At a GlanceExpert`s Rating Pros Easily navigable tabbed interface Comprehensive PDF edting features Streamlined sharing feature makes it easier to fill documents and get signatures Cons Rich feature set can be overwhelming for new users Our Verdict Acrobat Pro’s comprehensive PDF features show why it’s still the editor against which all others are judged. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Editor’s note: This review was updated December 9, 2024 to reflect the addition of AI Assistant and current pricing. Adobe created the PDF two decades ago and its PDF editor has continued to rule the category, despite what many users felt was its exorbitant price. But a couple of years back, Acrobat adopted a cloud subscription model that now makes it more affordable for folks without an enterprise budget. Acrobat Pro is composed of three components: Acrobat, which allows you to perform a variety of editing functions on your PDFs on desktop and mobile devices; Adobe Document Cloud, which lets you create and export PDF files, as well as store and send files and collect electronic signatures; and Acrobat Reader, which enables you to read, print, and sign PDFs. This review is part of our best PDF editors roundup. Go there to learn about our testing and how all the competitors performed. Acrobat’s workspace sports an easily navigable tabbed interface. The Home view is where you land if you don’t have a PDF open. It gives you quick access to recent files; PDFs you’ve sent for review or signature; and files stored locally, in Adobe Document Cloud, or in third-party services like Box or Microsoft OneDrive. Adobe Acrobat Pro’s Document view has an intuitive interface with tools neatly organized in a sidebar.Michael Ansaldo/Foundry The All Tools view organizes Acrobat Pro’s wealth of tools in a single pane, organized by function: “Create & Edit,” “Share & Review” “Forms & Signatures,” “Protect & Standardize,” and “Customize.” Any of the individual tools can be added as a shortcut to a sidebar so you can get to them with a PDF open without having to toggle back here. Selecting a tool opens the commands specific to it, or its associated toolbar if you are in an open document. Each PDF file opens in its own tab in Document view, which displays an All Tools menu in the left panel, a Quick action toolbar, and a right side panel. Here you’ll find commonly used editing options, and features like thumbnails, bookmarks, comments, and more. This context-aware design adapts to your workflow, making it simple to perform even complex tasks efficiently. Adobe continues to offer everything you need to work with PDFs in a business environment. You can create PDFs from a variety of file types (Microsoft Office files, images, HTML, scanned documents), send them out for comments and electronic signatures, and safeguard sensitive information with encryption, password protection, and text redaction. Acrobat AI Assistant allows users to generate text or image suggestions, summarize content, and provide intelligent editing recommendations directly within PDFs.Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Acrobat’s most significant recent addition are AI-powered tools designed to streamline PDF workflows and enhance productivity. At the forefront is the Acrobat AI Assistant, powered by Adobe’s Firefly generative AI, which allows users to interact with documents in new ways. This includes generating text or image suggestions, summarizing content, and providing intelligent editing recommendations directly within PDFs. These tools aim to simplify complex tasks, like extracting key information or customizing layouts, making the software even more versatile for both personal and professional use. Further reading: 5 ways Adobe Acrobat’s AI Assistant gives you a productivity edge The PDF editor’s document sharing experience remains one of it’s biggest strengths. The interface gives you the option of sending a PDF as an email attachment or as link to the file in Adobe Document Cloud. Filling and signing a document has also gotten easier, thanks to a new tool that asks you who needs to fill and sign first—you or others—and prompts you through completion of that task. Really, if there’s anything about Acrobat Pro to knock, it’s that the sheer amount of features and how they work together can be dizzying for a first-time user. Thankfully, Adobe has added a new on-boarding experience that progressively guides you through the process of making Acrobat your default PDF editor, adding your PDF files, and introducing you to capabilities like combining PDFs and organizing pages. You can access recommended tools at any time from the Home tab and for a quick walk-through. And still there are additional features you’ll undoubtedly discover through use over time. Adobe Acrobat Pro is available for Windows and MacOS for $19.99 a month with an annual commitment, or about $239 a year. The paired-back Adobe Standard drops some advanced editing features and is available for Windows only for $12.99 per month with an annual commitment. Both come with a free seven-day trial. AI Assistant for Acrobat is available as an add-on for either version for $4.99 per month. Is Adobe Acrobat Pro worth it? Though many of its comprehensive features are available in other less expensive PDF editors, Acrobat remains the industry standard and that alone is reason to consider it. Its subscription-based pricing guarantees you’ll always have the latest version of the software without the hassle of purchasing an entirely new install. That’s not insignificant as Adobe regularly updates and enhances its product. (A slightly less pricey option exists in Adobe Acrobat Standard, which has some of the core functionality of the Pro version but is less robust, as we point out in our comparison of the two products.) An Acrobat Pro subscription will also unlock a host of editing features on Adobe’s Acrobat Reader app for iOS and Android. The mobile interface closely mirrors the desktop version, though scaled-down a bit, and makes working with PDFs on the smaller screen surprisingly easy.  Editor’s note: Because online services are often iterative, gaining new features and performance improvements over time, this review is subject to change in order to accurately reflect the current state of the service. Any changes to text or our final review verdict will be noted at the top of this article. Read...

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If you need Windows 11 for your PC, you have two options: Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Professional. The Pro version is (obviously) the more expensive of the two because it offers a variety of extra features. The most compelling extra is full-featured BitLocker drive encryption for securing your data, as well as an intriguing Sandbox feature for testing software, plus some other stuff. But what if you’re just a regular home user? Are these additional features worth paying a bit more? Here’s what you need to consider. Windows 11 Pro and BitLocker encryption BitLocker drive encryption is the main reason to get Windows 11 Professional. BitLocker is a full-disk encryption feature that protects your files from unauthorized access. If your PC is ever stolen or misplaced, nobody will be able to access your protected files without signing in as you. It’s an essential modern security feature. Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap right now Windows 11 Pro Both Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Professional include some disk encryption features, but Microsoft’s BitLocker encryption is much more powerful, flexible, and configurable on Windows 11 Pro. On a PC running Windows 11 Home, you only get “Device Encryption.” When you sign into your Windows PC with a Microsoft account, Windows 11 Home automatically enables BitLocker encryption and saves your recovery key to your Microsoft account. Curious whether Device Encryption is enabled on your PC? Head to Settings > Privacy & Security > Device encryption. If you don’t see the option, your PC doesn’t support it. New Windows 11 PCs do, but some older PCs that were upgraded from Windows 10 may not. Chris Hoffman / IDG Device Encryption is an adequate solution for many, but it’s limited. For example, you must sign in with a Microsoft account, and you must store your recovery key in your Microsoft account online, and you can’t use it to encrypt external drives. That last one might be a big deal. If you want the full-featured BitLocker experience, you’ll need Windows 11 Professional. You get a lot more options for configuring BitLocker the way you want it, plus you get BitLocker To Go for encrypting files on portable USB drives, SD cards, and other external storage devices. Other restrictions in Windows 11 Home Apart from BitLocker, you aren’t missing out on that much else in Windows 11 Home. After all, Microsoft wants to sell those expensive Pro licenses to businesses, so it makes sense that most of the restrictions involve business-oriented features. For example, a PC running Windows 11 Home can’t join a domain or an Azure Active Directory setup. It also doesn’t have access to the Private Catalog feature in the Microsoft Store, which allows businesses to deploy their own apps to their PCs. These are things you’d never need to do on a home PC — they’re for computers being managed by a workplace. Chris Hoffman / IDG Similarly, you can’t set up a Windows 11 Home PC as a Remote Desktop server. In other words, you can’t Remote Desktop into a Windows 11 Home PC, but you can Remote Desktop from a Windows 11 Home PC into a Windows 11 Pro PC. (If you really need to remote into your home PC, you can always turn to third-party remote desktop tools.) Windows 11 Home also doesn’t have access to Microsoft’s Hyper-V software for creating virtual machines. This, too, can be done using other virtual machine apps like the now-free VMWare or VirtualBox. The Home version of Windows also doesn’t have access to the Local Group Policy Editor, which is mainly used by businesses to centrally configure their PCs. That said, the Local Group Policy Editor is a convenient way to adjust some system settings that would otherwise require modifying the registry instead. But is it so useful that it’s worth shelling out extra for a Pro license? Not really. Exclusive Sandbox in Windows 11 Pro Apart from a more fully featured and configurable BitLocker encryption experience, and apart from the business-oriented features that aren’t in Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro also offers another big feature called the Sandbox, which is really useful but admittedly niche. The Windows Sandbox uses Hyper-V software under the hood to give you a fresh, isolated Windows system that runs in a separate “sandbox” window every time you launch it. This separation gives you a way to test potentially sketchy software or malware to see what happens, all without modifying or affecting your actual operating system. And when Sandbox is closed, it destroys all the data within it — even if the sandboxed environment is infected with malware, it’s contained and wiped out as soon as it’s closed. Simply restart Sandbox and you once again get a fresh, untainted Windows system. It’s one of our favorite Windows features for security, especially when paired with a reputable VPN. It’s honestly so good that if you can find a use for it in your day-to-day, the Sandbox feature alone can make the upgrade to Windows 11 Pro worth it. Windows 11 Home vs. Pro: Pricing If you’re buying a Windows 11 license for a PC you’re building, Microsoft sells Windows 11 Home for $139 and Windows 11 Pro for $199. However, there are ways to find cheaper Windows 11 licenses. You can upgrade any Windows 11 Home PC to Windows 11 Pro whenever you want for just $99. Just head to Settings > System > Activation, expand the “Upgrade your edition of Windows” section, then click the Open Store button to get started. Chris Hoffman / IDG If you’re buying a Windows 11 laptop or desktop PC that comes with Windows 11 preinstalled, most will include a Windows 11 Home license. But some PCs do come with a Windows 11 Professional license, too. (Usually higher-end PCs marketed for business use.) And some PC manufacturers let you pay a few extra bucks for Windows 11 Pro while customizing your new PC during the shopping process. Windows 11 Pro is worth it if… Ultimately, Windows 11 Pro is worth it for two big reasons: the full-featured BitLocker experience and Windows Sandbox. If you don’t plan on signing into your PC with a Microsoft account, I recommend opting for Windows 11 Pro so you can securely encrypt your PC’s storage drives. And if you’re intrigued by Sandbox, that’s another good reason to plunk down cash for Windows 11 Pro. Even at retail prices, it’s only an extra $60 over Home. Of course, if you’re running a business, then Windows 11 Pro also makes sense for its business-oriented features, like domains and Azure Active Directory to centrally manage PCs, or the Local Group Policy Editor. Microsoft has gone out of its way to ensure that these features require the more expensive Windows 11 Professional license. Otherwise, most home PC users shouldn’t need anything more than Windows 11 Home, especially if you sign into Windows with a Microsoft account. That’ll get you the Device Encryption feature, which is almost as good as full BitLocker for average Windows users. Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap right now Windows 11 Pro Read...

And Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the move is only the beginning of a series of changes aimed at creating a more competitive environment. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Includes USB-C with 90 watts of Power Delivery Excellent contrast and color performance Top-tier motion clarity at 1080p up to 480Hz Affordable pricing relative to 4K OLED alternatives Cons Dull design Stand is too large Image quality, though excellent, doesn’t stand out from competitors Our Verdict The Acer Predator X32 X3 is a more affordable 4K OLED monitor that packs a nice bonus: USB-C with 90 watts of Power Delivery. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Acer Predator X32 X3 Retailer Price $899.99 View Deal $899.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The current crop of 32-inch 4K OLED monitors are a personal favorite. They offer gorgeous image quality in both SDR and HDR alongside top-tier motion performance. However, most 32-inch 4K OLED monitors have two downsides: high pricing and a lack of USB connectivity. The Acer Predator X32 X3 tackles both issues. Acer Predator X32 X3 (X3BMIIPHUZX) specs and features The Acer Predator X32 X3 has outstanding specifications. It’s also rather mundane. Both are true because, like its direct competitors, the Acer Predator X32 X3 relies on a new generation of LG WOLED panel that can support 4K resolution at up to 240Hz or 1080p resolution at up to 480Hz. Several other monitors offer this panel. Display size: 32-inch 16:9 widescreen Native resolution: 3840×2160 Panel type: LG WOLED Refresh rate: 4K up to 240Hz / 1080p up to 480Hz Adaptive sync: AMD FreeSync Premium Pro HDR: Yes, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 Certified Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode with 90 watts of Power Delivery, 3x USB-A downstream, 1x USB-C data downstream, 3.5mm audio out VESA mount: Yes, 100x100mm Speakers: 2x 5-watt speakers Price: $1199.99 MSRP / $879.99 typical retail However, the Acer Predator X32 X3’s connectivity is a bit different from most. It has a USB-C port with 90 watts of Power Delivery, which is great to see and still not included on all premium gaming monitors. The Acer Predator X32 X3 debuted with an MSRP of $1199.99, but was swiftly discounted to $879.99 (and, on Amazon, currently displays that as MSRP). That’s a big drop, and it’s significant to the Acer Predator X32’s standing against its peers. At MSRP, it’s a good choice but doesn’t stand out. At $879.99, it’s a great deal. Further reading: See our roundup of the best 4K monitors to learn about competing products. Acer Predator X32 X3 design The Acer Predator X32 X3 has its strengths, but design isn’t one of them. From the front, the monitor appears rather generic, featuring slim bezels on the top and sides, a small bottom chin, and no visible Acer logo. The rear of the monitor is similarly unremarkable, with a simple matte black finish interrupted by a few textured panels. While it doesn’t look bad, it fails to stand out. This subdued design does have its advantages, as it allows the monitor to blend seamlessly into a home office or professional environment. However, it lacks RGB LED accent lighting. Matthew Smith / Foundry While the Acer Predator X32 X3’s design is rather reserved, it strangely abandons that strategy with the wide, tripod-like stand. It’s nearly as wide as the panel itself and, because it’s not flat, the space it occupies can’t be used to place items on your desk. That’s a bit annoying if you want to use the monitor on a compact desk. The stand allows the usual ergonomic adjustments, however, including height, tilt, and swivel. A 100x100mm VESA mount is included for use with third-party monitor stands and arms.  Acer Predator X32 X3 connectivity The Acer Predator X32 X3’s design is a miss, but its connectivity is more promising. The monitor supports two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, and one USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode. That’s a total of four video inputs, all of which can support the monitor’s maximum resolutions and refresh rates. The USB-C port also supports up to 90 watts of Power Delivery. That’s notable for a couple reasons. First, not all 4K OLED monitors bother to support USB-C upstream: the LG Ultragear 32GS95UE-B and Alienware AW3225QF are two examples. Second, the Acer Predator X32 X3’s particular arrangement of ports lets users connect two game consoles (over HDMI), a desktop PC (over DisplayPort), and a laptop (over USB-C) simultaneously. The USB-C port connects to three additional USB-A ports and one USB-C downstream port, which makes the monitor a useful USB hub for adding wired peripherals. The USB-C port, and one of the USB-A ports, are found on the lip of the lower bezel for easy access. The USB ports conform to the USB 3.2 Gen 1 standard.   The monitor lacks eARC support, however. Though uncommon among monitors as a whole, this can be found on 4K OLED monitors like the Alienware AW3225QF and might prove useful if you want to use a monitor with a soundbar. Even so, I think the Acer Predator X32 X3’s ports are preferable to most of its competitors. Its arrangement of HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C provides options for every computer and game console, from a high-end gaming desktop to a MacBook Air to a PlayStation 5. The X32 X3’s arrangement of HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C provides options for every computer and game console, from a high-end gaming desktop to a MacBook Air to a PlayStation 5. Acer Predator X32 X3 menu and features The Acer Predator X32 X3’s menus are controlled with a joystick centered behind the monitor’s lower bezel. It’s responsive (as true of most such joystick controls), and Acer’s on-screen menus are logically arranged. The menu text is a bit small, though, so it can be hard to read. Acer also provides a software utility called Acer Display Widget, which can be used to control most monitor features from within Windows. Image quality customization is extensive. The monitor provides several gamma presets which target specific gamma values. There are also several color temperature modes, though these don’t target specific values and instead use imprecise labels (like “Warm”). The monitor has six-axis color calibration, as well. The monitor’s color space presets include sRGB, Rec.709, DCI-P3, and SMPTE-C. Importantly, the Acer Predator X32 X3 has a Constant Brightness mode. This minimizes the brightness swings that OLED panels can suffer when rapidly transitioning between bright and dark content. I recommend that owners use this feature when using Windows and desktop apps. Streamers and content creators will appreciate the inclusion of a tripod mount on the top of the Acer Predator X32 X3’s stand. Strangely, Acer doesn’t seem to talk about this in the monitor’s marketing, but it’s a rare extra. Asus is the only competing brand that routinely provides it. The mount can be used to attach a camera, microphone, LED light, and anything else that you can screw into the mount. A pair of five-watt speakers round out the features. They’re not amazing, but they’re okay to use for podcasts or listening to chill beats at low volumes. LG’s Ultragear 32GS95UE-B, which has a unique “pixel sound” system, easily defeats the Acer on audio—but most competitors, like the Alienware AW3225QF, lack speakers. Acer Predator X32 X3 image quality The Acer Predator X32 X3 has an LG WOLED panel that supports up to 4K resolution. It’s also a 10-bit panel, which means it should deliver great color performance in both SDR and HDR. Matthew Smith / Foundry We start off with sustained SDR brightness, which is a weak spot for OLED monitors. The Acer Predator X32 X3 is not different, as its maximum of 256 nits falls right in line with other 4K OLED monitors. This level of brightness is fine for general use in a room with light control. If you can turn off the lights, or close the blinds, you’re likely to end up using the monitor at roughly half its maximum brightness, or less. But if your room has bright, sunlit windows, or you work in an office with lights you can’t control, then the Acer Predator X32 X3 could look a bit dim at times.  The monitor has an anti-glare coating. This is a topic of some debate among OLED enthusiasts. Some prefer a glossy finish for its perceived contrast and clarity, while others prefer matte for practical use in rooms with mixed lighting. I’m in the second camp, as an anti-glare coat makes the most of OLED’s meager brightness. While the monitor isn’t especially bright, it delivers an effectively infinite contrast ratio that provides an amazingly immersive, alluring image. This is made possible because the OLED panel can reduce the brightness of each pixel to zero nits, which enhances realism in dark scenes and amplifies contrast between bright and dark pixels. It’s a huge benefit, but one shared by all modern OLED monitors, so the Acer Predator X32 X3 has no advantage over its competitors here.   Matthew Smith / Foundry The Acer Predator X32 X3’s color gamut highlights the difference between LG WOLED and Samsung QD-OLED panels. The QD in QD-OLED stands for Quantum Dots, a technology that allows monitors like the Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED to achieve a wider color gamut than LG WOLED alternatives. That places the Acer Predator X32 X3, which has the LG WOLED panel, behind some of its competitors. With that said, though, the Acer Predator X32 X3 can still display up to 96 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 87 percent of AdobeRGB. These are solid results that deliver a vibrant, saturated image. Matthew Smith / Foundry The Acer Predator X32 X3’s color accuracy is solid across the board. Though it’s not the most accurate LG WOLED monitor I’ve tested, it’s competitive with the alternatives. The monitor also did well in gamma and color temperature testing. The gamma curve came in at 2.3, which is only a hair off the target of 2.2. That means the image is a tad darker than it should be, but it’s hard to notice. Color temperature came in right on target at 6500K, which is our preference. That means the image doesn’t look too warm and rosy, nor too cool and sterile. Sharpness is good. 4K resolution on a 32-inch panel works out to about 138 pixels per inch (PPI), which is much higher than a 1440p 32-inch monitor’s pixel density of 92 PPI. Small objects and fonts generally look sharp, though some pixelation and aliasing are visible if I lean in to view the monitor more closely. OLED monitors tend to suffer sub-pixel rendering issues that can reduce sharpness compared to an IPS panel monitor, but this problem is much less noticeable on a 4K 32-inch monitor like the Acer Predator X32 X3 than on a 27-inch 1440p monitor like the ViewSonic XG272-2K-OLED. Overall, the Acer Predator X32 X3’s SDR image quality is excellent, though it doesn’t stand out from other 4K OLED monitors. It has an effectively infinite contrast ratio, a decent color gamut, good color accuracy, and reasonable SDR brightness. The monitor’s performance in all these areas is similar to other monitors that have the same LG WOLED panel, and a tad behind competitors that use a Samsung QD-OLED panel.   Acer Predator X32 X3 HDR image quality The Acer Predator X32 X3 supports HDR and is VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certified. Its overall HDR performance is generally in line with competitive OLED monitors—which is good news, as modern 32-inch 4K monitors are a solid choice for HDR. Matthew Smith / Foundry HDR brightness isn’t exceptional, but it’s solid. The Acer Predator X32 X3 generally wasn’t as bright as the Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDP and LG Ultragear 32GS95UE-B, but it’s not too far behind—I think it’s debatable whether this is a noticeable difference in real-world viewing.  It’s also worth mention that the alternatives are stiff competition. If the Acer Predator X32 X3 is compared to a less expensive 4K IPS monitor, like the Acer Nitro XZ320QK, the Predator is clearly superior.   Acer Predator X32 X3 motion performance The Acer Predator X32 X3 is a “dual-mode” monitor, which means it is designed to accommodate two different native resolutions with varying refresh rates. To be specific, it supports 4K resolution at up to 240Hz or 1080p resolution at up to 480Hz. While this might seem odd, it’s not just a gimmick. Want to get sweaty in Apex: Legends? Switch to 1080p/480Hz. Want to enjoy Cyberpunk 2077 at maximum sharpness? Flip back to 4K/240Hz. Acer is not the first monitor to offer this feature, however, as alternatives like the LG Ultragear 32GS95UE-B and Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDP also provide it. The 1080p/480Hz mode arguably represents the upper end of motion clarity available from any modern display. Fast-moving objects look razor sharp and small text is generally readable even when it zooms across the screen. I personally find the improved clarity easy to notice. The 4K/240Hz mode isn’t as crisp in motion, but is also quite clear, and provides an obvious upgrade over older 4K monitors with a 60Hz to 144Hz refresh rate. Adaptive sync is supported, though Acer only lists official support for AMD’s FreeSync Premium Pro. The monitor’s adaptive sync should generally function with Nvidia G-Sync and VESA Adaptive Sync compatible video inputs, as these standards are related, but I wasn’t able to test this first-hand.   Should you buy the Acer Predator X32 X3? The Acer Predator X32 X3 is a great 4K OLED monitor that separates itself from the competition on two key points: connectivity and price. Acer provides a USB-C port with USB Power Delivery alongside several downstream USB-A ports, which gives the monitor an advantage over its peers when it comes to connectivity (as most lack USB-C). Acer also hits a slightly lower retail MSRP which, at time of this writing, undercuts competitors by $30 to $130 dollars. The Predator X32 X3’s stand is a bit wider than it should be, and the monitor lacks RGB LED lighting, but I expect many shoppers will be willing to overlook those small design shortcomings.   That makes the Acer Predator X32 X3 easy to recommend so long as it maintains a slight price advantage over its peers. Read...

Linux is available in countless variations. Thanks to such diversity, there are even a few Linux variants that have similarities to Windows. For anyone curious about Linux, this familiarity with Windows could make adoption of the alternative OS less intimidating. Regardless, of your motivations, we present three Linux distros that feel like Windows: Wubuntu (formerly: Linuxfx / Windowsfx) Zorin OS Linux Mint Each system has its advantages and disadvantages. All three are available in a free version, although paid versions are also available for Wubuntu and Zorin-OS. Wubuntu: Looks outrageously similar to Windows Wubuntu’s start menu is very reminiscent of Windows 11, the menu in the notification area at the bottom right less so. Overall, however, no other Linux comes closer to the look of Windows 11. IDG No other Linux system comes closer to the look of Windows 11. This is not necessarily due to matching icons, background images, or the mouse pointer. The centerpiece of Wubuntu‘s masquerade is the “System settings” program, which is really very similar to the “Settings” in Windows 11. At first glance, it hardly differs from the Windows model. This makes it easy to find your way around the basic settings such as screen resolution or network configuration. get windows 11 pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro However, the similarity between Wubuntu and Windows always ends when you start a program or open a more in-depth system menu. This also applies to Wubuntu’s system settings, which are only fully available if you purchase the Pro version for $35. However, we cannot recommend the Pro version as we don’t believe it adds sufficient value. The manufacturer has created shortcuts to Microsoft’s Online Office in the Wubuntu start menu. However, these did not work during our test.IDG As with Windows 11, the Wubuntu start menu is arranged in the center and is very similar to the Windows model. If you click on it, a nice collection of Linux programs is displayed. These include the Chrome browser, the mail program Thunderbird, and the office package Only Office. The Dolphin file manager is a little too colorful in Wubuntu, but is certainly useful. The shortcuts to Microsoft Online Office under “All apps” in the start menu are striking. However, none of these worked in our test. That’s not dire. Online Office can also be operated under Wubuntu via the Chrome browser, which is available with Wubuntu. Wubuntu also has similarities with Windows in many other areas. For example, if you drag a program window to a corner of the screen with the mouse, it snaps into place. The key combination Win + . launches the emoji menu. Both work in the same way as under Windows. Start Windows programs: Wubuntu already has the Wine runtime environment installed. This means that EXE files, i.e. Windows programs, can also be started under Linux. However, this only works with a few, mostly older and not too complex programs. Requirements: The system requirements for Wubuntu are low. A 2GHz dual-core processor, 2GB RAM, and 25GB of space on the SSD or HDD are sufficient. However, better hardware is recommended to ensure that the system runs smoothly. The maker of Wubuntu has adapted the settings most closely to model Windows 11. In the sub-menus of the settings, however, the similarity diminishes considerably in some cases.Wubuntu Advantages: Looks very similar to Windows 11 in some respects, such as the Start menu and settings. Some useful programs are pre-installed. Under the bonnet runs Ubuntu 22.4 LTS, for which updates will be available until April 2027. KDE Plasma is used as the desktop, which can also be configured very precisely independently of the Windows masquerade. Disadvantages: Wubuntu is the project of a single developer. Compared to Ubuntu or Linux Mint, the system is hardly widespread. Accordingly, there is only a small community that can help with problems. The Pro version promises a further approximation of the Windows interface and thus tempts users to buy it. From our point of view, its value is low. The repeated error messages when starting programs or configuring the system are also annoying. These occurred so frequently in our test that we cannot recommend Wubuntu for productive computers. Notes on installation: When booting from DVD or USB stick in BIOS mode, or in UEFI mode, the system starts in live mode when “Wubuntu 11” is selected. In this way, Wubuntu can be tested without making any changes to the PC. Installation on the hard drive is carried out via the desktop icon “Install System.” If Windows is already installed on the PC, this is usually recognized and Wubuntu is installed in parallel. After installation, an icon in the bottom right-hand corner offers to check for updates for the system. Click on it to start the update management. Evaluation: If you are curious about Linux but still want a Windows interface, you can try Wubuntu. However, the masquerade hardly makes it any easier to use. At the latest when problems occur, you have to get to grips with the Linux system. The larger the Linux community behind a system, the better. With Wubuntu, it is small. Anyone seriously considering switching to Linux should consider Zorin-OS or Linux Mint. Wubuntu is more of a fun project for people who already know a little about Linux but want a Windows look. Zorin-OS: Beautiful Linux with Windows start menu The Zorin Appearance tool makes it easy to change the appearance of the start menu. A Windows 10-style menu is also available in the free Zorin-OS Core version. Zorin The Linux system Zorin-OS is aimed at Windows switchers and focuses on external similarities. However, it does not go as far as Wubuntu. In the “Zorin Appearance” program, you can select menu styles that are reminiscent of Windows 10, Windows 11, or MacOS. There are four styles to choose from in the free version of Zorin-OS. If you want to have the look of Windows 11, you have to go for the Pro version and get a total of eight menu styles to choose from. For this reason, however, we would not recommend the Pro version. There really isn’t that much similarity. At best, the Pro version is interesting because you receive installation support by email. However, we were unable to test how good and comprehensive this is. Apart from the menu style, Zorin does not endeavor to resemble Windows any further, but instead tries to offer a simple and coherent user interface. The system does this well. Even new users should quickly find their way around. The selection of pre-installed software is good. Any programs missing from the free Zorin version can be easily installed via “Start menu > Software.” Under the hood is Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, for which updates will be available until April 2029. Gnome is used as the desktop, which is reliable but not very flexible. The range of software in Zorin OS is typically very good for Linux. The included system programs — for example, for data backup, are clearly structured.IDG Requirements: Zorin-OS 17.2 is available in three versions. The free Zorin-OS Core is suitable for all current PCs. Zorin-OS Lite should also run on computers that are up to 15 years old. And Zorin-OS Pro, which primarily offers installation support. Advantages: Zorin-OS is a visually appealing system, regardless of the similarity to Windows in the start menu. There is also a good support page at https://help.zorin.com, although this is only available in English. Disadvantages: Anyone who decides to purchase the Pro version can use version 17 indefinitely, but will probably only receive updates for it until 2029. A version update will be required to receive security updates after that. If you then want to continue using the Pro version, you will have to pay again. Installation instructions: Boot your PC from a DVD or USB stick with Zorin OS. You then have the choice between “Try Zorin-OS” to start a live system and “Install Zorin-OS.” If you select the installation option, you can accept the wizard’s default settings. For “Installation type,” the system reports whether it has recognized an already installed Windows and asks whether it should be installed in parallel. If the hard drive is empty, Zorin-OS also reports this and offers to format the hard drive. In both cases, LVM hard drive encryption can be selected via “Advanced functions,” which is recommended when installing on notebooks that are used on the move. A click on “Install now” asks for a few more details and then copies the system to the hard drive or SSD. Evaluation: Zorin-OS is not only characterized by a certain similarity to the Windows start menu, we also find Zorin-OS to be a well-rounded system that runs reliably and keeps the hurdles to system operation low. If you want to switch to Linux and like the aesthetics of Zorin OS, you can’t go wrong with this system. Linux Mint 22: Top upgrade system With themes and icon packs in the Windows 10 style, Linux Mint can be dressed up like Windows.Linux Mint Linux Mint is particularly suitable for new users. This is less due to the start menu, which is similar to that of Windows 10. It is rather due to the careful configuration with sufficient software and good system management tools. You get to know these immediately after installation when the Welcome Wizard guides you through the first steps of the system setup. Hardly anything is reminiscent of Windows (at first), but almost everything is designed to be understandable and sensibly organized for those interested in technology. To give Linux Mint the visual similarity to Windows that we need when selecting a system for this article, we will give a few tips below that dress Mint up in a Windows guise. Like Zorin OS,Linux Mint 22 uses Ubuntu 24.04 LTS as its foundation and thus offers updates until 2029. However, the creators of Mint always go to great lengths to make upgrades to the next version easy. With this theme, Linux Mint is already a good step closer to Windows 10. If you also get an icon pack from the internet, the similarity increases significantly.IDG Requirements: As a minimum requirement, the Mint team specifies at least 2GB RAM (recommended: 4GB RAM) and 20GB (recommended: 100GB) on hard drive or SSD. Advantages: Linux Mint offers well-made tools for system administration, an extensive software compilation, and passable support for hardware drivers and media codecs. The system runs reliably and there is a large community to help with problems. Disadvantages: To get the Windows look, you have to do it yourself. Notes on installation: If you boot Linux Mint from a DVD or USB stick, Mint starts automatically as a live system. The installation on the hard disk is then carried out via the desktop shortcut “Install Linux Mint.” The second question of the installation wizard is “Install multimedia codecs.” Tick the box to be able to play all media formats. After the installation, the Mint welcome window opens and offers the “Getting Started” wizard. This does not have to be run immediately. However, it is worth going through the wizard once shortly after installation. The effect of the B00merang Project icon pack is clearly visible in the Linux Mint file manager. It appears in a convincing Windows 10 style. IDG Tips for the Windows look: To make Linux Mint look like Windows 10, you need, among other things, an icon pack from the B00merang project. Unpack the archive and use the Mint file manager called “Files.” Then select “View > Show hidden files” and create the “.icon” folder in your “Personal folder” via “File > Create new folder.” This is your user directory or home folder. Copy the contents of the “Windows 10 Master” icon zip archive into the “.icons” folder. Now start “Menu icon >Settings -> System settings > Themes > Add/Remove.” Enter Windows in the search field and then load “Windows 10 Light Theme” by clicking on the arrow symbol to the right of it. Now go back one window using the arrow at the top left and select “Themes > Advanced settings.” Here, click on the button behind “Desktop” and select “Windows 10” from the list at the bottom. Do the same with “Applications.” Under “Icons,” select “Windows 10 Master,” i.e. the icon pack that you previously unpacked into the .icons folder. You can find a suitable desktop background for the Windows 10 look on Wallpaperhub (also for Windows 11). After downloading the file, right-click on it in the file manager and select “Set as background.” There are other customization options, such as downloading a different mouse pointer or moving the start menu to the center of the taskbar. For starters, Linux Mint already looks a lot like Windows. Evaluation: Linux Mint is particularly suitable for new users. It runs stably, comes with useful tools, and can be easily customized to look like Windows 10 using the tips above. Anyone seriously considering switching from Windows to Linux should give Linux Mint a try. Conclusion When recommending a particular Linux, it’s not just the look of a system that should be taken into account — as tempting as that may be for those switching to Windows. Because the visual proximity to Windows almost always ends when you have to delve a little deeper into the system — for example, for further system configuration, troubleshooting, or problem solving. And then it is important that the Linux system used offers simple tools for these purposes. Another criterion is the number of users. If many people use a system, it is easier to find a solution to your problem on the internet. Both are the case with Linux Mint: It offers a large community with many help forums on the internet. And it offers sophisticated tools for system configuration. This is why Linux Mint is our recommendation for those switching from Windows to Linux. If you want a visual similarity to Windows, you can at least imitate the look of Windows 10 under Mint with our tips (see above). Zorin OS offers good software features and ran stably in our tests. It is also a pretty system, regardless of its proximity to Windows. It can be considered as an alternative to Windows. Wubuntu is a curiosity. Its creator has clearly gone to great lengths to make this Linux look like Windows 11. However, the system does not always run smoothly, which manifests itself in frequent error messages. Wubuntu is therefore more for the curious who want to see something unusual. We do not recommend it as a changeover system. Read...

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It took just a few years for AI art to evolve from text to 2D imagery to generated 3D video. Today, it’s taken the next step with Google’s Genie 2, which can generate playable 3D game worlds that are constructed on the fly, all from a simple text prompt. Google’s Genie 2 is the evolution of its Generative Interactive Environments, which uses AI to construct new, interactive environments on the fly. Genie 1, which Google released in February, could construct 2D environments. Now, Genie 2, which Google announced today, takes that into 3D space. Google calls Genie 2 a “world model,” which means it can simulate virtual worlds, with animations, physics, and object interactions. It’s a two-step process: Genie 2 requires a prompt image to extrapolate into a world, but that image can be itself generated by an ordinary text prompt. Want a cyberpunk Western? Genie 2 will create it. A sailing simulation? That, too. You just need a reference or a prompt to begin. Google In Google’s case, it used an image generated by Imagen 3, as well as concept art hand-drawn by an artist. Within the world, the player — either an AI or a human — can interact with the environment. Google’s demo showed a traditional WASD setup, with the arrow keys as alternatives. The problem, however, is consistency. For whatever reason, the model loses coherency after a short time, typically around 20 seconds or so. (The “longest” model Google created was a minute in length.) Google In part, that may be because the model can generate “counterfactuals,” or the different paths and actions a player can choose from a fixed starting point — turning left or right at a fork in the road, for example. The model has to take into account a “long horizon,” or what happens when a player turns away from a scene, then toward it once again. Google Google said that Genie 2 can accommodate different perspectives, such as an isometric view, a third-person driving video, or a first-person perspective. Water effects are taken into account, as are complex interactions with the environment. In one demonstration, a player was able to slash a balloon, which popped. Smoke, gravity, and reflections are all modeled, but Google isn’t saying to what extent or resolution its models are rendered, or how many polygons are calculated per frame. The Genie 2 environments aren’t just for humans. AI “players” can also be modeled, either as NPCs or as the player character. Google showed off how the AI could be told to go through a specific door with a text prompt, and how the AI could recognize the command, understand what it meant in the rendered environment, and then proceed. Google Google didn’t divulge what computing resources Genie 2 requires, whether it will be released publicly, or even whether it plans to commercialize it. But with AI slowly creeping into games via AI-generated dialogue, it appears that AI-simulated games could eventually be real, too. Just not right away. Read...