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| PC World - 24 Jul (PC World)Most people who use the Home Edition of Windows 10 and 11 are unlikely to be aware that their computer also comes with a Microsoft encryption tool. On many computers, it’s even activated by default. But Microsoft’s “BitLocker” hard drive encryption has always been one of the functions defining the Pro version of the operating system.
Officially, this also applies to Windows 11; Microsoft even lists BitLocker device encryption first in its Home vs. Pro comparison. So what’s this all about?
If you type the term “BitLocker” into the search field in the Home version, the Start menu shows a hit with the corresponding app icon. However, the subtle difference to Windows Pro is that the Home version lacks the addition “manage” and BitLocker does not start.
It’s hard to imagine that the function could actually be available. But that’s actually the case, just under a different name.
Microsoft always emphasizes that BitLocker is reserved for Windows Pro. However, the Home versions also offer data encryption, just with a slightly different name: “Device encryption.”
Microsoft always emphasizes that BitLocker is reserved for Windows Pro. However, the Home versions also offer data encryption, just with a slightly different name: “Device encryption.”
Foundry
Microsoft always emphasizes that BitLocker is reserved for Windows Pro. However, the Home versions also offer data encryption, just with a slightly different name: “Device encryption.”
Foundry
Foundry
Before we go into the tool called “Device Encryption” in the Home version, let us briefly explain why this function is extremely important. Unlike logging on to the PC, encryption effectively prevents any unauthorized access.
Without this protection, you could simply remove the drive and gain access to the stored data. If the data is encrypted, this is not possible. This function is therefore particularly important for laptops, as mobile computers are more easily stolen or accidentally left lying around somewhere.
Further reading: Master these Windows 11 features to supercharge your efficiency
System requirements for device encryption
To be able to use device encryption, four requirements must be met: Firstly, the PC must have a modern UEFI (instead of the previous BIOS) and secondly, an up-to-date TPM chip (Trusted Platform Module). Both of these have been standard for many years.
In addition, the device must support the “Modern Standby” (S0) power-saving mode. You can check whether your computer is able to do this as follows: Open the command prompt with administrator rights, type in the command
powercfg /a
and press the Enter key. If the response “Standby (S0 low power state) … available on this system” appears, the third requirement is also met. If “Standby (S0 Low power idle) is not supported by the system firmware,” please check the manufacturer or device-specific UEFI menu to see whether it can be activated there.
get windows 11 pro for cheap for full bitlocker access
Windows 11 Pro
Fourthly, the Secure Boot option must be available and switched on. Because this requires settings to be made in the UEFI, you may have to search for them before device encryption is ready to start. So don’t give up straight away.
For the final compatibility check and correct configuration, type:
msinfo
in the search and input field of the taskbar and start the system information by right-clicking as administrator. Check whether the entry “Support for device encryption” at the bottom says “Requirements met.”
If not, Windows will display the cause of the error when you move the mouse over it. The missing “PCR7 binding” is often cited. The above-mentioned prerequisites are hidden behind this; a targeted Google search often helps. More information can be found in the box “Problems with device encryption.”
Confirm that the Trusted Platform Module is activated before proceeding.
Confirm that the Trusted Platform Module is activated before proceeding. Foundry
Confirm that the Trusted Platform Module is activated before proceeding. Foundry
Foundry
An activated TPM chip (Trusted Platform Module) in version 2.0 is one of the prerequisites for using Windows device encryption. You can check whether TPM is activated in your computer’s UEFI by typing the command:
tpm.msc
again in the input field. If it says “The TPM is ready for use” under Status and “2.0” after the specification version, everything is correct.
Otherwise, activate the component in the UEFI; Microsoft describes the procedure for important device manufacturers. After the UEFI changes and the reboot, type tpm.msc again and start the setup wizard on the right with “Prepare TPM.” Also switch on Secure Boot in the UEFI.
Status of device encryption, differences to BitLocker
Device encryption is switched on in the Windows Settings app. The prerequisite for operation is that you log in to the computer with a Microsoft account.
Device encryption is switched on in the Windows Settings app. The prerequisite for operation is that you log in to the computer with a Microsoft account.
Foundry
Device encryption is switched on in the Windows Settings app. The prerequisite for operation is that you log in to the computer with a Microsoft account.
Foundry
Foundry
The next step is to check in the Settings app under “Privacy and security” (Windows 11) or “Update and security” (Windows 10) whether device encryption is already switched on. If not, activate it using the slide switch.
Important at this point: Device encryption only works after logging in with the online account at Microsoft, not with a local Windows account.
BitLocker in Windows 10 and 11 Professional offers a whole range of settings and can be configured in detail using the operating system’s group policy editor. Microsoft provides a detailed explanation online. There is also the “BitLocker to go” function for encrypting USB sticks and other removable data carriers.
The Home Edition does not offer any of this; here, device encryption can only be switched on or off. However, the “economy version” with its key length of 128 bits reliably fulfills its actual purpose, namely to securely protect your data from unauthorized access.
Tip: You can recognize that device encryption is activated and working by the (open) lock symbol next to the drives in Windows Explorer.
The command line tool managebde.exe shows more details — including whether encryption is running and to what extent the data is already encrypted when the function is switched on. This process can take up to two hours. For the Windows partition, call up the status display using the following command in the command prompt with Administrator:
manage-bde -status c:
The conversion and protection statuses are particularly important. Please do not be surprised that “Unlocked” is noted behind Lock status — after all, you have logged on to the computer and thus automatically unlocked your data.
Note: Please note that the control parameters mentioned for the command line tool only apply to the BitLocker version for the most part, despite the tool having the same name.
Problems with device encryption
The most common problems occur during setup, i.e. before you even use device encryption in Windows 10/11 Home.
The causes usually lie in incorrect UEFI settings and missing system requirements.
Some hurdles can be overcome with a little web research, but if the hardware is really incompatible, the only solution is to encrypt your data with Veracrypt instead of Windows.
The box below describes more about this alternative tool.
Other problems occur suddenly and unexpectedly. The author has experienced this himself twice: Once Windows demanded the recovery key after a UEFI update, once the backup of the Windows drive via a live system failed. It is important not to panic, but to investigate the causes and look for solutions.
Protect data and unlock again in an emergency
While the setup process, including the hardware check and any changes in the UEFI, can be somewhat tedious, the device encryption then works completely in the background without you noticing anything. This is because the operating system automatically unlocks access to the hard drive when you log on to the computer — so you don’t need to do anything extra.
Conversely, the data is immediately encrypted again when you log off or switch off. However, this protection only makes sense if you have provided your Microsoft account with a sufficiently secure password. This is mandatory anyway, and a second factor (2FA) further increases the level of protection.
Tip : It’s quicker and more convenient to log in via Windows Hello than by typing in a long password: using a (hardware-based) PIN, fingerprint sensor or facial recognition via the camera.
If you don’t have a fingerprint sensor or camera, you can use USB Logon to configure a USB stick for logging in and out.
Any particularly good protection tends to increase the risk of locking yourself out at some point. In the case of device encryption, for example, if the mainboard or PC breaks, because encryption and decryption is linked to the TPM chip on the board.
To prevent this from happening, Windows generates a 48-digit “recovery key” when activating device encryption and BitLocker and saves it in your Microsoft account.
Because any unforeseen unlocking requires the recovery key, check whether it is available. Also save it in a password manager or print it out and keep the printout in a safe place.
To check, log in https:// account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey at Microsoft and copy the key(s) to the Windows clipboard. Because each partition is encrypted separately, several partitions may be displayed on one computer. The abbreviation OSV (Operating System Volume) refers to the system drive, FDV (Fixed Data Volume) to other data drives.
Alternative Veracrypt
Veracrypt is more flexible than the device encryption integrated in Windows. The tool can also be used to encrypt individual partitions, folders, files and mobile data carriers such as USB sticks. The Home edition of Windows does not offer this very important function.
In addition, Veracrypt does not recognize the strict system requirements of Windows internal encryption. Veracrypt is easy to use.
The Veracrypt encryption software is more flexible than the Windows-internal device encryption, and the system requirements are significantly lower.
The Veracrypt encryption software is more flexible than the Windows-internal device encryption, and the system requirements are significantly lower.
Foundry
The Veracrypt encryption software is more flexible than the Windows-internal device encryption, and the system requirements are significantly lower.
Foundry
Foundry
Two tips: Before installing the software, please make sure that Windows’ own device encryption is deactivated using the status command manage-bde -status c: (see previous page). In addition, create a backup of your unencrypted data, for example with R-Drive Image. Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 24 Jul (PC World)Microsoft has dreamed of competing with Chromebooks for many years, having previously pushed products like Windows 10 S (a limited version of Windows that powered the first Surface Laptop) and Windows 10X (some interesting ideas but was canceled and never released).
Today, Snapdragon X Elite PCs run a “full version of Windows” in many ways—but in using one myself, I’m noticing all kinds of similarities between them and Chromebooks.
While Microsoft wants to talk up its AI-focused Copilot+ PC branding, these PCs powered by Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus chips run Windows on Arm—and they bring serious improvements that feel a lot like Chromebooks in various ways.
1. Web apps are often preferable
Thanks to Prism, Windows 11 on Arm can run most—but not all—traditional Windows applications that are coded for x86 processors. In other words, most applications will install and “just work.”
Prism’s emulation offers impressive performance—especially for more lightweight applications—and Snapdragon X processors offer snappy performance for day-to-day desktop use.
But there’s no denying one important thing: native Arm apps perform much better and use less power, and the big web browsers (including Edge, Chrome, and Firefox) all run natively on Windows 11 on Arm.
That means I’ve found myself turning to web apps quite often. I use applications like Notion and Trello for running my Windows Intelligence newsletter, and their desktop apps feel a bit slow on these PCs… so I access them in my browser instead.
That means better performance and longer battery life for me. Plus, I can even turn each web app into its own dedicated window and treat it like a desktop app, just like I might on a Chromebook.
2. Light workloads are ideal for achieving long battery life
Some people have been disappointed by the battery life on Copilot+ PCs. To be fair, battery life can be surprisingly low on the first day when you’re setting up a Snapdragon X PC for the first time because you have to run a lot of updates, install a lot of apps, etc.
The good news is that battery life does improve. After you’re done setting up the laptop, you immediately start getting longer battery life.
The bad news is that long battery life only comes if you use these PCs for light workloads, like web browsing, email, Microsoft Office, workplace chat apps like Slack and Microsoft Teams, video meetings, and so on.
For truly getting the long battery life these machines promise, that’s the kind of workload you want—and fortunately for many, that’s the extent of what we do day-to-day. But if you tax your CPU with heavy apps, your battery life will be much lower than expected.
And that feels a lot like a Chromebook, which works best when it’s used for lightweight tasks. (Of course, I’m just talking about battery life here. You can always plug it in whenever you need to perform heavy tasks without battery life being a concern.)
Willis Lai / IDG
Willis Lai / IDG
Willis Lai / IDG
3. Not all Windows applications run — and the ones that do, don’t run well
When you switch from Windows to Chromebook, you can’t trust that your Windows applications will all work on your new laptop. The same is true when you switch to Windows on Arm.
Yes, most applications do work… but not all of them.
For example, do you use Google Drive? The Google Drive sync client doesn’t support Windows on Arm, so you can’t use it. Many VPNs and other security applications don’t work, either. If you have to use an in-house business app, it may not run.
And even if an application does work on Windows on Arm, it may not work well—and that can be just as frustrating.
For the first few days after the release of Copilot+ PCs, users installed the x86 version of Adobe Premiere Pro and found it extremely slow. So, while it could run, it wasn’t very usable. (Adobe has since blocked it from running on these PCs and signaled that their apps may be ported to run natively on Windows on Arm.)
But that’s the point: this isn’t like buying a typical new Windows PC. You need to do some research to determine whether your critical applications will run on it—just as if you were switching to a Chromebook, a Linux PC, or some other computing platform.
4. Your hardware, peripherals, and accessories might not work
Hardware compatibility isn’t perfect on Copilot+ PCs. That’s because many older devices have drivers that were specifically written for x86 versions of Windows with no intention to run on Arm.
So, your old printer or scanner might not work properly. Other peripherals you plug into your PC might not work, either. Microsoft has been moving towards universal print drivers to improve this situation, but it’s a real problem right now.
And it’s just like a Chromebook: modern devices designed to work universally across many different platforms may work, but older ones that need hardware drivers to work on Windows probably won’t work.
5. PC gaming is far from perfect
Thanks to a combination of Snapdragon X’s hardware performance, Microsoft’s improved Prism translation layer, and the Automatic Super Resolution feature that uses the neural processing unit (NPU) to upscale games, many PC games are somewhat playable on Copilot+ laptops.
But games don’t “just work” in the same way they would on a traditional x86 PC. Many games don’t run at all. Fortnite is one of the most popular games in the world, yet it doesn’t run on Copilot+ PCs thanks to its anti-cheat not supporting Windows on Arm.
Digital storefronts like Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store offer no way for developers to distribute native Windows on Arm games, so we’re mostly stuck with traditional x86 games run through Prism—and that doesn’t work perfectly. Far from it.
In a way, it’s similar to running Steam on a Chromebook. Chromebooks can run the Linux version of Steam, which plays Window games via Valve’s Proton. (Proton works surprisingly well these days thanks to the success of the Linux-based Steam Deck.)
Whether you’re running Steam on a Windows on Arm PC, a Chromebook, or a Steam Deck, you aren’t getting the complete native experience that you’d get on a traditional Windows PC with an Intel or AMD CPU. There’s a compatibility layer that may cause compatibility problems.
So, even if you can play some games in a pinch, we recommend against buying a Snapdragon X Elite PC for gaming.
Even with Automatic Super Resolution and other optimizations, gaming on Copilot+ PCs is not fun.
Even with Automatic Super Resolution and other optimizations, gaming on Copilot+ PCs is not fun.Chris Hoffman / IDG
Even with Automatic Super Resolution and other optimizations, gaming on Copilot+ PCs is not fun.Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
6. Cloud gaming might be it for now
Microsoft doesn’t seem completely confident in native gaming for Windows on Arm, either. If you have Xbox Game Pass, you’ll be surprised when you launch the Xbox app on a Snapdragon X Elite-powered PC and see absolutely no way to install games on your PC.
Yes, that’s right: on a Windows on Arm PC, the Xbox app actually pushes Xbox Cloud Gaming… and that’s it. Perhaps this is something that will change in the future, but for now it’s surprising.
But it’s also just like a Chromebook, since you can’t play native games on a Chromebook yet you can access Xbox Cloud Gaming.
7. The AI features are mostly web-based
If you go by the marketing, Microsoft wants everyone to believe that the future is all about AI PCs with powerful neural processing units (NPUs) that can run all kinds of AI features right on the machine—but first-generation Copilot+ PCs don’t deliver on that promise.
Truth is, Windows doesn’t include many AI features that work offline yet. Microsoft’s Copilot chatbot still requires an internet connection—it’s just a web app in a window pinned to the taskbar, and PC integration features (like “Turn on dark mode”) have been removed.
Not only that, but all the AI image editing features powered by the NPU also need a connection to Microsoft’s online services to check your generated images for “AI safety.”
In the end, the out-of-the-box experience isn’t much different from using a bunch of AI features in a web browser on a Chromebook.
The more you use a Copilot+ PC, the more it feels like a Chromebook.
The more you use a Copilot+ PC, the more it feels like a Chromebook.Matthew Smith / IDG
The more you use a Copilot+ PC, the more it feels like a Chromebook.Matthew Smith / IDG
Matthew Smith / IDG
8. It’s far from a traditional Windows PC
As usual, Microsoft is trying hard to ensure backwards compatibility with Copilot+ PCs. Many traditional Windows applications do just work—and that’s why it’s surprising and notable when one doesn’t.
Not only will you have to do some research to ensure your needed software and hardware will run on these PCs, but application developers should ideally also do the legwork to ensure their applications run as well as possible on these PCs.
This is a big philosophical shift for the Windows experience—and it’s one of the biggest ways in which Windows on a Snapdragon PC feels like using a Chromebook, Linux PC, or Android tablet.
This isn’t just a tweaked Windows PC—it’s a different computing platform altogether. It might look like Windows and it might have good-but-not-full compatibility with Windows software, but Windows on Arm is a big step away from conventional x86 Windows. It’s something else.
And that’s fine. I’m impressed. Even if you don’t use these Copilot+ PCs yourself, the competition has at least lit a fire under Intel to push x86 to new limits. Just look at the big strides Intel is making with its Lunar Lake hardware, which will arrive later this year. That’s a win for everyone, whether you want an Arm-powered Windows PC or not.
9. The competition is great for everyone
As ChromeOS expanded and became mainstream, PC makers were faced with an alternative to Windows that actually mattered. Microsoft was forced to compete, and that competition benefited everyone.
Similarly, with these modern Arm chips, Microsoft and PC makers have a credible alternative to traditional Intel and AMD CPUs. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus chips are just the first ones—in the future, we’re going to see more Arm hardware from other companies.
So, Intel and AMD CPUs will have to compete. We’re already seeing the results of that with Intel’s upcoming Lunar Lake hardware and AMD’s almost-here Strix Point hardware.
10. Copilot+ PCs aren’t for everyone
The future of PC hardware looks bright and Windows on Arm will only get better (probably). We’re still in the early stages and no one can fully predict where all of this is going to lead in five, ten, twenty years.
For now, though, a Snapdragon X Elite-powered Windows PC simply isn’t the right choice for everyone. It might be perfect for certain use cases, but wrong for others—and in that way, they’re very much like Chromebooks, which serve well for very specific needs.
Related: Chromebooks vs. laptops: Which is right for you? Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | ITBrief - 24 Jul (ITBrief)![NZ Located](/pimages/nzsmall.gif) Bumble introduces new tool for users to report AI-generated profiles amidst rising concerns over authenticity and internet love scams in the growing AI-era. Read...Newslink ©2024 to ITBrief | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 24 Jul (PC World)Google has been talking up a post-cookie future (in the browser sense, not the diet sense) for years now. But it seems like the company isn’t as confident as it used to be in its ability to completely re-shape the internet… or it might be balking under regulator scrutiny.
In any case, Google’s Privacy Sandbox is now going to be an optional feature alongside old-fashioned cookies instead of a total replacement.
Though this is all a bit hazy from a user perspective, Google’s attempt to replace third-party cookies across the web is (was?) a big deal. Tracking user behavior and movement from site to site is one of the things that makes targeted advertising possible and profitable, and that kind of tracking is primarily done using cookies.
But rampant abuse of cookies—with websites overloaded with hundreds of tracking points on every page, building up user profiles that all but abandon the idea of privacy—has made them a hot topic for regulators.
For better or worse, this is what gave us the GDPR cookie consent messages you probably see everywhere, even if you aren’t in Europe.
Privacy Sandbox was Google’s proposed solution to this issue. It replaces individual user cookies with wide blocks of semi-anonymous users grouped together based on a variety of demographic factors. It’s a compromise between current tracking tech (which can narrow down users to the point of being individually identifiable and highly trackable) and a more user-focused straight cookie block (as seen on Apple’s implementation for third-party apps on iOS).
Predictably, the Privacy Sandbox system fell short on both fronts: its privacy wasn’t enough to win over privacy advocates, and its tracking wasn’t effective enough to win over advertisers. Plus, regulators didn’t like the idea of Google—already the largest advertiser on the planet—developing its own system that could be forced upon competitors as a de facto standard via Chrome’s massive market share. And no other browser maker (certainly not Microsoft nor Apple) committed to Privacy Sandbox, with niche browsers like Brave and Vivaldi actively rejecting it.
Google claims that its Privacy Sandbox APIs have enhanced privacy and “works for publishers and advertisers,” but after four years is now abandoning its plan to rid Chrome’s reliance on third-party cookies.
Google Vice President Anthony Chavez had this to say:
“Instead of deprecating third-party cookies, we would introduce a new experience in Chrome that lets people make an informed choice that applies across their web browsing, and they’d be able to adjust that choice at any time. We’re discussing this new path with regulators, and will engage with the industry as we roll this out.”
Google’s blog post didn’t say when this choice will be available to users, how advertisers would distinguish between those using conventional cookies and Privacy Sandbox, or how the issues for Sandbox would be resolved.
Google can talk all it wants about “elevating user choice,” but the fact of the matter is that no one’s going to willingly abandon a system that’s been in place for decades (warts and all) for a Google-only solution. Strong-arming Privacy Sandbox via Chrome’s market dominance was Google’s intended play, and it failed to work with advertisers and brought in even more heat from regulators. It’s effectively dead on arrival, if indeed Privacy Sandbox ever arrives in a wide rollout. Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | Stuff.co.nz - 23 Jul (Stuff.co.nz)![NZ Located](/pimages/nzsmall.gif) A global internet outage which impacted eftpos use and grounded flights shows we were often relying too heavily on the internet, a Taranaki IT boss says. Read...Newslink ©2024 to Stuff.co.nz | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 23 Jul (PC World)Publicly, Intel is no closer to solving the mystery that surrounds crashes with its 13th- and 14th-gen Core desktop processors. However, company representatives denied Internet comments that say that its mobile processors are subject to the same crashes.
Matthew Cassells, the founder of Alderon Games and developer of Path of Titans, claimed on Reddit that the company had noted crashes on Intel’s mobile processors. “Yes we have several laptops that have failed with the same crashes,” he wrote. “It’s just slightly more rare then [sic] the desktop CPU faults.”
Previously, Alderon had issued a statement blaming “thousands of crashes,” as noted by its own crash reports on the Intel CPUs. It also claimed it would switch its server infrastructure to chips made by AMD.
Intel’s problem with its latest Core chips has persisted since January, but simmered for months while developers began pointing fingers and PC makers started working on solutions. To date, the most bulletproof solution has been simply to swap out an affected part for a replacement, which Intel has been willing to do. Intel has also issued guidance as to what power-profile settings users and board makers should use while it works to solve the problem.
An Intel representative said Friday via e-mail that Intel still remains in the dark about the root cause of the issue. However, Intel claims that its mobile processors aren’t being affected.
“Intel is aware of a small number of instability reports on Intel Core 13th/14th Gen mobile processors,” Intel said in its statement.
“Based on our in-depth analysis of the reported Intel Core 13th/14th Gen desktop processor instability issues, Intel has determined that mobile products are not exposed to the same issue,” the company added. “The symptoms being reported on 13th/14th Gen mobile systems – including system hangs and crashes – are common symptoms stemming from a broad range of potential software and hardware issues.
“As always, if users are experiencing issues with their Intel-powered laptops we encourage them to reach out to the system manufacturer for further assistance,” Intel said.
CPUs and Processors Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 22 Jul (PC World)All new PCs will soon be “AI PCs,” whether they have Intel, AMD, or Qualcomm hardware inside. And as the era of AI PCs comes upon us, a whole new language of technical terms has also popped up.
Here’s a helpful guide to all the AI-related tech terms you need to know. Whether you’re reading a PC manufacturer’s spec sheet or news coverage about the latest AI hardware developments, everything here is essential knowledge to grasp going forward.
AI PC
Thanks to the “AI PC” marketing push, things have gotten needlessly confusing.
Thanks to the “AI PC” marketing push, things have gotten needlessly confusing.Chris Hoffman / IDG
Thanks to the “AI PC” marketing push, things have gotten needlessly confusing.Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
An AI PC is a PC that can run AI tasks. Yes, that means nearly any PC can technically be an AI PC. As a result, this term is somewhat squishy, hard to pin down, and needlessly confusing.
Manufacturers often use “AI PC” to refer to a PC with an NPU (neural processing unit), which is a hardware component that’s optimized for running AI tasks in a low-power way. However, a powerful GPU (graphics processing unit) is still the fastest way to run many AI tasks—so your years-old gaming PC may be a powerful AI PC. Some AI tasks can even run well on the average CPU.
Related: What exactly is an AI PC? Explained
On the other hand, you don’t actually need an AI PC to run many AI applications—because many AI applications perform all their AI processing work on cloud servers. Whether you’re talking about Firefly in Adobe Photoshop or Copilot Pro in Microsoft Office, you don’t need an AI PC for these AI workloads since the work is being done on Adobe’s or Microsoft’s cloud servers. That’s just two examples.
The confusion around the name “AI PC” is one reason why the industry is already moving away from it. Now everyone is talking more about NPUs and Microsoft’s new “Copilot+ PC” branding. (See below for a deeper explanation of Copilot+ PCs.)
AMD XDNA
AMD XDNA is AMD’s neural processing unit (NPU) architecture; it’s AMD’s “AI Engine.” Like the Intel AI Engine and Qualcomm Hexagon NPU, this hardware is designed to run AI tasks on a PC in a power-efficient way.
It’s separate from the CPU and GPU. It can run AI tasks faster than a CPU and with less power consumption than a GPU. Plus, it doesn’t compete for resources, so those AI tasks won’t take processing power away from your CPU or GPU as they perform other computing tasks.
The XDNA hardware is already here on parts like the AMD Ryzen 7000 series. AMD is also working on upgraded “XDNA 2” hardware that will be included with future computing platforms like Strix Point.
Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence is the name for Apple’s collection of AI features that will come to Macs starting with macOS 15 Sequoia as well as iPhones and iPads starting with iOS 18 and iPadOS 18.
Apple’s AI features will be a collection of helpful features that run on the devices themselves along with integration with cloud-based AI tools like ChatGPT. Apple Intelligence will be integrated deeply into Apple’s devices, including in the Siri voice assistant.
You can think of Apple Intelligence as the Mac’s answer to all the Copilot+ PC features that Microsoft is pushing.
Copilot
Lots of PCs now come with a Copilot key.
Lots of PCs now come with a Copilot key.Chris Hoffman / IDG
Lots of PCs now come with a Copilot key.Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Copilot is Microsoft’s AI chatbot. Originally called Bing Chat, Copilot is based on the same GPT technology that powers OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and it performs similarly.
Copilot is now pinned to the taskbar by default on both Windows 11 and Windows 10 PCs, and you can also access it via the Copilot website.
It’s worth noting that Copilot does all its processing work in the cloud. No matter how fast or slow your PC might be, Copilot will not use your NPU or any other hardware to do any processing. Whether you’re accessing Copilot from a powerful AI PC, a browser on a Chromebook, or an app on a smartphone, it will offer the same experience.
Copilot+ PC
Copilot+ PC is Microsoft’s branding for a new wave of PCs that have faster NPUs (neural processing units). These PCs get access to extra AI features in Windows that older AI PCs with slower NPUs don’t get.
At launch, the only Copilot+ PCs are the Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X PCs. However, future hardware from Intel (starting with Lunar Lake) and AMD (starting with Strix Point) will also be eligible for the Copilot+ PC designation.
To be branded a Copilot+ PC, a PC must have an NPU capable of 40+ TOPS (trillion operations per second), at least 16GB of RAM, and at least 256GB of storage. They must also have a compatible processor—right now, only a Snapdragon X Elite or Snapdragon X Plus chip qualifies.
The exclusive AI features for Copilot+ PCs are slim pickings at the moment. You get access to offline live captions, image generation tools in Paint and Photos, and webcam effects with Windows Studio Effects. The controversial Windows Recall feature was pulled and delayed ahead of launch due to backlash over privacy concerns.
Despite the name, Copilot+ PCs don’t offer an enhanced Copilot chatbot experience. They have a Copilot key on the keyboard for launching Copilot, but Copilot itself works the same as it does on any other PC. It doesn’t use the NPU, solely relying on Microsoft’s cloud servers.
In the future, all PCs will likely become “Copilot+ PCs” as the powerful NPU hardware becomes standard. When that happens, I expect the term will gradually fade away.
Related: Copilot+ PCs, explained
Copilot Pro
You must pay for Copilot Pro if you want Copilot AI integration in Microsoft Office apps.
You must pay for Copilot Pro if you want Copilot AI integration in Microsoft Office apps.Chris Hoffman / IDG
You must pay for Copilot Pro if you want Copilot AI integration in Microsoft Office apps.Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Copilot Pro is Microsoft’s paid subscription service for its Copilot chatbot. Copilot Pro enables Copilot integration in Microsoft Office apps like Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Even if you don’t use Office, it also gives you priority access to the Copilot chatbot and more AI image generation credits for its AI image generation tool, which is powered by OpenAI’s DALL-E 3 model.
DLSS
Nvidia’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) was one of the first AI features that many PC users embraced. Exclusive to Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs, DLSS uses AI to enhance and upscale graphics in PC games.
Basically, the GPU first renders the game in a lower resolution, and then uses AI to upscale the graphics to a higher resolution. This often results in very good image quality with a big performance improvement. In other words, you get more FPS at the same level of image quality.
More on this: Nvidia’s DLSS 3, explained
Other companies are doing similar things now. For example, Windows 11 now offers Automatic Super Resolution for upscaling games with the NPU, built right into the operating system. This only works on Qualcomm Snapdragon X-powered laptops at launch, but it will likely come to future Intel and AMD laptops.
Gemini
Gemini is Google’s AI assistant. You’ve definitely seen it around.
If you have a modern Android phone or Chromebook, you likely have Gemini built in. If you use the Google search engine in your web browser, you’ll often see AI answers powered by Gemini. You can also access Gemini via its dedicated website and in other Google applications.
Like Copilot and ChatGPT, Gemini does all its work on powerful cloud servers whether you access it from an AI PC, a Pixel phone, or an iPhone.
GPT
GPT stands for “Generative Pre-Trained Transformer,” which is a type of large language model (LLM) that uses artificial neural networks for natural language processing (NLP) and content generation.
It was made famous by ChatGPT, the first big AI chatbot to take the world by storm. Both Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT use an underlying model like GPT-4 or GPT-4o. The term “GPTs” can also sometimes refer to different types of customized chatbot experiences.
GPU
A GPU is a graphics processing unit (sometimes interchangeable with “graphics card,” but a graphics card holds the GPU plus other bits). The GPU has been a core part of modern PCs for many decades. But despite the name, a GPU isn’t only for rendering graphics.
As it turns out, GPUs are better than CPUs at performing certain types of calculations. That’s why GPUs were so important for cryptocurrency mining, and that’s why they’re so essential for AI applications today.
A high-end modern GPU is the fastest way to run local AI applications like AI image generators. Yes, they’re even faster than NPUs! The only catch is that GPUs are more power-hungry. NPUs are faster than CPUs at running AI tasks, but they’re more power-efficient than GPUs.
That’s why NPUs are part of the long-term plan for running AI applications—they can perform AI tasks without draining battery life. Additionally, offloading AI tasks to an NPU means that your computer can dedicate all of its GPU power to other important tasks, like playing PC games and running professional-grade graphics rendering tools.
Intel AI Boost
Intel AI Boost is the name of Intel’s NPU (neural processing unit). Current Intel Meteor Lake hardware includes an NPU, but it isn’t fast enough for Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC requirements.
Intel says future NPUs in its upcoming Lunar Lake hardware platform will deliver up to 48 TOPS (trillion operations per second) of performance.
For now, though, an NPU in an Intel Meteor Lake-powered laptop enables access to some extra webcam tricks with Windows Studio Effects. Aside from that, you’ll have to hunt down third-party applications that use the NPU for something, as nothing else is built into Windows.
LLM
LLM stands for “large language model,” which is a type of computing model that can process and generate language.
Modern chatbots like Microsoft Copilot, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and Google Gemini use large language models. A large language model is an artificial neural network that’s been trained on vast amounts of text data.
NPU
If your PC has an NPU, you’ll see it as a separate device in the Task Manager’s Performance pane.
If your PC has an NPU, you’ll see it as a separate device in the Task Manager’s Performance pane.Microsoft
If your PC has an NPU, you’ll see it as a separate device in the Task Manager’s Performance pane.Microsoft
Microsoft
NPU stands for “neural processing unit,” which is a type of computer component that provides a power-efficient way to run AI tasks—it’s faster than a CPU, but uses less power than a GPU.
An NPU like AMD XDNA, Intel AI Boost, or Qualcomm Hexagon is becoming a fixture in modern PC hardware platforms. You’ll need an up-to-standards NPU to run Copilot+ PC features on Qualcomm Snapdragon X PCs and Windows Studio Effects on Intel Meteor Lake laptops.
Qualcomm Hexagon
The Qualcomm Hexagon is the NPU (neural processing unit) included with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus hardware.
All Snapdragon X variations have the same NPU, which offers up to 45 TOPS (trillion operations per second) of performance. This is the only NPU that can power those hyped-up Copilot+ PC features at launch.
RTX
Nvidia’s GeForce RTX GPUs are one of the fastest ways to run high-performance local AI workloads. The RTX branding refers to real-time ray tracing, but RTX GPUs have been powering AI features for a long time. For example, Nvidia’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) technology has been capable of upscaling PC games since 2019.
TOPS
TOPS stands for “trillion operations per second.” It’s the agreed-upon metric for comparing the performance of different NPUs. (In the future, I imagine we’ll be doing more NPU benchmarks as benchmarking tools mature. TOPS alone likely won’t be the only metric that matters.)
Windows Recall
Microsoft is spending more time tweaking and testing Recall after a massive initial backlash.
Microsoft is spending more time tweaking and testing Recall after a massive initial backlash.Microsoft
Microsoft is spending more time tweaking and testing Recall after a massive initial backlash.Microsoft
Microsoft
Windows Recall is the controversial AI feature that was the centerpiece of Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC push. This feature takes screenshots of your PC’s display every five seconds and then lets you search through your PC usage history using plain text, much like using a chatbot.
Related: Windows Recall could solve my biggest problem in tech
Microsoft promises that Recall is all performed locally, that your data will never be sent over the web, and that everything is stored securely. You also have control over it—you can turn it off if you want, or prevent it from capturing certain applications.
After a big marketing push and on-stage demonstration, Microsoft scrambled to remove Recall ahead of the launch of Copilot+ PCs, even delaying review units from being sent out. The company now says that Recall will be tested in the Windows Insider Program before rolling out more widely, perhaps later in 2024.
Recall will only be usable on Copilot+ PCs. At launch, that means Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus-powered PCs. Future Intel and AMD laptops with more powerful NPUs will likely qualify and be able to run Windows Recall, too.
Windows Studio Effects
Windows Studio Effects is a collection of webcam effects found on Copilot+ PCs as well as current Intel Meteor Lake-powered AI PCs. This is the only built-in experience that uses the NPU on Meteor Lake-powered laptops with Windows 11.
Windows Studio Effects includes a variety of effects that can be applied to your webcam’s video feed in real time. For example, you can enable an “Eye contact” feature that makes it look as if you’re looking at your webcam even if you aren’t. Another one blurs your background.
These effects work in any application that uses your PC’s built-in webcam, and it uses the NPU to apply these effects in a power-efficient way without draining your battery too quickly.
Windows Studio Effects only work with a laptop’s built-in camera. They don’t work with external webcams.
Windows Studio Effects only work with a laptop’s built-in camera. They don’t work with external webcams.Chris Hoffman / IDG
Windows Studio Effects only work with a laptop’s built-in camera. They don’t work with external webcams.Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
While Windows Studio Effects are nice to have, I don’t think they’re reason enough to buy an AI PC, and certainly not a Meteor Lake-based AI PC. Intel’s Lunar Lake is what the first AI PCs should have been.
As more laptops ship with powerful NPUs, third-party application developers will likely start using them to add powerful AI features to their Windows desktop applications, putting the powerful PC hardware to use. I’m sure that’s what Microsoft is hoping for, anyway.
If you’ve gotten this far, congrats! You’re now up to speed on all the most important AI PC terminologies, and you should understand enough now to see where all of this might be heading soon.
Desktop PCs, Laptops, Technology Industry Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 22 Jul (PC World)What’s the best way to record audio from YouTube?
Multiple programs are available on the market that allow you to capture YouTube audio for personal use. Here’s a quick overview of how to achieve this using various devices:
For Windows users, you can record songs from YouTube using a professional screen recorder: EaseUS RecExperts or Audacity. They let you capture music from YouTube without compromising quality.
Mac users can record YouTube audio on Mac with the built-in screen recording app QuickTime Player. However, it requires installing the Soundflower extension.
Online solutions can record YouTube music as MP3 when you copy and paste the URL in an online YouTube video to MP3 converter.
iPhone and Android users can use built-in recording tools to record a song from YouTube. However, these tools will record the video and audio simultaneously, so you need an online video-to-audio converter.
YouTube provides massive audio resources such as music, sound effects, and soundtracks in its videos. Sometimes, you may hear background music that you want to in content creation or music production. However, how do you get off only audio from the video file? Fret not, you still have an option: record audio from YouTube directly. This article will cover solutions for Windows, online, Mac, iOS, and Android devices. Let’s get started with detailed guides.
Record audio from YouTube with Windows screen recorder
EaseUS RecExperts is a versatile YouTube video audio recorder. Its intuitive interface and streamlined design make it easy to use for both novices and professionals. With several clicks, users can record computer audio from YouTube videos.
Here are some advanced recording features to help you effectively extract high-quality audio from YouTube:
Capture audio from YouTube without losing quality.
Save YouTube audio in multiple output formats such as MP3, WAV, WMA, OGG, and FLAC.
Set an auto-start and auto-stop time to start and stop recording automatically.
Convert the YouTube audio from speech to text with its AI Assistant.
Trim and edit the YouTube audio accurately to milliseconds.
Here are the steps for how to record audio from YouTube with EaseUS RecExperts:
Step 1. Open the YouTube audio you want to record. Download, install, and launch EaseUS RecExperts on your Windows PC.
Step 2. Go to Settings in the top right corner, click Audio, select the output format you want to save your YouTube sound, and click OK.
EaseUS
EaseUS
EaseUS
Step 3. Tap Record audio (the speaker icon) on the left panel, click System sound, then click Record system sound. Choose Record silently if you want to record the internal sound without letting the computer play sound outside. Toggle on the Microphone if you need to catch the mic sound.
EaseUS
EaseUS
EaseUS
Step 4. Click the REC button, confirm the pop-up, and click Continue to start recording. A three-second countdown timer will appear on the screen. Go to the YouTube page during the session and let the audio play.
Step 5. Press the Stop button or F9 to end the recording. Your recorded file will appear on the next screen. You can edit or manage this audio file immediately.
Capture sound from YouTube using Audacity for free
Audacity is another professional DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). This free and open-source audio recorder works on both Windows and Mac systems, letting you screen record Windows and macOS effectively.
Although some users may find it unsuitable for beginner use, it offers features such as multi-track recording and video editing that are as robust as those found in Adobe Audition, Protools, and Ableton.
Let’s see how to make a sound clip from YouTube with Audacity. Here we are using Windows as an example:
Step 1. Open the YouTube video from which you want to grab the sound. Download, install, and launch Audacity on your computer.
Step 2. Click the first drop-down menu and select Windows WASAPI. This lets Audacity get audio in the clearest and highest-quality mode.
Step 3. Next to the microphone icon select the computer speaker. This is your audio source recording device.
EaseUS
EaseUS
EaseUS
Step 4. Return to Audacity, hit the Recording (red dot) button, and let YouTube play.
Step 5. Click the red dot again to stop recording. You can play the audio to see if it has been recorded properly.
Step 6. Click File in the upper left corner, then click Export. You can save the YouTube video in MP3, WAV, and OGG formats.
Record YouTube audio on Mac with QuickTime
QuickTime Player is a built-in Mac audio recorder. It lets Mac users record screens on Mac without installing additional recording software. However, QuickTime can record screen only on the Mac itself.
If you want to catch the internal sound on macOS devices, you need to add and configure an add-on extension called Sunflower. Let’s follow the steps below:
Step 1. Download and install Sunflower on your Mac from its official website.
Step 2. Go to System Preferences > Sound, then change the output device to Soundflower (2ch).
EaseUS
EaseUS
EaseUS
Step 3. Launch QuickTime, go to File > New Audio Recording, then click the arrow next to the recording button, and select Soundflower (2ch).
Step 4. Open the YouTube clip from which you want to capture audio and get it ready. Then click the Record button (red dot) in QuickTime to start recording.
Step 5. Press the red Stop button to end the recording task.
Step 6. Save the audio to your Mac.
Rip audio from YouTube online with MP3 converter
Users who don’t want to install third-party software can easily pull audio from YouTube with an online video-to-MP3 converter. These free, cross-platform solutions work with Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android devices.
Here we are using an online video converter called YTMP3.
Step 1. Open YTMP3 in a web browser.
Step 2. Copy the URL of the YouTube video from which you want to capture the audio.
Step 3. Go to YTMP3, paste it in the empty field, and click Convert.
Step 4. Click Download to save the audio in MP3 format. The download will automatically be initiated.
How to record audio from YouTube on iPhone
The built-in screen recorder on an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch allows you to record audio clips from YouTube simultaneously.
Step 1. Go to Settings > Control Center > Screen Recording, then tap the Add button.
Step 2. Open the YouTube clip and get it ready.
Step 3. Swipe down to locate the recording button (white circle dot) and click it. A three-second timer will appear. When a red dot shows in the left corner of your screen, play the YouTube video.
Step 4. Click the red dot again to stop recording. The file can be checked on the Photo app.
Notes:
To extract the audio from the video, use QuickTime Player on a Mac or an online audio extractor like Restream.
If you can accept to install a third-party app, you can download audio recording utilities such as Voice Memos to record the audio directly.
How to record audio from YouTube on Android
Recording audio from YouTube videos on Android is done in much the same way as on the iPhone.
You can simultaneously capture video and audio with the integrated recording feature, then use an online audio extractor or install an audio extractor app.
If you cannot find a built-in screen recorder, use a third-party tool like AZ Screen Recorder to grab a soundtrack directly from YouTube.
Conclusion
Capturing audio from YouTube can be easy if you follow the methods provided above. You are able to pull the audio from YouTube clips whether you are using Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android devices.
EaseUS RecExperts is a good choice for Windows users. Compared with other audio recording software, it is very simple to use and provides rich advanced features. You can enjoy recording, trimming, and more AI-empowered functions.
Use EaseUS RecExperts to record audio from YouTube and utilize these items to enrich content creation, music-making, and more.
FAQ
1.
Is it legal to record audio from YouTube?
It is legal to record audio from YouTube videos for personal use. However, we recommend you ask the author’s permission to use their content.
Recording audio tracks from YouTube Music Library is also legal. These music items and sound effects are exclusive to YouTube Studio and are royalty-free and copyright-safe.
2.
How to extract audio from a YouTube video on Mac?
The easiest way to extract sound from YouTube video on Mac is using EaseUS RecExperts for Mac:
Step 1. Download EaseUS RecExperts for Mac from its website and launch it.
Step 2. Go to Settings > Audio > Output format to change the YouTube audio format.
Step 3. Go to Recording audio, turn on the System sound, and start recording.
Step 4. Click Stop recording. You can preview and trim the audio if you need to.
3.
Can I convert YouTube audio to text?
You can convert YouTube audio to text with EaseUS RecExperts:
Step 1. Open the audio file you want to convert. If you haven’t recorded the audio yet, use EaseUS RecExperts to record sound from YouTube. When you finish recording, you will automatically go to the audio file page. If you want to convert speech to text from an already recorded video, go to Recordings on the bottom left corner in EaseUS RecExperts and click Import to upload your audio file.
Step 2. Click Edit > AI Assistant.
Step 3. After downloading this tool, you can choose the output language and saved path.
Step 4. Click Start.
Step 5. Click View File.
Personal Software, Streaming Media Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | RadioNZ - 20 Jul (RadioNZ)![NZ Located](/pimages/nzsmall.gif) Internet and text message services have been suspended amid the protests, which have killed more than 100 people. Read...Newslink ©2024 to RadioNZ | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 20 Jul (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
ProsAttractive OLED display with above-average HDR brightnessWide range of wired and wireless connectivityExcellent processor performance for the priceGood battery lifeConsBland, generic design16.9 aspect ratio display feels crampedUnreliable gaming and 3D performanceOur VerdictThe Asus Vivobook S 15 is a competent entry into the Copilot Plus PC arena, but one that struggles to stand out from the alternatives.
The Asus Vivobook S 15 is one of over half a dozen PC laptop makers that have joined Microsoft in launching the new Copilot Plus PCs, all of which currently have Qualcomm Snapdragon X processors. They mark a major shift in the type of hardware that is available in Windows laptops, but you wouldn’t know that from looking at the Vivobook S 15. It’s a thoroughly conventional laptop and, although pleasant to use, Asus’ decision to play it safe makes the Vivobook harder to recommend.
Looking for more options? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available right now.
Asus Vivobook S 15: Specs and features
The star of the show here is undoubtedly the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor. The Asus Vivobook S 15 I received for review had the Elite version, which is an upgrade over the Snapdragon X Plus and brings two more processor cores. The Snapdragon is paired with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB solid state drive, which is typical for mid-range Windows laptops..
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite XE 78 100
Memory: 16GB LPDDR5
Graphics/GPU: Qualcomm Adreno
Display: 15.6-inch 2880 x 1620 OLED with 120Hz refresh rate and HDR
Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen 4 solid state drive
Webcam: 1080p with dual-mic array and physical privacy shutter
Connectivity: 2x USB-C 4, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm combo audio, microSD card reader
Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Biometrics: Windows Hello facial recognition
Battery capacity: 70 watt-hours
Dimensions: 13.88 x 8.93 x 0.63 inches
Weight: 3.13 pounds
MSRP: $1,299.99
Pricing starts at $1,099 for the entry-level model with the Snapdragon X Plus and a 512GB solid state drive. The model that I tested, with the Snapdragon Elite and 1TB solid state drive, was priced at $1,299. That’s not expensive for a Windows PC with a Qualcomm processor (the least expensive start at $999).
Asus Vivobook S 15: Design and build quality
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
If anyone from Asus with control over the company’s design reads this review, I am begging you: please find a new design language that helps ASUS laptops stand out. I’ve reviewed laptops long enough to remember the company’s wonderful “concentric circle” design, which always let me know I was looking at an Asus. Compared to that, the Asus Vivobook S 15 is as bland as oatmeal.
The Asus Vivobook S 15 is a competent entry into the Copilot Plus PC arena, but one that struggles to stand out from the alternatives.
My complaints come down to the details. When closed, the laptop’s silver aluminum body has the most generic look and texture imaginable. When opened, the laptop is revealed to have the same texture and look inside, and a bland silver keyboard (which, as is typical for such keyboards, doesn’t quite match the luster and hue of the laptop’s body) stretches out across the interior. Frustratingly, I find it even less unique than other Asus Vivobook and Zenbook laptops that I’ve reviewed over the past few years.
However, the Vivobook S 15’s build quality chalks up a win. It’s a thin and light laptop, weighing just 3.13 pounds and measuring only 0.63 inches thick. Despite that, it feels rigid when picked up, and even the display lid allows only a hint of flex when opened. The Vivobook S 15 is noticeably more rigid than a typical LG Gram or Acer Swift laptop, which are slightly lighter but roughly equal in girth.
Asus Vivobook S 15: Keyboard, trackpad
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
The Asus Vivobook S 15 has a spacious keyboard with a number pad. The only keys that are noticeably smaller than usual are the number pad keys, which are narrow, but that’s typical for a 15 or 16-inch laptop that includes a number pad. The number pad keys remain large enough to use easily. A white keyboard backlight is standard, too, and by default turns on automatically when the keyboard is in use.
Key feel is solid but not special. Each key activates with good key travel and a definitive action that has some clicky tactile feel. It’s not much different than the keyboards on price-competitive laptops, but I think most people will find it comfortable to use for hours on end.
The touchpad measures about five inches wide and a little more than three inches deep, which is common for a laptop of this size. Some competitors like the Dell XPS 16, Apple’s MacBook Pro, and Razer Blade tend to offer larger touchpads, but they’re more expensive.
The Vivobook’s touchpad is greatly offset to the left of the laptop, though, to keep it centered below the spacebar. That can make the palm rest feel cramped on the left side of the laptop, as my palm came to rest on the left edge of the touchpad. Fortunately, I didn’t notice problems with unintended inputs caused by my left palm grazing the touchpad, which felt responsive and accurate the entire time I used it.
Asus Vivobook S 15: Display, audio
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
Asus ships the Vivobook S 15 with a 15.6-inch OLED display that has a 16:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 2880 x 1620. It’s a good display with few perks and quirks.
First, let’s talk about aspect ratio. The 16:9 aspect ratio is now uncommon among mid-range and high-end Windows laptops. Many have moved to use a 16:10 aspect ratio, which is slightly taller. Going back to 16:9 makes the display feel cramped when viewing web pages, documents, and other content that’s vertically oriented.
That aside, the display is beautiful in all the ways typical for an OLED panel. It benefits from an incredible contrast ratio that provides a realistic sense of depth and immersion, as well as a wide and vibrant color gamut that helps content grab your attention. Brightness, too, is solid.
HDR is a perk, as the display is VESA DisplayHDR True Black 600 certified. That’s a higher level certification than most competitors and gives HDR content a bit more impact on this laptop than on the Acer Swift Edge 16 and LG Gram 16.
The Vivobook S 15’s deliver enough volume at their maximum and offer a crisp, clear midrange in most situations, although music with a heavy bass line can cause some noticeable distortion. External speakers are still a big upgrade, but the laptop’s audio is good for a thin and light Windows laptop.
Asus Vivobook S 15: Webcam, microphone, biometrics
Every Asus Vivobook S 15 has a 1080p webcam with a maximum framerate of 30 frames per second. The camera has a wide field of view—which might be good or bad, depending on how you want to use it—and acceptable image quality. The camera picks up a clear image with good color reproduction but will still look rather soft and grainy, especially in a dimly lit room. However, it’s more than usable for most video calls, and much better than the 720p webcams that were common a few years ago.
The dual-microphone array is perfectly suited for video calls. It picked up good volume and presented my voice clearly. Background noise was greatly reduced, too: virtually none of the noises in my room, including a fan and low-volume music, made it into the recording.
As a Copilot Plus PC, the Vivobook S 15 benefits from AI-driven studio effects and noise cancellation. It can even caption and translate video on-the-fly. These features are available on other Copilot Plus PCs but, since the Vivobook S 15 is among the less expensive Copilot Plus PCs, it’s an affordable way to access them.
Biometric login is supported, too, though Windows Hello facial recognition. The feature is easy to set up and works in a wide variety of lighting conditions. A fingerprint reader is not included.
Asus Vivobook S 15: Connectivity
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
The Asus Vivobook S 15 has a good mix of forward-looking and legacy connectivity. It includes two USB-C 4 ports, both of which support DisplayPort Alternate Mode and USB Power Delivery, which means the USB-C ports can be used to connect to an external display or to charge the laptop. The laptop also ships with a USB-C charger that delivers up to 90 watts of power.
The laptop also has two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, so it’s easy to connect a wired keyboard and mouse. Additional ports include an HDMI 2.1 port, a 3.5mm combo audio jack, and a microSD card reader. This provides enough ports to handle both modern devices, most of which are going to use USB-C, and older devices that still rely on USB-A. The only port missing is Ethernet.
Most users will forgive that, however, because the laptop’s wireless connectivity is excellent. It supports Wi-Fi 7, which is the latest and quickest Wi-Fi standard available, and Bluetooth 5.4, which again is the newest version of that standard. The Vivobook S 15’s wireless connectivity is future-proof: it’ll likely be a decade, or more, before the laptop’s wireless connectivity becomes obsolete
Asus Vivobook S 15: Performance
The base Asus Vivobook S 15 has a Snapdragon X Plus chip with 10 processor cores, but the Vivbook S 15 I reviewed had an upgrade to the Snapdragon X Elite with 12 processor cores. The chip also has Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics. It’s a capable chip that can often defeat Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen processors, though not in every instance.
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
2438 / 14270
First up is Geekbench 6, a synthetic processor benchmark. Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite posted excellent multi-core scores in this test. That’s because the Snapdragon X Elite has 12 processor cores, none of which are “efficient” or “low-power” cores. Intel processors have higher core counts, but usually have more “efficient” cores than “performance” cores. AMD Ryzen processors don’t use “efficient” cores, but Ryzen mobile chips max out at eight cores, four less than the Snapdragon X Elite.
The Asus Vivobook S 15 is a bit slower in this test than some competitors, but the differences are so small they’re unlikely to matter in real-world use.
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
Cinebench R24, a heavily multithreaded benchmark, also posts excellent results on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X hardware. Going for a total of 12 performance cores pays off in any workload that leans heavily on multithreaded processor performance. You’d need to go for an Intel chip from the company’s more power-hungry lineup, like the Core i7-14700HX, to speed past this result, and no laptop with that processor will be as thin or light as the Asus Vivobook 15 S.
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
Now we move on to 3D benchmarks with 3DMark Time Spy and Night Raid. These tests are key. 3DMark Night Raid is Arm-native, meaning it is optimized to run well on Qualcomm chips (and others which use the Arm instruction set). Time Spy is not Arm-native, however, so it runs through Windows’ PRISM emulator.
The difference is stark. Qualcomm’s Adreno seems to, in theory, prove just as capable as the best Intel Arc and AMD Radeon integrated graphics solution—but that’s only true if a 3D game or application has an Arm native version. Adreno’s 3D performance inevitably falls behind in apps not optimized for it.
That, as I recently investigated with an in-depth test of over a dozen games, is a problem. A few Arm-native games exist, but Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store don’t distribute Windows on Arm games yet.
It’s worth remembering that the Vivobook S 15’s price of $1,299 currently puts it in league with laptops that have discrete graphics like the Asus Vivobook 16X OLED and Acer Swift X 16. It’s something of an apples-to-oranges comparison, because those alternatives are heavier and have far shorter battery life. However, it shows that if you want good 3D graphics performance at a mid-range price, the Vivobook S 15 is not for you.
Asus Vivobook S 15: Battery life
A sizable 70 watt-hour battery is found in the Asus Vivobook S 15. That, paired with the efficient Snapdragon X Elite processor, hints at outstanding battery life. The Vivobook S 15 doesn’t quite hit that mark, though its battery life is still strong.
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
The Vivobook S 15 endured roughly 15 and a half hours in our standard battery test, which loops a 4K file of the short film Tears of Steel. It’s a good result although, as the graph shows, it’s towards the lower end of what we’ve experienced with new Copilot Plus PCs that have Qualcomm Snapdragon X inside.
Real-world use mirrored the battery test. The Vivobook S 15 sips battery, but less so than some other laptops with Qualcomm hardware. Apple’s MacBooks with Apple Silicon can last longer, and a rare handful of Windows laptops with AMD Ryzen 8000-series chips are nearly as efficient.
Asus Vivobook S 15: Conclusion
The Asus Vivobook S 15 is a competent entry into the Copilot Plus PC arena, but one that struggles to stand out from the alternatives. It delivers good performance, long battery life, and a nice mix of wired and wireless connectivity—but the same is generally true of other Copilot Plus PCs. I’m also not a fan of Asus’ ho-hum design, which isn’t fitting for what should be a flagship laptop. The Vivobook S 15 is a good pick if you want a thin and light 15-inch machine, though, and defeats alternatives like the Acer Swift Edge 16 and LG Gram 16.
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