Windows Latest reports that an issue in Windows 11’s big 2024 update is causing system failures and Blue Screens of Death for some users, with the main cause being SSDs by a certain manufacturer. After installing Windows 11 24H2, computers running on certain models of Western Digital SSDs have started crashing. This comes in the wake of several other issues caused by Windows 11 24H2, including driver-related crashes, undeletable update cache files, and dead internet connections. Users have been sharing their experiences in a Western Digital forum thread, with the following SSDs known to be affected: WD SN770 WD SN580 The crashes only start happening after users update Windows to the latest version: Windows 11 24H2. After updating, affected users with these SSDs installed are hit with a Blue Screen of Death that shows a “Critical Process Has Died” error message. According to Windows Latest, it’s currently assumed that these crashes are related to faulty memory drivers that can’t cope with the 200 HMBs (i.e., Host Memory Buffer) of these SSD models. (Both of these SSDs were also known to cause problems in the past with Windows 11 23H2, but for different reasons.) What to do if you’re affected According to user reports, this isn’t an issue that can be resolved by reinstalling Windows 11 or repositioning the SSDs, as neither has solved the problem. However, there is a workaround. For now, here’s what you can do if your Western Digital SSD is causing Windows 11 24H2 to crash: disable HMB in the Windows Registry. Note: Disabling HMB for all SSDs can negatively affect performance. However, it will keep the Blue Screen crashes at bay until Microsoft provides a fix. To disable HBM in the Registry, follow these steps: In the Start menu, search for registry and then launch Registry Editor from the search results. In Registry Editor, use the left sidebar to navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\stornvme\Parameters\Device. After selecting Device, you may or may not see HMBAllocationPolicy in the right-side panel. If you don’t see it, right-click on an empty spot in the right-side panel and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value and name it as HMBAllocationPolicy. Double-click HMBAllocationPolicy and set its value to 0. Restart your PC. Both Microsoft and Western Digital are allegedly aware of the crashing issue and are working on a solution, but neither has released any official acknowledgment or communication about it yet. Further reading: Crucial Windows 11 settings to change ASAP Read...

The big Windows 11 24H2 update has brought all kinds of interesting and useful new features, but it has also removed several apps and features that Microsoft no longer wants to support going forward. One of those removed features is Windows Mixed Reality (WMR), which first launched back in 2017 and was meant to be a platform for virtual reality and augmented reality experiences via WMR-compatible headsets, like the Microsoft HoloLens (which was also recently abandoned). The 24H2 update for Windows 11 officially deprecates WMR functionality, making once-compatible devices no longer operational and killing Steam VR apps along with them. This shouldn’t really come as a surprise, though, since the company previously announced the deprecation of Windows Mixed Reality late last year. Microsoft has stated that existing mixed reality devices can still be used until November 2026 (e.g., via SteamVR), but only if the Windows 11 24H2 update isn’t installed. Alternatively, Windows Mixed Reality is still available on Windows 10. Why abandon Windows Mixed Reality? Microsoft’s foray into the VR market began back in 2015 with the “Windows Holographic” XR platform plus other affordable XR headsets from third-party manufacturers. XR stands for extended reality, which is an umbrella term that covers virtual reality, mixed reality, and augmented reality. Mixed reality overlays a digital world on top of the real world, so that you aren’t immersing yourself in a fully digital world (virtual reality) but rather using a headset to see virtual objects that are anchored in the real world. Augmented reality, on the other hand, has digital elements projected into a physical environment. Then, in 2017, Microsoft launched Windows Mixed Reality, allowing users the opportunity to experience VR applications via Steam and other platforms. In 2020, Microsoft also released the HP Reverb G2 virtual reality headset in collaboration with Valve. Yet, despite some cool features that earned Microsoft’s devices a special spot in the development of extended reality, demand for their devices remained low. Other manufacturers, like Oculus (now part of Meta) and Sony, were more successful and even they continue to struggle with relatively low consumer interest in expensive XR gear. There’s also the lack of truly exciting games and experiences that could make the technologies more appealing to mainstream audiences. Even Apple’s Vision Pro VR headset failed to garner much interest, and Google recently killed its Project Iris attempt at VR/AR. Given all the above, it’s really no surprise to see Microsoft leave XR behind and focus its efforts on other endeavors, like its recent pushing of AI-driven Copilot+ PCs that have similarly failed to impress. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Long battery life Great-looking OLED touchscreen Thin and light in tablet mode Price includes keyboard Cons Low performance next to peers Some keyboard connection wonkiness Underwhelming speakers Our Verdict The Asus ProArt PZ13 lacks performance next to its laptop competitors, but as a 2-in-1 tablet it shines. A quality design, a great display, lengthy battery life, and incredibly competitive value set it apart from other 2-in-1. If you’re set on a tablet, this one is well worth Considering. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Microsoft has opened the door for some fierce competition. The Surface Pro has long charged a considerable premium for the honor of giving you a tablet and laptop in one (and then charged a premium for the all-too-essential keyboard). And that’s where the Asus ProArt PZ13 swoops in. It not only comes offering a sharp OLED display, a regal tablet design, and a competitive $1,099 starting price, but it also includes the keyboard cover in that price, not to mention 1TB of storage. This is a great start to compete with the base Surface Pro 11 configuration and also sees it undercut another 2-in-1 tablet we tested recently, the much pricier Dell Latitude 7350 Detachable. There’s a lot of promise for the Asus ProArt PZ13, but its choice of a lower-tier Snapdragon X Plus processor (on top of the choice to use a Snapdragon processor at all given some compatibility concerns) may hold it back from being the perfect tool for a lot of people. But as a 2-in-1 tablet, it’s highly compelling.  Further reading: Best laptops 2024: Premium, budget, gaming, 2-in-1s, and more Asus ProArt PZ13: Specs and features Model number: Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306 CPU: Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100 Memory: 16GB LPDDR5X Graphics/GPU: Adreno Graphics Display: 13.3-inch 2880×1600 OLED Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD Webcam: 1440p Connectivity: 2x USB-4, 1x SDcard reader Networking: WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Biometrics: Windows Hello facial recognition Battery capacity: 70 watt-hours Dimensions: 11.5 x 7.9 x 0.71 inches (total); 11.5 x 7.9 x 0.35 inches (tablet only)  Weight: 3.34 pounds (total); 1.92 pounds (tablet alone) MSRP: $1,099 as-tested ($1,099 base) Asus ProArt PZ13: Design and build quality IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp The Asus ProArt PZ13 is a classic two-in-one tablet following in the footsteps of the Surface tablets. The tablet connects to a thin keyboard cover with a proprietary magnetic connector at its base with hard pins to ensure proper alignment and a secure link. A flexible band goes from the connector to the keyboard, allowing the keyboard to sit flat regardless of the angle of the tablet.  Rather than building a kickstand into the tablet itself, Asus has gone with a magnetic cover. A back cover has a hinged kickstand that folds out about halfway down the back of the tablet to prop it up at various angles. This is effective, but not without its issues. The magnetic hold is firm, but I have had the cover try to pop off while folding out the kickstand. The stand also struggles to hold the tablet up at high angles when used with the keyboard cover, needing the screen to rock back about 10 degrees before it’ll stand stably. Between the base of the keyboard cover and the foot of the kickstand, the Asus ProArt PZ13 doesn’t get a lot of traction on surfaces, so it can slide around a little more easily than many other laptops, though still isn’t slipping willy-nilly.  Where I have to give Asus major props is in its decision to include the rear cover and keyboard cover with the Asus ProArt PZ13. Unlike the Microsoft Surface tablets, you won’t see a price and then find out its hundreds more to get it with a keyboard. Asus doesn’t include its pressure-sensitive stylus though. These accessories are a little curious, as I would have expected something more regal for Asus’s ProArt series, but Asus has instead gone with an outdoorsy design with military greens and an external material that feels more like camping gear.  The tablet itself is a different story. It’s made with a firm metal unibody, has a Gorilla Glass NBT display cover, and has an IP52 rating for protection against dust and light rain. It feels tanky, and at 0.35 inches thick, it’s thinner than many laptops, though a little on the thick side for a tablet. The keyboard and kickstand also add a lot of extra depth, bringing it up to 11.5 x 7.9 x 0.71 inches. The top-left corner of the tablet has a power button and the right edge has two volume volumes, giving the laptop a total of three hardware controls for volume with the keyboard cover attached. Two speakers also live on either side of the chassis.  Asus has opted for an actively cooled design. Heat vents out the top edge of the Asus ProArt PZ13. One air intake sits below the volume buttons on the side of the tablet, and a curious little one is also on the back. This rear vent is wide but incredibly tight, and it’s a wonder how much air it actually can pull in.  Asus ProArt PZ13: Keyboard, trackpad IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp Asus has managed to effectively carry over its laptop keyboard to the keyboard cover for the Asus ProArt PZ13. The look and some of the feel is there, though the white backlighting doesn’t evenly illuminate the keycaps. It’s a quick and functional keyboard that feels pretty good to type on, though not excellent. The keypresses are a bit soft, and the stabilization could be better. As a result, I can type at a little over 100 words-per-minute with a bit over 95 percent accuracy, but pushing to go faster is a struggle. The keyboard cover is so thin, though, that it completely avoids creating a pressure point for the wrist or palms, feeling more like typing away on a desktop or table than on a keyboard set atop that surface. The trackpad on the Asus ProArt PZ13 is decent and serves a few purposes. It’s impressively sizable for a trackpad built into a keyboard cover, keeping up with Asus’s other laptop trackpads. Asus puts all the extra space to good use with gesture controls along its edges. A swipe along the left edge can adjust system volume while swipes along the right edge can change display brightness. Swiping along the top scrubs forward or backward in video, theoretically, but it can also move the cursor along text one letter at a time, though I find it jumpy and inaccurate for that task compared to the finer nuance of using the whole trackpad. These trackpad controls also overlap to some degree with buttons on the keyboard.  In my testing, I’ve experienced a touch of wonkiness with the keyboard cover. At two points, the keyboard cover stopped working entirely, despite still being fully connected to the tablet. Disconnecting and reconnecting it several times did nothing to get it working again. Pressing the power button to lock and then unlock the system got it working again, though there’s no clear reason why this should have worked.  The design of this keyboard attachment, like most other detachable 2-in-1 setups, doesn’t lend itself well to use on most surfaces other than tables and desks. Set on a bed, the pressure can result in weird angling of the keyboard, and set on a lap, it creates uncomfortable pressure points. This is simply something people should be aware of if they’re coming from a laptop and expecting similar utility. Asus ProArt PZ13: Display, audio IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp Asus has tucked a great display into the Asus ProArt PZ13. 2880×1600 goes a long way on a 13.3-inch screen, and the OLED panel provides both excellent color gamut and contrast. The screen hits 100 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 color space, and it even offered a measured color accuracy with maximum dE of 1.48 — accurate enough for professional work. The display maxed out at 405 nits, though small highlights should be able to go higher. It supports Dolby Vision (though streaming services neglect PCs for high-quality streams). It’s also a touchscreen and a responsive one at that. The 60Hz refresh of the display is a bit of a letdown, as it limits how smooth the tablet can feel, especially for things like stylus input. The glossy finish is also fairly reflective, so it can depend on ideal conditions to let you make the most of the rich blacks its OLED panel can provide.  The Asus ProArt PZ13 is a snazzy little tablet packing in a gorgeous display for content consumption and creation alike. The speakers on the Asus ProArt PZ13 are no match for the display. They can push high volumes, but not without distorting, and this makes for rather grating audio when the speakers are pushed. That’s for music though. Movies and speech don’t get boosted quite as much, and therefore aren’t as harsh, but also aren’t as loud. Watching a movie on the tablet, even in a fairly quiet space, I occasionally had trouble hearing everything going on. This all in spite of “Dolby Atmos support,” which is something that seems to mean very little for computers. Asus ProArt PZ13: Webcam, microphone, biometrics The Asus ProArt PZ13 has respectable cameras and mics. The three-mic array captures a bit of room noise, making my voice sound a little distant, but it still gets everything I’m saying. It also neutralizes background noise quite well, completely eliminating a loud box fan just feet without impacting voice quality. The front includes a 5MP camera that’s sharp and performs decently in middling light conditions. It doesn’t capture the most colorful visuals, but it’s serviceable. It’s not quite reaching the promise of these new Snapdragon-powered machines to deliver smartphone-level camera quality though. The Asus ProArt PZ13 also includes a 13MP rear camera, but it’s not very good. It struggles to take in much light, and is therefore incredibly prone to noise.  Microsoft’s camera app in Windows still doesn’t appear to work properly with Qualcomm’s processors. Short videos recorded on it will randomly fail to record the entirety of what was presented, even leaving out audio. Asus omitted fingerprint scanning on the Asus ProArt PZ13, but it does include Windows Hello facial recognition, and it works fairly quickly.  Asus ProArt PZ13: Connectivity IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp Typical for a tablet, the Asus ProArt PZ13 doesn’t have a lot of ports, but it makes the most of what it does have. You’ll find only one exposed USB-C port on the left edge of the Asus ProArt PZ13. Next to that is a port cover hiding away another USB-C port and a full-size SD card reader. That’s it. No headphone jack, no USB-A. Those USB-C ports are high-bandwidth USB 4.0 ports though, so at least they can support some extreme hubs. And since one of the ports is needed for charging, hubs will likely be all too critical.  Wireless connectivity is strong with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. In testing, I had no trouble with either and enjoy fast speeds and stable connections. Asus ProArt PZ13: Performance Given that the Asus ProArt PZ13 is packing the lowest-tier Snapdragon processor, I’ve seen yet from the new Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus lineup, I expected performance to fall on the low side, and it certainly did. It generally fared worse in single- and multi-core performance than a handful compact thin-and-light laptops running Intel processors and even the Dell Latitude 7350 Detachable with a modest Intel Core Ultra 5 134U. That said, earlier versions of Cinebench don’t run natively on ARM, so these results show the Asus ProArt PZ13’s performance while working with the penalty of emulation.  In Cinebench R24, which can run natively on ARM without emulation, the Asus ProArt PZ13 is a little more competent. Its single-core score of 107 outpaces the Framework Laptop 13’s Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, which hit only 101 points. And the gap in multi-core performance went from an 83 percent lead in Intel’s favor to a much more modest 12 percent lead. Against the Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4’s Intel Core Ultra 5 125U, the Asus ProArt PZ13 turned the tides slightly. That said, the Asus ProArt PZ13 still falls well behind other Snapdragon X-powered laptops like the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6. And then there’s the fact that the Asus ProArt PZ13 isn’t always going to get to run native apps, and when it doesn’t the performance penalty will rear its head.  Graphics performance follows right in line with the lackluster CPU performance. The Asus ProArt PZ13 simply couldn’t keep up with Intel Arc graphics, which are establishing a strong baseline for integrated graphics quality. Falling short even of basic Intel Graphics is a considerable letdown.  The Asus ProArt PZ13 simply isn’t a high-performance machine. For lighter creative workloads, it may be able to keep up. And with a gorgeous display and stylus support, on-device content creation is likely what Asus had in mind when it decided to make this tablet part of its ProArt brand. But if heavy editing and video are called for, it’s probably not up to the task like its competitors are.  Asus ProArt PZ13: Battery life The Asus ProArt PZ13 reclaims some of its honor in battery life, where it makes a 70Wh batter — impressively large for a compact tablet — stretch on for over 16 hours. It’s a decent lead over its competitors here, especially considering Asus used a sharp OLED display. The Framework Laptop 13, the Dell Latitude 7350 Detachable, and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 all used even sharper displays. The 3:2 aspect ratio on some of these doesn’t help with battery life for LCD panels in our battery test, though. The extra vertical space in our video test ends up turning into black letterboxes that an LCD panel still tries to illuminate. In contrast, OLEDs can turn off pixels for letterboxes and conserve power. Somewhere between that, the general efficiency of the Asus ProArt PZ13, and its large battery (the second largest of the bunch), it outlasts the competition here. That efficiency doesn’t apply just to local video playback in airplane mode, though. Doing some work with the display set to 40 percent brightness, I had the laptop on for hours as I browsed and wrote in Google Docs, and over a few hours, it drained slowly enough that it was on track to hit over 20 hours. Of course, the display is quite dim at this level. Even at 50 percent brightness, the screen is only hitting 94 nits. Asus ProArt PZ13: Conclusion The Asus ProArt PZ13 is a snazzy little tablet packing in a gorgeous display for content consumption and creation alike. It’s surprising to see it come in at just $1,099 and not make more sacrifices and all the more surprising that Asus includes the critical keyboard accessory that lets the Asus ProArt PZ13 serve dual purposes as a tablet and laptop. The detachable keyboard is a decent accessory, though not an excellent keyboard in its own right, and this type of laptop alternative tends not to work well on laps or soft surfaces.  Perhaps the most critical shortcoming of the Asus ProArt PZ13 is simply its lack of performance. The chip inside is the lowest tier we’ve seen yet from the new Snapdragon X lineup, and it shows. While everyday computing is still managed easily enough, more demanding tasks will expose its weakness. And though the Asus ProArt PZ13 has good battery life, it’s also not dominating the field, as that honor belongs to the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 — a very worthy alternative for those looking for on-the-go productivity and longevity in a lightweight package. Regardless, the Asus ProArt PZ13’s ability to switch from tablet to laptop sets it apart from basic laptops for those who need this flexibility, and its decent all-around quality helps it remain a compelling option at a competitive price. Read...

A USB stick is a smart tool for anyone who needs to move large amounts of information between two different computers — or take a lot of files with them when travelling. It’s simple to use: Just plug the little “memory stick” into your computer’s USB port and you can easily move files back and forth as if it were a hard drive on your computer. There are small USB sticks that cost just a few tens, and if you pay a little more, there are variants that hold several hundred gigabytes. If you have an old USB stick that you want to clear of information, you can do this in two different ways. The easiest is to insert it into your computer, open Explorer and click on My Computer. Right-click on your USB stick, select Format and follow the instructions. Some USB sticks contain various pre-installed programs when you buy them, and sometimes formatting the stick is not enough to get rid of this. In this case, you can usually open the program itself and uninstall it from here. For example, here’s how to get rid of U3 System from the Sandisk Cruzer USB stick: Foundry Foundry Foundry Insert the USB stick into your computer and start the U3 program by clicking on Launch U3. Click on U3 Launchpad Settings. To remove the program, select Uninstall U3 Launchpad. Accept the uninstallation by pressing Next. You will now be asked if you want to save your data or not, and you should now answer No to the question if you want to keep any files. You will now receive a final warning and then you can format the USB stick. It will now be completely empty, and you can fill it to the brim with your own files. Read...

If you’re looking to save some dough on a computer display, Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event, starting today, is a great time to do that. PCWorld constantly reviews the latest monitor models with the newest tech. We also hunt for the best values if you don’t need all the bells and whistles. You can trust us to not just find the biggest discounts, but the discounts on the monitors that are actually worth buying in the first place. Read on for the best monitor deals at the best prices I could find, and check out our Prime Big Deal Days 2024 deals hub for great sales in other tech categories.Last updated on October 8th, 2024. Prime Big Deal Days 2024 deals on OLED monitors Samsung 49-inch ultrawide OLED 240Hz gaming monitor, $1079.99 ($720 off at Amazon) Corsair 45-inch ultrawide OLED 240Hz gaming monitor, $1199.99 ($800 off at Amazon) LG 39-inch ultrawide OLED 240Hz gaming monitor, $824.99 ($675 off at Amazon) Samsung 34-inch ultrawide OLED 175hz gaming monitor, 699.99 ($200 off at Amazon) Corsair 27-inch QHD OLED 240Hz gaming monitor, $599.99 ($400 off at Amazon) OLED monitors are the cream of the crop for gamers, and at the moment you can’t get any bigger than Samsung’s 49-inch super-duper-mega-ultrawide. It’s easily the best bang-for your-buck on the list. But for something a little less unwieldy, I’d go with the MSI 34-inch ultrawide and its more manageable 3440×1440 resolution. If you want to upgrade to OLED for as little cash as possible, Corsair is offering a 27-inch QHD model that’s great for gamers for just $600. That might also be the best choice if you’re interested in competitive gaming — its lower resolution and 240Hz refresh rate is a great compromise if you’re hoping to keep those framerates up. Prime Big Deal Days 2024 deals on gaming monitors Samsung 55-inch Ark 4K 165Hz gaming monitor, $1799.99 ($1300 off at Amazon) Samsung 43-inch 4K 144Hz gaming monitor, $569.99 ($330 off at Amazon) Acer 27-inch QHD IPS 240Hz gaming monitor, $222.99 ($177 off at Amazon) Asus 27-inch 1080p 165Hz gaming monitor, $134.00 ($66 off at Amazon) Gigabyte 34-inch ultrawide 144Hz gaming monitor, $329.99 ($70 off at Amazon) Once again Samsung offers both the biggest monitor and the biggest discount in the gaming sector, this time on the humungous, curved, and rotatable 4K Ark design. But that one’s beyond most people’s budgets (and their desk’s weight limit). For an easy recommendation I’d once again go with the ever-reliable Gigabyte 34-inch ultrawide, already a good deal at its regular $400 price, a steal at $70 off. For something more general for a home office, check out that Acer 27-incher. It’s QHD with a speedy 240Hz refresh rate, a cut above the usual, and uses a high-quality IPS panel. That makes it great for both competitive multiplayer gaming and office or media production work. Prime Big Deal Days 2024 deals on office monitors Samsung 32-inch 4K Smart Monitor, $229.99 ($130 off at Amazon) Dell 32-inch 1080p curved monitor, $149.99 ($50 off at Amazon) LG 27-inch 4K USB-C IPS monitor, $269.99 ($110 off at Amazon) Acer 27-inch 4K USB-C IPS monitor, $209.99 ($60 off at Amazon) Asus 24-inch 1080p IPS monitor, $84.99 ($30 off at Amazon) Sceptre 24-inch 1080p monitor, $69.97 ($40 off at Amazon) Asus 15.6-inch OLED portable monitor, $249.99 ($100 off at Amazon) MNN 15.6-inch USB-C portable monitor, $64.99 ($25 off at Amazon) For a general office monitor, I’d recommend Acer’s 27-inch 4K model. It’s got tons of resolution on a high-quality panel, and a USB-C connection for easy laptop support. Samsung’s 32-incher doubles as a smart TV (including streaming apps) if you want to watch an episode on your lunchbreak. For the absolute cheapest deals possible, check out the Sceptre and Asus 24-inch 1080p models. On the portable side we’ve got two choices: a gorgeous OLED from Asus that’ll look great next to any laptop, or a similar panel from MNN for a fraction of the price. Choose according to your budget. More great Prime Day 2024 deals  PCWorld covers a wide range of tech deals every Prime Day, so make sure to check out some other best deal roundups that may be of interest, and see our top picks for the best monitors of 2024 for more PCWorld insights.  Best Amazon tech deals across PCWorld’s top categories PC computer deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Laptop deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 SSD and storage deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 USB flash drive deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Thunderbolt dock and USB-C hub deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Office chairs and standing desks: Best of Prime Day 2024 Battery charger deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Chromebook deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 FAQ 1. What size of monitor should I buy? Monitor size depends on personal preference and location.  A 24-inch monitor is fine for a desk that is around 24 inches deep, or less. Its small size will still be sufficient because the monitor is closer to you. Most people, however, will want to go with a 27-inch monitor. The added size will make the monitor easy to see. This also opens up a wider range of 4K monitor options, as 4K is very rare on a 24-inch monitor. Larger monitors, such as a 32-inch widescreen or 34-inch ultrawide, are great for deep desks and people who want an immersive experience. Monitors this large can serve as a TV replacement in a small room.  Displays of even larger size, such as 42-inch or 48-inch HDTVs, are best for home theater setups or an unusually large office. You’ll want to sit four to six feet away from a display of this size. 2. What display input is best? (HDMI vs. DisplayPort vs. USB-C) USB-C is the best display input for most people. It works by bundling DisplayPort into USB-C, so offers all the same features as DisplayPort. Yet it retains the features of USB-C including optional support for Power Delivery to charge external devices. This is why we recommend a USB-C monitor for most people. DisplayPort is generally second-best. It supports higher resolutions and refresh rates than HDMI. This input is particularly common on desktop computers.  HDMI comes in third due to lower resolution and refresh rate support. This is improved by HDMI 2.1, but this feature remains hard to find and often adds to a monitor’s price. All three of the options above handle 1080p at 60Hz, which is the most common resolution and refresh rate available today. It’s also important to buy a monitor that has an input compatible with your PC. 3. Are all monitors compatible with Windows and MacOS? Modern monitors are compatible with all recent versions of Windows and MacOS. They’re plug-and-play, which means the monitor should display an image without the need to install driver software or mess with Windows or MacOS settings. Read...

Amazon’s October Prime Day sales event is here and there are tons of great deals on desktop PCs. This year, Prime Big Deal Days will kick off on October 8, and include solid discounts on everything from gaming PCs to all-in-ones to traditional desktop computers. I’ve built multiple PCs from scratch, and at PCWorld I’ve used my desktop knowledge to curate a list of the best available computer deals for several years. You can have confidence that these are the best computer deals during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days. Be sure to check out our Prime Big Deal Days 2024 hub for more great sales across all the tech categories. First published September 24, 2024. Last updated October 8, 2024. Best early Prime Big Deals Day deals on PC gaming computers Thermaltake LCGS View i460, Core i5-13400F/RTX 4060/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $799.99 (11% off on Amazon) Acer Nitro 70, Ryzen 9 7900/RTX 4070/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,789.90 (11% off on Amazon) Skytech Chronos, Core i5-12400F/RTX 4060/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $899.99 (14% off on Amazon) ViprTech Rebel 4.0, Ryzen 7 2700/RTX 4060/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $824.99 (21% off on Amazon) HP Omen 45L, Core i7-14700K/RTX 4070 Super/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,699.00 (21% off on Amazon) MSI Codex R, Core i5-13400F/RTX 4060/32GB RAM/2TB SSD, $1,059.00 (18% off on Amazon) Corsair Vengeance a7300, Ryzen 7 7800X3D/RTX 4080 Super/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $2,899.99 (12% off on Amazon) The Thermaltake LCGS View i460 for $100 off is a killer budget gaming PC deal. You can expect excellent 1080p or even solid 1440p frame rates thanks to its Core i5-13400F CPU and the latest-gen RTX 4060 GPU. If you’re on the hunt for something with more oomph, look no further than the other solid Acer deal on the Nitro 70 model for $210 off on Amazon. Sporting a Ryzen 9 7900 CPU and RTX 4070 GPU, this midrange build from the trustworthy Acer brand will have you running games at buttery smooth 1440p or maybe even entry-level 4K. Best early Prime Big Deals Day deals on mainstream productivity computers Minisforum Venus UM773, Ryzen 7 7735HS/32GB RAM/1TB HDD, $415.99 (23% off on Amazon) Dell Inspiron 3020, Core i7-13700/16GB RAM/1TB SSD/1TB HDD, $858.00 (14% off on Amazon) Acer Aspire Desktop, Core i5-13400, 8GB RAM/512GB SSD, $479.99 (13% off on Amazon) Mac Mini 2023, M2/8GB RAM/256GB SSD, $499.99 (17% off on Amazon with coupon) Mini-PCs are all the rage and the absolutely loaded Minisforum Venus UM773 is on sale for $124 off on Amazon. This Minisforum is stacked with performance features including a Ryzen 7 7735HS CPU, 32GB of RAM, and a generous 1TB of SSD storage. Mac fans can also find good deals leading up to Prime Day, with Amazon offering the 2023 M2 Mac Mini for $100 off on its website. The M2 is still a solid CPU and considering that, if rumors are true, the M4 Mac Mini isn’t set to be released until later this year, it’s the perfect time to buy an older version model at a discount—you’ll still get a great mini desktop without the exorbitant price of a new-gen Apple product. Best early Prime Big Deals Day deals on all-in-one computers HP AiO 22, Intel Celeron J4025/32GB RAM/1TB SSD/21.5-inch 1080p display, $519.00 (20% off on Amazon with coupon) Dell Inspiron 7730, Core 7-150U/MX570A/32GB RAM/1TB SSD/27-inch 1080p touch display, $1,139.99 (19% off on Amazon) Dell Inspiron 5430, Core 3-100U/8GB RAM/512GB SSD/23.8-inch 1080 display, $579.99 (17% off on Amazon) Amazon is offering two great deals on HP’s latest AiO desktop model. The first is $120 off and comes with an Intel Celeron J4025 CPU and a powerful 32GB of RAM. The second is even more budget friendly at $208 off and also comes with the same CPU, but only 8GB of RAM and much less onboard storage. While both would be solid all-in-one computers, I’d recommend opting for the more powerful option if you can swing it, as you’ll get a noticeable performance boost for not too much more money. More great Prime Big Deals Day 2024 tech deals PCWorld has searched for great deals across all the major PC tech categories, so check out some other Prime Big Deals Day roundups: Best Amazon tech deals across PCWorld’s top categories Laptop deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Monitor deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 SSD and storage deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 USB flash drive deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Thunderbolt dock and USB-C hub deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Office chairs and standing desks: Best of Prime Day 2024 Battery charger deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Chromebook deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 PC deals FAQ 1. What type of desktop should I get? You’ll see a ton of options when searching for a desktop computer, but they all mainly fit into four main categories: gaming PCs, productivity PCs (towers or mini PCs), and all-in-ones (AiO). Which you should end up buying is entirely dependent upon what your needs are and what you want to do with your computer. If you’re looking for something that will work in a home office or family room, then a productivity PC or AiO with a solid CPU and a decent amount of RAM and storage is probably the way to go. If gaming is your main concern, a gaming desktop PC can offer a lot more bang for your buck than a laptop and you should focus on getting the best GPU possible. Or if you just want something that can fit anywhere and provide basic computing then a mini PC is a good bet. 2. How much processing power will I need? If you’re after CPU power, look for processors with higher numerical labels. A Core i7 is more suited to gaming and more intense work than everyday tasks. Intel processors are available in Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9. Typically, the higher the number, the more powerful the CPU. If you don’t need a ton of power, Intel Core i5 processors are your best bet, as they offer good performance at a decent price. You can get along just fine with a Core i3 for basic office and web browsing. As for AMD options, the Ryzen 3 is good for basic productivity and web browsing, while Ryzen 5 chips rival Intel’s Core i5 as solid all-arounders. If you need more power, the Ryzen 7 chip is well suited for content creation like video editing. Finally, if you’re dealing with 4K video, spring for a Ryzen 9. 3. What GPU should I get? If you don’t intend to do any gaming on your computer, then feel free to save some money by going with integrated graphics. However, if you are looking to get your game on, then we recommend at least an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 or RTX 4060 as these are the least expensive discrete graphics cards that can handle 1080p gaming on High graphics settings in most games. Thankfully, the latest-gen GPUs have dropped significantly in price in pre-built systems so opt for those if you have the money and want a performance boost. But if you’re on a tight budget, then opting for a rig with a previous-generation card can allow you to save some money while still providing decent graphics quality. 4. What about memory? As for RAM, nowadays I think it’s best to shoot for 16GB at the minimum for all systems. If you’re on a budget or just need a basic browsing machine then 8GB can suffice. Those looking to do heavy content creation such as video editing should aim for 32GB. 5. What is a good amount of storage? Storage size is dependent upon your personal needs, but it is generally a good idea to opt for an SSD over a standard HDD as they are much faster and don’t significantly affect the price of a desktop. Before deciding, it’s best to consider what your intended use of the computer will be. Are you just storing documents or doing web browsing? Then something like 512GB will be plenty. If you want to load up a lot of large files such as games or content creation projects, then you’ll need at least 1TB to 2TB of storage. However, just remember that even if your computer doesn’t have enough storage built-in you can always upgrade your SSD or go with an external drive to increase your available storage options. Read...

What we see and use on the internet in web browsers such as Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Safari is only a fraction of what is actually available. Information and data can be published and exchanged with the greatest possible anonymity on the so-called darknet, as PCWorld first noted in 2013. But what’s important for freedom of information in countries with strong censorship naturally also attracts many criminals. The darknet and its marketplaces not only offer drugs, medicines, doping agents, online identities, credit card data, and false passports, but also weapons of all kinds. Since these have been used several times for criminal offences and rampages and the media have reported on them, the darknet has increasingly become the focus of public attention. What is the darknet anyway? Hacked PayPal accounts, counterfeit money, drugs, weapons, and much more — the darknet is teeming with illegal offers. That’s why its users want to remain unrecognized at all costs. Hacked PayPal accounts, counterfeit money, drugs, weapons, and much more — the darknet is teeming with illegal offers. That’s why its users want to remain unrecognized at all costs.IDG Hacked PayPal accounts, counterfeit money, drugs, weapons, and much more — the darknet is teeming with illegal offers. That’s why its users want to remain unrecognized at all costs.IDG IDG The term “darknet” aptly describes its purpose. The darknet is primarily used to communicate unrecognized on the internet. Anonymization services prevent your own internet activities from being spied on. Of course, this only works if the surfer does not enter any personal data during the session — for example, if they do not log in to Facebook or their email inbox. The anonymization network Tor is very popular. What many people don’t realize: Tor is not only a cloak of invisibility for surfing, but also harbors areas of the darknet. These are hidden websites on Tor servers that cannot be accessed via the “normal” internet. Further reading: The best VPN services Tor opens the gateway to the darknet Tor stands for “The Onion Router.” The curious title is explained when you realize how it works: In order to conceal its origin, the Tor software installed on the user’s PC routes each data packet via various randomly selected computers (nodes) before it is then transferred to the open internet via an exit node. The data is specially secured so that it cannot be read on any of the Tor computers involved. This entails multiple instances of encryption using the onion-skin principle: Each of the nodes involved in the transport decrypts one layer. As a result, the packet that arrives at a node looks different to eavesdroppers than the packet that the node sends on. Encryption makes another function possible: namely the hiding of websites and web addresses. The hidden data is stored on web servers within the Tor network. The addresses of the servers are encrypted in such a way that only special connection nodes in the Tor network can decode them. The encrypted addresses have the fictitious domain extension *.onion and are publicized via relevant portals. These include community-managed directories that can be edited by anyone, such as the Hidden Wiki, as well as moderated search tools such as Torch, Ahmia, and Haystack. This is how darknet users surf anonymously: While the Tor browser (left window) displays a fictitious IP address, Microsoft Edge displays the real one. In a virtual machine, the browser leaves even fewer traces. This is how darknet users surf anonymously: While the Tor browser (left window) displays a fictitious IP address, Microsoft Edge displays the real one. In a virtual machine, the browser leaves even fewer traces.IDG This is how darknet users surf anonymously: While the Tor browser (left window) displays a fictitious IP address, Microsoft Edge displays the real one. In a virtual machine, the browser leaves even fewer traces.IDG IDG If someone clicks on an encrypted link ending in .onion, the request is sent via several computers, but is not sent to an exit node at the end, but to a connection node that knows the real address of the web server in question. The node requests the data from this server and forwards it to the user. This means that it is not possible to find out where the server is actually located using conventional means. Due to this cascading, the use of file sharing services such as Bittorrent via the Tor network also makes no sense. A look with the Tor browser at a darknet directory such as the uncensored Hidden Wiki reveals that seemingly anything goes on the darknet. From stolen credit cards and hacked PayPal accounts to hard and soft drugs, pirated copies of all kinds, and weapons — there is nothing that is not offered on the darknet. Payment is usually made with Bitcoins, as the digital currency promises maximum anonymity and the payment flows are untraceable. Tor in a virtual machine Darknet users often use the Tor browser for Windows to access it. This program can also be installed in a virtual machine. In this way, darknet surfers try to prevent their actions from leaving traces that can be tracked back to them. You cannot simply carry out a normal Google search on the darknet. You need a darknet search engine like Torch, Ahmia, and Haystack, or a directory like the Hidden Wiki. You cannot simply carry out a normal Google search on the darknet. You need a darknet search engine like Torch, Ahmia, and Haystack, or a directory like the Hidden Wiki.IDG You cannot simply carry out a normal Google search on the darknet. You need a darknet search engine like Torch, Ahmia, and Haystack, or a directory like the Hidden Wiki.IDG IDG The Tor Browser is not an illegal program. The tool can of course also be used to surf the internet anonymously without criminal intent. To do this, click on “Connect” in the “Connect to Tor” dialogue. It may take a few minutes for the connection to be established. The settings available to you after clicking on “Configure” only play a role if you want to go online via a proxy server or use Tor in a country that blocks its use, such as Egypt or Turkey. Further reading: How to use the Tor Browser to surf the web anonymously If the Tor browser is running, you can immediately check whether it is working as intended. To do this, go to the website whatismyipaddress.com, for example. If you now open whatismyipaddress.com in another browser, such as Edge, you will see that you are using a different IP address in the Tor browser. By the way: The fact that websites take longer to load with the Tor Browser than usual is due to anonymization. This is because it routes the data packets for accessing a website via numerous nodes in order to conceal their origin. Read...

Quantum computers are the future, and a near-term future at that. They will be exponentially more powerful than the computers we have today and will allow us to make huge potential leaps forward in fields such as curing diseases and artificial intelligence. They can also be used to easily crack today’s passwords, hack into secure networks, and quickly harvest mass amounts of data. Due to these risks, VPN providers such as NordVPN are trying to stay ahead of the game with post-quantum encryption. NordVPN, one of the best VPNs on the market, and a company continually on the bleeding-edge of privacy and security features, has just released its first-ever app with post-quantum encryption support.  It’s currently only available for Linux and complies with NIST standards for post-quantum encryption. The company stated that it hopes to roll out post-quantum algorithms on all NordVPN applications no later than the first quarter of 2025. In a blog post following the launch, NordVPN’s CTO Marijus Briedis said, “Trends show that cybercriminals are intensifying what are known as ‘harvest now, decrypt later’ attacks. Simply put, they are trying to accumulate huge quantities of encrypted data and decrypt them once quantum technology is developed. Thus, the VPN industry must enter a new phase of development to defend against future quantum computing threats.” Despite quantum computing being a ways off, it is still a reality that will likely come to fruition at some point. Being prepared for such a revolutionary technology before it arrives is an important step. At least this way, when we connect to a VPN in the future we can still enjoy some semblance of privacy and security from our robot overlords. Read...

Immigration New Zealand experienced one of its busiest days on Monday with a flood of applications. Read...

Last week, Microsoft released an optional Windows 11 update that brought some new features to the Start menu, taskbar, and lock screen. Unfortunately, that update is wreaking havoc for some users. As reported by Windows Latest, after installing Windows update KB5043145, you may not be able to restart your PC as you’ll be hit with the infamous Blue Screen of Death or the less common Green Screen of Death. In some cases, BitLocker recovery may also be triggered. Microsoft has confirmed this as a known issue, stating that all users on Windows 11 versions 23H2 and 22H2 can be affected. As of right now, Microsoft has taken down the update. What’s wrong with the update? Long story short, affected computers get stuck in a permanent boot loop with Windows automatically launching the recovery screen in an attempt to repair or reset the update. One desperate user writes: “After installing KB5043145 and restarting, my laptop is sitting at the laptop manufacturer logo screen with a spinning circle forever (forever = 20 minutes). I had to press ‘Power’ (5 seconds) and Windows 11 begins its recovery. It succeeds, but the update is not installed. My Windows 11 is up to date with all the latest updates (23H2, 22631.4169) and drivers.” Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro Microsoft support staff told Windows Latest that they were aware of the reports. The affected machines automatically boot to the “Automatic Repair” screen after users hit BSODs/GSODs a few times. You may also need your BitLocker recovery password afterwards. Apart from the Blue/Green Screens of Death, users also complain that they can no longer use their mice and/or keyboards after installing patch KB5043145 (because the corresponding USB connections no longer work). For other users, the WLAN connection disappears. The Windows Subsystem for Linux also appears to stop working on some computers after installing KB5043145. Microsoft is currently investigating all of these problem reports. If you’re affected, you should report your experience in the Feedback Hub app. What you can do about the update First of all, there’s no need to install update KB5043145 if you haven’t already. It’s an optional update for Windows Insiders on the Release Preview Channel, so simply refrain from grabbing it until it’s been fixed, tested, and released to the general public. If you’ve already installed update KB5043145 and you’re running into problems, you can uninstall the update in Windows Recovery under the Troubleshoot > Advanced Options menu. After uninstalling it, Windows should be able to restart correctly. If you’ve already installed update KB5043145 but aren’t experiencing any problems, you might want to consider uninstalling it anyway. Navigate to Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates, locate patch KB5043145, and click Uninstall. Further reading: How to roll back a problematic Windows update Read...