E Ink vs. LCD: Which Screen is Best For Reading?
There are two big choices when it comes to reading eBooks. You can go with either a dedicated eReader, like a Kindle Paperwhite, or a tablet with an LCD screen, like an iPad — but which is best?
How to Reduce Data Usage When Browsing the Web on a Smartphone
When you don’t have unlimited mobile data on your Android or iPhone, every megabyte counts. Mobile browsers like Google Chrome and Opera offer a built in data compression feature, allowing you to browse with less data....
Yes, It’s Okay to Shut Down Your Computer With the Power Button
Many computer users were trained never to turn their PCs off by pressing the power button on their desktop PC’s case. This used to cause problems in the previous millennium, but it’s now perfectly safe to shut dow...
3 Free Ways to Remotely Connect to Your Mac’s Desktop
Apple sells Apple Remote Desktop on the Mac App Store for $80, but you don’t have to spend any money to remotely connect to your Mac. There are free solutions — including one built into your Mac....
How to Remove The Hidden Personal Information Microsoft Office Adds to Your Documents
Microsoft Office saves hidden metadata in your Office documents, including how long you’ve been working on them, the name of everyone who’s worked on the document, when the document was created, and even previous ...
What is the Malicious Software Removal Tool and Do I Need It?
Once a month, a new version of the Malicious Software Removal tool appears in Windows Update. This tool removes some malware from Windows systems, particularly those systems without antivirus programs installed....
Keyloggers Explained: What You Need to Know
A keylogger is a piece of software — or, even scarier, a hardware device — that logs every key you press on your keyboard. It can capture personal messages, passwords, credit card numbers, and everything else you ...
5 Tips For Navigating the Windows 8 Desktop With Touch
Windows 8’s desktop hasn’t seen many improvements for touch use, but even 8-inch Windows tablets have a desktop. If you have to use the desktop with your finger, these tips will help you avoid frustration....
How to Connect a Headset to a Laptop, Tablet, or Smartphone With a Single Audio Jack
Many laptops now include a combined headphone and microphone jack instead of two separate audio jacks. This trend started with smartphones and tablets, but has spread to MacBooks, ultrabooks, and convertibles like Microsoft&#...
ARM vs. Intel: What It Means for Windows, Chromebook, and Android Software Compatibility
Intel x86 or x64 processors have traditionally been found in laptops and desktops, while ARM processors have been found in lower-power embedded devices, smartphones, and tablets. But you can now buy laptops with ARM chips and...
How to Troubleshoot Wireless Router Problems
Are you having a problem with your Internet connection or Wi-Fi? Whatever the problem — from a flaky connection to Wi-Fi troubles or even no access to the Internet at all — some router troubleshooting could fix th...
How To Tell If a Virus Is Actually a False Positive
A false positive is a mistake that happens occasionally — the antivirus thinks a download is harmful when it’s actually safe. But malicious people may try to trick you into downloading malware with this assurance....
10 Things You Need to Know About Windows 8.1
Windows 8 was very different from Windows 7, but change is only speeding up — Windows 8.1 has seen quite a few changes since Windows 8. You’ll have new things to learn, whichever which version of Windows you’...
How to Use the Chrome OS Desktop on Windows 8 (and Why It Exists)
Chrome 32 now offers a new feature on Windows 8: A full-screen, Chrome OS-style desktop mode. The Chrome app launcher can bring Chrome OS to the Windows desktop, but Chrome can now replace the Windows desktop entirely....
How to Use the SteamOS Desktop
Valve’s SteamOS is a living-room operating system you can install yourself, but it will start shipping on Steam Machines later this year. While SteamOS is intended as a living-room operating system, it actually has a fu...
USB 2.0 vs. USB 3.0: Should You Upgrade Your Flash Drives?
New computers have now been coming with USB 3.0 ports for years. But just how much faster is USB 3.0? Will you see a big speed improvement if you upgrade your old USB 2.0 flash drives?
Beginner Geek: How to Configure Your Router
If you have Internet access, you probably have a router — and your router has its own settings screens full of options. Everyone should know how to use their router’s web interface, if only to configure their Wi-F...
Is Windows Update Broken? 5 Broken Updates Microsoft Released In 2013
What happened to Windows Update in 2013? Quality control seems to be suffering as Microsoft scrambles to update their software faster than ever. They’ve released quite a few buggy and broken Windows Updates this year....
Why Microsoft’s Scroogled Ads Are Wrong About Chromebooks
Microsoft’s Scroogled campaign is wrong about Chromebooks. Chromebooks definitely aren’t for everyone, but they’re not completely useless either. And Chromebooks have more in common with Microsoft’s vi...
How to Dual Boot Windows and SteamOS
Valve’s SteamOS is a living-room gaming operating system based on desktop Linux. It’s currently in beta, but you can install it yourself on almost any computer thanks to Ye Olde SteamOSe, a modification of the Ste...
Why Browser Plug-Ins Are Going Away and What’s Replacing Them
Browser plug-ins are on their way out. Apple’s iOS has never supported plug-ins, Flash is long-discontinued for Android, and the new version of IE for Windows 8 doesn’t support most plug-ins. Chrome will soon be b...
5 Ways to Get Windows 7 On Your New PC
Yes, Windows 7 is still available. If you want a new PC and you also want Windows 7, you can probably get it. This is easiest for businesses, but even home users have ways to get Windows 7.
Lock Down Your Wi-Fi Network With Your Router’s Wireless Isolation Option
Some routers have a Wireless isolation, AP Isolation, Station Isolation, or Client Isolation feature that allows you to lock down your Wi-Fi network. This feature is ideal for businesses with public Wi-Fi networks or anyone w...
5 Terrible Cellular Carrier Practices That Are Changing
We’ve written about all the different ways cellular carriers are gouging you, from long, expensive contracts to $22,000 bills for roaming data. Believe it or not, some of these terrible practices are actually changing....
Why Using a Public Wi-Fi Network Can Be Dangerous, Even When Accessing Encrypted Websites
There are a few big problems with using a public Wi-Fi network. The open nature of the network allows for snooping, the network could be full of compromised machines, or — most worryingly — the hotspot itself co...
