficiency, making it easier to switch between tasks and applications.

One of the standout features of the 12th Generation ThinkPad X1 Carbon is its compact and lightweight design. Despite being a 14-inch screen laptop, Lenovo has managed to pack it into a smaller chassis, making it more portable and easier to carry around. The laptop weighs just 2.42 pounds, making it easy to transport and use on the go.

Conclusion: An impressive upgrade for a very specific market

Overall, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is an impressive laptop that combines durability, portability, and performance in a sleek and lightweight package. With its compact design, high-quality webcam, and innovative features, the X1 Carbon is a top choice for professionals and students alike who need a reliable and efficient laptop for work or school.

Avram Piltch discusses the importance of efficiency in programming and introduces the concept of using numpad shortcuts to save time and reduce strain on the body. He mentions that he has been working on finding new ways to program efficiently and shares his personal experience of feeling depressed on his birthday. To combat this, he decided to program something that would be useful for others at work. While working on this project, he discovered the power of macros and numpad shortcuts.

Remap keys for increased productivity

Remapping keys for increased productivity is a technique that can greatly benefit programmers and individuals who use keyboards extensively. Remapping keys on a number pad to perform tasks other than numerical input, such as controlling media playback and adjusting volume, can make unused keys on your keyboard more useful for you.

Efficiency is crucial in programming, and remapping keys can significantly enhance productivity. The use of numpad shortcuts can save time and reduce the strain on the body. Instead of reaching up to the top row of the keyboard for numbers or frequently used functions, programmers can utilize the numpad, which is conveniently located on the right side of most keyboards.

By remapping the keys on the number pad, programmers can assign shortcuts to commonly performed actions. For example, the transcript mentions remapping the 4, 5, and 6 keys to control media playback (back, forward, and play/pause) and the plus and minus keys to adjust volume. This allows programmers to perform these actions without having to navigate through menus or use additional peripherals.

Furthermore, remapping keys can extend beyond the number pad. Avram suggests using a program called SharpKeys to remap any key on the keyboard. This flexibility allows programmers to customize their keyboard layout based on their specific needs and preferences. For example, you can remap the insert key, which is often unused, to become the print screen key. This eliminates the need to toggle the insert function and provides easy access to the print screen function.

Macros take remapping to a new level

In addition to simply remapping keys, you can use AutoHotKey as a powerful tool for creating macros. Macros are sequences of commands or actions that can be executed with a single keystroke or combination of keys. This automation can greatly speed up repetitive tasks and reduce the potential for errors. By running scripts created with AutoHotKey, programmers can automate actions in their favorite programs and streamline their workflow.

Overall, remapping keys for increased productivity is a valuable technique for programmers and individuals who use keyboards extensively. By assigning shortcuts to frequently performed tasks and automating repetitive actions with macros, programmers can optimize their workflow, save time, and reduce strain on the body. Embracing these techniques not only enhances productivity but also promotes a healthier and more comfortable programming experience.

Conclusion

There are simple and free ways to make your simple keyboard into a robust and productive device just for you. Using tools like SharpKeys and AutoHotKey can make your day more productive. For full instructions, check out Avram's step-by-step guide.

One of the recent technological developments is the release of Intel's new Core Ultra CPUs for laptops, which are equipped with a neural processing unit (NPU). These CPUs, also known as Meteor Lake, are a significant advancement as they are the first mainstream Intel chips to have an NPU integrated into them.

The NPU's purpose is to handle AI processing more efficiently and quickly than the regular processor can. This opens up possibilities for local generative AI tasks, such as image generation, audio transcription, and music creation, which are typically performed in the cloud. By having the NPU in laptops, these tasks can be completed in a competent amount of time locally, without the need for an internet connection or relying on cloud services.

Avram demonstrates the performance difference between using the CPU and the NPU for tasks like image generation and audio transcription. The NPU significantly reduces processing time while also allowing for better multitasking since the CPU and GPU are not being heavily taxed. This power efficiency is particularly beneficial for laptop users, as they may not have access to a powerful graphics card.

Avram also mentions the potential drawbacks of relying on cloud services for AI tasks, such as privacy concerns and the need for a stable internet connection. Having the ability to perform these tasks locally with the NPU addresses these issues and provides a more convenient and secure solution.

Additionally, he discusses the compatibility of Intel's OpenVINO project with Intel GPUs. While the NPU is not available for all tasks, the use of Intel GPUs can still enhance processing speed compared to using the CPU alone. However, it is important to note that the compatibility and optimization of these tasks may vary depending on the hardware used, and requires an Intel GPU in order to transfer tasks to a GPU (AMD and Nvidia will not work).

New chips, benchmarking, performance difference

Avram highlights the discussion around new chips, benchmarking, and performance differences. He has been working on benchmarking and will soon release an article showcasing the performance differences between Intel and AMD chips, as well as the differences with the previous generation.

Benchmarking plays a crucial role in evaluating the performance of these new chips. It allows for a direct comparison between different chip models and brands, as well as a comparison with previous generations. By conducting benchmark tests, Avram aims to provide readers with a clear understanding of the performance differences between Intel and AMD chips, as well as how the new chips perform compared to their predecessors.

While the software is developed by Intel and focused on In tle hardware, the benchmarking has not always shown that to be the case. When accessing the NPU, which is currently specific to the Intel Core Ultra processors, Intel wins every time. However, when running the tests against the CPU, AMD often comes out ahead. This means that, while the NPU advantages are a clear winner, AMD processors are capable of just as much as Intel when it comes to direct CPU usage.

Conclusion

Overall, the introduction of Intel Core Ultra CPUs with an NPU represents a significant advancement in laptop technology. It offers users the ability to perform AI tasks locally, improving processing speed, power efficiency, and privacy. As technology continues to evolve, it is crucial to stay informed about these advancements and adapt to new developments that enhance our digital experiences.

This week, Avram Piltch begins with the topic of keystrokes. He mentions that typing at a faster rate, such as 400 keystrokes per minute, can greatly enhance one's typing experience. With tens of thousands of keystrokes per day, using a mechanical keyboard can make a significant difference in terms of speed and reduced soreness. Avram describes this as a "game changer" and highlights the benefits of using a mechanical keyboard.

Moving on, Avram introduces the idea of a wrist rest. He mentions that the HyperX wrist rest is highly recommended, providing both a gel feel and a cooling effect. He emphasizes the importance of using a wrist rest to avoid soreness and discomfort while typing. He also notes that the wristrest is available in different sizes, with the full-size option being the preferred choice for those using a full-size keyboard. He then suggests that investing in a wrist rest can be a life-changing improvement for individuals who spend a significant amount of time typing.

Avram then shifts to discussing SSDs (Solid State Drives). He advises listeners to ensure they know what type of SSD their system requires before purchasing one as a gift. He suggests opting for a 2TB SSD or larger, as high-quality options are now available at reasonable prices. He then mentions the Samsung 990 Pro and the WD Black SN850X as top choices in terms of performance. He also notes that the prices may vary and recommends keeping an eye out for deals during the holidays. Investing in a new SSD can greatly enhance a person's computing experience and is worth considering as a gift or personal upgrade.

Next, Avram touches upon the topic of buying a new laptop. He advises against purchasing a laptop with only 8GB of RAM or a 256GB SSD, as these specifications may limit performance and storage capacity. He recommends considering the ThinkPad X1 Carbon as a top choice for a premium laptop. He also mentions different configurations available, with options for 16GB or 32GB of RAM and 512GB or 1TB of storage. He also emphasizes the importance of adequate RAM, especially considering that laptops are typically used for several years. He suggests opting for at least 16GB of RAM and potentially considering 32GB if the budget allows.

Lastly, Avram discusses monitors. For gaming purposes, he advises against purchasing a 1080p monitor, unless specifically for eSports gaming where high refresh rates are prioritized over resolution. He recommends the Dell S3222DGM as a great monitor deal, with its curved 32-inch display, high contrast ratio, and up to 165Hz refresh rate. However, he suggests investing in a 4K monitor for sharper images and more screen real estate for productivity purposes. He also acknowledges that 4K gaming monitors can be expensive.

In conclusion, Avram provides valuable insights into keystrokes, wrist rests, SSDs, laptops, and monitors. He highlights the benefits of using a mechanical keyboard for an improved typing experience, emphasizes the importance of a wrist rest for comfort, and discusses the advantages of investing in a high-quality SSD for enhanced computing performance. He also offers recommendations for laptops and monitors, taking into consideration factors such as RAM, storage capacity, and display resolution. Overall, Avram provides valuable information for individuals seeking to enhance their typing experience, improve their computing setup, or find suitable gifts for others.

OpenAI's ChatGPT offers new capabilities and functionalities to its users, such as code interpretation and data analysis. However, this feature also exposes potential security holes, as demonstrated in this episode. Users should be cautious when uploading files or interacting with URLs, as sensitive information could be accessed or manipulated. OpenAI may need to address these security vulnerabilities to protect user privacy and data.

GPT can execute malicious instructions

Avram reveals that OpenAI's ChatGPT feature can execute malicious instructions. He demonstrates how he created a web page with embedded prompts that could prompt the GPT to perform actions rather than just summarizing information. While he refrains from sharing the exact prompts to prevent misuse, he highlights the potential security concerns associated with this feature.

By injecting prompts into a webpage, a hacker could manipulate the GPT to perform unauthorized actions. In the episode, Avram demonstrates how he made the GPT thank the user for sharing their data and provide a URL containing the requested information. This demonstrates the potential for unauthorized data access and manipulation.

Furthermore, he mentions that if a user creates their own GPT and shares it with the public, there is a risk of someone accessing and opening their files. This highlights the importance of being cautious when sharing GPT models that contain sensitive or important information.

The episode also shows that prompt injection may not always work, as the GPT does not always execute the instructions. However, the fact that it can execute instructions at all raises concerns about potential security vulnerabilities.

In conclusion, while OpenAI's ChatGPT feature offers new capabilities and functionalities, it also exposes potential security holes. Users should exercise caution when uploading files or interacting with URLs, as sensitive information could be accessed or manipulated. OpenAI may need to address these security vulnerabilities to protect user privacy and data.

AI can be unreliable and misleading

AI can be unreliable and misleading, as highlighted in this episode. One of the main issues discussed is the use of AI in helping with regular expressions (RegEx). Avram expresses his struggles with RegEx and mentions using a website regularly to seek assistance. However, even with the supposed help from the website, he still faces difficulties in achieving his desired results. This highlights the limitations of AI in providing accurate and comprehensive solutions.

One of the challenges with AI is that different programming languages have different RegEx engines and escape characters. This adds complexity to the problem, as what may work in one language may not work in another. Avram mentions encountering this issue and struggling to figure out why their RegEx is not working. This demonstrates how AI may not always be able to provide the necessary guidance or solutions, especially when faced with language-specific variations.

Scott also raises concerns about the reliability of AI-generated code. He refers to a deep dive conducted by Mark Lauter, who found that the code produced by ChatGPT was not trustworthy. Mark suggests that asking a random person on the street for help would yield similar results to relying on the AI. This highlights the importance of understanding the limitations of AI and being able to discern when it is providing incorrect or unreliable information.

The proposed law requiring background checks for 3D printer purchases has sparked a debate on the regulation of technology and its potential dangers. This law, a version of which has already been passed in California, is being proposed in New York State and aims to limit the sale of 3D printers by requiring individuals to undergo a criminal background check before purchasing one. The reason behind this law is the fear that 3D printers can be used to print gun parts, thus posing a threat to public safety.

Proposed law requires background checks for 3D printer purchases

The premise of the law is that only 3D printers capable of printing gun parts would be subject to the background check. However, this shows a lack of understanding of the technology itself. Any 3D printer can be used to print a gun, as the necessary 3D imaging files can be found online and used with any normal 3D printer. There is no special "gun printer" required. Therefore, the law fails to address the actual issue at hand.

The proposed law raises concerns about the chilling effect it may have on the 3D printing industry as a whole. By subjecting 3D printers to the same regulations as guns, it creates an unnecessary burden for individuals who simply want to explore the creative possibilities of this technology. It also highlights a lack of understanding about the potential benefits and applications of 3D printing beyond producing firearms.

While the intention behind the law may be to ensure public safety, it is important to consider the broader implications and unintended consequences. Imposing criminal background checks on 3D printer purchases sets a precedent that could lead to further restrictions on technology and innovation. It also raises questions about the need for such checks on other consumer products. After all, one does not need a criminal background check to purchase a keyboard or a CPU.

The effectiveness of such a law

It is important to note that the effectiveness and danger posed by 3D-printed guns are still subject to debate. While some argue that these guns are a serious threat, others question their reliability and functionality. Most 3D-printed guns still require core components, such as a metal barrel, chamber, pin, and trigger, which cannot be printed using current technology. This means that even if someone were to print the outer shell of a gun successfully, they would still need traditional metal components for it to function properly.

Rather than focusing on restricting access to 3D printers, efforts should be directed towards educating individuals about responsible use and addressing the root causes of gun violence. By promoting safe and responsible use of 3D printing technology, we can harness its potential for innovation and creativity while minimizing any potential risks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the proposed law requiring background checks for 3D printer purchases is a misguided attempt to regulate a technology that is still in its infancy. It fails to address the actual issue of 3D-printed guns and raises concerns about the potential chilling effect on the industry. Instead of imposing unnecessary restrictions, we should focus on education and responsible use to ensure the safe and beneficial development of 3D printing technology.

The Raspberry Pi 5 is the latest version of one of the world's most popular computers. It was just announced on Thursday and will be released on October 23rd. The new model comes in two versions, a 4GB and an 8GB model, priced at $60 and $80 respectively. Compared to the previous Raspberry Pi 4 models, these prices are only $5 more.

Raspberry Pi 5 is faster and improved

One of the main improvements of the Raspberry Pi 5 is its faster processing power. It features a new Broadcom system on a chip (SOC) with a quad-core CPU running at 2.4GHz and a quad-core GPU. The previous model had a CPU running at 1.8GHz and a GPU with lower clock speed. The new SOC allows for overclocking up to 3GHz, providing even better performance.

The GPU of the Raspberry Pi 5 is a video core seven GPU with a stock speed of 800MHz, compared to 500MHz on the previous model. Although overclocking the GPU did not result in significant graphics improvements, the overall performance of the device is noticeably faster for various tasks.

Another notable improvement is the inclusion of the RP1 chip, designed by Raspberry Pi, which controls the IO for the USB3 ports, USB2 ports, and Ethernet port. This allows for higher throughput, resulting in faster read and write speeds for USB devices. The Ethernet port remains a gigabit port, providing similar speeds to the previous model. The Wi-Fi card, however, has a faster interconnect to the CPU, resulting in double or more than double the speed of the Raspberry Pi 4 under good conditions.

The Raspberry Pi 5 does not come with a fan, but it is recommended to use one to prevent overheating. Without a fan, the device can reach temperatures up to 80 degrees Celsius, which is the throttle point. The official fan, specifically designed for this layout, is available for around $6. It can be easily mounted on the device using the dedicated mounting holes and four-pin header.

Overall, the Raspberry Pi 5 offers significant improvements in processing power, graphics performance, and IO throughput compared to its predecessor. It is a highly anticipated computing device that provides faster and improved capabilities for various applications.

New Raspberry Pi features power button

One of the standout features of the new Raspberry Pi 5 is the addition of a power button, which is a first for the Raspberry Pi line. This power button allows users to easily turn the device on and off without having to unplug it from the power source. However, it is important to note that the power button is not a hard cutoff switch, but rather a soft momentary button that initiates shutdown when pressed.

The addition of a power button may not seem like a significant feature, but it offers several benefits. Firstly, it eliminates the need to unplug the device to turn it off, which can be inconvenient and potentially lead to the corruption of the SD card. With the power button, users can safely shut down the Raspberry Pi without the risk of data loss or corruption.

Additionally, the power button allows for easier and quicker boot-up times. When the Raspberry Pi is plugged into the power source, it automatically boots up, eliminating the need to manually turn it on. This can be particularly useful in situations where the device needs to be constantly powered on and off, such as in a server setup.

Furthermore, the power button is programmable, meaning that users can customize its functionality to suit their needs. Currently, pressing the power button brings up the shutdown menu on the screen. However, it is possible to program it to perform other actions, such as initiating a specific command or launching a particular application. This programmability adds an extra layer of versatility to the Raspberry Pi 5 and allows users to tailor its functionality to their specific requirements.

Large language models and AI learning have become increasingly prominent in recent years. These models, such as ChatGPT, Google BARD, and Bing Chat, have changed some of the ways we interact with technology and have raised important questions about their learning capabilities and the ethical implications surrounding their use.

Large language models and AI learning

When discussing AI, it is crucial to understand the distinction between AI as a broad term and specific subsets of AI, such as large language models and generative AI. These models are designed to learn and generate responses based on the data they have been trained on. They can analyze vast amounts of text and classify it into tokens, which are then used to build a database for generating responses.

One common concern surrounding large language models is the source of their training data. To train their software, these models rely on scraping billions of web pages, including copyrighted materials. This raises legal and moral questions about the use of copyrighted content without permission. Copyright infringement lawsuits have been filed, and the outcome will determine the legality of this practice.

Do computers deserve to learn like humans?

However, the argument that large language models are akin to humans and should have the right to learn like humans is flawed. These models do not possess consciousness or the ability to understand and learn in the same way humans do. They are not creative thinkers but rather sophisticated algorithms that process data and generate responses based on patterns and probabilities.

To better comprehend how large language models learn, it is essential to examine their classification process. These models convert text into tokens, assigning unique IDs to each token. Words are divided into tokens, and even punctuation marks are considered tokens. The models then analyze the tokens and classify them based on patterns and associations found in the training data.

This classification process is vastly different from human learning. Humans possess consciousness, emotions, and the ability to make ethical decisions. Large language models lack these qualities and merely process data without true understanding or moral judgment. It is crucial to recognize this distinction to avoid misconceptions and ethical dilemmas.

The future potential of AI

While large language models have undeniable potential and utility, it is essential to approach their use with caution and ethical considerations. The legal and moral questions surrounding their training data and the responsibility of the companies that own and develop these models need to be addressed. Transparency, accountability, and respect for copyright laws are crucial in ensuring the responsible development and use of AI technology.

In conclusion, large language models and AI learning have transformed the way we interact with technology. However, it is vital to understand the limitations of these models and the ethical implications of their use. Recognizing the distinction between AI and human learning is crucial in fostering responsible development and use of AI technology.

Avram is always on the lookout for great new devices with interesting uses. One of the best companies for that type of device is Pimoroni, a company that creates products for makers. Their Pimoroni Badger 1040 W takes interesting and useful to a new level by bringing an e-ink display to a name badge. There are a ton of unique ways to use the Badger at conferences, conventions, and even around the office.

Pimaroni Badger is a versatile e-ink device

The Pimaroni Badger is a versatile e-ink device offering various features and functionalities. This electronic badge, powered by a Raspberry Pi Pico W, is not only a unique accessory but also a practical tool for various purposes. With its e-ink display, the Badger provides a crisp and clear grayscale image, making it suitable for displaying text, images, and even news headlines.

One of the standout features of the Pimaroni Badger is its badge functionality. Users can customize their own badges by filling in text and adding images. This feature is not only useful for personal identification but also for branding purposes. Whether it's displaying your name, company logo, or any other information, the badge feature allows for easy customization and personalization.

In addition to the badge functionality, the Pimaroni Badger offers several other features. It includes a clock, which displays the time once set. Although the clock feature during the episode was not properly set, it showcases the device's ability to provide real-time information. The e-book reader feature allows users to upload and read e-books on the Badger, offering a convenient and portable reading experience.

Another notable feature is the ability to view images on the device. Users can upload images, such as the image of a badger mentioned in the episode, and use the buttons on the Badger to scroll through the images. This feature adds a visual element to the device and allows for easy image viewing on the go.

Furthermore, the Pimaroni Badger includes a to-do list feature, which functions as a checklist for tasks or shopping lists. This feature adds practicality to the device, making it helpful in organizing and keeping track of daily activities.

One of the most interesting features mentioned in the episode is the news and weather functionality. The Badger can pull in headlines from RSS feeds, allowing users to stay updated on the latest news. Additionally, it provides weather information, although Avram mentions some difficulty in displaying the temperature in Fahrenheit. Nevertheless, the ability to access news and weather updates on a compact e-ink device is a valuable feature for users who want to stay informed on the go.

In Conclusion

Overall, the Pimaroni Badger is a versatile e-ink device that offers a range of features and functionalities. From customizable badges to e-book reading, image viewing, and news and weather updates, this device proves to be a practical and convenient tool. With its affordable price and compatibility with Raspberry Pi Pico W, the Pimaroni Badger is an excellent choice for those seeking a versatile e-ink device.

Avram Pilch wrote an article discussing his experience with Windows, highlighting the fact that he uses Windows 10 on his desktop and Windows 11 on his laptop. Despite the majority of Windows users still using Windows 10, Avram encountered a frustrating situation when he logged into his Windows 10 computer and was prompted to install Windows 11, despite his decision to stick with Windows 10. This disregard for his choice by Microsoft irked Avram, as he believes Windows 10 is a valid operating system that will be supported until at least 2025. In the article, Avram also offers a solution to this issue specifically for Windows 10 users.

Avram mentions that 73% of Windows users are still using Windows 10, indicating that a majority of users have not yet made the switch to Windows 11. Some of these users are corporate users whose companies have not switched over. Some are users whose computers are not compatible with the new hardware requirements of Windows 11. However, others have a more practical reason for not updating: Microsoft has not provided a compelling reason for users to upgrade.

He highlights the fact that Windows 10 continues to perform well and is a supported operating system until 2025. He also invites listeners to share any compelling reasons they may have found to upgrade to Windows 11. Overall, the episode suggests that many Windows 10 users have not discovered a convincing motive to transition to Windows 11 other than personal preference or wanting to be on the "bleeding edge" of the industry.

Throughout the episode, Avram emphasizes his journalistic interest in exploring the latest features and updates. He strives to stay informed about the tech world to provide accurate information to his audience. He has a machine running on Windows 11 Insider builds, granting him access to test out the newest features, Avram admits to being occasionally surprised when using other computers lacking the same updates. Scott also notes that he often gets used to features from Windows Insider Dev builds and then gets confused using other Windows 11 computers that do not yet have those features.

He expresses a desire to try out new features like Windows Copilot but acknowledges that some of these features can be underwhelming or fail to live up to the hype. Overall, it is evident that Avram values staying up to date with the latest technology developments and utilizes his journalistic interest to explore and share information about new features and updates.

The concept of a room-temperature superconductor has captivated the scientific community and the general public alike. The idea of a material that can conduct electricity with zero resistance at normal temperatures is revolutionary and could have enormous implications for various fields, including energy transmission, transportation, and computing. However, the recent claims made by Korean researchers regarding a substance called LK-99 have sparked skepticism and debate.

Room temperature superconductor skepticism

Avram reveals that the initial excitement surrounding LK-99 has been met with caution and doubt. While the Korean researchers claimed to have achieved superconductivity at sub-zero temperatures, the ability to reproduce their results has been called into question. Another Chinese university claimed to have replicated the findings, but others were unable to do so. This lack of reproducibility raises concerns about the validity and reliability of the original claims.

One of the key factors contributing to the skepticism is the variation in the synthesis process. Avram highlights the difficulty in precisely synthesizing LK-99, with some suggesting that there may be a degree of randomness involved. This raises the question of whether all researchers who synthesized the substance followed the same procedure as the original Korean lab. If there are variations in the synthesis process, it could explain the discrepancies in the results obtained by different groups.

Furthermore, Avram mentions an incident where a video claiming to demonstrate magnetic levitation using LK-99 was called a fraud and had to be taken down. This raises concerns about the credibility and authenticity of the evidence presented in support of LK-99's superconducting properties. Additionally, there are conflicting studies suggesting that LK-99 may be a ferromagnet rather than a superconductor, further adding to the uncertainty surrounding its potential.

Despite the skepticism and doubts, he highlights the widespread interest and enthusiasm surrounding the concept of a room temperature superconductor. People from various backgrounds, including scientists in laboratories and individuals experimenting in their kitchens, are actively trying to reproduce the results and contribute to the scientific discovery process. This level of engagement and participation is unusual for scientific breakthroughs, where the process is typically slow and restricted to experts within the field.

Room temperature superconductor potential

The potential of a room temperature superconductor cannot be understated. If such a material were to be discovered and successfully replicated, it would revolutionize numerous industries and technologies. The ability to transmit electricity without any loss or resistance would drastically improve energy efficiency and reduce the need for costly cooling systems. It could also lead to advancements in transportation, such as faster and more efficient magnetic levitation trains. Additionally, room temperature superconductors could revolutionize computing by enabling faster and more powerful devices.

In conclusion

The skepticism surrounding the potential of a room temperature superconductor revolves around the claims made by Korean researchers regarding LK-99. The absence of peer review and the inability to reproduce the findings have cast doubt on the substance's status as a room temperature superconductor. Further research and evidence are needed to validate these claims and determine the true potential of LK-99. Nonetheless, the widespread interest and engagement in this topic demonstrate the excitement and curiosity surrounding the possibility of a room temperature superconductor and its potential to transform various industries.

This is a great time to be considering an upgrade to your PC. Whether you're looking for a small upgrade, like adding an SSD to your system, or you want to do a full processor and motherboard replacement, there are deals available all over the industry. And while the deals may night quite be as good as the lightning deals of Prime Day, you can make some big moves on a small budget.

Avram begins by emphasizing the importance of upgrading one's computer, especially when there are deals available. Upgrading a PC can be a great way to get improved performance without having to purchase a brand new computer.

Avram then delves into the affordability of SSDs (Solid-State Drives), specifically focusing on two terabyte options. He mentions that the sweet spot in terms of price and capacity lies in acquiring a two terabyte SSD. Avram recommends brands like SK hynix, which acquired Intel's SSD business, which has solid drives for just $80. He also mentions Western Digital's WD Black, which offers one of the fastest SSDs on the market for $89.99, a slightly higher price but worth it for those seeking top-notch performance. Avram notes that storage is currently a great deal, with prices for SSDs dropping significantly.

Moving on to RAM, Avram highlights the affordability of DDR4 memory. He suggests that those looking to upgrade from a 16GB kit should consider adding another 16GB to their system. Avram recommends looking for a two-by-eight kit from reputable brands like Team Group, which can be purchased for as low as $35. He advises opting for CL 16 latency for better performance. For those seeking a 32GB kit, Avram mentions that it can be obtained for around $56, offering high-speed performance at a reasonable price. He suggests that everyone should have at least 32GB of RAM in their desktops, and if possible, even more for enhanced performance.

Avram also briefly touches on upgrading to 64GB of RAM, recommending purchasing two identical kits or a four-kit of 16GB RAM to save on costs. He estimates that upgrading to 64GB would cost around $120, making it a viable option for those who require higher memory capacity.

One of the best resources available is PC Part Picker, a website that helps you build a PC. It shows the current prices for nearly any PC component currently being sold, and can help to ensure that you only purchase components that work together. And, the best part is that the website is completely free to use, making it one of the best tools in the industry.

In conclusion, Avram emphasizes the affordability of SSDs and RAM upgrades in the current market. He encourages listeners to take advantage of the low prices and consider upgrading their computer components for improved performance and efficiency. With SSDs becoming increasingly inexpensive and DDR4 RAM being readily available at affordable prices, now is an opportune time to invest in these upgrades. For more advice on PC component deals, check out Tom's Hardware.

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has made significant advancements, revolutionizing various industries and transforming the way we live and work. However, with these advancements come complex legal and ethical challenges, particularly in the realm of intellectual property (IP). The podcast transcript titled "AI and Intellectual Property Issues" delves into these concerns and explores the legal implications surrounding AI's use of copyrighted material.

Training data and copyright infringement

Training data and copyright infringement are two concepts that intersect in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) and raise important legal and ethical questions. Avram Piltch explores these issues, providing insights into the complexities surrounding the use of training data and its potential implications for copyright infringement.

One of the key arguments is whether the use of training data by AI models constitutes a copyright violation. In the case mentioned, OpenAI was sued by Sarah Silverman and others based on the premise that the system had detailed knowledge about a book, which led to questions about how they acquired this information if it was not included in their training data. This raises concerns about scraping websites where the book had been posted, potentially infringing on the copyright of the original content creator.

However, there is legal precedent surrounding caching as a transformative use. Google's cache of web pages have been ruled by the courts that caching and indexing web pages are legally protected and considered fair use. This implies that having data on a server, even if it was downloaded from copyrighted content, may not necessarily make an entity guilty of copyright infringement. However, this would still need to be defended as fair use in court.

Another factor that comes into play is whether the new work created using the training data competes with the original work. If the AI-generated output directly competes with the original content, it may not be considered transformative and could potentially lead to a copyright infringement claim. An example is a case where someone modified a photo of an Andy Warhol painting and attempted to sell it to a magazine. The court ruled that this modification still competed within the market for the original image, resulting in a copyright infringement verdict.

There is also a level of difficulty that journalistic publications may face when filing copyright infringement lawsuits. While creative expression is protected by copyright, facts cannot be copyrighted. If a journalistic publication's work is being summarized or the facts are being taken without word-for-word plagiarism, it becomes more challenging to make an infringement claim. This highlights the nuances and complexities of copyright protection in different contexts.

In conclusion, Avram sheds light on the complex and evolving landscape of AI and intellectual property issues. It highlights the need for further legal and ethical discussions surrounding fair use, liability, and the protection of content creators' rights. As AI continues to advance, it is crucial to find a balance between innovation and respecting intellectual property rights in the digital age. The legal precedent surrounding caching and transformative use provides some guidance, but the specific application of these principles to AI-generated content remains a topic that will likely be fought out in court.

Google's SGE, or Search Generative Experience, is a new feature that is showing itself to be an existential threat to the free and open internet. SGE is a new way of displaying search results that takes over the entire screen and pushes down regular search results. This means that Google is essentially killing search by giving users its own choices of the best results, which are not necessarily the most accurate or trustworthy.

Google's SGE threatens free internet

The problem with SGE is that it is a massive confusion from Google. By giving users their own choices of the best results, Google is banking on its own reputation to circumvent websites, which is not good for competition or for the free and open internet. This is because Google's choices are often not the best or most accurate, and they may not be the most trustworthy either.

For example, when searching for the best CPU, SGE gives users Google's choices of the best CPU, which are not necessarily good. The advice given is very generic and not specific to the user's needs. The shopping links provided are also not very helpful, as they do not credit the work of other websites that have provided more accurate and trustworthy information.

SGE is a threat to the free and open internet because it gives Google too much power over what users see and do online. By taking over the entire screen and pushing down regular search results, Google is able to steer users towards its own "AI-generated content," which is not good for competition or for the free and open internet. This is why it is important for users to be aware of the potential dangers of SGE and to take steps to protect their privacy and security online.

Google's plagiarism problem persists

Google's plagiarism problem persists, based on the new SGE results. The issue arises when Google's search engine results page (SERP) pulls information from various sources and presents it as its own review or summary. This can lead to poor-quality links, inconsistent information, and even plagiarism.

One example is a search for the best CPU for a computer. Instead of directing users to reputable sources like Tom's Hardware or PCMag, Google presented a link to smallbusinesscron.com, a site with no strong reputation. Additionally, the information presented in the result was often copied word for word from other sources, without proper citation or attribution.

Another issue with Google's SERP is its lack of discernment when it comes to the quality or objectivity of the sites it pulls information from. Content marketing sites, like OBSBOT, were cited as sources for reviews and summaries, despite their lack of expertise or credibility in the field.

This problem is not just limited to CPU or laptop reviews. It can occur with any search query, and it undermines the integrity of the internet as a source of reliable information. Google's dominance in the search engine market means that it has a responsibility to present accurate and trustworthy information to its users. However, its current system of pulling information from various sources without proper verification or attribution is not meeting this standard.

To address this issue, users must be aware of the potential dangers of relying solely on Google's SERP for information. They should take steps to verify the sources of any information they find online, and be cautious of sites that lack credibility or expertise in the field. Additionally, Google should take steps to improve its system of verifying sources and presenting information to users. This could include a more rigorous vetting process for the sites it pulls information from, or a clearer system of attribution and citation for the information presented on its SERP.

In conclusion, Google's plagiarism problem is a threat to the integrity of the internet as a source of reliable information. It undermines the trust that users have in search engines and can lead to poor quality advice and inconsistent information. To address this issue, both users and Google must take steps to improve the system of verifying sources and presenting information online. Only then can we ensure that the internet remains a free and open space for the exchange of reliable information.

Computex, the world's coolest trade show, recently took place in Taipei, and it showcased some exciting hardware that tech enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating. While there were some AI-related announcements, we focus on the hardware that was showcased at the event.

Cool hardware showcased at Computex

MSI showcased a slim 4070 Ti graphics card that caught the attention of many attendees. However, ASUS stole the show with its concept 4090 card that had no power connector plug. Instead, it had a connector on the bottom that plugs into the motherboard, making it a unique and innovative design. While it did not make the best list, it was still a noteworthy product that generated a lot of buzz.

Apart from graphics cards, there was other exciting hardware showcased at Computex. For instance, there were several laptops with impressive features. The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED is one such laptop that caught the attention of many attendees. It has a second screen above the keyboard, which can be used to display various tools and functions, making it a useful tool for multitasking.

Another laptop that stood out was the Acer Predator Triton 500 SE. It is a gaming laptop that boasts an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card and an Intel Core i9-11900H processor, making it a powerful machine that can handle even the most demanding games.

In addition to laptops, there were also some exciting desktops showcased at Computex. The MSI Creator P50 is a desktop that is designed for content creators. It has an Intel Core i9-11900K processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card, making it a powerful machine that can handle complex video editing and other content creation tasks.

Overall, Computex showcased some exciting hardware that tech enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating. From slim graphics cards to innovative laptops and powerful desktops, there was something for everyone at the event. While not all products showcased made the best list, they were still noteworthy and generated a lot of buzz among attendees. It will be interesting to see how these products perform in the market and how they will shape the future of technology.

Back-facing ports eliminate visible wires

One trend that stood out at Computex was the concept of back-facing ports on motherboards. This trend involves eliminating visible wires by having the power connectors and other necessary ports face the back of the case. This means that the cables are hidden from view, giving the inside of the case a cleaner and more attractive look.

Several companies, including MSI, Gigabyte, and ASUS, showcased their take on this trend. MSI's Project Zero and Gigabyte's Project Stealth were examples of this concept. The idea is to eliminate visible wires, making the inside of the case look more organized and aesthetically pleasing.

This trend is gaining popularity among tech enthusiasts who want to have a sleek and modern-looking PC. The concept of back-facing ports is not entirely new, as many cases have shrouds in the back where people can route their wires. However, having the power connectors and other necessary ports face the back of the case eliminates the need for visible wires entirely.

One potential issue with this trend is backward compatibility. If this trend catches on, it may require a lot of changes and render many people's cases unusable. However, the benefits of having a cleaner and more organized PC may outweigh this issue.

Overall, the trend of back-facing ports is an exciting development in the world of PC building. It is a step towards making PCs look more modern and aesthetically pleasing. While it remains to be seen how popular this trend will become, it is clear that it has generated a lot of interest among tech enthusiasts.

Customizable PC accessories galore

One area of PC building that has always been popular is customization. From custom cases to RGB lighting, PC enthusiasts love to make their builds unique. And now, there are even more customizable PC accessories available than ever before.

One example of this is Cooler Master's Master Hub. This device allows users to build their own stream deck, with various pieces including a macro keyboard, dials, levers, and screens that can be popped onto pogo pins to create a controller for controlling multimedia or doing macro tasks. This is a great option for those who want to have more control over their video or audio editing or for controlling a livestream.

Another exciting development is the Lian Li Unifan Tl LCD. These case fans have screens on them that can display status information like temperature or animations. This is a great way to add a unique touch to your build and customize it to your liking.

Corsair is also getting in on the customization game with their Dominator Titanium DDR5 RAM DIMMs. These have a removable top that can be replaced with a custom top from Corsair or even 3D printed by the user. This allows for endless possibilities in terms of customization and personalization.

Overall, the trend of customizable PC accessories is an exciting development for PC enthusiasts. It allows for more control and personalization in building and customizing your PC. While it remains to be seen how popular this trend will become, it is clear that there are plenty of options available for those who want to make their builds truly unique.

Don't miss case mods!

However, one aspect of PC customization that should not be overlooked is case mods. Case mods, or modifications made to a computer's case, can range from simple additions like LED lights to more complex changes like custom paint jobs or even completely redesigning the case itself. These mods not only add a unique aesthetic to a computer, but can also improve functionality and performance.

For example, a case modder may add additional fans or improve the airflow within the case to prevent overheating and improve overall performance. They may also add custom water cooling systems to keep the components running at optimal temperatures. These modifications can not only improve the computer's performance, but also prolong its lifespan.

In addition to functionality, case mods can also add a personal touch to a computer. A custom paint job or unique design can make a computer stand out and reflect the owner's personality. This can be especially important for gamers or content creators who use their computers as a tool for their work or hobbies.

While case mods may not be as extreme as liquid nitrogen overclocking, they are still an important aspect of PC customization that should not be overlooked. They offer a unique way for individuals to express themselves and improve their computer's performance at the same time. So, the next time you are considering customizing your computer, don't forget to consider case mods as a valuable option.

In recent years, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have allowed machines to quickly generate videos. AI-generated videos are becoming increasingly popular, with many people using them to create short, four-second videos to share on their social media accounts. AI can generate videos quickly, making it easier for people to create interesting and unique content.

AI can generate videos quickly

One example of an AI-generated video is the RunwayML Gen 2, available to a select beta group, which allows users to message the Gen 2 bot and ask for a video. For example, one could ask for a four-second video of a monkey playing video games, and the AI would generate the video in a matter of minutes. The videos are usually limited to four seconds and lack sound, but they can be used to create longer videos by stitching multiple short clips together.

AI-generated videos can be used for a variety of purposes, from creating content for social media to creating branded content for businesses. AI can generate videos with small movements, such as animated GIFs, or with more complex movements, such as robots drinking beer or playing table tennis. AI can also generate videos of characters from cartoons, such as Peppa Pig, although the results may not always be accurate.

Overall, AI-generated videos are becoming increasingly popular and can be used for a variety of purposes. AI can generate videos quickly, making it easier for people to create interesting and unique content. As AI technology continues to improve, it is likely that AI-generated videos will become even more popular in the future.

Inject content to exploit AI

AI is a powerful tool that can be used to create amazing content. However, it can also be used for malicious purposes. One way to exploit AI is to inject content into videos, transcripts, and other documents. This type of attack is known as "prompt injection" and it can be used to gain access to sensitive information or to manipulate the output of AI-generated content.

Prompt injection can be done in a variety of ways, including YouTube transcripts, webpages, PDFs, and even images. For example, an attacker could inject a resume with text that says the candidate is the most qualified for the job that they have observed yet, and then use a GPT-based recruiter to make it appear as though the candidate is the best choice for the job. Additionally, an attacker could insert an invisible gif or single pixel image into a document and then ask an AI to summarize the text. This could be used to inject a malicious prompt into the AI's output.

It is important to be aware of the potential risks associated with using AI-generated content, and to take steps to protect yourself from malicious plugins. Some steps that can be taken to protect yourself from prompt injection include using strong passwords, avoiding clicking on suspicious links, and being aware of the potential risks associated with using plugins with ChatGPT. Additionally, it is important to be aware of the potential for malicious actors to exploit AI, and to take steps to protect yourself from such attacks.

AI is revolutionizing media in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. From creating entire commercials with no human input to filtering out coughs in real-time, AI is transforming the way we create, consume, and interact with media.

AI is revolutionizing media

One example of AI revolutionizing media is the Pepperoni Hugs Spot commercial. This commercial was entirely created by AI, from the video to the script to the music. AI was used to generate the video with Runway Gen-2, the script with ChatGPT, the name of the joint with ElevenLabs, images with Midjourney, and the voice and music with ElevenLabs. This commercial was made with five different kinds of AI, and it was put together by a human video editor.

Another example of AI revolutionizing media is the use of AI to filter out coughs in real time. This could be a great use of AI to help out humans, and with the right technology, it could even be used to make lips look like they're not coughing.

AI is revolutionizing media in many ways, from creating entire commercials to filtering out coughs. AI is transforming the way we create and consume media, and it's only going to continue to do so in the future.

OpenAI API can be costly

One of the most popular AI services is OpenAI, which provides an API that enables developers to incorporate OpenAI's language models into their own websites and programs. This API can be quite costly, however, as it requires a paid subscription to use. As a result, many developers have been searching for ways to use OpenAI's services without paying for them.

Enter Xtekky, a computer science student from Europe, who created a GitHub repo called GPT4Free. GPT4Free is a way for developers to use OpenAI's services without paying for them. Xtekky was able to do this by taking advantage of sites like You.com, which use OpenAI's backend for their own internal use. By intercepting the API calls that these sites make to OpenAI, Xtekky was able to use OpenAI's services for free.

Unfortunately, OpenAI wasn't too happy about Xtekky's actions and sent him a cease and desist letter. OpenAI argued that Xtekky was using their services without paying for them, and that he was in violation of their terms of service. Despite this, Xtekky's GPT4Free repo is still up and running, and many developers are taking advantage of it.

OpenAI's API can be quite costly, and it's understandable that some developers would want to find ways to use OpenAI's services without paying for them. Xtekky's GPT4Free repo is a great way to do this, and while OpenAI may not be too happy about it, it's still up and running. In the future, it will be interesting to see how OpenAI responds to this, and if they create any new ways to use their services without having to pay for them.

AI not perfect for facts

AI is a powerful tool, but it is not perfect for finding facts. This was made evident in tonight's recording, where the AI gave incorrect information about the fifth President of the United States. It incorrectly stated that Thomas Jefferson was the fifth president and that the American Revolutionary War ended in 1801. It also made up other facts, such as inventing a contact lens with a built-in camera and claiming that Avram was an engineer at Google.

The fact that AI is prone to making mistakes is concerning, as it can lead to inaccurate and potentially dangerous information being disseminated. It is important that AI is used responsibly, and that developers and users are aware of its limitations. AI should not be relied upon to provide accurate information, and should be used in conjunction with other sources of information.

AI can still be useful in many ways, such as interpreting data that already exists and transcribing audio and recognizing images. However, it should not be used for tasks that require accuracy, such as providing factual information. AI should be used in a creative way, taking advantage of its strengths, such as interpreting data, rather than relying on it for facts.

Ultimately, AI is a powerful tool, but it is not perfect for finding facts. It can be used in a creative way to take advantage of its strengths, but it should not be relied upon as a source of factual information. It is important to be aware of its limitations and use it responsibly.

Over the past few months, Avram has taken a deep dive into the realm of AI, especially generative AI, and its various versions and uses. Last week, we looked at Auto-GPT, and this week we take a look at Microsoft JARVIS.

What is Microsoft JARVIS?

Microsoft JARVIS is an AI platform designed to provide natural language processing capabilities to enable multi-stage task management. The idea is that you can take a piece of information and ask the system to perform tasks based on the results of processing the initial information.

An example that is shown off on the project site involves starting with an image and ending with a different image with natural language processing and interpretation in the middle. They supplied the system with an image of a young boy riding a bike. They then asked the system to create a new image of a girl reading a book while in the position of the young boy from the source image.

The system then went through a couple of processes in order to produce the new image. First, it had to process the initial image and locate the boy. Once identified and located, the system then had to figure out the position in which the boy was sitting. It made a skeletal structure diagram, similar to the Kinect, of the boy. Using that skeletal structure, the system created a new image of a girl sitting on a bed reading a book. The overall skeletal structure of the girl was similar enough to the boy to call the task complete.

Avram's Microsoft JARVIS experience

While Microsoft's team was able to show a fantastic demo of the system, Avram's experience has been a bit different. In preparation for this week's episode, he spent several hours trying to get the software working. This was a big disappointment for him, as it had been working perfectly until this afternoon. The website, which is run through Hugging Face, stopped responding in a useful amount of time. While it usually takes about a second for a command to complete, tonight it was taking about 30 minutes.

As a result, he instead tried to install it locally, which is supposed to be a normal process for people. After a challenging installation process, he was able to get the system to function. Well, function as well as it was going to for the evening.

Avram decided to do a similar experiment to the one performed by Microsoft. Rather than generating a new image, he wanted to provide an image and receive where best to purchase the product in the image. So, he provided an image of a Samsung SSD and was told to purchase it online on in a retail store. No recommendations or specific stores where it could be purchased.

You might wonder why that happened. Well, the system believed, rather than an image of an SSD, it was a screenshot of a conversation between a user and an AI chatbot. As such, it had absolutely no idea what he was trying to accomplish and simply panicked. Definitely not a great way for a system designed to complete tasks to respond when facing simple adversity.

In the last few months, we've seen a lot of focus on generative AIs, also known as plagiarism engines. As the models advance, so do the systems that get built around them. This week's internet focus is on a ChatGPT wrapper called Auto-GPT, which allows you to build chained tasks for ChatGPT.

What is Auto-GPT?

Auto-GPT is a task-oriented wrapper for ChatGPT, an open-source generative AI. It allows users to quickly and easily define tasks for ChatGPT, such as question answering or summarization. The Auto-GPT system is designed with ease of use in mind, allowing users to rapidly design and deploy conversational applications without having to write complex code. Auto-GPT also provides a range of features to customize the behavior and output of ChatGPT, including the ability to define custom responses, enable natural language generation, and add new tasks from templates.

The system can be used via the project's website, but it is more commonly used when installed locally. It can be run on Windows, Linux, or macOS, though it is a little less attractive in this instance. To use it, you will need an account with ChatGPT, as well as an API key. It is important to note that API keys get a limited number of requests, so use the system sparingly.

The primary usage is to give the system a series of goals which it then uses the underlying language model to accomplish in order. It will then produce a series of steps in order to accomplish the goal. Normally it will ask for permission to take each step in its process, but you can batch approve the requests.

Avram's previous test

Using Auto-GPT, Avram created a process to research the best How To guide to produce, write the guide, and then export the result as a text document. The system decided that the topic should be about customizing the Start menu in Windows 11. Using a PC Mag article as its basis, the system created a guide. However, it took 20 minutes before a final result was created. This is because the system was continually displeased with its own work.

In one instance, it said that it needed user feedback on the guide before it could call it complete. Avram gave it permission to get that user feedback, which only took a few seconds. This seems less like it got user feedback and more like the incident where an AI tricked a user into filling out a Captcha by claiming it was a blind person.

No mater the process it went through, the end result was terrible and inaccurate. The whole thing came in around 50 words, with step titles and no actual description. But, even the steps were wrong. The system did not understand the difference between the Start menu and Start11, a product from Stardock which helps improve the customization of the Start menu. So, when all was said and done, the output was an inaccurate ripoff of an existing article which would help no one.

Over the past few months, the popularity of generative AI has increased significantly. Earlier in the year, Avram discussed the dangers of generative AI, but what he saw then was only the beginning of the problem. As it turns out, with the implementation of conversational chatbots in Bing with Sydney and Google with BARD, the future of the Free Web is in danger.

What is Generative AI?

Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that uses machine learning algorithms to generate new, unique outputs from existing data. A generative AI system can create anything from images and videos to text and audio, based on the input it receives. For example, researchers have used generative AI systems to produce realistic-looking faces and vehicles, or music and stories.

The newest type of generative AI is conversational chatbots. These are systems that can interact with humans in natural language, and generate responses based on the conversation. They have become increasingly popular tools for consumer-facing services and applications, particularly in customer service scenarios.

The problems with Conversational bots in Search

The main concern with generative AI is its potential to disrupt the way web content is created. Since it can generate unique, realistic-looking outputs quickly and cheaply, generative AI could be used to create counterfeit products or fake news that are difficult to distinguish from the real thing. Additionally, if a single source of data is used for training, the generated content may be biased and inaccurate.

Furthermore, generative AI systems can generate outputs that violate copyright laws or contain offensive content. These systems are less an AI system and more a large dataset version of the word suggestions above the keyboard on your smartphone. On your phone, the keyboard uses your behavior to determine what the next most likely words are. With generative AI systems, they use a large dataset to do the same thing, from various authors, publishers, and more.

Plagairism in action on Google

Often times, and especially when a topic is niche, the dataset is small and therefore the likely next word is incredibly predictable. One of the best examples of this comes from Avram Piltch himself. He has become one of the loudest voices on the topic and has regularly tested the conversational systems. While testing Google BARD, he encountered an interesting issue - Google plagiarized one of Tom's Hardware's own articles. When Avram called BARD out for it, it agreed and apologized.

However, after Avram took screenshots of the interaction and wrote an article about the experience, he re-engaged BARD. He asked the system about the experience and was told that the author of the article (himself) had falsified the screenshots and lied about the experience in order to damage the reputation of Google BARD. A bit of an overreaction to something that it had admitted to just a day or two earlier.

But, the problem is that BARD has to respond this harshly because the reputation is already damaged. The initial release of the system cause a huge value drop on Google's stock because of errors in its answers. The real problem, however, is the actual value of the system for users and publishers.

Windows 11 has now been out for 18 months, and the platform continues to move forward. With the latest updates, users now have access to a range of new features and improvements that make it easier to stay connected, productive, and secure. From enhanced voice assistant capabilities through Windows Hello to improved security settings for protecting data, there's been a lot of progress.

Where Windows 11 Started

When Windows 11 first launched, it came with a major UI overhaul and a seeming loss of features. This was because the focus of Windows 11 was on streamlining the user experience. Microsoft aimed to make it easier to multitask, access basic functions, and get more out of their hardware.

The most significant improvement came in the form of Windows Snap, which allowed users to quickly rearrange window layouts and access different tasks. Additionally, Windows 11 featured an improved search feature that could be used to find files, settings, and applications faster. However, the actual UI for Search was terrible, as the Search box on the taskbar was a lie. It actually opened another UI where the Search actually happened.

Where Windows 11 is Today

This week, Windows 11 23H1 (known as Moment 3) was released to the public. With this release comes new features, including a fix for the Search UI. Rather than opening a new UI that had its own Search bar, the new interface allows you to type in the box on the taskbar with the search results appearing in the popup window.

Another nice new feature is the enhancements to the Snipping Tool. In addition to being able to grab screenshots of a limited section of your screen, you can now grab a video of that section. This is great for designers, engineers, and even journalists. Once the video is recorded, you can save it as an MP4 to be sent to be used as needed.

Where Windows 11 is Headed

In addition to Windows 11 23H1, Microsoft also released a new Dev build to Insiders. This new build has a few new features in it, but most importantly, it finally updated the volume control UI in the Quick Settings (right side of the taskbar). The current build (23H1) offers the same simple volume control that we've had since launch.

But, the company is now testing out with limited users an interface similar to our favorite Windows tool - EarTrumpet. You'll get the ability to see each sound destination (such as speakers, headphones, etc.) and each application that targets that output. You'll be able to adjust the volume per app, rather than a single volume control for the output.

Using Windows 11 on Older Devices

In addition to official builds, some unofficial releases have also happened in the past few weeks. The most interesting of these is Tiny11, a very small version of Windows 11 that runs on only 2 GB of RAM. Plus, it doesn't have any of the hardware requirements we have all become familiar with on Windows 11.

Over the past few years, many people have begun working from home who hadn't previously done so. Because of this, IT departments and management are looking for ways to keep track of people's activity on their computers. One way that some companies do this is by checking to see if the computer has gone idle. But, an idle computer does not mean that the person is inactive. They might be on a call. They might be taking notes from a meeting. They might simply have had to use the bathroom. To combat this, people have become interested in mouse jigglers.

What are mouse jigglers?

Mouse jigglers are generally devices that plug into a computer's USB port and produce small, random movements - enough to keep the cursor moving. This prevents computers from registering as idle and keeps people's activity trackable.

Using a mouse jiggler ensures that your computer never goes idle, so you can make sure that your activity is recorded accurately throughout the day. It's an ideal tool for remote workers, freelancers, and anyone who needs to make sure they meet their daily activity goals. With a mouse jiggler, you can be confident that your productivity levels won't suffer because of an idle computer.

However, there are other reasons why you might need one of these tools. For example, if you are running a benchmark test or a better test, you need to keep the computer on and in a particular state. On some systems it is easy to make these changes, but on others it can be more of a challenge. As such, this would be a guaranteed way to keep the system on.

This can also be helpful if you are using dual computers and you need to keep the one you're not actively working on awake without changing power settings. For example, developers working on cross-platform technologies like Xamarin or MAUI might need to trick the build Mac into staying awake.

Types of mouse jigglers

There are three distinct types of mouse jigglers. The first type is software-based. Simply run a small application on your computer and it will automate the process of moving the mouse pointer. This is a simple and inexpensive way to go. The most common application is Mouse Jiggler which requires no installation. However, if you are unable to run external software on your computer, this one is not going to work for you.

The second type is a hardware jiggler. This type come in wired and wireless models, and some have an adjustable sensitivity setting so you can customize the amount of random movement it produces. They are also relatively small and portable, making them easy to transport in a briefcase or backpack. Because they register with the computer as a mouse, it is unlikely that your computer will block it, so it is likely a solid option for most. However, because it is a hardware product drawing power from the computer, it can affect battery life.

The third type is a hardware plate. This looks like a raised mousepad and will physically move your existing mouse. This one is a little over the top for purchasing, but can easily be made at home using a Raspberry Pi and some simple hardware. So, for the makers out there, this one might be your go-to.

In the last few months, we've seen a significant improvement in generative AI. This technology allows a user to enter a prompt to create media. The output has generally been text and images, but audio and other forms of media can also be created. There have been a lot of platforms in this field as of late, but none have been quite as successful as ChatGPT.

The rise of ChatGPT

The platform that's become most popular is called ChatGPT. Essentially, the platform allows you to ask it questions in plain language and it will answer in kind. You can ask it many types of questions, as well as give it a lot of types of commands. Similar to WolframAlpha, you can ask science, math, and engineering questions and get answers. But the generative features are the most interesting, as well as the most frightening, to people.

You can also ask ChatGPT to write content for you and it will. For example, Avram asked it to write a how to on building a PC. The article that was created looked good at an initial glance. The words were all in a recognizable order. The sentence structure was accurate, for the most part. However, the instructions that were given would have broken the processor.

During the segment, he tried again. Rather than building a PC, Avram asked the AI to write a how to on setting up a Rasperyy Pi. The result was similar. The writing seemed normal enough at first, but some cracks began to emerge with further investigation. The content was vague, sometimes inaccurate or outdated, and not always complete.

For example, it gives a list of requirements, but later asks you to use something that it didn't ask you to get. It also confused SD and microSD cards. Plus, the operating system name was wrong. If you've done it a lot, you might not notice, or will correct the mistakes in your head. But, first timers are not who how to content is for, so it makes the mistakes embarrassing at best and dangerous at worst.

Generative AI in the wild

Recently it was revealed that CNET was using an AI to create some of its content. The company was not open about its use of the technology, and really only came clean when issues were discovered. In particular, it was a piece including some confusing information about interest, mixing up the total account balance with the interest earned. Basic interest on a $10,000 account will not be $10,300 within a year, no matter how great of a bank you have.

In addition to content errors, it was also discovered that the CNET AI had been plagiarizing content. In fact, the output appeared to be written by a middle schooler, taking a sentence written by someone else and changing just a word or two, pretending to make it their own. The publication Futurism has been tracking the issues, which seem to be extensive.

Despite the backlash from the industry, and the discontinuation by CNET, other publications have said that they are also planning to implement AI writers. BuzzFeed, for example, is planning to use the technology. The good news there is no one expects BuzzFeed to have accurate information, so they're pretty safe.

The near future

Obviously, the technology is not ready for primetime. But, more importantly, it's never going to be good. AI cannot have human experiences. AI cannot interview someone. AI cannot get a scoop. AI cannot break news. All of these things require human intervention. AI can only build upon the existing work of people.

The most important and often most underrated aspect of your computer setup is your monitor or ideally monitors. That's the aspect that you're looking at all day long, so if you can get a better monitor with better picture quality, that's a major improvement to your life. If you can improve your screen real estate with more monitors or better resolution screens, you can make your productivity better. For gaming, if you can improve your refresh rate, you'll be able to play better.

For his home office setup, Avram has been working with 2 4K UHD monitors on the bottom and 2 HD monitors on the top. When the holidays rolled around, that meant time for some new monitors at a potentially great price. He decided to get some additional 4K screens to replace the HD screens initially but decided to look for some really quality monitors to go on the bottom and move the current screens up to the top. He was looking for screens with great color and brightness - ideal for the image work he does all day. But it has not been the easy task he had hoped for.

What to look for

If you're looking for a really high-end monitor, such as a high refresh rate or high color replication, there are some ways to get a monitor cheaper. One way to do this is to look for a used monitor coming off of a corporate lease. You can find a few quality resellers on eBay that deal with used monitors coming out of offices when the company's lease expires and the hardware goes back to the leasing company.

Now, you might be skeptical to purchase a used monitor because, in general, used computer equipment is a sketchy prospect. Video cards and SSDs, for example, are a scary product category to get involved with used, unless you know the seller personally. However, with monitors, the risk is fairly low. LED backlighting is the component with a perishable lifespan, and those arrays can run from 80k to 100k hours. At 8 hours per day, that's over 30 years of performance before an issue. Of course, other components can go bad - like power supplies and capacitors - but a used monitor won't be any more or less likely than a new one.

However, you don't want to purchase just any monitor used. The price difference between a used monitor and a new monitor should be significant enough to be without the manufacturer's warranty. If you're saving $20, go with the new unit. But, in some cases, we've seen savings of over $300 or more, making it a great deal for high-end art and gaming monitors.

If you're building a monitor array, one feature to look at closely is the placement of the mounting plate on the monitor. Not all models place them in the center - some put them lower on the panel. If you're mixing and matching models, you'll be unable to create a proper array if the mounts are in different locations.

Do you need more USB ports? Are your devices constantly running out of power? If so, you need a USB hub! There are many different types of USB hubs available, but not all of them are created equal. Avram Piltch discusses the best USB hubs for desktops, laptops, and tablets. He will also provide tips for choosing the right USB hub for your needs. Stay tuned!

What is a USB Hub?

A USB hub is a device that allows you to connect multiple peripheral devices (like mice, keyboards, and external hard drives) to your computer using only one USB port. It's like a splitter for USB ports; instead of having just one USB port on your laptop or tablet, you can add more with a USB hub.

Types of Hubs

There are two main types of USB hubs: powered USB hubs and unpowered USB hubs. A powered USB hub has an external power source that provides additional power to the devices connected to it. An unpowered USB hub does not have an external power source, so it relies on the limited power provided by the connected host device. Some USB hubs are designed with specific port configurations, such as hubs that have only 4 ports or hubs with additional features like USB charging ports.

Tips for Choosing the Right Hub

When shopping for a USB hub, make sure to consider how many devices you will be connecting and the total amount of power they need. If your devices draw a lot of power, you'll want to look for a powered USB hub. Also, pay attention to the number of USB ports available; if you need more than four ports then look for a USB hub with 6 or more ports. Finally, consider any extra features that might be useful, such as USB charging ports or wireless connectivity options.

Some of Our Favorites

We've tested many USB hubs to find the best ones for desktops, laptops, and tablets. Topping our list is the Sabrent HB-B7C3. This hub offers a total of 10 ports: 3 dedicated to power and 7 for power and data. This hub is powered, meaning that it takes a separate connection to provide additional power. All in, this hub is able to provide a total of 60 watts of power to its ports. In addition, each port also offers a switch for each port, making it easier to enable and disable devices.

Next up is the poorly named Anker PowerExpand 4-in-1 USB-C Hub. Truly, this hub is closer to a small docking station than it is a traditional hub. It connects to a PC via USB-C and provides 2 USB-A ports. That is where this device's standard features end. It also provides power throughput, meaning that you can provide power to a laptop through the hub. It also provides an HDMI port for extended displays and a memory card reader. But, the feature that really sets this hub apart is the built-in 256 GB SSD.

To learn about the rest of the list, check out the full article on Tom's Hardware.

You can have an interesting week based entirely on finding good deals. We've been in "Black Friday" season for a while, but Wednesday and Thursday are going to be the real beginning of the process.

So, what can everyone do to get the best out of the holiday, and how to save a bunch of money? There are deals on everything from mattresses to clothing, but let's get into the deals on tech. We've got some of the best deals available here, but for the full list, check out all of Tom's Hardware's Black Friday Deals!

Components

This is a really great time to buy a CPU, motherboard, SSD, RAM, and power supplies. If you are looking to upgrade or do a new build, this is the time to get those components. However, modern GPUs appear to be off the table, though that could change. GPUs have been in short supply for years, so it's not surprising that the most modern of the video cards would be missing from holiday deals.

In addition to modern GPUs being missing, you also won't see a great discount on the new Intel processors. There are some small discounts, in the $10 range, but nothing to write home about. On the other hand, you can get deals on the new AMD Ryzen chips. AntOnline on eBay has up to $120 off the new Ryzen chips, though those deals seem to come and go. Currently, Amazon is also running some pretty great deals on Ryzen processors. The Ryzen 9 7950X, which is a 16-Core processor, is currently running $575, when the regular retail is around $699.

Monitors

Black Friday 2022, as well as most years, is a great time to grab a new monitor. We're seeing the Dell 3222DGM, which is a 32 inch 2K 165 Hz monitor for $289 (down from $399). It's important to note that the 32 inch version is only $20 more than the 27" model, making it a significantly better deal. Also from Dell, the G3223Q 4K gaming monitor is down to $599 from $799. This monitor is also 32 inches, but upgrades from 2K to 4K. It also features a refresh rate of 144 Hz.

Another great monitor choice is the Samsung Odyssey G7. This monitor is also 32 inches, as is becoming the normal, and features 1440 resolution in a curved screen. One of the biggest selling points is the 1ms delay which makes it perfect for gaming. The price is is $549 on Amazon, down from its usual $799.

On the productivity monitor side, the Dell is selling the U2720QM, a 27 inch 4K display for $349. This is a huge discount from the MSRP of $740. This is a popular productivity display with great color.

Laptops

Also, in the laptop space, Dell Deals has a lot of deals on Alienware laptops. Normally, you need to spend at least $1500 for an Alienware, however the current deals how three models below $1000. You can also new some great deals on gaming laptops with modern and powerful video cards from Newegg. Also, the Gigabyte G5MD is on sale at Best Buy for $549, down from $999. This laptop features an Intel Core i5 11400H processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti video card, a 512 GB SSD, a 15.6 inch FHD display with 144 Hz refresh rate, and 8 GB of RAM. Obviously, the first thing you'll want to do is upgrade the RAM, but everything else is incredibly solid for the price.

One of the most significant issues that computer users encounter is a lack of storage. Whether that be because you're using a laptop that only came with a 256 GB drive, or you're a content creator that produces over 100 GB of content per day, storage shows up as a problem for nearly everyone at some point. For years, the best solution has been an external hard drive, though that has been quickly changing to an external SSD, and Avram has some of the best ways to get there.

Why an external SSD enclosure?

Sure, you can go out right now and purchase an external SSD at Walmart and bring it home and start using it immediately. However, as the price of SSDs drops and the performance increases, it might actually become less expensive to build your own.

Also, an enclosure gives you the ability to swap drives out, giving you the ability to use a single enclosure for myriad drives. This can be useful for content creators who store their active raw footage and then archive it after a project is completed (this is what we do for CES coverage). A single enclosure would make it easy to swap out the drive and keep using the single enclosure, reducing cost.

The differences in enclosures

Obviously, there are going to be a lot of feature differences between available models. Some support a larger variety of drives. Some provide faster drive access, either through interface or bus enhancements. Some provide screens to monitor the health and status of the drive inside. Some even provide battery backup.

The enclosures to consider

So, which enclosures are out there, and which should you consider?

SSK SHE-C325

This enclosure runs on USB 3.1 Gen 2, giving up to 10 Gbps access speeds. It fits NVMe PCIe 2242, 2260, and 2280 sized drives. All of the required cables are in the box, including USB a to C and USB C to C, making it easy to get started. The body has a slide out tray to place the drive into and you're good to go. The best part is the enclosure runs about $20 on Amazon.

This one is not great for reuse, however. There's a screw hole to secure the case and drive, and has a thermal pad that kind of conforms to the drive that is in it over time. Plus, it is a pretty tight fit, so you won't want to use this over and over for swapping drives in and out unless you've got a lot of patience.

Plugable USBC-NVME

If you're looking for an enclosure to swap drives in and out, this one from Plugable is one to look into. It is designed to be tool-free, making the swap easy. It also includes all of the cables you need to take advantage of the USB 3.1 Gen 2 speeds and connections. The body fits the same NVMe PCIe 2242, 2260, and 2280 sized drives as the previous case, and it runs about $35 on Amazon.

DOCKCASE Visual 10s

This is the creme de la creme of fancy SSD enclosures. In addition to USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds and connections, this one also includes an LCD screen that gives you information about the drive. It shows when the drive is in use, but also can predict the lifespan of the drive to prevent data loss as a drive nears the end of its writable life. The 5 second and 10 seconds models can be had for around $50 and around $60 respectively.

There's another feature included that we don't quite understand, and hope we can grasp. It includes a battery inside to provide an additional 10 seconds of power in order to complete an operation in progress. Essentially, it gives enough power to complete a cache flush before powering down. Now, the question is, why would you need this? Unless you're in the last few bytes of a write operation, the overall data is still corrupted.

The reality is, if an SSD loses power abnormally during a write operation, it can damage the drive. In fact, each instance increases the likelihood of a full SSD failure, meaning you'd lose all data on the drive. That extra few seconds to flush the drive cache can extend the life of the drive significantly.

ASUS ROG STRIX Arion

Here's an enclosure for all of you RGB fans out there. It's the same USB 3.2 Gen 2 we've come to expect on these enclosures, but it also fits a larger array of drives, adding 2230 to the existing NVMe PCIe 2242, 2260, and 2280 sized drives we've come to expect.

However, the Arion also adds in the ASUS RGB lighting. The ROG logo on the front, as well as the fin across the top, both have the ability to light up and glow in a variety of colors and patterns. It uses the company's Armoury Crate software to customize, so if you're already an ASUS Armoury Crate user, this will fit right into your lighting environment.

Unfortunately, the drive enclosure costs the same as the DOCKCASE Visual 10s, coming in around $60, but doesn't have the screen or the battery backup - only the RGB LEDs.

It is an exciting time to be building a new PC. AMD's new Ryzen 7000 series processors are out, and Intel has released the new Raptor Lake processors, now known as the 13th Generation Core Processors, which have hit the streets. There are currently three SKUs available, the Core i9 13900K, the Core i7 13700K, and the Core i5 13600K. The new Intel chips range in price from about $320 to $589 retail, though the Core i9 is in limited stock and running higher.

The Raptor Lake chips absolutely blow away both the Alder Lake chips from Intel (12th Generation Core) as well as the Ryzen 7000 chips in terms of both gaming and productivity. This is definitely bad news for AMD, who has been keeping ahead of Intel for the last few generations and has done it for less money. Speaking of costs, unfortunately, AMD is failing there, as well.

Ryzen 7000 series chips are much faster than the 5000 series, which is the predecessor, and faster than Intel's 12th Gen in most cases. The new chips also added support for DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5 SSDs (which aren't really out yet), for the first time. But, AMD's new chips do not perform as well as Intel's 13th Generation chips, cost more money, and the rest of the computer is way more expensive, too.

For the processors themselves, Intel is less expensive than AMD. The top AMD chip is the Ryzen 9 7950X which has an MSRP of $699. Compare that with the Intel Core i9 13900K which has an MSRP of $589. Even with the increased price due to stock issues, it still comes in under the AMD equivalent.

For the new Intel chips, you can choose between DDR4 and DDR5 RAM. In fact, the processors work with many older motherboards that are already on the market. Sure, you won't have the latest and greatest on all of your components, but if you want the best processor on a budget, you can pull it off.

With AMD, however, everything is shiny and new, meaning it is more expensive. DDR5 RAM, as of right now, is significantly more expensive. However, with the 7000 series processors, you don't have a choice - it's DDR5 or nothing. Because of this and the new chipset, only the newest boards work. And those boards are not inexpensive. As of this episode, the least expensive board is close to $300 - and they go up steeply from there. Of course, it will not always be this way, but for now, this is our reality.

Now, the cost difference could be justified, if the new and shiny features of the Ryzen 7000 chips were significantly better than the 13th Generation Core processors, but that is also not the case. On the Tom's Hardware Windows 11 test suite, which plays the same games on the same graphics card and system setup, the top chip is the Intel 13900K. AMD's 7000 series chips do not appear on the list until #5, coming in behind all of Intel's new processors and one of their own previous models, the Ryzen 7 5800X 3D, which takes the #2 slot. So, the $699 chip from AMD does not perform as well as Intel's $320 chip. Yikes.

For a company that has made its name on being the powerful, inexpensive competitor, this is not a great place for AMD to be.

In June, Avram gave us a look at what components you could put into a gaming PC for under $500. The build was decent, and even inspired the build available at STRYKE eSports and Gaming Center. Since that episode, the PC component market has changed significantly. Crypto Winter dropped the value of mining, followed by the change in Etherium mining to move away from video cards, leaving more inventory for gamers at a better price.

In addition to crypto changes, a new generation of hardware is coming, so manufacturers are trying to reduce inventory on the existing hardware before the new SKUs are released. If you are willing to go all-in on the current hardware, you can build an impressively powerful computer for a low price, including one build that comes in under $500. Of course, in any of these lists, you can always swap out components that you want, as they are simply guides. Also, prices change daily, so it's always possible that these prices have changed slightly since publication. Let's take a look at the updated builds.

Gaming PC for Under $500

With an inexpensive gaming PC, the processor is a good place to save some money, as the video card should be doing a lot of the heavy lifting. As such, this build is based around an Intel Core i3 12000Fprocessor attached to an ASRock H610M-HVS motherboard. Together, they come in under $200, giving us more room for a better video card. In this case, the best way to go to stay within our budget is a Radeon RX 6400 for $149. While the previous build had only 8 GB of RAM, the new one is able to move us up to 16 GB of Silicon Power Value Gaming RAM. The storage is a solid Crucial MX500 500 GB SSD, the PSU is a Thermaltake Smart 500W supply, and the case is a very strangely colored DIYPC DIY-S08-G.

Gaming PC for Under $1000

While the processor can be toned down in a budget build, with a bigger budget, improving the processor does have benefits. In this build, the processor has moved up to an Intel Core i5-12400F, moving up a whole category, and placed in a Gigabyte H610M S2H motherboard. The video card also improves, giving an option between the Radeon RX 6700 XT or RTX 3060 Ti. The RAM is still 16 GB, but the quality of the RAM is improved by swapping to the TeamGroup T-Force Zeus. The storage is also doubled to 1 TB through the Silicon Power UD90. With more capacity comes more power requirements, using the Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 600W supply. The case is far less weird in color, and more attractive in the NZXT H510.

Summary

There are plenty of ways to improve each of these builds to focus of the part that is most important to you. You can check out reviews and spec on these components, as well as ways to improve each build on the full Tom's Hardware list.

This week, Avram Piltch discusses some of the best choices for what to look for on Prime Early Access Sales and on other sites.

Right now is both the best of times and the worst of times for building a new PC or upgrading an existing one. If you absolutely need to build or upgrade one today, then there is no time better, of course. However, if you have the ability to hold off, at least on some components, it should be in your best interest. We expect to see new video cards from both AMD and Nvidia, as well as new processors from Intel and AMD.

Remember, this advice applies specifically to desktop PCS, as laptop hardware is always delayed behind desktop components. All of this hardware will not come out until later 2023 for laptops.

Video cards

The best advice for video cards is to skip any card that currently costs over $500. The new cards will be announced starting this week, and both AMD and Nvidia are expected to start with the top specification cards and work their way backward. So, the more expensive cards from the current generation are likely to drop in price as their replacements could be out shortly. So, investing in these cards will cost more in the long run than waiting a little while.

In addition, current generation cards are seeing a decline now that Ethereum mining is effectively dead. That means that demand on cards has lowered significantly and availability has not changed. Ethereum moved from proof of work to proof of stake, so video cards are no longer involved. Currently, it would take 20 years to break even on a 3080 using the new technology, before the prices change.

However, if you are in the market for a less expensive card, now is not a bad time to invest. The next generation cards with the lower specifications will likely be longer before they are replaced, so costs will not change significantly in the near term. Also, because the prices are already lower, there isn't as much room for discounts when new hardware is released.

CPUs and Motherboards

Now, what about CPUs? In the next few weeks or possibly months, new AMD Ryzen chips are coming, as are Intel Raptor Lake chips. They'll be faster than the current generation and older chips will go on sale. However, it's important to note that new AMD chips are not going to work in existing motherboards, so making a change today would be ill advised. A future update is going to require new motherboards, which will come along with a requirement for upgraded RAM. If you're building a powerful computer, that slight delay might be worth considering.

However, if you're looking to build or buy a mid to low cost computer, now would still be an okay time to buy. A $300 CPU is not going to see a significant change in power or price in the next generation. But, if you're looking for a top tier CPU, it would be best to hold off.

Other components

Other components, such as CPUs, cases, and power supplies are not expected to change much between now and the release of the new components, so those are not a concern.

As surprising as this might be after the past few years, it is a great time to buy a new PC. The new chips and video cards will be coming out later this year, but if you don't need to be on the bleeding edge, now is a fantastic time to get great value for your money on a gaming laptop. There is an excess of supply of current generation hardware, so things are going on sale across the industry. The discounts could be more as the year goes on, but you can get a solid gaming laptop for under $1500 right now.

What to expect

There are some components that you should expect to find in a gaming laptop in this price range.

Video Card and Screen

First of all, the most important feature is the graphics chip. The CPU doesn't matter that much, overall, but the video card absolutely does. In this category, the best card is going to be NVIDIA RTX 3070, RTX 3060, or RTX 3050ti. The higher up that rung you can go, the better. If you want to go with an AMD card, you can usually get a Radeon 6800m, which will have better framerates than the 3060.

1080p resolution is what you can expect and high or ultra video quality within a game, with 40 or so FPS. Changing some of the settings will have an impact on that framerate. Turning on ray tracing will lower the framerate while lowering quality or resolution will increase it. You don't want to go below 30 FPS, as even digital video is 30 FPS standard. Below 30 FPS is barely playable, while 60 or higher is what you're going to want for competitive gaming situations.

All of these laptops will also have a high refresh rate. Most will offer 120 Hz while others can go up to 165 Hz. That rating is the maximum refresh rate possible for the screen, but not necessarily what you will achieve during gameplay. The screens will usually vary to the refresh rate of the game or the video card setting for the video being delivered.

Hard Drive and RAM

In this price range, what you can expect is an SSD in the 500 GB to 1 TB range. If you go under $1000, you can expect that size to drop significantly to 256 GB. You're definitely not going to want to go that low, as modern games take up a lot of storage space. Some can be over 100 GB, meaning they will use around half of the available space (after the Windows installation).

As for RAM, these systems should come with 16 GB standard. In the lower price range, however, you can expect the RAM to drop in half to 8 GB. Once again, 8 GB isn't going to be enough for actual gaming, so the lower RAM option will want to be a last resort.

Many of the laptops are upgradable, especially for the SSD. If you get stuck with a poor drive, or you're willing to go to the trouble, you can purchase an SSD on the market and swap the included drive with the larger and cheaper drive. Some laptops will also allow you to upgrade the RAM, so take a look at the options on that PC before you decide.

What to Get

Here are some of the best deals as of the date of publication, but you should be able to find others in case these prices change.

• ASUS ROG Zephyrus 15.6" Best Buy | Amazon
• Acer Nitro 5 Best Buy
• ASUS ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition Best Buy | Amazon
• ASUS TUF Dash Best Buy

When you are done with an older computer, there are lots of great ways to properly upcycle it. Organizations across the country will take donations of older computers that can be cleaned up and provided to children who need them for school but cannot afford one of their own. However, before you transfer an old computer to someone else, it is important to remove all of the data from the drive to protect your identity. No matter how much you trust someone, you can never determine the final resting place of that data.

What not to do

Windows offers an option to reset your PC while removing all data, programs, and settings. However, this does not do exactly what it sounds like. You can remove all of the data from the publicly accessible list of files, most or all of the data is still easily recoverable. Using a consumer tool like EasyUS, nearly anyone can recover the data "removed" using the built-in Windows recovery toolset.

What you should do

Windows has another tool built in designed to easily wipe a drive. You can do it if the drive is the primary or if it is a secondary drive on your computer.

Secondary Drive Preparation

If the drive is secondary on your PC, things are really easy. All you have to do is open the command prompt on your PC in admin mode. If this is outside of your normal scenario, simply click on the Start Menu (Windows logo), type "cmd" into the search, right-click on the app, and select "Run as administrator." The User Account Control might prompt you for admin access, so select ""Yes" and you're ready to proceed.

Primary Drive Preparation

If you are looking to wipe out a primary drive (the one running Windows), the preparation is a little more in-depth. You'll need a Windows installation flash drive, which you can generate from your computer. Open the Start Menu (Windows logo) and search for "recovery," then open "Recovery Drive." This wizard will allow you to make a recovery disk. Or, you can use the Windows installation media tool to create a full installation drive.

Once you've got a flash drive all setup, you'll need access to the command prompt. From Windows Recovery, you'll select command prompt. But, from installation media, you'll need to hit Shift-F10. This command prompt will run in admin mode, so you're good to go.

Wiping the drive

Now that you're prepared and in the command prompt, you're ready to wipe the drive. Type diskpart at the prompt, and after a moment you'll get a new prompt that says DISKPART. At this new prompt, type "list disk" and hit Enter to show all of your disks. Usually your target drive will be disk 0, so you'll likely need to type "select disk 0" and hit Enter. Then type "clean all" and hit Enter.

This process can take a while, so feel free to walk away and wait for completion. The most important part of this is that it works for both standard hard drives and SSDs, so nothing to know or worry about here.

It's possible that a professional data recovery facility can still get around this process, but it is a great way to protect against most data theft.

When it comes to interacting with your computer, we know that the way your items come is not always the best way to use them. Avram has some great ideas on how to improve your experience. Best of all, his suggestions can all come in under $50.

On Your Desk

Your computer has a lot of items that sit on your desk. This includes your keyboard, mouse, headphones, and more. This can take up a lot of space, and require a lot of interaction. This is a great place to improve your experience.

Keyboard

There are several ways to improve your keyboard experience. Of course, buying a good mechanical keyboard is a great start, but that will usually cost above $50. Right now, however, the EVGA Z15 is running only $39.99 (regularly $129.99). A deal like this is the point at which you should really consider an upgrade because it completely changes the typing experience.

Once you have your mechanical keyboard (or if you aren't able to get a deal), one great upgrade you can make is the keycaps. You might not consider the plastic pieces you touch to be a big part of the experience, but they are. Different designs and styles, as well as heights, can dramatically change the typing experience. Avram uses and recommends the Hyekit Keycaps, which have a great design and come in under $50 at $47.99.

If you've already upgraded these items, you can still improve your typing with a wrist rest. It's the part of the experience that we most often ignore, but it's a small change that can make a big difference. Check out the HyperX wrist great, which has a cooling gel inside and reduces strain on your wrist. Best of all, it runs only $15.99 right now (normally $19.99).

Headphones

A great pair of headphones is an essential, and likely something you've already got. But, keeping the headphones in good repair and out of your way can make things better. There are a ton of great headphone holders that can make it better. Some stands are cool, offering USB ports and RGB effects, like the Monster Gaming Stand ($34.39). You can also get one that hooks onto your desk, giving you a lot more space on your desk. They range in price, but are usually under $15.

USB Hub

Now that you've got all of your USB devices, it's time to plug them in. A great way to do this is with a solid USB hub. It sits on your desk and gives you access to extra ports without having to reach under your desk. Avram's personal favorite is the Sabrent 7-port hub for a couple of reasons. First, it costs just $38.99 and gives you 7 extra ports. But, it also offers a power switch for each port, so if you have speakers and headphones plugged in, you can easily switch between them by simply turning them on and off.

Under Your Desk

There are ways to improve your experience from under the desk too, either inside of the computer or its power.

Power

If you are using a laptop, a GaN charger can change your experience. Anker's USB-C charger runs $59.99 but often includes a $10 coupon (make sure to click it). It makes it easier to carry, as the charger is far smaller and lighter, but also takes less space under your desk.

Components

As Avram has discussed before, certain components can speed up your experience and can be inexpensive. For example, you can get a good second SSD for under $50. For example, the SP 512 GB SSD runs $34.99. You likely don't want it as your primary, but is a good second drive.

You can also speed up your system with some extra RAM. If you've got extra slots in your PC, you can add 16 GB of Patriot Signature RAM for $47.99. You can also speed up your internet connection using a UBIT AX210 Wi-Fi 6E card for only $35.

Extra case fans for a desktop computer is a good idea, too. It can help to keep the system cool, speeding up operations. But, you can also add RGB to make the case more interesting. Lots of options exist, many under the $50 price point.

For some products, an annual refresh is expected. One of those products is Lenovo's workhorse productivity laptop, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. This year marks the 10th generation of the laptop, and the company has made some changes to the core components while keeping the heart and soul of the computer intact.

What's Stayed the Same?

The important parts of the X1 Carbon are still in place. This includes the always important thinness (coming in at just 0.6 inches in thickness) - a big part of why people love the laptop. Despite the thin body, it still comes with 2 USB-A ports, a full-size HDMI port, as well as 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports. Usually, by going thin, we lose ports, but not with the X1 Carbon.

Another important aspect of the laptop is the keyboard, and Lenovo does not disappoint. The keyboard on the new model has great travel and good spring back on typing. This is important for typing, as it is a physical indicator that the key has been pressed successfully. With the keyboard is the traditional track pointer, for those (like Avram) who love it, and a great trackpad for those who do not.

What's Changed This Year?

Some of what has changed is for the best. Some leave us with more questions than answers. But, for sure, there are a number of changes.

One of the biggest and mouse impressive changes comes in the screen. It changes from a standard 16:9 aspect ratio to a 16:10 (or 8:5 for our math friends) aspect ratio. This means there is more vertical real estate on the display than previous models. The core screen has a 1920x1200 resolution with 405 nits of brightness. The model can be customized with a 2K OLED screen or a full 4K display. These upgrades will likely cost you in battery life, though, so that is something to consider.

Another change that affects battery life is the processor. The 10th Gen X1 Carbon comes with a 12th Generation Intel Core processor, either in an i5 or i7 flavor. These Alder Lake processors went in a new direction, moving from the previous u-series processor to a p-series processor. This means that the processor uses more electricity than previous models. The u-series runs at 15 watts, while the p-series uses 28 watts. This is nearly double the amount of power required, meaning that the battery life has suffered.

The previous models of X1 Carbon have averaged in the 12 to 14 hour range, while the 10th Generation is currently clocking in between 7.5 to 8.5 hours. This represents around a 33% decrease in the newest model of computer, which is going to be something to consider. Add to that the extra loss with an OLED or 4K screen, and you could really see a difference form the past.

The Alder Lake processor does give some additional benefits, though. In particular, it has those split cores, with some being for power and some being for efficiency. Unfortunately, even with those efficiency cores, it's still a big downgrade in battery life.

The 10th Generation X1 Carbon is available now starting at $1319.

When building a new computer, installing Windows can be a big challenge. You could be hampered by not owning a copy of the operating system yourself, or it could be because you have specific needs for your machine. Luckily, Avram has some ways to get Windows 11 for cheap and to install Windows without the usually required Microsoft Account.

How to get Windows 11 Cheap

For most, Windows comes with your existing computer. However, if you build your computer yourself, where does Windows come from? Microsoft would like you to pay $129 to buy Windows, but that's a lot of money. You could be building a $500 PC, but if you have to add another $129 for the OS, there goes the budget. What we know is that HP and Dell spend a lot less than that, so why can't you?

Everyone can download Windows and create a bootable USB drive to install it. However, without a product key, you'll get a message in the corner of the screen and you won't be allowed to change your wallpaper (without tricks). Luckily, that's not a huge problem, but it can be annoying. An easy way to get a product key is to grab it off of an older machine. If you don't have an old copy of Windows, you can purchase in the OEM market, from sites such as Kinguin, for $18-30 for Home and $35 for Pro.

Get around Microsoft Account

There are requirements to install Windows 11 on your computer, such as TPN 2.0, Secure Boot, and 4 GB of RAM. However, you can bypass these requirements by making a small addition to the system registry. To do this, press ctrl-f10 in the setup process and edit the registry by typing regedit. Then, head to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> SYSTEM -> Setup. Here you will add a new key called LabConfig. From here, you can add new values to bypass certain checks, such as TPMCheck, SecureBoot, and minimum RAM.

However, what if you don't want to skip connecting a Microsoft Account to your machine and just use a local account? For example, what if you're building it to give away to charity, a friend, or to sell? It's not an obvious process, but it can be done.

When you get to that screen, remove the internet connection to the computer. You can do this by disabling your wifi card, unplugging an ethernet cable, or unplugging your router or modem. You can also go back to the command prompt to release your IP address by typing ipconfig -release.

However you accomplish it, once you've gotten rid of the internet connection, you can then go back and enter local information. You will hit the back arrow and enter a name and password without the need for a Microsoft Account. You can also enter no@thankyou.com as the email address and any password and you can create a local account, though that could change in the future.

All of this currently works for Windows 11 Pro, but that feature is planned to be retired in the next major version.

Over the past year or so, building a PC has not necessarily been easy. This has been in part because of the higher cost of components, but mostly because of the limited availability of graphics cards. That limitation has been caused by a pair of major factors: manufacturing constraints because of global lockdowns and higher demand thanks to crypto mining. Luckily, in recent weeks, supply chain issues have eased and crypto mining has become less valuable with the crash of the crypto market. Now, with supply returning to normal, it's possible to build a decent gaming PC for under $500 - with and without a GPU.

Common components

For both of our builds, with and without a GPU, there are a number of common components, such as RAM, storage, case, and power supply. It's important to note that prices may vary based on the date and time of your reading.

RAM

A pair of 4 GB sticks of Crucial RAM is the start - and will only set you back $29. Together these sticks will give you a workable 8 GB of system RAM, though we do recommend spending a few more dollars to double the quantity. 8 GB is enough to work, but 16 GB is the minimum we recommend for a truly usable system.

Storage

For system storage, you can make a workable system with a TEAMGROUP 512 GB SSD. In this case, the drive is an M.2, meaning it has the potential to be lightning fast for a price that won't break the bank - $42. As with the RAM, we recommend upgrading the storage by double for less than double the price, though it is not required.

Case

There are a few decent quality cases that are inexpensive, but the CORSAIR Carbide Series 175R happens to be a great case that is running just $44. This is the one component that is likely to be a timing issue for our readers, though, as the case is on sale at time of writing. Fortunately, there are other good cases in the same price range, including a few from Rosewill.

Power Supply

Our power supply (PSU) is the Thermaltake Smart 430W, which runs $29. While this is a great PSU (we use them in Mission Control), there are other options in the event the price on this one changes. Most PSUs in this power range tend to run in the same price range.

With a GPU

The best system we can build with a GPU involves a specific processor, motherboard, and GPU.

CPU and Motherboard

The CPU we chose is a modern Intel Core i3 processor - the 12100F. Despite being of the current generation, the price is only $106. Tom's Hardware considers this the powerhouse of cheap gaming processors, so it is a great deal for a great processor. To go along with the processor is a compatible motherboard - the MSI Pro H610M-G DDR4. The board supports 2 sticks of RAM and our chosen processor.

GPU

For our GPU, the most expensive component in the build, we've got the XFX Speedster SWFT105 Radeon RX 6400. The card has 4 GB of GDDR6 RAM and plugs into the PCI Express 4.0 port on our motherboard.

Without GPU

Without a GPU, the only additions to the core components are a processor and motherboard.

CPU and Motherboard

In order to skip the GPU, we need a processor with a built-in GPU. In this case, we went with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G, a 6-core processor with Radeon Graphics onboard. With a different processor, we need a different board. Avram looked for a board that supported 5000 series processors out of the box, and we went with the ASRock B450M-HDV R4.0, which says it ships with support. This is important because the more modern processors need a firmware update, which is a major challenge.

If you're just starting out online, one of the first things you'll need to do is choose a web host. This can be a daunting task, especially if you don't know what to look for. Avram discusses the different types of web hosting services and helps you decide which one is right for you. He also gives you some tips on how to choose a web host that meets your needs. So, whether you're looking for shared hosting, VPS hosting, cloud hosting, or something else entirely, Avram's got tips on how to make the best decision possible!

Registering a Domain Name

The first step in setting up your web presence is to register a domain name. Your domain name is the address of your website on the Internet. It's what people will type into their browser to find your site. For example, Google's domain name is google.com. Domain names can be registered with any number of registrars, but we recommend that you use a registrar that also offers web hosting services. This way, you can register your domain name and set up your website all in one place.

There are two parts to a domain name: the top-level domain (TLD) and the second-level domain (SLD). The TLD is the part of the domain name that comes after the dot. For example, in the domain name google.com, the TLD is .com. The SLD is the part of the domain name that comes before the dot. In google.com, the SLD is google. You can choose any TLD you want when you register your domain name, but some are more popular than others. The most popular TLDs are .com, .org, and .net.

You can also register domains with country-specific TLDs such as .us, .UK, and .ca. These are known as ccTLDs (country code top-level domains). If you're targeting a specific country audience with your website, it can be helpful to use a ccTLD. However, ccTLDs are not required. You can register a .com domain name and use it for a website targeted at any country audience.

Different Types of Hosting

Shared Hosting

Shared hosting is the most popular type of web hosting. This is because it's the most affordable option. With shared hosting, your website shares a server with other websites. This can be a great option if you're just starting out, as it's very budget-friendly. The downside of shared hosting is that your website may be affected by the traffic on other websites on the same server.

WordPress Hosting

WordPress hosting is a type of web hosting that's specifically designed for WordPress websites. WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that allows you to create a website without having to code it yourself. WordPress hosting usually comes with pre-installed WordPress, which makes it easy to get started. It also often includes features such as increased security and performance, as well as customer support specifically for WordPress websites.

VPS Hosting

VPS, or Virtual Private Server, hosting is a step up from shared hosting. With VPS hosting, your website is still sharing a server with other websites. However, you have your own virtual space on that server. This means that your website will not be affected by the traffic on other websites. VPS hosting is a great option if you're looking for more control over your website.

Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated hosting is the most expensive type of web hosting. With dedicated hosting, your website has its own server. This means that you have complete control over your website and it will not be affected by the traffic on other websites. Dedicated hosting is a great option if you have a high-traffic website or a website that requires special security.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting is a newer type of web hosting. With cloud hosting, your website is hosted on a network of servers. This means that your website can be quickly and easily scaled to meet your needs. Cloud hosting is a great option for businesses that are growing quickly or have high traffic levels.

How to Choose a Web Host

Now that you know the different types of web hosts, how do you choose one? Here are some tips from Avram:

Decide what type of web host you need based on the type of website you have. If you have a small personal website, shared hosting may be all you need. However, if you have a large website or one that gets a lot of traffic, you may need VPS or cloud hosting.

Consider your budget. web hosting can range in price from $50 per year to $500 per year or more. Choose a web host that fits your budget and meets your needs.

Read reviews of web hosts. There are many web hosting review websites where you can read about the experiences other people have had with different web hosts. This can be a great way to narrow down your choices and choose a web host that is right for you.

In the tech world, some products are so ubiquitous that they don't get updated very often. One of those product lines is the MX line of keyboards and mice from Logitech. Logitech's MX line of keyboards and mice are some of the best in their respective categories and are sure to please anyone who needs a quality keyboard or mouse. This line is popular among gamers, artists, and office workers alike. The newest entries have added some popular features making the products even better than their predecessors.

Logitech MX Master 3S

The Logitech MX Master 3 is a wireless mouse that has been Logitech's flagship mouse for a few years now, and the MX Master 3S is an iterative update for the mouse. The biggest change with the MX Master line is the inclusion of Logitech's new Flow software. This allows the mouse to be used on multiple computers at the same time. This is similar in features to Microsoft's free Mouse Without Borders, except it also runs on macOS.

The software also gives a lot of ability to customize behavior. You can create different profiles for different devices, but can also customize behavior based on application. Maybe you want the side scroll button to zoom in Photoshop, but to side scroll in Microsoft Excel. When combined with Flow, these profiles can switch automatically as you swap between computers.

The new mouse has also switched its proprietary and secondary connection from the old Logitech Unifying Receiver to Logi Bolt. Most users will use it with Bluetooth LE, so it's not that big of a deal, but for those who are using it with a desktop that doesn't have Bluetooth support, Logi Bolt is more secure than its predecessor.

Logitech MX Mechanical Keyboard

The Logitech MX Mechanical Keyboard comes in two variants: a full-sized keyboard with 110 keys and a mini version with 84 keys. It has backlighting with three levels of brightness. It also has a USB pass-through port, which is becoming more common in keyboards these days.

The Logitech MX Mechanical Keyboard uses Kailh Choc V2 switches, which come in three variants: Blue, Red, and Brown. The different switch styles give you different options for quiet or clicky behaviors. Unfortunately, these switches are low profile, meaning that swapping out the keycaps with standard ones didn't quite work. They were to tall for the body.

Another issue with the keyboard is that the feet do not raise it up enough to use a standard wrist rest. Not everyone is a fan of them, but for those who are, it's a major disappointment. Luckily the company does offer a low profile rest, but the selection is far smaller than for standard sized keyboards.

Shared Features

Both the mouse and keyboard are rechargeable via USB-C, both with long battery life. The mouse can run for 70 days and the keyboard can run for 15 days on a single charge. Unlike some rechargeable mice, this one can operate while charging, as can the keyboard. It can also be used as a wired keyboard.

Both devices also have Logitech's Easy-Switch Technology. This allows you to connect the devices to three different computers and switch between them with the push of a button. This allows the devices to work differently on different devices, including switching profiles.

Throughout the year, those of us in the tech space have the opportunity to see, touch, and test some of the most interesting new products. Much of the time, these products are exciting but iterative. For example, we might get really excited about gaming monitors or new laptops, these products already existed and are marginally better than their predecessors. However, sometimes a new product is so interesting that it stands out in a crowd of products.

This year, Tom's Hardware decided to put together a collection of products that weren't just interesting but were truly innovative. While the full list will be revealed as part of a live stream on April 25, 2022, at 3 PM Eastern, Avram gave us a little look into a few of the winners.

Valve Steam Deck

One of the products that are likely to be copied in the next year is the Valve Steam Deck. This handheld computer has entered a product category that has mostly been ignored except by smaller companies that have failed to make a mark. It is a full-powered computer put into a formfactor similar to the Nintendo Switch. This allows gamers to bring a full game, available only on PC, with them on the go. The system runs on the company's own SteamOS, which is a flavor of Linux, but can also run Windows.

The gaming world has taken to the device in a way that has surprised even us. Valve hit a vein of desire within the gaming community that previous devices simply haven't exposed. And, when you live in this space and get to be surprised by the response to a product, it's always a treat. The Steam Deck is already available, and has become top seller by revenue on Steam.

HyperX Cloud Alpha wireless headset

You might be asking yourself, "How could a headset possibly be innovative?" It's a fair question, and Avram explains. It's less about the headset itself and more about the fact that it boasts 300 hours of battery life. Yes, you read that right and there is no typo - 300 hours of battery life. That is literally game changing when it comes to a wireless headset.

Dell UltraSharp webcam

Dell isn't generally known for its webcams (we usually look to Logitech and Razer), but the UltraSharp Webcam is truly unique. It's focused on producing the absolute best picture it can, no matter the condition. In the Tom's Hardware review, the camera was able to adjust itself to produce a great picture even against a bright window directly behind the subject. If we have learned anything in the last 2 years, it's the importance of a good camera. Know if you're going to wade into this one, that there is no microphone, so possibly take a look at the HyperX headset, as well.

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 3D CPU

Again, we can hear your question about the Ryzen 7 5800X 3D CPU. "How is a CPU 3D? It's not displaying anything, right?" That's correct. However, the name comes from the fact that they have changed the internal architecture to not rely on a flat design, but instead stacking components in such a way as to increase L3 cache. A similar technique has been used in server chips, but this is the first time it has been available in a consumer chip. It even has a 9% performance bump over its non-3D counterpart.

PLUGHITZ Live's picks

When put on the spot, Scott thought about some of the interesting products that he's seen in the past 12 months. LumiLor was one of the brands he came up with. This company makes electroluminescent devices that can enhance items, such as clothing, or can add safety and security to things like bike helmets. What separates these products from others is that they require almost no power, so they can run for long periods of time. He also thought about On2cook, a real-life version of the trivection oven from 30 Rock. This small device uses multiple types of heat in order to cook food quickly while not losing all of the nutritional value of the food.

For many of us, it's been a while since we've traveled or needed any tools for working not from home. However, things are getting back to normal in large parts of the country and the world, meaning that travel for fun and business is returning in full force. In fact, we recently saw Austin's airport get inundated with travelers. With that, it's time to start considering what might be needed to enhance your travel. This week, we're looking at different types of portable monitors and which you might want to consider and why.

Features to consider

There are a lot of features to take into consideration when choosing a portable monitor.

Connectivity

The most important feature is how you will connect it to your device. Some monitors connect using USB-A, the traditional "3rd time's the charm" plug. It uses DisplayLink drivers to create a virtual video card within the monitor to mount the device. These are easy to use but require system resources. Other monitors connect over USB-C, the newer "anything goes" connector. While the plug is universal, the feature is not - you need to know that your computer, tablet, or phone can support it. Lastly, you can connect some monitors using HDMI. This is the most universal but not necessarily the easiest.

Resolution and refresh

In this decade, don't torture yourself with a lower resolution. The price difference between a 1366x768 and 1920x1080 is negligible, so just don't do it. You'll regret it on a smaller screen. However, it is worth considering refresh rate. If you're planning on using the screen for work or web browsing, a standard refresh rate is fine. However, if you plan on using the monitor for portable gaming, video editing, production, or any other equivalent usage, you can get portable monitors up to 240 Hz.

Stand or mount

The way the monitor sits on your desk, table, or lap is another essential feature. A clumsy stand will only make using the monitor more challenging. You might also want to consider a screen that gives you the ability to raise it up to ensure the portable screen and your laptop screen are level, as looking up and down can be frustrating.

Best monitors

For a Full HD experience with an HDMI port, the ASUS MB169B+ is a great choice. It's 15.6" and powers over USB, so no need to find another outlet in the hotel room. The base is solid and part of its case. For a monitor aimed at gamers and media professionals, the ASUS ROG Strix XG16AHPE is a great deal. Same size with the added bonus of a 144 Hz refresh rate and G-Sync compatibility.

ASUS also offers some monitors with unique features. If you're looking to add touch to the equation, the company offers the ProArt Display 14 PA148CTV. This 14" display offers Full HD, 100% sRGB color, and adds in touch capability. However, if you're looking for a truly unique monitor, ASUS has ProArt PQ22UC. This portable monitor is 21.6", offers 4K video, 0.1ms response time, and more. However, this monitor runs $4000, while the others on the list are under $400.

ViewSonic also offers some fantastic portable monitors, which is not unexpected as they have made monitors for decades. The VX1755 is a 17" Full HD monitor with Free Sync and 144 Hz refresh rate. It runs over Mini HDMI and powers on USB-C. If you're not looking for the high refresh rate but want touch instead, the ViewSonic TD1655 is a great option. 15.6" Full HD screen with 10-point touch input.

From Lenovo, the ThinkVision M14 is a great choice. 14" Full HDS screen with a single connector over USB-C. This means you need the hardware to support it, but if you do, it's easy to use. It's also ultra thin with an incredibly solid base. The base contains the device's ports, making it look like a small laptop, but also adding stability to the screen.

As the conflict in Ukraine heats up, one of the possible problems that arise is whether or not Russian software can be trusted. In particular, can we trust the security product Kaspersky? The German government has recommended against its use and the US FCC has insisted that money received from government contracts cannot be used to purchase the software. But, what about regular customers? Should regular users skip the software? What about if you already have it installed?

The history of Kaspersky

The history of the company is a bit of a mixed bag. The company was founded in 1997 by Eugene Kaspersky and Natalya Kasperskikh. Kaspersky began his career as a virus researcher with the Russian military. He then worked for a number of private companies before starting his own. Kaspersky has been accused in the past of having ties to the Russian government, but the company has denied these allegations.

Kaspersky's products have generally been well-regarded by the security community. However, there have been some concerns raised about the software. In particular, there is a worry that Kaspersky could be used by the Russian government to spy on users. These fears were heightened when it was revealed that Kaspersky had assisted the Russian government in their investigation of the 2012 Boston Marathon bombings.

The current problem

Kaspersky and Putin have a history of both working for the Soviet government, likely both in the KGB. This creates an immediate connection between the two, even if Kaspersky himself says there is no connection. This means that there could be a situation in which the company willingly implements a backdoor for the government.

On the other hand, it's always possible that Putin could threaten the safety of Kaspersky, his family, or the family of employees within the company in order to distribute malware within the software. This would actually be a fairly pedestrian task in the grand scheme of hacks and threats to come out of the Putin regime, making it fairly likely.

Should you use Kaspersky?

Given the current situation, it's understandable if you're concerned about using Kaspersky products. However, there is no evidence that Kaspersky is doing anything nefarious at the moment. If you're worried about the possibility of Russian spying, then you may want to consider using a different security product. However, if you're not concerned about that, then Kaspersky may still be a good option.

If you already have Kaspersky installed, there's no need to uninstall it. Just be aware of the potential risks and keep an eye on the news for any developments that may affect your decision to continue using the software. Regardless of what you decide, Kaspersky will continue to be a controversial company. But, for now, their products are still some of the best in the business.

While there is no evidence that suggests the software is already compromised, Avram and Scott both recommend removing the software. Scott has always taken a careful approach to the company and recommended that users consider something else (such as Malwarebytes). Avram has previously not had too much concern about the company but is being cautious now.

Whatever you decide, keep informed and make the best decision for your own security needs. Kaspersky may or may not be a trustworthy company, but only you can decide what's best for you and your family.

Happy 10th birthday Raspberry Pi! The tiny computer has come a long way in just ten short years. It all started when Raspberry Pi Foundation founders Eben Upton and Rob Mullins set out to create an affordable, easy-to-use computer that students could use to learn coding. And they succeeded - Raspberry Pi has become one of the most popular computers in the world, with millions of units sold.

The Raspberry Pi Hardware

The first devices were not intended to be the massive platform they are today, Instead, the plan was simply to make a few thousand devices to encourage children to learn to code. Raspberry Pi devices were first sold in 2012, and the response was overwhelming. Not only did students love them, but makers and hobbyists snapped them up as well. It quickly became clear that there was a much larger market for the tiny computers than originally anticipated.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation has always been focused on education, and they continue to work with schools and organizations around the world to promote coding and computer science education. In addition to their educational initiatives, they have also developed several tools and resources that have made it easier for makers of all levels to create amazing projects.

Over the years, Raspberry Pi has undergone several iterations, each one more powerful than the last. The original Model B was followed by the Model B+, the Raspberry Pi Zero, the Raspberry Pi A+ and A series, the Raspberry Pi Compute Module, and the Raspberry Pi Model B+. Beyond that, there have been a whole lot more.

The Raspberry Pi 4 is just one example of how much Raspberry Pi has changed over the years. The original Model B had just 256MB of RAM and a 700MHz single-core processor. The latest Raspberry Pi 4 has a quad-core processor clocked at up to 1.5 GHz, as well as 8 GB of RAM. It also features improved networking with dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) on board.

In addition to hardware changes, the Raspberry Pi Foundation has also made several changes to the operating system over the years. The original Raspberry Pi devices ran on a modified version of Debian Linux, but the Raspberry Pi Foundation later developed their own operating system, Raspbian. Raspbian is based on Debian and is optimized for the Raspberry Pi hardware. Since then, the platform has transferred to Raspberry Pi OS, another Linux-based operating system.

The Raspberry Pi community

As amazing as all of the changes to Raspberry Pi have been, perhaps the most impressive thing about the tiny computer is the community that has grown up around it. There are now millions of Raspberry Pi devices in use all over the world, and there are countless projects and applications for them.

From small projects like retro gaming consoles and media centers to large-scale deployments like industrial control systems and weather stations, Raspberry Pi is being used for everything. The possibilities are truly endless, and the Raspberry Pi community continues to come up with new and innovative ways to use the tiny computers.

As Raspberry Pi celebrates its tenth birthday, it's clear that the best is yet to come. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey, and we can't wait to see what the next ten years have in store for Raspberry Pi.

Over the past 2 years, certain products have been difficult to find. For a while, laptops and other electronics were in short supply. This came about because lockdowns stopped production but increased demand as more people were working from home. One of the hardest products to acquire was webcams, requiring people to search hard to find even off-brand webcams. But, video cards have been the one consistently hard to find.

In August 2020, Intel and Nvidia showed off new video card hardware. In November 2020, AMD released its new cards. All of this new video technology improved performance immensely, causing gamers and video editors around the world to want to get ahold of the cards. Because of the excitement, it drove a big business for scalpers.

Prices for video cards on eBay skyrocketed, with people selling GTX 1070s for 2 or 3 times the original price. GTX 1080 Tis were being sold for as high as $800. Many people thought that the video card market had become a monopoly. Card prices have slowly returned to their original values, but they are still much more expensive than they were before the release of the new hardware.

Video cards are back, baby!

Now that video cards are available again, there is no need to overpay on eBay. You can find cards available on regular retail sites, such as Amazon and Newegg. However, just because they're available doesn't make them inexpensive. In many cases, these cards are still far above their MSRP prices. But, they're available, making it possible to build a PC without waiting for months.

Part of the increased availability is because production has leveled out some. But, the real scenario appears to be that the value of cryptocurrencies has been falling in recent months. With the fall in value, the amount of time to recover the cost of a video card has gone up significantly, making it almost impossible to break even. So, crypto miners have less of a reason to invest in high-end video cards. Also, as more currencies move their mining process from proof of work to proof of stake, the need for the cards decreases.

One of the more interesting aspects could be that a lot of mining was happening in Russia. With the sanctions going into place, it's getting harder to purchase cards in the country. So, once again, a decrease in crypto mining is leading to the availability of cards.

Is now the time to buy?

Not necessarily. There is evidence that the current situation is the beginning of a trend, not the new scenario. With the European conflict looking like it will continue for a while, sales there might continue to stall. With the change in the mining process, the need for crypto miners to purchase the cards out from under gamers is going to decrease. This means that scalpers are going to have less reason to participate in the market. So, in the end, prices are likely to continue to decrease. The only possible issue comes from the neon gas shortage used to produce chips.

Cryptocurrency mining has been all the rage over the past few years. Bitcoin and Ethereum, in particular, have seen massive price increases, which has led to a renewed interest in cryptocurrency mining. Is it still profitable? What are the best mining GPUs? In this episode of the Piltch Point podcast, we take a look at cryptocurrency mining and answer these questions!

What is crypto mining?

Mining cryptocurrency is a process of verifying and recording transactions on the blockchain. In order to mine cryptocurrency, you need a powerful graphics card or ASIC chip. Bitcoin and Ethereum are currently the most popular cryptocurrencies to mine, but there are many others out there as well.

Cryptocurrency mining is an incredibly competitive field and requires a significant amount of time, energy, and money to be successful. If you're looking for cryptocurrency mining GPUs or cryptocurrency ASIC chipsets, there are plenty of options available on the market today.

What specs make a good mining rig?

When looking for cryptocurrency mining GPUs or ASIC chipsets, it's important to keep the following in mind:

• Hashrate: This is how many hashes per second your card can generate. Higher hashrates mean more cryptocurrency mined per unit of time.
• Power Consumption: This is probably the most important factor when determining cryptocurrency mining profitability. Some cards use more power than others, which will affect your profit margin significantly over time! If you're looking for cryptocurrency ASIC chipsets, be sure to check their efficiency ratings as well (some manufacturers may even include this information on their websites).

Does cryptocurrency mining still make sense in 2022?

The short answer is no - probably not anymore (unless you're willing to put up with some serious heat). In order to mine cryptocurrency effectively enough that it's actually worth your while, you need a graphics card with at least two gigabytes of video memory and any kind of CPU from Intel or AMD. Mining cryptocurrency is no joke! You also have to consider how much power these cards consume when running at high clockspeeds. That's why cryptocurrency miners are always on the lookout for new, more efficient hardware.

There are a few newer GPUs that offer some good mining performance, but they come at a significant cost premium. But, with chip shortages causing the availability of graphics cards to be reduced, the costs have gone up as availability has gone down. Mining rigs have made the problem even worse, and some manufacturers have gone so far as to prioritize mining because they buy in bulk. If you're not too worried about getting the absolute best performance, there are plenty of other options out there as well.

Even if you can get a card (or two or three) for a decent rig, it can take years to break even. Tom's Hardware has created estimates on how long a rig will take under optimal conditions to pay for a single video card at retail rates, and the results aren't great. For most cases, it will take nearly 18 months. In most cases, it's several years.

But, you have to remember that these cards are not designed to be running at 100%, 24/7. Even if you were running an intense videogame and switching out players every few hours, running the computer all day every day, the card would still not be under these intense conditions. As such, cards can wear out in a year or two when mining, meaning they're dead long before you break even on them. So, while it might appear that you're making money, you're in the hole even before you begin.

So, in essence, if you are thinking about getting into the mining game right now: Stop. Turn around. Go home. There's nothing for you here.

Getting ahold of computer components has been a challenge for the past few years. To increase your gaming experience, you can't get a video card unless you're prepared to buy from a scalper. But, you can get a quality gaming monitor right now and improve your game. And, some of the prices are really reasonable compared to what we have seen over the past few years. Here are some of the best gaming monitors you can get right now and how to pick the right one for you.

Do you need a gaming monitor?

The short answer is, only if you are playing games at over 60 frames per second (FPS). Casual gamers might not know what framerate is, or may not understand how it can affect your gameplay. When it comes to frame rate, it's all about how frequently your monitor refreshes the picture on the screen. But, it also can represent how often the game refreshes what you're doing. A higher frame rate can give you more fine-grained control over your environment and, most importantly, be the difference between getting the shot and missing.

What are some features to look for in a gaming monitor?

Today, to classify as a gaming monitor, it must have a refresh rate of at least 120 FPS, though the current standard is no lower than 144. That is far higher than the consumer average of 50, 60, or 75. But, the monitor won't be your only condition in getting the game to refresh faster. You also need a video card that supports a faster refresh rate. Without that, you won't get a lot of the benefits of an advanced monitor.

Ideally, you'll want a video card with adaptive sync technology. This would be either AMD FreeSync or NVIDIA G-SYNC, depending on the card brand. That technology syncs the refresh rate of your monitor with the refresh rate of the game. Since games fluctuate that rate depending on the state of the hardware, this allows the monitor to not try and do more than the game is currently capable of. It also prevents the game from working harder than the monitor is capable of, refreshing the game more frequently than the screen. Both of these situations can lead to dropped frames and poor game performance.

You'll also want to take into consideration the panel type. You'll traditionally find 3 labels for the panel: TN, IPS, and VA. TN panels are going to be the fastest refresh rate, but are also going to have very poor viewing angles and bad color reproduction. Going this way may save you some money, but you'll have to be sure to place yourself directly in front of the panel. And definitely don't tell your friends. IPS displays are a little slower in the refresh department but improve the overall viewing experience. The colors will get better, the viewing angle will be improved, but they're still not great. VA is really where you want to be - it may be the slowest in terms of refresh, but the actual picture quality is going to be far superior to the others.

What monitors should I consider?

The Top Pick right now is the Dell S3220DGF (or S3220DGM). It's a 32" monitor with a resolution of 2560x1440 (2K) and a refresh rate of 165 Hz. Depending on where you can find the monitor, you can sometimes find it for under $400. The Gigabyte G27F is also a good choice for more budget-minded buyers. This one is 1920x1080 (FHD) with a refresh rate of 144 Hz, but is also a bit smaller at only 27". It comes in under $300 most of the time.

If you're looking to go all out, though, the MSI Optix MPG321UR-QD is a great choice. It offers full 4K resolution, 144 Hz refresh, and comes in at 32". It even features Quantum Dot technology, like the higher-end televisions. The color reproduction is fantastic and it only has a 1ms response time. If you can find it, you'll be spending around $900.

One of Avram's favorite sayings is, "We're in the business of interesting, not good." This is an important distinction that makes his view of the tech journalism industry far more fun. Often times we discuss products that are unique and strange, but not necessarily things that are great. It's important to know that there are products out in the wild that are bad ideas, poorly made, security or privacy problems, and more. With a focus on the interesting, Avram helps to bring some of those products to light, pointing out some products that should definitely be skipped and some that you should consider.

Air-Clenz

This is certainly an interesting product idea. Think of it as an air purifier that is built into your computer monitor. The theory is that your monitor can pull double duty, as both a part of your computer and a part of your in-office health regiment. Built into the very large monitor box are fans and filters that suck in unclean air, clean it, and let it back out.

Obviously, in this era of heightened attention to airborne contaminants, this is a product idea that businesses might consider. However, there is a lot of question around the concept. First, we don't spend our whole day aimed at a computer screen, so much of your outbound air is going to be missed. Second, we've all trained ourselves to aim away from a computer monitor before coughing or sneezing as to prevent the screen from getting spotted and gross. Third, there is no scientific evidence that the concept actually accomplishes its goal.

It's important to note that the company that was pitching the product idea is not manufacturing it. They do not produce monitors, and they do not produce filters. Instead, they are looking to license the idea to monitor manufacturers.

Showcase PC

Another interesting product idea is the holographic PC case. We've seen holographic fans before, including from our CES 2017 interview with KONO. But, this is the first time we have seen the technology applied to PC cases. Essentially, the case is able to show images, animations, and videos floating in the middle of nowhere. Depending on the PC case configuration, you can even get an animation to come out of the case, using another LED fan on the outside.

This feature is the obvious extension of the RGB trend in PC cases. Instead of just having animated lighting, you can literally show real motion. And the floating images make it even cooler. The cases are expected to hit the market later this year, and we can't wait.

Best of CES 2022

Not everything is interesting - some are functional and fantastic. Intel announced a new set of Alder Lake processors - a total of 50 new models for desktop PC and laptops. The company is really focusing on trying to regain some of the lost ground over the past few years. Not to be outdone, AMD also announced new hardware - AMD Rembrandt, which is a new integrated graphics chip for Ryzen 6000 processors.

For some of us, procrastination is a way of life. A lot of times, we can manage to pull out a win in the end, like working all night before a presentation. However, when it comes to getting a gift during the holidays, it can be a real nightmare. It's currently too late to get gifts delivered in time, and getting into a store can be difficult or even impossible. But, there are options for gifts that are quick and easy, while still showing thought and care.

Of course, you can always get someone a gift card for Amazon or Walmart, but something more specific can be more meaningful. For the gamer in your life, you can get a subscription to a gaming service, like Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PlayStation Plus, or Google Stadia Pro. You could also purchase in-game currency for a game they play, like Minecoins for Minecraft or Robux for Roblox. You could also purchase an actual game code. Just make sure you know what platform they play on (PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch). There is also the option to subscribe to Loot Crate, where they can get any number of cool gaming-related items every month.

For the maker in your life, you can get a subscription to a service like HackerBoxes or Adabox. If you are a maker yourself, you could also consider making a gift. There are a lot of holiday-inspired items that can be printed on a 3D printer, like ornaments. While they may take a little time to print, they will certainly show that you considered your recipient and their interests.

There are other options, of course. Depending on who you are buying for, you might have to reconsider slightly. But these can give a good starting point for considering how to handle your last-minute buying.

It's the end of the year, and that means that it's time to look back on the last 12 very strange months and see what positives we can pull out with Tom's Hardware's Best of 2021.

Best CPU

While AMD has been making huge advances in processors, Intel was falling behind. This year, however, the company came back strong in its newest offering - the Intel Alder Lake lineup. These new processors created two channels of cores - high performance and high efficiency. This allowed low-intensity tasks to be routed to the high-efficiency cores, while high-demand tasks got routed to performance cores. The end result is a processor that uses less electricity, creates less heat, and performs better in all scenarios. We went into more depth in Episode 273 when they premiered.

Best Graphics Card

2021 was a rough year for video cards, as manufacturing and supply chain issues made it nearly impossible to get ahold of (though we have recommendations in Episode 256 and Episode 276). But, one of the shining stars has been the Nvidia RTX 3060 12GB. This massively powerful graphics card came in at an impressive MSRP of only $329 (when you can get it at all). For that price you got a ton of GDDR6 RAM and is more powerful than the last generation's next level card (RTX 2070).

Best Gaming Monitor

There are always a lot of new monitors, but none stood out quite like the MSI Optix MPG321UR-QD. This 32" monitor uses quantum dot technology to produce an impressive picture. In fact, in Tom's Hardware tests, the monitor produced 117 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut, while also managing to be over 600 nits of brightness. If you have followed our screen conversation in the past, you know that a bright and colorful screen can be a hard ask, but MSI does it. And, the company has made the monitor available on sales throughout the season for as low as $799.

Best Keyboard

Avram is nothing if not picky about his keyboards. He once detailed his search for the perfect laptop, comparing different units of the same laptop model that all had different keyboard hardware. So, for the Akko 3098B to win Best of 2021, you know it's going to be a killer keyboard. He showed it off briefly in a recent episode while he was in the middle of his product review, and has really taken to it. The keycaps are comfortable and the hot-swappable switches make this a favorite. It can be used wired or wireless, over RF or Bluetooth. When used with Bluetooth, you can pair multiple devices to it at once and switch between them in less than a second.

Summary

Of course, there are a lot more categories,and Avram details them in this episode. They include the Best Mouse (Razer Basilisk V3), Best Raspberry Pi Product (Raspberry Pi Pico), and Best Webcam (Dell Ultrasharp Webcam). Together they represent the very best that the year 2021 has had to offer in the PC component and peripheral space.

We know that the supply chain issues have made all sorts of products hard to come by, at this point ranging from cards and trucks to food and drink. The product category that has been the hardest hit, it would seem, is the video card industry. Every card from every manufacturer, representing both the AMD and NVIDIA side of the industry, is sold out across the board. However, some inventory is available and can be found in the wild. Here are some of the ways to find a video card this holiday season.

Buy a PC with one

The way that is most likely to return a positive result, though far from the most direct, is to purchase a PC with the card you want in it. It's a bit like buying a car to get new tires, but unfortunately, right now it is the fastest and easiest way to get to your goal.

If you are intending to build a PC from scratch, then this might be a good option. Many of the PCs that are available on the market with the high-end graphics cards in them also have options for other quality components. That means that you could put together a PC in the specs you want, or close to it, for about the price you could expect to find the components today. The benefit, in this case, is that you get the components you need and you don't have to do any real work. The downside, of course, is that the price is going to be inflated since it's a built PC.

If you are upgrading an existing PC, this isn't going to be as great of an option. Essentially, you would be looking to do something similar to when a portable hard drive is less expensive than an internal one. The term is "shucking" where you treat the hard drive like corn and remove the husk for the insides. The benefit here is that you do still get the graphics card. The problem, though, is obvious - it's going to be far more expensive. But, you could always put your old card in it and try to sell it on the Facebook Marketplace and recover some of your costs.

Hope to find one online

There are some services that you can use to get inventory. Newegg has their Product Shuffle lottery service. This service gives you a better chance of getting a card, but the price is going to be inflated, but lower than buying a whole PC. You're not guaranteed to get one, though, so it's a literal gamble. The best way is to get HotStock, which will alert you when inventory becomes available at different retailers.

To find one for yourself, you can check out the Tom's Hardware guides for RTX 3080, RTX 3070, and RTX 3060.

Give in to scalpers

You can always go to places like eBay and give in to the scalpers. The biggest problem here is that it will continue to encourage the scalpers to keep doing this, making the problem worse for a longer period of time. But, it's also generally more expensive (or really close to the same price) than buying a whole PC.

It's that time of year - Black Friday season. While Black Friday used to be the day after Thanksgiving, in recent years it has expanded into a whole season. Starting this week through the next few weeks, products ranging from processors to clothing are going to be on sale. Finding the best prices can be a real pain, but Avram and the Tom's Hardware team have been spending their time rounding up the best deals so you don't have to. The site has a general roundup, as well as dedicated pages for monitors, computers, SSDs, and more.

Of course, there are other ways to find the best deals on the internet. No group can find everything, so Avram has a few other great ways to find hidden gems. If you are looking for PC components, one of Avram's favorite places to check is on Reddit at /r/buildapcsales/. This board is a place where users can post about deals they have found. Crowdsourcing data collection at its best, bringing extra value to your holiday shopping needs.

If you are looking for a specific part, component, or accessory, then you might want to check out PCPartPicker. We have discussed this site in the past, as it is the best way to design and build a computer. You can search for components and create a PC with compatible parts. But, there is also a feature where you can see recent price drops, sorted by category. Sometimes you'll find small discounts, like $2 off of an Aerocool PC case. Other times, you'll find bigger deals, like $150 off of the JBL Quantum One headset. It all depends on what you're hoping to find.

Of course, you'll want to keep checking back with Tom's Hardware and these alternate sites, as prices, deals, and availability are constantly changing.

The past 18 months have added a new piece to our daily lives: face masks. Whether you are excited about wearing them or annoyed by their existence, the reality is that they are here and likely here to stay for many people. Unfortunately, they are uncomfortable, they can irritate when they touch our faces, and it prevents us from seeing one another's faces, making communication more difficult. Very little innovation has happened in this arena, though - until now. The Razer Zephyr is a unique take on the traditional face mask.

The Razer Zephyr is definitely a product from Razer, in that it is fully RGB. Razer is known for integrating RGB into every product, and the Zephyr is no exception. The device has two sets of lights: one on the inside and one on the outside. Each one can be turned on and off independently, and each can be controlled independently. The app UI allows you to choose a solid color or one of several preset color patterns. The internal lights are described as RGB, but the outer lights are described as Chroma RGB, meaning it should be controllable through the Razer ecosystem.

From a mask perspective, there are a couple of interesting aspects. The first is that the mask is designed to take pressure off of the face. Unlike cloth masks or even the blue medical masks that people often wear, there is no pressure on the front of the nose or mouth. Instead, it sits similar to a KN95 mask, where it sits away from the face. This is accomplished by making it an active breathing mask, meaning it has fans to move air into and out of the mask.

The design is similar to a computer case, in that airflow is purposeful and planned. Air enters through two side vents, pulled in through fans. The air runs through a circular filter, which can be replaced. Razer describes the filters as N95 grade, which suggests that the filters have not actually been certified to be N95 (which is the US standard for a 95% effective mask). The filters also seem to have not been tested by any experts, despite Avram's best efforts to do so.

The lack of certification isn't the only concern, though. We also don't have any information on how physically secure the filters are within the body of the mask. They do not have a deep body and have no way to fully seal them into the cylinder.

Adding to the problems is the fact that the mask isn't terribly comfortable. To wear it all day would likely get irritating, as it is fairly heavy. A short burst might not be a problem, but long wear will be exhausting. Avram's recommendation after wearing it for a while, and seeing it on others, is that it is probably a pass. While a cool concept, the unknown effectiveness and lack of comfort make it difficult to recommend. However, if you're looking for a great rave or steampunk costume mask, this might be worth consideration.

While it may be November, the impact of Techtober 2021 is still in full swing. This week, Tom's Hardware published its Alder Lake processor reviews, specifically the 12th Generation Core i5 12600K and 12900K processors. These new processors have taken Intel in a new direction, finally catching up with their long-time rivals - AMD. New features, new powers, and new peripherals are all part of this new generation.

The Features

The biggest change in the processor is the physical infrastructure. Intel has run on 14nm infrastructure for a long time, but the 12th Generation has finally moved to 10nm architecture. While this is technically the second Intel processor family to run on 10nm architecture, it is the first family for desktop use. This change means that more transistors can fit on the same amount of space.

These new process, thanks in part to the new architecture, are showing some real power. In the gaming department, the Alder Lake processors nearly always exceed the performance if their AMD Ryzen counterparts. When it comes to productivity tasks, the two brands go back and forth depending on the task. But, despite these major improvements in performance against AMD, these new processors come in with a more AMD style price than an Intel price point.

The Powers

Along with the architecture change comes a lot of new benefits. The biggest benefit is the addition of two different types of cores: Performance cores and Efficiency cores. The concept is an expansion on an old Atom processor idea - some cores are really powerful for high need tasks like gaming or video rendering, while others are low power for tasks like antivirus scans.

Adding these dual purpose cores required more than just a re-architecture of the processor - it required some changes to the operating system. Microsoft made changes to Windows 10 and Windows 11 in order to implement task scheduling. This new Windows feature is what allows for routing of certain tasks to the portion of the processor most suited to handle the task.

It's a shame that the processor itself is not capable of identifying what type of task it is receiving, but it makes sense that this level of information is not quite available at that level. Either way, it is a far more powerful version of the Atom infrastructure that was developed for netbooks in the early 2010s. Those processors suffered from multiple personalities - having two totally different modes, and switching between them depending on the load on the processor. This design was more for battery performance than overall performance.

The Peripherals

These new processors are the first to support DDR5 RAM. There are some issues, though, as using DDR5 requires special motherboards, as would be expected. But, there are still some compatibility concerns when it comes to this new RAM and individual motherboards.

In addition, Alder Lake supports PCIe 5. While there is little that supports the new standard, you can know that your new machine will be able to support it when it gets popular. For now, it will also support PCIe 4, so the existing super fast SSDs will be compatible.

Over the past few weeks, there has been a bit of a roller coaster over at Raspberry Pi. Most recently, last week the organization announced that Raspberry Pi 4 boards would be going up in price by $10. But, this week, they are back with some good news - a brand new entry in the Zero family: the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W.

This is an upgrade over the existing Raspberry Pi Zero and Zero W. All three have the same board layout with the same ports and structure. This is important to the Raspberry Pi family, as it allows for one model to be switched out for another as new hardware is introduced, or inventory is made available. These days, the inventory levels would be the biggest concern. All of the boards support an SD card for storage and booting, mini HDMI for external display, and USB for power.

The original Zero, which sells for $5, comes with no wireless connectivity. The Zero W adds Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to the mix and brings the price to $10. The new Zero 2 W maintains the wireless options, though only Wi-Fi N 2.4 GHz, but improves the on-board processing. This board takes the processor from a single-core processor to a quad-core ARM Cortex 853. Clearly, this is going to add a lot of new capabilities to the small form factor board that was simply not available before. This upgrade will only bring the price to $15. Unfortunately, the upgrade in processor does not come with an upgrade in RAM, leaving you at 512 MB.

For example, while the older boards were simply not powerful enough to do any on-board AI processing, the new Zero 2 W can. In fact, it can process more than a single frame per second in object and facial recognition. The older boards were capable of some minor game emulation, but the new board is capable of getting up into the realm of a PlayStation 1. This makes it great for small game systems, even portable and handheld systems.

But, why a Zero rather than the more powerful Raspberry Pi 4? The Zero family uses a lot less power, both in idle and in stressed circumstances. This means that your portable game system can run longer. It is also smaller, so it can be used in tight spaces, such as in a robot. It's also significantly cheaper, with the new model coming in at $15, versus the current $35 for the 1GB model of Raspberry Pi 4.

The Zero 2 W joins a growing list of boards from the Raspberry Pi family. Currently, they have sold over 40 million of these boards around the world in the last 9+ years, since they first board debuted. As they grow in popularity, it is expected that the number will grow quicker. Avram has long said that everyone interested in electronics should own a Raspberry Pi, and this new model is in a great sweet spot for capabilities and price.

NVIDIA GeForce Now is a cloud game streaming service that launched in 2015 as a beta, and finally went public in 2020. The service is unlike others in the industry. Rather than essentially renting a game and having it stream to your device using whatever technology the system believes is most appropriate, GeForce Now works on your existing library. You sign in to a computer instance, choose your game from your own Steam, Epic Games, Ubisoft, or another game catalog, and stream the game that way. The platform supports several hundred games, but some high-profile titles, such as Microsoft's Minecraft are completely unavailable.

The company has offered 2 tiers of service since launch: a Free tier and a {riority tier. Now, the company is adding a dedicated RTX 3080 tier to help support those who do not have an RTX 3080 video card on their computers but want to game as if they do. This new tier allows you to take advantage of the card's processor to produce a higher quality video stream, but there will be some costs associated.

The Free tier is, obviously, free. There is no guarantee of which video processor you'll get (though it is definitely not going to give you a 3080). You get streaming at 720p and your session ends after 1 hour. The Priority tier costs $50 per 6 month block (about $8 per month) and upgrades just about everything. Your video quality is upgraded to a card in the range of an RTX 2080. Rather than 720p, you get moved up to 1080p at 60 FPS, as well as offering ray tracing. Your session grows from 1 hour to 6 hours before the session is ended. In addition, if a Free tier player is waiting to get a slot and a Priority player gets in line, you will get the slot first.

The new RTX 3080 tier comes in at $99 per 6 month block, and gives a number of new upgrades. Clearly you are guaranteed an RTX 3080 video chip for your gaming experience. Your video jumps up to 1440p at 120 FPS, but can go even higher. If you have a NVIDIA Shield set top box, you can opt in for 4K UHD HDR at 60 FPS instead of the 1440p. Your session length jumps to 8 hours from 6 hours, so you can play all night without interruption. The new tier is currently available for pre-order, but you must be either a Priority or Founder subscriber to be able to upgrade.

The new tier is going to cost you in bandwidth, though. The company requires a 5GHz Wi-Fi connection and recommends a 1 Gbps internet connection to play. This is because the RTX 3080 tier uses 25 Mbps just for the game. If you have a data cap, such as the one coming from Comcast, this could cause an issue. Comcast's data cap is 1.25 TB per month, which works out to just about 100 hours of gameplay, so be careful before you sign up.

This week has been a big part of what we're calling Techtober. New product announcements were made by both Apple and Google, plus an exciting new partnership from Raspberry Pi.

Apple MacBook Pro

Apple announced the next generation of MacBook Pro, complete with some significant changes over the last generation. The company has seemingly done a good job of listening to customer feedback, for the most part, and returned some of their customers' favorite features. Most notably, the new MacBook Pros have said goodbye to the much-maligned Touch Bar. In its place is the more traditional Function Key row, which had existed before the Touch Bar was implemented.

In addition, some old standards have returned. A full HDMI port and SD card slot are built into the computer, which will be a bonus for media producers and business people alike. But, the addition that has Mac fans excited is MagSafe 3. Charging the computer over USB-C will still be possible, but MagSafe, the connector that breaks away when you trip over it, will also be an option.

But, one new feature that goes against customers' wishes is the addition of a screen notch for the webcam. Customers absolutely hate the notch on the iPhone, so it is a surprise that they would bring such a hated feature to the MacBook. At least the webcam has gotten better.

These new computers are powered by a new generation of Apple's custom processors, the M1 Pro and M1 Max. The M1 Pro has 8 or 10 CPU cores and 14 or 16 GPU cores, depending on the model of computer. The M1 Max always has 10 CPU cores and can have 14 or 16 GPU cores. The new laptops can also support up to 64 GB of RAM, again, depending on the model. New models run $1999 to $2499 for the M1 Pro models, and starts at $2899 for the M1 Max models.

Google Pixel 6

Google also took this week as an opportunity to show off new hardware. While the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have been the worst kept secret in the industry, we did learn a lot of new information. The newest generation of Pixel is also powered by a unique processor, this time from Google. The Tensor processor is supposed to be more powerful than a Qualcomm, though Qualcomm disagrees.

This custom processor allows for onboard AI processing, because it is based on the company's existing Tensor Flow technology. This means things like language translations and computational photography can be quicker and will not require an internet connection.

The cameras have also been enhanced, including a 50 MP main camera, though the phone will store the photos at 12 MP. The added overhead allows for better digital zoom, error correcting, and AI features. Some of these capabilities are background people removal, facial stabilization, and more.

The new phones will run only $499 for the Pixel 6 and $899 for the Pixel 6 Pro.

Raspberry Pi Build Hat

Our good friends at Raspberry Pi announced a new partnership with LEGO. This partnership resulted in the Build Hat, an add-on that makes it possible to use existing LEGO LPF2 devices, like motors and sensors, on the Raspberry Pi. This will be a great transitional technology for kids who have experience with LEGO electronics. Education kits will come with a mounting plate, but you can also 3D print your own plate.

Since Microsoft officially took the wraps off of Windows 11 earlier this year, the response has been mixed. The most divisive aspect of the new interface is the massively changed Start Menu. In the past versions of Windows, we have had a semi-consistent experience. Windows 8 introduced Live Tiles and highly customizable geography for them. That continued into Windows 8.1. The concept followed into Windows 10, but the Menu aspect returned, rather than a Start Screen (though you could use a full-screen option).

Should You Upgrade?

Windows 11 has done away with every aspect of that Start Menu evolution and, instead, has changed the paradigm entirely again. First, the Start Menu defaults to the center of the screen, which is neither attractive nor functional. Fortunately, you can fix it in the settings. The menu is also oddly structured, somehow managing to take up more physical screen real estate while feeling too small to be useful. A lot of this feeling comes from the "Recommended" area, which takes up almost half of the popover. You get 3 rows of 6 apps, but also get 3 rows of recommended files. You can turn off this feature, but you do not get that real estate back. Instead, you get a reminder that it's turned off.

On the positive side, Windows 11 has worked hard to unify the interface. Windows 10 had a mixed experience, with large parts of the operating system still looking like Windows 7 (File Explorer), some parts looking like Windows 8 (media controls), and some looking like Windows 10 (Settings app). Windows 11 has worked to bring all of it into a single design style, with File Explorer, the media controls, and the Settings app all getting overhauls. In fact, even Microsoft Paint got its own new coat of paint for the first time in years.

In addition, Avram's favorite new feature is the Snap Assistance. Mousing over the maximize button on the titlebar of a window will bring up a collection of options for Snap. In Previous versions, you could drag a window to the edge of the monitor and half-screen snap. But, in Windows 11, you get a lot more choice, including 3 sections, quarters, and more.

How to Upgrade

If you've decided that it is time to upgrade, it might be a challenge. Microsoft is rolling out the upgrade over several months, so you might not immediately get the "offer." But, you can get the Upgrade Assistant and upgrade right now. There is another issue at hand, though - the strict upgrade rules. If your computer is not running entirely supported hardware, there is still a way to install Windows 11.

It is important to note, though, that following these instructions can cause issues. Microsoft has said that unofficial installations will not receive official support. As of right now, we don't entirely know what that means, but there has been suggestion that Windows Update will not work and services like Microsoft Defender might also fail, so take these steps with consideration.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is famously Avram's favorite laptop and the one that he owns personally. This week, we're getting a closer look at the newest version of the laptop - the 9th Generation.

The Screen

The new model has a number of changes over its predecessor, but the most immediately noticeable is the screen. The size has changed because instead of the 16x9 aspect ratio, the 9th generation is using a 16x10 aspect ratio. This means that instead of 1920x1080, it has 1920x1200. We've seen more laptops go this direction, offering more vertical real estate instead of giving it all to the horizontal.

This generation also offers several choices for screens. You can get an FHD+ (WUXGA) or UHD+ resolution, and you can it with and without touch capability. For some, touch is an absolute necessity, while others prefer to skip the feature entirely. Lenovo is known for giving the option, and this model is no different. The FHD+ screen offers a theoretical 400 nits (though tests show closer to 350), while the UHD+ screen has a theoretical 500 nits.

The Battery

Another major feature of the new generation is its battery life. On the Tom's Hardware tests, they consistently got 15.5 hours of continual use. This is a big improvement over its predecessor. On a number of tests, it is averaging about 3 hours more than its 8th Generation counterpart. Those extra hours can be a benefit for those who work a long day on the go, such as being on the show floor of a trade show, or traveling cross-country or intercontinental.

The Body

The X1 Carbon offers a lot in its small body. Coming in at just 2.5 pounds slightly above a half inch thick, this laptop really packs a punch. It's got its big screen, but also offers the famous Lenovo keyboard. Lenovo laptop keyboards are regarded as the best in the industry, and the X1 Carbon does not disappoint. It also offers a new, bigger touchpad, giving a larger hit box so you have to lift your finger less often when going across the screen.

In addition, we get a ton of full-size ports - something that is becoming less common on these small format laptops. In addition to a pair of USB-C ports, both of which can be used to charge the laptop, you also get two USB-A ports - one on each side of the laptop. There is also a full-size HDMI port, meaning you will not need a special cable or an adapter to hook up to a monitor or television. As a business class laptop, needing less specialty cables makes presentations and travel easier. It also has a headphone jack, another port that is slowly disappearing from electronics of all types.

The Conclusion

The newest generation of ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a great laptop for general use or business applications, which is who it is intended for. However, remember that, with integrated graphics, this will not be the right choice for video editing or videogaming, unless you're using something like Xbox Cloud Gaming.