Flow Computer Market is expected to grow USD 1474.13 million by the year 2024 Influence of COVID-19

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Apr 30, 2020 (AmericaNewsHour) -- Flow Computer Market Research Report - Global Forecast to 2024Global Flow Computer Market Research Report: by Component (Hardware, Software and Services), by Operations (Single Stream Flow Computers and Multi-Stream Flow Computers), by Connectivity (Wired Flow Computers and Wireless Flow Computers), by Equipment (Pressure Gauges, Temperature Probes, Gas Composition Sensors, Meter Prover, Sampling System, Density Measurement Equipment and others), by Applications (Fuel Monitoring, Liquid & Gas Measurement, Wellhead Measurement and Optimization, Pipeline Transmission and Distribution and others) and by Region (North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa and South America) - Forecast till 2024

Market AnalysisThe Global Flow Computer Market is expected to register a CAGR of 8.49% during the forecast period 2019-2024. A flow computer is a dedicated computer that works on algorithms and complex calculations to calculate and record the flow rate of a flowing substance as per the industry standards at a definite point of time. It provides precise and reliable results using advanced programming, damage-resistant hardware components, and graphical user interface to display the readings. Flow computer manufacturers make flow computers that use either wired or wireless networks to connect to its various hardware devices for instance pressure gauges, temperature probes, gas sensors, and distributed control systems.

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The global flow computer market created a revenue of USD 925.69 million in the year 2018 and is projected to attain a market value of USD 1474.13 million by the year 2024, registering a CAGR of 8.49%. The growing improvements in flow computers and increasing demand for flow computers for wastewater treatment products are the primary factors pushing the growth of the global flow computer market. Based on component, the global flow computer market has been fragmented into hardware, software, and services. The hardware component comprises of field-mounted devices and panel-mounted devices.

These hardware devices are categorized based on the type of mounting flow computer is using. A software component is established on the user's devices for example laptop, tablet, mobile, or computer to connect with the flow computers. Different services for the flow computers include technical support, repair and maintenance, product training, parts replacement, and consulting services.

Market SegmentationFlow Computer Market can be segmented into different segments. On the basis of component, the market can be segmented into Hardware, Software, and Services. On the bases of operations, the Flow Computer Market can be divided into Single Stream Flow Computers and Multi-Stream Flow Computers. Based on connectivity the market is divided into wired Flow Computers, and Wireless Flow Computers. Based on equipment, the market is divided into different parts like Pressure Gauges, Temperature Probes, Gas Composition Sensors, Meter Prover, Sampling System, Density Measurement Equipment, and Others. By application, Flow Computer Market is divided into Fuel Monitoring, Liquid & Gas Measurement, Wellhead Measurement and Optimization, Pipeline Transmission and Distribution, and Others.

Regional Analysis:The flow computer market on the basis of region, has been segmented into the different regions like North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and South America. In the year 2018, the largest market share 35% was held by North America with a market value of USD 321.74 million. The market is expected to register a CAGR of 7.33% during the forecast period. European market was the second-largest market in the year 2018 that was valued at USD 237.48 million; the market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 8.74%. Middle East & Africa market is anticipated to register the highest CAGR of 10.19%. In terms of market share due to the existence of various key players who are emerging new and improved flow computers, the North America region is the leading region systems.

The growing demand for developed and consistent computing in industries is one of the main factors influencing to the development of the market in the region. Due to the early adoption of the flow computer technology/systems the US is responsible for the major share in the flow computer market in North America. Furthermore, the existence of different oil & gas companies in the US, such as Abraxas Petroleum Corp., Adams Resources & Energy Inc., California Resources Corp., ExxonMobil Corp. and Chevron Corp., which use flow computers for the volume of substances such as liquid and gas, provide substantially to the growth of the market in the country.

The geographic analysis in Europe has been performed for numerous countries such as UK, Germany, France, Russia, Italy, and the rest of the European countries. Europe has different industries, including chemicals, petrochemical, and oil & gas, that use flow computer systems. The growing awareness for wastewater treatment is another factor driving the growth of the flow computer market in this region.

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Major Players:

Honeywell International Inc, Schneider Electric SE, Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Emersion Electric Co, Schlumberger Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, Contrec Ltd, Dynamic Flow Computers, Inc, Flow Systems, Inc, Kessler-Ellis Products, Co, TechnipFMC PLC (FMC Technologies Measurement), and Flowmetrics, Inc., ABB Ltd, OMNI Flow Computers, Inc, ProSoft Technology Inc. (Belden Inc.), KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH (KROHNE Group), Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley) are some of the key players of global flow computer market.

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Imports, Exports, and Exchange Rates: Crash Course Economics #15

Coronavirus: Got over 3.5 lakh requests for laptops mobile phones consumer electronics says Paytm Mall

Paytm Mall, the ecommerce arm of Paytm, announced that it has received an overwhelming number of requests for non-essential items since the start of the lockdown, with the searches on its platform for mobile phones, trimmers, and laptops surging more than 200 percent. With work from home and online education becoming the new normal, citizens are also wish-listing non-essential products like consumer electronics.

Consumer electronics topped the wishlist with over 1.3 lakh requests. A positive indicator for mobile phone companies, people wish-listed mobile phones upwards of 75,000 requests, says Paytm Mall.

This is closely followed by people wish-listing to buy laptops as the ecommerce company received a total of 50,000 requests. Demand for laptop charging cords, phone chargers, headphones, desktop computers, and study tables are also on an all-time high.   

In a statement released by Paytm Mall, the company said: "Lakhs of customers over the last five weeks have earmarked their 'wishlist' on Paytm Mall, in hopes of buying them immediately after the end of lockdown."

The company also says that it has received requests over email and through comments from its users to deliver laptops, mobile phones, headphones, trimmers, chargers, academic books, and other study materials, consumer electronics, as well as white goods since the lockdown was announced.

As per the company statement, if the "government expands the list of essential items and introduces work and study from home products as part of the list, it would help people function properly during the lockdown and not cause unnecessary delays in work which can affect their personal and professional productivity."

Srinivas Mothey, Senior Vice President, Paytm Mall, added, "We believe that the ambit of essential goods should be increased. India is mostly working from home at the moment but many are finding it difficult as they are running low on certain items necessary to effectively operate under lockdown. Laptops, mobile phones, and accessories, computer hardware, webcams, all these things should be allowed to be part of essential goods. If the lockdown continues, lack of proper technical support would hinder the efficiency of employees which in turn would affect a company's operations."

Post the lockdown, the company plans to take several measures to help its partners and citizens fight COVID-19. Earlier, Paytm Mall decided to help its merchant partners who are facing issues with stocking up on inventory and fulfilment of orders, by waiving off service level agreement (SLA). It also partnered with several suppliers and brands of FMCG goods to help its merchant partners stock up.

How has the coronavirus outbreak disrupted your life? And how are you dealing with it? Write to us or send us a video with subject line 'Coronavirus Disruption' to editorial@yourstory.com

UK Rejects Chinese Test Kits For Coronavirus; 35 Lakh Kits Declared Faulty

Best Laptops (Updated 2020)

Whether you are a student, a business professional, or looking to play games on the go, a laptop is an essential part of your daily tech. While many people can get by with their smartphones or tablets, there are still those that need a dedicated yet portable computer. Laptops have made major strides in the past several years, and the best stand toe to toe with their desktop counterparts. There are also more unique options on the market, which means anyone can find a laptop that perfectly suits their needs. With so many options, though, it can be difficult to choose which one is best for you. We've done the work for you, though, and compiled the best laptops of 2020 for anyone to use.

Microsoft has been fleshing out its Surface line of products for years, and now the family has gotten rather large. After experimenting with and fine-tuning 2-in-1 products through the Surface Book and Surface Pro series, Microsoft finally released a dedicated Surface laptop a few years ago. The laptops were heralded for their beautiful design and solid specs that made them ideal for students and mainstream consumers.

With the Surface Laptop 3, Microsoft has done some major fine-tuning while still maintaining what makes their laptops so great. There are still the Alcantara fabric models that have a unique and comfortable feel to them, along with the more premium aluminum models. The displays are as vibrant and beautiful as ever with a 3:2 aspect ratio and 2256 x 1504 resolution. While it all looks beautiful, it also isn't really that different from what was found on the Surface Laptop 2.What makes this model different is what's underneath the hood. The Surface Laptop 3 runs 10th generation Intel processors, which gives a significant boost in performance from the year before. While it isn't optimal for these tasks, the Surface Laptop 3 can be used for light gaming, mild video editing, and maybe a touch of Photoshop. Users will see improved performance with the i7 variants, but these still aren't the ideal tasks for heavy users.

The Surface Laptop 3 is the perfect laptop for students and business professionals looking to do light work. Their signature aesthetic is just the icing on the cake of this solid and dependable machine.

Read More Key Features

Alcantara surface

Touchscreen

2.79 pounds

Specifications

Screen Size: 13.5 inches

Memory: 8GB/128GB

Battery Life: 11.5 hours

Operating System: Windows

Brand: Microsoft

Pros

Sleek and elegant design

USB-C

Improved performance from Surface Laptop 2

Cons

USB-C does not support thunderbolt

Razer has been a leader in the PC gaming industry for years. At first, they fine-tuned accessory products and peripherals, particularly their impressive line of mechanical keyboards. A few years ago, they launched full force into the computer world with their Razer Blade series. Since the first iteration, Razer has continued to fine tune and improve the laptop line, and it has culminated into the elegant and understated Razer Blade 15 Advanced. This is an impressive laptop that has all the power of a gaming machine without all the flash and gaudiness commonly associated with those devices. It is a gaming machine you could take to the office without blushing.The Blade 15 Advanced has a lovely display. There are two options, a 1080p and a 4K option. Combined with the 144hz display, and the user experience for the Razer Blade 15 is buttery smooth no matter what task you throw at it.That's also because of the added horsepower in the computer. The Advanced model is refreshed with the RTX Super cards, which means they can handle even modern games at high settings. Combined with the 144hz display, and you have a top tier gaming experience period, let alone one for a laptop. However, all that power comes with a drawback. Battery life on the Razer Blade 15 Advanced is mediocre, topping at six hours. That means you will want to lug your charger around all day, which makes it less than ideal for professionals on the move a lot.Still, for a gaming laptop that can also do lots of video editing and other intense tasks, the Razer Blade 15 Advanced is a tough one to beat.

Read More Key Features

Windows Hello

RBG backlit keyboard

Powerful RTX graphics cards

Specifications

Screen Size: 15 inches

Memory: 16GB/512GB

Battery Life: 6 hours

Operating System: Windows

Brand: Razer

Pros

Powerful graphics card makes it great for games and editing

All the power of a gaming laptop without the gaudy aesthetics

Lightweight for a gaming laptop

Cons

Battery limits how far you can go with it

When Chromebooks were first introduced on the market, they were considered novel but not overly functional. However, as technology and the industry has shifted to cloud-based work, Chromebooks are beginning to make their case as legitimate computing devices. Now that some Chromebooks can also run Android apps, it is now more justifiable than ever to invest in a Chromebook.

The Pixelbook Slate was Google's latest foray into the premium laptop market. Although it was impressive, there were some problems that held it back from being one of the best laptops on the market. That honor goes, instead, to its toned-down cousin, the Google Pixelbook Go M3 Chromebook. It isn't as sleek or flashy as the Slate, nor can it use the solid Pixelbook pen, but the Go is a dependable and entirely impressive machine.

Chromebooks are most ideal for students, who spend a lot of their time doing emails, taking online classes, and writing papers. Google's suite of apps like Docs, Sheets, and Slides are more than sufficient for most students. Many business professionals are also making the jump, since Chromebooks are dependable and often a more affordable option.

However, there is nothing cheap about the build quality of the Pixelbook Go. While its design isn't anything inspiring, it is well built. The display is also impressive, despite the thick bezels. The Pixelbook Go also has impressive speakers that go toe to toe with all the best laptops. If your work is primarily done online and you need a dependable laptop with a solid build quality and long battery life, this Pixelbook Go is tough to beat.

Read More Key Features

Titan C security chip

Intel Core m3-8100Y processor

2.33 pounds

Specifications

Screen Size: 13.3 inches

Memory: 8GB/64GB

Battery Life: 12 hours

Operating System: Chrome OS

Brand: Google

Pros

Impressive battery life

very lightweight

Impressive speakers

Cons

Can't use Pixelbook pen

Big bezels

Dell's XPS series has been the leader of the business professional laptop industry for several years. The laptop line has been known for having impressive specs and performance in a thin and powerful form factor. Dell puts all of that and more into their latest XPS 13. Unlike prior XPS models, though, this laptop is also a -2in-1 with a 1900x1200 touchscreen. This model also comes loaded with the latest 10th generation Intel Core i7, making it one of the most powerful ultrabook 2in1s on the market. The XPS 13 2-in-1 can also get the most out of its powerful process thanks to its advanced cooling system. It also has integrated Intel Iris graphics, which isn't superb but more than enough for some light video editing and photo editing. If you are looking for the best in class screen, the Dell XPS 13 2in1 can be upgraded to a vivid 4K panel, all without sacrificing the fluidity and smoothness of their other display. Just expect the upgrade to take a hit on battery life.

With its small form factor and 2-in-1 functionality, the XPS 13 2-in-1 is great for professionals on the go. It's ideal for coffee shops, laps, and any other nook and cranny that the traveling worker might expect. And with two Thunderbolt compatible USB-C ports, it is easy to hook up to a dock or monitors for more comprehensive work. If that sounds like the work you do, then the XPS 13 2-in-1 is the device for you.

Read More Key Features

2-in-1 w/touchscreen

4K resolution

Two USB-C thunderbolt ports

Specifications

Screen Size: 13 inches

Memory: 16GB/1TB

Battery Life: 10 hours

Operating System: Windows

Brand: Dell

Pros

Powerful specs in compact form factor

Beautiful display

Wi-Fi 6 technology makes it fast and snappy

Cons

Can't upgrade memory or storage after purchase

Apple has a longstanding reputation as the top manufacturer for workhorse laptops, and for good reason. The MacBook Pro series has been heralded by creatives and professionals for its next-gen aesthetics, vivid displays, and powerful specs. The latest generation of Macbook Pros has seen some fumbling, mainly due to the butterfly switch keyboard that was prone to failure. In their latest iteration, though, Apple has returned to form with the MacBook Pro with a 16-inch display. It is sleek, powerful, and, without a doubt, one of the best laptops on the market.

One of the most notable things about the Macbook Pro 16" is the keyboard. Apple has ditched the problematic butterfly switches for the scissor switches found in their incredible magic keyboard lineup. Everything is well spaced and travel distance is incredible, making it one of the single most enjoyable typing experiences on the market right now.

Apple has also improved the speakers of the traditional MacBook. Apple has always been one of the leaders in creating loud onboard speakers with decent bass, and the latest iteration only improves that reputation. The six speakers have force canceling woofers, which stops the bass from blowing out the rest of the sound and ruining the sound quality. It is really impressive to hear.

Now combine all of that with this MacBook Pro's gorgeous display, which is larger without making the computer clunky. That's because of the thin bezels along the side. Under the hood, you can get up to a 10th-gen Core i7 and up to 8TB of SSD storage.

With the Macbook Pro 16", Apple has delivered another stellar laptop that is difficult to beat.

Read More Key Features

Six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers

TouchBar

4 USB-C ports

Specifications

Screen Size: 16 inches

Memory: 16GB/512GB

Battery Life: 12 hours

Operating System: macOS

Brand: Apple

Pros

Improved keyboard over previous models

Thin bezel display

Loud and powerful speakers

There is a lot of stiff competition in the premium laptop market. So the fact that HP can create a laptop that stands above its own impressive line of products along with everyone else's is truly impressive. The HP Elite Dragonfly Notebook has a beautiful and distinct design without being gaudy. And beneath its beautiful exterior is a powerful machine that can handle just about anything you throw at it.

The design is truly unique with the Elite Dragonfly. It's stunning blue chassis is made of magnesium and recycled ocean plastics. In fact, the whole thing is made of recycled materials. That makes for a computer that is both beautiful and eco-friendly.

HP has several options for a display, with the 1080p panel with 400 nits of brightness, a Sure View 1080p panel with 1,000 nits, or a stunning 4K display with 550 nits. The Elite Dragonfly also has robust security features like a fingerprint scanner, Windows Hello, and a Tile tracker if the laptop is lost or stolen. Combine that with the laptop's 5G connectivity and robust series of ports, and this is truly a laptop designed for traveling professionals.

The Elite Dragonfly is also a workhorse, with the top models boasting 16GB of RAM and powerful 10th-generation Intel processors. No matter what you do for work, the Elite Dragonfly can handle it.

For a laptop meant to go anywhere and do anything, the HP Elite Dragonfly is best in its class.

Read More Key Features

Fingerprint scanner

Tile tracker

5G compatible

Specifications

Screen Size: 13.3 inches

Memory: 8GB/128GB

Battery Life: 12 hours

Operating System: Windows

Brand: HP

Pros

5G connectivity means you can take work anywhere

Recycled materials are elegant and eco-friendly

Lots of ports

Cons

Video drains battery quickly

Lenovo has been the top dog in the business-class laptop industry for a long, long time. That's thanks to its X1 Carbon series, with its no-nonsense aesthetics, top-in-class keyboard, and incremental improvements in display quality and weight. However, with so much competition these days, will the X1 Carbon still make a mark?

The answer is "yes." While Lenovo is slow to update the design of the X1 Carbon, there also isn't much to fix. The carbon fiber chassis looks good enough, and business professionals more concerned with performance aren't going to sweat it over a bland aesthetic. Lenovo has instead made improvements where it counts most.

One of those improvements comes in the display. With a 4K model available, the X1 Carbon now has HDR400 support, which improves the contrast and color the display. That makes the screen pop, perhaps letting users forget the boring design. Combine that with the powerful Intel processors, and the X1 Carbon is still a staple device for most business professionals. It also has plenty of connectivity options with 2 USB-C ports, 2 USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, and an ethernet jack. That's the type of I/O serious business professionals are looking for. The only true drawback is battery life. On the 4K model, battery life tops out at seven hours. Though, if you get the FullHD option, that doubles to fourteen hours.

When it comes to being the best laptop for professionals, Lenovo is taking a "if it isn't broke, don't fix it" approach. And that approach works here in spades.

Read More Key Features

Anti-glare display

Fingerprint reader

HDR400 support

Specifications

Screen Size: 14 inches

Memory: 16GB/512GB

Battery Life: 7 hours

Operating System: Windows

Brand: Lenovo

Pros

Impressive and spacious keyboard

HDR400 makes display vibrant and impressive

Lightweight carbon fiber design

Cons

Weak audio

4K display reduces battery life

LG came out with a surprising device last year with the LG Gram. It was lightweight and had an impressive processor making it ideal for heavy workloads. The 2020 Gram is a refinement of last year's model. While there aren't any dramatic changes this year, it is hard to do a major upgrade on a device that was already exceptional.

The LG Gram earns its name. It is incredibly lightweight at 2.5 pounds, and its thin profile makes it perfect for travel or working on an airplane or in a coffee shop. While it is still lightweight and the build is solid, it does already look little dated. The bezels are thick on the display and LG still didn't beef up the speakers, which sound thin and tinny.

However, minor drawbacks aside, the appeal for the LG Gram comes in performance and battery life. The LG Gram has been updated to 10th-generation Intel processors. While the base clock speeds aren't significantly different from the 8th-gen counterparts, that is nothing to scoff at. These are incredibly powerful processors that can handle video and photo editing with a breeze.

The battery life is also impressive. While most of the competition averages around 10-12 hours of battery life, the LG Gram tops out at 18.5 hours. That makes the LG Gram a must have for professionals on the go who don't want to pull out their charger constantly.

If battery life and performance are your top priorities, the LG Gram is a must have.

Read More Key Features

2.5 pounds

Wi-Fi 6

2in1 design with touchscreen

Specifications

Screen Size: 14 inches

Memory: 16GB/512GB

Battery Life: 18.5 hours

Operating System: Windows

Brand: LG

Pros

Insane battery life beats the competition

Incredibly lightweight and portable

Wi-Fi 6 give impressive data performance

Cons

Speakers are tinny and underwhelming

Ultrabooks are great for professionals who don't want to lug around a heavy backpack all day, but they aren't always ideal for everyone. That portability usually comes with a sacrifice in performance, particularly when it comes to thermal throttling. Those thin designs usually lack the fans for proper cooling. That can make it difficult to do heavy duty work without the computer overheating. In this sense, sometimes it is nicer to have something more heavy duty.

Introducing the Acer Aspire 5. It isn't as thin and light as other laptops on the market, but it easily holds its weight in performance. That's because of the impressively fast 10th-gen Core i5 processor and the discrete Nvidia MX250 graphics card. The added horsepower of a graphics card makes the Aspire 5 great for creatives who need to render videos or do some photo editing.

The Acer Aspire 5 also comes with an impressive array of ports. Many ultrabooks sacrifice these ports to be thin and light, but many professionals are frustrated by the amount of dongles they have to lug around to make them functional. The Acer Aspire 5 doesn't have this problem. It has a host of USB ports, including one USB-C. It also includes an HDMI port.

The Acer Aspire 5 may not be as lightweight, nor is it as elegant as some other options. However, impressive specs combined with robust port options makes it a compelling option for creatives and professionals alike.

Read More Key Features

Nvidia MX250 graphics

WiFi 6

Robust I/O

Specifications

Screen Size: 15.6 inches

Memory: 8GB/512GB

Battery Life: 9.5 hours

Operating System: Windows

Brand: Acer

Pros

Discrete graphics card improves performance for creatives

Connectivity options is ideal for professionals

Memory and storage are upgradable

Cons

Heavier than other laptops

If there is one thing HP does exceedingly well, it is making business-oriented laptops look beautiful. In the case of the HP Spectre x360, it does that and everything else very effectively. The Spectre isn't only a beautiful looking 2-in-1, but it is uncompromising in its quality and performance. The Spectre x360 gets its name from the hinge that converts it into a tablet when flipped completely around. This has been a standout feature for HP for several years, which made them one of the first major names in the 2in1 market. The x360 also has the added benefit of being one of the best looking 2in1s around. Its gold trim and futuristic angled edges make it an appealing and eye-catching device.

That beauty continues with the updated display. The 4K panel is AMOLED. With a nearly bezel-less screen, the blacks are black and the whites are white, and every color between is as vibrant as they possibly could be.

On other devices, this type of screen quality would greatly reduce battery life to below ten hours. But the HP Spectre can last as long as eleven hours with the right settings and conditions.

In terms of performance, the x360's 10th gen Intel processors are just as powerful as anything else in the top tier. It doesn't have a discrete graphics card, so it isn't ideal for gaming. But this device isn't aimed at gamers on the go. The HP Spectre x360 is meant for business professionals who want the most powerful and best looking device available.

Read More Key Features

2in1 360 degree hinge

Fingerprint scanner

HP Imagepad

Specifications

Screen Size: 15.6 inches

Memory: 16GB/1TB

Battery Life: 11 hours

Operating System: Windows

Brand: HP

Pros

Beautiful and eye-catching design

Display is beautiful without overly draining battery

Powerful specs put it in stiff competition with other brands

How We Choose

There are a lot of things to consider when deciding what the best laptop is for you. Everyone's needs and lifestyles are different, and you need to find a device that appropriately suits the work and environment you will be using it in.

Not all laptops are built the same, and as such not all of them are optimized for the same tasks. If you are looking for a basic device to stream Netflix and shoot off some emails, you don't need a powerhouse computer. On the flip side, if you plan on doing any video rendering or photo editing, you don't want to skip out on a computer with a beefy processor. Before you make any decisions, you need to think long and hard about the daily uses you expect from your new computer.

Once you have determined how you will use your new laptop, it is time to determine what specs you will need in the device. There are several things to consider, and it can seem kind of overwhelming. Without getting too technical, here are some things to consider.

Size and Weight

All laptops are portable, but some are more so than others. If you will be using your laptop in one place, getting a small and lightweight device isn't as necessary. However, if you travel a lot or work in cramped quarters, getting something smaller and more lightweight is preferred. This also applies to screen size. The most common screen sizes are between thirteen and fifteen inches, with some gaming laptops reaching seventeen inches. As the size of the screen goes up, so too does the size and weight of the rest of the computer. Think long and hard about how you plan on carrying your device around and how often you will be doing it.

RAM and Storage

Random Access Memory (RAM) is effectively the short-term memory of your computer, as it determines how many tasks you can run at once. Most laptops have at least 4GB of RAM, though it is becoming more common to start with 8GB. If you plan on doing heavy video editing or gaming, 8GB is the minimum you should have, though you should aim for 16.

Storage is not the same as memory. Storage is the actual hard drive that houses the data from your computer. Most laptops use solid state drives (SSDs), or M.2 now, which are faster and lighter in weight than disk drives. This switch is why most laptops can be so thin and light now. 128GB is usually the base size for SSDs, though it is rarely enough for even moderate users. It is recommended to get at least 256GB of storage.

GPU

Most laptops do not have a graphics processing unit (GPU). They usually rely on integrated graphics through the CPUs, which allow for light gaming and editing. However, if you want to play the latest games or get the most powerful experience, you will want to look for a computer that has a dedicated graphics card.

We hope you like the items we recommend! CBR has affiliate partnerships, so we receive a share of the revenue from your purchase. This won't affect the price you pay and helps us offer the best product recommendations.

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TOP 5: Best Laptops in 2020

Citizen Science Effort Launched for Gaming Community to Donate Computer Processing Power to Find Treatments for COVID-19 Virus

DALLAS, April 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BALANCED Media|Technology (BALANCED) and Complexity Gaming (Complexity), one of North America's most elite and longest standing esports organizations, have partnered to announce #WeAreHEWMEN, a new citizen science/crowdsourcing effort to encourage the video game community to donate spare computer processing power to find treatments to fight the COVID-19 virus.  BALANCED, a crowdsourced healthcare artificial intelligence company bringing purpose to play, has launched the HEWMEN® Cell application, a free secure download that creates a virtual network to process drug discovery data for COVID-19.  Leading esports team and sponsor, Complexity, is urging the gaming community to support the effort by downloading the HEWMEN cell application.

BALANCED's HEWMEN technology creates a distributed network that processes data-driven problems such as drug discovery and medical research.  The HEWMEN Cell application, which uses small amounts of volunteer computers' unused processing capacity, has integrated BOINC, an open-source software platform used for volunteer resources developed by the University of California, Berkeley. It allows for the virtualizing of servers and applications inside a voluntary grid network and has been widely used with no security issues on millions of PCs. The HEWMEN Cell app was used by BALANCED and computational biologist John Wise, Ph.D., of Southern Methodist University's Drug Discovery Lab, for finding co-medications to enhance the effect of chemotherapy in the treatment of recurrent, resistant breast and prostate cancers.

BALANCED, with John Wise, will harness the power of gamers to have the HEWMEN Cell app process information from more than 200,000 FDA-approved existing medications/compounds against models of the protein and enzymatic functions of COVID-19 to see which candidates prove most effective at reducing the virus' pathology. Using these compounds, between 1.5-3 million virtual experiments will be run, simulating attempts to dock compounds to specific locations on the virus. By identifying the compounds with the highest probability of success, the effort will dramatically reduce development cycle time and get new treatments to market faster. 

"If there's one universal truth about gamers, it's that they're always looking for their next challenge," said Robert M. Atkins, BALANCED CEO. "COVID-19 is the biggest threat to humanity and there's no community in the world more engaged online than gamers. This makes them the perfect group to empower to help put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. When they hear the call to help, they will answer. It's the moment they've been training for since they booted up their first video game."

The HEWMEN Cell app can also combine human intelligence with the system's machine learning by injecting scientific datasets into videogames.  As players interact with the games, they add human intuition and insight into the process as they act upon scientific datasets to solve complex problems or help a computer vision algorithm learn to "read" a certain type of image.

In an industry first, BALANCED recently put a medical research project on Twitch Interactive in partnership with Complexity for World of Warcraft's "Race to World First." The livestream event invited viewers to become participants by playing BALANCED's The Omega Cluster within Twitch streams while watching Complexity-Limit, the top World of Warcraft guild in the United States, become the first North American guild to win the "Race to World First." During the 10-day tournament, participants logged over 900 hours - or 23 40-hour work weeks - playing The Omega Cluster, virtually processing medical compounds for cancer medicines through their gameplay.  

"As with 'Race to World First,' we're proud to partner with BALANCED to showcase the power of gaming and esports within our greater global community," said Jason Lake, Founder and CEO, Complexity Gaming. "We're grateful to continue working with BALANCED not only to create an engaging new experience but also to be a part of something meaningful as we strive to find a solution to this global pandemic."

Other BALANCED efforts include the use of its technologies in an award-winning project by Chief Technical Officer Corey Clark, Ph.D., for the Barbara Bush Foundation's Adult Literacy XPRIZE (2019) and the creation of an Eye in the Sky: Defender game for the Retina Foundation of the Southwest to improve the automation of interpreting Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scans used in the diagnosis and treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. 

About BALANCED Media TechnologyBALANCED Media|Technology is a crowdsourced healthcare artificial intelligence company bringing purpose to play.  BALANCED is focused on changing the way researchers, pharmaceutical and medical device companies leverage machine learning (ML) to advance the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. By crowdsourcing artificial intelligence through online communities and gaming via its HEWMEN platform, BALANCED hopes to aid researchers in investigating new treatments by creating AI-enabled technologies that reduce research time and cost and increase research effectiveness. BALANCED, a 2019 Tech Titan winner that has been recognized as an industry innovator by multiple groups including the Dallas Business Journal and Dallas Innovates, is also creating the 8 CELL video game that aids in medical/health education and research. The McKinney, Texas based company is headed by founders in data science, computing, video game development and the medical/healthcare industries.

About Complexity GamingComplexity Gaming is one of North America's longest standing and most successful esports organizations, now owned by Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys and investor John Goff. The esports organization is led by Founder and CEO Jason Lake, considered by many to be one of the founding fathers of esports in North America. Complexity Gaming has won more than 140 championships in nearly 30 game titles over it's more than 15-year history. Staunchly committed to passion, professionalism, and a player-first mentality, Complexity Gaming has been continuously recognized as a global leader in modern esports. For more information on Complexity, visit http://Complexity.gg and follow the organization on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Facebook.

The Awesome Power of Citizen Science

Daily Deals: AirPods Discounted HP Laptops and Dell Desktops on Sale

It's the weekend! With it comes a selection of deals, this time focused on technology! If you're in the market for some earbuds, the AirPods and AirPod Pros are both on sale, as well as a slew of laptops and desktops thanks to savings at both HP and Dell. Topping things off is our selection of various digital services that are discounted or outright free for a short time. 15% Off Latest Apple AirPods 2 (With or Without Wireless Charging Case) Starting now, Verizon Wireless has discounted the 2nd generation Apple AirPods down to Black Friday prices. You can get it with a charging case (which charges via Lightning cable) for only $135.99, or with a wireless charging case (which charges via inductive Qi charging or Lightning cable) for $169.99. The AirPods 2 is a truly wireless headphone with Siri support and 50% longer talk time than the original AirPods.10% Off Apple AirPods Pro, Now $224.99 This is the lowest price ever, even lower than on Black Friday, and it ends very soon. These are truly wireless AirPods with built-in active noise cancellation and despite that that they actually have longer play time on a single charge than the vanilla AirPods. Other features include three sets of silicone tips for customized fit, a sweat and water resistant outer shell, and a wireless charging case that can provide an additional 24 hours of battery life.HP OMEN 15" 4K 3840x2160 Intel Core i7-9750H Gaming Laptop with RTX 2080 for $1826.10 It's hard enough to find an RTX 2080-equipped gaming laptop for under $2000, but this one doesn't skip on any other spec either. In fact, you get a true 4K 3840x2160 display, a 9th gen Intel Core i7 processor, and plenty of RAM and SSD storage.

Click Here

Select Processor and Graphics - i7-9750H + RTX 2080 (+$630)

Select Display - 15.6" 4K IPS (+$150)

Proceed to shopping cart

At cart, apply code "10GAMERSPRING"

Price should show up as $1826.10

HP OMEN 15" 1080p 144Hz Intel Core i7-9750H Gaming Laptop with RTX 2070 for $1484.99 This laptop is every bit as good for gaming but you'll save about $350 compared to the above config. The RTX 2070 video card is almost as powerful as the previous generation's GTX 1080, which used to be the most powerful mobile GPU. It should be more than enough handle any game on the 15" 1080p display, even at 144Hz refresh rate. If you want to, you can upgrade to 12GB RAM and 512GB SSD for $180.

Click Here

Select Processor and Graphics - i7-9750H + RTX 2070 (+$450)

Select Display - 15.6" FHD 144Hz IPS (+$70)

Proceed to shopping cart

At cart, apply code "10GAMERSPRING"

Price should show up as $1484.99

Sonos PLAYBAR Smart Wireless Home Theater Soundbar and Streaming Music Speaker for $549 Save $150 off the Sonos PLAYBAR for a limited time. The Sonos PLAYBAR is one of the best soundbars you can get for under $1K, and it's very versatile to boot. You can use it as a soundbar for your TV for a great home theater setup or as a high-end streaming speaker with the Sonos app or Alexa. If you want to boost your low-end, the equally impressive Sonos SUB wireless subwoofer is also $150 off.Alienware AW2518H 25" 1080p 1ms 240Hz GSYNC Gaming Monitor for $429.99 The Alienware AW2518H 25" 1080p Monitor is all about a stutter and tear-free gaming experience.. Besides having a blazing fast 1ms response time, this is one of the very few monitors that can support a 240Hz refresh rate and support NVIDIA's GSYNC tehcnology. It retails at $710, but you can get it today for almost $300 less.Alienware Aurora R8 Intel Core i7-9700 RTX 2080 SUPER Gaming PC with 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and 2TB HDD for $1548 Use code "LCS10OFF"

This gaming PC boasts a 9th gen Intel Core i7 processor and the newest RTX 2080 SUPER video card. It's about 10% more powerful than the non-SUPER model and considerably more powerful than the GTX 1080 Ti. For those of you who would rather have a PC preinstalled with all the RAM and storage you'll ever need, this model has 16GB RAM and dual drive storage.

Alienware Aurora R8 Intel Core i7-9700 RTX 2080 SUPER Gaming PC for $1404 Use code "LCS10OFF"

If you want upgrade the RAM and hard drive yourself, you can save alot of money compared to adding pre-configured upgrades. Like the new R9 chassis, the R8 features easy toolless entry. Swapping components doesn't void the warranty.

New Alienware Aurora R9 AMD Ryzen 7 3700X AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT Gaming Desktop PC for $1044 Use code "LCS10OFF"

For those of you who haven't been keeping up with the Intel vs AMD CPU war, AMD has been giving Intel a run for its money with its flagship processors. The new AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-core processor is comparable to the Intel Core i7-9700, both in terms of gaming and workstation performance. It's paired with an RX 5700 XT video card, which is on par with the RTX 2070. If you want to upgrade the RAM or hard drive, I'd suggest doing it on your own. You'll save money, and the Aurora R9 allows for toolless access without voiding your warranty.

Save 73% Off 1-Year IPVanish VPN Plan IPVanish is offering 73% off its 1 year VPN plan, dropping the price to $39. That's only $3.25 a month for a service that provides some great benefits. VPN is the first and easiest step to making your internet activity a bit more anonymous. VPN is also a great way to "trick" a host site into thinking you're in another part of the world. That's great for watching region-locked content from streaming services like Netflix. IPVanish boasts a very user-friendly interface, doesn't hog resources, and has a zero-log policy. We also gave it a great review.Online Learning Course Bundles from Stack Social Want to be more productive at home? Stack Social has plenty of practical courses that can kick start your career. For under $40 per bundle you get dozens of hours of online instruction in programming, game creation, video production, ethical hacking, and more... all from the safety of your home.1 Month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $1 (Includes Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass) May work for both NEW and EXPIRED accounts

This price is reserved for new and expired accounts. Game Pass Ultimate is basically Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass combined into one membership. You even get access to Game Pass for PC. Normally you'd be paying $14.99 for one month, but Amazon is offering an additional month for free. Game Pass gives you access to tons of high profile games like Kingdom Hearts 3, NBA 2K20, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Gears 5, Forza Horizon 3, The Outer Worlds, Grand Theft Auto 5, State of Decay, and more.

Big Savings on PSN Games during the Big In Japan Sale

If you're a Playstation owner, and looking for some new digital games, make sure to take a look at their brand new sale, called Big In Japan. It features a wide array of games, from Resident Evil to Final Fantasy and more.

Free Sling TV from 5pm to Midnight (Includes the 2020 NFL Draft, CNN, MSNBC, Food Network, HGTV, Cartoon Network) No Credit Card Required for Signup

Sling's Happy Hour promotion is offering free Sling Blue from 5pm to midnight (normally $30/month). You can catch rounds 2 and 3 of the 2020 NFL Draft, keep up with live news about the COVID virus from CNN, MSNBC, HLN, and Fox News, or just lose yourself in family friendly TV shows from HGTV, Food Network, A&E, Bravo, TNT, Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, The Discovery Channel, Nick Jr, and more. Best of all no credit card is required.

ComiXology Free Trial Extended to 60 Days This sponsored deal is brought to you by ComiXology

The ComiXology trial period is normally 30 days. ComiXology is Amazon's digital comic platform and is the largest digital retailer of American comics. The site hosts 20,000 digital comics, graphic novels, and manga from DC, Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, and more. Here's your chance to access all of it, totally free, for 30 60 days. If you're an avid comic reader, you might want to consider continuing on afterwards, since it's only $5.99/month. You can even sign in with your Amazon account.

3 Months of Amazon Music Unlimited for Free This deal only works for new Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers, but you don't have to be a Prime member. Normally you'd be paying $9.99/month for this service (or $7.99/mo for Prime members). Amazon Music Unlimited works alot like the paid ad-free versions of Spotify or Pandora. Get access to millions of songs and playlists that you can stream anywhere.New Licensed Castlevania Apparel at the IGN Store Do you enjoy Netflix's original Castlevania animated series? If so, the IGN Store has added a host of officially licensed Castlevania apparel. Sign up for our newsletter and get a 20% off coupon code. Alternatively, save 10% off using coupon code "igndeals10".

Is there actually extra chargers or airpods in your iPhone boxes

Learning from home for COVID-19: follow this Ontario family's 8-part education journey

Families all over Ontario are figuring out how to support their school-age kids as they learn from home during COVID-19.

For two weeks CBC Kitchener-Waterloo tagged along as Carin Lowerison and Matt White helped their three girls learn from home.

All three of their kids are in elementary school: Clementine, 5, is in senior kindergarden, Heidrun, 9, is in Grade 4 and their eldest, Berkeley is 11.

It all started just after Easter when their local public school board formalized home-based learning. That meant assignments from teachers, deadlines and daily feedback.

Carin Lowerison and Matt White have three "boisterous, creative, amazing little girls": Berkeley, 11, Heidrun, 9, and Clementine, 5. Like parents all over Ontario, they're bravely embarking on a journey of home-based education as their family is kept home for COVID-19. Here's a look at Day One. 3:34

Day 2: Managing screentime when school goes online

As the girls' teachers continued to send daily assignments and even feedback, Carin and Matt discovered managing screen time is more difficult than expected.

All communication, assignments — even the family's decompression time together — involves time in front of a computer, tablet or TV. 

And taking classwork offline comes with a tradeoff: more hands-on work for the parents.

Carin Lowerison and Matt White have three elementary-school age girls: Berkeley, 11, Heidrun, 9, and Clementine, 5.CBC is following their family as they navigate home-based education. Here's a look at Day 2 and the family's philosophical struggle with screentime. 3:41 Day 3: Even parents who teach are finding school difficult

As it happens, both Matt and Carin have a bit of experience teaching.

Carin is a yoga instructor and Matt teaches the odd course at the University of Waterloo. But teaching kids is something completely different, he says, as he struggles to digest some of the curriculum, and break it down in a way his young daughters can understand.

On top of that, their two oldest girls are in French immersion, but only one parent speaks French.

Kitchener couple Carin Lowerison and Matt White are among many people in Ontario juggling the roles of parent, worker and now teacher amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. Even with laid-out lesson plans, many parents are finding it much harder than they expected. Both Matt and Carin have a bit of experience teaching, but Matt says he's struggling to digest the curriculum, and break it down for his young daughters. 4:28 Day 4: Setting reasonable expectations

Like many parents, Matt and Carin are finding learning from home is harder than they expected.

The daily assignments from teachers are taking longer than anyone hoped; what was supposed to be a simple hour-long self-directed activity takes much longer. That's on top of the regular parenting, work, feeding everyone and keeping the house clean.

Here's the whole family's take on how week one went, and what a fresh start will look like for week two. 

If you're feeling home-based is hard, you're not alone. Daily assignments from teachers may be taking longer than you'd hoped — an assignment that was only supposed to be an hour, morphs into three. Kitchener couple Carin Lowerison and Matt White are among many people in Ontario juggling the roles of parent, worker and now teacher amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. Here's their take on how this week will hopefully go smoother than the last. 4:39 Day 5: Overcoming conflict in close quarters

For week two of learning at home, Carin and Matt decided to try something a little different: get schoolwork done early and one at a time, so each one of their kids has time to concentrate on their studies solo.

It started out smoothly, but when they tried to encourage one of the girls to be more independent, it didn't go over well.

That got Matt and Carin thinking about overcoming conflict while cooped up in close quarters.

Carin Lowerison and Matt White are among many people in Ontario juggling the roles of parent, worker and now teacher amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. Their three daughters all go to elementary school in Kitchener. Their youngest, Clementine is in senior kindergarden and she's been somewhat forgotten as Carin and Matt focused on their older girls' studies. So today the family got a little fresh air, and focused more on the little one's learning. 4:19 Day 6: When fresh air helps focus the mind

For the better part of the last week, the family's focus has largely been on Heidrun, 9, and Berkeley, 11, and their schoolwork; making sure they had time, space and energy to get the work done. 

The result, say Matt and Carin, was Clementine, 5, kind of got lost in the mix. So, on Day 6, the family got a little fresh air, and focused more on the little one's learning. 

Like parents all over Ontario, Carin Lowerison and Matt White are bravely taking on home-based education as their family is kept home for COVID-19. As they enter week two, Carin and Matt tried to encourage their eldest to do some more independent learning but it doesn't go over well and that got them thinking about overcoming conflict when we're all cooped up in close quarters. 3:40 Day 7: Working through stress and anxiety

Up until March Break, all three girls spent their days at Sheppard Public School, in downtown Kitchener, Ont.

Then the pandemic closed the schools and ever since, Berkeley, Heidrun and Clementine have been doing their lessons at the kitchen table, in the attic — wherever they can find a quiet place to study. 

But never far away is the reality that they can't see their friends and they can't really play outside like they used to. That creates stress and anxiety that kids are only somewhat equipped to deal with. 

Especially empathic ones, like Heidrun, who are prone to worry. 

We get an update from Kitchener's Carin Lowerison and Matt White as they try to help their three girls learn from home as schools stay closed for COVID-19. Today they talk about helping their middle child deal with her anxiety, and the supports being offered through the school district. 2:36 Day 8: Endings and beginnings

Carin and Matt's eldest girl, Berkeley, 11, graduates elementary school this June — and was really looking forward to it. 

She had hoped to have a chance to say goodbye to her school, her teacher and her friends, before moving onto a bigger school where she'll only know some of the kids.

It's just one more thing she, and her family, are adjusting to as schools stay closed, but Carin and Matt say, it is getting easier and if they need to keep it up until the end of June, they'll make it work.

For the last two weeks we've been tagging along as Kitchener's Carin Lowerison and Matt White have helped their three girls learn from home during COVID-19. And though their segments are coming to an end, home-based learning isn't. There's still no news on if the kids will finish out the school year at home, or in their regular classrooms and that means their eldest will miss out on her very first graduation. 3:40

Coronavirus outbreak: Ford government launches learn-at-home portal due to schools closures | FULL

$23M to provide laptops for Detroit students amid pandemic

WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. (AP) — About 51,000 K-12 public school students in Detroit will receive computer tablets and high-speed internet to help transition from classroom to virtual learning during the coronavirus pandemic in one of the nation's poorest big cities.

Schools across Michigan closed in March as part of the state's stay home order to slow the spread of the virus. And while many suburban districts quickly moved teaching online, Detroit lagged because nine out of 10 students don't have access to tablets, computers or the internet.

"When our executive team began prioritizing COVID-19 relief efforts, the issue of digital inequity for Detroit students rose to the top," said Jerry Norcia, president and chief executive of DTE Energy.

The Detroit-based utility's foundation is one of the groups contributing a total of $23 million to the initiative. Each student in the Detroit Public Schools Community District is expected to receive a laptop by the end of the academic year in June.

"We recognized that we needed to take action urgently to close the digital divide for these students and provide them with the tools necessary to thrive in the 21st century," Norcia said.

The first six months of internet connectivity will be fully subsidized. Students then will be transitioned to a low-cost, hard-wired connection.

Nationwide, nearly 3 million students make do without home internet because of the high costs of service and gaps in its availability. The disadvantaged students are more likely to be students of color, from low-income families or in households with lower parental education levels.

The nation's largest school districts, including Los Angeles and New York, are spending millions of dollars to provide devices and internet connections for students. Smaller districts are finding ways to boost wireless internet in school parking lots and distribute hot spots. Still, others are sticking with paper assignments and books because the digital equity issues are too much to overcome.

In April, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an order closing K-12 school buildings for the rest of the academic year and that the state's 1.5 million-plus students would learn remotely.

Districts were given flexibility on how to create distance learning programs with phone lessons, online classes and mailing materials to homes as options.

The Detroit district printed lesson packets. Online learning tools also were made available to students with internet access.

"The ability for our students to access the educational platforms that they use during the school day from home will elevate their learning year-round, not just during this crisis," Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said. "We know that our children perform exponentially better during the school year, but when they return in September, they've lost much of their progress from the prior school year."

About a third of Detroit's 640,000 residents are believed to be living in poverty. In 2018, the median household income in the city was about $29,500, according to the U.S. Census. Michigan's poverty rate is about 15% and the state's median household income in 2018 was about $54,900.

"When we look back to this time in 10 years, we will see that this moment changed the trajectory of education in our city," Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said of the effort to bring laptops and the internet to Detroit students. "We have risen to the challenge of this pandemic and found a way to forge something positive for our children."

Other partners in the Connected Futures program include the Kellogg Foundation, Quicken Loans, General Motors and the Skillman Foundation.

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Lilbits 390: A DIY ergonomic E Ink laptop made from off-the-shelf parts

There's a fine line between genius and madness, and I'm not entirely sure which side this falls on, but web designer ArleyM recently shared details about a DIY ergonomic E Ink laptop project… and it's kind of beautiful and horrific at the same time.

Basically, the kit combines an ergonomic keyboard from Kinesis, a Kensington Orbit trackball mouse, and an Onyx BOOX Max3 eReader and writing slate plus… a duct-taped kitchen drying rack that acts as a tablet stand.

It's clearly not for everyone — you need to be a fan of E Ink displays and ergonomic products to look fondly on this thing. And we're looking at about $1250 in parts. But there's still something a little fascinating about the project.

Here's a roundup of recent tech news from around the web.

Ergonomic writing setup [ArleyM]This DIY E Ink laptop combines an ergonomic keyboard, a trackball, and an eReader.

Wave Computing and MIPS Wave Goodbye [SemiWiki]Wave Computing is allegedly filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and shutting down, potentially taking MIPS Technologies along with it (about half a year after shuttering the MIPS Open Initiative less than a year after launching it).

Magic Leap reportedly slashes 1,000 jobs [TechCrunch]Augmented reality company Magic Leap announced it's shifting focus from consumer to enterprise… and the company may have also just laid off half its workforce (1,000 people). Related: apparently Magic Leap had 2,000 employees.

Zoom Hits Milestone on 90-day Security Plan, Releases Zoom 5.0 [Zoom]Zoom 5.0 is rolling out, addressing some of the security issues that the company has come under fire for in recent weeks. 256-bit encryption is enabled. Waiting rooms and passwords are enabled by default. And hosts have quicker access to security settings.

Windows Terminal Preview v0.11 ReleaseMicrosoft releases Windows Terminal Preview v.0.11 — the final release before version 1.0. New features include support for languages other than English, settings and color scheme updates, copy and paste changes, and bug fixes.

You can keep up on the latest headlines by following Liliputing on Twitter and Facebook. Support Liliputing

Liliputing's primary sources of revenue are advertising and affiliate links (if you click the "Shop" button at the top of the page and buy something on Amazon, for example, we'll get a small commission).

But there are several ways you can support the site directly even if you're using an ad blocker and hate online shopping.

Contribute to our Patreon campaign

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Top Gaming Computer Company iBUYPOWER Partners With WWE Champion Ronda Rousey To Announce New Products Through Creative Live Streamed Content

Top computer gaming company iBUYPOWER introduces former MMA champion Ronda Rousey as brand ambassador and content creator. Ronda Rousey will announce the partnership LIVE on Facebook on 4/22 at 5pm PST here: https://www.facebook.com/RondaRousey/

BROOKLYN, N.Y., April 22, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Top computer gaming company iBUYPOWER introduces former MMA champion Ronda Rousey as brand ambassador and content creator. Collaborating on videos, blogs, vlogs, product announcements, and other fun creative content, Ronda will host surprise giveaways through Facebook gaming and other live streaming services. She will be part of the announcement of iBUYPOWER's new products: Revolt GT3, Element CL, Element Dual, and Anthelion during a time when gaming revenue is at an all-time high. The forced boom in livestreaming has caused companies to get creative and the organic partnership with Ronda Rousey and her team is likely to turn heads. The official announcement will be made LIVE on iBUYPOWER's socials and website on April 22.

Ronda Rousey will announce the partnership LIVE on Facebook on 4/22 at 5pm PST here: https://www.facebook.com/RondaRousey/

In an effort to support COVID-19 relief efforts, throughout April iBUYPOWER will be hosting its #WeGotYou Community Charity campaign, which allows registered participants to be entered into a giveaway for a chance to win an iBUYPOWER Signature PC. For every piece of content submitted under the campaign, the company will donate $1 to Direct Relief's COVID-19 Relief Fund, up to $25,000. The relief fund will help health care workers across the country obtain personal protective equipment. Find out more about the #WeGotYou campaign here.

About iBUYPOWER Since 1999, iBUYPOWER has embodied its core beliefs of Perseverance, Unity, Strength, and Ambition, to deliver on its promise to build the best gaming systems for the most discerning gamers. Even in a time when PCs were not as ubiquitous as they are today, we fueled the passion for gaming by giving our customers the highest quality in custom built computers. Our systems have since become the backbone for professional gamers, game developers, LAN centers, major Esports tournaments, and everyday consumers. iBUYPOWER has worked intimately with brands such as Intel, NVIDIA, AMD, Microsoft, WD, ASUS, Bethesda, MLG and many more. Superior performance, reliability, cutting edge technology and timely production make iBUYPOWER the authority in PC gaming.

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Computer Design & Integration LLC (CDI LLC) Technical Expert Honored for Contributions to the VMware End-User Computing (EUC) Community

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Computer Design & Integration LLC (CDI LLC) announced today that Yury Magalif, Chief Architect, Managed Services and Cloud Computing, was named to VMware's vExpert EUC 2020 list.

VMware, a leader in cloud infrastructure and business mobility, and its vExpert global evangelism and advocacy program, recognizes experts who've demonstrated significant contributions to the virtualization community and a willingness to share their expertise with others. The 2020 vExpert's were chosen for their engagement and personal platform of influence in a variety of VMware communities, including blogging, social media, script writing, VMUG leaders, VMTN community moderators and internal champions.

While the vExpert program was launched over a decade ago, this is the first year in which VMware has introduced the End-User Computing (EUC) vExpert sub-program and badge for only 38 professionals worldwide. EUC vExpert's have proven themselves to be industry thought leaders for their knowledge and advocacy of VMware End-User Computing products like Workspace ONE, Horizon, App Volumes, and Dynamic Environment Manager.

The mission of the EUC vExpert sub-program is to bring the professional closer to the VMware EUC business unit, while delivering exclusive information to help individuals further engage with their technical communities. The VMware EUC business unit will spread awareness of the EUC vExpert's articles on VMware blogs and on VMware related social media accounts.

"End-User Computing has always been at the forefront of showing new ways for enterprises to be productive," said Magalif. "The current situation has forced many organizations across the globe to implement remote work policies, and EUC has become even more vitally relevant. Part of EUC, VMware Virtual Desktop technologies are allowing employees at home to access the same applications as if they were sitting in the office, providing security, simple access and performance. I am proud to be leading the work from home revolution in our community."

Magalif is a professional in Hybrid Cloud, EUC, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, Desktop-as-a-Service, storage and data center technologies. He is a VMworld speaker with a session on performance analysis. For six years, Magalif has been a lecturer at the Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Discover conference, where his presentations are in the top 10 out of 800 sessions offered. In addition, Magalif holds many industry certifications from Cisco, VMware, Microsoft, Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and various other manufacturers.

About Computer Design & Integration LLC (CDI LLC):

CDI LLC was founded in 1995, with corporate headquarters in New York City, as well as office locations in Teterboro, N.J., Philadelphia, Charlotte and Atlanta. The firm has been recognized as one of the nation's top 500 IT solution providers offering clients and businesses of all sizes the most up-to-date hybrid IT technology solutions that solve today's most complex business challenges. CDI LLC continually focuses on achieving client satisfaction by developing and implementing comprehensive and innovative technology solutions that enhance day-to-day business workflow processes. As one of the largest solution providers, CDI LLC combines the required experience, exceptional talent, quality assurance and stability that its clients strive to achieve.

For more information, visit cdillc.com or call 1-877-216-0133. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Ignition System Operation & Testing - (No Spark Toyota Celica)-Part 1

Free lockdown laptops for poorer pupils as no date is set for re-opening schools

The move is part of a push to make remote education accessible for children while schools are closed, and includes a new online academy to offer pupils online lessons.

It comes on what would have been the first day of summer term for most pupils, and after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said no date has been set for re-opening schools in England.

He apologised to pupils for the interruption to their studies and said there are no plans to open schools in England over the summer holidays.

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Mr Williamson said 4G routers will be provided to ensure disadvantaged secondary school pupils and care leavers can access the internet where their families do not already have mobile or broadband internet.

The Oak National Academy will launch on Monday, having been created by 40 teachers from some of the leading schools in England in less than a fortnight.

Its 180 video lessons per week will cover a broad range of subjects including maths, arts and languages for pupils ranging in age from reception to Year 10.

Electronic devices will be ordered for pupils "in the most vital stages of their education for those who receive support from a social worker and care leavers", the Department for Education (DfE) said.

Young people will be eligible for the devices if they do not already have one and either have a social worker or are care leavers, or are disadvantaged children in year 10, ahead of GCSEs next year.

The DfE said schools and colleges will be able to keep the laptops and tablets once they reopen.

The Government said it would also make funding of £1.6 million available immediately for the NSPCC to expand and promote its national helpline for adults.

Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC, said: "The NSPCC Helpline is a crucial cog in the child protection system, last year we responded to almost 73,000 contacts from people with concerns about a child's welfare.

"At a time when there are increased risks of harm to vulnerable children but teachers and social workers' access to them is more limited, we must all play our part in recognising the signs of abuse and neglect and be sure to report any concerns."

Becca Lyon, Save the Children's head of child poverty, said: "Additional online support for all children to continue their learning will help many, but those without access to the internet will still be missing out. Extending router availability to the families of younger children in poverty will ensure children continue to learn at a critical point in their development."

Polling of teachers and parents published by the Sutton Trust found over half of students in independent schools take part in online lessons every day, two and a half times as often as their state school contemporaries.

It said the gap was largely explained by access to resources, as independent schools – as well as state ones in more affluent areas – were more likely to have existing online platforms allowing them to broadcast classes online, or receive work submitted by a class.

Sutton Trust founder and chairman, Sir Peter Lampl, said: "The widening of the attainment gap over these next few months threatens to have negative implications for years to come. It is crucial we do all we can to address inequalities through high quality tuition and access to technology."

Mr Williamson told the daily Downing Street press conference on Sunday that five tests must be met before English schools can re-open,

"People are anxious to know when we're going to relax restrictions, when schools are likely to be fully back and open again," he said.

"Of course, I want nothing more than to see schools back, get them back to normal, make sure the children are sat around, learning, and experiencing the joy of being at school.

"But I can't give you a date. Because before we do, we need to meet five tests."

They include protecting the NHS's ability to cope, seeing daily death rates come down, and having reliable data that shows the rate of infection is decreasing to manageable levels, he said.

Mr Williamson said there also must be confidence that any changes do not risk a second peak of infections.

He added: "There are currently no plans to have schools open over the summer period and we haven't been working on plans to have them open over the summer period."

My Favourite Note-Taking App for Students - Notion (2020)

Durham charter school students lacking laptops teacher adjusting to obstacle

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- A science teacher at a Durham charter school is trying to keep her students up-to-date, despite many lacking the technology to work from home.

Elizabeth Sewell, a fifth-grade science teacher at Research Triangle Charter Academy, has been struggling with the new world of education.

"I miss the actual classroom environment itself: the desk, the pencils, actually having one-on-one conversations with them," Sewell said

Sewell's been a part of the charter school for four years. Between three classes, she teaches about 75 students.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic pushing schools to go virtual, Sewell's noticed many of her kids don't have the technology available to keep up, saying around 25 percent lack the proper equipment.

RELATED: As schools switch to online courses amid COVID-19 concerns, students who lack access to internet, computers suffer

"A lot of my kids don't have access to the internet or only have one computer, and there's three or four of them in a household at a time," Sewell said.

It promoted the science teacher to focus on only reviewing the curriculum they covered in person, so these boys and girls aren't left trying to teach themselves.

While the elementary kids without laptops are given physical educational material, Sewell says it's tough to really teach new topics over the phone.

"At the same time, now we're behind. EOGs have already been canceled, so that doesn't matter anyways; but, they're still missing key units that they need when they go to middle school," Sewell said.

The charter school receives help from Durham Public Schools, along with information about how to deal with the pandemic. The school also provides meals to students Mondays through Fridays.

Sewell believes renting out their school laptops to their children could be a viable solution.

She's brought the matter forward to the Dean; however, no one's allowed in the building until a deep cleaning is completed, "So we're unable to get them the resources that they need".

To make ends meet, the teacher also works at Mystic Farm and Distillery in Durham, helping make hand sanitizer for the current pandemic on the weekends.

Sewell hopes they can address the laptop problem in the coming weeks.

Copyright © 2020 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Overwatch (Placement fail) & OBS Programming

How to speed up your laptop for free

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This article originally appeared in our sister publication Maximum PC. For nearly 20 years, Maximum PC is considered by enthusiasts to be the absolute source for the latest in guides, reviews, in-depth analysis on cutting edge PC hardware. Subscribe to Maximum PC

Welcome to our guide on how to speed your laptop for free. It's not always possible to buy a brand-new laptop, but you can save a huge amount of money and hassle by following these steps to speed up a laptop and get it running like new – all for free.

The steps we go through here can breathe new life into your existing laptop. They could even help you if you buy a second-hand laptop (or get given one from a friend or relative).

For most people, your laptop will likely be running Windows 10, so we'll be focusing on tips and tricks for speeding up your Windows 10 laptop. We also have guides on how to speed up MacBooks.

General laptop speed up tips1. Keep Windows 10 up to date

Ah, the Windows Update. Truly the modern-day raven, rap-tap-tapping on Edgar Allen Poe's operating system with menacing intent. 

Taking control of your updates is objective number one for anyone trying to optimize their laptop, so jump into "Update Settings" and remember to smash that "Check For Updates" button. 

You can turn on auto-updates, too, under "Advanced options," but if you have a metered connection, we advise against this, and instead recommend manual updates. You can also pause all updates for up to two weeks; useful if you want to try something in a specific version of Windows 10.

2. Shut Cortana up

For the vast majority of users, Cortana is little more than a frustration baked into the core of Windows 10. Annoying pop-ups, constant data-gathering, and forced Bing search (come on, Microsoft…) make Cortana the least helpful voice assistant in the biz, but fortunately, shutting her down is reasonably straightforward. 

Find the Cortana page under "Settings," then toggle all the sliders off. To complete the process, head back out to the main "Settings" menu. Under "Privacy Settings," you'll fi nd "Speech" and "Inking and typing personalization." 

Turn both of these off to cut down the amount of data Cortana gathers from your typical PC usage. You can also block all apps from accessing your camera and microphone on the "Privacy" page.

3. Disable startup apps

We've all been there, booting up our laptop to get a quick task completed, only to be waylaid by Spotify, Steam, Uplay, and Discord introducing themselves like the worst barbershop quartet of all time. 

Windows has you covered, though—the "Startup" page under "App Settings" lets you view which apps are set to start up immediately (albeit in the background) when you log into Windows, and also which ones have a higher impact on your boot times. 

Toggle off any of these that you want to open manually, such as Spotify or OneDrive, and your system should start up faster.

Speed up laptop myths debunked

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

The tips on this page will show you how to speed up your laptop for free – but watch out for false advice. Here's some 'tips' that often make the rounds, that sadly won't make a difference.

Don't defrag an SSD

Defragmentation software can be helpful, but only for older drives. If you have a SATA SSD or M.2 NVMe drive, you don't want to try defragging it; there are no significant performance benefits (because SSDs have no moving parts, there's no risk of mechanical latency building up over time), and the lengthy defragmentation processes can actually wear out the memory cells and ruin the drive's lifespan if you do it too many times. Just don't bother. 

RAM Disks aren't that useful

Also known as RAM drives, these nifty data storage solutions use thirdparty software to partition a given amount of your memory to be used as data storage instead of random-access memory. 

The advantages jump out immediately; RAM is a lot faster, netting you vastly improved data transfer speeds for your virtual drive. If you're moving files around a lot and only have an HDD or SATA SSD, it seems like a no-brainer.

However, RAM disks are volatile memory; if your PC loses power, that data is wiped. It's necessary to have regular automatic backups to your physical drive, and to reload the RAM disk image back into your memory every time you boot up your system, which takes time. Unless you have a staggering amount of memory to spare, it just isn't worth it.

Don't tweak power plans on a desktop

While many of these tips will also apply to desktop PCs as well as laptops, there's no point messing around with a desktop's power plan.

 If your PC is connected to mains power, set the power plan to high performance and call it a day. Some people will claim that there are benefits to using the other plans; we're not saying those people are wrong, but we are saying that any benefits will be practically unnoticeable. 

Don't reinstall Windows

A complete fresh install of Windows should only ever be a last resort, when other attempts to salvage your system have failed. 

System restore points are a more useful resource, and it's generally a good idea to have both cloud-based and physical backups of your data. 

Reinstalling Windows is often like bringing a broadsword to a knife fight; effective, but far too much effort and potentially messy. 

4. Disable background apps

This one comes down to preference, and isn't so necessary on more powerful systems with plenty of memory and high-speed storage. 

Under "Privacy Settings," you can individually select which apps you want to run in the background, and disable the rest. 

There's a ton of tools included with Windows 10 that you might use sometimes, but don't ever want running in the background. Windows News? Disabled. Voice Recorder? Deactivated. Xbox Console Companion? Begone!

5. Uninstall unwanted applications

Speaking of stuff included with Windows 10, there's plenty of bloatware you can just get rid of which will help speed up your laptop.

The most obvious contender is of course Candy Crush, but if you take a trip into "App Settings" and scroll through the "Apps & features" list, you may find a surprising amount of software you never use, and never intend to use. 

Click on a program to view options, and uninstall it from there. If you're unsure what a piece of software does, always look it up online before removing it.

6. Update device drivers

Updating your drivers is often a handy fi x for something not working with a PC, but it's a good idea to keep your device drivers up to date whenever possible. To check for updates, right-click the "Home" button and select "Device Manager," then right-click the device you want to update the drivers on. You can also scan for new hardware here; if you change something about your physical setup, you might need to relocate it within the Device Manager in order to update the drivers and ensure everything is working properly.

7. Log in faster

The Windows 10 lock screen is a pointless innovation. Having to swipe up or hit the spacebar before logging in slows things down a bit, and using a conventional password is slower, too. 

First up, assign a PIN rather than a password for logging in; four digits and no need to hit Enter, either. If your system supports it, Windows Hello is pretty speedy, too. 

You can even remove the lock screen altogether, going straight to the login screen upon boot. Annoyingly, how you do this is different for Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro. For Windows 10 Home edition, you need to run regedit from the "Run" prompt, make your way to "HKEY_ LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Policies > Microsoft" and right-click "Windows," select "New > Key" and call it "Personalization." 

Once created, right-click this key and add a new "DWORD (32-bit) Value," with a name of "NoLockScreen." Double click this and set the "Value" to 1. For Win 10 Pro, hit Win-R, type "gpedit" and hit Enter. 

Double-click "Administrative Templates," double-click "Control Panel," click "Personalization," then double-click "Do not display the lock screen," and click "Enabled." Click "Apply," and then "OK." Job done.

8. Check your power plan

It's worth taking a peek at your power plans in the Control Panel on a laptop, found under "Hardware and Sound." 

If it's a powerhouse laptop that you're essentially using plugged-in as a desktop replacement, slap that high performance plan on and call it a day; otherwise, you'll want to take a trip into the advanced power plan settings. 

The default balanced plan is usually a good call, but even then you might want to make some adjustments; like disabling certain ports while the monitor is asleep, for example.

9. Disable tips

Windows 10 wants to be helpful, but like a bumbling manservant, sometimes that help is actually less than helpful. 

By default, Windows 10 scans your system periodically to give you (usually unwanted) advice, and this can have a small impact on mobile processor performance, particularly in cheaper laptops. 

You can turn it off in System Settings, under "Notifications and action." Just toggle off the slider marked "Get tips, tricks, and suggestions as you use Windows." 

10. Manage your temperatures better

It's a good idea to use third-party software, such as HWMonitor, to keep an eye on your system temperatures. 

This is even more critical with laptops, where keeping your CPU cool is an even more difficult endeavor. 

If you're regularly using demanding software on your laptop—3D rendering tools, for example—then heat spikes are inevitable, but there are a few things you can do to alleviate the temperature load on your poor laptop. 

The general optimization tips elsewhere in this article are a good start, but making sure you're positioning your laptop right is important, too. Don't actually put it on your lap, for starters. 

Ensure that all the air vents are clear, and only use it on hard, fl at surfaces. If you have problems with temperature, consider using something to prop your laptop up, creating more empty space beneath it for better airflow.

11. Create a Restore Point and restore your system

In the Control Panel, go through "Security and System > System > System Protection," and you'll open up the window for system restore options. 

You can hit the big "System Restore" button to revert your version of Windows to a saved restore point; your PC should regularly create these by default, but it saves over the previous one when it does so. 

Hit "Configure" and you can tweak your restore settings, or create new restore points. This isn't something you need to do too often, but it's worth having restore points for each of your drives, just in case a new software or OS update causes problems. 

12. Track CPU usage

There's a handy function Task Manager has hidden in its box of tricks. When the Task Manager window is open, you should see a tiny square icon with a grid pattern in the bottom-right corner of your screen, in the notification area. 

It may be hidden in the expanded menu; just click the arrow and drag it on to the taskbar if needed. That icon is a microcosm of your CPU usage, showing a tiny graph that indicates how much of your CPU is currently being utilized, and placing your mouse over it shows exact percentages. 

To keep it present when Task Manager isn't open, select "Hide when minimized" from the Task Manager's "Options" drop-down menu, then minimize the window

13. Check for malware

Of course, ideally you won't have a single bit of malware on your PC, but if you suspect something is amiss (or you watched in slow motion from across the room as your child clicked an extremely dubious link), Windows 10 can scan your system for viruses. 

Find the "Windows Security" tab under "Update & Security Settings," and select "Virus & threat protection." From this menu, you can run quick security scans on your system, or set up full scans that take longer. 

Windows Defender automatically scans your system for malware periodically; you can tweak that in this menu, too, check for security updates, and manually input exemptions from Defender's scans. 

That last point can be particularly helpful for users who deal with a lot of unlicensed software or shareware, but always err on the side of caution when it comes to downloading new programs.

14. Use Task Manager better

Making the best use of Task Manager is key to mastering control over Windows 10. First up, access it faster by right-clicking the "Home" button and selecting it; no need to Ctrl-Alt-Del here. 

You're also going to want to get rid of the simplified view by hitting "More details" to expand to the full Task Manager experience. Here, you can monitor component usage, view the full suite of active and background processes, and a whole lot more that you won't need to fiddle with. 

What is useful here is the ability to check exactly how much pressure each program is putting on your CPU, GPU, memory, and drives. If one background app is chewing up CPU power, or you want to compare the RAM impact of two different browsers, this is the place to do it. 

You can end any task manually by right-clicking it, but be careful—there are lots of background processes that are vital to your system's operation, so don't shut off anything you don't recognize. 

15. Stop apps resuming on startup

Another matter of preference, here we'll explain how to disable apps and browser tabs resuming upon booting up. 

If you use your system a lot and have numerous Chrome tabs you want to preserve, skip this step, but otherwise, take a trip into "Accounts Settings." Under "Sign-in options," at the bottom of the page, there's a slider for reopening your apps "after an update or restart." 

It tries to resume the active programs you had running when you last shut down your PC, potentially including non-essential background processes, and that slows down your PC's boot time. Toggle it off. 

16. Free up drive space

The less stuff on your drive, the better it runs. This is more true of older hardware, but can also affect SATA SSDs to a significant degree. Clearing up your drive on a semi-regular basis is a good idea, as it can also improve the drive's effective lifespan. 

There's a few ways to do this, which work best when done in conjunction: First off, empty the recycle bin. It's easy to forget about that little white trash can on your desktop, but emptying it regularly is a good idea. 

Windows 10 also has a built-in disk cleanup tool, found under "Windows Administrative Tools" in the "Start" menu. If you've recently upgraded to Windows 10, this is worth doing; it can safely erase old system files. If you can, move files to a cloud storage solution, such as Google Drive or OneDrive—that can help, too!

17. Check your system health with Performance Monitor

Another handy tool in Windows 10's repertoire is the Performance Monitor. Activate it by typing "perfmon /report" into the search bar (without the quotes) and give it a few minutes to gather system data. 

It then spits out a highly detailed interactive report; any major issues with system files or processor loads should be highlighted immediately, and you can also check through a series of system checks and a resource overview, which can identify if one part of your system is working overtime when it shouldn't be. 

18. Disable syncing

Windows 10 has a bit of a digital hard-on for synching everything; whether that's banal things such as appearance themes, or important stuff, such as passwords, search history, and cloud data. 

If you use Windows on numerous devices, this can be helpful; otherwise, it just puts extra strain on your system, and potentially poses a cybersecurity risk. 

You can shut off a number of these under "Sync your settings" in "Accounts Settings," but you might also want to disable OneDrive synching, too. To do this, you have to open up OneDrive and head into the settings, then select "Unlink this PC" under the "Account" tab. 

19. Disable visual effects

Look, Windows 10 is great, but it's undeniable that some areas are overdesigned. This step does come down to personal preference regarding aesthetics, but it can also be useful if you're running a system with integrated graphics that needs to keep things as simple as possible. 

Under the "System Properties" menu, there's a tab entitled "Advanced." Hit the "Performance settings" button on this page to open up full customization of all the visual effects baked into Windows 10. 

Hit "Custom" and you can tweak to your heart's content; you probably won't want to disable everything, but there are some animations here that can safely be turned off.

Speed up older laptops20. Use ReadyBoost

ReadyBoost is a handy feature for laptops with older or limited hardware, and uses removable storage (typically a USB flash drive or SD card with at least 12GB of storage) to temporarily cache data and speed up your system. 

You can activate it by plugging in an empty flash drive, right-clicking the drive in File Explorer, and selecting the "ReadyBoost" tab under "Properties." Select "Dedicate this drive to ReadyBoost" and reserve all available space for caching. 

We advise against using flash drives with data stored on them for this; while it shouldn't be a problem, it reduces the available storage space for ReadyBoost to use, and constantly caching files can reduce the drive's lifespan. 

21. Run Defrag on hard drives

If you're still rocking an HDD in your laptop or PC in 2020 (hey, we don't judge), it's important to remember to defrag that drive now and then, lest long-term fragmentation ruins your data. 

Fortunately, Windows 10 has a defrag tool built-in, although it's been shuffl ed around a few times between version updates. Punch "defrag" into the search bar, open "Defragment and Optimize Drives," select your hard drive, and hit "Optimize."

Depending on the size of the drive and the degree of existing fragmentation, it could take a while, so leave this until last if you're taking some time to clean up your laptop. 

22. Disable search indexing

Windows 10's search function is great, but the indexing process can be fairly resource-intensive on older (or super-budget) systems. 

Access the indexing menu by searching for "indexing options" in the Control Panel, hit "Modify," then hit "Show all locations." If you want to fully disable indexing, select everything here, and click "OK." 

This stops Windows Search from indexing your results, freeing up system resources to speed up your PC.

Speed up gaming laptops23. Disable hardware acceleration on mouse

If you're a serious gamer, you've probably done this already. Hardware acceleration for computer mice smooths out the overall pointer experience by making your cursor move further if you move the physical mouse faster, but this can be ruinous in first-person shooters, where snap movements to aim at a target can overshoot their mark. 

Hop into the Control Panel and select "Hardware and Sound," then fi nd your mouse settings. Under "Pointer Options," you can deselect "Enhance pointer precision"—this is what Windows 10 calls in-OS hardware acceleration. You can tweak baseline mouse sensitivity here, too, although we recommend doing that via the physical DPI controls on a gaming mouse.

24. Block auto-updates in game launchers

This is a must-have, particularly if you're on a metered Internet connection. Steam is easy enough; select "Downloads" under "Steam Settings," and toggle the settings to your heart's content. In particular, we advise unchecking "

Allow downloads during gameplay" if you play online games. Origin and Epic don't have quite the same array of choices, but do still allow for blocking auto-updates; Epic even allows you to tweak update choices on a per-game basis. 

25. Revert game version

This is a somewhat niche tip, but it can be a lifesaver if an update tanks one of your games. Steam has a beta feature—not available in every game, but it's easy to check—that allows you to roll back your game version to a previous update. 

Right-click the game in your library, select "Properties," and navigate to the "Betas" tab. From here, you can opt in to older versions of the game in the drop-down menu, let the game update, and boom—you're running a previous update. 

It doesn't work for most online multiplayer games, of course; you need to be running the same version as everyone else. 

26. Disable focus assist

This is the big one: Get rid of Focus Assist. Have you ever been midway through a high-stakes online match, only to be yanked out of it as Windows tabs you back to the desktop to inform you that you've received an email from your co-worker?

Yeah, that's got to stop. Find the "Focus Assist" tab under "System Settings," and slap it to "Alarms only"—there's no option to turn it off completely, but you can also disable it during gameplay or screen sharing. Lastly, you can deactivate the option to show you "what you missed" when you return to the desktop; an unnecessary irritant, for our money. 

27. Keep your GPU drivers up to date

Another potentially obvious tip for gamers is to keep your GPU drivers up to date. No, that doesn't mean installing GeForce Experience—the clutter-free way to do this is simply to head to the manufacturer's website and locate the most recent drivers for your GPU. 

Both AMD and Nvidia have handy search functions to help you find your exact GPU, and what drivers it needs. Remember to select the "Game Ready" drivers if you're using a newer Nvidia card, rather than the "Studio" version. 

28. Enable Game Mode

A simple change to make, although it isn't likely to improve game performance by much on most systems. 

Under "Gaming Settings," find "Game Mode." Make sure this is toggled on and your PC will manage temperature and available memory better to (theoretically) improve frame rates in games. 

While we're not sure it really boosts frame rates, it does also block Windows Update from doing anything while you're in-game. It's possible that some games see more stable frame rates—perhaps Microsoft's own stuff, as Game Mode is officially listed as an Xbox-branded tool. 

29. Install DirectX 12

You might already have DX12 installed, but there's an easy way to check if you do have the latest version of the widely used Microsoft API tool. 

Hit the Windows key and R to open the Run function, then type "dxdiag" (again, no quotes), and hit Enter. 

This should bring up the DirectX Diagnostic Tool; on the bottom of the page, it shows you which version of DX you have installed. If DX12 isn't installed, go check your Windows Updates! 

10 Tips to Make Your Computer Faster (For Free)