Welcome to The Full Nerd newsletter—your weekly dose of hardware talk from the enthusiasts at PCWorld. Missed the surprising topics on our YouTube show or latest news from across the web? You’re in the right place. Want this newsletter to come directly to your inbox? Sign up on our website!  Well. I checked outside my window when news broke of a Steam Machine 2.0—no pigs. So with a bit of circular logic, I’ll say that Will shouldn’t have doubted the return of Valve’s living room gaming console. It is true that the first Steam Machine didn’t take. The world largely regarded it as a curiosity. Valve’s hardware partners and their subdued marketing didn’t do much to help that perception. No one knew what to make of a thing not quite a PC or console, with less ability to play games. I’ve seen this initial attempt called a “failure,” most recently by IGN in its news writeup of this reborn Steam Machine. But Valve held on for a long while—it gave the attempt several years. To me, its eventual withdrawal from the hardware market always suggested a retrenching, rather than abandonment. And wow, what a comeback. The new Steam Machine straddles the line between PC and console gaming so much more effectively. It looks more like a console, for starters. I would expect to see it in a living room in a media center next to a PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch. (I mean, you could mistake it for an Xbox Series X’s half-pint sibling.) Simultaneously, its specs punch like a respectible budget gaming PC. Inside will be a semi-custom configuration of an AMD Zen 4 six-core, 12-thread CPU with a 30W TDP, AMD RDNA3 110W TDP GPU with 28 compute units and a 110W TDP, 8GB GDDR6 VRAM, and 16GB DDR5 memory. The storage and memory will be upgradable, too. For the first time, I think the PC may be poised to grab a hefty chunk of console gamers. I am a sucker for swappable face plates on consoles. I don’t care what Valve has said in interviews about only focusing on PC gaming; this absolutely feels like a play for my console gamer heart.Valve Much has changed since 2014. Linux gaming support improved, in large part thanks to Valve’s work on Proton. Upscaling tech has progressed in leaps and bounds. The Covid pandemic put PC building and PC gaming on more radars. And Valve established with the Steam Deck that it can build excellent hardware. (Which conveniently serves as a showcase for said Proton development.) And—somewhat crucially—two major console players shifted their behavior. Sony started to release its games on PC. And Microsoft began pushing hardware further into the background for its Xbox brand. I consider myself an Xbox fan. I own multiple generations and even multiple variations of Xbox consoles. I love the Xbox 360 and Xbox One controllers, as I’ve mentioned many times on TFN. And yes, full disclosure, I still hold deep gratitude in my heart for its place in my career. But I don’t play Overwatch 2 on my console. I play it on a PC. In fact, I’ve done most of my gaming on PC since the pandemic—and so have many of my friends. Tougher economic times and hardware scarcity forced us to be more pragmatic about where and how we play our games. And I don’t think we’re unusual. So even if this second run at a Steam Machine ends up priced more than a typical console when it launches in early 2026, I don’t think it will fail. Even if it remains the plaything of enthusiasts and people with disposable income, I don’t think it will fail at all. I never touched the original Steam Controller again after trying it. But I’m eager to give this second-gen version a shot. (Who am I?)Valve Because as excited as I am about its hardware, this Steam Machine’s existence could spark a PC takeover of console gaming. I believe the new Steam Machine will serve the same purpose as the Steam Deck. Not to win people over directly, but to make people pay attention to the software that powers it. Software that could easily power a PC you already own—or build yourself. If the Steam Machine can prove that it’s feasible to treat a PC like a console (truly!), then the launch of SteamOS for anyone to install could easily pave the way for the PC to pull in console gamers who no longer care what hardware they play on. I think with painful rising costs of memory and storage, that could happen faster than we all assume. So it makes sense to me that the Steam Machine is back. Its time has finally come. In this episode of The Full Nerd In this episode of The Full Nerd, Adam Patrick Murray, Will Smith, and two special guests—Steve Burke of Gamers Nexus and Sean Hollister of The Verge—hash out the nitty-gritty of Valve’s major hardware announcements. Talk about a cornucopia of Linux-based gaming, just in time for Thanksgiving. Valve teased three new releases for early 2026: a new Steam Machine, Steam Controller, and VR headset (Steam Frame). Both Steve and Sean got up close with the new hardware, and they drop multiple juicy details during the hour-plus of chatting. You want to know the real specs, like the rough street equivalent of the semi-custom CPU and how the upscaling to 4K works out? They talk about it. (My favorite tidbit: The Steam Controller’s built-in lithium battery is user replaceable. I’m team Xbox controller in part because I like the flexibility of swapping rechargeable AA batteries on the fly.) But that’s not all! Even after our guests had to go, Adam and Will go on to discuss AMD’s continuing success with Ryzen and PCWorld’s Best of 2025 picks for hardware and software. Yeah, a lot has happened in November already. Willis Lai / Foundry Missed our live show? Subscribe now to The Full Nerd Network YouTube channel, and activate notifications. We also answer viewer questions in real-time! Don’t miss out on our NEW shows too—you can catch episodes of Dual Boot Diaries and The Full Nerd: Extra Edition now! And if you need more hardware talk during the rest of the week, come join our Discord community—it’s full of cool, laid-back nerds. This week’s big nerd news Valve’s announcement dominated this week—though in fairness, the new Steam Machine represents a huge potential paradigm shift, as Brad commented in a staff chat. But it wasn’t the only thing for us hardware enthusiasts to chew on. AMD confirmed Zen 7 chips and a glimpse at its roadmap for desktop graphics and NPUs, and memory makers seem eager to hike their contracts by an eye-watering amount. I’m starting to feel some emotional whiplash. Also, I literally checked the calendar when I read about the Apple iPhone Pocket. No word on a Steam Deck 2 yet.Chris Hoffman / Foundry AMD confirms Zen 7 CPU plans: In the same presentation to financial analysts, Dr. Lisa Su said that Ryzen holds over 50 percent of the desktop CPU channel. How times have changed. Sorry, Adam: Valve won’t be releasing a Steam Deck 2 any time soon. Memory makers will only modestly increase production capacity for 2026: Painful for consumers, but understandable from a business perspective. No one wants to be left holding the bag for expensive investments if (when) the AI bubble pops and demand collapses. Also understandable, but made me sigh: SanDisk reportedly is raising its NAND flash memory contract pricing by 50 percent. And it seems to have kicked off similar consideration in rival module makers. Man, 2026 is going to be a ride. This is why we use Firefox: Thwarting digital fingerprinting? Yes, please. (I wish more people would take privacy seriously, but I’m literally in the minority on this one. Both in terms of my preferred browser of choice, and this stance.) I’ve wanted a Windows “professional mode” for YEARS: Microsoft won’t change its course, but it was vindicating to hear a former Windows dev voice what I’ve grumbled about since Windows XP launched. Yeah, this isn’t hardware news per se, but a sock with a strap for $150? $230? I … just… what?Apple What is fair use? I found the comments on this Ars Technica article more fascinating than the write-up itself, because of how strong the viewpoint seems slanted toward a U.S. take on fair use. What’s your country like? Wow, this isn’t a joke: Apple is selling a knitted sling for iPhones. Starting at $150. Topping out at $230. I had to double-check I hadn’t time-warped to April 1. (I guess this is good news for Etsy sellers who miss making iPod socks.) Speaking of Sony and PC gaming support: This tantalizing rumor about a counter to Xbox’s “Play Anywhere” feature would make it even easier to become platform agnostic. First the em dash, now good manners: Look, I’m no fan of AI bots, but there’s depressing irony in the idea that you have to look for toxicity to find real humans online. I miss the glory days of WordPerfect 6.1: Y’all probably already tinker with DOS emulators regularly. Normal people use them for games. Me, when I saw our site’s latest how-to guide on emulation? I immediately thought of my favorite word processing software. (Yeah, I know I’m weird.) I think I used to lug around a CRT TV this weight: Compaq. That’s a name that brings me back. Maybe not quite this far—but I still had a deep wave of nostalgia thinking back to IBM clones. Speaking of console gaming—the Analogue3D will finally begin shipping on November 18. (Whoa.) With all the tariffs and the nearly year-long delay, I didn’t think I’d ever get mine. You’ll find me reliving my best younger years with a replay of The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (in high resolution!) as soon as I set up the console in my living room. Yeah, I could emulate it on PC (and I have), but that’s the beauty of being platform agnostic. Catch you all next week! ~Alaina This newsletter is dedicated to the memory of Gordon Mah Ung, founder and host of The Full Nerd, and executive editor of hardware at PCWorld. Read...

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If you’re wondering whether to cancel YouTube TV in favor of a cheaper live TV streaming package, your options are better than they used to be. Getting local channels, news, and even sports no longer requires a big bundle, with skinnier packages selling for less than YouTube TV’s $83 per month asking price. Smaller packages are also available for folks who don’t care about sports, some of which even include popular streaming services at no additional charge. With the carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Disney dragging into its second week, now’s the time to look at alternatives. Even if the two companies reach a deal in the near future, you might be better off taking your business elsewhere. If you need sports I’ve already written a whole other article about sports-streaming options that are cheaper than YouTube TV, but here’s a quick rundown: Fubo Sports ($56/mo.): Includes ESPN, Fox Sports, Tennis Channel, NFL Network, Tennis Channel, and most local channels, but does not include NBC or TNT/TBS; and the only included cable news channel is Fox News. DirecTV MySports ($70/mo): Includes local channels, ESPN, Fox Sports, TNT/TBS, NFL Network, MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, USA, Tennis Channel, Golf Channel, and the major cable news networks. You can add regional sports in some areas for an extra $20 per month. You don’t need a satellite dish and can stream via the DirecTV app on connected TV devices. Xfinity Sports & News ($70/mo.): This one’s for Comcast internet customers only, but it includes local channels ESPN, Fox Sports, Turner channels, USA, Tennis Channel, and Golf Channel; plus, the big three cable news networks. It also includes Peacock, and you can stream using the Xfinity app—no cable box needed. Hulu + Live TV ($90/mo.): It’s not any cheaper than YouTube TV, but it does include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select and an otherwise similar channel lineup. It’s also on sale at $65 per month for the first three months right now. Sling TV Blue or Orange (starts at $46/mo): Sling can be an odd choice due to its patchy local channel availability, but its combination of cable news, national sports networks, and general entertainment are worth considering–especially if you use an antenna for local channels. Cheaper news and local-channel options If you don’t watch a lot of sports but still want local channels or cable news, have a look at these options: DirecTV MyNews ($40/mo.): Despite the name, this package is actually the cheapest way to get local channels without an antenna. It also includes major cable news networks. Local channels can vary by market, though, so check your zip code on DirecTV’s website. Sling Select ($20/mo. and up): This is a weird one. Depending on where you live, this package will either include no local channels or some combination of ABC, Fox, and NBC. The price increases to $25 per month in markets with at least two of those channels, and $30 per month in markets with all three. (CBS is excluded no matter what.) In all cases, the package includes 11 other cable channels including Fox News, FS1, FX, NFL Network, and MeTV. Check local channel availability here. Notable non-sports options If you don’t need local channels—or you can get them with an antenna—these options could save a lot of money: DirecTV MyEntertainment ($35/mo.): Includes more than 60 entertainment channels, the big three cable news networks, and free access to Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max (with ads). DirecTV MyKids ($20/mo): Offers more than a dozen kids channels—including Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network—and access to Disney+. Philo ($33/mo): Includes more than 60 entertainment channels, plus access to HBO Max, Discovery+, and AMC+ (with ads). Frndly TV ($9/mo): A super-skinny bundle anchored by Hallmark and surrounded by mostly rerun-centric channels. The price jumps to $11 per month if you want DVR service. Maybe you don’t need a bundle at all Between ESPN Unlimited, Fox One, Peacock, Paramount+, HBO Max, CNN All Access, and Disney’s various bundles, much of the content that once required a pay TV package is now available in a somewhat a la carte form. I’m not saying you should subscribe to all of those services simultaneously—if you do, you might be better off with some of the bundles above—but you might be able to find two or three that meet your needs for less than a traditional pay TV package. And unlike with YouTube TV, there are no carriage disputes to worry about. If a company like Disney decides to raise rates, it’ll have to reckon directly with customers like you instead. This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best TV streaming services. Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more streaming TV advice. Read...

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Dave Plummer was once a programmer for Microsoft, where he played a key role in the development of the Windows Task Manager as well as the ZIP archive import for the operating system. The man has definitely earned his spot as an essential part of Windows history. So you know there’s weight when he begins his latest YouTube video with the words “Windows sucks.” But Plummer doesn’t call names and leave it at that. He also explains why he thinks Windows is bad and how Microsoft could change things for the better. Plummer believes that Windows didn’t suddenly become bad in one fell swoop. Instead, it has slowly moved away from the people who use it and rely on it the most. Plummer accuses Microsoft of turning Windows into a sales channel for all its products. In the video, Plummer explains how Microsoft spent around two decades optimizing Windows to appeal to a billion people. It was a business decision to make the operating system’s user interface simple for less tech-savvy users in the hopes they’d buy Windows. Not bad so far. The problems began with Windows 10 Ever since Windows 10, Microsoft has moved to a Windows-as-a-Service model, where you install the operating system once and it’s then regularly updated over time. This, of course, meant that Microsoft had to find new ways to generate revenue from Windows. Microsoft began to steer these users towards cloud services and subscriptions: Office 365, OneDrive cloud storage, Xbox services, and Azure. Windows 10 became the gateway to Microsoft’s ecosystem (from which the company wanted to earn much more) and was no longer just a product that Microsoft sold for profit. Microsoft has also been collecting more user telemetry data since Windows 10 and therefore knows more about them. This data can be used to improve the operating system, but it’s also used to inundate users with app upsells and service recommendations. Windows 11 took things even further Windows 11 is now the entry point for Microsoft 365, Xbox Game Pass, OneDrive, Edge, Copilot, and Microsoft Store apps. Everywhere you look, Windows 11 is trying to get you to use a Microsoft product you didn’t want in the first place. When you open the Start menu, “recommended” Microsoft 365 apps are displayed front and center. When you open Settings, a banner reminds you to sign in to OneDrive. The search function tries to redirect you to Bing results, even for local search queries. Plummer nails it with this succinct statement: “When the OS suggests, hey, maybe you should switch browsers after you explicitly chose another one, that’s not onboarding. That’s just disrespect.” How could it change for the better? Plummer calls for a “professional mode” that users can easily switch on. In professional mode, Windows would be clean and straightforward without any ads, suggestions, or other intrusive bits. In addition, all Windows settings should be centralized in one place without needing to search for them. You can see all his suggestions for a better Windows in the 16-minute video above. Read...

Users of Dell systems are currently at considerable risk: a “high impact” vulnerability (CVE-2025-46430) has been identified in Dell’s Display and Peripherals Manager (DDPM). According to Dell, attackers with low privileges can use the installation program to upgrade their access rights, which the manufacturer announced in a warning message. Where is the problem? The security vulnerability is located in the installer for Dell’s utility app that users can use to manage keyboards, webcams, and other peripheral devices. The vulnerability allows an attacker with limited rights to obtain higher system rights through a targeted attack. Dell confirms that all versions of DDPM prior to 2.1.2.12 are affected. Version 2.1.2.12 is the first release to address the problem. Who’s affected? What should they do? Windows PCs that have the Dell Display and Peripheral Manager (DDPM) installed are affected. That typically means Dell business systems or users who manage peripherals via Dell’s tool, which presumably includes millions of PC users around the world. Anyone using the program should update to the latest version ASAP or deactivate the tool until the update is installed. According to initial assessment, the vulnerability is currently not being exploited in the wild. Nevertheless, Dell advises users to update quickly, as the program is likely to be installed by default on many Windows PCs. High-risk case with quick fix The fact that Dell categorizes the vulnerability as “high impact” and at the same time publishes a quick fix shows how dramatic the case is. It’s especially risky in corporate environments where Dell peripherals are widely used. An attack can have significant consequences there. If you want to be on the safe side, temporarily deactivate the DDPM tool and install the update before attackers gets a chance. Read...