Mechanical keyboard nuts generally love old vintage keyboard designs—and so does Severance, Apple TV’s smash-hit, high-concept sci-fi series set in a dystopian office. Atomic Keyboard decided to combine these inspirations when it made the MDR Dasher, a revival of a classic design from the Data General Corporation in the 1970s. The Data General’s Dasher terminal series is iconic, with many classic keyboard fans loving its chunky blue keys and huge layout in particular. The Lumon employee cubicle setups in Severance are heavily inspired by—possibly even salvaged from—terminals like the Dasher 6053 from 1977, though they have an altered layout and a trackball mouse area. As DesignBoom notes, the keyboards seen on the show have no Escape, no Control, and no Option keys. It is a dystopia, after all. Atomic Keyboard Atomic Keyboard’s recreation of the massive design element keeps the blue and beige hues and the big black optical trackball on the right side, with two oversized mouse keys. The current design features a 73-key layout in a unique 70% design, an aluminum case, and a USB-C connection, in case you actually want to use it on something manufactured in this century. It’s in pre-production now. When will you be able to buy one? Who knows. Atomic Keyboard is accepting email signups and has a preliminary price of $400, which isn’t unreasonable in the space of big, custom, small-batch keyboard designs. But with the chaos surrounding international trade at the moment, who knows how much it’ll cost when it’s finally ready to head out to buyers? Atomic Keyboard Retro tech is all the rage now, as seen in Severance and the computers from Marvel’s Time Variance Authority in Loki. It’s a retro-futurist style that the Fallout games have been playing with for decades, and some observers are calling it “Cassette Futurism.” You can even see it in the trailer for Naughty Dog’s new game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, with a bounty hunter’s Porsche spaceship filled with a CD-based jukebox, chunky keyboards, printers, and CRT screens that look like they fell off the original Alien set. Read...

Virtual PCs have important uses, such as providing a dedicated environment for testing new applications or enabling the parallel operation of multiple operating systems. But the virtualization environment can only demonstrate its strengths in such scenarios if the virtual machine has sufficient hardware resources. The power required essentially depends on two factors: the purpose of the virtual PC and the hypervisor, or virtualization software, used. This is because the three virtualization environments: Microsoft Hyper-V, VMWare Workstation and Oracle VirtualBox differ in terms of their basic requirements. You will therefore find examples of VMs and the optimum configuration for your guest computer in the article. Which is better: Dual boot vs. Virtualization: Which is best for running multiple operating systems? The hardware requirements for virtualization programs On the websites of VMWare, Oracle, and Microsoft you will find the hardware requirements for the smooth running of the virtualization programs. In its online documentation, VirtualBox provides a rough rule of thumb for the main memory: According to this, you should populate your RAM so that the requirements for both the guest system and the host PC are met. In the case of Windows 11, this means at least 2GB of main memory for a 64-bit version, but 4GB is better. If you also want to install the operating system in the virtual environment, you will need an additional 4GB. The optimum amount of memory is therefore at least 8GB. For a powerful virtual PC, you need a CPU with four to six cores. Together with a graphics card with at least 4GB of memory, even more demanding virtualization is possible.IDG In the instructions, you will also find a principle that generally applies to all performance parameters: “The more the better.” If you follow the VM maker’s recommendations on hardware, you have met the basic requirements for operating the environment software and thus covered one side of the equation for smooth virtualization. Then there is the specific application, whereby there might be further requirements for the host hardware depending on the scenario. Crash course: How do virtual PCs actually work? Scenario 1: Standard PC for surfing or online banking We use Windows 11 as the host and guest system for the virtual PC. Microsoft recommends the following for the installation of a Windows 11 computer: a processor with at least 1GHz clock speed, 2GB RAM for the 64-bit version, and around 32GB hard drive space. With a PC equipped in this way, you can surf the internet virtually without any problems. However, if you notice slight limitations with more complex websites or when playing videos, you should also use a separate virtual graphics card to which you allocate sufficient memory. To virtualize such a computer, you therefore need at least 4GB of RAM and 40GB of free space on the hard drive per operating system — at least 80GB in total. You will notice a significant increase in performance if you make more memory available to the virtual PC. If you initially select a Windows 11 computer as the host for VMWare Workstation, the setup wizard suggests the following parameters as the minimum configuration: 2GB of main memory, two processor cores and 60GB of storage space. If you create a virtual machine for Windows 11 and 64 bit with VMWare Workstation, the wizard suggests a disk size of 64GB. With the option “Split virtual disk into multiple files,” only the space that is currently required is physically occupied.IDG However, the latter is allocated dynamically. This means that the space is only fully utilized when the virtual machine really needs it. Depending on your computer’s graphics card, a 3D accelerator is also available for your virtual machine. However, this function should not be absolutely necessary for normal internet surfing and your banking transactions. Instead, the following minimum configuration is sufficient: Your guest computer should have an Intel Pentium i3 or i5 processor or the comparable AMD model. A main memory of 4GB is sufficient, but with 8GB you will be much more comfortable. No more than 20GB is required for the pure virtualized Windows operating system. Scenario 2: Workstation PC for practical use The minimum configuration for a virtual Windows 11 computer described in scenario 1 is of course not sufficient for every virtualization project. You will need a significantly more powerful virtual PC if you not only want to run Office with high performance, but also want to use the image editing software Gimp or a 3D rendering program such as Blender at the same time, for example. Microsoft defines the following requirements for using Office under Windows in the VM: a processor with a clock speed of at least 1.6GHz, 4GB of RAM, and 4GB of free storage space. There are no hardware requirements for Gimp that are needed to run the software. In general, the program can be run on a PC on which the current Microsoft Office version also runs smoothly. In the Workstation Player you can see how much RAM is theoretically available to you (blue arrowhead). In our example with 64GB RAM, up to 55.9GB can be allocated to the virtual Windows 11 system.IDG The Blender rendering software has the most demanding hardware requirements: on the website you will find three categories for the current version 4.3: minimum, recommended, and optimum configuration. For the minimum configuration, you need a dual-core processor with a clock speed of 2GHz, 4GB RAM, and a graphics card with 1GB RAM that supports OpenGL 3.3. Blender recommends a processor with four cores, 16GB RAM, and a graphics card with 4GB. The application with the greatest hardware requirements therefore determines the configuration of your guest computer. Blender uses the recommended configuration as a basis. As you also need to run the guest system with Windows 11, it is best to use a current Intel i5 or a comparable AMD model as the processor. For the RAM, 16GB should be sufficient for the guest system, with 32GB for the host you are always on the safe side. The same applies to the graphics card: a model with at least 4GB of memory is sufficient for the simultaneous operation of Windows 11, the virtualization environment, and the rendering software. The virtualization environments — in this case Virtualbox — allow you to allocate memory individually for each virtual machine.IDG There is one more point you should bear in mind: Match the requirements of your software to be virtualized with the performance of the virtual environment. VirtualBox, for example, does not support OpenGL 3.3, while Blender cannot do without the graphics library. With VMWare Workstation, you should always install VMWare Tools in order to use a 3D engine. Scenario 3: Two virtual machines in parallel operation Running two virtual PCs in parallel on a guest computer makes sense, for example, if one of the virtual PCs is to function as a Linux server while the other is to run an outdated Windows system that no longer receives updates, such as Windows 7. For such a scenario, you first need the right virtualization software before deciding on the optimum hardware configuration. This is because only VirtualBox and Hyper-V allow multiple computers to run in parallel. This is not possible with Workstation. With three parallel computers — one host PC and two guest PCs — the processor and the number of cores also become more important. You should calculate with at least one core per computer. Processors such as a 14th-generation Intel i5 have eight performance and 16 efficiency cores. For even more parallelism, the i7 and i9 CPUs offer a larger number of cores. For the other components such as RAM, graphics card, and storage, it is best to apply the principles from the previous examples again. We recommend at least 16GB of main memory for three parallel computers, but 32GB is better. A graphics card with at least 4GB of memory and a powerful processor is available at a street price of around $200 such as the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti.IDG In the case of the graphics card, consider which applications should run in parallel on the operating systems. As most cards already come with 8GB, you should not save money here. Inexpensive graphics cards are already available at prices between $200 and $250. Experience in dealing with virtual environments Some applications are difficult or even impossible to virtualize. This applies in particular to games or graphics-heavy programs. They usually require DirectX11 or DirectX12, which, with the exception of Hyper-V, is not possible in virtual environments. On the other hand, Hyper-V is very possessive. If you have installed the virtualization environment under Windows 11, the competitors Oracle VirtualBox and VMWare Workstation can only be operated with a handicap, depending on the version. For example, you have to do without nested VT-x. A processor with at least six cores is recommended for the parallel operation of two virtual machines. IDG In this case, you have two options: Either you uninstall Hyper-V in Windows via Control Panel > Programs and Features > Enable or disable Windows features. Alternatively, you can open a command line as an administrator and enter the following command: bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off After the following restart, VirtualBox and Vmware Workstation will work as desired. Another challenge that you will encounter when using the VMWare Workstation is the 3D support of the graphics card within the virtualization environment. This is not available as standard, but can be added via the free VMWare Tools. The tools must be installed separately for each virtual machine via Player > Manage > Install Virtual Tools and are then available with additional functions within the virtual environment as an additional drive — usually drive D. Call this up and start the installation. Additional 3D graphics settings are then available under “Display” in the virtual machine settings. Compensate for bottlenecks with additional hardware on the host PC If you want to upgrade the existing PC for virtualization, start with the RAM, storage drive, or graphics card. RAM can often be upgraded on a desktop PC or laptop by expanding or replacing it. In the case of the storage drive, 20- to 30GB of free space is usually sufficient to gain initial experience. If you do not have any free capacity on the internal memory, use a faster USB 3.x drive or a correspondingly large USB 3.0 memory stick for initial tests. Alternatively, you can use the portable (and older) version of VirtualBox for initial testing. VirtualBox Portable is actually intended for virtualization on the move. You will need a memory stick with a capacity of at least 64GB. The stick then contains the VirtualBox software itself and your virtual machine. Conclusion: Try out VMs first, then upgrade your PC in a targeted manner Most scenarios can be modelled in a virtual environment with a greater or lesser use of hardware. The requirements depend very much on the applications that are to be run in the virtual environments. In most cases, a virtual PC can be realized on a normal work PC without much additional effort. For all other scenarios, you may need to make selective upgrades or replace individual components. Our advice: Simply try out the environment and optimize the components one by one if necessary. With a new computer, it is best to plan the individual components for a virtual environment a little more generously so that you do not have to replace individual components such as the graphics card after a short time. Virtualization of games Running games within a virtual environment usually fails. Many games require DirectX11 or DirectX12 under Windows. The only virtualization environment that currently offers this is Hyper-V from Microsoft. However, it only works with the Pro and Enterprise versions of Windows 10 and 11. Read...

Repairs, surfing, virus check, complete system? The fact that a large USB stick offers space for 50 live systems should not tempt you to use it haphazardly. It’s all about making the right choice! Given the number of suitable candidates, it’s important for every user to make a selection that covers their own requirements without creating unnecessary redundancies and overlaps. The recommendations in this article and in the associated table are deliberately limited in terms of quantity, but should cover all tasks. There are no fundamental restrictions: If the hardware is fast (USB stick and computer), then every Linux version runs perfectly on USB — live or installed. (If you are more of a Windows type, we have suggestions on how you, too, can use a flash drive to create a portable PC survival kit.) Further reading: 3 free Linux distros that look and feel like Windows Repair and service All of the tools presented in this section are pure live systems without installation options, that are only used when necessary. The tools, some of which are quite small, are classic candidates for a multiboot stick that you put together with Yumi or Ventoy. Persistence is not necessary, in most cases not even possible. IDG Super Grub2 Disk Super Grub2 Disk is the “lifeboat” for defective Grub boot managers. With the option “Detect and show boot methods,” the booted utility searches all drives for Linux and Windows systems, then displays their list and boots the selected system. This indispensable helper is tiny, weighing just under 16MB. The actual repair of the Grub environment then takes place with the following command in the running system: sudo grub-install --recheck /dev/sdasudo update-grub Rescatux Rescatux offers a browser, file manager, terminal, and accessories on a Debian system with LXQT desktop and can also serve as a general emergency system. However, the graphically organized script collection Rescapp takes center stage. While Super Grub2 Disk only searches for and starts installed systems, Rescatux can restore defective Grub boot loaders. Under “Grub,” the repair option “Restore Grub” can write a new Grub boot loader and integrate all recognized operating systems (Linux and Windows) into a new boot menu. There is also Windows support: The section contains repair tools for MBR and UEFI environments. Rescatux was developed by the Grub developers, but there is no guarantee of successful repairs. Gparted Live Gparted Live is the very undemanding live system from the Gparted developers, which enables the Gparted partitioning program to run on any hardware. The live system is rarely absolutely necessary because Gparted is pre-installed in many live distributions or can be temporarily installed there. However, additional Gparted Live as a guarantee for an up-to-date Gparted can never do any harm. The partitioner is the tried and tested graphical classic for deleting, creating, enlarging, and shrinking hard disks and partitions. Apart from the core tool and a spartan browser, the live system offers hardly any other software. IDG Rescuezilla Rescuezilla is a cloning and backup tool for drives and partitions. In contrast to the more feature-rich Clonezilla, Rescuezilla is also suitable for beginners with its simple graphical wizard (basically just “Backup,” “Restore,” and “Clone”). It is a small Ubuntu live system which, in addition to the main program, comes with a useful mini-setup on the subject of storage drives: Gparted, Gnome disks, test disk (undelete), and browser. Clonezilla Clonezilla is the classic backup and cloning tool. The live system has no graphical user interface and is used in English-language, text-based menus. Clonezilla is only necessary instead of the more convenient Rescuezilla if extended network capabilities are required — for example, for backups via SSH/SFTP (Samba also supports Rescuezilla). Hardware Detection Tool Hardware Detection Tool provides a complete overview of a computer’s hardware. Any raw copier can transport the IMG file from the download DVD or from hdt-project.org to USB (dd, Win 32 Disk Imager, Etcher), but the multiboot tools Yumi or Ventoy cannot handle it. You can successfully get HDT into a multiboot collection if you use the functionally identical ISO image Core3 HDT from www.serverelements.com. Memtest 86 Memtest 86 performs thorough tests of the RAM. This is not often needed, but the mini-ISO is in good hands in a Ventoy multiboot collection and only requires 6MB of space. Specialized surfing systems Every Linux live and second system gets you securely online. With regard to a customisable browser via persistent memory, small Ubuntus are probably the easiest candidates. However, the following surfing systems offer particular specialities, the necessity of which you must judge for yourself. Tails As an extremely restrictive live system, Tails specializes in anonymized web access via the TOR browser. Customizable persistence contradicts this concept, but is possible in principle with the Tails persistence setup tool (vault symbol), which creates an encrypted Luks partition for this purpose. However, this only works on a USB stick that is set up exclusively for Tails — multiboot is not possible. The user can choose what the Luks partition should store — such as the options “Additional Software” (post-installations) and “Browser Bookmarks” (in the TOR browser). Parrot Home: This offshoot of Parrot OS focuses on the security interests of private users and offers access to the anonymous TOR network, among other things.IDG Parrot Home Parrot Home is an offshoot of Parrot OS that completely dispenses with the professional security tools of the core version. Instead, there is an installable all-purpose system that is tailored to the security needs of private users. This includes the anonymizing TOR browser, anonymous data exchange with Onionshare, and encryption tools such as Zulucrypt. Parrot Home is not focused on pure live operation. However, the Debian system is capable of persistence and is a convenient, universal system with a focus on web security, either on its own or in the Yumi/Ventoy multi-bootstick. Porteus Desktop Porteus Desktop is clearly specialized in fast internet access. It offers boot times of less than 15 seconds on USB and browser launches in 2 or 3 seconds. However, the investment here is higher than with Ubuntu or Parrot Home. The pure live ISO can be installed in any multi-boot stick, but in this form it does not even have a browser on board (which can be installed temporarily). If you want to use Porteus in a handy way, you have to transfer it to USB as a stand-alone system via the “System > Porteus Installer” menu. The root password will be requested (toor). A persistence file can then be set up on this Porteus instance with “Settings > Porteus Savefile Manager,” which permanently saves an installed browser and other settings. Fatdog 64 Fatdog64 is one of the numerous Puppy variants, all of which are specialized for pure live operation. The download sources for all Puppys can be found here. Puppy systems are small and fast and have their own persistence concept to customize the live systems. The ISO image of Fatdog64 booted from a Ventoy stick offers the option “Fatdog64 with savefile in USB device” in its boot menu. The “Create Save File” dialogue will then appear automatically when the system is later shut down. In this case, the Ventoy partition, where the Puppy ISO is also located, can be specified as the destination. The Puppy-Linux will then remember previously made keyboard settings via “Quick Setup,” desktop settings via the “Fatdog64 Control Panel,” or even the WLAN password. Of course, further installation or browser customizations are also possible. Puppy variants are not specialized as surfing systems, but are ideally suited for this purpose. Repair and special systems Any live Linux or Linux installed on USB can be used as a repair tool, as any repair software can also be installed there temporarily or permanently. Backbox Backbox is nothing more than an Xubuntu that has been upgraded to a “hacker system” using tools. It can therefore be installed on request or equipped with the familiar tools with persistence for live operation. The focus of Backbox is shown in the main menu by the categories “Auditing,” “Anonymous,” and “Services.” The latter is about web access to the anonymizing TOR network, as offered by Tails, Parrot Home, and Knoppix. The unique selling point are dozens of well-stocked hacking, analysis, and cracking tools and security scanners under “Auditing,” supplemented by data recovery tools such as test disc or wipe commands for data destruction. Most of these tools require prior knowledge or a willingness to familiarize yourself with them. System Rescue System Rescue is the classic live repair system for advanced users. Automatically logged in as root, you work mainly with terminal programs on an English-language desktop. The typical data rescuers Photorec and Testdisk are also included, as is the partitioner Gparted. However, if you want something more convenient, it is better to use MX Workbench. MX Workbench MX Workbench removes the installation option from MX Linux (the original system) and offers a pure live system for system repairs. A few settings are recommended at startup. Although persistence is offered, it should be prepared by a partition labelled “MXPersist.” This means that persistence can only be realized here if MX Workbench is written solo to a USB stick (“MX Live USB Maker”). A separate “Workbench Tools Launcher” starts for the tools collected in the distribution, which automatically presents the most important tools at system startup. Knoppix Knoppix can be categorized as a special system, but also as a live all-purpose system. Knoppix is always a recommendation for any large multi-boot stick, as it contains almost everything that repair systems or surfing systems bring with them (including access to the TOR network). The persistence option, which is called “overlay partition” in Knoppix, is only possible solo on a stick, however, as a USB stick must be formatted specifically for Knoppix with a running Knoppix using “Knoppix > Copy Knoppix to Flash.” After selecting the target data carrier, the “Installation on FAT32 with additional overlay partition” follows. With overlay persistence, Knoppix then allows all kinds of customizations. Virus scanner systems Live systems with virus scanners are a separate category of Linux-based special systems that are available from practically all AV software houses (Avira, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, etc.), such as the Ubuntu-based Avira rescue disc. Such live tools are only required by users who have Windows systems installed. The external system guarantees uncompromised scanner operation. What all live systems of this type have in common is that they require an internet connection in order to load the latest virus definitions. In addition, a browser is always on board, but these live systems are not sufficient as a general repair system. All-purpose and secondary desktops Pure live systems are not suitable for a mobile second system: One or two desktop or browser settings are sorely missed, and the supplied software lacks essential programs. A live system with persistence may be sufficient; you are only on the safe side with an installed desktop system on USB. If you can count on USB 3.x everywhere, an Ubuntu distribution is the best choice. Xubuntu/Lubuntu Xubuntu and Lubuntu are good candidates for combining desktop comfort and smooth working on the USB stick. If the system on USB also has to cope with older devices, there are even smaller and more economical candidates: A USB favorite for tidy installation: The Q4-OS distribution with a classic Trinity desktop has been visually modernized and is smaller and faster than any Ubuntu.Q40S Q4-OS Q4-OS with Debian substructure and Trinity desktop is fast and undemanding. The system boots on USB 3.0 sticks in 13 seconds for login and only takes up around 400MB of RAM after logging in for the system and desktop. The Trinity desktop is based on KDE 3 and has been thoroughly modernized visually in the latest versions. Q4-OS is not ideal for live operation because it has to reload packages from the internet after selecting the language localization. However, it is an ideal candidate for installation on USB. Repair system MX Workbench presents the tools particularly conveniently.IDG MX Linux MX Linux uses either XFCE or the particularly slim window manager Fluxbox on a Debian basis. The Fluxbox version is a slim choice for USB sticks, XFCE the more convenient one. MX Linux sees itself as a desktop system that needs to be properly installed, but it also positions itself for live use: As a live system, MX displays the “Persist” item in the boot menu, which can be expanded with F5. Of the options displayed, “persist_all” is the simplest. This enables a flexible MX Linux in live mode. With proper installation on USB 3.0, the boot time for desktop login is around 15 seconds. The RAM requirement is less than 500MB. All programs, including browsers and Libre Office components, are remarkably responsive. Read...

It’s easy to spend a lot of money on a laptop, but you don’t have to. In fact, most people don’t need to spend much at all. Whether you’re on a budget or you’re buying for a student or child, sometimes the best laptop is the one that’s most affordable. But just because you’re spending less doesn’t mean you should settle for less. To make sure your laptop won’t leave you frustrated and pulling your hair out, there are a few key specs that you shouldn’t compromise on—or else you’ll probably regret your purchase. What counts as a budget laptop? In this case, we’re aiming for a price around $500 and we’re using PCWorld’s best budget laptop picks to get a sense of what’s possible, what’s reasonable, and what’s non-negotiable. Just be aware that you’ll give up some luxuries (like a dedicated graphics card) at this price point, but you’ll end up with a great daily driver laptop for work, school, and everyday activities. That said, let’s dive into the most important specs for a budget laptop and the absolute minimum acceptable for each one. Further reading: Buying a laptop before China tariffs kick in? Don’t fall for these tricks Operating system Asus, Samsung, Lenovo The very first choice you must make is the operating system. And if you’re on a budget, you really only have two options: Windows or ChromeOS. (You could also run Linux if you’re tech-savvy enough, but if you know enough to run Linux, you likely don’t need this article.) Windows is the de facto choice because it’s used everywhere, everyone is familiar with it, and most apps “just work” on Windows computers. But it has a lot of system overhead so it doesn’t run as well on low-end hardware and you might experience subpar performance. ChromeOS, which is the operating system for Chromebooks, is far more restricted in what apps it can run. If it isn’t available in the Chrome Web Store, you’re pretty much out of luck. (Sure, you can use workarounds like remote desktop-ing into a separate Windows machine, but that kind of defeats the point of buying a budget laptop!) That said, there are plenty of good reasons to buy a Chromebook over a laptop, like the bang-for-your-buck on performance and price, so don’t be turned off. Chromebooks are quite good these days. Note: If you’re buying a laptop for a student, you should definitely check with their school first because some schools have mandatory OS requirements. Even if they don’t, they might have specific software needs—and if that software isn’t available on ChromeOS, you’ll have to go with Windows. What about MacBooks? While it’s possible to buy a MacBook on a budget, you’ll have to give up a lot in the process—or stretch your definition of “budget.” Even the cheapest MacBooks far exceed $500, and they tend to be older discounted models. Generally speaking, Macs aren’t great for getting the best specs for your money. RAM Framework You can think of RAM like the amount of workspace you have on your desk: more RAM means more space to concurrently run apps and keep numerous files open, allowing you to jump between and multitask without having to close and re-open stuff all the time. That’s why RAM is key to laptop performance, and it’s important to get a laptop that has enough RAM to run smoothly. I recommend a minimum 8GB of RAM, but bump it up to 16GB if you want to “future proof” against growing needs in the future. The good news is, finding solid laptops with at least 8GB of RAM isn’t difficult—but if your budget is limited to around $300, you’re likely to be stuck with 4GB options at best. If you can afford it, it’s definitely worth the extra cash to hit 8GB, even on Chromebooks. Otherwise, you’ll find that your laptop’s sluggishness will affect your enjoyment of it. CPU BLKstudio / Shutterstock.com When it comes to CPUs on budget laptops, you have to temper your expectations. You won’t be able to get anything truly powerful, but you will be able to find something that suits your needs and gets you through non-intensive tasks like office work, studying, and watching videos. Among the more affordable Windows laptops, Intel i3 and i5 processors are the most common options. Ideally you should opt for the i5, but you can settle for an i3 if you’re on a tight budget; it should keep up with regular tasks as long as you pair it with at least 8GB of RAM. AMD Ryzen 3 and Ryzen 5 processors are also frequently seen in budget-tier laptops, and they can save you a little more money than their Intel alternatives. In Chromebooks, you’ll mostly find Intel i3 and i5 processors along with MediaTek options. MediaTek processors are typically found in budget phones because they have better battery life, but they have the disadvantage of being less powerful. Either way, opt for Intel or AMD if you care about performance. Just don’t expect any high-end gaming! You’d need a dedicated GPU for that, and that’s not happening in a budget laptop. Battery life Panos Sakalakis / Unsplash You have lots of options when it comes to battery life, even in the affordable laptop territory. Not only do weaker processors give you longer staying power, but larger batteries can help too—if you’re willing to sacrifice weight and portability. And here, too, is an area where your choice of OS matters. Generally speaking, Chromebooks usually last longer on a single charge than an equivalent Windows laptop. If you travel frequently or simply prefer to use your laptop unplugged, then aim for one that promises 10 to 12 hours of battery life. Most manufacturers overpromise and under deliver, so it’s quite possible you’ll only get around 8 hours despite their claims. Still, 8 hours of battery life on a laptop should be enough to last a workday or a school day, all while letting you live comfortably untethered. If in doubt about a particular laptop, check if PCWorld has reviewed it—we run battery tests to confirm if laptops live up to their promises. Storage capacity Jon L. Jacobi Sticking to a budget means cutting some corners, and storage space is usually among the first areas hit by compromise. That can be a problem if you aren’t careful, though. For the best laptop experience, you’ll want ample storage and you’ll want it to be fast. A slow hard drive with inadequate capacity will leave you micromanaging your files and apps as well as waiting inordinately long for files and apps to load. Among good budget options, you’ll find storage options ranging from 64GB to 256GB. Obviously, more is better, but if you’re on Windows, you shouldn’t dip below 128GB at the very least. (The operating system alone will take up around 30GB, and modern apps are space hogs on top.) Anything less than 128GB and you’ll find yourself running out of space so often that you’ll be tearing out your hair. Chromebooks, on the other hand, can survive pretty well on 64GB of storage for several reasons: the OS doesn’t take up as much space, Chromebook apps are typically smaller, and ChromeOS relies more on cloud storage than local storage. The downside is that you basically need 24/7 internet access for day-to-day use. Note: If you have to settle for a laptop with inadequate storage space, you can always add an external drive to expand capacity. Just make sure the laptop you get has enough ports for it (addressed later in this article), and stick to our picks for best external drives. Storage types Maxx-Studio / Shutterstock.com Modern Windows laptops come with two primary options: SSD or eMMC. Don’t settle for anything less than an SSD. Some cheaper laptops may offer eMMC drives, but eMMC drives run very slow and fill up faster due to their smaller capacities. You’ll be frustrated, trust me. Chromebooks, however, tend to come with three options: SSD, eMMC, and UFS. Again, I don’t recommend eMMC drives for the same reasons, but UFS is worth considering. Universal Flash Storage is “newer” and more typically found on mobile devices, but since ChromeOS is a mobile-like operating system, it’s well-suited to run on UFS. In general, UFS is faster than eMMC but slower than an SSD. If you want the best speeds, an SSD is still the best (but most expensive) option. If your goal is to save money, you’ll do fine with a UFS drive. Display resolution guteksk7 / Shutterstock.com At cheaper tiers, laptops mainly come with 720p or 1080p resolutions. I only saw one laptop featuring a higher resolution, but that came at the expense of cutting other corners. So, when buying a budget laptop, you’ll want to stick to 1080p unless you’re particularly strapped for cash. Going with 720p can save money, but the experience is subpar: text is harder to read, video content suffers, and you have less screen real estate for apps and files. Stepping up to 1080p solves all of that, and you’ll appreciate the improved resolution if you end up using your laptop to watch Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, etc. Laptop size Thiago Trevisan / IDG The ideal laptop size really depends on your needs. On the larger end, you have 15-inch and 17-inch laptops that provide bigger screens and wider keyboards, but laptops at this size tend to be heavy and detract from portability. And be aware that larger laptop screens may sometimes have lower resolutions, which can affect crispness of image and the actual amount of usable screen real estate. On the flip side, you have smaller 13-inch laptops that are lighter and more portable but generally more cramped with tighter keyboards. I find that the sweet spot for portable productivity is with a 13-inch laptop that has a 1080p resolution. You get ample screen real estate and crisp images, a lightweight body that doesn’t take up much space in a bag, and the price is usually quite affordable. Ports and connectivity Immo Wegmann / Unsplash Ports are important on budget laptops, especially if you’re sacrificing storage space and screen size. With the right ports, you have the flexibility to connect external drives and external monitors. Thankfully, unless you go very low on price, you have good options. If possible, aim for at least one USB-C port and one USB-A port. USB-C has taken over as the dominant connector, but plenty of storage devices and other accessories still rely on USB-A. If you can find a budget laptop with an HDMI port as well, you should consider it because it’ll make it easy to connect an external monitor. USB-C can theoretically handle monitors as well, but not every USB-C port is built the same and capable of supporting the same devices. Note: If you have to settle for a laptop with inadequate ports, you can always add extra ports separately with a USB-C hub or docking station. See our picks for best USB-C hubs and best Thunderbolt docks. Min specs for budget laptops in a nutshell Phew, that’s a lot to digest, so here’s a quick summary of my recommended minimum specs for budget laptops without all the contextual explanations and rationale: RAM: 8GB minimum, 16GB if you can afford it. CPU: Intel i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 minimum, Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 if you can afford it. Battery life: At least 10 to 12 hours of claimed battery life (which is likely closer to 8 hours in real-world usage). Storage capacity: 128GB minimum for Windows, 64GB minimum for Chromebooks. If you need more space, you can always expand with an external storage drive. Storage types: SSD is what you want. For Chromebooks, you can get away with UFS. Avoid eMMC at all cost. Display resolution: 1080p minimum. Laptop size: 13-inch for portability, 15-inch for screen space (as long as you don’t sacrifice resolution to get there). Ports: At least one USB-C and one USB-A port, plus an HDMI port if you plan to use an external monitor. Alternatively, buy a separate USB-C hub or docking station to expand connectivity. All of this can be had for under $500 if you shop around, especially if you can be patient and wait for deals. I’ve seen laptops—both conventional and 2-in-1 laptops—that meet all these minimum specs, so you definitely don’t have to spend a lot for a decent laptop. As long as you aren’t expecting a powerhouse gaming machine that can rip videos in no time flat, you’ll be fine. For more tips, check out our guide to buying a budget laptop without getting screwed, or head over to our guide on the best laptops under $500 if you want explicit recommendations. Read...

On a day when RA announced a $36.8 million deficit for 2024 at its annual general meeting, chairman Daniel Herbert sent a warning to French rugby clubs. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Pixel-packed 18-inch 4K Mini-LED display Two Thunderbolt 5 ports Top-tier multi-threaded CPU performance Excellent GPU performance PCIe 5 solid state drives Cons Heavy and thick Mediocre keyboard, touchpad Very loud under load at high performance profiles Our Verdict The MSI Raider 18 HX AI isn’t a looker, but it packs incredible CPU and GPU performance. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today The MSI Raider 18 HX AI is the very model of a “desktop replacement” laptop. It’s big, it’s not much to look at, and it has a mediocre touchpad that implies users are really expected to connect a mouse. That might leave some shoppers asking, “What’s the point?” That question is answered once the laptop is tossed into a demanding game or application. It might be thick, but the MSI Raider 18 HX delivers top-tier CPU and GPU performance. It even has gobs of RAM and a PCIe 5.0 solid state drive. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: Specs and features The highlight of the MSI Raider 18 HX AI’s spec sheet is undoubtedly the Nvidia RTX 5080. This new mobile GPU is destined to become the new go-to choice for gamers on the go, and here it has access to an impressive 175 watts of graphics power. But the story doesn’t end there. The Raider 18 also has Intel’s new Core Ultra 9 285HX, which packs 24 CPU cores, and the model I reviewed had 64GB of RAM alongside a 4TB PCIe 5.0 solid state drive. It has a Mini-LED display, too. Model number: A2XWIG-418US CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX Memory: 64GB DDR5-6400 RAM Graphics/GPU: Nvidia RTX 5080 16GB NPU: Intel AI Boost up to 13 TOPS (Int8) Display: 18-inch 3,840 x 2,400 120Hz IPS Mini-LED Storage: 4TB M.2 PCIe 5.0 SSD Webcam: 1080p 30fps camera with physical privacy shutter, dual array microphone Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 5, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm combo jack, SD card reader Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Biometrics: Fingerprint reader, Facial Recognition Battery capacity: 99 watt-hours Dimensions: 15.91 x 12.09 x 1.26 inches Weight: 7.94 pounds Operating System: Windows 11 Pro Price: $4,499 MSRP Cutting-edge hardware doesn’t come cheap, and the Raider 18 I tested rings up at an intimidating $4,499. That’s a lot, but if you glanced at the spec sheet and thought, “Eh, could be better,” MSI also offers a more extravagant configuration with Nvidia RTX 5090 graphics at $4,899. The MSI Raider 18 HX AI is a hardware showcase. It has an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX that sets new records in several benchmarks, and an Nvidia RTX 5080 GPU with performance close to RTX 4090, and a pair of PCIe 5.0 solid state drives that hit blistering read speeds of just over 13,000 MB/s. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: Design and build quality IDG / Matthew Smith The MSI Raider 18 HX AI isn’t the company’s largest and most powerful laptop—that’s the MSI Titan—but it’s still a beefy boy. We’re talking nearly 8 pounds of heft and a profile that’s about 1.25 inches thick. That’s not unusual for a big, high-performance gaming laptop like the Raider 18, but it’s important to note. You’re going to notice when this laptop is in your bag, and it won’t even fit in many mid-sized backpacks. Size aside, the Raider 18’s design is cohesive but not remarkable. It’s clad in black plastics with red accents, and while the materials look fine, they’re certainly not as luxurious as laptops that aim for a more professional look, such as Razer’s Blade 18. It’s also noticeably less extravagant than MSI’s Titan, which is more of a showpiece. While it doesn’t make a strong first impression, the Raider 18’s build quality is solid. The plastics don’t provide the sense of solidity aluminum would offer, but the chassis is rigid when the laptop is handled, and the display doesn’t significantly warp as it’s opened and closed. Pressing hard on the keyboard reveals some flex, but that’s common for laptops of this size, and it didn’t stand out in normal use. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: Keyboard, trackpad IDG / Matthew Smith A spacious keyboard with a numpad stretches across the MSI Raider 18 HX AI’s interior. While a few keys, like Caps Lock, are still ever-so-slightly smaller than typical, most keys are large. This includes the numpad keys, which, unlike so many laptops’ keyboards, are the same size as the primary alphanumeric keys. So, while the Raider 18 is targeted at gamers, it might also appeal to accountants (that’s a joke). Key feel, however, is a miss. Although it has a SteelSeries-branded keyboard, the typing experience doesn’t feel much different than with any number of competitive gaming keyboards. That’s not to say it’s bad. A large laptop like the Raider 18 has enough space to provide good key travel. However, it’s not remarkable. I’ve used far less expensive gaming laptops with keyboards at least as good (Lenovo’s Legion 5 line comes to mind). The keyboard does offer RGB-LED backlighting, however, which can be customized per-key. This is where the SteelSeries branding is most relevant, as RGB-LED customization is handled through the SteelSeries GG app. I like it. The app looks nice, is easy to use, and provides the ability to save both RGB-LED customization profiles and macro key configurations. These features aren’t unique, but some competitors (like Gigabyte and Acer) are a bit behind the curve when it comes to the software used to control these features. The touchpad has its ups and downs. It’s reasonably large at about 5 inches wide and 3 inches deep, but that’s only about as large as the touchpad on a typical 14-inch consumer laptop. The touchpad didn’t feel especially responsive, and the physical button action struck me as springy yet hollow. It works, but the laptop is best used with a mouse. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: Display, audio IDG / Matthew Smith The MSI Raider 18 HX AI has a rare 18-inch Mini-LED display. This type of display combines an IPS-LCD panel with an array of LEDs that can change brightness independently. That allows the display to achieve an effectively infinite contrast ratio like OLED competitors. It’s not quite as good as OLED, as Mini-LED can suffer “blooming,” an issue that can cause a halo effect around small, bright objects on dark scenes. Still, it’s almost as good. Contrast aside, the Raider 18 looks great in games and day-to-day productivity apps. Sharpness is a perk, as the display’s 3,840 x 2,400 resolution works out to about 252 pixels per inch (ppi). That’s extremely high (for comparison, a 27-inch 4K monitor typically has 163 ppi). The display also has a wide color gamut and can become extremely bright, which makes the Raider 18 a decent choice for HDR. Note, however, that HDR is not supported when the laptop is on battery power. Listening to music on the Raider 18 isn’t as pleasant as watching movies, though it’s still decent. The built-in speakers are upwards-firing and deliver good volume, while a pair of 2-watt woofers offer some low-end oomph. I found the treble rather grating, however, and the sound is muddy with the volume cranked all the way up. Still, it’s good for laptop audio. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: Webcam, microphone, biometrics MSI ships the Raider 18 with a 1080p webcam. It provides good video quality in a well-lit to moderately lit room. Viewing the webcam’s output on the Raider 18 itself sells it short, as 1080p is so far below the display’s 3,840 x 2,400 resolution. On Zoom calls, however, the webcam looks good. As a bonus, the webcam provides a physical privacy shutter. Microphone quality is respectable, as well, with good voice pick-up and decent noise cancellation from the dual microphone array. The Raider 18 also supports Windows’ AI-driven Studio Effects, so it’s easy to blur your background. Biometric login is supported through Windows Hello. Both facial recognition and fingerprint recognition are available and work well.  MSI Raider 18 HX AI: Connectivity Connectivity is among the MSI Raider 18 HX AI’s strengths. It has two Thunderbolt 5 ports, each supporting USB-C, DisplayPort, and Power Delivery. Their high data bandwidth (80 Gbps bi-directional) and versatile feature set make them ideal for connecting to a Thunderbolt dock or Thunderbolt-compatible monitor. From there, these ports can handle multiple downstream peripherals or displays. The laptop also has three USB-A ports, all supporting USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds (10 Gbps). In addition to the Thunderbolt 5 ports, the Raider 18 also has an HDMI 2.1 port. It’s rated for 8K output up to 60Hz and 4K output up to 120Hz. A 3.5mm combo audio jack and 2.5G Ethernet port round out the options. I do have a nitpick. While the dual Thunderbolt 5 ports are excellent to see, they’re both on the same side of the laptop (the right flank). I’d prefer to see one of the ports on the rear, as it would help minimize cable clutter when connecting the laptop to a dock. Wireless connectivity is strong, too. The laptop supports Wi-Fi 7E and Bluetooth 5.4, which are the latest versions of each standard. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: CPU Performance While the Raider 18 HX AI offers many notable features, including a Mini-LED display and Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, performance is the reason to buy the laptop. It has an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX processor with a total of 24 CPU cores (8 performance and 16 efficient cores) with a maximum turbo clock of 5.5GHz. That’s paired with Nvidia’s new RTX 5080, which has a total of 7,680 shader cores, 240 tensor units, and 16GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit memory bus. That’s not all. The Raider 18 HX AI supports gobs of RAM; the model I tested had 64GB of DDR5-6400 memory. It also shipped with a 4TB PCIe Gen 5 solid state drive. Unless otherwise noted, the results shown below represent the Extreme Performance and Discrete Graphics mode, which were the default when the laptop arrived. So, how does it perform? IDG / Matthew Smith PCMark 10 puts the Raider 18 off to a modest start with an incredible yet slightly underwhelming score of 8,538. This is an extremely high result that’s about 1,000 points higher than similar high-end laptops sold last year. However, several older laptops, like the Lenovo Legion 9i, achieved a higher score. IDG / Matthew Smith The MSI Raider 18 HX AI absolutely buzzsaws through our Handbrake, a long-duration test that transcodes a feature-length movie. Well, it’s usually a long duration. The Raider 18 destroyed the test in just over six minutes, a truly incredible result. Intel Core i9-14900HX systems, the quickest we’d tested up until this point, required more than 8 minutes to complete the same task. IDG / Matthew Smith Cinebench R24, a heavily multi-threaded benchmark, proved that Handbrake wasn’t just a fluke. The Raider 18 achieved a score of 2,195, which is several hundred points better than Intel Core i9-14900HX laptops. As the graph shows, the Raider 18 is roughly twice as fast as laptops like the Asus ProArt P16 and MSI Stealth 16 AI, neither of which I’d call slow. In summary, the Raider 18’s general performance is excellent and led by an incredibly quick CPU. The laptop will crank through multi-threaded, CPU-heavy tasks with ease. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: GPU performance Clearly, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX is a bit of a monster. It slams through multi-core benchmarks to deliver record-setting results. Despite that, it arguably plays second fiddle to the real star of the show: Nvidia’s new RTX 5080 mobile, which, in this laptop, can tap into a maximum of 175 watts of graphics power.  IDG / Matthew Smith The RTX 5080 gets the Raider 18 off to a great start with a 3DMark Time Spy score of 21,152. That squeezes by older RTX 4090 laptops, like the Lenovo Legion 9i, to set a record among laptops we’ve tested. 3DMark Port Royal, a ray-traced benchmark, is nearly as favorable to the Raider 18. Here the laptop scored 14,044. While that’s slightly behind the Lenovo Legion 9i, which scored 14,485, it’s an improvement over laptops with Nvidia RTX 4080 mobile, which typically scored 11,000 to 12,000 in this benchmark. IDG / Matthew Smith Moving on to real games, I fired up Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Though an older title, it’s representative of the best of the PS4/Xbox One console generation and still looks excellent on modern hardware. Unsurprisingly, the RTX 5080 can really crank through this title even without DLSS enabled. It achieved 194 frames per second at 1080p and Highest detail with ray tracing turned off. That’s not quite as good as an RTX 4090, but it’s a bit of an upgrade over the RTX 4080 (how much so depends on the wattage of the GPU). The RTX 5080’s performance gives the MSI Raider 18 AI a lot of headroom for improved settings (for example, playing at 4K and Highest detail resulted in an average of 100 FPS). IDG / Matthew Smith Next up is Metro Exodus which, though also getting on in years, is notoriously difficult to run at its higher detail settings. As the graph shows, however, the Raider 18 with RTX 5080 provides a top-flight result, averaging 94 FPS at 1080p and Extreme detail. That basically ties the Lenovo Legion 9i with RTX 4090, and it’s a great result. Let’s wrap up with a more modern graphical showcase: Cyberpunk 2077. Though it’s now several years old, CD Projekt Red has released numerous updates that embrace the latest graphics features from AMD and Nvidia, and it remains a tough game to handle at 4K resolution with ray tracing turned on. I began by testing Cyberpunk 2077 with DLSS turned off at 1080p resolution. The Raider 18 spat out an average of 149 frames per second (FPS) at the Ultra preset (without ray tracing). That was drastically slashed to a lower, but still playable, 42 FPS in the Overdrive ray-traced preset. While 42 might seem low, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio with RTX 4080 only hit 32 FPS at the same settings. With that out of the way, I changed the resolution to 4K (3,840 x 2,160) and tried the benchmarks with DLSS 3 (including 3x frame generation and the new DLSS Transformer Model) turned on. In this situation, Cyberpunk 2077 averaged 172 FPS with the Ultra preset and 129 FPS with the Overdrive ray-traced preset. Overall, the RTX 5080 mobile looks strong, though exactly how strong depends on your perspective on DLSS and expectations for gen-on-gen performance gains. Without DLSS, the RTX 5080 in the MSI Raider 18 is about 10 to 20 percent quicker than similar RTX 4080 laptops. With it, the RTX 5080 can boost performance significantly. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: AI performance I loaded LM Studio to give some common AI large language models a spin. Here, you face two possibilities. The large amount of system memory (64GB) means you can load rather large models, like Google’s Gemma 3 27B or even Llama 3 70B, though this requires that they run on the CPU. This will give you access to some capable models, but the per-token performance won’t be great. Gemma-3-27B averaged 6.29 tokens per second. Alternatively, you can load models on the RTX 5080. This route will provide much faster responses, but it’s only possible to load smaller models since the RTX 5080 only has 16GB of memory. Deepseek-R1-Distill-Qwen-7B blazed away at a remarkable 100.21 tokens per second and had a time to first token of .22 seconds, which is a very smooth experience. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: PCIe 5.0 solid state drive performance The MSI Raider 18 is among the first laptops to provide a PCIe 5.0 solid state drive. In fact, the Raider 18 I tested had a pair of 2TB PCIe 5.0 SSDs in a RAID 0 configuration. And wow, it’s fast. CrystalDiskMark’s SEQ1M QT1 test reported read speeds of 13,031 MB/s and write speeds of 9,140 MB/s. For reference, most laptops with a PCIe Gen 4 drive will achieve about 4,000 to 7,000 MB/s, depending on the drive used. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: It’s loud and hot Clearly, the MSI Raider 18 HX AI is a performer. It absolutely demolished CPU benchmarks and scored well in GPU benchmarks. However, this also results in a lot of fan noise and hot surface temperatures. If you plan to play demanding games, like Cyberpunk 2077, you’re going to want noise-canceling headphones. This isn’t MSI’s fault. Modern hardware is more power-hungry than it once was, so increased fan noise and hotter surface temps are inevitable. And, to MSI’s credit, I think the cooling system in the Raider 18 has an inoffensive acoustic profile. It’s not grating or high-pitched—but it’s certainly loud. Choosing a less aggressive performance profile, like Balanced, will reduce fan noise a bit, but it’s still noisy when the CPU and GPU are getting hammered. Shoppers who plan to fully use the Raider 18’s impressive performance should invest in noise-canceling headphones. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: Battery life The MSI Raider 18 HX AI tries to offer passable battery life with a huge 99 watt-hour battery, the largest capacity available in modern laptops (due to FAA restrictions on battery size for carry-on items). However, the laptop ships with a 400-watt power adapter, and MSI says it can utilize a total power of 260 watts. It won’t use that much power when on battery, but still, you can begin to see the problem. 260 watts is a lot more than 99. IDG / Matthew Smith And, well, the results are obvious. I measured a bit less than four hours of battery life in our standard battery test, which loops a 4K file of the short film Tears of Steel. I tested the laptop in the Hybrid Graphics mode. This is not a demanding test, but it still put the Raider 18’s battery life well into the single digits and behind most similar laptops. MSI Raider 18 HX AI: Conclusion The MSI Raider 18 HX AI is a hardware showcase. It has an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX that sets new records in several benchmarks, and an Nvidia RTX 5080 GPU with performance close to RTX 4090, and a pair of PCIe 5.0 solid state drives that hit blistering read speeds of just over 13,000 MB/s. It also has a bright Mini-LED display. These advantages come alongside practical downsides. The Raider 18 is heavy, and the battery doesn’t last long. I wasn’t a fan of the keyboard or touchpad, either. The MSI Raider 18 HX is a decent value. That might be hard to believe given the laptop’s nearly $4,500 MSRP, but if you take a tour through Newegg or Best Buy product listings, you’ll find most comparable 18-inch systems with RTX 50-series graphics have less RAM, smaller solid state drives, and often a less capable version of the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor. The Raider 18 HX feels built to provide top-tier performance across as many tasks as possible, while its competitors (such as the Gigabyte Aorus Master 18 and Asus ROG Strix 18) are more focused on gaming performance. Of course, not everyone needs top-tier CPU performance, 64GB of RAM, or 4TB of PCIe 5 storage. But if you want a laptop that pushes the limits of performance across CPU, GPU, and storage, the Raider 18 HX is a great choice. Read...

Home security systems—once the exclusive domain of high-priced professional installers—have never been more affordable, and the hardware and software is simpler, more intuitive, and easier to set up than ever before. We have other roundups that name the best smart home hubs and components—everything from the best smart bulbs to the best smart speakers—but in this roundup, we name the best do-it-yourself home security systems. DIY home security systems come in a variety of types, ranging from standalone intrusion-detection setups to multi-input monitoring systems. They offer a sliding scale of protection levels from push-notifications on your smartphone to 24/7 professional monitoring capable of dispatching first responders in an emergency. Choosing the best option for your home and your budget can be tricky, but our roundup brings you the best of the field to make your selection simple. But let’s face it: Not everyone wants to do the DIY route. If that’s you, we can also recommend our favorite custom-installed home security system. Why you should trust us TechHive’s editors and contributors have been building out their own smart homes for more than 15 years, and we continuously evaluate the latest hardware and software. We’ve experienced the great products, the not-so-great products, and everything in between. You can trust us to guide you to the right system for your needs. The best DIY smart home systems Ring Alarm Pro (8-piece kit) — Best DIY home security system Pros Very easy to set up An integrated Wi-Fi 6 router renders it a fantastic value Good Wi-Fi performance, and its range can be expanded with Eero mesh nodes Expandable battery and broadband backup features Cons Falls a little short of being an all-purpose smart home hub Subscription required for local video processing and storage Zigbee radio is still dormant, and there’s no Thread radio Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Why we like the Ring Alarm Pro Even though Ring has switched its professional monitoring option to an à la carte plan that will result in a de facto $10-per-month price increase for most users in one year (existing users were grandfathered into a cheaper plan, so there cost won’t go up immediately), you won’t find a more comprehensive collection of products or a better value in DIY home security. Some plans include 24/7 recording for an unlimited number of Ring security cameras (a limited number of wired models). And the Ring Alarm Pro also features an integrated Eero Wi-Fi 6 mesh router. Given that Ring Alarm systems also have Z-Wave and Zigbee radios on board (although the Zigbee radios are currently dormant), they make for the beginnings of a kick-ass smart home hub, with the Works with Ring program adding support for numerous third-party products, including smart locks, garage-door controllers, in-wall light switches, smart thermostats, and other smart home devices. It’s not quite as powerful a smart home hub as a Samsung SmartThings Station, but it will take you most of the way there. Who should buy the Ring Alarm Pro The Ring Alarm Pro is for anyone looking for a smart home security system that offers the option of professional monitoring. Ring also makes best-in-class video doorbells and security cameras, and when you plug an inexpensive endurance-rated microSD card into the Ring Alarm Pro, you get local storage and processing of all the video those cameras capture. The hub also serves as a bridge for Ring’s smart lighting products. If you don’t need to upgrade your home’s Wi-Fi router, and you don’t mind using a discrete bridge for your Ring smart lighting products, take a long look at the Ring Alarm (2nd Generation), which has everything but the router and the bridge. Read our full Ring Alarm Pro (8-piece kit) review Abode Iota — Best DIY home security system, runner up Pros Setup is as streamlined as it gets, and its all-in-one design makes it even more foolproof Pricing is solid, at least for a smaller home Plenty of thoughtful extras, including wireless connectivity and battery backup Apple HomeKit compatible Cons Integrated camera’s 1080p resolution is no longer impressive Integrated siren isn’t as loud as we’d like Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $269.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Why we like the Abode Iota The Abode Iota takes the original Abode home security system we reviewed in 2018 and incorporates a 1080p security camera and motion sensor into a smal enclosure. Like the original Abode system, which remains on the market, the Iota can operate as a capable smart home hub, having Zigbee and Z-Wave radios on board; plus, LTE backup in case your usual broadband connection fails (this requires a subscription). It’s also compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. Abode offers its own smart retrofit deadbolt, and its third-party device support is comparable to Ring’s, including control over Philips Hue smart lighting devices, Ecobee smart thermostats, and even Sonos speakers. You can monitor the system yourself, or sign up for professional monitoring at $24.99 per month or $229.99 per year. Who should buy the Abode Iota? The Abode Iota is a strong value because you’re getting a smart home/home security system and a home security camera all in one box. The Abode Iota is broadly compatible with all the important smart home ecosystems, and if you spring for a subscription, you’ll get LTE backup in case your usual broadband connection fails. The hub has a battery-backup feature that keeps it operating in the event of a power failure, too. Read our full Abode Iota All-in-One Security Kit review Arlo Home Security System — Best DIY home security system, 2nd runner-up Pros Sensors perform 6 functions in addition to reporting open/close state Professional monitoring available for as little as $10 per month (albeit with significant caveats) Attractive industrial design Cons Confusing array of subscription plans No third-party device support Arlo’s AI doesn’t add any value–yet Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $149.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Why we like Arlo Home Security Arlo is something of a rarity in DIY home security systems, in that you can opt to pay nothing for the product up front. Instead, you can finance an assembly of components over 3 years at zero percent interest, with the option of adding professional monitoring at a reasonable cost. We really like Arlo’s unique 8-function sensors that can detect if a door or window is opened, whether or not a room is occupied, if water is accumulating where it shouldn’t be, if ambient light levels indicate you forgot to turn a lamp on, and more. That said, Arlo’s array of subscription plans can be confusing, but our in-depth review lays all that out for you. Who should buy an Arlo Home Security System Whether or not cost is a barrier to entry for you, the Arlo Home Security System–especially with an optional professional monitoring plan–offers a comprehensive means of protecting your valuable property. Unlike the products from Ring and Abode, this system can’t also control smart home product, but it’s very easy to use and is very reasonably priced. Read our full Arlo Home Security System review SimpliSafe The Essentials — Best DIY home security system, 3rd runner-up Pros One of the quickest, easiest DIY setups you’ll encounter Attractive industrial design Self and professional monitoring options available Cons No support for smart lighting or any third-party products SimpliSafe can be slow to update key components (but SimpliSafe’s new indoor camera is great) Best professional monitoring plan is expensive at $30 per month Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $159.99 View Deal SimpliSafe $219.96 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Why we like SimpliSafe SimpliSafe is an apt name for this sophisticated yet easy-to-use home security system. The starter kit we reviewed consists of a central hub, three door/window sensors, a motion sensor, a keypad for arming/disarming the system, and a wireless indoor security camera. You can customize your installation with anything else you might need, including indoor and outdoor cameras, a smart lock, glass-break sensors, leak and freeze sensors, a video doorbell, and more–and all these add-ons are very affordable. The hub has both battery and cellular backups, so you’re protected in the event of both power and broadband outages. You can use either the included keypad or a keyfob to arm and disarm the system. With SimpliSafe’s professional monitoring, $30 per month, an agent can use the system’s security cameras to verify and monitor a break-in and can even warn an intruder that they’ve been detected. Who should buy SimpliSafe Anyone looking for an affordable, strictly home security system–in other words, one that cannot also control the broader universe of smart home devices such as lighting, thermostats, and other home components should take a look at what SimpiSafe has to offer. This is one of the easiest to install alarm systems we’ve encountered, and it performs extremely well. But part of what makes it so simple is the fact that you can’t integrate any third-party products with it. Read our full SimpliSafe The Essentials review Minut Smart Home Alarm — Best security system for vacation rentals Pros Monitors noise levels Alerts to the sound of smoke/CO detector alarms Infrared occupancy sensor Temperature and humidity sensor Provides security without relying on cameras Cons Very limited smart home integration Third-party monitoring costs extra Why we like Minut This all-in-one device offers the assurance of home security without relying on privacy-intrusive home security cameras. In place of video, its onboard sensors monitor a room for the presence of crowds and high noise levels that indicate your guests are having a disruptive party with the potential for annoying your neighbors and increasing the likelihood of property damage. You can buy the device for $50, plus $120 per year for the ongoing service; or you can spend $180 for service and get the device at no cost. The higher-priced service includes some extra features that might or might not be worth your while. Who should buy Minut The Minut Home Security System is suited to any home, but it will be particularly attractive to people who own rental and vacation-rental properties. In addition to monitoring noise levels, it can detect temperature, the presence of cigarette smoke, and humidity levels that increase the risk of mold. The device can be integrated with Airbnb and other property-management systems, too. Read our full Minut Smart Home Alarm review Vivint Smart Home Security System — Best professionally installed option Pros Robust home security with an equal helping of smart home convenience Excellent security camera and video doorbell options Customers can add their own Z-Wave devices, especially for smart lighting Cons Expensive security cameras No self-install option (apart from Z-Wave devices) No self-monitoring option Why we like the Vivint Smart Home System Vivint gives you the best of both worlds: An excellent, professionally installed and professionally monitored home security system with first-class components, and the option to install your own Z-Wave devices for the epitome in smart home convenience. Who should buy the Vivint Smart Home System Hey, we hate subscription fees as much as anyone, but we’re willing to pay for professionals to keep an eye on our homes and dispatch first responders when a break-in or fire is detected or when we need an emergency medical response. And we really appreciate having the freedom to install Z-Wave smart home devices without needing to pay a tech to do the work. Read our full Vivint Smart Home Security System review What to look for when shopping for a DIY home security system Wired vs. wireless hub connection Many smart hubs must connect to your wireless router via an ethernet cable, which limits their placement and, of course, requires a free ethernet port on your router or switch. That can be an issue with puck-shaped routers that have just two ethernet ports–you’ll need to buy an ethernet switch to have enough ports. A smaller number of hubs are wireless and can be placed anywhere in range of the router, increasing your flexibility. Sensor range If your home is large or spread out, you’ll need to pay attention to the range that the hub’s sensors support. Hubs may support a wide array of connection protocols, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, and Zigbee, all of which have very different ranges. As with a wireless router, smart hub range can also be impacted by interference and device placement, and smart home devices themselves have different specs, as well. Take the time to look into the detailed specs to be sure sensors and third-party devices will work with your home’s infrastructure. Battery backup If the power goes out, your smart lights won’t be useful anyway; but other smart home features, like security sensors, rely on a hub that’s always powered on. Some smart home smart hubs feature battery backups (thanks to rechargeable or disposable cells). Even a short power outage can cause a significant delay while the hub reconnects, so a battery backup makes sense in many home environments. If you like everything else about a particular hub that lacks a battery backup option, consider investing in an uninterruptible power supply to plug it into. Mobile app usability You’ll probably be interacting with your hub primarily through its mobile app, so you’ll want one that’s intuitive and powerful, with all the key features you use front and center. App-store screen shots and, of course, our reviews can help you get a sense of what you’re dealing with on the app side of things. Overall complexity This is a companion consideration to the mobile app, relating primarily to the audience for whom the smart home system was developed. Is the system geared toward everyday users with limited customization needs? Or is it built with extreme flexibility in mind, to the point where the configuration decisions might overwhelm a novice user? Again, close attention to our reviews can help you gauge how comfortable you’re likely to feel with any system. Sensor support A companion consideration to the device support issue above, if you’re in the market for a DIY home security system, you’ll want one that supports all the sensors you need. Most security hubs only work with the sensors made by the same manufacturer, so you can’t mix and match as you would with a general-use smart home hub. Some security systems offer only a very narrow range of sensor types, while others have a wide variety to choose from. You’ll want motion and door/window sensors at a minimum. For added security, consider buying freeze, water leak, humidity, smoke and/or carbon monoxide sensors, garage-door, and glass-break sensors. Make sure the smart home hub you buy supports all the sensor types you wish to deploy. Cellular radio backup A security system that can be knocked out of commission by simply disabling your broadband connection doesn’t provide much protection. The best systems will include a cellular backup module that kicks in when your usual broadband connection drops. You should also carefully consider the battery backup consideration above, which is essential for dealing with power outages and is a standard feature on most security-focused hubs. Professional monitoring If you don’t want to monitor your own security system 24/7, you’ll at least want the option to engage with a professional security company that can keep tabs on it for you when you’re out on a walkabout. These invariably cost extra, which leads to our final consideration…. Service plan costs Service plan costs vary widely from system to system, and many vendors offer a range of plans to choose from. Some systems will work without a service plan at all, allowing you to self-monitor. Some require a plan to function at all. Also note that lower-tier service plans might provide only cloud storage for your security cameras. Wyze Labs offers one of the least-expensive plans: $9.99 per month with no long-term commitment, or $99.99 for a full year. Price out service plans carefully, taking the overall quality of the system into account, before you pull the trigger. Other notable smart home systems we’ve reviewed We’ve evaluated lots of other DIY smart home systems. If none of our top picks check all the boxes for you, take a look at these other products. Abode Smart Security Kit is virtually the same as the Abode Iota Security Kit, with the key difference being the integrated security camera integrated into the latter product. Both packages use the same accessories and sensors and support the same monitoring plans. Ecobee takes an interesting approach to home security, integrating its smart home hub into the company’s top-shelf smart thermostat. Ecobee also has a great home security camera, and the entire system is HomeKit compatible. Tapo H100 Smart Hub is a budget-priced home security that’s compatible with a very limited number of security products from the same manufacturer, and it doesn’t support security cameras at all. It’s main attraction is its low price tag. Roku Home Monitoring SE is yet another low-priced home security system, but with a twist: Roku sources this system from Wyze Labs and puts the Roku brand on it. Affordable professional monitoring is available. Wyze Home Monitoring is the same system as the Roku Home Monitoring SE, but Wyze manufactures both products. This is a low-cost security system with an extremely affordable professional monitoring subscription. Read...

TechHive Editors Choice At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Robust home security with an equal helping of smart home convenience Excellent security camera and video doorbell options Customers can add their own Z-Wave devices, especially for smart lighting Cons Expensive security cameras No self-install option (apart from Z-Wave devices) No self-monitoring option Our Verdict When it comes to professionally installed and monitored home security systems that also offer all the creature comforts of a smart home, no one does it better than Vivint. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Most home security systems focus on just that: security. Their aim is to deter criminals from breaking in, and if deterrence isn’t enough, to alert you and—if you subscribe to professional monitoring—summon a police response if burglars do get inside your home. The best systems also protect you from the danger of fire and water damage. TechHive focuses mostly on DIY products, but if you’re not comfortable installing your own home security system, Vivint Smart Home deserves your careful consideration. Unlike some other service providers—ADT, for example—Vivint doesn’t give you the option of shipping you the components and letting you set the system up on your own, but you can customize and expand it after that. The Smart Hub’s Z-Wave radio gives you plenty of options for customizing the smart home elements of your Vivint system. Paying a professional technician for this work isn’t cheap, of course, but Vivint gives you the option of paying for everything over time with no interest. The downside of that option is that you must sign a long-term contract—typically three to five years—with the initial monthly fees varying according to the initial hardware installation. If you don’t like that idea, you can pay for everything up front and then proceed with a month-to-month agreement. The system reviewed here would cost about $2,800, plus the cost of professional monitoring that can summon help in police, fire, and medical emergencies. These 2-piece sensors mount to your windows (and doors, if you don’t elect for recessed models). When the window is opened, it breaks a magnetic field and sends an alert to the control panel. Michael Brown/Foundry A basic Vivint smart home system consists of a central hub—aka a control panel—along with a motion sensor and a few door/window sensors (4 of these sensors are bundled with Vivint’s Smart Hub–pictured up top–for $600). Most people will add an indoor or outdoor security camera and/or a video doorbell to that package, but Vivint also offers a wide range of other home security devices on an à la carte basis—ranging from smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to glass-break detectors and water leak detectors. Those interested in folding smart home features into their home security system can opt for Vivint’s own smart thermostat ($199.99) or a Nest Learning Thermostat. Other smart home components range from smart lighting controls to Vivint-certified third-party devices, including Kwikset smart deadbolts and Chamberlain myQ smart garage door openers. And through the Works with Vivint program you can add Amazon Echo or Google Nest smart speakers and displays, or a Nest smart thermostat. Notably, Vivint doesn’t limit you to adding just these products to your system—especially in terms of smart lighting—as I’ll discuss in more detail later. Vivint’s Smart Hub can be mounted to a wall or set up on a table or countertop. Next to Vivint’s app, it’s how you’ll most often interact with the Vivint smart home/home security system.Vivint Smart Home As with most home security companies, the technicians Vivint employs are not licensed electricians, so they can’t install new outlets or in-wall lighting controls. While nearly all the sensors the company uses operate on battery power, its security cameras rely on AC power and its video doorbell depends on low-voltage wiring. If you don’t have outlets near where you want to install the control panel or security cameras—or an existing doorbell power transformer—you might find yourself limited as to where you install cameras. The hub is the heart Vivint systems revolve around its Smart Hub, a central smart home control panel with a 7-inch (diagonal) color touchscreen. The Smart Hub is AC-powered, but it has on onboard battery for backup. It connects to your home network over Wi-Fi—hardwired ethernet is available if you have the infrastructure in place—and it has a cellular radio in the event your usual broadband network goes down. These back-up features protect you from burglars who cut your power, cable or fiber, and/or telephone lines to disarm your security system. The hub has an onboard siren for when the system goes into an alarm state, but in an emergency, you can connect directly to Vivint’s monitoring service to request a dispatch from the police, the fire department, or an ambulance. The panel has both Wi-Fi and Z-Wave radios onboard. Cameras communicate over the panel’s private Wi-Fi network while Vivint’s door/window, motion, smoke/CO detector and most other sensors communicate with the panel using radio spectrum in the 345MHz band. Vivint’s own smart thermostat, and the Kwikset smart deadbolts the company offers, communicate via Z-Wave. And it’s the Smart Hub’s Z-Wave radio that gives you the most options for customizing the smart home elements of your Vivint system. If you have a Kwikset Z-Wave deadbolt installed with your system, you can arm the system from outside your home when you lock the door, and disarm the system when you enter your PIN at the lock.Michael Brown/Foundry Like most home security systems, Vivint’s has three general states: Disarmed: Used when you’re home but you might be going in and out of doors but not leaving home, or you might have windows open for ventilation. In this state, the system’s motion sensor is disabled and its door and window sensors won’t trigger the alarm. But you have the option of having the control panel announce—in a female voice—when monitored doors and windows are opened. Armed Stay: You’ll put the system in this state when you’re home and don’t anticipate people coming and going with any regularity. The motion sensor is disabled, but the door/window sensors are actively monitored. Opening a monitored door will trigger a delayed alarm state, giving you a minute or so to reach the panel and disarm the system before the countdown ends. Opening a window that has a sensor on it, on the other hand, will immediately trigger an alarm state. Armed Away: This is the state you’ll put the system in when the last person leaves the home. This arms all the system’s sensors, including the motion sensor. Opening any window will trigger an immediate alarm state, but opening a door will set off a countdown to give you an opportunity to reach the panel to disarm the system. Some sensors, such as the smoke/heat/freeze detector, are always armed and will trigger the hub’s onboard siren as well as send you a push notification when activated. In the event of a detected break-in or fire, Vivint’s monitoring office will be notified and someone from there will call you or your designated representative to verify the emergency before requesting a first-responder dispatch. Vivint offers smoke, carbon dioxide, water, freeze, and other types of sensorMichael Brown/Foundry They’ll eventually dispatch the police even if they can’t reach you or your designated representative, but their aim is to reduce false alarms that antagonize first responders—and depending on your jurisdiction, result in fines. Vivint’s water-leak sensors, which can also monitor the ambient temperature and alert you to the kind of freezing cold that can lead to a burst water pipe, are likewise always armed, but these are only warning devices—they don’t connect to something like a Flo by Moen smart water shutoff that can turn off your main water supply to prevent burst pipes. Smart Actions The Smart Actions tool in Vivint’s smartphone app makes it easy to create automations based on system events. Smart Actions are very much like IFTTT applets in that they consist of two conditions: A trigger (“When this happens…”) that causes an action (“Then do this…”). Smart Actions triggers can be based on preset times or schedules, including sunrise and sunset; security events, such as an alarm being triggered; when a smart deadbolt has been locked or unlocked or when your garage door opened or closed; after other doors or windows have been opened or closed; when motion is detected or a camera detects a person in its field of view; when a visitor rings your Vivint doorbell; or when a smart light switch or outlet is turned on. Vivint offers a simple but powerful scripting system for home automation routines that can include self-installed Z-Wave smart lighting controls.Michael Brown/Foundry The actions—and there can be multiple actions—that follow trigger events are organized into the same broad categories: the alarm system, smart locks and smart garage door openers, lights, and security cameras. Here are a few examples of Smart Actions that I’ve tried: If the system goes into any alarm state, each of Vivint’s security cameras will record video with the aim of capturing the event(s) that triggered the alarm. At the same time, all of my smart lights inside and outside the house will turn on. Another Smart Action locks all my Vivint-certified smart locks at 11:00 p.m. every day and when the system is armed “away” or “stay.” You can also have a certified smart lock arm the security system when it’s locked from outside, or disarm the security system when the correct code is entered on its keypad. The hub maintains a detailed event history, which you can view in the Vivint app on your smartphone. Every event is tracked on a timeline, including when doors and windows are opened and closed, the system’s cameras detect people in their fields of view, doors with smart deadbolts are locked and locked, motion detector gets triggered, and when the system is armed and disarmed. Smart lighting Vivint doesn’t offer in-wall lighting controls, but customers can install their own Z-wave devices–such as the Leviton Z-Wave 800-series dimmer (left) and switch shown here and integrate them into the smart home system.Michael Brown/Foundry Vivint offers its own smart lighting controls but given the presence of a Z-Wave radio in its hub, you might be surprised to learn that Vivint’s solution is based on Zigbee, not Z-Wave. It consists of one or more Zigbee smart bulbs, coin-cell-battery-powered Zigbee dimmer switches that fit over your existing in-wall switches (once their covers have been removed), and a Zigbee-to-Wi-Fi bridge that must be hardwired to your router. I’ve tried these out and can’t say I’m a fan, mostly for aesthetic reasons: The on-wall controls stick out like sore thumbs. Vivint doesn’t advertise this as a feature, but its customers are free to add Z-Wave devices—particularly lighting controls—to their smart home systems. Those devices will appear in the Vivint app, where they can be controlled and integrated into Vivint’s Smart Actions, but the menu for adding and removing Z-Wave devices is locked behind a set of hidden menus that are normally accessible only to Vivint’s installation techs. But if you call or chat with Vivint’s customer service department online, they’ll unlock that menu—after verifying your identity and giving you the password—so you can access it. While Vivint doesn’t bar its customers from adding any type of Z-Wave device, only Vivint-certified smart locks can do things such as disarm the security system when a resident’s PIN code is entered at the lock. Non-certified locks will otherwise operate as smart locks, but they can’t arm or disarm the security system in the way a certified lock can. Security cameras Vivint’s second-generation outdoor security camera mated with its innovative Smart Spotlight.Michael Brown/Foundry Vivint offers one indoor and one outdoor security camera (the latter is available with or without a smart spotlight attachment); and a video doorbell. Each of the cameras is tightly integrated with the control panel and has enough onboard storage to enable 24/7 recording—a $6.99-per-month option on top of a $5-per-month fee per camera. The cameras can stream live feeds and motion-triggered video recordings to the control panel’s display as well as to your smartphone. The cameras also support two-way audio, with the indoor model having a somewhat unique push-to-talk feature that allows a person at the camera to push a button to initiate a conversation with you via the Vivint app on your phone. Apart from that feature, the Vivint Indoor Camera Pro is relatively basic, providing 1080p resolution with HDR, a 150-degree field of view (horizontal, its vertical field of view is 80 degrees), black-and-white night vision, and the two-way talk I’ve already mentioned. It’s mounted to an articulated stand that can be mounted to a wall, the ceiling, or rested on any other flat surface. It relies on an AC adapter with a 9-foot cord for power. You can push a button on this indoor camera to initiate a push notification and two-way conversation via Vivint’s smartphone app.Michael Brown/Foundry No home security system would be complete without a video doorbell, and Vivint’s entry is particularly good. The Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro has a high-resolution image sensor with a 1:1 aspect ratio (1664 x 1664 pixels) that captures visitors from head to toe with HDR. I’ve previously written an in-depth review of the doorbell, so I won’t do that again here. The Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro (Gen 2) camera features a 4K image sensor with HDR, but its maximum resolution is still limited to 1080p. It has a 140-degree field of view, and its image sensor enables it to offer 3x optical zoom with 10x digital zoom. It carries an IP65 weatherization rating, which according to our IP code decoder, means it’s entirely protected from dust and that it can withstand water jets short of a blast from a power washer. When enabled, a Smart Deter feature triggers the camera to play a loud sound and illuminate an LED light ring around its lens when a person is detected lingering in its field of view. The idea is that the sound will prompt the lurker to present their face to the source of the sound—the camera. But this generation of cameras doesn’t have true AI or even the ability to recognize familiar faces. As a result, I’ve left Smart Deter turned off. Vivint’s video doorbell can connect to the company’s smart lighting controls to turn on your porch light when it detects motion.Michael Brown/Foundry The outdoor camera can be powered by via an ethernet cable, thanks to its support for Power over Ethernet (PoE) support, or the installer can connect it to Vivint’s own Wi-Fi bridge, which will use power line connectivity (PLC). The Wi-Fi bridge needs to be installed indoors, as it is not weatherized. The camera features black-and-white night vision with up to 55 feet of range, but you’ll get color night vision if you pair the camera with Vivint’s Spotlight Pro. The Spotlight Pro works in conjunction with the second-generation Outdoor Camera Pro—the light cannot operate on its own—and it’s excellent. It’s a bar-shaped device with three groups of stacked LEDs on three sides that produce up to 1,800 lumens of brightness with a cool color temperature of 5,000 Kelvin. Mounted underneath the camera, the light can also function as a general-purpose floodlight, which you can turn on and off—and dim—using the Vivint app. Used as a security device, it will turn on in response to motion—but only if the camera associates the motion with a person in its field of view. What’s more, when the camera is in “deter” mode, it will trigger the light’s LEDs to come one at a time to track a person as they move within the camera’s field of view, focusing a spotlight on them until they leave. Should you buy a Vivint Smart Home System? No service provider offers a better professionally monitored home security system than Vivint, and no one offers such a fully integrated and smart home system that customers can expand without incurring additional installation costs. This is a uniquely comprehensive home security system that includes all the smart home features needed for comfort and convenience. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart home systems. Vivint’s smart lighting segment would be its sole weak spot if it didn’t offer its customers the option to self-install Z-Wave controls. As is typical of home security vendors, Vivint’s technicians typically are not licensed electricians who can install in-wall lighting controls. But the company doesn’t bar you from doing that yourself. And if you don’t mind the industrial design of its Zigbee smart lighting products, you don’t even need to worry about that. Vivint’s offering isn’t cheap, but it is in line compared to the competition. Here’s a breakdown of what the system reviewed here costs, up front and for ongoing services: ComponentsPriceVivint Smart Hub bundled with 4 door/window sensors$599.99Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro (Gen 2)$399.99Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro (Gen 2) plus Spotlight Pro$649.98 Vivint Indoor Camera Pro$249.99Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro (Gen 2) $249.99 Kwikset Z-Wave smart deadbolt lock$179.99Vivint Smoke/Heat/Freeze detector$100.00Motion sensor$100.00Water leak sensor$50.00Additional door/window sensors (3 @$50 each)$150.00Total system cost:$2,729.93Professional monitoring (including 4 cameras)$54.99/month Read...

The investigation was launched last year following bets placed on the timing of the 2024 general election. Read...

On February 2nd, 2025, computer scientist and OpenAI co-founder Andrej Karpathy made a flippant tweet that launched a new phrase into the internet’s collective consciousness. He posted that he’d “fully given into the vibes” when programming with AI assistance. https://twitter.com/karpathy/status/1886192184808149383 The tweet of course kicked off a flame war, because that’s how X works, especially under the current management. But for me, the tweet hit home—because it perfectly describes how I use AI to code. My experience with vibe coding I’ve always had an interest in programming, because I’ve always had an interest in computers. I put together websites in HTML as a teenager (which, yes, were hosted on GeoCities) and have been occasionally dabbling in Python since. Yet none of my projects got very far and, apart from my early websites, I never made anything useful. My efforts all followed a familiar pattern: I’d fixate on a particular resource—like an O’Reilly book or an online course—and get started with great enthusiasm, but as I’d realize I was months or years away from creating anything remotely useful, I’d give up. I’ve used Claude AI to quickly generate a simple dice roller web app.Matt Smith / Foundry That changed in late 2024 when my general frustration with WordPress, which I was using for my personal website, got the better of me. In a fit, I threw my website’s content plus a screenshot of it into Claude 3.5 Sonnet and asked the AI to replicate my site with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. To my amazement, Claude 3.5 generated a functional website. It wasn’t perfect, but after a couple hours of working with Claude, I wound up with a website I liked even better than its WordPress predecessor. My approach was exactly what Karpathy described. I didn’t read the code, nor did I really try to understand it (though I did have to think a bit about how the featured articles carousel works). That aside, I just told Claude what to do, copy-and-pasted the results in VSCode, saved the file, and reloaded my browser to see what changed. And it worked. A work-in-progress screenshot of my Pico-8 puzzle game and the vibe-coded source.Matt Smith / Foundry But the most important part? It was fun! Fun enough that I’ve since tried my hand at several other coding projects. I made an online tool to track initiative and roll dice when DMing tabletop roleplaying games, I made another tool to simplify rolling dice in Battletech, and I’m currently making a puzzle game for the Pico-8 virtual game console. I also used AI to guide me through setting up tools that require a bit of fussing, like OpenAI’s Whisper speech-to-text model. Notably, all three projects were in different programming languages—HTML/JavaScript, Python, and Lua—none of which I’m even remotely proficient with. I’ve also dabbled in some C#, as I started to make the puzzle game in Unity before deciding it was overbuilt for my needs and swapping to Pico-8. I also toyed with turning my tabletop RPG tool into a Windows app before deciding that wasn’t helpful. The risks and pitfalls of vibe coding So, yeah, I’m vibing. But is it all good vibes? Or does vibe coding herald the same kind of AI slop-driven era for software as we’re seeing for blogs, forums, artwork, video, and music? That’s the big fear of critics, and it’s easy to understand those fears. Karpathy’s “vibe coding” is fast, fun, and approachable, but it isn’t rigorous, detail-oriented, or careful. The code written by AI will often work, but it can contain flaws that aren’t immediately obvious—and that raises an obvious question: how does a know-nothing programmer spot bugs and security flaws in AI-generated code? The simple answer is… they can’t. Take the case of Leonel Acevedo—better known as just “leo”—who posted about his experience vibe coding a SaaS startup, only to find himself dealing with major issues like unsecured API keys. It led to hundreds of videos and social media posts dunking on Leo’s naïveté: https://twitter.com/leojr94_/status/1901560276488511759 To be clear, I don’t have much sympathy for Leo. He used social media to promote his business with posts clearly built to drive engagement. And, well, that’s how chasing influence on social media works. Sometimes you’re the hero and sometimes you’re the villain. (Predictably, Leo is already making content about “rebuilding my SaaS in 30 days.”) Yet, I question what his problems are supposed to prove. Is vibe coding a SaaS and going straight into production dumb? Sure. But are most people vibe coding a SaaS startup and flinging it into the world like the baby in an Xbox commercial? Of course not. The reality is a lot more practical. Some people, like me, see vibe coding as a fun way to tackle simple projects that were previously out of reach. Others, including many software engineers, will use it as way to build prototypes, demonstrate proofs of concept, and—yes!—learn. It’s the blogging revolution… for code In a strange way, vibe coding reminds me of the circumstances from decades ago that paved the way for me to become a tech journalist. I grew up in a small midwestern town. My high school was so small, we didn’t even have a school newspaper. Then I went to college and got a degree… in English Literature. Not journalism or communications. I never wrote for the college paper, either. I then graduated college with no useful contacts or work experience. But I lucked out. I graduated right when the blogsphere exploded and social media took over the internet. Suddenly, formal credentials and an industry-specific degree, though helpful, weren’t necessary. So, I started writing—and eventually publications started paying me for it. I’ve been doing this now for 17 years. To me, vibe coding looks like it will do something similar for future software engineers and the programming landscape. Forget formal training. With AI assistance, people who are interested in programming don’t even need informal training. Anyone who knows their way around a laptop can ask ChatGPT about the tools they need to get started, how to install them and get them working, and generate the very code they need to get the first version of their project up and running. These people will make mistakes. A lot of the code generated will be bad, or at least inelegant. People will lose projects because they encounter a bug they can’t fix. The AI-generated code in my own projects is enough to make a senior software engineer go blind, I’m sure. But if it opens programming a bit wider to people (like me) who otherwise lack the patience to spend six months reading an O’Reilly tome just to spin up a halfway decent Python program, well, that seems like a win. Further reading: I spent $200/mo on ChatGPT Pro so you don’t have to. Here’s what I found and whether it’s worth it Read...