Computers

The best free PC software programs aren’t about the cost (or lack thereof), they’re about a fresh opportunity—collections of code that put the dumb hardware in your computer to smart use, tools that can accomplish anything from balancing your household budget to playing games to helping cure cancer. Stocking your PC is a deeply personal task. But some programs are so helpful that we heartily…

If you own a Raspberry Pi, you can start several operating systems from a single boot medium. All you need is a micro SD card with sufficient room (32GB or more) and a tool called PINN. This stands for PINN is not NOOBS and gives the Raspberry Pi multiboot functionality. Multi-booting operating systems can be useful in many cases. For example, if you occasionally need a specialized operating…

Rumor is Apple is working on a $599 MacBook to compete with budget Windows laptops. That’s compelling, but I don’t plan on buying one. A $599 MacBook is both too expensive compared to PCs and not expensive enough to deliver the “premium” experience people associate with current Macs. I’m excited to see Apple compete more on price. But in a world where you can get capable Windows laptops…

At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Solid typing with huge gasket mount Lots of features Hot-swap sockets Cons A little pricey Few software options Our Verdict The Alto Keys K98M is a great upgrade for Logitech boards dedicated to quality typing. Thanks to additional features like hot-swap sockets and PBT keycaps, it’s a solid start for those who want to get into mechanical designs.