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Find computer hardware news, reviews and buying advice concerning everything from desktop computers, laptops, and tablets to solid-state drives (SSD) and processors.
  • Question

    Will it void my AppleCare warranty if I install RAM myself?

    Posted April 30, 2013 - 1:26 pm

    Does it have any impact on warranty coverage if you upgrade RAM on your own? I've seen how high the repair costs can be on a Mac Pro, and I don't want an unpleasant surprise later if something goes wrong with it.
  • Question

    Could $200 Android netbooks replace traditional laptops?

    Posted April 29, 2013 - 4:59 pm

    Intel has confirmed that they are going to launch a line of $200 touch-screen notebooks in the coming months. We've been hearing about the "death of the PC" for a while now, but I have to wonder, could this be the silver bullet that actually does it? Would you replace your traditional laptop with an Intel/Android netbook?
  • Question

    Can i have a SSD + Hybrid combination in my laptop?

    Posted April 27, 2013 - 9:42 am

    I have a Toshiba Qosmio x870-144 gaming laptop. It has a 128GB SSD and a 1TB 5400 RPM HDD.

  • Question

    How can I fix a stuck pixel on an LCD screen?

    Posted April 18, 2013 - 2:22 pm

    I have a couple stuck pixels on one of my displays, and it drives me crazy. It's a little thing, but I cannot look at the screen without it being as noticeable as a fire truck driving by with its siren on 11 while all the firemen toss $50s out the windows.
  • Question

    How much will the PS4 launch price be?

    Posted April 17, 2013 - 9:07 pm

    Any guesses on what Sony's Playstation 4 will cost when it launches? Blogger Peter Smith speculates on the price point here:

    http://www.itworld.com/personal-tech/352709/thoughtful-speculation-ps4-p...

  • Question

    Will the Leap Motion replace the touchpad?

    Posted April 16, 2013 - 11:50 am

    Both HP and Asus are going to build the Leap Motion into their hardware. I generally dislike the touch pad on laptop, and almost always carry around a mouse when I am out and about with it.
  • Question

    What is a case with good cooling characteristics?

    Posted April 11, 2013 - 4:05 pm

    I'm putting together a PC that will be used for some pretty heavy CAD/CAM use and want to use a case that will help keep everything inside nice and cool. I'm talking about air cooling, just to be clear. I was thinking about a Cooler Master HAF 932, but I'm open to other choices.
  • Question

    Are third-party replacement batteries for laptops as good as OEMs?

    Posted April 10, 2013 - 4:05 pm

    My personal laptop, a 2-year old Compaq, has a battery that has "gone bad." It won't hold a charge for more than 3-4 minutes, which pretty much makes my laptop a marginal desktop with a crummy keyboard at this point. I was looking at replacement batteries, and I can get some replacements for 50% of what an OEM replacement will cost.
  • Question

    How do you print iphone text messages on pc

    Posted April 4, 2013 - 11:59 am

    Hi I would like to print out a number of text messages from my iphone. Is this possible. If yes, how do I achieve this. I understand that I could do a screenshot, transfer the screenshot to my computer and then print the image, however, this is a tedious task and i am looking for an alternative method.
  • Question

    What's the difference between USB 2.0 and 3.0?

    Posted April 4, 2013 - 11:55 am

    Also, is there backwards compatibility with USB 3.0 and 2.0?
  • Question

    Facebook phone - What's the point?

    Posted April 1, 2013 - 10:45 am

    I put this in the category of rumors that would never become reality, but apparently Facebook is actually coming out with their own hardware. I have to ask why? Every smartphone I know of has a Facebook app, or at least there is one available. What more can Facebook do?
  • Question

    Is it worthwhile to add a Thunderbolt port to a PC?

    Posted March 25, 2013 - 1:47 pm

    When buying new PCs, is it worth the additional cost to buy machines with Thunderbolt ports in addition to USB 3.0? How widespread is Thunderbolt adoption?
  • Question

    Do PCs have automatic protection against overheating?

    Posted March 22, 2013 - 4:34 pm

    I was using my Compaq laptop literally on my lap, and running a pretty graphics intensive program. After a while, it shut down. I thought about it and realized the way I had been holding it had blocked the vents, and it was pretty warm to the touch. I waiting a little while and restarted it, and everything seems to be fine.
  • Question

    For a creative designer, which could be the better option to get a new computer?

    Posted March 21, 2013 - 2:42 pm

    could be MacBook pro Retina? if so, which processor?
  • Question

    Which is the better choice - Hybrid Drive or SSD?

    Posted March 15, 2013 - 2:37 pm

    I was thinking about replacing a bad HDD on a desktop with an SSD or hybrid drive. Is there a compelling reason to go with the hybrid, or would an SSD be the better choice?
  • Question

    How to calibrate a display?

    Posted March 11, 2013 - 1:09 pm

    How can I make sure the color/brightness/contrast/etc. of my monitor is calibrated properly? I don't want to waste time trying to balance everything for my monitor only to find out I've been changing images to compensate for my incorrectly calibrated display.
  • Question

    Do you still need a video card if you don't use your PC for gaming?

    Posted March 4, 2013 - 2:55 pm

    Are video cards still necessary in PCs, or have they become an unnecessary expense if you don't use your computer to play games?
  • Question

    How can I physically connect a keyboard to an Android phone?

    Posted February 22, 2013 - 2:45 pm

    I have an Android phone that is running 2.3 Gingerbread. Yeah, I know I'm kickin' it old school. I can seem to find a bluetooth keyboard that will work with it. I've seen USB keyboards for Android, but I can't seem to find one of those that is compatible for me either. Can I just get a USB keyboard and make it work?
  • Question

    Help with jailbreaking Iphone 3gs and IOS 6.0.1

    Posted February 16, 2013 - 2:21 pm

    I have an unlocked phone. I tried to use redsn0w and its giving me a message saying "missing keys.plist data for this build" What is that and how can I fix this immediately". Thanks.
  • Question

    How to recover router password?

    Posted January 30, 2013 - 2:14 pm

    The person who set the password on our router left the company and now no one can find the password. Is there a way to recover the password, or are am I going to have to go to the router store? It's a Linksys unit, incidentally. Thanks.
  • Question

    How to protect against ESD?

    Posted January 15, 2013 - 1:29 pm

    We have been using those mats with the tethered wrist straps to protect against electrostatic discharge (ESD), but everyone just takes them off or forgets to reattach when they change workstations. What would be an effective alternative to prevent ESD damage?
  • Question

    Why need Internet Connection for Playback Blu-ray on Mac?

    Posted December 27, 2012 - 11:36 pm

    I know external BD drive is necessary for read Blu-ray on Mac. I check all the Mac blu-ray player software and found that they all need Internet Connection when playback Blu-ray.  Here i just wan to know the reason for this. And is there any way i can avoid this limitation?
  • Question

    What can I do with an old laptop?

    Posted December 26, 2012 - 11:37 am

    I got a nice new laptop for Christmas (Thanks, dear!). Now I have an extra, dated, but still functional laptop, and I'm wondering what to do with it. It's a 3ish year old Windows 7 Lenovo with a 1.6Ghz CPU and 4GB of internal RAM. I don't want to just toss it, which would actually mean I have to pay the city $10 to recycle it.
  • Question

    Best drawing tablets for artists?

    Posted December 14, 2012 - 12:46 pm

    My little brother is to head off to college next fall to pursue a BFA. I was thinking about getting him a drawing tablet to use with his Mac as a Christmas present, but I honestly have no idea what to look for. Actually, I guess I shouldn't ask what is the "best" drawing tablet, but what is a good one that doesn't cost too much.
  • Question

    Cisco Aironet 2600 vs 3500 ?

    Posted December 13, 2012 - 9:15 pm

    Which one is better? All my research says that the 2600 will deliever the same performance as the 3500 at a lower cost. The 3600 however would be a sweet deal since it will support a module to have 802.11ac in the future.   What are your thoughts?
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