TL;DR: Boost your PC’s performance with a lifetime license to Ashampoo WinOptimizer 27 for $15.99. Does your PC feel like it’s stuck in slow motion? Meet Ashampoo WinOptimizer 27, the tool that transforms sluggish computers into well-oiled machines. Whether you’re battling cluttered hard drives or want to secure your system, this software is built to streamline and enhance your PC experience. Ashampoo WinOptimizer 27 is designed to speed up boot times and gives you an arsenal of features to tackle performance issues. The Crash Analyzer provides detailed information about system crashes and their root causes, while specialized cleaning tools remove unnecessary files, temporary data, and browser junk that bog down your PC and focus on safeguarding privacy and maintaining your PC’s performance. What’s new in version 27? It’s packed with updated tools that give you even deeper insights into your system’s performance. With an intuitive interface, keeping your computer in shape is now simpler than ever. Ashampoo WinOptimizer 27 is a simple, affordable way to make your PC run better and last longer, with lifetime access on sale for $15.99 (reg. $55).   Ashampoo WinOptimizer 27: Lifetime License [Digital Key] – $15.99 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

Lenovo’s iconic crimson red TrackPoint nub, which has been going strong for three decades, is a staple of ThinkPad laptops. However, this year at CES, Lenovo announced that it’s ditching the nub on the ThinkPad X9 Aura Edition laptops.  It’s a surprising move and although Lenovo’s not removing the nub on every single laptop at this time, who knows what the future holds. It’s entirely possible Lenovo may completely phase out the TrackPoint nub in the next couple of years. So, as a way to celebrate the nub, let’s dive into its long and sometimes complicated history. Further reading: Lenovo’s newest ThinkBook laptop ‘unrolls’ for extra screen space The TrackPoint served as an alternative to the traditional mouse The TrackPoint burst onto the scene in 1992 with the release of the IBM ThinkPad 700C laptop, which was originally designed as a data entry tablet for hospitals and health care workers. The nub, which sits in the middle of the G, H, and B keys, allows you to move the cursor on your screen without ever having to lift your hands off of the keyboard. Essentially, it’s a joystick that sits in the middle of the keyboard. It works by applying direct pressure with a fingertip — the more pressure you apply, the faster the cursor moves.  Computer scientist Ted Selker originally developed the pointing-stick technology for IBM, which later became known as the TrackPoint. This was innovative at the time because trackpads weren’t invented yet, so computer users were still relying on traditional mice to navigate the content on their screens. Not only did the pointing stick reduce wrist strain, but it also saves the user “0.75 seconds” (according to a study from Selker), which is the time it takes to shift from the keyboard to the mouse.  Nowadays, trackpads are the norm on laptops. While TrackPoint technology still exists, there’s a steep learning curve. Personally, I find that I have better control over the cursor with the trackpad than with the TrackPoint nub. That said, there’s a whole Reddit community of true TrackPoint fanatics if you’re looking to find your people. IBM adds negative inertia to the TrackPoint The TrackPoint underwent a couple of different revisions under IBM. However, the most notable revisions arrived in the third and fourth iteration of the nub. IBM added negative inertia to the TrackPoint III, which increases accuracy by counteracting the positive inertia with applied force, making it feel less sluggish. The fourth iteration, dubbed the TrackPoint IV, had a press-to-select feature that allowed you to select items on the screen by pressing down on the pointing stick. These days you can disable the TrackPoint altogether if you prefer to use the trackpad. The TrackPoint is also compatible with other operating systems (including Windows and Linux), and you can adjust the cursor speed and acceleration. The nub and its various designs The TrackPoint’s crimson cap went through a series of changes, too. In the above interview with Laptop Retrospective, former IBM designer David Hill explains the evolution of the iconic red cap. The original TrackPoint had a smooth rubber red cap that was dome-like, but it was prone to wear and tear and it had poor traction. The “Cat Tongue” nub, on the other hand, exhibited excellent traction but it was a dirt magnet. It also felt a bit like sandpaper and was uncomfortable to use. Hill even experimented with a design that resembled a bicycle seat in shape. The idea behind this design was to increase the diameter of the nub, but there were concerns that it would hinder the user’s typing experience. Though the design never came to fruition, it’s still an interesting little tidbit of information. Speaking of interesting tidbits of information, the blood red red cap that we know and love almost didn’t happen! IBM’s product safety division had a lot of power at the time. In fact, they said the color red was reserved for the emergency button on their mainframe computers, so it couldn’t be used for the TrackPoint. You want to know how ThinkPad designer Richard Sapper got around this? The nub’s red color was altered slightly and called magenta. However, when the first batch of ThinkPad laptops shipped, the engineers made the TrackPoint more crimson in color. Talk about a loophole, yeah? Lenovo acquired the TrackPoint brand from IBM in 2005 Lenovo purchased IBM’s PC division in 2005 for approximately $1.75 billion, thus acquiring the ThinkPad brand of laptops and the TrackPoint technology that came along with it. This was a big deal at the time because, according to this article from PC Mag, “no Chinese company had acquired a major U.S. company” up until that point. It turns out that Lenovo’s acquisition was pretty damn lucrative. As of October 2022, Lenovo has sold over 200 million ThinkPads. IBM sold its PC division to shift focus from hardware to software. The company was also up against some pretty stiff competition and profits from the PC division were declining; selling off the PC division helped improve its financial situation. Lenovo removed the TrackPoint nub from the ThinkPad 11e in 2014 Lenovo removed the TrackPoint from the (now discontinued) ThinkPad 11e back in 2014, which was a surprising move from the company. However, the reasoning was perfectly sound (at least in my eyes!). The ThinkPad 11e was designed for the education market, so the company didn’t want to risk including the TrackPoint nub because it posed a potential choking hazard for younger PC users. Of course, die-hard fans weren’t happy about the missing TrackPoint on the ThinkPad 11e, but the thing that really pissed them off was the removal of the left and right mouse buttons at the top of the touchpad on the X1 Carbon model. This design choice caused a rebellion so great that Lenovo quickly changed course and permanently brought back the left and right mouse buttons on the second generation of the X1 Carbon. Wild, right? The takeaway nobody asked for The TrackPoint is something of a legacy item, a beloved relic of the past. While it was innovative at the time, I’m not sure it’ll survive the rising tide of modern laptop technology and design. Though long-time fans will likely raise their pitchforks and torches at Lenovo’s TrackPoint-less Aura Edition laptops, I can’t help but wonder… is this a glimpse into what’s to come? Will Lenovo finally ditch the TrackPoint nub for good? It’s likely. Very likely. Read...

I don’t know about you, but working on multiple devices at once makes me feel like some kind of 90s hacker. I’m programming on my PC, answering emails on my laptop, responding to chat messages on my tablet, all while transferring files on my other PC. But while that whole process is cool, it’s certainly not efficient. Jumping from keyboard to keyboard to keyboard, getting mixed up between mice and touchpads, and being forced to use those shallow 2-in-1 laptop keyboards… it’s too messy and chaotic for me. What if there was a better way? What if you could use a single keyboard and mouse for all of your devices, switching from PC to laptop to tablet back to PC with a single button? Well, you can! The solution is a nifty accessory called a KVM switch. What’s a KVM switch? A KVM switch is a hub device that takes in multiple inputs (e.g., keyboard and mouse) and routes them to multiple outputs (i.e., laptop, PC, tablet). A proper KVM switch can also route monitor connections, allowing you to use a single set of keyboard, video, and mouse (KVM) with multiple systems, switching between them on demand. When using a KVM switch, the actual switching might be done with a physical button, but more premium options may also come with a handy remote control. Others can activate with a keyboard shortcut. Although most KVM switches have this same basic setup, you can use them in different ways and some have additional advanced features. For example, you could use a single display that changes between systems, or you could have multiple displays that you change between. Some KVM switches even support wireless peripherals and displays, and others expand your connectivity with extra audio and video ports. Wait, that sounds like a docking station, doesn’t it? Well, they’re similar, but not the same. Both KVM switches and docking stations provide ports for connecting peripherals, but a docking station routes all of those peripherals to a single device whereas a KVM switch routes them to multiple devices and lets you switch between them. Of course, as useful as KVM switches are, they do have some drawbacks. Let’s dive into the pros and cons below. Pro: KVM switches are efficient Evatek HDMI KVM SwitchEvatek These days, you can get multi-device Bluetooth mice and keyboards (that can pair with multiple devices and switch between them) without spending much at all. That nearly replicates the KVM switch experience, and if that’s all you need, then that’s fine. But what if you have a premium keyboard and mouse with wired USB connections? And what about your monitors, which connect via HDMI or DisplayPort cables? To switch those, you’d have to unplug from one and plug into another — and doing that for a keyboard, mouse, and monitor is such a pain. Then you have to do it again when you switch back. Ugh! A KVM switch can handle that for you, and it doesn’t have to cost much if you go with a budget option. For example, this cheap KVM switch on Amazon is only $20 but lets you use a set of keyboard, mouse, and 4K@60Hz monitor with two systems. And with it, you don’t have to pigeonhole yourself into using multi-device Bluetooth accessories — use your mechanical keyboard and wired gaming mouse freely. Con: KVM switches add input lag All KVM switches introduce some measure of input lag. Not only are you adding more cable length, but the switch itself needs to process signals before passing them on. It may only be a few milliseconds, but certain models will be worse about it — and it’ll be perceptible. Fortunately, most high-quality KVM switches are built around this flaw and designed to minimize input lag. Premium KVM switches will barely be noticeable while cheaper KVM switches will stick out. That said, unless you’re gaming or doing latency-sensitive tasks, you can probably get by with a cheaper one without much issue. Pro: KVM switches ease compatibility Sabrent Thunderbolt 4 KVM SwitchSabrent If you’re working across not only multiple devices but multiple operating systems, then compatibility with peripherals can be tricky. Support for multiple monitors is handled differently on macOS than it is on Windows. Or maybe there isn’t a ChromeOS app for your gaming keyboard, making it hard to remap it. This is one of the times when a KVM switch can really come in handy. Your peripherals don’t have to be compatible with every device as long as your KVM switch is. With a cross-platform KVM switch, the only thing that matters is whether it can detect your plugged-in peripherals. If it can, then it can also forward those inputs to any supported OS. For example, the Sabrent Thunderbolt 4 KVM Switch doesn’t just support super-fast Thunderbolt 4 accessories, but it seamlessly works across Windows and macOS computers. Another example is this triple 8K KVM switch by DXchip, which not only works with Windows and macOS but also Linux, ChromeOS, Raspberry Pi, PS4, DVRs, and more. Cons: KVM switches are tricky to shop for When you’re buying a KVM switch, you need to ensure that it properly supports everything you intend to plug in. That means the right connections and the right performance characteristics. In other words, if you want to run multiple 4K displays, the KVM switch you get needs to not only have multiple DisplayPort and/or HDMI ports, but those ports need to be 4K-capable. Don’t expect to manage 4K@120Hz monitors with a switch that only has HDMI 2.0. Not all KVM switches support multi-monitor setups, either. Make sure yours does, if you need it to. Pro: KVM switches can add extra ports Ugreen 4-Port USB 3.0 Switch HubUgreen Earlier in this article, I explained the differences between KVM switches and docking stations. The truth is, they’re quite similar and overlap in many ways — and a KVM switch can even double as a docking station if you just connect it to one system and don’t ever switch. But that’s only true if you get a KVM switch that actually offers additional ports beyond the ones used for connecting your keyboard, mouse, and display. Fortunately, most KVM switches do come with extra ports as long as you aren’t scraping the bottom of the bargain bin. So, for example, if you want to transfer photos from your camera’s SD card to multiple systems, it’d be way easier to just plug it into your KVM switch than to unplug and replug into each individual device. Cons: Quality KVM switches are pricey Basic KVM switches are quite affordable, often priced at $30 or less. However, if you want support for higher resolutions, wireless connectivity, USB-C charging, Thunderbolt ports, HDMI 2.1, and more, then you’re going to end up spending quite a bit more. The upper limit of consumer KVM switches can reach close to a grand in price, but these are high-end models for techies who know what they’re doing. For example, this triple-monitor KVM switch by L1Techs retails for $750 while this quad-monitor KVM switch by TESmart retails for $800. That said, expect to spend between $100 and $200 for a quality KVM switch that performs well enough and isn’t nerfed in features. Pro: KVM switches save space Space saving starts becoming a big deal when you’re juggling all kinds of peripherals and accessories in your workstation, and that’s true in both professional and personal settings. Being able to reclaim space by paring down to a single keyboard and mouse for your multiple systems isn’t just good for workspace clutter — it helps with productivity by keeping you undistracted and freeing up space for other things, like paperwork and helpful gadgets. That extra space could even be enough to let you upgrade to a larger monitor or add in another display, further boosting productivity. Con: KVM switches increase cable clutter Ugreen 8K DisplayPort KVM SwitchUgreen While a KVM switch might help you cut back on the number of peripherals on your desk, it doesn’t cut back on cabling. In the case of laptops and standalone systems that don’t need more than a power cord, a KVM switch could actually increase cable clutter. That’s because your KVM switch needs to be connected to all your peripherals and connected to every device to be served. Plus, the better KVM switches also need their own external power source, so they have their own power cord that adds to the chaos. In short, a KVM switch is the middleman through whom all those cords get routed, so it isn’t exactly easy to just tuck it aside somewhere out of sight. You can tidy those cables, but you can’t hide them. (One way to minimize this is to use wireless peripherals with Wi-Fi receivers. That way, the KVM switch can be somewhat tucked away and you don’t have to deal with cables running from peripherals to the KVM switch.) Further reading: Best wireless keyboards and best wireless mice Read...

According to one analyst firm, the combined shipment of desktop and laptop computers in 2024 was 245.3 million units. That’s a big number — a new computer for one out of every thirty or so people on the planet — and it’s showing a growth over 2023. But with the previous post-pandemic slump in sales, and big pushes around AI and Windows 11, it still feels like a big disappointment. The numbers come from Gartner, which lays out a lot of statistics for the global and US markets broken down by major manufacturers. Apple’s Mac computers and ChromeOS devices are included. In the fourth quarter of 2024, Asus (9.8 percent growth), Acer, Apple, and Lenovo are the big winners in terms of total shipment increase over Q42023, with HP and Dell getting small dips. Apple, Asus, and Lenovo showed the biggest jumps in market share globally, while HP had a sizable seven percent dip. Restricting the focus to the US market shows a healthier shipment increase, 17.192 million shipments in Q4 with an increase of 3.5 percent. Asus and Acer made huge gains over the same period in previous year, 35 percent and 20 percent respectively, while Dell and HP were both down by small margins. Gartner summarizes 2024 as a “modest recovery” for the PC market, with the consideration that 2023 was the weakest year in the last decade. Compared to 2021, when 340 million units were shipped at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, sports fans would say we’re still very much in a rebuilding phase. Considering the hard marketing pushes this year, I can’t help but feel like a modest recovery is still damning with faint praise. Microsoft partnered with Qualcomm and most of the major laptop manufacturers to push the Arm-based Snapdragon platform, arm-in-arm with Copilot AI and a renewed plea for consumers to buy new machines and upgrade to Windows 11. Google had its own AI-focused marketing around Chromebook Plus-certified devices. But since Microsoft and Google have both been forced to integrate AI features into existing software and web services while upping the price, it’s safe to assume that not enough people were interested in the original $20-a-month upsell. And while “AI-capable” PCs appear to be on the rise, it’s not at all clear that consumers are actually interested in those features instead of, you know, just buying a new PC. At the close of the third quarter 2024 Canalys says that 20 percent of new PCs sold were “AI-capable” (read: had an NPU), but only 720,000 of the sales in that quarter were the Snapdragon-equipped laptops Microsoft had so aggressively promoted. Microsft is still pushing hard for Windows 11 with the out of service deadline for Windows 10 looming later this year, and opening up Windows on Arm to other chip makers like Nvidia and MediaTek might shake up the market a bit. But I doubt I’ll be contradicted if I say that the PC market is hoping for a much bigger jump in 2025. Read...

There’s a lot of stuff happening right now. Here in the US, it seems kind of inescapable. And it surely doesn’t help that a lot of people might be without their short-form social video fix very soon. TikTok, for all its many, many faults, is something millions of people use in the US. That said, a TikTok ban seems increasingly likely. But there is another. There are a lot of others, actually, all initially trying to ape TikTok’s success, now poised to try and fully replace it. My personal poison (only slightly joking) is YouTube Shorts, perhaps because it happens to be built into the thing I already use. I have a lot of beef with YouTube as a platform, but that doesn’t take away from the many talented creators that are on it. YouTube Shorts is filled with a lot of the same garbage littering TikTok. Clips blatantly stolen from movies and TV shows, reactions that add nothing to the original video, AI-generated slop that the uploader didn’t even bother to check. But there’s some genuinely entertaining, interesting, and instructional stuff too. Here are 25 of my favorites to get you started. I’m so sorry, puppets. We’ve all failed you. Food I don’t know how to cook SJohnsonVoiceOvers, AKA SnackDaddy: Stefan Johnson is a professional voice actor, but lately he’s been diving into his love of food, in both the snack/junk and home-cooked varieties. He’ll do earnest and often hilarious reviews of fast food and restaurant products, try out trending recipes, and generally give you some great ideas. It doesn’t hurt that his takes and advice are easy to follow even for amateur cooks like me. Turkuaz Kitchen: Betel Tunc is a cook who loves using traditional methods, ingredients, and tools to make amazing meals. Frankly she’s way beyond me in all of these areas, but I love watching her intense focus in short, bite-sized videos that leave my mouth watering from whatever she ends up with, all set to some chill music with no narration. Check out her full YouTube channel (and cookbook!) if you want more detailed instructions. Jose.elcook: As a recovering Texan, I almost hate this guy, if only because it’s really hard to find good Mexican food in rural Pennsylvania. Jose’s passion for Mexican and other recipes from Latin America shines through in his simple and straightforward delivery, though he’s not at all limited to that niche. Inject that salsa verde straight into my veins, please. Longer recipes and equipment reviews are on his main YouTube channel. CookShowTrevor: This idiot makes pizzas that should not exist, and I say that in full confidence that he would agree with me. Trevor, or at least the caricature that he plays for YouTube, puts pretty much everything on lovingly handmade pizza just to see what happens. Frequently it burns, occasionally it explodes, every once in a while it’s a legitimately good result. I give it the highest honor I can bestow: a seven out of ten. Crafts I don’t know how to do JonPaulsBalls: Get your hand off that HR report, this is a guy named Jon-Paul Wheatley who makes soccer balls. That’s footballs, if you live somewhere civilized. Watching Jon-Paul’s design process from start to finish for balls I never would have imagined is hypnotizing, as is his soothing narration. Watch as he combines modern and old-fashioned methods and materials to create the best balls of them all, and give it a try yourself if you want with his personal website. SaraMicsPottery: Sarah Luepker mixes the usual crafting instruction videos with a bit of personal insight and vlogging. I appreciate that she includes her pottery screw-ups in her videos — it makes me feel better about spending six hours on a PC build that won’t boot. Sara’s shorts are less about full instruction than the satisfying tactile process and a lot of commentary, but there are plenty of of things to learn if you dive deep. EoinReardon: I’m even more useless at carpentry than I am at most crafts, and that’s amazing, because my first job was at a sawmill. Eoin Reardon gives me a glimpse into the life I might have had, if I hadn’t quit after six weeks and six stomachfuls of sawdust. Though he’s all about traditional techniques and results, his practical and straightforward techniques could be applied to household jobs. I assume they could, anyway. I fix computers. Tanner.Leathertein: Less about the actual craft of leatherworking and more about educating yourself on leather goods and the designer fashion industry, Tanner’s channel literally dissects handbags, wallets, and other goods to… well, show you the goods. In addition to the cathartic thrill of seeing fashionista items destroyed, he breaks down the value of the components and materials, helping you spot a good deal versus an unconscionable markup (or a plain old fake). GirlWithTheDogs: As a life-long dog owner, I can appreciate that washing and grooming one is not a task for the faint of heart. Vanessa De Prohetis is positively unflappable as she cleans dogs and cats of all stripes (and spots, and stippling… you get the picture). You might find some great tips for DIY pet grooming, but I’m more impressed by how she handles the toughest cases — no dog is too big, no cat is too crazy. Animals I don’t own HaydenKristialandandCo: My grandparents raised racehorses and my parents still raise miniature horses. So I’ve spent decades taking care of them, which is why I really don’t like them. But pro standup comedian Hayden Kristal does, and shares the best and worst of keeping a bunch of horses and donkeys on a Colorado ranch. Her hilarious insights and off-the-cuff takes almost make me want to go back to Texas. Almost. Cleolonglegs: Good grief these Borzoi dogs are goofy. DustyMDouglas: Okay, this is one of the most prolific and popular shorts makers out there. I am basic. But come on, you can’t deny that the voiceovers done in the style of America’s Funniest Home Videos (I am also old), cliché and pun-filled as they are, are often freakin’ hilarious. Other stuff I watch UFDTech: I’d be doing a real disservice if I didn’t acknowledge the work of Brett Stelmaszek and his team, who put out some fantastic and punchy short-form consumer tech videos. UFD Tech covers PCs, phones, video games… pretty much all the stuff that I’m interested in. And yeah, their pointed, no-frills style is definitely an influence around here. Check out their full channel for more long-form videos on topics that don’t fit into 50 seconds. PunkeyDoodles8: Audio from popular videos, with cartoon illustrations and a bit of animation. It ain’t much, but it’s honest work. Who am I kidding, it’s a lot more than I can do. Miniminuteman773: Pro archeologist Milo Rossi has made it his life’s mission to take apart the kind of conspiracy theory bullshit you see thrown around Facebook by amateurs and Ancient Aliens by actual, paid adults. Rossi’s short-form videos are quick and dirty debunks (in both the literal and figurative senses). But if you really want to dig into the ridiculousness of the topic (or alternately, look at some real archeology), check out his full channel. MakeSomeNoiseDO: Dropout.TV is great. It’s the best five bucks I spend every month. And while the all-improv quasi-game show Make Some Noise is often hilarious, a little bit goes a long way — I often struggle to get through the half-hour episodes. I think the skits tend to work better in short form, which is fortunate, because a lot more people can enjoy them for free. ProZD: SungWon Cho got his comedy start in ye olden days of Vine, basically doing TikTok before TikTok was a thing. He’s now a full-time voice actor (you can hear his flexible pipes in everything from the latest Batman and Pokémon cartoons to games like Yakuza), his older geeky YouTube skits make great shorts. Check out his full channel for longer compilations. Jill Bearup: I fell into a deep hole of Jill Bearup’s longer-form content, breaking down movie swordfights from a theatrical perspective using her expertise in stage combat. But her shorts are great too, generally eviscerating fantasy and romance tropes. Her series of back-and-forths between a heroine and the author writer her has been adapted into a full novel, Just Stab Me Now. Jerry Wayne Live: Fellow Texan Jerry Wayne is a standup comedian who’s kind of like Larry the Cable Guy, if that character was actually a genuine person instead of a city slicker’s idiotic impression. His series of “Truck Astrology” videos demonstrates real and loving knowledge of what pickup trucks and SUVs are supposed to be, and for that, I am grateful. I’d ask Jerry to review my ’03 Ranger Edge if it hadn’t blown its transmission long ago. OceanX: I was that kid in elementary school who was obsessed with Robert Ballard and the Titanic, before the movie came out. So there’s no small amount of envy in my recommendation for this channel, which chronicles the work of a team of oceanographers on a research vessel complete with submersibles and ROVs. They also have general education videos on a variety of topics. Oh yeah, follow PCWorld please Did you know that PCWorld is on TikTok? At least at the time of writing. Including me, Michael, the guy writing this. I record short little summaries of some of the articles that I and my coworkers write, and the video team over in California posts it with neato backgrounds and links. And they do it on YouTube Shorts, too. The PCWorld YouTube channel also has longer dives into all the latest PC news and hands-on coverage of the newest parts, laptops, handhelds, and anything else that strikes our fancy. Subscribe to TheFullNerd while you’re at it — that’s our sister channel for the weekly podcast (live every Tuesday and for most major PC-related events). Read...

When I first saw that photo of Nvidia’s new Project Digits mini PC unveiled at CES 2025, I couldn’t help but notice the Apple influence — minimalist, sleek, next to a monitor that looks like Apple’s Studio Display. Apple’s latest Mac Mini is revolutionary in many ways, delivering the company’s impressive M4 silicon in an efficient, affordable package. Windows PCs haven’t yet been able to reach the same level of design beauty and overall balanced unit. Could Nvidia’s new Mac Mini-like small-form-factor AI supercomputer usher in a major disruption for Windows PCs? Let’s dive into Project Digits, what it is, and what it brings to the table for the future. Project Digits: What it is and what it isn’t It’s a little unfair to compare the Mac Mini and Nvidia’s Project Digits, mainly because they target vastly different users and markets. After all, the Mac Mini is for home users who just want to do some web browsing, media streaming, and maybe light content creation or gaming. And on the side, you have Apple Intelligence for AI in that ecosystem. But then you have Project Digits, a powerhouse mini PC infused with the power of Nvidia’s Grace Blackwell GB10 Superchip. The idea here is to pack an AI supercomputer into a small chassis that’s usable by scientists, students, and AI researchers in a very focused manner. That’s reflected in its price: A whopping $3,000 that proves it’s meant to be more of a professional-level device. It launches around May 2025. Project Digits runs on the GB10 Superchip, meant to run large language models (LLMs) with up to 200 billion parameters. If you connect two of them, they can together handle up to 405 billion parameters. It’s perfect for AI researchers and inference models. The internal components in Nvidia’s Project Digits.Nvidia Yet while the built-in GPU is fine-tuned for AI with 128GB of unified memory, there’s no reason why Nvidia couldn’t adapt it for use in a Windows-like gaming PC in the future. Even now, Project Digits is already much more powerful than any traditional PC or laptop, with 1 petaflop of power. (For comparison, modern high-end gaming PCs only reach up to 10 teraflops — the equivalent of 0.01 petaflops.) Mac Mini users could use their systems for some AI work, but most are just using them as personal computers for mundane, personal tasks. Imagine if Nvidia tuned Project Digits in that direction? As is, Project Digits is an enthusiast- and professional-level product, but what if Nvidia honed it to become like the Mac Mini? A consumer-grade PC with unprecedented power that’s even more revolutionary than the M4 Mac Mini. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang believes AI will go mainstream and make its way into virtually every industry and facet of human life. If he’s right about that, a small yet powerful AI supercomputer could be a game-changer, much like the smartphone was for everyday life. (I wouldn’t doubt Jensen Huang, who’s been a near-unparalleled visionary thus far.) That’s it. That tiny thing is Nvidia’s Project Digits mini PC.Nvidia This means Nvidia would want its AI to have more personal applications for everyday consumers, not just for research or data center purposes. For now, Project Digits gives those who would normally be working in such environments the ability to bring their work home, and that’s one step closer to bringing AI into the personal home space. Nvidia already meddles in the consumer market, of course. Just look at their GeForce RTX GPUs, which are the company’s DNA — and AI came after developing those graphics chips for gamers. So while Nvidia makes bank on data centers and AI, these applications aren’t the be-all and end-all for the company. Gaming remains important, and there remain plenty of other consumer markets — like this — that Nvidia could explore. Project Digits could be a looming threat Nvidia’s Project Digits mini supercomputer runs on Linux, not Windows. A strange choice, perhaps, considering that Nvidia is already intimately familiar with Windows drivers for its GPUs. Could this be a sign that Nvidia wants to move away from Windows, at least in some capacity? Could it even mean that Nvidia wants to develop their own operating system, one that’s based on Unix (much like Linux and macOS are) and not Windows? This would be an Apple-like endeavor, paving the way for Nvidia to have complete control over their entire portfolio by way of in-house solutions. Lenovo This isn’t the first rumbling of a Windows disruption that we’ve heard at CES 2025. Last month, Valve announced its “Powered by SteamOS” branding for partners, signaling a new era in which third-party gaming handhelds, laptops, and PCs will increasingly run on SteamOS. Valve told us more about their plans at CES 2025, and we saw the debut of the first non-Valve SteamOS gaming handheld. In short, Microsoft should be terrified of SteamOS. It works well enough without Windows and it’s slowly converting Windows gamers over. The Steam Deck has been the big showcase for SteamOS for a while now, but with Valve opening it up to all kinds of other manufacturers, we’re undoubtedly going to see a big shift in years to come. Now, to be clear, Nvidia has made no indication that they plan to do anything like this. All of this is speculation. But it would certainly make some sense for Nvidia to start forging their own path, detached from Windows and all its baggage. Nvidia has the capital and influence to make it happen, and they could easily argue that their AI and hardware are so bespoke that they need bespoke software solutions. In that case, Microsoft would have something greater than SteamOS to fear. Mac Mini and Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs. Will these worlds ever collide to form a Nvidia mini PC that offers the best of everything?Thiago Trevisan / IDG Indeed, I can see a possible near-future where Nvidia doesn’t just sell GPUs but entire mini PCs to their board partners. How does a superpowered Asus ROG Strix Project Digits mini PC sound? It could have a GPU, CPU, and NPU all packed into one tiny unit — and that would certainly feel like Apple’s silicon and tight integration of hardware. But you never know. The future could be boring. Nvidia may well stick with Windows PCs and take the easier, simpler, well-trodden path. It’s not like they couldn’t do big things here, as Windows PCs need the power and tight integration that Nvidia’s hardware brings to the table. Rumors suggest Nvidia is working on an Arm-powered PC chip now that Qualcomm’s long-leaked Arm Windows exclusivity agreement has ended. Imagine a small Windows PC the size of a Mac Mini but running on a superpowered chip that delivers RTX-grade graphics and next-gen AI performance. This is an area where even Apple hasn’t yet caught up to Nvidia, and a solid execution of such an idea would sway consumer markets to new form factors and possibilities. Read...

The recent release of Firefox 134 brings several improvements to the browser, including better video playback on Windows and better support for touchpads on Linux, as well as fixes to several security flaws. Firefox ESR and Tor Browser have also received security updates. What’s new in Firefox 134? With this update, Firefox now plays HEVC-encoded (H.265) videos hardware-accelerated on Windows computers. On Linux, Firefox now supports a stop gesture on the touchpad — a scroll action can be stopped by placing two fingers on the touchpad. The Ecosia search engine is now also available in other countries, including Austria, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. A modified layout of the new tab page is initially reserved for users in the US and Canada. Mozilla plans to release Firefox 135 on February 4, 2025. Security vulnerabilities fixed in Firefox 134 In Mozilla’s 2025-01 security advisory, we see at least 11 security vulnerabilities that have been addressed with Firefox 134, three of them having a “high” impact rating. The vulnerabilities CVE-2025-0244 (high impact), CVE-2025-0245, and CVE-2025-0246 (medium impact) only affect Android. Meanwhile, CVE-2025-0242, CVE-2025-0243, and CVE-2025-0247 are summarized reports of internally discovered vulnerabilities that could potentially be exploited to execute arbitrary code. Updates for Firefox ESR and Tor Browser Mozilla has also updated its long-term versions — Firefox ESR 128 and ESR 115 — to eliminate vulnerabilities. Seven security flaws have been fixed in Firefox ESR 128.6.0 and two in Firefox ESR 115.19.0. Tor Browser 14.0.4, based on Firefox ESR 128.6.0, will be available soon. An update for Tor Browser 13.5 to version 13.5.11 is already available if you’re running Windows 7 or 8.1 or macOS 10.13 or 10.14. Firefox ESR 115 and Tor Browser 13.5 based on it will continue to be supported until at least March 4, 2025. Mozilla will soon announce whether there will be a further extension on that. Read...

In a recent blog post, Microsoft declared 2025 to be the “year of the Windows 11 PC refresh.” That’s because when October rolls around, official support for Windows 10 is going to end and most users will likely need to switch over to Windows 11 when that happens. However, if you’re planning on waiting until the last minute to make that switch, you might want to think again. According to one security expert, the security risks for all non-upgraded PCs will only continue to get worse between now and then. Windows 10 is a ticking time bomb According to Statista, Windows 10 continues to hold about 65 percent of worldwide market share among desktop operating systems, amounting to millions of PCs around the globe. IT security expert Thorsten Urbanski specifically warns against this impending “security fiasco,” urging owners of Windows 10 PCs to upgrade their “ticking time bombs” to Windows 11 sooner than later. “It’s five minutes to midnight to avoid a security fiasco for 2025. We strongly advise all users not to wait until October, but to switch to Windows 11 immediately or choose an alternative operating system if their device cannot be updated to the latest Windows operating system. Otherwise, users expose themselves to considerable security risks and make themselves vulnerable to dangerous cyber attacks and data loss. Companies should plan the switch early. Extending support is costly. Simply letting the devices continue to run is grossly negligent. These outdated systems in particular are more vulnerable to cyber attacks. In the worst case, these computers are the starting point for data loss, espionage and ransomware attacks. In the event of damage, insurance companies can even refuse to pay out because the state of the art was not adhered to.” In short, there will soon come a time when new security flaws are no longer addressed by Microsoft, as the company will be fully focused on Windows 11. Even if you pay to extend support for your Windows 10 PC, you’re only postponing the inevitable — and you’ll likely be increasingly vulnerable to security issues during that time. Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro Therefore, the advice is to not wait until October. If you have the option to switch over to Windows 11 now, consider making the switch as soon as you can. Otherwise, you run the risk of falling victim to a cyber attack or losing valuable data in other ways, even if Windows 10 continues to receive security updates until that final day of support. What if you can’t upgrade just yet? Unfortunately, due to specific hardware requirements, upgrading older PCs to Windows 11 is a major obstacle for many. The TPM 2.0 requirement in particular, which is essential for the security features of Windows 11, poses a challenge and makes many older PCs incompatible. If your PC hardware is incompatible with Windows 11, you’ll have to upgrade your hardware or buy a new computer outright. While there are ways to circumvent the hardware lock, doing so is associated with its own security risks. Plus, to install Windows 11 on incompatible PCs, you have to assume liability for any issues that arise and waive eligibility to receive system updates. We don’t recommend doing this. If you don’t want to buy a new machine, your only real alternative is to switch to Linux. You could keep using Windows 10 despite it no longer receiving security updates after October, but that’d be the riskiest way to go and we definitely advise against it. Further reading: Hey everyone, it’s time to update to Windows 11 Read...

Rufus is an open-source program that creates bootable USB sticks for Windows installation and more. Compared to Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool, Rufus offers many more options for configuration setup. If you’re interested in such a program, we’ll show you how to use it. Further reading: 9 replacements for Windows features that Microsoft abandoned Why is Rufus better? With the Media Creation Tool, Microsoft provides its own software to configure USB sticks for installing Windows 10 or 11. So, why do you need Rufus at all? I’ll tell you why. Rufus is not limited to installation media for Windows, but also supports Linux, live, and emergency systems as well as other bootable ISO files. In addition to the ISO format, Rufus also processes Virtual Hard Disks from Microsoft (VHD) and disc image files (IMG). This tool enables bios updates from DOS directly from the stick as well. Rufus comes with a selection of pre-configured systems for booting USB sticks. The selection can be extended almost at will by loading your own ISO files. Rufus Many older computers and mainboards require this update mode. However, Rufus is the better choice for installing the Microsoft operating system compared to the Media Creation Tool. During Windows setup, you can clearly choose between real Uefi and Bios compatibility mode. get windows 11 pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro Secondly, the hardware requirements of Windows 11 can be easily bypassed and the current operating system can be installed on older computers. Thirdly, the tool downloads the desired Windows version directly and processes it immediately. And, finally, Rufus allows the complete Windows installation on the stick, i.e. a “Windows to go.” Normal or portable version? Two versions for Windows (64-bit) are available for download on the Rufus website. One of the two is labelled “p” for portable. In other words, it’s a program that starts directly without installation. Is there a difference between the two versions? In principle, there’s no difference and at first glance this is confusing. This is because the “normal” version also starts directly and without installation. However, the automatic update check is switched off for the file labelled as portable while the other checks daily whether a new program version is available. The update check can be switched on and off in the program settings. The same applies to the extended drive properties and the extended formatting options, both of which are hidden by default in the portable version. Note: The file labelled “x86” on the website is suitable for earlier 32-bit versions of Windows, the file labeled “arm64” for Windows on the (new) ARM basis. Stick for Windows installation If Rufus offers more setting options than Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool, doesn’t that make configuring the installation stick unnecessarily complicated? No, not at all! If you hide the advanced drive properties and formatting options already mentioned, Rufus shows the reduced interface shown in the picture (above). A USB stick with at least 8GB of storage capacity is required for the Windows installation. As soon as it’s inserted in the computer, it appears at the top under “Drive.” Use the “Select” button to integrate the desired Windows ISO. You can obtain this from the official Microsoft download page. Accept the remaining default settings–this applies in particular to the partition scheme, target, and file system. To do this, click on “Start,” confirm the other dialogue windows, and wait until Rufus has written to the USB data carrier. Then close the program interface. The stick configured in this way is bootable and can be used both for a new Windows installation and upgrade. Important: When using Rufus, the previous content of the USB stick will be overwritten and deleted. Therefore, please back up important data stored on it separately beforehand. Uefi or CSM compatibility mode Rufus’ settings allow the Windows installation to be clearly set to the modern Uefi or the older Bios compatibility mode. If you install Windows on an older computer using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool, you often do not know in advance how the system will be installed: Whether in the older CSM compatibility mode (Compatibility Support Module, also known as “Legacy”) with the MBR hard disk partition scheme or in modern Uefi mode and the GPT partition style. You can view this later in the Windows settings, but depending on the hardware and Bios/Uefi settings, you may not be able to influence it. Rufus, on the other hand, allows you to define the partitioning scheme from the outset and, correspondingly, the operating mode specified in the “Target system” tool. Whenever possible on the part of the mainboard or the Bios/Uefi, you should select the settings “GPT” and “UEFI (without CSM).” Only if booting and the subsequent Windows installation fail and this cannot be rectified by changing the Bios/Uefi settings, create a new stick with the Rufus combination “MBR” and “BIOS (or UEFI-CSM).” Tip: If explicitly requested, Rufus also offers the option of configuring the stick for Windows installation in dual mode. This allows the mobile data carrier to be used on UEFI and legacy hardware. To do this, press the Alt-E key combination and Rufus will briefly display the confirmation message “Dual UEFI/BIOS mode enabled” at the bottom. The partition scheme is now set to “MBR” and “BIOS or UEFI” to the right. Install Windows 11 despite hardware requirements Microsoft has significantly tightened the system requirements for Windows 11 compared to the previous version. However, with the help of Rufus, the current operating system can also be installed on formally unsuitable PCs. Windows 11 can initially only be installed on computers that fulfill Microsoft’s system requirements. These include Uefi operation, Secure Boot switched on, a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0, and a compatible processor. For the common Core i CPUs from Intel, this must be at least generation 8. However, as the previous generation 7 models are also suitable for Windows 11 in principle, it makes sense to switch off the hardware check during setup. This makes Rufus particularly easy. After loading the Windows 11 ISO file and inserting the USB stick, click on “Start” on the program interface as described. This opens a dialogue box in which the option at the top is important. “Remove requirement for 4GB RAM, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0” skips the hardware check when installing or updating later. You can also deactivate the requirement for an online account and the automatic encryption of the hard drive here. Setup I: Completely reinstall Windows Because Rufus automatically makes the Windows stick bootable, the Microsoft operating system can be freshly installed without much effort. To do this, insert the installation stick into the switched-off computer, switch it on, and press the button with which you can select the USB data carrier as the boot medium. Instead of booting from the hard drive as usual, the computer will now boot from the stick. The button is specific to the PC, mainboard or manufacturer, and is usually displayed briefly on the monitor when booting up. On older PCs, the boot sequence may have to be changed in the bios. After booting from the mobile data carrier, Microsoft’s setup wizard starts. Among other things, you specify the partition on which the operating system is to be installed. Make sure you select the correct partition as the destination so that you do not accidentally delete the data on another partition. The current version 24H2 of Windows 11 requires your explicit consent to “delete all files, apps and settings” for the first time. However, this only applies to the partition selected in the next step for the Windows installation, not to the other hard drive areas. Setup II: Upgrading Windows 11 Upgrading a running Windows system is easy in itself, but there is one point where you need to pay close attention. On newer computers, the annual major function update — for example from Windows 11 23H2 to version 24H2 — is carried out via the normal Windows update. The same applies to upgrading from Windows 10 to 11. However, if the hardware does not fulfill the system requirements of the newer operating system, this type of update will fail. This is where the setup stick modified with Rufus can help. To upgrade, plug the stick into the running computer, and double-click the “Setup.exe” file on the mobile data carrier. It’s now important to select the option “Change how updates are downloaded from Setup -> Not now” in the first dialogue window. Only then do you start the actual update by clicking on “Accept.” You may also see the message “What you should take care of.” In this case, click on “Accept” and the upgrade will start with the transfer of all programs, files, and settings. Download installation files Rufus also allows you to download the Windows 10 and 11 ISO files for the installation stick directly, but this option may be hidden depending on the settings. Instead of first downloading the ISO files for Windows 10 or 11 from Microsoft and then integrating them into Rufus from your hard drive, you can do this directly in the Sticktool. To do this, click on the small black arrow to the right of the “Select” button on the user interface and switch to “Download.” If you do not have this option, first click on the small “Show application settings” button at the bottom. This is the second of the four buttons on the right. Set the “Check for new version” option to “Daily (default)” and close the window and program. After restarting Rufus, click on the arrow and “Download” to select the current version of Windows 10 or 11, start the download and then create the boot stick for the Windows installation as described. Windows-To-Go Microsoft has discontinued “Windows to go,” but Rufus still enables the complete installation of the system on the USB stick to take with you. Always having your personal Windows on the USB stick with you sounds practical, but has a decisive disadvantage compared to the permanently installed system on the hard drive. It’s much slower. If you still want to try it out, you can create a to-go stick with Rufus. This should have at least 16, preferably 32GB of storage space. After plugging in the stick, integrate the desired and previously downloaded ISO file on the Rufus interface via “Selection.” Below this in the “Image property” field, switch to “Windows To Go,” check the other options, and click on “Start.” In the next steps, specify the Windows version (essentially Home or Pro) and a few other settings. Finally, click on “OK” to create the stick with the system to go. Read...

Branding is important. Corporations spend millions of dollars every year to make sure that words like “Tacoma” and “Sleep Number” press the right buttons in your brain. And Dell has spent decades putting that same work in for terms like “XPS,” “Inspiron,” and “Latitude.” Starting in 2025, though, Dell laptops and desktops will just be… Dell. “There’s just one brand,” said executive Sam Burd. “Dell.” Dude, it’s just Dell Before I get into editorializing, let me clear a few things up. The actual designs that Dell has been working on aren’t going away. So, for example, the XPS 13 that’s been a staple of high-end laptops for years isn’t being discontinued, and it isn’t even being replaced with a new model. It’s just that the 2025 version will be called the “Dell 13 Plus.” (Although there’s no direct 13-inch model equivalent available at launch. The 14-incher is the smallest in the non-superlative Dell line.) Dell also isn’t doing away with the Alienware sub-brand, which it purchased in 2006. Alienware gaming models will, apparently, keep their specific names, such as “Area 51” and “m16.” Monitor names seem to be unaffected, too, so the “UltraSharp” line will still exist. On top of that, you’ll continue to see older designs sold under their original nomenclature while Dell clears out its existing lines — the XPS 13 and Inspiron 15 models from 2023 and 2024 will still be sold under those names for the time being. Now, let’s break down Dell’s new and allegedly simpler branding. You’ll see three tiers of products overall going forward: Dell (no extras or superlatives), Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max. The regular Dell tier is for standard consumers and students, “designed for play, school, and work.” This will encompass machines formerly labelled Inspiron or ones that had no specific branding even before this change. Dell Pro is “designed for professional-grade productivity.” (Weird that “work” was included in the previous tier and not here, but anyway…) This is where the Latitude line and similar products will end up. Meanwhile, Dell Pro Max is the absolute cream of the crop and will be the landing spot for Dell’s “maximum performance” designs. Dell Seems pretty straightforward, huh? Not so fast! Under each tier, computers will also be split up into three more sub-categories. Base is, well, the base model with no extras (though presumably it’ll still be customizable to some degree using Dell’s long-standing online ordering system. Plus is a step above that, for pre-configured machines that have a few extras like a better screen, RAM, CPU, storage, and maybe a discrete graphics card. Premium is the top-end model in each tier, presumably maxed out (or nearly so) in every configurable category. If you remember your elementary school times tables, that’s nine different labels for Dell computers starting in 2025, from simply “Dell Base” (if these models will even be differentiated) all the way up to “Dell Pro Max Premium.” Which doesn’t even include the differentiator for a specific model. In other words, the pinnacle business-focused laptop that’s also packing the maximum power and capability would seemingly be the “Dell 14 Pro Max Premium.” Hooray, it’s so simple. And if you’re thinking that the “Pro” and “Max” extras make Dell’s new product line seem eerily familiar to a certain fruit-identity competitor, you’re not alone. During a presentation, one fellow tech journalist pointed out the similarity to Apple’s various Pro and Max labels for its desktops, laptops, and accessories — and in response, Dell executives dismissed the concern, indicating that these are universal terms that consumers are already familiar with. The new Dell laptops in 2025 For the initial 2025 launch, there are seven “new” laptop models (many of which are modified from older designs to varying degrees), plus and also various Plus and Premium upgraded models of the same design. Most are launching by the end of February, and other new models will probably be announced later in the year. Dell 14 Plus Michael Crider/Foundry Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 Dell Dell 16 Plus Dell Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 Dell Dell Pro 13, Pro 13 Plus, Pro 13 Premium Dell Dell Pro 14, Pro 14 Plus, Pro 14 Premium Michael Crider/Foundry Dell Pro 16, Dell Pro 16 Plus Dell Look at that list. It’s a mess, just begging for a miscommunication that could easily land you with the wrong build of a laptop you want, or the wrong laptop model entirely. And despite being allegedly distinct, all these laptops look extremely similar. Frankly, I’m not a fan. A confusing change for everyone It seems like most of the Dell products that we cover here at PCWorld will fall under the standard Dell branding (sans Pro or Pro Max) since we mostly handle consumer-focused designs. But the very fact that Pro and Pro Max models exist will indicate to some consumers that they aren’t getting the best possible experience, even if they don’t actually need any sort of upsell to the fastest possible processor or the most available RAM. Like similar labels applied to phones, some will want “the best” even if they’ll never actually make use of those features — and I wonder if there isn’t a bit of intentionality behind that decision. I also wonder what the point of having the Base, Plus, and Premium subdivisions are when Dell didn’t need these before its controversial decision to add “Plus” to the XPS line to denote a more streamlined chassis. Maybe Dell’s going to make more than one 14-inch laptop in each category and simply needed a point of differentiation… which would only then undermine this attempt at simplicity. Which of the seven new models is this? I have no idea. This is an official image from Dell.Dell Between the adjectives that indicate different product categories and intended audiences, and separate-but-similar adjectives that further bifurcate these categories, it’s a lot to process. And I don’t see it as any less confusing than “Inspiron” versus “Latitude.” I don’t think this will be easier to parse for consumers, and even those who have a passing familiarity with computers might trip up. It doesn’t help that all of Dell’s non-Alienware laptops seem to be moving to a unified, utilitarian design language, with very little to visually distinguish Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max laptops from one another. Maybe I have a bias here. I’m a professional tech writer who’s been obsessively following PCs for decades. I live and breathe this stuff. And I’ve been using Dell computers in one flavor or another for a pretty big chunk of that. Maybe I’m demonstrating a knee-jerk reaction, rejecting the unfamiliar simply because I don’t want to let go of a lingering attachment to these terms. But I don’t think that’s the case. I think Dell is under-valuing the work it has put into these brands. I think it would be better to simply streamline the lineup with fewer models and more options within the config upgrades for each one. I think there’s a good chance Dell will walk this back, especially for the XPS label, before too long. Then again, no one’s paying me a huge amount of money to make branding decisions that will affect product lines that sell millions of units. So take this opinion for what it’s worth (not a lot), and we’ll see how this strategy plays out in the new year. Read...