PC Pro

The UK’s biggest selling PC monthly magazine, and your source of professional IT news, reviews and tests. Combining in–depth industry comment and analysis with rigorous product testing.

It’s the software, stupid (but boy, the hardware helps)

CONTRIBUTORS

PC Pro

Now Intel wants to play nice–with everyone • Chipzilla shows a sudden willingness to share with rivals

EU strikes Lightning, but will it kill innovation? • Experts torn over decision to enforce USB-Con devices

Can we regulate our way out of danger?

Will AI kill us all? Serious minds think it might • Risk analysts are increasingly concerned that AI might be the biggest threat to human existence, finds James O’Malley

The A-List • The best products on the market, as picked by our editors

Have the digital giants lost the plot? • Dick wonders if Alphabet and Meta have forgotten their success stemmed from real people, not a digital universe dreamt up in a boardroom

Search-powered manufacturing terrifies me • There’s a new breed of fast fashion that anticipates what people want down to microscopic levels, and it’s all down to how we search

Learning piano? Don’t worry, be appy • Not wishing to blow his own Grade 3 trumpet, Barry discovers that it’s never been easier to learn a new instrument – with the right apps

Star letter

Readers’ comments • Your views and feedback from email and the web

Readers’ poll • We asked our 20,000+ Twitter followers: since the Elon Musk takeover, which of these statements best reflects your feelings?

11 WAYS TO REVIVE DEAD TECH • Don’t let old kit clutter up your house or go to e-waste. Computer repair shop owner Lee Grant shows how to put it to good use

Britain’s fibre broadband boom • A glut of full-fibre providers is making it stupidly cheap to get ultrafast internet connections. But will Britain’s broadband boom last? Barry Collins investigates

SLASH YOUR ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION • With energy bills rising, Nik Rawlinson explores how to get your devices’ power consumption under control

DESKTOP PC POWER

MEASURE YOUR OWN CONSUMPTION

MAKE TURNING OFF LESS OF A TURN-OFF • Most smart plugs and appliances come with their own companion apps, but can also be controlled from Alexa or the Google Assistant. This is generally more convenient, as it lets you manage everything from one place, and even create groups and routines to control multiple devices at once. For example, here’s how to set up an Alexa routine that switches off multiple lights and sockets using a single command.

THE MOTHERBOARD MAP • THE MOTHERBOARD IS THE FOUNDATION OF EVERY PC–BUT IT’S A COMPLICATED COMPONENT, WITH MANY FEATURES AND CONNECTORS. DARIEN GRAHAM-SMITH EXPLORES THE MODERN BOARD

WHAT ABOUT LAPTOPS?

THE REAR PANEL • EVERY MOTHERBOARD OFFERS A VARIETY OF CONNECTORS AND PORTS AT THE REAR, BUT IT’S NOT MUCH OF AN EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT NO TWO BOARDS OFFER QUITE THE SAME SELECTION OF SOCKETS, SO IT’S WELL WORTH INVESTIGATING WHAT’S ON HAND

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G • A bigger screen and day-beating battery life move the Surface Pro in the right direction, but the ARM chip brings hiccups

Surface Pro 5G vs non-5G: what’s the difference?

How we test

What our awards mean

Lenovo ThinkPad X13s • Excellent battery life is your reward for an ARM chip in this ultra-thin laptop for corporates

Lenovo X1 Carbon Gen 10 • A mixed update-it’s faster but with weaker battery life than the Gen 9-but it exudes the same class as ever

Acer Swift 3 14in (2022) • What it lacks in finesse, this highly portable 14in laptop makes up for in power, storage and value for money

Acer Chromebook Vero 514 • A solid ethical choice,...