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Latest by M. Smith

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How to make the most of your PC’s ports

Here's how outfit your PC in an increasingly wireless world.
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Apple MacBook Pro 13 with Retina vs HP Spectre 13t

The Spectre 13t is HP's new premium ultrabook, yet it boasts an affordable price of $999. Can this inexpensive laptop fight Apple's smallest MacBook Pro?
2013s 5 biggest computing blunders leap motion the pc of 2013

5 ways the PC industry squirmed deeper into quicksand in 2013

2013 has not been a good year for PCs or their users.
apple macbook pro 13 retina vs lenovo thinkpad t440s compare comparison specs compared macpro13vst440s1

Apple MacBook Pro 13 with Retina vs. Lenovo ThinkPad T440s

The Apple MacBook Pro 13 with Retina and the Lenovo ThinkPad T440s are popular picks among business professionals, but which one should you buy?
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HP Spectre 13t review

The HP Spectre 13t may be the most expensive consumer laptop HP currently sells.
Are new laptops really faster

Are new laptops really faster? As it turns out, not by much anymore

Processors have generally doubled their speed every few years, but progress has slowed in favor of efficiency. Has this caused laptop performance to stall?
Gateway ZX4970 UR22 front desktop

Gateway ZX4970-UR22 review

Gateway’s ZX4970-UR22 all-in-one looks lackluster on paper. There is, however, one important fact in its favor; a price tag of just $399.
Lenovo T440s fullfront

Lenovo ThinkPad T440s review

Is the T440s a modern take on a classic laptop, or has the brand’s formula been ruined?
LG LN450W monitor offset

LG LN450W Review

The LG LN450W's 2560x1080 resolution offers a superior cinema experience, but does it work as an everyday monitor?
8 worst names pc history hotwheelspc

The 10 worst product names in PC history

Computing has had its share of marketing failures, but there are some brands that stick out. Here are some of the worst names in PC history.
10 weirdest computer peripherals ever made peregrinegameglove

The 10 weirdest computer peripherals ever made

Did you think everyone uses a keyboard and mouse? Think again! We round up ten of the weirdest PC peripherals ever created.
Lenovo-Flex-20-screen-front

Lenovo IdeaCentre Flex 20 review

We take a look at Lenovo's Flex 20, a portable all-in-one to see if they've finally cracked the portable desktop code.
how experts save your hard drive data failure crash bug expertdriverecovery

How your hard drive data is recovered by the experts

We take an in-depth look at how data recovery experts pry files out of drives that have been dropped, drowned, or otherwise destroyed.
Asus UX301LADH71T Zenbook front full

Asus Zenbook UX301LA review

Can the new Zenbook UX301LA and its 2560x1440p display make it a real alternative to Apple’s MacBook Pro with Retina?
Dell p2714t front screen

Dell P2314T review

Though Dell’s P2314T boasts a reclining stand and attractive design, this display is a bit expensive. Can this Dell provide the image quality its price promises?
5 things alan mulally might get microsoft back track alanmullalythumb

5 things Alan Mulally could do to get Microsoft back on track

Alan Mulally, current CEO of Ford, seems like an unusual candidate for Microsoft's top spot. How might he turn the company around?
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5 things Stephen Elop could do to get Microsoft back on track

Former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop is a strong contender for the CEO slot Ballmer will soon vacate. What could he do if put in charge?
pc xbox one ps4 playstation 4 preorder alienware x51

Why I cancelled my PlayStation 4 preorder (It wasn’t to get an Xbox One)

The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One promise eight cores and eight gigabytes of RAM, but the devil is in the details. Can they stand up to a competent gaming PC?
intel unveils cheaper models of its ivy bridge processors chip

Intel is building ARM processors, and the sky isn’t falling

Intel's decision to produce ARM processors, which is far from an admission to defeat, actually makes the company stronger.
Gateway DX 4885 UB3A front angle

Gateway DX 4885-UB3A review

The Gateway DX4885-UB3A is one of the least expensive tower desktops on the market, starting at $400 and selling for no more than $599 at the high end. Despite this, the system can be had with the latest Intel 4th-gen processors, which seems like a great deal. But does quirky design kill the value?
pc vs ps4 xbox one how to upgrade upgradepc

How to upgrade your PC to put it on par with the PS4 and Xbox One

PC gamers shouldn't be jealous of the next-gen consoles. PCs that are few years old can be upgraded for less than the cost of a PS4. Here's how.
MacBook Pro 13 2013 screen

Apple Macbook Pro 13-Inch (2013) review

The MacBook Pro has always been among the best notebooks, but the high price of the original Retina models was hard to justify when placed next to the best Windows alternatives. Apple has slashed the MSRP with its 2013 update however, and has jumped to the latest 4th-gen Intel Core architecture. Is it enough to banish any hope that ultrabooks can compete, or merely another minor improvement to an aging product line?
apple engineer says os x ios will merge mavericks review

OS X Mavericks makes a no-brainer upgrade, even if it’s mostly iOS hand-me-downs

Mavericks is the first free update to OS X, ever. But is it a clear improvement over Mountain Lion, or just a incremental upgrade?
Origin EON13 S front

Origin EON13-S review

Small and quick, the Origin Eon 13-S tries to blend portability with hardware powerful enough to play mainstream games at maximum detail. Has this formula worked, or does this mad scientist’s experiment lead to unintended results?
steamos steam box streaming towards the future steamos2

SteamOS and Steam Box: Streaming Towards The Future

Valve's SteamOS and Steam Box have made big splashes in the gaming world, but its streaming feature hints at the future of computing for everyone.
Samsung S27C750 front top angle

Samsung Series 7 S27C750P review

Consumers looking for a big yet affordable monitor may choose to consider the Series 7 S27C750P, which retails for just $379. While not the cheapest monitor in its category, this Samsung promises superior contrast and good color accuracy with its MVA panel technology. Does it deliver?
mac os x mavericks what to know osx 10 22

Tags, tabs, Maps, and everything else you need to know about OS X Mavericks

Mavericks includes many changes. Here's everything you need to know about Apple's new OS.
Dell P2014HT monitor on

Dell P2014Ht review

There are a lot of small monitors available, and most of them aren’t very good. The Dell P2014Ht, however, looks like it could be an exception; it has an IPS panel, an adjustable stand and plenty of inputs. Is this 20-incher the perfect display for a space-constrained workstation?
google discloses another windows security bug fix out soon 8 1 review

Has Microsoft ‘fixed’ Windows 8? Our final verdict on Windows 8.1

Microsoft didn't drag its feet with the development of Windows 8.1, but it has this unusual speed allowed time to resolve Windows' most pressing issues?
low cost pc tablets are coming heres what they offer intelatomtablet

How Intel’s new Atom chips could finally make fast Windows 8 tablets cheap

Intel's Bay Trail based Atom processor will unleash a wave of affordable tablet PCs over the next year. Here's why they're worth the wait.
Lenovo Flex 14 front start screen

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 14 review

What happens when a Yoga gets less limber? It becomes a Flex, Lenovo’s new 14-inch ultraportable with a 300-degree hinge. This thin, affordable laptop promises easy touch use at a starting price of just $569, but sacrifices are required to squeeze the system into its attractive MSRP.

Minix Neo X7 review

Looking for a super-cheap PC just to play videos and browse? The Neo X7 costs just $150, but awkward mouse and keyboard controls keep it from reaching its full potential.
dell p2714t review front screen

Dell P2714T review

Dell’s P2714T is one of the first 27-inch touchscreen monitors to hit the market. This provides an immersive experience, but only at an intimidating MSRP of $699, which is enough to buy some professional-grade displays. Can this touch monster justify itself, or is the touch tax still too much?
AVADirect Clevo W230ST front

AVADirect Clevo W230ST review

The AVADirect W230ST, built by laptop manufacturer Clevo, packs a standard-voltage Core i7 processor and Nvidia GTX 765M graphics into a 13-inch chassis for less than $1,200. That’s a deal gamers will find hard to resist, but buyers who do more than game will want to resist this laptop’s temptation.