General Gaming Article |
- Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Versus Apple MacBook Pro
- Maximum PC and PC Gamer Chat About Oculus
- Newegg Daily Deals: Three Mushkin Enhanced Eco2 120GB SSDs, Dell 23.8-Inch Monitor, and More!
- Here's What You'll Need to Run Star Wars: Battlefront
- Microsoft Announces Lumia 950 Phones That Work Like a PC, Band 2 Wearable
- Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book Laptop Highlight Microsoft's Hardware Event
- Ten Free Security Options for Windows 10
| Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Versus Apple MacBook Pro Posted: 06 Oct 2015 02:26 PM PDT Clash of the 13-inch titans It's been interesting to watch the evolution of Microsoft's Surface line. Just over two years ago, Microsoft took a massive $900 million charge on unsold Surface RT inventory, and for a moment, it seemed like Acer might have been right when it warned the Redmond outfit against competing in the hardware sector. Doing so would be like "hard rice," which is "not so easy to eat." Yes, Acer actually said that. Well, Microsoft stuck to its guns, and while it may have been like trying to eat hard rice in the beginning, selling consumers on the Surface is proving to be easy as pie these days. That's because Microsoft is no longer selling a device without a true identity, but as the company likes to say, it's now a tablet that can replace your laptop. That's truer than ever with the introduction of the Surface Pro 4, which will be available later this month (pre-orders are taking place now). One thing that's interesting about the current state of the Surface Pro line is that it's almost in a class of its own. Sure, you can compare it to a MacBook Air, and in the past, Microsoft has done that. But with the Surface Pro 4, Microsoft says the two devices are no longer in the same class. You can argue the merits of that statement, but in the meantime, we chose to compare the Surface Pro's spec sheet with Apple's 13-inch MacBook Pro. Why? They're similar in size, they both wield compelling hardware, and comparing the Surface Pro 4 to the iPad Pro would be like putting a young Mike Tyson in the ring with Glass Joe. Let's begin. Form Factor and DimensionsThe Surface Pro 4 is a tablet. It's also a laptop if you add a keyboard, though you'll pay extra for the privilege. Perhaps it's for these reasons that Microsoft says the Surface Pro 4 can replace your laptop, not that it necessarily does. Anyway, it measures 11.5 x 7.9 x 0.33 inches (292 x 201 x 8.4 millimeters) and 1.73 pounds (786 grams). It has a nice kickstand for sitting upright at an angle, and if you add a Type Cover, you gain the ability to use it like a full fledged laptop. If you've typed on a Type Cover before, you might have lamented the mushy key action. Keyboard planks are generally inferior to dedicated keyboards, especially mechanical keyboards, but the keys on the Type Cover could definitely be better. Now they are, according to Microsoft. The newest Type Cover is thinner and lighter than before, but also more sturdy. More importantly, Microsoft made an effort to improve the typing experience. The key switches now have 1.3mm of travel and more spacing in between (19mm), and it supposedly feels soft when you type. Microsoft also enlarged the trackpad by 40 percent, in case you felt the previous one was too small. Still, it's an optional (and detached) keyboard, whereas the MacBook Pro's plank is permanently affixed. Overall, it's a nice keyboard, and the "Force Touch" trackpad is nifty too -- it has "force" sensors that detect the amount of pressure you apply, which in turn can affect how you interact with objects on the display. We've yet to type on the new Type Cover, but given our past experience, we're skeptical that it will beat the MacBook Pro's. The other thing to keep in mind is that it's a bit awkward trying to balance a Surface Pro on your lap, with or without a keyboard. As for the dimensions, the MacBook Pro measures 12.35 x 8.62 x 0.71 inches (313.7 x 218.9 x 18 millimeters) and weighs 3.48 pounds (1,578.5 grams). In other words, it's bulkier and heavier than the Surface Pro 4. Which is better than the other? That all depends on whether you want a hybrid tablet/laptop or a traditional notebook. Winner: Draw ProcessorThe latest generation MacBook Pro laptops run fifth generation Broadwell processors from Intel. These run the gamut from a 2.7GHz Intel Core i5-5287U to a 3.1GHz Intel Core i7-5557U, both dual-core parts. These chips are paired with 8GB or 16GB of LPDDR3-1866 RAM. Microsoft hasn't detailed the specific processors it's using in Surface Pro 4, other than to say they're based on Intel's newest Skylake architecture. There are three options -- Intel Core m, Intel Core i5, and Intel Core i7, which can be paired with 4GB to 16GB of RAM. Both Broadwell and Skylake are built on 14nm manufacturing processes, though Skylake is a newer part with various architectural improvements that make it more efficient. In theory, the Surface Pro 4 should win this round, though without knowing what specific processors Microsoft is using and running some benchmarks, it wouldn't be fair to make that determination. Winner: TDB StorageThis category is a little easier to gauge. Surface Pro 4 shoppers will be able to choose from 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options, all of which are of the solid state variety. Certain storage options are only available with select configurations -- an Intel Core i5 with 4GB of RAM is stuck with 128GB of storage, but if you bump up to 8GB or 16GB of RAM, you can choose between 256GB or 512GB. The 1TB option is exclusive to Intel Core i7 configurations. The MacBook Pro has two storage options -- 512GB or 1TB, the latter of which adds $500 to the build. Ouch! Storage upgrades aren't exactly cheap for the Surface Pro 4 either, but you're not forced to pay more for a larger SSD than what you might need. Winner: Surface Pro 4 Display Microsoft is hyping up the Surface Pro 4's 12.3-inch "PixelSense" touchscreen display. It's only 4 microns (0.4mm), the thinnest yet in the Surface Pro family, and the only tablet to use Gorilla Glass 4. "It's the best technology on the planet on a screen right now," Microsoft's Panos Panay said when introducing the Surface Pro 4 on stage. "It's the thinnest optical stack-up that anyone can ship." Cutting through hype, the Surface Pro 4's display features a 2763x1824 resolution with a 267ppi pixel density, 3:2 aspect ratio, and 10-point multi-touch. The MacBook Pro? It's rocking a bright and vibrant 13.3-inch display with a 2560x1600 resolution, so it's bigger with a bit more real estate. However, the pixels aren't packed quite as tight at 227ppi, and of course you can tap the display all day long to no effect, other than potentially ruining the screen. Plus there's no stylus support. Given that the resolutions between the two are similar, the Surface Pro 4 takes the edge by virtue of touch support. Winner: Surface Pro 4 PriceThe Surface Pro 4 starts at $899, though you need to add $130 for a Type Cover if you want the laptop experience (at least as Microsoft intended it -- you could also plug in a $10 plank from KMart). That brings the true cost of entry to $1,029, which again only applies if you want a full fledged laptop experience. On the high end, you could shell out as much as $2,699, or $2,829 with Type Cover, for a configuration that includes an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. That's pretty expensive for a tablet-turned-laptop. The 13-inch MacBook ranges in price from $1,299 on the low end to $2,699 on top end, which includes an Intel dual-core Core i7 processor clocked at 3.1GHz, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage, plus a keyboard. Not taking into account value (both subjective and objective), the Surface Pro 4 wins at the low end with a lower cost of entry, while the MacBook Pro wins at high end with a slightly cheaper price tag for a decked out model. This is sure to stir up controversy, but we're still giving the win to the Surface Pro 4. Why? Simply put, the price difference at the top end ($2,829 versus $2,699) is less meaningful than it is when evaluating the cost of entry, as some buyers may find the MacBook's starting price of $1,299 cost prohibitive. Winner: Surface Pro 4 (by a hair) On paper, the Surface Pro 4 stacks up nicely against the MacBook Pro, provided you want a hybrid tablet/laptop form factor. However, there are still several unknowns, such as how it will actually perform, what typing on the Type Cover will feel like, and what battery life will be. We assume these will all be an improvement over (or at least on par with) the Surface Pro 3, but we won't know for sure until we get a chance to test one out. Based on what you know so far, what's your opinion on the Surface Pro 4 and/or the Surface line in general? Are you sold on Microsoft's hybrid strategy, or do you prefer a traditional laptop, MacBook or otherwise? |
| Maximum PC and PC Gamer Chat About Oculus Posted: 06 Oct 2015 01:18 PM PDT In September, Maximum PC's Alex Campbell and PC Gamer's Wes Fenlon went down to Los Angeles to attend Oculus Connect 2. They got to try a bunch of demos and chat with developers at the event, which is mainly geared toward developers. Alex and Wes tried out the Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Touch while at the event. In this video, they discuss what they got from the event, as well as what they thought of Medium, Oculus's "paint program for VR." The Gear VR, while not as sharp as the Rift, is still an impressive device. It will retail for $100 and be available in November. You'll need a Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, or Note 5 to use the Gear VR. There's no official date for the Rift release yet, but it's slated to go on sale sometime in the the first quarter of 2016. Oculus Touch will follow in the second quarter. |
| Newegg Daily Deals: Three Mushkin Enhanced Eco2 120GB SSDs, Dell 23.8-Inch Monitor, and More! Posted: 06 Oct 2015 11:07 AM PDT Top Deal: Three's only a crowd if you don't know how to configure storage devices in RAID, otherwise the more the merrier! And if that's what you're looking to do, then check out today's top deal for not one, but THREE Mushkin Enhanced Eco2 120GB Solid State Drives for $120 with free shipping (normally $150). These drives are rated to read data at up 550MB/s and write data at up to 530MB/s. Outside of RAID, this is a cheap way to upgrade the storage on three machines that are still lugging around mechanical hard drives. Other Deals: Turtle Beach Ear Force PX4 Gaming Headset for PlayStation 4 for $80 with free shipping (normally $150 - use coupon code: [EMCKAAT92]) Dell 23.8-inch 8ms (GTG) Widescreen LED Backlight LCD Monitor IPS 250 cd/m2 1,000:1 for $180 with free shipping (normally $216) Microsoft Xbox One Covert Forces Controller - 3.5mm Stereo Headset for $45 with $4 shipping (normally $65 - use coupon code: [EMCKAAT88]) PlayStation 4 Console - Destiny: The Taken King Limited Edition Bundle for $400 with $8 shipping (normally $450; Get FF Type-0 w/ purchase, limited offer) |
| Here's What You'll Need to Run Star Wars: Battlefront Posted: 06 Oct 2015 10:51 AM PDT Prepare your PC The beta period for Star Wars: Battlefront is about ready to get underway. In just two days, Electronic Arts will launch the title in beta form, and in anticipation of that, the publisher revealed what the game's minimum and recommended system requirements are. Here's a look at the bare minimum you'll need to play Battlefront:
For a smoother game play experience and/or for enough headroom to crank up some of the visual quality settings, here's what EA recommends:
The beta will include three playable modes spread across three planets. They include Walker Assault on Hoth, Drop Zone on Sullust, and Survival Mission on Tatooine. DICE is capping level progression to level five. Once you reach the level cap, you'll no longer to able to reach higher levels, however you'll still be able to unlock items. Unfortunately, any stats you build up during the beta period will not be transferred to the final game. Battlefront will exit beta and release in final form on November 17, 2015. |
| Microsoft Announces Lumia 950 Phones That Work Like a PC, Band 2 Wearable Posted: 06 Oct 2015 10:28 AM PDT A better Windows Phone Little by little, we're seeing Microsoft flesh out its Windows 10 strategy. A key component of that is executing on mobile, and from what we've seen of Microsoft's newly announced Lumia 950 and 950 XL devices, the company is on the right track. The Lumia 950 and 950 XL are the first Lumia devices to run Windows 10. They're also the newest premium handsets from Microsoft -- as previously rumored, these are flagship phones. Microsoft equipped the Lumia 950 with a hexa-core processor while the Lumia 950 XL features an octa-core chip, both provided by Qualcomm (Snapdragon 808 and 810, respectively). Both phones also have 32GB of built-in storage and 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity, The smaller of the two has a 5.2-inch Quad HD (2560x1440) AMOLED display, while the bigger handset wields a 5.7-inch screen with the same resolution. Both also have a 20MP rear camera with ZEISS optics and a triple LED flash that Microsoft says will help capture natural tones. Selfies and video conferencing chores are handled by a 5MP shooter. Specs aside, it was the Display Dock and Windows Continuum feature that was exciting to watch. With a Lumia device connected to the dock and the dock connected to a monitor, Microsoft demonstrated how a user can get desktop-like productivity from their smartphone. Whether it was typing in Word or transferring photos to a PowerPoint presentation in the making, everything worked smoothly. What's also neat about Continuum is that you can continue to use the Lumia handset as a regular smartphone while maintaining a Windows 10-like desktop interface on the monitor. With Continuum, the phones aren't running a full version of Windows 10, but universal Windows Store apps. The dock has three USB ports, including a USB Type-C port, along with HDMI and DisplayPort connectivity. Microsoft will release the Lumia 950 ($549) and Lumia 950 XL ($649) in November. There was also a brief mention of a Lumia 550 ($139), a cheap handset with a 4.7-inch 720p display, 5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera, and LTE support. It won't support Continuum. Microsoft Band 2 Microsoft also announced a second generation fitness wearable, the Microsoft Band 2. It has the same sensors as the original plus the addition of a barometer for tracking elevation (think: stair climbing). Gone is the flat display of the original replaced by a curved screen with Gorilla Glass 3. The new Band is also flexible, as Microsoft put an increased focus on comfort this time around. Another new feature to the Band 2 is Cortana integration. Using Cortana, you can reply to texts or set reminders (among other things) with the touch of a button. Coinciding with the second generation Band is Microsoft Health, which is available as a universal Windows app, dedicated app for iOS and Android devices, and as a web dashboard. Using the app, Band 2 owners can set various health and wellness goals and receive actionable insights, Microsoft says. The Microsoft Band 2 will be available to pre-order today for $249 and ship on October 30. |
| Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book Laptop Highlight Microsoft's Hardware Event Posted: 06 Oct 2015 09:37 AM PDT Choose your weapon, mobile road warriors Microsoft has long pitched its Surface Pro as a tablet that can replace your laptop and that's still the case with its Surface Pro 4 introduced today. At the same time, for users interested in strictly a notebook form factor, Microsoft also unveiled the Surface Book, its first laptop. Starting with the Surface Pro 4,it's the thinnest and lightest Surface to date at just 8.4mm thin. It also boasts a 12.3-inch PixelSense display with 6th Generation Intel Core m, Core i5, an Core i7 processor options. Despite the slight increase in screen size, the Surface Pro 4 still features the same overall footprint as the Surface Pro 3 so it's compatible with existing keyboard accessories. From a performance standpoint, Microsoft says the Surface Pro 4 is 30 percent faster than its predecessor. If you want to compare it to Apple's MacBook Air, which Microsoft's Panos Panay was careful not to disparage, the Surface Pro 4 is supposedly 50 percent faster. Surface Pro 4 will offer up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage space. It will be available to pre-order today starting at $899. Surface Book The biggest surprise of Microsoft's hardware event was the introduction of the Surface Book. Pegged as a Surface device in a laptop form factor, the Surface Book is Microsoft's first true laptop built in-house. It's a little bigger than the Surface Pro 4 with a 13.5-inch optically bonded display with a pixel density of 276ppi. Inside the Surface Book is an Intel Skylake processor, a dedicated Nvidia GeForce GPU with GDDR5 memory, and solid state storage that connects through the PCI Express bus. That's a potent foundation and the reason why Microsoft claims the Surface Book is the "fastest 13-inch laptop anywhere on the planet." Just as the Surface Pro is a tablet that can replace your laptop, the opposite is true of the Surface Book -- it's a laptop that can replace your tablet (Microsoft isn't pitching it as such). To that end, it sports a detachable keyboard. The Nvidia GPU is actually inside the keyboard dock, so when you detach the display, the Surface Book switches to Intel's integrated graphics. What if you want the power of a discrete GPU in tablet form? You can keep the keyboard attached and bend the display backwards. Using a "dynamic fulcrum hinge," the Surface Book is able to bend at different points, allowing users to push the screen back 360 degrees. Some of the of the other features Microsoft mentioned include keyboard backlighting, 5-point multitouch glass trackpad, two USB 3.0 ports, SD card slot, and 12 hours of battery life. The Surface Book will be available to pre-order today starting at $1,499 and will ship on October 26. |
| Ten Free Security Options for Windows 10 Posted: 06 Oct 2015 12:00 AM PDT 10 security software options for Windows 10 Now that Windows 10 is available to download and install, how are you going to protect your system from viruses and malware? Don't rely on Windows 10 to keep all the nasties off your hard drive, even though it boasts superior security over previous versions. Instead, you might want to take a look at third-party antivirus and anti-malware solutions. But they're expensive, you say. Sure, but what will make your wallet cry even more is when your computer rejects anything you type on the keyboard because some hacker has managed to take possession of your desktop or laptop from afar. That would certainly suck. Perhaps the best road to happiness is to download free antivirus and anti-malware software, as we've listed below, and give them a test run. If you like what you see, then you can consider keeping the free installation, or making an upgrade to premium versions. Again, what will cost more, the software or getting your identity back? Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ |
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