neonnextor/Shutterstock High refresh rate monitors have traditionally been aimed at gamers, but they have a broader appeal. Device manufacturers like Apple and Samsung have started including displays with high refresh rates in their tablets and phones. So, should you get one for your office computer, as well? What Is a High Refresh Rate Monitor? A monitor’s refresh rate is the number…
Ekkaphan Chimpalee/Shutterstock Brands often slap a “gaming” label on products to charge extra for their supposed performance benefits. Skepticism aside, some gamer-focused products can deliver a genuinely superior experience that’s worth paying for. Gamers aren’t the only people who can benefit, either. High-Refresh-Rate Monitors AOC A monitor’s refresh rate, measured in hertz (Hz), is the number of times the display…
DUO Studio/Shutterstock If you’ve bought a new 4K monitor recently, you might have been puzzled by the array of ports on the back. HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, and Thunderbolt are all commonplace now, but which is the best, and why? HDMI 2.1: The All-Rounder High Definition Multimedia Interface, or HDMI, is the most common display interface today. It’s used in televisions…
Chaay_Tee/Shutterstock Good webcams can be hard to find. Fortunately, you can use many digital cameras as makeshift webcams. If you have a high-end mirrorless or DSLR camera, you’ll even get a big boost in video quality for your online meetings. Using Your Camera as a Webcam The ability to use your camera as a webcam is largely dependent on which camera…
Benj Edwards In a world where rapidly changing technology feels increasingly disposable, one thing remains constant in my computer setup: my 34-year-old IBM 101-key Enhanced Keyboard, commonly known as the Model M. Here’s why I’ll never give up its clicky keys and ideal layout. Origins of the Model M An IBM patent diagram of the buckling spring actuator in use.…
Microsoft Teraflops: they’re all anyone wants to talk about when the upcoming Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 consoles are mentioned. This is because Microsoft and Sony are bragging about big performance boosts thanks, in part, to an increase in teraflops. Consoles vs. PCs: The Beasts in the Den The Xbox Series X GPU is based on AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture and will…
Arjuna Kodisinghe/Shutterstock.com A headless server is a computer without a monitor, keyboard, mouse, or other peripherals. Headless computers are normally controlled over the network. For example, picture the computers sitting on racks in data centers while powering websites. Those are headless servers. What Does “Headless” Mean? A “headless” computer system is just one without a local interface. There’s no monitor…
goffkein.pro/Shutterstock You probably don’t clean your mouse and keyboard very often, but you should. It’s especially important if you share a computer with others. Right now, it could also prevent the transmission of COVID-19. Cleaning your computer peripherals takes virtually no time at all, and it can prevent you and others from getting sick. You can even use the same…
Apple Apple unveiled a new iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard with a trackpad in March 2020. This is the first time Apple’s pushed a trackpad for iPads. It reminded us of the company’s first laptop with a trackpad: the Powerbook 500 series, released 26 years ago. Considering the historic nature of this release, we thought it might be fun to take…
Alina Troeva/Shutterstock.com Smartphones are germ magnets at the best of times. With the spread of the novel coronavirus, they’re a potential vector for infection. The virus can potentially live on your phone’s screen for days. Up to 96 Hours, as Far as We Know The CDC says it may be possible to get COVID-19 if you touch a surface that has…