Want a Steam Deck-style gaming handheld with a bigger screen and extra features? Check out the Lenovo Legion Go. Not only does it have a super-sized 8.8-inch screen, its handles can pop off a la the Nintendo Switch, and one of them can even be used as a pseudo gaming mouse. And right now, Amazon is selling the Lenovo Legion Go on sale for $500, a whopping $200 off its original price. The Legion Go uses the same souped-up AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor seen in the Asus ROG Ally, with an impressive 2560×1600 resolution and 144Hz refresh rate to really make that oversized screen shine. Inside is 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM, not to mention a robust cooling system to keep it all ticking. The Legion Go includes a touchpad and programmable rear “paddle” buttons, which are sometimes omitted on Windows-based Steam Deck-style systems. But the unique selling point is definitely that Switch-inspired chassis and its breakaway controllers. You can prop up the screen portion of the device with an integrated kickstand, then slip the right-hand controller into a detachable shell and use its bottom-mounted sensor to turn it into a tiny gaming mouse. That makes the Legion Go uniquely qualified to tackle first-person shooter games. The Legion Go isn’t an automatic recommendation, especially since it has to deal with the general clunkiness that seems to be endemic to Windows-based handhelds. You might want to check out our hands-on video before you click the buy button. But if you’re ready to go, this is the best price we’ve seen yet for a new Legion Go, so get it while you can. Save $200 on the Lenovo Legion Go handheldBuy now on Amazon Read...

At a GlanceExpert`s Rating Pros Charming and easy-to-use interface Multiple independent audits Unlimited simultaneous device connections Cons Limited feature set Customer support not the most helpful Not a good option for torrenting Our Verdict TunnelBear is an undeniably charming VPN that keeps it simple with basic, but solid features. It offers reliable security, but continues to struggle with inConsistent speeds and unblocking issues. VPN novices will find it approachable, but advanced users will be left wanting more. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today TunnelBear is a good-humored VPN service owned by McAfee security company and based in Toronto, Canada. It’s been around for a while now and has always stood out due to its unique and endearing bear-themed interface.  The service has tried hard in recent years to remain relevant in an increasingly competitive VPN market by adding more features and maintaining a strong privacy record. Certainly there are ursine puns aplenty to be enjoyed here, but is the VPN service just right for you? I took it for a walk in the woods to find out. Further reading: See our roundup of the best VPNs to learn about competing products. TunnelBear in brief: P2P allowed: Yes Unlimited device connections: Yes Business location: Canada Number of servers: 8,000+ Number of country locations: 47+ Cost: $9.99 per month, $39.99 for 1 year, or $120 for 3 years What are TunnelBear’s features and services? Sam Singleton When you first open TunnelBear you can’t help but notice how much work the designers have put into it. The main interface is a world map geographically dotted with the available servers. As you scroll across the map, even the trees change based on the continent or region you’re viewing (palm trees in the Middle East, Umbrella Thorns in Africa). Your actual location is signified on the map with a sheep, but once you connect to the VPN it turns into a bear. Each server location has an empty tunnel icon on it. To connect, just select the server location you want. In addition to selecting from a map, there is also a drop-down list at the top with all of the servers as well. Somehow in the TunnelBear universe sheeps turning into bears and bears digging through tunnels makes sense, but the logic is lost on me. Still, it’s a fun and unique design element. TunnelBear comes with a lot of servers, but not a wide variety of country locations.Sam Singleton TunnelBear offers unlimited simultaneous device connections with its premium subscription plan and comes with a large server network. While it boasts that it has over 8,000 servers, you wouldn’t necessarily know from looking at the server list on the app. Most of the 45 country locations, with the exceptions of the U.S. and Canada, only have one server to connect to. If you’re looking to stream and find the one server location in that country blocked, you’re essentially out of luck. TunnelBear’s settings including a VigilantBear kill switch and GhostBear features. Sam Singleton On the whole, TunnelBear is a simple service without a lot of frills, but it does provide some interesting key features worth checking out. Along the side bar, under Settings > Security, TunnelBear has its own version of a kill switch feature called “VigilantBear.” It works a little differently than a normal kill switch in that instead of disconnecting your internet in the event of a VPN disconnection, it just blocks all incoming and outgoing traffic until the connection is re-established.  Additionally, TunnelBear offers a feature called “GhostBear” that makes your encrypted data less detectable. It does this by masking your VPN traffic and disguising it as HTTPS traffic which is generally less likely to be blocked by censors — particularly useful for streaming services such as Netflix.  By turning on the GhostBear feature, there is a higher likelihood that your connection will be able to access these restrictive sites. Be warned though, turning on GhostBear will likely slow down your connection even further. TunnelBear offers a feature called ‘GhostBear’ that makes your encrypted data less detectable. TunnelBear’s SplitBear feature allows you to pick and choose which apps and websites to run through the VPN and which to exclude. Sam Singleton Another feature to note is “SplitBear” or TunnelBear’s version of split-tunneling, which allows you to control which apps or websites will have access to the VPN connection. Unfortunately, TunnelBear lacks many advanced features that competitors offer such as multi-hop and dedicated servers specific to certain activities — streaming, torrenting, etc.  In fact, in the past, TunnelBear had blocked access to P2P downloads but has reversed course and begun allowing them. Still, it’s not something that it openly encourages with its service and for that reason other VPN providers such as ProtonVPN and Mullvad VPN are better suited for torrenting. TunnelBear offers desktop programs and mobile apps for a number of systems such as Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS. There are also browser extensions for Firefox, Chrome, and Edge. How much does TunnelBear cost? TunnelBear offers its premium “Unlimited” plan in monthly, 1-year, or 3-year increments. If you opt for the monthly plan you’ll need to pony up $9.99 per month. The 1-year plan will set you back $39.99 for the first year or $3.33 per month. Then there’s the 3-year plan which runs for $120 or $3.33 per month. It’s worth noting that with the 1-year plan, the rate will auto-renew at $59.88 per year for any subsequent years you subscribe. While these certainly aren’t the most expensive prices I’ve seen for a premium VPN service, they aren’t the cheapest either. The monthly plan in particular strikes me as a bit expensive for the rather small feature set that TunnelBear provides. Other similar services offer multi-hop and ad- and tracker-blocking for the same prices. When it comes to the longer-term plans, the price becomes much more reasonable.  Personally, I don’t recommend anyone opt for a 3-year plan as the ever-changing landscape of the VPN market makes this too long of a commitment. If you want to save some money and enjoy TunnelBear then stick with the 1-year plan instead and reassess the service each year. TunnelBear does also offer a free plan which includes full access to the TunnelBear VPN service with all of its servers and features. The drawback is that you’re limited to 2GB of data per month. With a data limit that low, it’s hard to recommend using the free plan for anything other than testing out the service before deciding to upgrade. TunnelBear accepts payments via credit card only. How is TunnelBear’s performance? Tunnelbear During my testing I rated speeds across TunnelBear’s servers in six different countries all around the world and then compared them to my baseline internet speed. Last time around, TunnelBear’s server speeds weren’t great, and this time wasn’t much better. Across all locations tested, the speeds averaged a mere 40 percent of the base download speed and an even less impressive 35 percent of the base upload speed. Not only do these numbers not impress, but they fell way short of the services in our top five fastest VPNs. Still, online speeds can vary wildly in pure Mbps tests from day to day and even hour to hour. It’s best to take any and all speed tests with a grain of salt. Your experience with TunnelBear may differ from those in the tests for this review. In regards to streaming, I noticed that TunnelBear wasn’t able to consistently unblock sites such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. It was successful most of the time but the odd server seemed to have trouble or was outright being blocked. I found similar results in the past with TunnelBear and the lack of improvement in this area feels a bit careless. When I turned on the GhostBear feature it seemed to solve most of these unblocking issues. Unfortunately, with GhostBear turned on, I noticed that my connection speeds plummeted and I wasn’t able to stream HQ video because it was too slow. So GhostBear seems to work as intended, but it wasn’t really a viable solution for streaming. Given these results, I personally wouldn’t recommend TunnelBear as a reliable VPN for streaming. That doesn’t mean it can’t be used to stream, but I believe there are better options available. Competitors such as NordVPN, which works flawlessly with Netflix, or CyberGhost VPN, which has a ton of locations to choose from and optimized servers for streaming, would be the preferred alternatives. (See my roundup of the best VPNs for streaming Netflix to learn more.) How is TunnelBear’s security and privacy? TunnelBear’s protocol options for its Windows app. Sam Singleton TunnelBear comes with your industry standard AES-256 encryption, which is the strongest currently available. The WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols are supported on all platforms while IKEv2 is available for Windows users as well.  Since TunnelBear began supporting WireGuard last year, it is the protocol I recommend for most activities due to its strong security and speeds. But, if you’re unsure, you can just select the “Auto” option in TunnelBear’s settings and the app will choose what it believes is the best protocol for your connection. Also, in order to confirm that my actual IP address is obfuscated correctly, I used a DNS leak test. It confirmed that there were no issues with accidental leaks of my IP address when connected to TunnelBear’s servers.  According to its privacy policy, TunnelBear does not collect any DNS queries, IP addresses of users, timestamps, or other personal identifiable information. However, it does collect what it deems “operational data” such as user support and troubleshooting queries, total data used per month, and some sales data. It says that none of this information could identify users and are “not related to the time and activity of VPN usage.”  TunnelBear continues to conduct regular third-party audits by Cure53, a trustworthy and reliable Big Four auditing firm. It has successfully passed every audit for the last seven years. That’s admirable and should be a big selling point for privacy conscious users. TunnelBear itself is located in Toronto, Canada, which means that all personal information is handled according to Canadian law. While Canada does not currently have any mandatory data retention laws, they are a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, meaning they could be obligated to share user data with other governments. Fortunately, TunnelBear’s verified no-logs policy means it wouldn’t have any user data to turn over anyway. Is TunnelBear worth it? TunnelBear is a VPN that sticks to the basics — privacy and bear puns. Most of its appeal comes from its charm and simplicity. It’s extremely easy to use, not overwhelming you with too many features or country options. And while this might be ideal for the average user, power users who like to tweak and optimize their VPN connections will feel that the service doesn’t offer enough to satisfy their needs. The speeds are passable, but not great — you might say they lumber a bit. Also, I did encounter some unfortunate issues with servers being unable to unblock streaming platforms, particularly Netflix. Overall, this approachable and cheerful service is a good option for users who are just getting started with VPNs or might not be the most tech-savvy. Otherwise, there are other services such as those on our best VPNs list that might be better for more advanced users. Editor’s note: Because online services are often iterative, gaining new features and performance improvements over time, this review is subject to change in order to accurately reflect the current state of the service. Any changes to text or our final review verdict will be noted at the top of this article. Read...

Even some of the most elite gamers haven’t heard of the term “gaming browser.” That’s mostly because there’s only one true gaming browser in the market today: Opera GX. Even so, most browsers can be set up specifically to accentuate your gaming experience. But is it worth going to all that trouble? Why not just jump on the bandwagon and use Google Chrome instead? Here I unpack why you might want to take the plunge on an alternative… Benefits of using a gaming browser A simple glimpse of the features available in Opera GX makes it clear that it’s no ordinary browser designed to just surf the web. Sure, it has a search engine, but it also has a comprehensive list of features made especially to enhance your gaming experience, be they hardware or software tools. While other browsers like Firefox, Vivaldi, Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Coowon lack Opera GX’s level of control for hardware optimization, they too can give you better access to your games and more personalization and privacy than Google Chrome. Plus, they use a lot less of your CPU and RAM (usually less than 10 percent) — Google Chrome by comparison is notoriously resource heavy, often tying down 40 to 50 percent of your CPU and RAM. The Firefox browser includes a picture-in-picture mode which is ideal for gamers that like to keep a walkthrough video open while trying to complete a game… Better hardware performance Squeezing every ounce of performance out of your hardware can make a big difference to how smoothly your games run and that can equate to better gaming performance. While you may not have the most ripped hardware in town, you still want to get as much bang for your buck by optimizing what you have. Opera Amongst browsers, Opera GX rules the roost for hardware optimization. It’s relatively lightweight, taking up only about 6 percent of your CPU’s capacity. Limiting your CPU cores through the browser can reduce that even further. You can also limit the RAM and network usage, thereby directing these critical resources to where they count the most — your games. Restricting the RAM usage for minimal background tasks and open tabs can deliver an 80 percent reduction in RAM usage according to Opera GX parent company, Opera Norway. That’s a saving that can have a big impact on your performance. Better access to games, apps, and news Getting quick access to your games, gaming news, and gaming apps can save you tons of time searching for and locating these things. Opera GX Corner allows you to download and play games directly from the browser, while also providing gaming news snippets and a calendar that you can use to keep on top of upcoming releases. It also has a sidebar for your Discord chats and Twitch stream. You also have access to a video pop-up window, messenger, and pinboard. Other browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Coowon also fare well in this regard with plenty of gaming-specific extensions and add-ons to elevate your gaming experience. The Firefox Steam Web Integration extension, for example, allows you integrate into your browser a whole lot of information from Steam, like wishlists and trading cards, without having to look it up manually (as described below). Dominic Bayley / IDG Another extension, SteamDB, gives you quick and easy access to the Steam database to analyze trending games and other useful statistics. Microsoft Edge has a dedicated gaming homepage with plenty of gaming news as well as videos and information about upcoming esports tournaments. There’s no doubt this browser is the best option if you intend on playing Xbox Game Pass in Windows, since it’s made to work for that. Microsoft Edge also has a great feature called Clarity Boost which improves clarity in games. Like the Safari browser on Apple devices, Edge also supports 4K projection for games and surround sound too. Deeper personalization If you’re anything like me, you’re going to want to personalize your browser to look and feel like it’s an extension of your gaming den. Opera GX’s default theme is already deeply gamified, but you can add your own touches, choosing among a range of themes and colors. There’s also Dark Mode which makes using the browser in dim light a whole lot easier on the eyes. Firefox also has a Dark Mode, and you can find a bunch of free custom themes, skins, and search bar settings to personalize its look. If you’re a gamer that likes to multitask, the browser includes a picture-in-picture mode which is ideal for gamers that like to keep a walkthrough video open while trying to complete a game. If you want more than just an aesthetic bump up, though, the browser Vivaldi is hard to beat. It allows you to basically build your own UI from the ground up, choosing how complicated or simple you want it to be. This browser has advanced tab management that allows you to group your tabs together or organize them for quicker access. It also supports a split screen mode for when you’re sizing up gamer reviews about a game, or watching multiple Lets Plays at once. More security and privacy Most of the browser options I’ve mentioned do very well for privacy and security. Opera GX for example has a built in VPN as well as fraud and malware protection, and a tracker blocker and ad blocker for stopping annoying pop-ups. Opera Norway also claims to adhere to the GDPR regulations regarding data privacy, which gives you some peace of mind that your data isn’t being harvested and used unscrupulously. Pexels: Pixabay If I had to choose an alternative browser for privacy, though, I’d go with either Brave or Firefox. Brave blocks cookies and cross-site traffic. Additionally, it provides protection from malware and its fingerprint randomization features prevent users being identified based on their browser preferences. Firefox has excellent tracker blocking that can block cross-site cookies, social media trackers, and autoplays. Therefore, it’s also a great option for keeping your personal profile safe while you’re gaming. Time to load up a new browser… As you can see there are some big benefits to using a gaming browser — notwithstanding their lighter use of your PC’s hardware. If you’re planning on making the switch, I urge you to try more than one before you land on a favorite. Experimenting can help you find the ideal fit for your needs. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Great form factor Cheap Mechanical switches Cons No adjustable feet No per-game profiles Our Verdict The Lemokey X0 is a great entry point into a fantastic, but sadly neglected, one-handed keypad form factor. Give it a shot if you’re curious, or you’re on a budget and want to experiment before upgrading to a pricier design. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Lemokey X0 Keypad Retailer Price $32.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The keyboard that’s best for typing is rarely the one that’s best for gaming. That’s why I love little side keypads, like the Razer Tartarus. I love them so much that I chopped a GameSir one up so I could add in better switches and a bigger battery, because there aren’t any decent wireless options.  But more than 100 bucks for what’s essentially half a keyboard is a lot, especially if you’re not sure that you’ll be as obsessed with the form factor as I am. Enter the Lemokey X0, a budget option that’s quickly become one of my favorite gadgets of the year.  I’d recommend the X0 for just about any PC gamer who uses a keyboard on a regular basis.  As I said, this is basically half a keyboard, meant to be used with your left hand only. It’s also rather cheap — and I say that without any insult — at $33. But at that impulse-buy price, I’d recommend it for just about any PC gamer who uses a keyboard on a regular basis.  Single-hand design The X0 includes six rows of keys cutting off at the F5 column. It adds a couple of modifiers and an oversized, cross-shaped Space key. Under all of that it has a big, solid, rubberized pad for your palm. It also features mechanical switches (again, rather cheap ones) and keycaps (ditto), something that’s a little hard to find in this extremely niche form factor. A non-removable USB-A cable, red LED lights, plus compatibility with Lemokey/Keychron’s online programming tool round out the features.  Michael Crider/Foundry The utility of this kind of gadget should be obvious. They’ve been around in one flavor or another for over 20 years — I think the Belkin N50 SpeedPad was the original, eventually morphing into the Razer Tartarus I mentioned earlier. They’re a dedicated left–hand-only keyboard, intended to be a more focused and ergonomic tool than your typical full-sized keyboard, while still letting your right hand handle mouse duties.  (Sadly there’s really no way to make this work if you use your left hand for the mouse, and I say that sincerely, since I’m a lefty. Maybe try a full split keyboard design and a wrist rest.)  Michael Crider/Foundry I genuinely love this layout, and I’ve been using something like it since I transitioned from console to full PC gaming in college. Not only is it much easier to position a smaller gamepad for more comfy and ergonomic gaming, it lets me keep a full dedicated keyboard that’s focused on typing. Which, as someone who writes all day long to put food on my table (usually next to the keyboard), is a big deal.  Not much competition I’ve tried many of these things. I wouldn’t say that the X0 is the best — that goes to my customized GameSir pad, with the mechanical (and discontinued) Razer Orbweaver in a distant second. But among the cheap ones I’ve tried, the X0 shines bright as the best of the bunch.  In terms of layout it’s exactly what most PC gamers want, a faithful reproduction of all the keys you’re likely to reach with your left hand. The only exception is the double Fn buttons to expand programming options, and the space bar, which isn’t really a bar. Like the Tartarus and the ancient Logitech G13, it repositions the space input to more naturally fit the positioning of your thumb.  There is an important omission here: a D-pad. That’s a feature that originally drew me to the Belkin-slash-Razer designs, as a way to wean myself off of console-style movement. And it still persists in some modern offshoots, like the Azeron. But speaking as a big fan of this category I’m okay with its omission, especially on a budget device. If you’re used to the far more flexible WASD input for most shooters and first-person games, I think you’ll agree.  Michael Crider/Foundry Lemokey (nee Keychron, for its non-gaming parent company) went with brown tactile switches on my review unit. They’re not the best in the world, but they’re light and snappy, certainly good enough for me to get up to speed in Fortnite right away.  Note that the X0 is also available with red linear switches, though you won’t be swapping them out. That’s an okay sacrifice for a budget device, especially when pretty much everything else in this price range omits mechanical switches entirely. You can also use standard mechanical keycaps on this pad, though sizing might be tricky for the extended T, G, and V keys. If you’re okay with legends not matching up, it’s easy to find them on a full-sized set.  Michael Crider/Foundry Long sessions with the X0 were comfortable, far more so than a standard gaming keyboard — though again, I should point out that this is a form factor I prefer anyway. I could use a little more cushion in the palm rest, and I wish there was a way to adjust the angle (I lifted up the right side of my custom board with keyboard feet), but it’s still far more comfortable than anything else I’ve used in a while.  Programmable…but not much The X0 can be programmed with Keychron’s browser-based GUI, which I recommend, or QMK, which I do not. (Yes, mechanical keyboard fans, wag your finger of shame at me.) It’s straightforward and blatantly inspired by VIA, which is not a bad thing, covering just about everything you could need without overcomplication. This includes up to three sub-layers, though none are actually programmed with any alternates from the get-go. You can adjust the keypad’s red-only lighting…though I don’t really see the appeal. My only big change is remapping Caps Lock to M for easily bringing up a map in shooters. Here I’ll point out the only big problem with the X0 from my perspective: Both QMK and Keychron’s online tool lack the ability to bind specific layout profiles or macros to the running game or program. You could conceivably program the four layers for four different games, and then manually switch between them. But that’s a lot of work and tweaking, for something that’s still fairly limited — for example, the Keychron tool has no way to program in mouse buttons or scroll wheel commands.  Michael Crider/Foundry This is, frankly, a bummer, and I’ve pointed it out on previous gaming keyboards from Keychron and Lemokey. Program-based presets are one of the core features I consider essential for a gaming keyboard, and it would make sense to offer them here. But I’m inclined to forgive the absence, if not forget it entirely, for a budget-focused design. I made the same concession for the G.Skill KM250, which remains my go-to pick for a budget gaming keyboard.  If you must have programable profiles that activate with a game or program, the Razer Tartarus is right there…for more than triple the price, and with far fewer keys. And it’s worth pointing out that none of the other alternatives below the $100 mark offer that game profile option.  A great impulse buy for PC gamers So yeah, I’d be happy to recommend this little gadget for anyone who wants a primary typing keyboard and a gaming keyboard, and can’t find one that works for both of them. Note the limitations of the software and the form factor — I doubt a Starcraft pro would be okay essentially cutting their immediate keys in half, for example.  The Lemokey X0 with my modified Gamesir pad. Michael Crider/Foundry But even as an experiment, it’s definitely worth the $33 asking price. If you like it and want to go further you can step up to the Tartarus, or consider the ReDragon K585 if you want something wireless.  Even as an experiment, The X0 is definitely worth the $33 asking price. In the meantime, I’ll wait patiently for someone (Lemokey, maybe you folks?) to make a wireless version of this gadget that comes with a big battery, a nice metal body, and hot-swap switches. Something tells me I’ll be waiting for a long, long time. Read...

I’m not saying Windows is a terrible operating system, but it’s definitely no longer the one I choose to use on a day-to-day basis. After 30+ years of using Windows in its various forms (starting with Windows 95), I have moved on — but not to macOS! In fact, I’ve switched from Windows to ChromeOS and I’m loving every minute of it. Now, I want to be fully transparent: I admit that I still own an all-in-one Windows PC (currently running Windows 10 because Microsoft doesn’t think it’s capable of Windows 11), and I’m also likely to buy a new Windows PC before support for Windows 10 officially ends. However, my Windows PC only exists as a backup for those increasingly rare times when my Chromebook isn’t right for the task. Most days, my Chromebook is more than sufficient. Here’s why I switched and why I now love Chromebooks more than Windows laptops. Related: The best Chromebooks for every budget Why I switched to a Chromebook Why did I switch from Windows to ChromeOS? There were several factors that influenced my decision. Some may resonate with you, while others may differ from your own experiences. Reason 1: A simpler, less frustrating operating system Dave Parrack / IDG After decades of using Windows in its various forms, I grew tired of how frustrating it has become to use. It feels bloated and slow more often than not, even with a decently specced machine and everything updated. I don’t want to wait minutes for an operating system to fully boot and be ready to use, I don’t want it to constantly grind away in the background doing God knows what, and I don’t want to be troubleshooting it all the time when things inevitably go wrong. I want an operating system that boots on demand in seconds and simply works without fuss or obstacles. I just want to get on with my day and do what I need to do. That’s what I found in ChromeOS. Reason 2: Less stress about malware and security issues Mohamed Hassan / Pixabay Windows has always been the favorite target of scammers and hackers due to its mainstream popularity and the many vulnerabilities that continue to pop up even as older ones are fixed. In other words, while Microsoft has admittedly improved in this area, malware is more likely to hit and infect a Windows machine than a Chromebook. (Windows is riskier to use than macOS and Linux, too.) ChromeOS is especially safe and secure thanks to a range of built-in security features, including Verified Boot (which checks for unexpected changes on startup), Sandboxing at all levels (which ensures any issues are kept isolated), and the inability to run random executables. All of this, combined with the fact that malware creators are less likely to target ChromeOS, means I can use my Chromebook without worrying as long as I’m mindful of best practices for digital security. Related: Can Chromebooks get viruses? It’s complicated, but don’t worry too much about it Reason 3: No system updates that take hours to complete Dave Parrack / IDG Another constant frustration of using Windows that made me look around for an alternative is the seemingly never-ending updates that Microsoft pushes onto users — updates that aren’t seamlessly applied in the background but disruptive to daily productivity. I’ve often heard my PC chugging away as it downloads a massive Windows update, which then prompts me to restart my computer in order to install it. That can sometimes take upwards of an hour. ChromeOS, on the other hand, is such a lightweight operating system that its regular updates are fast, silent, and without fuss. It takes the hassle out of maintaining an operating system. Reason 4: Productivity without spending a fortune Dave Parrack / IDG As a freelance writer and editor, I have the privilege to work anywhere — at home, at an office, at a coffee shop, or even while on vacation. But only if I have a machine that’s light, portable, and user-friendly enough. Sure, there are plenty of Windows laptops and MacBooks out there that fit the profile, but they generally come with higher price tags than Chromebooks. For me, a Chromebook strikes the right balance between usability, performance, and affordability. Related: Don’t go below these specs in a budget laptop Reason 5: I’m already embedded in Google’s ecosystem Dave Parrack / IDG The final reason why I made the switch away from Windows to ChromeOS is the fact that I’m already embedded in Google’s ecosystem. I own an Android phone and I use most of Google’s apps (including Gmail, Meet, Calendar, Maps, Photos, etc.), so it wasn’t a huge leap to ditch Windows and go (almost) all-in on ChromeOS. In fact, the switch has made things easier for me as I now have full access to all of my data across my phone, Chromebook, and other devices. Why I don’t regret making the switch I have no regrets about buying a Chromebook and I have no shame in preferring ChromeOS over Windows. Here are three big ways in which the switch has left me in a better place than before. I’m actually more productive Matthew Smith / IDG The most obvious benefit I’ve felt after switching is a boost to my productivity, and that in turn has improved my work-life balance. As a writer who works from home but also needs the option to work outside of the home at times, a Chromebook offers the perfect blend of power and portability. I can get my work done with little fuss and I can do it from anywhere, without the operating system bogging me down. ChromeOS boots instantly and is ready when I need it Dave Parrack / IDG Despite being a desk worker, I don’t actually have to be sat at a desk for 8 straight hours every day. I have flexibility in my schedule, and that’s why I need a machine that’s always ready to use on demand. Sure, I could leave my Windows laptop running all day and jump on/off as required, but I don’t like the idea of needless idling. Sleep and hibernation modes are also options, but Windows is too sluggish for me when it comes to waking up. ChromeOS offers a more practical and environmentally friendly alternative. Given how lightweight Google’s OS is, it’s no surprise that it boots instantly and can be used at a moment’s notice. Web and Android apps are enough for me Dave Parrack / IDG One of the bigger worries I had when leaving Windows was losing access to all the Windows programs I’d been using for years. However, those fears proved (mostly) unfounded as there are adequate Android apps and web apps to replace the ones I used on Windows. What you may not know is that Chromebooks aren’t just limited to websites and Chrome extensions. A few years ago, Google added the ability to natively run Android apps on Chromebooks, and most apps in the Google Play Store are compatible with ChromeOS. Some work better than others, of course, and there was a lot of trial and error as I sought apps that most closely matched my needs and preferences. But these days, web and Android apps are pretty darn good and you can easily get by except in very specific situations. Related: Why your next laptop should be a Chromebook What you might miss if you switch from Windows to Chromebook ChromeOS works perfectly for me 99 percent of the time, but if you decide to follow suit and switch from Windows to Google’s operating system, there are some things you may miss — and I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention them. Access to your full-featured desktop applications Microsoft While I was able to find suitable web and Android apps to replace most of the Windows programs I previously relied on, some niche programs simply don’t have viable web or Android alternatives. For example, if your job requires that you use a particular Windows-only app — maybe even an in-house app that’s specific to your company — then you may not have a choice. Another example is software that comes in web and Windows versions, with the Windows version being more full-featured or more performant. In that case, switching to the web version might be an obvious downgrade that seriously harms productivity or usability. Therefore, you really have to do your research before making the switch, whether you’re switching to ChromeOS or some other operating system like macOS or Linux. Windows-only apps are a valid deal-breaker. PC games without needing to rely on cloud gaming Dave Parrack / IDG Contrary to popular belief, you can game on a Chromebook — and the experience is far better than you’d probably expect it to be. The caveat is that you can’t just install Steam and play all the same PC games that you can enjoy on a Windows machine. Yes, you can install Steam on Chromebooks now, but not all games on Steam are compatible with ChromeOS. You can also install most Android games on ChromeOS, which opens up a whole world of casual gaming opportunities (along with mobile ports of popular games like Stardew Valley, Dead Cells, and Hollow Knight). Otherwise, you have to rely on cloud gaming services if you want to play mainstream AAA games on a Chromebook. Using platforms like Xbox Cloud Gaming, Nvidia’s GeForce Now, and Amazon Luna, you can stream gameplay to your Chromebook… but it’s notably not the same as playing games locally on a high-end machine. If these limited gaming options are a problem for you, then you should probably skip the Chromebook. (Or keep a separate gaming PC.) Related: Are Chromebooks good for gaming? System upgradeability and customizations Framework If you’re a fan of either customizing your system to your heart’s content or upgrading your hardware to stay ahead of the curve, then ChromeOS probably won’t be for you. It’s meant to be a lightweight operating system that works out of the box, not something for tinkering and customizing and messing around in. And while that suits me perfectly, it won’t suit everyone. The same goes for the hardware, as you’re pretty much stuck with what you buy. Thankfully, ChromeOS isn’t at all heavy on resources, so as long as you buy smart to begin with, the hardware should last. Further reading: How to turn an old laptop into a Chromebook Read...

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These days, you don’t need a full-blown desktop PC or laptop to get your work done — a mini PC will do just fine. Not just fine, but even better. If you don’t need the portability of a laptop or the boundary-pushing power of a top-tier gaming PC, a mini PC might be ideal for you. And right now, with the Beelink SER5 Pro mini PC on sale for $309 at Amazon, down from its original $389 MSRP, it’s a great time to grab one of these bad boys and see how good they are. (You need Prime for this discount. Don’t have it? Sign up for a free trial and get this price!) This computer is tiny but powerful, packing an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor and 16GB of RAM. Of course, if you later decide that you need even more RAM, you can easily add more yourself up to a maximum of 64GB. You can’t do that with most laptops. This Beelink mini PC also features a 1TB SSD, which should be more than enough for whatever files and games you want to keep on it. But, again, if you decide you need more later, you can add another TB. And probably the coolest part about this mini PC is that it comes with support for not one, not two, but three 4K displays. (That’s via one HDMI 2.0 at 60Hz, one USB-C video at 60Hz, and one DisplayPort at 144Hz.) It also has sufficient connectivity with three USB-A 3.2 ports, one USB-A 2.0 port, and an Ethernet port. Again, this Beelink mini PC is just $309 with Amazon Prime, which is an unbeatable price for this configuration. If you don’t have Prime, you can snag a 30-day free trial to take advantage of this deal. This mini PC packs a lot of power for just $309Buy now on Amazon Read...

Fast charging tech is something we all need for our phones because who has the time to sit around while waiting to hit 100% again? With a fast charging power adapter, you can cut down your wait time and get right back to using your phone. And right now, this Baseus 45W USB-C wall plug is only $19.49 on Amazon, down from its $30 MSRP. (You’ll have to clip the on-page coupon to get this price.) This power adapter is compact and speedy, delivering 45W of charging power that’s fast enough to refill more than 50% battery on an iPhone 15 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S24 in just 30 minutes. It features a single USB-C port with Power Delivery, so you can only charge one device at a time — but when it’s this fast, that shouldn’t be an issue. The coolest part is that it’s travel-ready with its super small size and lightweight build. The prongs don’t fold, but it’s still tiny enough to fit in a pocket and come in handy for on-the-go charging. And that compact size is also great when your outlets and power strips are crowded, allowing you to fit it anywhere and still get your charge on. So grab this tiny but fast Baseus USB-C power adapter for just $19.49 on Amazon while you still can. Remember to clip the on-page coupon! Save 35% on this USB-C wall plug and fast charge your phoneBuy now on Amazon Read...