PC World

Antivirus is a lot more than just antivirus these days, but you don’t have to fork over a hefty premium to get extra protections, even if it’s popular software. Just take today’s AVG Ultimate deal at Newegg — you can pay an incredibly low $18 to protect all your family’s gear for a whole two years. ...

USB-C cables get no respect. Most people shop for the lowest-priced cable and call it a day under the assumption that they are all the same. They’re not though, and here’s how I weed out the good cables from the bad cables in the review process. ...

A fresh PC usually feels shiny and exciting, except when it comes packed with extra software that you never asked for—like a trial of McAfee’s antivirus software. Inevitably, the evaluation period ends, and with it begins an onslaught of notifications asking you sign up for a paid subscription. Heck, sometimes the reminders begin long before the expiration date. ...

Microsoft is pushing advertising into every possible corner of Windows 11 that it can find, and the Start menu is definitely not a safe space. We reported a few weeks ago that Windows Insider builds were showing “Promoted” applications once again. In a shockingly short amount of time, that function has been pushed into the current Windows 11 wide release build. ...

Humans are terrible at passwords. Simply put, we suck at creating them, we can never remember them, and we share them way too freely. Indeed, the very thing that can ensure our online security has become our biggest obstacle to it. And if you think you have good reasons not to use a password manager, here is why you’re wrong. ...

Ugh, Alienware, you’re killing me here. I’m trying to save up for some new kayak gear, and you’re pushing your OLED ultrawide gaming monitor prices down to the lowest we’ve ever seen. Specifically, Best Buy has the Alienware AW3423DWF, our current pick for the best gaming monitor you can buy, for just $777.77. ...

Wondering what the numbering system for the next-gen AMD CPU you buy for your AM5 system will be called? Me too — frankly the names and numbers for modern CPUs make my head spin. But we have reliable information that the company is going with “Ryzen 9000” as the family name for the upcoming models, widely expected to debut later this year. ...

OLED monitors are the cream of the crop when it comes to gaming, and Samsung makes one of the biggest, widest ones out there. The Odyssey OLED G9 is 49 inches of super-saturated, perfect-black glory, but it doesn’t come cheap, with a regular retail price of $1799. But today Amazon is offering it at one of the best prices we’ve seen yet, just $1099. ...

When it comes to a lot of mechanical keyboard enthusiasts, smaller is better. A mainstream gaming company like Corsair isn’t going to be popping out keyboards without a number row, but this K70 Pro Mini Wireless RGB is about as small as you can find on a store shelf at 60 percent layout. At launch it went for over $150, but today you can pick one up at Amazon for just $63.99. ...

Gamers, as Samuel L. Jackson once famously said, you better hold onto your butts. If you’ve been looking around for a powerful yet affordable gaming laptop, you’re in luck, as we’ve unearthed an absolutely killer deal today. Dell’s selling the Alienware m16 for $1,049.99, which is a whopping $700 off of the original $1,749.99 price. ...

Qualcomm is now breaking down exactly how fast each of its new Snapdragon X Elite and Plus Arm processors are…but with a list of chips and a product number decoder that is virtually impenetrable to read, let alone say. Let’s face it: Processor naming schemes have become ridiculously complex. ...

An AI PC is the next big thing in PCs…or so a lot of companies would have you believe. But what is an AI PC, why should you buy one, and what — if anything — does an AI PC offer? While those answers are evolving over time, we can tell you what we know right now. ...

While there are many free office tools on the market, few utilities are as powerful as Microsoft Office. And right now, you don’t have to break the bank to get it. Now through 4/30, we’re offering Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows or Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac for $200 off. Rated 4. ...

It’s probably fair to say that the Generative Fill feature within Adobe Photoshop has utterly transformed my photo-editing workflow. Today, Adobe just made it better — and spun off several additional features that complement Generative Fill, too. ...

Many people believe that Microsoft will eventually provide a version of Copilot that will run within Windows right on your PC. Microsoft may have just tipped its hand with a new AI model, or LLM, that is specifically designed to run on local devices. On Monday, Microsoft introduced “Phi-3-mini,” a 3. ...

As CPU makers push microprocessors even faster, a PC’s memory must keep up as well. JEDEC, a key chip standards body, has responded by issuing a new DDR5 memory standard that pushes speeds up to 8800Mbps. Put another way, that means that PC memory speeds will increase from DDR5-6800 to DDR5-8800, eventually. ...

F5 to copy, F6 to move, or F8 to delete: At the time, these were important shortcuts for quick file management in Norton Commander. The former standard tool among file managers is long gone, but Midnight Commander offers you an adequate replacement. ...

Antivirus software is a necessary tool in today’s online world. Attacks are only becoming more sophisticated, especially with the continued rise of AI. Even the most tech-savvy and cautious among us can drop their guard at wrong time or get tricked into exposing themselves to a malware, spyware, or ransomware vulnerability. ...

You can’t really beat the versatility of a 2-in-1 laptop. You can swing the screen around 360 degrees and use it like a tablet or prop it up like a painter’s easel for watching movies or sharing a work presentation. If you’re interested in picking up such a machine, you’re in luck. Today you can get the HP Pavilion x360 for just $459. ...

At a GlanceExpert's Rating ProsFile backup, sync, and imaging in one programEasy interface1TB of online storage for $20 extra with yearly license, $30 with perpetual licenseConsMinor interface glitches and sloppinessDoesn’t support VHD/VHDX Online storage only usable via BackupperOur VerdictWith the addition of online storage, Aomei Backupper 7 can now compete with Acronis and ...

The days of floppy disks and burned CDs may be long gone, but every once in a while you still need just a huge bucket of external storage. The frustrating thing is that the bigger the drives and files get, the longer the transfers take over USB. ...

Windows 11 Moment 5 is currently the latest version of Windows 11, released on April’s Patch Tuesday. The update prepares for the update to Windows 11 version 24H2, which will be released later this year, and adds some new features intended to simplify and streamline everyday tasks in Windows. ...

Mini-ITX motherboards, which measure approximately 6.7 x 6.7 inches, are significantly smaller than Micro-ATX models measuring 9.6 x 9.6 inches. This smaller size makes Mini-ITX ideal for tiny computers that are even suitable for travelling, but offer fewer features and limited expansion options compared to Micro-ATX. Mini-ITX usually only has a single PCIe x16 slot, a maximum of two M. ...

At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsAffordableDecent battery lifeGood display visibilityConsBig and bulkyCheap buildLimited performanceOur VerdictThe Acer Aspire Go 15 (2024) isn’t much to look at, but it plods along without much fuss, only struggling when demand is put on the meager integrated graphics or too much CPU horsepower is called for. ...

Every dog owner wants to give their pooch the best life possible. Sometimes to do so, it helps to know more about your dog than just what’s on the surface. That’s where the DNA My Dog Essential Breed ID Test comes in. This intuitive genetic test for dogs is painless, quick, and it’s on sale for 15% off now. ...

Atlas VPN, a smaller but well-liked VPN service, is set to close operations on April 24. All current paid subscribers will be transferred to its sister company, NordVPN. It’s just one in a long line of VPNs that have been absorbed by larger security services in recent years. ...

Zoom has quickly established itself as one of the leading platforms for videoconferencing, remote working, and helping people survive lockdowns during a global pandemic. ...

Going abroad this summer? You’ll have more fun if you know how to speak some of the language of your destination. With Babbel Language Learning, you can iron down the basics in as little as 30 days. For a limited time, we’re offering a lifetime subscription for $450 off. ...