APRIL 2018
GALAXY
S9
FAMILIAR, YET
ACTUALLY BETTER
IN ALL THE RIGHT
PLACES
IWitnessBullying.org
CONTENTS
APRIL 2018
» DEPARTMENTS » FEATURES
ƺ News
Ƽƴ Here’s How
EDITORIAL
EXECUTIVE EDITORS Melissa Riofrio, Gordon Mah Ung
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COPY EDITOR Sue Voelkel
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DESIGNER Rob Woodcock
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SALES MANAGER Duane Hampson (415/978-3133)
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FOUNDER David Bunnell
FOUNDING EDITOR Andrew Fluegelman
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YO U C AN
DON’T WAIT. COMMUNICATE.
Talk to your loved ones about how you are
going to be ready in an emergency.
VISIT READY.GOV/PLAN.
News TECH NEWS AND TRENDS THAT WILL
AFFECT YOU TODAY AND BEYOND.
I
ntel’s revised patches for its Ivy Bridge With the release of the new code, just a
and Sandy Bridge processor families few older processor families remain in the
have begun rolling out to address patch queue.
Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities. According to Intel’s microcode update
M
icrosoft expects that the as a mode of Windows 10 (go.pcworld.com/
“majority of customers” will w10m) only very recently—was made by Joe
enjoy Windows 10 in its new Belfiore, who told me (go.pcworld.com/
S mode, Microsoft’s mhtw) via Twitter that he expected the
corporate vice president of Windows wrote in transition to take place in 2019. Belfiore’s blog
a recent blog post. post set an even more aggressive timetable,
The stunning endorsement of Windows claiming that customers would be able to buy
10’s S mode—which was formally confirmed a PC with Windows 10 S mode at or near the
time when the next feature update to months, so check back here for updates,”
Windows 10 drops. That update, known as Belfiore added.
Redstone 4, is expected to appear on PCs in In some recent comments on Twitter,
early April. Belfiore characterized Windows 10’s S mode
But for those who don’t want Windows as the “‘low-hassle’/ guaranteed performance
10’s S mode, there’s another important version” of Windows. Belfiore called out the
change: Whether customers opt for a PC with security, faster boot time, better battery life,
Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, or a and consistent performance that Windows
commercial version, the upgrade from S 10’s S mode produces. Windows 10’s S mode
mode to the full versions of Windows 10 will blocks the operating system from using
be free. traditional Win32 apps, allowing only apps
“Starting with the next update to Windows from the Windows Store instead.
10, coming soon, customers can choose to Belfiore reiterated that positioning in his
buy a new Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 blog post, calling Windows 10’s S mode a
Pro PC with S mode enabled, and commercial Windows experience that was “streamlined
customers will be able to deploy Windows 10 for security and performance across all our
Enterprise with S mode enabled,” Belfiore editions.”
wrote (go.pcworld.com/jblf). It’s unclear whether PC makers will offer
Whether Windows 10’s S mode is the Windows 10’s S mode as a configurable
default mode (go.pcworld.com/10sm) for option, though that seems likely. What we
new Windows 10 PCs seems like a moot now know, though, is that Windows 10’s S
question at this point. Though just the Surface mode is far more important to Microsoft than
Laptop and a small number of educational it originally seemed.
devices use Windows 10 S, Belfiore made a
bold claim: “We expect the majority of Why this matters: Belfiore’s bold claims
customers to enjoy the benefits of Windows about the projected market share for
10 in S mode,” he wrote. Windows 10 S/Windows 10’s S mode could
Microsoft clearly expects new devices to potentially change the market dramatically. If
use Windows 10 S in the future. Though over 50 percent of the market uses Windows
Belfiore didn’t provide details, he did say 10’s S mode, traditional UWP apps and
there are more than twenty devices with upcoming Progressive Web Apps will
Windows 10 S enabled. “We expect to see become far more important within the
new Windows 10 devices ship with S mode, Microsoft ecosystem. Who knows what the
available from our partners in the coming future may hold?
A
MD released Radeon Software Radeon has left its dark days of buggy, late
Adrenalin Edition 18.3.1 late on software far in the rearview mirror, but
March 19 with support for Final newfound optimizations for e-sports games
Fantasy XV Windows Edition are even more intriguing.
(go.pcworld.com/ffxv) and Warhammer: Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition 18.3.1
Vermintide 2 (go.pcworld.com/whv2). marks the debut of Project ReSX (“Radeon
Providing day-one drivers for such hotly eSports Experience”). “The goal of this project
anticipated games proves yet again that was to optimize the performance of some of
H
uawei’s Matebook X Pro is what 3,000x2,000-pixel display that takes after the
happens when designers boil Surface Book line, the 13.9-inch notebook will
down Microsoft’s Surface Book be sold in three configurations, with prices
line to its essentials, sprinkling a beginning at 1,499 Euros ($1,845 USD).
bit of paranoia on top for extra flavor. Huawei will ship it to North America this
Huawei’s flagship notebook improves spring, the company said.
upon the Huawei Matebook X that the Three features distinguish the Matebook X
company launched last year. Now with a Pro. First, the company is offering a discrete
• Core i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB NVMe Display: 13.9 inches LTPS (3,000x2,000);
SSD: 1,499 Euro/$1,842 450 nits, 100% sRGB color
• Core 15 CPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe CPU: Core i7-8550U/Core i5-8250U
SSD: 1,699 Euro/$2,088 8th-gen Core processors (Kaby Lake-R)
• Core i7 CPU 16GB, 512GB NVMe SSD: GPU: Nvidia GeForce MX150, 2 GB GDDR5
1,899 Euro/$2,334 Memory: 8GB/16GB LPDDR3
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PC makers including Dell, Lenovo, and Microsoft are already laying plans to offer
high-speed wireless late next year. BY MARK HACHMAN
W
ith the first deployments of available during the second half of 2019.
5G high-speed wireless That’s about the same time that Intel plans to
technology within the U.S. begin shipping its XMM 8000 commercial
scheduled for later this modems, marking the company’s entrance
year, Intel and its PC partners are already into the 5G market.
thinking about the next step: rolling out Intel will show off a prototype of the new
5G-equipped PCs late in 2019. 5G-connected PC at the Mobile World
Intel, along with Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Congress show in Barcelona. In addition the
Microsoft said recently that the companies company will demonstrate data streaming
expect the first 5G Windows PCs to become over the 5G network. At its stand, Intel said
W
ith this year’s I/O still on starting with the Google Pixel 3. Here are five
the horizon, Google has things we learned from the first developer
given us our first sneak preview:
peak at Android P (go.
pcworld.com/andp), and there’s a lot to 1. IT WILL PROBABLY HAVE
digest. While it’s light on major front-facing A NOTCH
features, there are a lot of changes that will It was previously rumored (go.pcworld.com/
impact flagship phones in 2018 and beyond, ntch) that Android P would include support
5. IT WILL
BE EVEN
SMARTER AND
MORE AWARE
Google’s smartphones
are already loaded with
AI intelligence, but
Notifications (right) will get more aware in Android P, but the killer feature
Android P could
could be indoor mapping (left). seriously raise the Pixel
3 IQ. Google is
Gmail, Maps, Messages, and other Google expanding support for its TensorFlow-
apps and make the overall experience that powered neural network directly into Android
much more pleasant. P, which means its on-device machine
learning engine will become even more
4. INDOOR MAPPING powerful. But what we’re most interested in is
COULD BE THE KILLER what Google isn’t putting in Android P.
FEATURE Google launched Assistant with the original
With the Pixel 2, Google delivered a cool Pixel and Google Lens with the Pixel 2, so we
feature called Now Playing that automatically can’t wait to see what it has in store for the
displays the name of any song it hears, but the Pixel 3.
Pixel 3 could have an even cooler trick up its
sleeve: Automatic indoor mapping. Android
P is providing support for the IEEE 802.11mc Google’s smartphones are
Wi-Fi protocol, better known as Wi-Fi Round- already loaded with AI
Trip-Time, which will use nearby Wi-Fi access intelligence, but Android P
points to pinpoint your phone’s location could seriously raise the
within 1-2 meters even if GPS is blocked by Pixel 3 IQ.
H
ot on the heels of the recent handwriting of Myst mainstay Atrus. The
Firmament (go.pcworld.com/ message, in its entirety: “Perhaps the
frmt) announcement, Cyan ending has not yet been written…” This
teased another project in the was then followed up by a shot of the Myst
works. This year marks the 25th anniversary Island linking book, a pen, and a sticky
of Myst, and it looks like Cyan’s preparing… note with 25 on it, underlined. Hmm?
something. Hard to say what, exactly, It didn’t take long for the theories to
but something. start flying.
It all started when Cyan’s Twitter But according to a fresh post on Myst.com
account showed a series of messages (go. (go.pcworld.com/myst), there’s news, of
pcworld.com/atrs) in the familiar sorts. It looks like Cyan has reacquired the
rights (or at least come to some sort of With agreements in place, we’re happy to
licensing deal) for all of the Myst games— announce that we’ll be releasing updated
including Myst III: Exile and Myst IV: (for Windows 10) versions of all the Myst
Revelation, the two that were developed games later this year!”
in-house by Ubisoft and thus have been pretty
much impossible to obtain (legally) for the last Whether these will be remasters or just
decade or so. From the announcement: versions designed to run with minimal fuss
on Windows 10, no word yet. There’s also
“As an indie developer, resources are some sort of Collector’s Edition in the
limited for development, and acquiring works, too—specifically, “a physical
rights isn’t always an option. But we collection in a unique package with a cool
managed to finally talk to all the right artifact.” Look for more details on that at
people and departments and put some some point in the future.
funding together to try to make it happen. Exciting!
I
f the first round of test results is an On the display side, Raymond Soneira of
indication, the iPhone X’s (go.pcworld. DisplayMate (go.pcworld.com/rsdm)
com/ixfq) reign as the best handset in concludes the Galaxy S9 has “the most
the world could be coming to an end. innovative and high performance smartphone
DisplayMate and DxOMark, two of the most display that we have ever lab tested.” Among
respected names in smartphone testing, the records it broke was absolute color
have put the Galaxy S9’s (go.pcworld.com/ accuracy, where it scored a mark “visually
sms9) display and camera through a litany indistinguishable from perfect,” and peak
of paces, and the results might surprise brightness with 1,130 nits. DisplayMate says the
some Apple fans. Galaxy S9 is the first phone to receive Very
Good to Excellent ratings in every category. X’s A11 Bionic chip by a wide margin. In
On the camera side, DxOMark (go. single-core floating point performance as
pcworld.com/dxmk) gave the Galaxy S9+ a measured by GeekBench 4, the iPhone X
record score of 99, besting the iPhone X’s 97. posted a 3,958 while the Galaxy S9 barely
In its conclusion, it found the S9+ “is a topped 2,000.
smartphone without any real weaknesses in The Galaxy S9 is available to buy now at
the camera department. In both still and go.pcworld.com/bys9.
video modes, it performs well across the
board, delivering consistently good photo Why this matters: Apple and Samsung fans
and video image quality in all light and have been fighting forever over which
shooting situations, thus earning itself our smartphone is superior, and the results here
highest DxOMark Mobile score to date.” aren’t going to silence either side. The Galaxy
In particular, DxOMark found the Galaxy S9 might technically best the iPhone X in the
S9+ excelled in noise reduction, delivering display and camera tests here, but we’re
crisp, clean pictures even in very low-lit talking inches, not feet, and in most areas
situations, thanks to its wider f/1.5 aperture. the two phones are on a very even plane.
In comparison shots, the iPhone X captured Both phones are tops in their field but we
“noticeably grainier images,” with the Galaxy don’t think many Apple fans are going to
S9 able to “squeeze more visible detail out of be jumping over the walled garden to
the scene.” The only real downside to speak get one.
of came with slight variations of
exposure when comparing
multiple shots of the same scene,
an issue that affected the iPhone X
as well.
But one area where the iPhone
X trounced the Galaxy S9 was in
speed tests. AnandTech (go.
pcworld.com/atch) ran a series of
benchmark tests on the Samsung-
made Exynos 9810 version of the
Galaxy S9 (which should perform
better than the Snapdragon 845)
and found that it trailed the iPhone The iPhone X wins big in speed tests against the Galaxy S9.
Lola Silvestri, SINCE 1921. Conversation and good company are her domain.
Now, she and 1 in 6 seniors face the threat of hunger and millions more
live in isolation. So pop by, drop off a hot meal and say a warm hello.
Volunteer for Meals on Wheels at AmericaLetsDoLunch.org
AMERICA,
LET’S DO LUNCH TM
Asha Ida Bell, SINCE 1937. Her life’s work is about helping the hopeless find
hope. Now, she and 1 in 6 seniors face the threat of hunger and millions
more live in isolation. So pop by, drop off a hot meal and say a warm hello.
Volunteer for Meals on Wheels at AmericaLetsDoLunch.org
TESTED IN PCWORLD LABS
Reviews & Ratings WE PUT HARDWARE & SOFTWARE
THROUGH RIGOROUS TESTING
6DPVXQJ*DOD[\6Ƽ
Incrementally better in all
the right places
Don’t judge a book by its cover or its gimmicky features. BY MICHAEL SIMON
S
amsung’s Galaxy S9 is a strange replaces. In fact, it’s so much like its
breed of smartphone. With a predecessor, issues we might normally
Snapdragon 845 processor, overlook become all the more obvious
great camera, and 18:9 screen, this second time around.
it has all the trappings of a fantastic 2018 Samsung’s hook with the Galaxy S9 is a
handset. Yet, at the same time, it’s “reimagined” camera, but the camera’s new
remarkably similar to the Galaxy S8 that it features—namely Dual Aperture, Super
Home is completely
useless. It’s essentially a
lamer version of the
Google Pixel’s
personalized feed, and
there’s little reason to visit
it on a regular basis, let
alone have a shortcut
dedicated to it.
That Samsung months
ago added a toggle to
disable the Bixby button
on the S8 (and it’s here on
the S9 as well) is a An apple a day keeps the Google Assistant away.
testament to how little
people use it. I have to wonder why Samsung which taps into Azumio’s database to provide
didn’t offer an option on the S9 to launch basic nutritional info. However, that process
Bixby Vision with the button instead is hit-or-miss. It initially thought a banana was
(especially because the icon is visible only in a plantain (close enough, I guess), and
Auto mode in the Camera app, and not so mistook an avocado for a kabocha squash.
easy to find). But, overall, it’s a neat addition to Bixby’s
Once you do locate it, Bixby Vision on the toolbox.
S9 is vastly improved over
the S8’s version, with
real-time translation, and
image scanning that’s
both quicker and more
accurate. It’s a bit more
like the Assistant-powered
version of Google Lens,
scanning objects rather
than needing to snap a pic
first. The coolest new
feature is food scanning, Bixby is much better on the S9, but it still doesn’t need its own button.
GEEKBENCH (SINGLE-
CORE/MULTI-CORE)
Galaxy S8: 1848/6193 The S9 has the same battery as its predecessor, but it squeezes more
Galaxy S9: 2392/8219 juice out of it.
In extreme low light, the Galaxy S9’s f/1.5 aperture (left) captured images that are brighter and clearer
than the S8+ (center) and Pixel 2 XL (right) achieved.
APPLE’S ANIMOJI
HAS A COMPETITOR
IN AR EMOJI
Ever since Apple unveiled
Animoji on iPhone X, it was just My AR Emoji isn’t exactly a spitting image, but it’s definitely me.
a matter of time until Samsung
developed some kind of a response. Right on and other Disney characters will be arriving
cue, the S9 delivers a feature called AR Emoji, soon to Samsung’s platform. But Samsung’s
which is at the same time better and worse big innovation with AR Emoji is letting users
than Apple’s version. create their own animated emoji based on
While you can’t control actual Unicode- their image and likeness. The creation process
style emoji, Samsung does provide a handful is somewhat similar to setting up Face ID on
of cartoon characters to control (though not iPhone X, except you’ll need to snap a selfie
quite as many as Apple), and Mickey Mouse on the S9 before it can work its magic.
AR Emoji’s avatar engine
only mimics faces, so you’ll
need to fix your hair and add
glasses if you wear them (AR
Emoji suggests you remove
glasses before starting the
process). Otherwise,
Samsung’s engine does a
decent job of capturing
enough unique facial
features to create a fairly
faithful avatar.
Creating a new AR Emoji emoji is a bit like Face ID on the iPhone X. Once you create your AR
OREO BRINGS SOME SWEET app, Samsung also utilizes Oreo’s automatic
NEW FEATURES method for things like active Maps windows
The Galaxy S9 brings Oreo to the Samsung and videos playing in Chrome. It’s a good
Experience, so you’ll be able to enjoy many of combination, making the S9 an even better
the key features Google introduced with multitasker than the Pixel 2. Also cool is the
Android 8, including notification categories, ability to use the home screen and app
app icon shortcuts, and better badge drawer in landscape mode.
handling. However, it’s not as up-to-date as it Oreo’s dots are here too, but there are a
could be. For example, because it’s not few differences. You can opt to show badges
based on the latest 8.1 version, you don’t get with or without numbers, which is a nice
the handy battery indicator for Bluetooth touch, but because dots and badges are tied
devices in Quick Settings. Hopefully that’ll to status bar notifications now, the indicators
come in a later update. might not be as accurate as they could be.
You will, however, get picture-in-picture Samsung is also supporting Project Treble
here, enhancing a feature that has been on now, which will bring speedier upgrades to
Samsung phones since the S7. While you can the S9. That means we shouldn’t have to wait
still swipe from the top left corner of the six months to get Android P on the S9.
screen to create Pop-Up windows for any Samsung has introduced a new unlocking
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It keeps going, and going, and going... BY BEN PATTERSON
P
acking a quad-core relatively casual pace. We also had some
8th-generation Intel processor quibbles with the Gram’s cramped keyboard.
and a robust battery into an
impressively thin and light shell, PRICE AND SPECIFICATIONS
the peppy but pricey LG Gram cranks all day We tested the top-of-the-line model of the LG
without weighing you down. While we love Gram, which costs a cool $2,000 and boasts
the Gram’s lithe design and exceptional a 15.6-inch touch display, a quad-core
battery life, laptop shoppers looking for sheer 8th-generation Intel Core i7-8550U
speed may be disappointed by the system’s processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a pair of
Three cheers for Thunderbolt 3! We like the full HDMI and USB 3.0 ports, too.
PORTS
The LG Gram boasts a generous selection of have minded a second Thunderbolt 3 port,
ports, starting with full HDMI, USB 3.0 Type particularly given the Gram’s lofty price tag.
A, and a single Thunderbolt 3 port (a four-lane
implementation for transfer speeds up to GENERAL PERFORMANCE
40Gbps, plus USB Power Delivery 3.0) on the A quad-core CPU in a razor-thin 15-inch
left side. Also on the left side: a dedicated laptop? You bet, thanks to Intel’s
barrel-style charging port. On the right, you 8th-generation Kaby Lake Refresh processors.
get two more USB 3.0 ports, a Micro SD card The LG Gram is among the latest notebooks
reader and a headphone jack. to cram this powerful but heat-conscious chip
All in all, not bad, although we wouldn’t into a thin shell. While the Gram’s i7-8550U
Two more USB 3.0 ports sit on the LG Gram’s right side, along with a Micro SD card reader.
CINEBENCH R15
Another torture test for
laptop processors, our next
benchmark turns up the 3DMark Sky Diver 1.0 Overall
(Demo Mode Off)
heat on the CPU as it
renders a 3D image. Dell XPS 15 9560
(Core 17-7700HQ, GTX 1050) 15,448
As with its HandBrake
LG Gram 15Z980
results, the LG Gram turned (Core 17-8550U, UHD 620) 4,466
quad-core HP Spectre
Laptop 13, but fell well
behind Dell’s quad-core XPS 15 powerhouse. 3DMARK SKY DIVER 1.0
Again, the Gram’s CPU never broke a OVERALL
sweat during the Cinebench test, opting for a With its integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620
steady pace rather than a full-on sprint. While I graphics core, the LG Gram shouldn’t be
did notice the LG’s processor fans gently expected to deliver anything more than
purring during the test, the sound was far middling graphics performance.
short of the roar I’ve heard on other systems. Indeed, its 3DMark Sky Diver test results
energy-efficient dual-core
Video rundown test systems as the Microsoft
(Battery Life) Surface Laptop and the LG
Gram 14, while thoroughly
LG Gram 15Z980
(Core 17-8550U, UHD 620)
710 outlasting the turbo-
Microsoft Surface Laptop charged but power-hungry
(Core 15-7200U, HD 620)
689
Dell XPS 15, which barely
LG Gram 14
(Core 17-7500U, HD 620)
673 lasted 5.5 hours in our
HP Spectre Laptop 13 battery life test.
(Core 15-7200U, HD 620)
378
Dell XPS 15 9560
331
(Core 17-7700HQ, GTX 1050
BOTTOM LINE
LO N G ER B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T ER P E R F O R M A N C E The 15-inch LG Gram isn’t
the fastest 8th-generation
quad-core laptop we’ve
show the quad-core notebook loitering with tested, but it’s certainly one of the lightest,
its fellow integrated-GPU systems. and its stellar battery life makes up for its
Unsurprisingly, the Dell XPS 15 9560 with its modest performance shortfalls. The Gram’s
discrete GeForce GTX 1050 graphics chip cramped keyboard takes getting used to,
leaves everyone else in the dust. however, and budget-conscious laptop
shoppers may balk at the $2,000 price tag.
BATTERY LIFE
While it’s been content to hang in the LG Gram 15Z980
middle of the pack in our other benchmarks,
the LG Gram surges ahead in our battery PROS
• All-day battery life
drain test.
• Slim and super-light
We test battery life in notebooks by • Solid array of ports, including Thunderbolt 3
looping a 4K video with screen brightness at CONS
• Middling performance among quad-core 8th-gen
about 250 nits (which means, for the Gram, notebooks
cranking up the brightness all the way) and • Numeric keypad cramps neighboring keys
S
amsung’s Galaxy S9 is a strange replaces. In fact, it’s so much like its
breed of smartphone. With a predecessor, issues we might normally
Snapdragon 845 processor, overlook become all the more obvious
great camera, and 18:9 screen, this second time around.
it has all the trappings of a fantastic 2018 Samsung’s Notebook 7 Spin is not the
handset. Yet, at the same time, it’s fastest quad-core convertible to harness Intel’s
remarkably similar to the Galaxy S8 that it game-changing 8th-generation CPU, but the
midrange laptop proves that speed isn’t numbers out of the way, how does the
everything. Boasting a gorgeous 13-inch Notebook 7 Spin feel in hand? A tad heavy, if
touch display, solid quad-core performance you ask me, but that’ll be the case for just about
and—best of all—impressive battery life, the any 13-inch laptop that weighs more than three
Spin should please budget-conscious laptop pounds. If you want something lighter, expect
shoppers who value stamina over speed. to pay a few hundred dollars more.
The Spin’s metal “stealth silver” shell looks
PRICE AND SPECIFICATIONS solid and professional, if not exactly head-
The latest version of the Notebook 7 Spin is—at turning. That said, the Spin may get some
launch, anyway—a one-size-fits-all affair. For a admiring looks when you tent it on a tabletop
list price of $900, you get a 13.3-inch, 2-in-1 or swivel its display all the way around in
convertible with an 8th-generation quad-core tablet mode.
Intel Core i5-8250U processor, a 256GB
solid-state drive, and 8GB of DDR3 RAM. DISPLAY
(Samsung says a version of the Spin with 16GB While the Notebook 7 Spin’s shell is a bit dull,
of memory might eventually be in the offing.) If the same can’t be said of its vibrant 13.3-inch
you want to upgrade the Spin yourself, get your FHD touch display. Indeed, the Spin’s PLS
pry tools ready, because there are no screws or (Samsung’s in-house version of IPS) display is
user- accessible panels in
the shell.
Tipping the scales at 3.2
pounds and measuring a
reasonable 12.4 x 8.5 x 0.7
inches, the new Notebook 7
Spin is a tad lighter than its
earlier incarnation, and it’s
also slightly trimmer and
lighter than the Dell Inspiron
13 5000 (go.pcworld.com/
di13), a competing (and
cheaper) 2-in-1 convertible
with the same 8th-generation
CPU and similar specs. You can tent the Samsung Notebook 7 Spin on a tabletop or swivel its
Now that we’ve got the screen all the way around into tablet mode.
Asus VivoBook 5
In Cinebench’s single- (Core i7-7500U)
293
thread test, the Spin and LO N G ER B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T ER P E R F O R M A N C E
its quad-core Intel
classmates run neck-and-
neck with cheaper dual-core systems, yet 3D MARK SKY DIVER 1.0
another example of how pricey quad-core OVERALL
processors won’t necessarily double your With its integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620
performance when it comes to day-to-day PC core, the Notebook 7 Spin shouldn’t be
duties. Bargain hunters, take note. expected to crank out the kind of graphics
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We love the potential of Optane, but current products aren’t competitive price- or
capacity-wise with NAND-based offerings. BY JON L. JACOBI
I
ntel’s Optane SSD 800P, like previous average around 50 cents per gigabyte, the
Optane products, boasts best-in-class 800P is over-priced and under-powered.
longevity and very fast random access. After the lightning-fast Intel 900P (go.
But the rest of its performance numbers pcworld.com/o900) we recently reviewed
are mundane at best, it’s only available in two very (currently $600 on Newegg [go.pcworld.
small capacities, and the price is, ahem, up there. com/600n]), it’s a real disappointment.
Even die-hard early adopters will
experience some sticker shock paying $129 DESIGN AND SPECS
for 58GB or $199 for 118GB, or $2.22 and We tested the 58GB version of the M.2,
$1.68 per gigabyte, respectively. Compared PCIe/NVMe 800P. Both capacities ship in the
to the other NVMe drives in our SSD buying common 2280 (22 millimeters across, 80 mm
guide (go.pcworld.com/sdbg), which long) form factor. There’s not a lot we can tell
SSD (see blue bars below). It shows INTEL 80 0 P INTEL 9 0 0 P SAMSUNG 960 PRO
are better). The slow write time puts this test CONS
• Slow sustained writes for an NVMe drive
in agreement with AS SSD and in conflict with • Four times the cost of the NAND-based
CrystalDiskMark. competition
BOTTOM LINE
It’s not unusual for CrystalDiskMark to show Intel’s Optane technology shows promise and scales
fast sustained writes where other tests do not. well, but it’s four times the price and doesn’t offer
the capacity of NAND-based solutions. While we
For some reason, it never works outside of the rated the 800P at 3 stars, that’s with the average user
in mind. It would rate higher as a corporate solution,
cache, even when a 32GB data set is where its marvelous longevity would come into play.
employed. We’ve found it accurate in all other $129
regards but this. Trust the copy tests.
I
t took quite a while for Final Fantasy XV game on Origin? Pretty sure that makes Final
to finally make its way to PC—almost a Fantasy XV the Dr. Pepper of video games.
year and a half after the console Anyway, I’ve barely dipped my toe in. The
launch, to be exact. But in the end it game’s reputedly around 100 hours long and
made it over, and as of yesterday you can find I’m on hour four, so there’s quite a bit of road
the game on an oddball selection of trip ahead of me. It’s at least enough time to
storefronts, including Steam (go.pcworld. formulate some opinions on the state of the
com/ffst) (sure), the Windows 10 Store (go. PC port though.
pcworld.com/ffwe) (okay fine), and Origin In short: It’s great, for the most part.
(go.pcworld.com/ffor) (...what?). A non-EA Performance is solid at least, which is likely to be
;LDRPLƴƳƳƳƳP$K0L3RZHU
%DQN3UR$EDWWHU\SDFNWKDW
OLYHVXSWRLWVQDPH
Sleek, sturdy, and full of juice. BY JASON CIPRIANI
X
iaomi has yet to launch any of its milliamp-hour battery pack is sleek and
phones in the United States, but well-designed. Its sturdy housing feels like it
that hasn’t stopped the Chinese can withstand a drop or six.
company from slowly introducing There are two ports on the front of the
consumers to its brand and products. pack: one USB-A port for charging your
The latest arrival on American shores is the phone or tablet, and a USB-C port for
Mi Power Bank Pro. This 10,000 charging the pack itself. Next to the ports is a
BEST
BUDGET
COMPUTER
SPEAKERS
Audio upgrades that
won’t break your budget.
BY MICHAEL ANSALDO
WHAT TO LOOK FOR Good speakers will produce full, detailed audio
2.0 speakers vs. 2.1 speakers that sounds as the creator intended it.
Sure, a 5.1 (five speakers, one subwoofer) Be aware, though, that finding strong
multichannel speaker system sounds pretty bass response in this price range can be
sexy. But even if you were to unearth one for challenging. Without a subwoofer, 2.0
$50 or $60, the quality would almost certainly systems have trouble reproducing low
be just as cheap. That money can buy a much frequencies. The manufacturers often use
better quality two-speaker system. These technological tweaks to beef up the bass
basic 2.0 stereo setups, which are comprised notes, but these can sound boomy, and
of just a left and right speaker with a single muddy the overall mix. If a deep, controlled
driver (the actual loudspeaker) in each, bottom end is a priority, a 2.1 system might
abound in this price range. Occasionally you be a better investment.
can also find a decent 2.1 system—a pair of
speakers to handle the higher frequencies AC power vs. USB: The trade-offs
and separate subwoofer for the bass. These Both these options are prevalent in the
take up more space but often produce more sub-$60 price range. USB-powered speakers
balanced sound. More on that next. reduce cord clutter, as they don’t need a
separate power cable. However, they can’t
Sound quality: Ask your ears, not the supply as much juice as the AC variety, so they
spec sheet tend to produce lower volume and less bass.
Try not to be seduced by
manufacturer’s specs on
sound quality. Even if you
can parse frequency
response numbers, they are
frequently exaggerated. Let
your ears be your guide
instead. Listen for a good
balance between the high
(treble), mid, and low (bass)
frequencies. Often, speakers
will exaggerate one—usually
the treble or the bass—at the
expense of the others. Creative Pebble.
GOGROOVE
BASSPULSE
Price: $49 from
go.pcworld.com/gobp
The two speakers share a single cord a dance floor strobe, but even with the bass
that plugs into the output jack in the back of cranked they produced nothing more than a
the subwoofer. An included 3.5mm cord blink-and-you’ll-miss-it flicker like you might
plugs into the adjacent input jack. The other experience in a brownout. Frankly, they work
end plugs into the auxiliary output or better as a light by which to navigate the
headphone jack on your PC or mobile speaker controls in a darkened dorm room
device, or you may connect the system via than an ambiance-enhancer.
Bluetooth if you prefer to be untethered. The
power cord is attached to the back of the Bottom line
subwoofer, so you don’t need to worry The BassPULSE may over-promise on its
about misplacing it. lightshow capabilities, but it’s a good speaker
Once the sub is plugged into an AC system for the price. Most users will notice a
outlet, all you have to do is flip on the power definite sonic improvement over their PC’s
switch. Everything is controlled from a panel built-in speakers, with enough power to fill a
on the front of the sub. A pair of knobs control small room whether you’re listening to music,
the volume and bass level, respectively. gaming, or watching a movie.
Beneath these is a “pulse” button that
activates the LEDs. These glow steadily until LOGITECH Z150 STEREO
you crank the bass past 80 percent of SPEAKERS
maximum, then they’ll pulse with the music. Price: $22 from go.pcworld.com/z150
Given the big subwoofer–and the
name of the system itself—it wasn’t surprising Logitech’s Z150 stereo speakers cater to
that the bass stole the show in my testing. those with simple needs. No flamboyant
However, it tended to bleed into other designs or crazy amounts of connectivity
frequencies. Dialing down the bass knob options for these users. It’s enough to find a
added a little more clarity, but the bass had pair that brings a little extra volume and
more or less the same boom quality whether clarity to our computer audio and fits on our
I was playing rock, jazz, or EDM. The midst desk. Even within our budget PC speaker
and highs were more distinct, and the roundup, this pair is notably inexpensive
sound never distorted even with all knobs and unassuming.
cranked to the limit. As you’d expect with entry-level
The pulsing lights, however, were a major speakers, the Z150 set is small, lightweight,
disappointment. Maybe I was expecting too and slim on features. The enclosures
much, thinking they would operate more like measure 6 by 3.3 by 3 inches (HWD), and
With Bluetooth speakers becoming more matter what type of music I ran through the
the norm, contending with cables can feel like speakers. The tipping point for speakers this
a hassle. Fortunately, the Pebble keeps the size is usually at higher volumes, where
wires few and tidy. The two speakers are distortion becomes an issue. But even when
hardwired together, so all you need to do is playing bottom-heavy genres like dub or
plug the USB cord into one of your PC ports, dance music, the Pebble retained crystal
and the 3.5mm input into your headphone clarity at high volume.
jack. Each of these cables is attached to the
back of the right speaker, so you don’t need Bottom line
to worry about losing them. Decent sound in sub-$30 stereo speakers is
Pebble delivers surprisingly rich, as rare as gold. The Pebble sets a new bar
immersive audio. USB-powered 2.0 speakers with its well-above-average audio. It’s not
tend to suffer in sound quality compared to audiophile quality—nothing at this price point
their AC-powered counterparts, but that is—but it’s fuller and more balanced than you
wasn’t the case here. Highs were crisp and find in PC speakers that cost twice as much.
clear, and the bass had plenty of presence. The Pebble offers an inexpensive audio
The audio overall had depth and detail no upgrade that’s tough to resist.
There are thousands of kids in foster care who will take you just the way you are.
KNOW WHAT
MODELS TO
LOOK FOR
AND WHICH
MODELS RATE
HIGHEST
We’ll help you pick out the perfect gaming laptop. BY GORDON MAH UNG
alignment). VA is sometimes
alternately referred to as “wide
viewing angle” technology.
(Many assume this spec to be
IPS, but it’s not). In our
experience, we’ve found VA
panels to run the gamut from
being worthy competitors to
IPS to being worse than the
better TN panels. The
Gigabyte Aero 15 that we
recommend above has a good
VA panel. Razer was the first manufacturer that we know of to use an offset
Generally, if color accuracy trackpad as an ad hoc gaming “mouse.”
is important, go IPS (a
trademark of Sharp), and if you want the and vibrant colors. OLEDs also boast
fastest response times go for a gaming- fantastic response times too. The negatives
oriented TN panel. With the variability of VA, include smaller screen sizes (we haven’t seen
we recommend you check feedback from anything larger than 13 inches yet), higher
reviewers and users of a particular model. cost, and lack of support for variable
The wildcard in all this are OLED-based refresh rate.
panels. OLED panels have been used in
phones for years but have recently migrated G-Sync and FreeSync
to larger screens in laptops. IPS, TN, and VA Okay, we called this section G-Sync and
all use LEDs behind the screen or along the FreeSync, but the reality is, when it comes to
edges. “Black” is produced by a shutter-like beefy gaming laptops, it’s a GeForce GPU
mechanism that blocks light from coming world. And that means it’s a G-Sync world. In
through. As you can imagine, there’s usually a nutshell, Nvidia and AMD’s respective
some light leakage, which means the black variable-refresh-rate technologies help
tends to be gray. OLED panels, however, synchronize the monitor and the GPU to
don’t rely on edge- or backlighting and greatly reduce screen tearing. Variable refresh
instead each pixel generates its own light. To rates can make gaming at 40 fps far smoother
produce black, it just switches the light off. to your eyes than a screen without it.
This amounts to truly stunning contrast ratios The first variable-refresh-rate panels for
gaming laptop are the Core i7-7700HQ, the HOW TO PICK A GPU FOR
Core i7-7820HK, and the Core i7-7920HQ. A GAMING LAPTOP
Again, all three are fine, with each step up The single most important piece of hardware
getting you only marginally more in a gaming laptop is undoubtedly the GPU.
performance. The sweet spot for budget For AMD fans, the situation is as sad as it is in
buyers is the Core i7-7700HQ or the Core CPUs: It’s an Nvidia GeForce world. As with
i7-7820HK. CPUs though, the good news is that the
As for Intel’s 8th-generation CPU, it hasn’t dominating products are top-notch.
been confirmed but many anticipate the The hardest part will be deciding just
company will introduce 6-core CPUs that how much GPU you need. Our general
consume 45 watts by 2018. guidance is to buy as fast a GPU as you can
Still, the takeaway for you is to not get too afford and are willing to heft. Generally, the
hung up on the CPU for a gaming laptop. Any faster the GPU (or GPUs), the larger and
decent quad-core is more than enough for heavier the laptop.
gaming purposes and your money is better For any serious gaming, it’s easy to ramp
spent on what matters more: the GPU. up from the entry-level GeForce GTX 1050
MEMORY SPECIFICATIONS
non-gaming purposes. In that respect, you’ll natural course of things, and you no longer
find a lot of variance, with some—such as have to pay through the nose for it, either.
Gigabyte’s Aero 15—offering decent battery Our current pick for best gaming laptop is
life, albeit with a trade-off in gaming the Alienware 17 (go.pcworld.com/17r4)—
performance. with a GTX 1080 mobile GPU and a 17.3-inch
2560x1440, 120Hz G-Sync panel, it starts at
BEST 17-INCH $2,500. For that chunk of cash, you’ll get
GAMING LAPTOP smooth, high-frame-rate gaming at a
ALIENWARE 17 previously unprecedented level. Our review
Price: $2,500 at go.pcworld.com/dlal unit posted frame rates over 150 fps with
everything maxed out in Middle-earth:
The arrival of Nvidia’s Pascal-based mobile Shadow of Mordor, and over 100 fps in Rise of
GPUs (go.pcworld.com/nvpb) transformed the Tomb Raider.
high-end gaming laptops. These days, getting No, it’s not as portable as other gaming
desktop-equivalent performance is just the laptops sporting Nvidia’s new Max-Q mobile
Alienware 17
Inspiron 15 7000,
Dell Inspiron 15
which offers a quad- 7000 Gaming
core i5-7300HQ, 8GB
RAM, and an Nvidia
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
in its $850 base
configuration.
It’s a lot of muscle
for the price. This
system can handle
today’s games on High
at 1080p (in Rise of the
Tomb Raider, this
Inspiron ran at over 50
fps), and it can
definitely play popular titles like League of traditional beefy gaming laptops on a par with
Legends, Dota 2, Rocket League, CSGO, desktop machines. They’ve also made it so
Team Fortress 2, and Overwatch. the term “portable gaming laptop” is no
There’s one catch, however. The launch longer an oxymoron. Put a GeForce GTX
version of the Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming had 1060 into a laptop and you have a capable
a terrible TN panel with extremely bad viewing machine that can survive away from a wall
angles and washed-out colors—our review (go. socket—and won’t break your back while
pcworld.com/d700) is based on this version. carrying it, either.
Some of these still are available for purchase Now, at five pounds, the Alienware 13 is a
(through Dell’s outlet site, for instance), but the little heavy for its size—but it’s worth toting
version we recommend is the current model around those extra ounces. The model we
that features an IPS display. reviewed (go.pcworld.com/d136) packs a
gorgeous OLED 2560x1440 display, a
BEST PORTABLE quad-core i7 processor, and a VR-capable
GAMING LAPTOP Nvidia GTX 1060 for flawless 1080p gaming.
ALIENWARE 13 (Yes, you can play at 2560x1440, too, if you
Price: From $1,149 at go.pcworld.com/d136 crank down some of the settings…or buy an
Alienware Amplifier (go.pcworld.com/almp)
Nvidia’s Pascal GPUs haven’t just put the and pop in a beefier video card.)
V
PN (virtual private network) connect to a corporate network remotely.
technology lets a computer For the most part, VPN connections are
using a public internet handled by custom software such as the many
connection join a private consumer VPN services we’ve reviewed (go.
network by way of a secure “tunnel” between pcworld.com/rvpn), or by third-party generic
that machine and the network. This protects software such as the OpenVPN client or Cisco
the data from being seen or tampered with by AnyConnect.
bad actors. The two most common use cases Another option that’s generally supported
are consumer VPN services that allow by most virtual private networks is to use
individuals to surf privately from home or a Microsoft’s built-in VPN client. This is useful
public setting, and business-oriented when some VPNs don’t provide their own
solutions that allow employees to securely client or if you want to use a VPN protocol not
supported by your VPN’s client such as IKEv2. taskbar and type vpn.
The downside to using the built-in client is that
you have to select a specific server to use as Step 2: The top choice should be Change
opposed to jumping between different locations Virtual Private Networks (VPN). Alternatively,
the way you can with a commercial VPN service. open the Settings app and go to Network &
On the other hand, most employer-supplied Internet > VPN.
VPNs will offer a limited number of servers you can
connect to, which makes using this client ideal. Step 3: At the top of the VPN screen in the
Settings app, click Add A VPN Connection.
STEP BY STEP: HOW TO SET
UP A VPN IN WINDOWS 10 Step 4: In the screen that appears, enter the
Step 1: Click on the Cortana search bar or details for your VPN connection. Under VPN
button (go.pcworld.com/sbob) on the Provider, click on the drop-down menu, and
3.
Windows 10’s built-in VPN client settings.
B
y now, a dual-monitor setup (go. something you totally need in your life.
pcworld.com/dmst) has Right now, my main PC has a triple-
become commonplace. monitor setup: my main 27-inch central
Multitasking on a single screen monitor, with a 24-inch monitor on either
is just way too confining. But why stop at two side. I use my extra monitors for a number of
displays? I can speak from experience: Having things, such as comparing spreadsheets
multiple monitors (and I’m talking three, four, side-by-side, writing articles while also doing
five, or even six) is just…awesome, and research, keeping tabs on my social media
to purchase an additional graphics card to get to one another. The various displays don’t even
the multi-monitor support you’re looking for. need to be the same size or resolution.
Before you buy an extra graphics card, ViewSonic’s VP2468 is one such example. At
you’ll need to make sure you have enough $250 on Amazon (go.pcworld.com/vs24), this
space in your tower (and open PCIe slots), as 24-inch monitor is on the pricier side, but in
well as a power supply unit that can handle addition to DisplayPort-out, it also offers a
the extra strain. premium IPS screen, and a super-thin bezel,
If you buy a graphics card solely for the which is ideal for multi-monitor setups.
purpose of having multiple monitors, it’s best
to get one that’s the same (or, at least in the MONITORS, PORTS,
same product family) as your current graphics AND CABLES
card, so you can connect them using SLI Once you figure out your graphics card
(Nvidia) or CrossFire (AMD). SLI and CrossFire situation, it’s time for the fun part: obtaining
setups will help your graphics cards run extra monitors. In general, monitors can be
smoothly, and they’ll also boost your PC’s had for fairly cheap these days. Assuming you
overall graphics performance (go.pcworld. can’t finagle a hand-me-down, a 24-inch
com/pcgp) so you can do fun things like play monitor with an IPS screen will run you around
games in multi-monitor mode without frame $170, such as the Acer R240HY (go.pcworld.
rates plummeting. You’ll get much better com/r240). You can get a 24-inch TN screen,
performance with multiple connected which will likely trade strong off-axis viewing
graphics cards than you will with multiple for a lower response time—something gamers
non-connected graphics cards. And, while might prefer—for even less money, such as
you technically can run Nvidia and AMD cards the Asus VS248H-P ($140 on Amazon [go.
side-by-side…it’s more trouble
than it’s worth and I don’t
recommend it.
Alternatively, newer monitors
with DisplayPort multi-streaming
support (go.pcworld.com/dpms)
can be daisy-chained together
from a single DisplayPort 1.2
connection on your graphics card,
using additional DisplayPort cables
to connect the additional monitors A DisplayPort connector (left) and an HDMI cable (right).
Another way
to set up your
multi-monitor
configuration
is through
your GPU’s
control panel.
The first thing you’ll want to do is extend your desktop across all the screens. In
configure Windows to play nicely with your most multi-monitor setups, you’ll want to
multiple monitors. If you’re running Windows extend your desktop across all three (or four,
7 or Windows 8, right-click on the desktop or whatever) of your displays.
and click Screen Resolution; in Windows 10, Alternately, you can set up your multi-
click Display Settings. This will take you to a monitor configuration in your GPU’s control
screen where you can configure the options panel. Right-click your desktop and choose
you have for multiple monitors in Windows. either the Nvidia or AMD control panel
Here, you can confirm that all your (depending on your graphics card), and find
monitors are detected. Click Identify, which the Display section, which will offer similar
will cause a large number to appear on each options as Windows.
of your displays, so you can determine which
screen is which. Select the monitor you’d like GAMING
to serve as your main display (which will also It’s one thing to use multiple monitors to do
determine where your taskbar and Start work and watch Netflix. It’s another thing
button appears). A drop-down menu lets you entirely to use multiple monitors to play video
choose whether to duplicate your desktop or games. If you want to use your snazzy new
M
icrosoft’s Mouse without cheaper—because it’s free to use with any
Borders app is an unsung Windows device.
productivity tool whose Mouse without Borders originally
ability to let a mouse and launched in 2011, long before Logitech
keyboard hop from one Windows device to debuted Flow. The app resurfaced
the next is worth checking out. It unlocks a recently as part of Microsoft’s inaugural
versatility similar to that of Logitech’s Flow Microsoft Garage Wall of Fame (go.
(go.pcworld.com/lgfl), but for far, far pcworld.com/mswf), a celebration
above. Up to four PCs on the same network the name of the PC you’re working on, as well
can share the same mouse and keyboard. The as an encryption code. (Though it’s not
author, Truong Do, recommends that all PCs essential, you may want to change the PC
that will share peripherals via Mouse without name within Settings > System > About to
Borders be connected via ethernet, though rename it something intuitive, rather than just
wireless worked acceptably in some cases. a collection of letters.)
Obviously, you’ll need to download and install On the second PC, you’ll need to respond
the app on more than one PC. This is where it Yes to the question of whether the app
gets a bit confusing. appears on any other PC. It’s here that you’ll
When Mouse without Borders first loads, enter the name of the first PC, as well as the
the app will ask you if you’ve downloaded it complex encryption code/password that the
on any other machine. Even though you’ve first installation of the app generated. Clicking
probably downloaded the utility to two PCs at on Link will then connect the second PC to
about the same time, you’ll need to pick one the master PC.
of these PCs and select No. Doing so reveals Like Flow or the Smart Switch technology
Microsoft tied to its Surface
Precision Mouse, the PC
layouts can be organized either
vertically or next to one
another, as on a desk.
Your firewall may
negatively affect how well
Mouse without Borders works.
I found that turning off
Windows Defender, enabling
Mouse without Borders, then
re-enabling Defender worked
well. (ZoneAlarm, another
popular firewall, allowed
Mouse with Borders to work,
though the mouse moved very
slowly.) To be fair, I had the
Mouse without Borders will generate an encryption code to enter
manually on the other connected PCs. (You can also ask it to same wireless troubles with
generate a new code later, if you’d like). Logitech’s Flow, too.
restricted to Windows,
while Flow migrates
across Macs and PCs—a
fair point.)
Will Mouse without
Borders eventually migrate
into Windows? Certain
features that allow cross-PC
collaboration, such as
upcoming Timeline and
Near Share features within
Windows 10’s Redstone 4
feature update, signal that
Microsoft is thinking about
The main screen of Mouse without Borders: Here, you can generate tying Windows devices
a new passkey, align your PCs, and more. Note that you can also re-
initiate the setup experience. Connecting and disconnecting PCs with closer together. For now,
Mouse without Borders installed is as easy as clicking the checkbox. though, there’s Mouse
without Borders—and it
a progress bar visually indicating how looks like a handy app to add to your PC’s
quickly it will transfer. bag of tricks.
The one key advantage that
Mouse without Borders offers is the
freedom from dedicated hardware.
There’s no guarantee that it will
work with everything, but I used a
wired Razer mouse and keyboard
to test it, and it seemed to work
flawlessly. If it works just as well for
the generic corded USB mice and
keyboards that populate our desks,
Microsoft’s Mouse without Borders
sounds like a utility worth owning.
(A Logitech spokeswoman points Mouse without Borders offers tons of options. For more details,
out that Mouse without Borders is you can hover your mouse over each one.
B
uying cheap ink is a choice you voided warranties and subpar print quality, it
should make with your eyes can be difficult to tell whether the third-party
wide open. Third-party ink you buy is any good. We can’t give you
cartridges cost less than the any promises, but we can tell you how to
manufacturer brands, which is why people shop smarter for cheap ink.
buy them. A list of third-party retailers
currently selling remanufactured ink GO WITH A BIG NAME
cartridges is below. One time-tested method is to shop at an
But even if you ignore the dire warnings established retailer (online or brick-and-
from the original printer vendors about mortar) that guarantees the quality of its
TheCWordMovie.com
Tech Spotlight A video showcase
of the latest trends
Watch the
video at
go.pcworld.
com/metr