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

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

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

I’ve been covering PC monitors for years, and there’s one thing that I’ve found to be a constant. No matter how advanced or interesting new monitors get, some of them will come with speakers built-in. And these speakers will, invariably, suck. They’ll suck so, so hard. The ones in the photo I took above came out of a Dell Optiplex 9030, and they’re only four watts each. This is my plea for you, reader, to stop using these horrible little disappointment discs. You’ll get better sound out of the set of crusty white headphones that came free with your iPod Nano (and gaming headsets are a huge upgrade). But even more than that, I’d like monitor manufacturers to stop putting these horrible little speakers in monitors in the first place. They’re just wasting a lot of people’s time and money. Further reading: The best monitors we’ve tested Why do these horrible speakers exist? I’m not saying anything new here. If you’ve used one of these monitors, you know the speakers suck. They’re tiny, usually a pair of 5-watt or even 2-watt drivers, and positioned either straight down or actually firing backwards because modern LCD screens are pretty thin. When I accidentally set my Windows output to use them on my left and right monitors, the speakers are barely even audible, even in my quiet office. So what’s the point? Why even have these things, when most of these monitors also come with a standard 1/8? headphone jack, and anyone using a modern PC or laptop almost certainly has at least a set of headphones handy…or just the laptop itself? Allow me to make an educated guess. Ever since the switch from the old CRT monitors (the giant ones with tubes that are older than a lot of you reading these words), PC monitors have been pretty much entirely digital. And they share a lot of similarities with other digital screens, like the one in your laptop and phone. Perhaps more pointedly, they’re very, very similar to LCD televisions, right down to the HDMI connection that’s become the de facto standard for connections. USB-C is starting to overtake this, but we’re a long way out from being able to rely on the all-in-one connection completely. Rip open the plastic shell of your monitor, and somewhere inside you’ll find some very predictable components. You can see most of them in the Linus Tech Tips video above. There will be a screen assembly containing the LCD itself and some kind of backlight. There will be a power supply, if it isn’t external and built into the power cable. And there will be at least one circuit board. This is usually split into a mainboard (containing most of the actual “guts” of the TV’s electronics), a timing board, and a connection board, but some cheaper models can have all of these on the same part. The connection board contains the HDMI, DisplayPort, or any other video connections soldered right into it. Where the speakers come from That part is pumped out by the millions, literally, in production factories. It’s probably not even the same factory that built the LCD screen or the monitor’s body and housing; economies of scale make these components manufactured separately before being assembled at a different location. And because it’s cheap and efficient, they use the same parts in as many different monitor models as possible. The same mainboard and the same video connections might be going into dozens, possibly even hundreds of different monitor designs, maybe even spanning across different brands. And here’s the kicker. Because they’re so similar, those same connection boards will be used in a lot of televisions, too. Televisions that have built-in speakers. Speakers that aren’t great either, but are bigger and more powerful than the teeny tiny speakers they can fit in monitors. And because taking out the audio connections for those speakers would be more expensive than just leaving them in for these millions and millions of common monitor and TV components, that’s exactly what they don’t do. MSI MSI MSI The standardized components for HDMI connections can handle audio just fine — remember, that’s part of the appeal of an all-in-one connection for video and audio. So every monitor with an HDMI part can handle sound, just like a TV. The thinking from the designers must be, “well if the monitor can be equipped with speakers and basically become a tiny TV, let’s just do that.” I’m betting at least some of these tiny speakers come free from the HDMI component suppliers, tossed in with the mainboard or connection board like so many Mild Sauce packets in a Taco Bell bag. And so they do it, if only for the sake of one more bullet point on the spec list. But because they know anyone who actually cares about sound will be using headphones or dedicated speakers, they cheap out and use the tiniest, crappiest speakers they can find. The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9, a 49-inch monitor that costs more than most laptops, comes with two five-watt speakers that look like they might have come from a Game Boy. I found a five-watt driver that you can buy for about sixty cents a part if you buy in bulk. iFixit iFixit iFixit There are some exceptions here. The speakers included with all-in-one (AIO) computers, which pack a full set of PC components into an expanded monitor housing, tend to be a cut above the standard monitor speakers. The ones Apple includes in the iMac are noted to be pretty decent. But even these are fairly bad compared to any stand-alone speakers, and there are plenty of cheap ones, like the ones in the photo at the top. Use a headset or real speakers Look, I get that not everyone can afford to shell out on a fantastic audio setup, especially if they just bought a new monitor and maybe a PC or laptop to go with it. But these dinky speakers really are terrible. If you’re using a laptop, just keep the audio-out settings on the laptop’s speakers instead. Laptop speakers are also pretty terrible most of the time, but they’re at least made with the assumption that they’ll be used on a regular basis. These $20 speakers don’t even need to be plugged into a power outlet, but they’re far better than almost any speakers built into a monitor.  These $20 speakers don’t even need to be plugged into a power outlet, but they’re far better than almost any speakers built into a monitor.  Creative These $20 speakers don’t even need to be plugged into a power outlet, but they’re far better than almost any speakers built into a monitor.  Creative Creative If you don’t already have a decent set of headphones or standalone speakers, make that your next purchase. You don’t have to spend a lot — a $30 USB headset is fine for pretty much anything, and you can find good desktop speakers for as little as $20. I’m one of those people who builds up their computer desk to a ridiculous and obsessive degree, and I’ve been using the same $100 Edifier speakers for the better part of a decade. You don’t need to be an audiophile or a millionaire to get really good sound for your computer. But you do need to stop using the teeny-tiny speakers in your monitor. Please. I’m literally begging you. Read...

If you’re looking to save some dough on a computer display, it’s a great time to hunt for monitor deals thanks to Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event, and even competing sales events from other retailers. The actual event doesn’t start until October 8, but I’ve scoured the web for the best deals on the best screens right now. PCWorld constantly reviews the latest monitor models with the newest tech. We also hunt for the best values if you don’t need all the bells and whistles. You can trust us to not just find the biggest discounts, but the discounts on the monitors that are actually worth buying in the first place. Read on for the best monitor deals at the best prices I could find, and check out our Prime Big Deal Days 2024 deals hub for great sales in other tech categories.Last updated on September 26, 2024. Prime Big Deal Days 2024 deals on OLED monitors Corsair 27-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor, $699.99 ($300 off at Amazon) Gigabyte 49-inch OLED Ultrawide gaming monitor, $899.99 ($200 off at Amazon) LG 45-inch OLED ultrawide gaming monitor, $1003.10 ($697 off at Amazon) LG 34-inch OLED ultrawide gaming monitor, $702.48 ($597 off) at Amazon LG 27-inch QHD OLED gaming monitor, $599.99 ($200 off at LG.com) OLED monitors are the cream of the crop for gamers, and at the moment you can’t get any bigger than Gigabyte’s 49-inch super-duper-mega-ultrawide. But for a good balance between size and utility, I think I’d prefer the 45-inch LG model, if only because its 21:9 aspect ratio and lower resolution is much easier for gaming PCs to handle. The 34-inch version is a good compromise, especially if you want to keep the same pixel density as 27-inch QHD monitors. If you want to upgrade to OLED for as little cash as possible, LG is offering a 27-inch QHD model that’s great for gamers for just $600. That’s probably as low as you’re going to see at the moment — wait for the actual Prime Deal Days to hit to try for something lower. Prime Big Deal Days 2024 deals on gaming monitors Alienware 28-inch QHD 180Hz gaming monitor, $249.99 ($150 off at Amazon) MSI 24-inch IPS 1080p 180Hz gaming monitor, $97.99 ($12 off at Amazon) Acer Nitro 27-inch IPS QHD 180Hz gaming monitor, $199.99 ($90 off at Amazon) Acer Predator 27-inch IPS 4K 160Hz gaming monitor, $399.99 ($50 off at Amazon) LG 27-inch IPS 4K 144Hz gaming monitor, $719.99 ($680 off at LG.com, use checkout code HECA14701) Standard gaming monitor deals are less dramatic than OLED and conventional office monitors at the moment, but there are still some pretty good finds if you’re looking for speed. The Acer Predator model is great if you want 4K resolution, high refresh, and you don’t have room for a huge display, but MSI’s 24-inch IPS has a fast panel at an unbeatable price. It’s excellent for the student who wants to game on a laptop and needs a little more space for schoolwork. Prime Big Deal Days 2024 deals on office monitors Acer 27-inch IPS FHD monitor, $99.99 ($60 off at Best Buy) Dell 27-inch 4K IPS USB-C monitor, $289.99 ($80 off at Amazon) Acer 23.8-inch IPS FHD monitor, $69.99 ($60 off at eBay) LG 34-inch ultrawide IPS monitor, $199.99 ($50 off at Walmart) Dell 27-inch 1080p VA monitor, $99.99 ($20 off at Dell.com) MNN 15.6-inch USB-C portable monitor, $64.99 ($25 off at Amazon) Dell is a go-to for low-cost, high-quality monitors, and during this sale they have a variety of options. A 4K USB-C monitor is great for an office setting, especially if you’re using a laptop. Acer is offering multiple smaller monitors, good for expanding a multi-mon setup, and the LG 34-inch ultrawide makes an excellent primary office display. For boosting productivity on the go, that portable monitor is a fantastic deal. More great Prime Day 2024 deals  PCWorld covers a wide range of tech deals every Prime Day, so make sure to check out some other best deal roundups that may be of interest, and see our top picks for the best monitors of 2024 for more PCWorld insights.  Best Amazon tech deals across PCWorld’s top categories PC computer deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Laptop deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 SSD and storage deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 USB flash drive deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Thunderbolt dock and USB-C hub deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Office chairs and standing desks: Best of Prime Day 2024 Battery charger deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Chromebook deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 FAQ 1. What size of monitor should I buy? Monitor size depends on personal preference and location.  A 24-inch monitor is fine for a desk that is around 24 inches deep, or less. Its small size will still be sufficient because the monitor is closer to you. Most people, however, will want to go with a 27-inch monitor. The added size will make the monitor easy to see. This also opens up a wider range of 4K monitor options, as 4K is very rare on a 24-inch monitor. Larger monitors, such as a 32-inch widescreen or 34-inch ultrawide, are great for deep desks and people who want an immersive experience. Monitors this large can serve as a TV replacement in a small room.  Displays of even larger size, such as 42-inch or 48-inch HDTVs, are best for home theater setups or an unusually large office. You’ll want to sit four to six feet away from a display of this size. 2. What display input is best? (HDMI vs. DisplayPort vs. USB-C) USB-C is the best display input for most people. It works by bundling DisplayPort into USB-C, so offers all the same features as DisplayPort. Yet it retains the features of USB-C including optional support for Power Delivery to charge external devices. This is why we recommend a USB-C monitor for most people. DisplayPort is generally second-best. It supports higher resolutions and refresh rates than HDMI. This input is particularly common on desktop computers.  HDMI comes in third due to lower resolution and refresh rate support. This is improved by HDMI 2.1, but this feature remains hard to find and often adds to a monitor’s price. All three of the options above handle 1080p at 60Hz, which is the most common resolution and refresh rate available today. It’s also important to buy a monitor that has an input compatible with your PC. 3. Are all monitors compatible with Windows and MacOS? Modern monitors are compatible with all recent versions of Windows and MacOS. They’re plug-and-play, which means the monitor should display an image without the need to install driver software or mess with Windows or MacOS settings. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Well-built and elegant Good performance Extra custom AI program Cons Some fan noise Can get hot A bit expensive for what you get Our Verdict The HP Omnibook X makes no obvious mistakes and is a comfortable, reliable little laptop with good performance and battery life. But there are plenty of others that offer something extra and cost a little less. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today HP’s first laptop with Windows AI features Copilot Plus is called the Omnibook. It’s a new brand name — around the turn of the millennium it was used for business laptops — but after a 22-year hiatus, Omni is now being reintroduced as a name for consumer computers. It replaces the Pavilion series in particular. The 14-inch Omnibook X we tested today starts off strong. Equipped with Qualcomm’s 12-core Snapdragon X Elite, the Omnibook X is fast enough for office work and day-to-day tasks. The battery life is good as well, which isn’t all that surprising, as Snapdragon processors are known for being more power-efficient. That said, it does get hot on the underside, making it difficult to hold in your lap. Despite a few nitpicks, this laptop generally leaves a favorable impression. Read on to learn more. Further reading: Best laptops 2024: Premium, budget, gaming, 2-in-1s, and more Mattias Inghe Mattias Inghe Mattias Inghe HP Omnibook X: Fast enough It’s still going fast, though. These new Snapdragon-based laptops are on par or better than Intel Core Ultra and AMD’s latest low-power Ryzen processors for laptops, or the Apple M3 in a Macbook Air. The graphics circuitry isn’t as sharp as what’s in those three, but this isn’t a gaming PC, so it does what’s expected of it with no problem. And above all, it’s the powerful NPU part you want, 45 tops neural performance for AI operations. It provides both faster processing in many creative applications and enables new features such as localized AI for both language models and image generation. It’s also more energy efficient than before. I’d like to see more applications that can utilize it and that’ll come eventually. At the moment, Copilot Plus itself isn’t revolutionary, but with image generation, live captioning of both streamed film and video meetings, webcam effects, and the upcoming Recall feature, it’s well on its way. HP Omnibook X: AI assistant HP has its own AI Companion pre-installed. It’s a digital assistant that can summarize texts, search for information and create text-based content, as well as catalogue documents and make them smartly indexed for searches. It works well and is useful, but I don’t know if the chat function itself does much more than what I can already do with Copilot. Mattias Inghe Mattias Inghe Mattias Inghe Windows 11 for ARM works fine, as far as the occasional USB accessory whose drivers and support software are not compatible, so be prepared for that if you want to buy a webcam or USB microphone, for example. The built-in 1440p webcam looks good enough that the need for it is minimal, and the voice recording with microphone also gets a pass. Of previous HP laptops, the Omnibook X is most like a Pavilion, with good build quality but not so much luxury detail. Its dark grey aluminum surfaces give a sober impression, and with a tapered design to the sides and rounded edges, it’s comfortable to grip. The narrow edges leave the computer’s single USB-A port with a door that needs to be opened. It feels a bit unnecessary just to make it look nice. More ports in general would have been nice. Now you get two USB-C and one USB-A and one for headphones. The USB-C ports are fast, with USB 4 speed, and both support screen output. Wireless connectivity is best with Wi-Fi 6e. Good enough, but Wi-Fi 7 would have been preferable. HP Omnibook X: Colorful but dim The screen, a glassy IPS panel with 1400p resolution, has a touch function that allows you to use the active stylus pen on it. However, none is included. The screen has good colors, well above SRGB in color gamut and high accuracy. Unfortunately, the brightness is lower than other competitors in its class, so there may be problems with sunlight when used outdoors. It also means HDR mode isn’t an option, and there’s no support for it. But for indoor office work, it’s very comfortable to rest your eyes on. Mattias Inghe Mattias Inghe Mattias Inghe The built-in speakers get a pass, but there’s a lack of warmth in the tone so it’s not fully enjoyable to play music on them, but I’m also really picky. As with all Snapgdragon X laptops, battery life is impressive, but with a 59 Wh battery, it’s a little behind the best I’ve tested. With moderate mixed use over the course of a working day, the Omnibook was able to cope fine, so it’s definitely not under-performing. The new Snapdragon computers are impressive in many ways, and Windows is finally ready to run on ARM for most users. The question is whether the HP Omnibook X is a good choice in a wide range of good competitors. It’s hard to really see why, although it’s mostly high quality on offer. With a price a couple of thousand higher than several equivalent competitors, it’s not possible to put top marks. HP Omnibook X: Specifications Product Name: HP Omnibook X 14-fe0845noTested: September 2024Manufacturer: HPProcessor: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100, 12pcs Oryon 3.42 GHzGraphics: Adreno X1-85 1250 MHzNPU: Hexagon, 45 topsMemory: 16 GB lpddr5xStorage: 1 TB SSDDisplay: 14 inch glossy IPS, 2240×1400 pixels, 60 Hz, multi-touchWebcam: 1440p with irConnections: USB C-4, USB C-3 Gen 2 with DisplayPort, USB-A 3 Gen 1, headsetWireless: Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3Operating system: Windows 11 HomeOther: Backlit keyboard, face recognitionNoise level: 0-36 dBaBattery: 59 Wh, 3h 20 min (high load, full brightness) to about 21 h (low load, low brightness)Size: 31.3 x 22.4 x 1.44 cmWeight: 2.95 pounds Rating: 4 out of 5 Performance Cinebench 2024, CPU all cores: 788 pointsCinebench 2024, CPU single core: 108 pointsGeekbench 6, CPU all cores: 14,489 pointsGeekbench 6, CPU single core: 2,462 pointsGeekbench 6, GPU: 23,900 pointsGeekbench AI 1, NPU (Quantized): 21,890 pointsDisk, read: 4,070, 14 MB/sDisk, write: 2,942, 43 MB/s Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Windows and Android in one device A better “2-in-1” experience than the average 2-in-1 Decent PC performance with good build quality cons Expensive Attaching the screen feels a little clunky Very few ports A separate Windows laptop and Android tablet may be more convenient Our Verdict This machine combines a Windows laptop and Android tablet. It’s expensive, but there’s nothing else like it. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid Retailer Price Lenovo $3518 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid (Station & Tab) is truly a 2-in-1 laptop, combining a 14-inch Windows laptop and an Android tablet in one unusually interesting form factor. You can detach this laptop’s screen and use it as an Android tablet. Or you can press a button on the keyboard to instantly swap between Windows laptop and Android laptop modes. Yes, this really is two computers in one. You can even plug the base of the laptop (aka the Station) into an external monitor and use it separately from the screen while the screen (aka the Tab) functions as an independent Android tablet. Plus, Lenovo includes a stylus and an easel stand for this machine. There’s a lot going on here. I’m happy this machine exists – it feels like the type of product I’d see at a tech show like CES or IFA, where the hardware manufacturer would say it’s an experimental device that isn’t planned for a real release. But this is a real machine that Lenovo is selling today and that’s awesome, even if the $3,500 price point will be more than many people will want to spend. Further reading: Best laptops 2024: Premium, budget, gaming, 2-in-1s, and more Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid: Specs The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid includes an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU. This is one of Intel’s Meteor Lake CPUs. With Lunar Lake on the horizon, it’s important to note that this machine doesn’t have a fast enough NPU to get Copilot+ PC features, if that’s important to you. Lunar Lake-powered systems will also likely have much better battery life and performance – if you believe Intel’s promises. (We haven’t had a chance to benchmark them yet). You’re also getting 32GB of RAM along with Intel Arc graphics. It’s a reasonable setup, although people who want more powerful discrete graphics for gaming or content creation work will need to look elsewhere. I’ve included the specs of the base station – the Intel Windows PC — in the below list. The ThinkBook Plus G5 Tab has its own hardware: A Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, Qualcomm Adreno GPU, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. It also has its own 38.7 Watt-hour battery. CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H Memory: 32GB LPDDRX5 RAM Graphics/GPU: Intel Arc graphics Display: 2880×1800 OLED display with 60Hz refresh rate Storage: 1 TB SSD Webcam: 1080p webcam with physical shutter switch on the front, 13MP autofocus camera on the back Connectivity: 2x USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 4 / USB4), 1x combo audio jack Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 Biometrics: IR camera for facial recognition, fingerprint reader (in the power button) Battery capacity: 75 Watt-hours for Station, 38.7 Watt-hours for Tab Dimensions: 0.63 x 12.3 x 9.2 inches combined (0.37 x 12.3 x 9.2 inches for Station and 0.26 x 12.3 x 8.8 inches for Tab) Weight: 3.87 pounds combined (2.14 pounds for Station and 1.73 pounds for Tab) MSRP: $3,518 as tested The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid is a very cool machine. I’m glad Lenovo is creating interesting and unique experiences like this one and bringing them to market. Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid: Design and build quality IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid has a smart design. It’s incredibly solid, made out of silver and gray aluminum with a very dense feeling. At 3.87 pounds, it’s heavier than the average “thin-and-light” 14-inch laptop. That’s no surprise, as this machine includes two separate computers. There’s much more weight in the screen than there is in an average laptop – that has to be the case, as the screen can function as an Android tablet when detached from the device. I’m a big fan of the design overall. The average 2-in-1 laptop simply has a hinge that can rotate 360 degrees. So sure, you can rotate it back, but then you’re using an incredibly heavy tablet and you feel the keyboard’s keys on the back of the tablet. With this machine, you just pop the display off: Rotate the screen so that it’s at a 90-degree angle relative to the keyboard, and then pull the screen up and away from the base station. The mechanism that attaches the screen to the base station of the laptop is incredibly solid, and the hinge works smoothly while it’s attached. The weight of the screen isn’t a problem for the hinge. This is a more solid hinge than you’ll find on the average laptop. IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman Still, there’s a problem I have to highlight: The display-attaching process doesn’t quite feel like I think it should. When I received the laptop, I attached the screen to the base station by snapping it into place. The screen didn’t stay fully closed. Lenovo informed me that this was because the display wasn’t securely attached to the base station. To attach the display to the base station, I had to press down much harder than I expected until it snapped into place. The mechanism did seem to break in over time, becoming easier to attach — and with less force — than it was the first time I used it. But, weeks later on my review unit, I still had to press down separately on the right side of the screen and then on the left side to make each side snap securely into place. It’s not a huge problem once I got a feel for how to attach it, but ideally it would work more smoothly. That being said, I still prefer this detachable screen to a 2-in-1 experience that requires your fingers are resting on a keyboard on the back of a screen. Unlike other 2-in-1 machines like Microsoft’s Surface Pro, you’re also getting a full Android environment when the screen is detached. That’s a big deal – while I love Windows, we all know that Android is a more touch-optimized environment that has more touch-first tablet applications. The main issue with using this machine as an Android tablet is the screen size. That 14-inch 16:10 screen is great in laptop mode. However, in tablet mode, it’s unusually large and perhaps a little unwieldy. Lenovo also includes an easel-style stand for this machine along with an active pen, however. That’s a hint that this machine is more designed for content creation, even in tablet mode. Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid: How does the Android integration work? IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman You can detach the ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid’s screen to have it function as an Android tablet. (You can’t use the screen as a separate Windows tablet, though: The Windows PC hardware is in the base of the laptop while the Android hardware is in the display). You can also use this machine as an Android laptop. The keyboard has a special function key where the Insert key is. Marked by a sticker that comes on the laptop, this key will swap between Windows mode and Android mode. It takes one or two seconds to swap between environments, like if you were flipping an internal KVM switch to switch between devices. I’ve never used a laptop that ran two operating systems at once and let me switch between them at the press of a key. It’s a neat idea. Lenovo also bundles software that lets you access the Android environment in a window on your Windows desktop. You’re able to run Android software in a window without emulation – it’s running right on the hardware in the display part of the machine. A Hybrid Center application included with the PC provides one place to set things up and learn how to use these hybrid features. The Windows PC and Android system have separate storage. To ease file transfers, Lenovo bundles Hybrid Folder software. Once you pair the Windows and Android sides of the laptop, changes you make to this folder – including files you add and remove – will by synced to the other machine. It can even sync wirelessly if the Gen 5 Hybrid’s screen is removed. It works pretty well, but it’s once again a reminder that this Hybrid machine is two separate computers: A Station and a Tab. For example, if you’re connecting to a Wi-Fi network, you’ll need to enter the network’s passphrase in both Windows and Android to use it in each environment. Settings like this don’t sync between each system. Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid: Keyboard and trackpad IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman The full-size keyboard on the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid works well, both in Windows laptop mode and Android laptop mode. It’s a high-quality keyboard. I feel like I’ve used snappier laptop keyboards with crisper key action, but I had no problem sitting down at the laptop and accurately typing at a high speed. This machine’s trackpad also works well. It’s plenty large, the click action feels pleasantly clicky, and the surface is smooth to the touch. Palm rejection worked well while I was typing. It’s not quite as nice as new haptic touchpads found on machines like Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 7, but those aren’t widespread yet. Lenovo also includes a pen with this package. It works in both Android and Windows, and it can attach magnetically to the lid of the laptop. Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid: Display and speakers IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid has a 14-inch 2880×1800 OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate. Naturally, this is a touch screen and the touch screen functions in both Windows and Android modes. The screen looks beautiful, which is no surprise for a 2.8K OLED display. However, some displays do have higher refresh rates than 60Hz. Though it’s a glossy display, it had enough brightness to work well outside on a sunny day. The Station and Tab have separate speaker systems here. In laptop mode, you’re getting the best speaker setup — no surprise there. This machine can output a surprising amount of volume while the audio remains clear, and it has decent bass for a 14-inch laptop, too. Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid: Webcam, microphone, biometrics The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid has a 1080p webcam integrated into the Tab portion – the screen, in other words. It’s a solid webcam that produces a good picture. You also get access to the AI-powered Windows Studio Effects for features like background blur and faked eye contact in any application. There’s also a physical shutter switch above the webcam that blocks the webcam, which is always a nice privacy feature. This machine also has a dual-camera array on the back, just like a smartphone would. It’s a 13MP auto-focusing camera along with a 5MP wide camera with a flash. This feature doesn’t just work in Android – it’s also accessible in apps like the Camera app on Windows. It probably won’t replace your smartphone camera – modern high-end smartphones have cameras with more megapixels. But it’s nice to have and it’s the kind of feature included with tablets. The microphone sounds good and picked up my voice well even in an environment with a good amount of background noise. Between that and the webcam, this is a great machine for online meetings. The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid includes both an IR camera for facial recognition and a fingerprint reader. The fingerprint reader is part of the power button at the right side of the laptop. Both worked well — and the machine also offers facial recognition for signing into the Android tablet environment. Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid: Connectivity IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman The connectivity options on the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid are somewhat minimal. You’re getting two USB Type-C ports – one on the left, and one on the right. You’ll use one of these ports to charge the laptop. You’re also getting a combo audio jack port on the left. That’s it. When the screen is detached from the base station and functioning as an Android tablet, you’ll get one USB Type-C port on the screen. This provides a way to charge the tablet and connect devices to it even while it’s not connected to the base station. There’s no way around it: Many people are going to want additional ports on a $3,500 laptop, including USB Type-A ports, microSD card slots, HDMI out ports, or even just more USB Type-C ports. This machine includes Wi-Fi 6E hardware, and it worked well. Wi-Fi 7 would be nice to see – especially at this price point – and it should be standard on future laptops that move beyond Intel’s Meteor Lake hardware. Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid: Performance While the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid may include Android hardware, the PC hardware in the Station is no slouch. The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid performed well in day-to-day Windows PC productivity applications. We’d be shocked if it didn’t thanks to its capable Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, 32GB of RAM, and high-end-for-integrated-graphics Intel Arc graphics. As always, though we ran the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid through our standard benchmarks to see how it performs. Note that we focused on benchmarking the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid as a Windows laptop. IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman First, we run PCMark 10 to get an idea of overall system performance. In this benchmark, the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid delivered a very respectable score of 7,398 and beat out other Intel Core Ultra 7 155H-powered systems. IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman Next, we run Cinebench R20. This is a heavily multithreaded benchmark that focuses on overall CPU performance. It’s a quick benchmark, so cooling under extended workloads isn’t a factor. But, since it’s heavily multithreaded, CPUs with more cores have a huge advantage. With an average score of 5,181, the Gen 5 Hybrid falls behind some similar laptops here, including the HP Omen Transcend 14 gaming laptop, which is also a 14-inch laptop and has a similar CPU. IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman We also run an encode with Handbrake. This is another heavily multithreaded benchmark, but it runs over an extended period. This demands the laptop’s cooling kick in, and many laptops will throttle and slow down under load. The ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid completed the encode process in 1,707 seconds, which is about 28 and a half minutes. That’s a rather low score compared to other laptops with the same CPU and suggests thermal throttling under load here. This machine likely isn’t the ideal workhorse system if you’re performing CPU-heavy tasks and need sustained high CPU performance. (On the other hand, the PCMark 10 score suggests it’s better than similar systems for general desktop productivity performance). IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman Next, we run a graphical benchmark. This isn’t a gaming laptop, but it’s still good to check how the GPU performs. We run 3Dmark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU performance. With a score of 3,916, this machine falls behind because of its Intel Arc graphics. The chart here shows how much more performance you can expect if you go for discrete Nvidia graphics in a laptop. However, unless you’re playing games on this laptop or using professional applications that need a GPU, you won’t notice a difference and the Intel Arc graphics will do the job well. Overall, the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid delivers fine overall application performance on par with many other Intel Meteor Lake-powered laptops. It’s not the ideal gaming laptop thanks to its CPU. And, due to the thermal throttling, it’s not the ideal system for people who need to perform demanding CPU-heavy tasks for long periods of time. But the day-to-day desktop application performance is very solid, as the PCMark 10 score highlights. Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid: Battery life The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid includes a 75 Watt-hour battery. In day-to-day desktop use, it delivered similar battery life to many other Intel Core Ultra 7 155H laptops I’ve used. Battery life was reasonable — although, like most Intel Meteor Lake-powered PCs I’ve used, it didn’t quite deliver “all-day battery life” when using basic productivity applications like Microsoft Word, OneNote, Slack, and Google Chrome. IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman To benchmark the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Steel on repeat in the Movies & TV app on Windows 11 with airplane mode enabled until the laptop suspends itself. We set the screen to 250 nits of brightness for our battery benchmarks. This is a best-case scenario for any laptop since local video playback is so efficient, and real battery life in day-to-day use is always going to be less than this. Also, this machine has an advantage in this benchmark because it has an OLED display, which means it uses less power to display the black bars beside the video during playback. The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid lasted for an average of 806 minutes in our battery life benchmark. That’s nearly 13 and a half hours. Of course, you won’t get that much battery life in real use. It’s worth noting that Lenovo says you’ll get better battery life when using the laptop as an Android laptop instead of a Windows laptop. So, when the battery is getting low, you could switch to an Android experience to prolong your usage. Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid: Conclusion The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid is a very cool machine. I’m glad Lenovo is creating interesting and unique experiences like this one and bringing them to market. (I was also impressed by the dual-screen Lenovo Yoga Book 9i laptop, which I reviewed earlier this year). The elephant in the room is the price. $3,518 is a lot of money for a laptop. For that much money, you could get both a capable Windows laptop and a high-quality Android tablet. You could use both devices at once. In fact, you’d probably spend less than $3,518 on that dual-device setup – even if you splurged. Many people looking at a machine like this one may prefer a 2-in-1 that runs Windows in both modes, like Microsoft’s Surface Pro. Other people may want a separate Windows laptop and Android tablet. Or, if you just want a laptop that runs Android apps, you may want to get a Chromebook. I wish the mechanism for attaching the display worked more smoothly and didn’t feel so clunky to use. But I got used to it, and some people are going to love this machine. There’s nothing else like this on the market. If you want a two-in-one Windows and Android experience like this one, there’s no substitute. Read...

Amazon’s October Prime Day sales event is right around the corner, but there are already tons of great deals on desktop PCs. This year, Prime Big Deals Day will be held on October 8, and includes solid discounts on everything from gaming PCs to all-in-ones to traditional desktop computers. I’ve built multiple PCs from scratch, and at PCWorld I’ve used my desktop knowledge to curate a list of the best available computer deals for several years. You can have confidence that these are the best computer deals during Amazon’s Prime Big Deals Day. Be sure to check out our Prime Big Deal Days 2024 hub for more great sales across all the tech categories. First published September 24, 2024. Last updated September 24, 2024. Best early Prime Big Deals Day deals on PC gaming computers Skytech Chronos, Core i5-12400F/RTX 4060/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $899.99 (14% off on Amazon) ASUS ROG Strix G10DK, Ryzen 7 5700G/RTX 3060/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/1TB HDD, $699.00 (10% off on Amazon) HP Omen 45L, Core i7-14700K/RTX 4070 Super/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,599.00 (26% off on Amazon) MSI Codex R, Core i5-13400F/RTX 4060/32GB RAM/2TB SSD, $1,079.00 (17% off on Amazon) Skytech Gaming Prism II, Ryzen 7 5800X/RTX 3080 Ti/ 16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,699.99 (32% off on Amazon) Corsair Vengeance a7300, Ryzen 7 7800X3D/RTX 4080 Super/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $2,999.99 (9% off on Amazon) Acer Nitro 70, Ryzen 9 7900/RTX 4070/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,499.99 (25% off on Amazon) The Skytech Chronos for $150 off is a killer budget gaming PC deal. You can expect excellent 1080p or even solid 1440p frame rates thanks to its Core i5-12400F CPU and the latest-gen RTX 4060 GPU. If you’re on the hunt for something that’s even more budget friendly, look no further than the ASUS ROG Strix G10DK for $81 off on Amazon. Sporting a Ryzen 7 5700G CPU and RTX 3060 GPU, it is the cheapest you’re likely to find in a gaming PC capable of handling ray-tracing. Best early Prime Big Deals Day deals on mainstream productivity computers Minisforum Venus UM773, Ryzen 7 7735HS/32GB RAM/1TB HDD, $415.99 (23% off on Amazon) Dell Inspiron 3020, Core i7-13700/16GB RAM/1TB SSD/1TB HDD, $868.99 (13% off on Amazon) Acer Aspire Desktop, Core i5-13400, 8GB RAM/512GB SSD, $479.99 (13% off on Amazon) Mac Mini 2023, M2/8GB RAM/256GB SSD, $499.00 (17% off on Amazon) Mini-PCs are all the rage and the absolutely loaded Minisforum Venus UM773 is on sale for $124 off on Amazon. This Minisforum is stacked with performance features including a Ryzen 7 7735HS CPU, 32GB of RAM, and a generous 1TB of SSD storage. Mac fans can also find good deals leading up to Prime Day, with Amazon offering the 2023 M2 Mac Mini for $100 off on its website. The M2 is still a solid CPU and considering that, if rumors are true, the M4 Mac Mini isn’t set to be released until later this year, it’s the perfect time to buy an older version model at a discount—you’ll still get a great mini desktop without the exorbitant price of a new-gen Apple product. Best early Prime Big Deals Day deals on all-in-one computers HP AiO 22, Intel Celeron J4025/32GB RAM/1TB SSD/21.5-inch 1080p display, $549.00 (18% off on Amazon) HP AiO 22, Intel Celeron J4025/8GB RAM/256GB SSD/21.5-inch 1080p display, $391.80 (35% off on Amazon) Dell Inspiron 5430, Core 3-100U/8GB RAM/512GB SSD/23.8-inch 1080 display, $499.99 (29% off on Amazon) Amazon is offering two great deals on HP’s latest AiO desktop model. The first is $120 off and comes with an Intel Celeron J4025 CPU and a powerful 32GB of RAM. The second is even more budget friendly at $208 off and also comes with the same CPU, but only 8GB of RAM and much less onboard storage. While both would be solid all-in-one computers, I’d recommend opting for the more powerful option if you can swing it, as you’ll get a noticeable performance boost for not too much more money. More great Prime Big Deals Day 2024 tech deals PCWorld has searched for great deals across all the major PC tech categories, so check out some other Prime Big Deals Day roundups: Best Amazon tech deals across PCWorld’s top categories Laptop deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Monitor deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 SSD and storage deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 USB flash drive deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Thunderbolt dock and USB-C hub deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Office chairs and standing desks: Best of Prime Day 2024 Battery charger deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Chromebook deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 PC deals FAQ 1. What type of desktop should I get? You’ll see a ton of options when searching for a desktop computer, but they all mainly fit into four main categories: gaming PCs, productivity PCs (towers or mini PCs), and all-in-ones (AiO). Which you should end up buying is entirely dependent upon what your needs are and what you want to do with your computer. If you’re looking for something that will work in a home office or family room, then a productivity PC or AiO with a solid CPU and a decent amount of RAM and storage is probably the way to go. If gaming is your main concern, a gaming desktop PC can offer a lot more bang for your buck than a laptop and you should focus on getting the best GPU possible. Or if you just want something that can fit anywhere and provide basic computing then a mini PC is a good bet. 2. How much processing power will I need? If you’re after CPU power, look for processors with higher numerical labels. A Core i7 is more suited to gaming and more intense work than everyday tasks. Intel processors are available in Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9. Typically, the higher the number, the more powerful the CPU. If you don’t need a ton of power, Intel Core i5 processors are your best bet, as they offer good performance at a decent price. You can get along just fine with a Core i3 for basic office and web browsing. As for AMD options, the Ryzen 3 is good for basic productivity and web browsing, while Ryzen 5 chips rival Intel’s Core i5 as solid all-arounders. If you need more power, the Ryzen 7 chip is well suited for content creation like video editing. Finally, if you’re dealing with 4K video, spring for a Ryzen 9. 3. What GPU should I get? If you don’t intend to do any gaming on your computer, then feel free to save some money by going with integrated graphics. However, if you are looking to get your game on, then we recommend at least an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 or RTX 4060 as these are the least expensive discrete graphics cards that can handle 1080p gaming on High graphics settings in most games. Thankfully, the latest-gen GPUs have dropped significantly in price in pre-built systems so opt for those if you have the money and want a performance boost. But if you’re on a tight budget, then opting for a rig with a previous-generation card can allow you to save some money while still providing decent graphics quality. 4. What about memory? As for RAM, nowadays I think it’s best to shoot for 16GB at the minimum for all systems. If you’re on a budget or just need a basic browsing machine then 8GB can suffice. Those looking to do heavy content creation such as video editing should aim for 32GB. 5. What is a good amount of storage? Storage size is dependent upon your personal needs, but it is generally a good idea to opt for an SSD over a standard HDD as they are much faster and don’t significantly affect the price of a desktop. Before deciding, it’s best to consider what your intended use of the computer will be. Are you just storing documents or doing web browsing? Then something like 512GB will be plenty. If you want to load up a lot of large files such as games or content creation projects, then you’ll need at least 1TB to 2TB of storage. However, just remember that even if your computer doesn’t have enough storage built-in you can always upgrade your SSD or go with an external drive to increase your available storage options. Read...

Microsoft has invested heavily in increasing the security of Windows. The firewall, the automatically activated antivirus program, various security functions for protection against boot viruses and much more help to ensure that hackers and malware cannot simply hijack a Windows PC. However, there is more to this than the standard configuration. For example, various functions that pose a security risk under certain circumstances can be deactivated. get windows 11 pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro You can also use the group policies in Windows to make it impossible for a user to change the operating system settings. In technical jargon, this is known as hardening the software. However, this requires in-depth knowledge of Windows and its structure. This is because the relevant switches and settings are located in different places, their function is not clear at first glance, and in some cases they can only be configured via text entries on the command line. However, there are some tools that can save you the tedious search for the advanced security settings. They offer you a security configuration that you can simply click together with the mouse. In this article, we present a selection of them. Before using one of the tools described, it is best to set a system restore point that can undo changes. Before using one of the tools described, it is best to set a system restore point that can undo changes. Foundry Before using one of the tools described, it is best to set a system restore point that can undo changes. Foundry Foundry Caution: Some of these programs have a deep impact on the operating system. To be on the safe side, you should therefore set a system restore point before using these tools. To do this, open the Windows Control Panel and go to “Restore” in the icon view. Click on “Configure System Restore” and make sure that the “System Protection” tab is open. Select the Windows drive, click “Create,” enter a name and the current date and click “Create” again. If there are problems later, you can reconstruct the old state in the “System protection” tab via “System restore.” Hardentools: Switch off Windows functions The Hardentools essentially consist of a list of Windows tweaks and options that you can use to make the operating system more secure. The Hardentools essentially consist of a list of Windows tweaks and options that you can use to make the operating system more secure. IDG The Hardentools essentially consist of a list of Windows tweaks and options that you can use to make the operating system more secure. IDG IDG Hardentools is an open-source program that disables a range of Windows, Office, and Adobe functions. It’s easy to use: After installation, the software recommends starting with administrator rights and then asks you to enter your Windows password. If you tick “Show Expert Settings” on the start screen, the list of changes made by Hardentools appears. You can also prevent individual security settings there. Otherwise, the software deactivates the execution of Powershell, the Windows Script Host, the programs in Windows Autostart and Office macros by default and ensures that the file extensions are displayed in Explorer. Further reading: The best antivirus software 2024 It sets the Windows user account control to the highest level and only allows access after entering the Windows password. It also activates protection against Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUA), i.e. probably unwanted programs. After calling up the program again, you can undo the changes you have made using “Restore.” Riot Isolator: Prevent hacker activities Riot Isolator blocks a number of Windows functions that are often used by criminal hackers for their attacks. Riot Isolator blocks a number of Windows functions that are often used by criminal hackers for their attacks. Major Geeks Riot Isolator blocks a number of Windows functions that are often used by criminal hackers for their attacks. Major Geeks Major Geeks The Riot Isolator combines a range of functions with which you can prevent the execution of known hacker techniques. For example, the program includes a tool called “Anti-Screen Capture,” which turns every screenshot into a black area. The “Anti-Keylogger” and “Anti-Web Camera” functions prevent the recording of keystrokes and webcam images. The “Anti-Exploit” module ensures that Windows displays the real file types. According to the manufacturer, it also recognizes the execution of processes in RAM and via the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) and blocks them. A “removable disc protection” blocks access to USB sticks and drives. After that, things get more martial: A “drive destroyer” deletes the hard disk and SSD drives on request, while a “RAM destroyer” does the same with the contents of the RAM. The Riot Isolator can also wipe individual files from the hard drive without leaving any residue. The “recycle bin cleaner” is more harmless. The functions of Riot Isolator are partially identical to those of anti-virus tools. Otherwise, the software is a good addition to these programs. Ultra Virus Killer: Immunize Windows Ultra Virus Killer is just called that. In fact, the tool is a collection of auxiliary tools for Windows maintenance. Ultra Virus Killer is just called that. In fact, the tool is a collection of auxiliary tools for Windows maintenance. IDG Ultra Virus Killer is just called that. In fact, the tool is a collection of auxiliary tools for Windows maintenance. IDG IDG The name of this software is misleading. The Ultra Virus Killer does not even have an antivirus module, but is only able to automatically upload files to the Google service Virustotal and have them scanned there. Otherwise, the software harbors numerous Windows maintenance functions under its surface. These include an autostart and service manager, a collection of Windows tweaks, and a module for deleting files and folders. Of interest in the context of this article is “System Immunization,” with which you can protect selected files, drivers, browser components and registry entries from changes. This should make it much more difficult for malware to nest in your Windows system. This is linked to functions for backing up and restoring the registry database. Ultra Virus Killer’s “System Immunization” allows you to protect the hosts file from editing, among other things. Ultra Virus Killer’s “System Immunization” allows you to protect the hosts file from editing, among other things. IDG Ultra Virus Killer’s “System Immunization” allows you to protect the hosts file from editing, among other things. IDG IDG OS Armor: Block system functions The OS Armor program is very similar to the Windows group policy editor. It provides a list of dozens of options that you could also define via Group Policy, but which are much easier to configure here. For example, you can block the execution of a number of applications that work close to the system. These include the system configuration msconfig, the Ps tools from the Sysinternals Suite, the Windows terminal, the registry editor, but also third-party programs such as Teamviewer or the Nirsoft tools. Even access to individual command line commands such as netsh.exe or diskpart.exe can be switched off. OS Armor offers a simply designed interface, on which the program’s “Configurator” is essentially of interest. OS Armor offers a simply designed interface, on which the program’s “Configurator” is essentially of interest. IDG OS Armor offers a simply designed interface, on which the program’s “Configurator” is essentially of interest. IDG IDG OS Armor opens with a standard configuration that offers basic protection against manipulation by malware or other persons. The program sounds an alarm if such attempts are made. You can set up password protection in OS Armor so that nobody but you can change the settings. Winoptimizer Free: Lock Windows functions Winoptimizer from Ashampoo is a powerful program for tidying up Windows and making the operating system faster and more secure. It also includes a module that allows you to block individual security-relevant functions in the hardware, Explorer, and Control Panel. Further reading: 6 ways hackers sidestep your two-factor authentication You can find this module under “All modules – Restrict user rights.” There, in the “Hardware” section, you can, for example, deactivate the Windows CD burning function and access to other workgroup computers. Under “Explorer,” you can switch off access to the “File” menu and the “Manage” option in the context menu of the My Computer icon. In “Control Panel,” the Winoptimizer offers a block on changes to the desktop functionality, under “Applications” you can prevent the Windows Task Manager and other freely definable third-party applications from being called. At the bottom of the window, you can set whether the restrictions should only apply to the logged-in user or to all users. A restart is required for the changes to take effect. Hard Configurator: Block dangerous actions OS Armor’s “Configurator” contains a long list of tweaks and options with which you can protect the components of Windows from changes and attacks. OS Armor’s “Configurator” contains a long list of tweaks and options with which you can protect the components of Windows from changes and attacks. IDG OS Armor’s “Configurator” contains a long list of tweaks and options with which you can protect the components of Windows from changes and attacks. IDG IDG You only understand how the Hard Configurator works at second glance. The small tool works with an unconventional interface that only gradually reveals itself. The two wide columns in the center are important as they list the available functions. To the left and right of this you can see the current setting. There you can, for example, block Powershell scripts or access to certain file types. Use “Apply Changes” to transfer your configuration to Windows. Use the “ConfigureDefender” and “FirewallHardening” buttons to start modules for configuring Windows Defender and the firewall. Click on “Tools” to access additional functions for logging events in Windows, restoring the default configuration, and uninstalling Hard Configurator. Read...

CPUs and GPUs are old news. These days, the cutting edge is all about NPUs, and hardware manufacturers are talking up NPU performance. The NPU is a computer component designed to accelerate AI tasks in a power-efficient manner, paving the way for new Windows desktop applications with powerful AI features. That’s the plan, anyway. All PCs will eventually have NPUs, but at the moment only some PCs have them. Here’s everything you need to know about NPUs and why they’re such a hot topic in the computer industry right now. What is an NPU? NPU stands for neural processing unit. It’s a special kind of processor that’s optimized for AI and machine learning tasks. The name comes from the fact that AI models use neural networks. A neural network is, in layman’s terms, a vast mesh of interconnected nodes that pass information between them. (The whole idea was modeled after the way our own human brains work.) Related: How neural networks are finally maturing An NPU isn’t a separate device that you buy and plug in (as you would with a GPU, for example). Instead, an NPU is “packaged” as part of a modern processor platform — like Intel’s Core Ultra, AMD’s Ryzen AI, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus. These platforms have a CPU along with an integrated GPU and NPU. NPU vs. CPU vs. GPU: What’s the difference? Explained For many years now, computers have been running tasks on either the central processing unit (CPU) or graphics processing unit (GPU.) That’s still how it works on AI PCs (i.e., computers with NPUs). The CPU runs most of the tasks on the computer. But the GPU, despite its name, isn’t just for graphics and gaming tasks. The GPU is actually just optimized for a different type of computing task, which is why GPUs have been critical for non-gaming endeavors like mining cryptocurrency and running local AI models with high performance. In fact, GPUs are very good at such AI tasks — but GPUs are awfully power-hungry. That’s where NPUs come into play. An NPU is faster than a CPU at computing AI tasks, but not as fast when compared to a GPU. The trade-off is that an NPU uses far less power than a GPU when computing those same AI tasks. Plus, while the NPU handles AI-related tasks, the CPU and GPU are both freed up to handle their own respective tasks, boosting overall system performance. Why use an NPU instead of a CPU or GPU? If you’re running AI image generation software like Stable Diffusion (or some other AI model) on your PC’s hardware and you need maximum performance, a GPU is going to be your best bet. That’s why Nvidia advertises its GPUs as “premium AI” hardware over NPUs. But there are times when you want to run AI features that might be too taxing for a regular CPU but don’t necessarily need the top-tier power of a GPU. Or maybe you’re on a laptop and you want to take advantage of AI features but don’t want the GPU to drain your battery down. With an NPU, a laptop can perform local (on-device) AI tasks without producing a lot of heat and without expending inordinate battery life — and it can perform those AI tasks without taking up CPU and GPU resources from whatever else your PC might be doing. And even if you aren’t interested in AI per se, you can still take advantage of NPUs for other uses. At CES 2024, HP showed off game-streaming software that uses the NPU for video-streaming tasks, freeing up the GPU to run the game itself. By using the NPU’s extra computing power, the streaming software doesn’t take up any GPU resources… and it’s much faster than using the CPU for the same type of task. But what can Windows PC software do with an NPU, really? With an AI PC, the NPU can be used by both the operating system and the apps that reside on the system. For example, if you have laptop with Intel Meteor Lake hardware, the built-in NPU will let you run Windows Studio Effects, which are AI-powered webcam effects that provide features like background blur and forced eye contact in any application that uses your webcam. Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs — the first wave of which are powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips — have their own AI-powered features that use the NPUs built into that platform. For example, the Windows Recall feature that Microsoft delayed will require an NPU. Related: What is a Copilot+ PC? Explained In November 2024, AMD and Intel PCs will get access to those same Copilot+ PC features that were previously exclusive to Qualcomm PCs, but only AMD and Intel PCs that have the new AMD Ryzen AI 300 series and Intel Core Ultra Series 2 (Lunar Lake) processors. And those are just the features built into Windows; app developers will also be able to use the NPU in a variety of ways. Don’t be surprised to see plug-ins for Audacity and GIMP that offer AI-powered audio and photo editing that’s powered by a computer’s NPU. The possibilities are endless, but it’s still early days for the hardware so it’ll be a while before its full potential is realized. Why do I need an NPU if my PC can already run AI software? Most current applications that have AI features — including Microsoft’s Copilot chatbot — don’t utilize an NPU yet. Instead, they run their AI models on faraway cloud servers. That’s why you can run things like Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Adobe Firefly, and other AI solutions on any device, whether an old Windows PC, a Chromebook, a Mac, an Android phone, or something else. Adobe Adobe Adobe But it’s expensive for those services to run their AI models on the cloud. Microsoft spends a lot of money churning through Copilot AI tasks in data centers, for example. Companies would love to offload those AI tasks to your local PC and reduce their own cloud computing expenses. Of course, it’s not just about cost savings. You also benefit from the ability to run computationally heavy AI tasks on your local device. For example, those AI features will still work even when you’re offline, and you can keep your data private instead of uploading it all to cloud servers all the time. (That’s a big deal for companies, too, who want to maintain control over their own business data for privacy and security reasons.) Which NPUs are available and how powerful are they? Intel Intel Intel NPU performance is measured in TOPS, which stands for trillion operations per second. To give you a sense of what that means, a low-end NPU might only be able to handle 10 TOPS whereas PCs that qualify for Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC branding must handle at least 40 TOPS. As of fall 2024, the following NPUs are available: Intel Core Ultra Series 1 (Meteor Lake): Intel’s first-generation Core Ultra NPU can deliver up to 11 TOPS. It’s too slow for Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC features, but it does work with Windows Studio Effects and some third-party applications. Intel Core Ultra Series 2 (Lunar Lake): Intel’s Lunar Lake chips will include an NPU with up to 48 TOPS of performance, exceeding Copilot+ PC requirements. AMD Ryzen Pro 7000 and 8000 Series: AMD first delivered NPUs on PCs before Intel did, but the NPUs in Ryzen 7000 series processors are too slow for Copilot+ PC features, with up to 12 and 16 TOPS of performance. AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series: The NPUs in the latest AMD Ryzen AI 300 series processors can deliver up to 50 TOPS of performance, more than enough for Copilot+ PCs. Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus: Qualcomm’s Arm-based hardware includes a Qualcomm Hexagon NPU that’s capable of up to 45 TOPS. It’s worth noting that NPUs aren’t just on PCs. Apple’s Neural Engine hardware was one of the first big splashy NPUs to get marketing attention. Google’s Tensor platform for Pixel devices also includes an NPU, while Samsung Galaxy phones have NPUs, too. Bottom line: Should you get a PC with an NPU right now or wait? Honestly, it’s risky being on the bleeding edge. If you went out of your way to get a Meteor Lake laptop in hopes of future-proofing your PC for AI features, you actually got burned when Microsoft later announced that Meteor Lake NPUs were too slow for Copilot+ PC features. (Intel disagreed, pointing out that you still get all the features those laptops originally shipped with.) The silver lining to that? Copilot+ PC features aren’t that interesting yet. And especially with the delay of Windows Recall, there just isn’t much remarkable about Copilot+ PCs. Most of the biggest AI tools — ChatGPT, Adobe Firefly, etc. — don’t even use NPUs at all. Still, if I were buying a new laptop, I’d want to get an NPU if possible. You don’t actually have to go out of your way to get one; it’s just something that comes included with modern hardware platforms. And those modern processor platforms have other big features, like big battery life gains. Related: The laptops with the longest battery life, tested On the other hand, those fast NPUs are only on the latest laptops right now, and you can often find great deals on older laptops that are nearly as fast as the latest models. If you spot a previous-generation laptop that’s heavily discounted, it may not make sense to shell out tons more cash just for an NPU, especially if you don’t have any AI tools you plan to run. As of this writing, most big AI tools still run in the cloud — or at least offer that as an option — so you’ll be able to run them on any Windows laptop, Chromebook, or even Android tablets and iPads. For desktops, the NPU situation is different. Intel’s desktop CPUs don’t have NPUs yet. You could hunt down an AMD desktop chip with a Ryzen AI NPU, but AMD’s Ryzen 7000 and 8000 series chips don’t support Copilot+ PC features anyway. So, if you’re putting together a desktop PC, set aside the NPU for now. It just isn’t that important yet. Looking for a PC with a high-performance NPU? Consider Arm-based Windows laptops like the Surface Laptop 7 and AMD Ryzen AI 300 series laptops like the Asus ProArt PX13. Plus, stay tuned for our reviews of Lunar Lake-powered Intel laptops when they arrive. Until then, catch up with all the AI PC jargon you need to know. Further reading: Key things to know before buying a Copilot+ laptop Read...