Do you need your laptop to fold up this small? Could be pretty neat — a laptop in your pocket!
Should you splurge on a Copilot+ AI PC?
Anymore, every company (and their mother) seems to be slapping “AI” on their product marketing and charging you a boatload. Microsoft and its new line of Copilot+ PCs are no exception.
Let me give it to you straight: Microsoft is pushing these laptops hard, but in this case, what they sell isn’t exactly what you get. If you’re considering buying one, read this first.
What does ‘AI-enabled’ actually mean?
The newest Copilot+ PCs run on Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chips. Sounds fancy, right? They have a CPU for computer processing, a GPU for graphics processing and a new NPU for neural processing, which is what they use to run their AI.
In plain English: These PCs can handle the computing load of AI functionality faster and with way better battery life. You’ll get a full eight hours of running AI features and double that for regular web browsing. That’s great for a PC.
Microsoft also loves to tell you their Copilot+ PCs perform at “45 TOPS,” short for trillions of operations per second. But, practically speaking, that’s a pretty murky stat. There are a lot of other factors that can affect your PC’s performance.
So, what can it do for you?
- Make it look like you’re paying attention: Its camera has AI eye-tracking (say that 10 times fast) that makes it seem like you’re making eye contact even if you’re multitasking.
- Push a button to chat: Microsoft’s Copilot AI bot is integrated into the OS, but it’s not much different than a chatbot in your browser. It also got rid of some functionality. In non-AI models, Copilot can adjust some PC settings for you; that’s totally gone in the Copilot+.
- Live translations and captions: Copilot+ can translate foreign-language videos in real time. This is great in theory, but the translations can be slow and don’t always make sense.
- Generate AI art: The Image Creator feature lets you generate images, but you’ll need an internet connection and a Microsoft account to use it. ChatGPT works just as well.
There’s a big catch
Some of the standard apps just don’t work. Since the latest Copilot+ laptops run on Qualcomm chips, they can struggle to launch older PC apps originally designed for Intel processors. High-end games might not run at all.
That’s not a trade-off I’d want to make — especially if I’ve just shelled out almost $1,000 for a top-of-the-line machine.
You might also remember Microsoft’s privacy issues with Recall, a feature that tracks everything you do on your computer. They scrapped it for now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they brought it back with a fresh coat of marketing paint.
Boost your company’s productivity with this AI-powered documents solution
Accountants, real estate agents, construction companies and marketing agencies — pretty much everybody is using Tungsten document automation to streamline workflows.
Dealing with documents in the digital age can feel like a throwback to an earlier, less efficient era. You’re buried in paperwork, navigating tons of files, and manually inputting data. It’s time-consuming, error-prone, and let’s be honest, a bit outdated.
Buying guide: How to choose the right Amazon Echo
I got a nice note from Gary in San Antonio, Texas, the other day. To answer your questions, Gary: Yes, Komando is my real last name — and yep, I definitely can help you choose a smart speaker.
Gary asked about Amazon Echos, in particular. Even though I use an iPhone, I also went with an Echo over the Apple Home. They’re a lot more affordable and easy to use, and I already have an Amazon account. You probably do, too.
Cheap tech upgrades anyone can do
Reading this on a two-year-old iPhone SE 3? Go ahead and make those over-the-hill jokes — it’s reaching the average smartphone lifespan of 2.5 years.
Upgrading your laptop or smartphone is inevitable. But wait before you throw out that clunky computer. Even when a piece of tech starts showing its age, you’ve still got options to give it a new lease on life.
Thermonator: The flame-throwing dog
How is this legal in 48 out of 50 states? You can purchase one of these robo-dogs for just under $10,000. It’s a pass for me.
Komputer Tutor: My infomercial from the '90s
I sold 150,000 tapes at $80 each. You could say, “I blew up!”
Unlock the secrets of your slumber: Best sleep-tracking tech
Ah, sleep — the one thing we all love but never seem to get enough of. You’re tossing and turning, counting sheep, or maybe out like a light but still wake up feeling like you’ve pulled an all-nighter. How can you crack the code of quality slumber?
10 tech freebies everyone should know about
The iPhone 15 Pro Max with tons of storage costs $1,599. The Razor Blade 18 gaming laptop starts at $2,899.99. Bang & Olufsen’s Beoplay H95 over-the-ear headphones? $999.
You get the point. Tech can set you back a whole lot of money. That’s why you should take every freebie you can get — with one caveat. Security programs, antivirus and VPNs are common honeypots for scammers. This list, though, you can trust.
Shopping under surveillance: How retailers track you and how to be invisible
If you have a pulse and an internet connection, companies want all the details they can fetch on what you’re willing to buy — and it’s getting harder to tell where they’re obtaining all that info.
Retailers can now track what customers purchase to influence their buying patterns. Loyalty programs collect data on your purchases, frequency and preferences — in exchange for deals.
Don’t make these 5 big mistakes when buying electronics on Amazon
Shopping on Amazon can be a great way to save money on otherwise expensive tech. Tap or click here for quick and easy ways to save money when filling your cart. Just avoid the most common mistakes people make when buying electronics on Amazon.
Use tech to have the spookiest house on the block this Halloween
Spooky season is well underway and you should be expecting some trick-or-treaters soon. Before you get the candy ready, take some time to ramp up your security.
Vandalism and property damage are more common during the holiday season. Whether you’re home or away, you’ll want to keep an eye on things. A video doorbell is a simple way to secure your home. Tap or click here for my favorite video doorbell to keep an eye on what’s happening out front.
Best smart LED lights for the money
I’m new to the smart light revolution, and I’m not turning back. Let me explain. I lived in my last home for 17 years, and while it needed upgrades throughout, the lights were the least of my worries.
Moving into a new place, I had to either hire an electrician to install the kitchen’s under-counter lights or try to do it myself with smart lights. I opted for saving money and getting my tech hands dirty.
A powerful router if you have lots of devices: ASUS RT-AX3000
When you have a lot of gadgets and a larger home, you need a router that can keep up. The ASUS Wi-Fi 6 Router RT-AX3000 is an excellent option to deliver fast Wi-Fi to up to 30 devices.
ASUS says the tech behind this router provides four times greater network capacity and efficiency in homes up to 3,000 square feet with high traffic, meaning this is the choice for those of you with multiple people using several devices each day. For even stronger coverage or to bring Wi-Fi to areas further from the router, you can add optional mesh points.
Best router for homes under 1,500 square feet: NETGEAR Nighthawk R6700
According to your answers, the NETGEAR Nighthawk R6700 is the perfect router for your household. It also happens to be our top budget pick for smaller homes. This router is ideal for homes, apartments, condos and offices up to 1,500 square feet.
A solid router option for homes up to 2,500 square feet: TP-Link AX3000
According to your answers, the TP-Link AX3000 Smart Wi-Fi Router is the ideal router for your home. It’s handles dozens of devices, is Wi-Fi 6 enabled and comes with advanced security features right out of the box.
Wi-Fi 6 technology offers up to three times faster speeds, four times higher capacity and 75% lower latency compared to Wi-Fi. Tap or click here to learn more about Wi-Fi 6 routers. Along with an Intel dual-core CPU, you can expect smooth, buffer-free streaming and gaming.
The best way to get internet to any spot on your property: Ubiquity LocoM5
You indicated you want a spot far from your home to connect to Wi-Fi. This awesome kit will absolutely deliver. It works by bridging your home internet connection to an area up to six miles away.
It’s the device you need if you want to get strong, stable internet to a barn, garage, guest house, workshop or other structure on your property.
The best budget router for large homes: TP-Link Deco S4
According to your answers, the right router for your home is the TP-Link Deco S4 — our top budget pick for larger homes.
This mesh Wi-Fi router system works in homes up to 5,500 square feet and allows you to connect up to 100 devices. A mesh system is superior at eliminating dead spots and weak signals so this is the pick for you if you struggle with connectivity problems in areas of your home.
Our pick for the most powerful router on the market: NETGEAR Orbi RBK852
Based on your answers, the NETGEAR Orbi RBK852 is the ideal router for your home. Granted, this tri-band mesh Wi-Fi system is an investment, but it’s one we think is worth making if you have a large home and many devices.