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Latest by M. Smith

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The ThinkPad T480s isn’t the best laptop of CES, but it has a place in my heart

Step back from the hype of CES 2018, and you'll notice a humble laptop that does everything you want. It's Lenovo's ThinkPad T480s.
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Cheap, fast laptop gaming is finally becoming reality at CES 2018

Gaming laptops are capable, but they're also niche. The laptop graphics in most notebooks can barely handle five-year-old games — until now.
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AMD talks details on second-gen Ryzen chips, teases Vega for mobile

AMD has new information about its second-generation Ryzen processors, and APUs that pair Ryzen with Vega for both desktops and laptops.
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Intel promises its new CPUs will match Nvidia’s potent GTX 1060, thanks to AMD

We now know more about 8th-gen Core with Radeon RX Vega M, and it could give Nvidia reason to worry, matching even the GTX 1060 Max-Q.
LG 32UD99-W review

LG 32UD99-W review

Our LG 32UD99-W review takes a dive into a display that pairs 4K resolution with HDR10 support. The result is a stunning monitor.
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Best computing product of 2017

2017 is the year of the 2-in-1, but the device that started it all is still in the lead. Here's the best computing product of 2017.
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HDR monitors are here, but don’t get your wallet out yet

A handful of HDR monitors are now available, letting you enjoy brighter, more detailed, and more vivid content at your desk.
Windows Timeline

Windows 10 Timeline hands-on

Most of us open a handful of apps and documents time and time again, picking up where we left off. Windows Timeline makes that easier.
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HP Envy x2 (Qualcomm) hands-on review

Our HP Envy x2 review includes headliners like a Snapdragon processor, 20 hours of battery life, and LTE connectivity.
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Super-efficient Windows laptops powered by Qualcomm phone chips are here

Qualcomm has upcoming laptops powered by its Snapdragon 835 hardware. The PCs will run Windows 10 S and include standard LTE.
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Everyone is going to start playing MMOs again, whether they realize it or not

To keep gamers playing (and spending) in their games, developers will look to a genre that knows how to keep crowds coming back – the MMO.
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We tested it: The Surface Book 2’s 15-hour battery easily outlasts your workday

The Microsoft Surface Book 2 has much to recommend it, but its battery life dominates the competition. It's not even close.
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Why is Intel into GPUs now? It was about to get stomped

Intel’s hire of Raja Koduri has major consequences not only for Intel and AMD, but everyone interested in PCs, and it will change the next computer you buy.
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Long live the black box! How ThinkPads have thrived for 25 years

We spoke with company executives on the eve of ThinkPad’s 25th anniversary for insight into how its simple black box has thrived, even as rivals took a beating.
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Inside Lenovo’s Yamato Labs, where laptops become Thinkpads

ThinkPads are renowned for their durability, and that's no accident. Here's an inside look at Yamato Labs, where laptops become ThinkPads.
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Watch us play ‘Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire’ at 3 p.m Pacific

Guild Wars 2's new expansion, Path of Fire, brings new class specializations, new zones, and - for the first time - mounts!
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Watch us play ‘Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite’ at 3 p.m. Pacific

Watch Digital Trends find the best player in the office in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite - before the game is released!
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Close to the Metal Episode 54: ‘Destiny 2’ on PC, VR headsets, and IFA news

On this week's Close to the Metal we discuss Destiny 2's release, and the latest laptop designs from IFA 2017.
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In its Oregon skunkworks, Intel is plotting to turn your laptop into a VR rig

We visited Intel’s Virtual Reality Center for Excellence in Portland, Oregon, to hear how it hopes to convert even entry-level laptops into capable VR rigs.
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Watch us play ‘Destiny 2’ on PC at 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET

Watch us play Destiny 2 on PC. We'll check out the new strike mission and some serious competitive multi-player action.
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Close to the Metal Episode 53: Windows Mixed Reality isn’t so mixed

On this week's Close to the Metal we'll take a deeper look at Windows Mixed Reality.
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Apple iMac with Retina 5K Display (2017) review

It’s been years since Apples Retina 5K saw a complete re-design. Can it still compete with Windows systems? Read our Apple iMac with Retina 5K Display review to find out.
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Intel’s 8th-gen Core chips will turn svelte laptops into quad-core powerhouses

Intel's 8th-Gen Intel Core launch revealed the company is bringing quad-core CPUs to thin laptops, but won't debut new architecture yet.
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Nvidia says gamers’ “needs and demands” unfilled as cryptocurrency hogs hardware

The Nvidia Earnings Call Q2 2018 boasted growth, but admitted that cryptocurrency miners have slurped up video cards, with no end in sight.
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CTTM Ep. 51: We talk back-to-school PCs at 10 a.m. Pacific/1 p.m. Eastern

It's time to start thinking about your back to school PC. Our podcast lets you know what to look for, and our top recommendations.
Dell Inspiron 27 7000 All-in-one (2017) Review

Dell Inspiron 27 7000 (2017) review

Our Dell Inspiron 27 7000 review unit, powered by AMD’s new Ryzen processor, should interest you.
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Close to the Metal Ep. 50: We talk Threadripper and Vega at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT

AMD has finally announced availability for its new Threadripper processors and Vega video cards. Should you prepare to upgrade?
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Microsoft’s Steven Bathiche redefined the PC, and he wants to do it again

Microsoft’s Surface line wasn’t built overnight. The company has a history of R&D and innovation by scientists like Steven Bathiche.
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Huawei Matebook X WT-W09 review

Looking to buy a notebook that's different? Our Huawei Matebook X review will tell you why the Chinese manufacturer's latest laptop is also its greatest.
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AMD’s Radeon Vega Frontier Edition is now available for pre-order

AMD has announced the Radeon Vega Frontier Edition, the first video card based on its highly anticipated Vega architecture.
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Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review

Though it’s not perfect, our Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review reveals a great piece of hardware that easily defeats every other 2-in-1 currently available.
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‘The Swords of Ditto’: Our First Take

'The Swords of Ditto' is a charming rogue-lite that's devilishly difficult, yet reels players in time and time again with its approachable mini-adventures.
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Alienware Area 51 (2017): Our first take

Alienware will soon release an update to its veteran Area 51 desktop that adds support for AMD Threadripper and Intel Core X processors. Don’t let the looks fool you. Practical, clever design hides beneath the boisterous case.
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‘F1 2017’: Our First Take

This year’s entry into the F1 franchise will continue on with its predecessor’s much-loved career mode, and spice it up with new event types – but can it hold of competition from Forza, Gran Turismo, and other upcoming racers.