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@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO October2021 Issue324
HIGHLIGHTS THIS MONTH Full contents overleaf
OFHTTRCHEVEVivMIeEPOWrNoT2pH46
You would have to be living in your own
virtual reality if you thought that VR had hit
the mainstream. If anything, the momentum
behind VR is less five years ago than it is now
– which is why this release of an updated
version of the best VR hardware out there is
so welcome. Can it be the jab in the arm that
will make VR immune from harm? Or
will it follow the lead of the quietly
discontinued Oculus Quest
headset? Find out on p46..
p26 p34 p42
COOFNTHTREOMVOENRTSHY OF TTHIEPMPLOENTH TECOHFNTIHCEAML FOENATTHURE
Many people have made a fortune by investing Enjoy a not-quite-literal taste of brewing How many cores and threads do you really
in cryptocurrency, so should you follow in beer the modern way, as Jo Best reveals how need? Does frequency still matter? What are
their footsteps? We explore the practicalities Internet of Things devices are transforming the differences between modern CPU families?
and the ethics in our in-depth guide.
this oldest of arts. Darien Graham-Smith investigates.
p126 OAMNFOTINMHTEAHLS THELABSINONENUMBER p72
How do you tell 52x. That’s the difference in sequential writing
the difference between speeds between the slowest and fastest drives in
an albatross and a our huge Labs - and it rockets to
penguin? And why would over 25,000x for random-
you want to? Nicole Kobie access speeds.
explains how drones and
AI are helping researchers
monitor the oceans and
their occupants.
3
HOW TO UPGRADE YOUR LAPTOP’S SSD IN 15 MINUTES p38 38 Withalittlepreparation–and
SESAxSpTAaDnodrMyUoSEuBrGps7t2AoraTgEe vSiaTM.2, p bravery–youcanupgrade
DETSETSEVIRD52
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CRYPTO £25SOBWAFTOCWRKTUAHPRE
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The how
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life’s knocksp60
FEATURES BRIEFING
2CyOo6VuCEiRrnSyvTpeOtsRotYc?urrency: should 10 Rapid mobile alarms are on the way
Cryptocurrencies are going nowhere. But big Government warnings about floods, terrorist
questions remain over their longevity, the attacks and other threats could soon be delivered
amount of energy they consume and the morals directly to our phones – and not via slow SMS.
of investing. Should you buy, sell or ignore?
w11aFrancien-greiscsougendition technology
34 The internet of beer CCTV firms argue that there’s a place for live
facial recognition technology in the UK, but
Internet of Things devices are transforming privacy and bias concerns remain. 3 SUBSCRIBE:
the brewing process, both in the professional THREE ISSUES
breweries and the home. Jo Best gets a taste of c12onPsCePqruoebnec:eCsooufnctyibnegrtahtetacks FOR £1
what’s going on. Subscribe to
How are governments allowed to respond to PCProtodayand
C3SO8SVDHERoinSwT1O5tRomYuipngurteasde your laptop’s cyberattacks? James O’Malley speaks to the youcanbenefit
legal experts. from our three
Lee Grant provides practical, step-by-step issues for £1 offer –
advice on both the physical and digital aspects VIEWPOINTS visit subscribe.
of replacing your laptop’s SSD – in, if you’re p34 20 DthIeCKolPdO, UinNeTxApIeNnsCivuestcohmipesridneomuarnpdhfoonres, pcpro.co.uk now.ALANSUGAR“1EWP4VRoeEnkIiRNtceYkTsstEBtfarRUorSmDdFG£tO7h5RePCmarket” 3
prepared, a mere 15 minutes.
BELOW Weraisea cars and gadgets is far outstripping supply, but £129PR6UTLCHTS
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Whether you’re buying on MuskF:DfeRfBisOEteMoSbau£nKny3ds9kTg9fOeoaTrmOrPhs£ioPn1mgo4Cep9rs69genius?p
or building a new PC, 21 real life, I want domains to honestly tell aLdCsesigergateslil:aytapthaelSSI £145R ODRTCHLTS DETS01
there’s a whole spread 17 DETSETSEVIRD52
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Darien Graham-Smith J
explores what makes a
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@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO October2021 Issue324
p60 REVIEWS THISMONTH SWSAKKSWCSSCaaaeaiidoonnDDammmmrraggssgBBtssssssaaaallttuuuuauiitooUrrnnnnecennMMlggggktFSiKKmSiPP8899NrCCN876477e5a260000C0075t50e50u0EQE0P000dSvvVrP0ooaUoOrP58ol20u00s 888888888888054543222111
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Editor’s letter 7 Subscriptions 106
The A-List 14 Nextmonth 129
Readers’comments 24 Onelastthing… 130
THE NETWORK THE PC PRO 72We put a whopping 25 drives through p
PODCAST
94 Business-class scanners Listen live to the their paces in our storage megatest
PC Pro podcast every
The first step to digitising your workflow is to Thursday at 1pm.
capture everything that’s on paper. Dave
REAL WORLD COMPUTINGclass scanner and puts four to the test.
Mitchell explains what to look for in a business- Visitmixlr.com/
pcpro to join us
108 JONHONEYBALL Jon channels his inner Dickens as he shares
s10te2pBsetyooanbdeGttoeorg-lpeeArfnoarlymtiincsg:wfievbesite his thoughts about Windows 11, the iPad Pro memory
limitation and wireless jammers in schools.
Google Analytics isn’t the be-all and end-all of
digital marketing. Davey Winder speaks to the 111 PAULOCKENDEN Paul laments the user experience being
experts in search of five crucial online insights offered with modern-day technology, but on a brighter note
that Google won’t tell you. finds a nice button to press.
Futures 114LEEGRANT Lee is all in favour of people following (good)
YouTube advice when building PCs, but even he can’t perform
miracles for free if things go wrong.
116DAVIDNORTH How do you hire high-quality programmers
1Sh2eil3lipcTeohdnetSgopabamuielrdwho 1so2hc6eelaKfnetseecuphsinningoglwoogaffty-cthhoe-n during a pandemic? And what lessons should we learn for the
future? Guest columnist David shares his experiences.
David Darling founded Drones and AI are helping
Codemasters and Kwalee in researchers watch whales, 118DAVEYWINDER The time has come to reset our cyberattack
“Silicon Spa”. He tells David beaches and seabirds. Nicole vocabulary, argues Davey, as he explains why hacking is
Crookes why he’s always Kobie reveals the high-flying not a crime.
looking further afield. future of marine science.
120STEVECASSIDY Steve provides advice on how to fight the
invisible ransomware war, before blasting his way through
a friend’s folder full of locked files.
5
@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO Editor’sletter
tNGfohooraotethgvinilenecrgl,uiasdneds
It’snotoftenthatI renderpeople hadn’t been drinking the good especially when so much of its
speechless, but for a few whisky. I wouldn’t bet my house on business remains founded on search?
seconds there was a distinct Google becoming a footnote in IT
pause on the other end of the history, I explained, but it hadn’t Compare Google’s world to that of
Amazon. It has gone from being an
line. I thought for a moment that our cemented its position in the same online bookstore to one of the biggest
Zoom connection had frozen, but no; way as, say, Amazon. logistics companies in the world. In
the thought I put forward seemed too My argument was simple enough. doing so, it has moved from the digital
staggering to imagine. First, the history of computing is domain to the physical in a way that
Some context. This was a littered with once-glorious names Google can’t match. Of course, that
conversation about the history of that are now sepia-tinged relics: Alta comes with overheads and
technology, because it turns out that Vista, Compaq, CompuServe, complications, ones that may
I’m now a dinosaur. The “4” at the Gateway 2000, Netscape and Silicon ultimately prove Amazon’s downfall,
beginning of my age, which I’d just Graphics spring to mind. Just because but compare the barrier of entry into
become used to, will next year tick a company is riding high today Amazon’s domain to that of Google’s:
over to a “5”, and that means I grew doesn’t mean it will be dominant in a it would take a decade of successful
up in the mysterious era of computers decade. Indeed, the bigger they are, moves for a new company (or an
unconnected to the internet. the harder they sometimes fall, such existing one) to become a threat.
To the young student interviewing is the vicious world of global Whereas, just like PageRank did to
me, this was a world beyond her ken. corporate competition. Alta Vista, Google could rapidly be
She was a true “digital native”, and Google specifically feels tumbled by a killer idea.
our call was part of her research into vulnerable because it hasn’t put I’m not suggesting that I believe
what tech journalism was like in the down physical roots. It sprang to Google will be a piece of history in 20
prehistoric era known as the late prominence because it solved the years. Or Amazon, Apple, Bitcoin,
1990s. A time when Google was just problem of web search so much better Facebook or Microsoft. But I’m
starting to hit the mainstream, and than what was previously on offer. willing to give you even odds that one
our sub-editors still turned to And it absolutely devastated the then- of them won’t be around in 2041. And
physical encyclopedias to check facts. landscape of web directories and no, I don’t accept cryptocurrency.
It was my take on Google that had search engines, much like locusts
taken her aback. “You really think it attack fields of wheat. Why should
might not exist in 20 years’ time?” I we imagine that Google itself isn’t Tim Danton
confirmed this was true, and that I vulnerable to such an attack, Editor-in-chief
CONTRIBUTORS CTLAOHSAVTNOCTEE! TEEXCACHWE2NL0AOL2REL1DNOSCGEY
Jo Best Lee Grant Y
In an unusual twist To accompany our v
of nominative mammoth group test of E
determinism, we asked SSDs and external disks, y
Jo Best to investigate Lee shares his years of v
the world of IoT experience upgrading
brewing. For a taste of other people’s laptops. 7
the future, head to p34 Hone your skills from p38
October2021Issue324 @PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO
EDITORIAL We provide a deep dive into LETTERS [email protected]
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF cryptocurrency from p26, TWITTER @pcpro
Tim Danton: [email protected] but what do our writers
EDITORIAL FELLOW think? Is it the future? A FACEBOOK facebook.com/pcpro
Dick Pountain waste of electricity? Or SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES 0330 333 9493
ASSOCIATE EDITOR something in-between? [email protected]
Darien Graham-Smith PC Pro, 31-32 Alfred Place, London, WC1E 7DP
HEAD OF REVIEWS, EXPERT REVIEWS “Our former sister title Custom PC MANAGING DIRECTOR Dharmesh Mistry
Jonathan Bray made enough money from its modest DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Julian Lloyd-Evans
FEATURES EDITOR
mining rig to pay for numerous CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER Richard Kerr
Barry Collins Christmas meals for the team. Then CHIEF EXECUTIVE James Tye
FUTURES EDITOR one day the services department
spotted the huge amount of electricity COMPANY FOUNDER Felix Dennis
Nicole Kobie our lab was consuming – and that was PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION
NEWS WRITER Printed by Walstead Bicester.
James O’Malley the end of their free meals.” Distributed by Marketforce (UK) Ltd, 2nd Floor,
BONUS SOFTWARE EDITOR “I think it’s extremely dangerous, from 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HU
Nik Rawlinson
ART & PRODUCTION an economic point of view, and will Tel: 020 3787 9101.
ART DIRECTOR have to be banned before too long. It’s PC Pro is produced by Danton Media Limited and
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PRODUCTION EDITOR “Risky, impossible to regulate and COPYRIGHT
Max Figgett awful for the environment. I expect © Dennis Publishing Limited 2021. PC Pro is a registered
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS major economies will soon start trade mark. Neither the whole of this publication nor any
Steve Cassidy, banning it and its value will collapse.” part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system
“Cryptocurrency is the biggest waste or transmitted in any form or by any means without the
Lee Grant, of electricity since The Cheeky Girls
Dave Mitchell, written permission of the publishers.
Jon Honeyball, stopped touring.” SUBSCRIPTIONS
Paul Ockenden, “There’s a famous tweet that described
Davey Winder Bitcoin, and its only real use, as idling a Price: UK £54.99; Europe £70; Rest of World £90. Visit
CONTRIBUTORS car 24/7 to solve sudokus that can be dennismags.co.uk/pcpro for our best offers. To renew a
Jo Best, David Crookes, subscription, change an address or report any problems,
Alan Martin, David North, traded for heroin. I struggle to
Nathan Spendelow, Andy Shaw, disagree with that assessment.” visit managemymags.co.uk
Alun Taylor “I think Bitcoin is a disaster in waiting. LIABILITY
ADVERTISING I understand why the younger
Tel: 020 7907 6662 generations might want their own While every care has been taken in the preparation of
GROUP ADVERTISING MANAGER currency and financial markets – but this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible
Ben Topp: [email protected] having to encrypt the stupid thing isn’t
DEPUTY ADVERTISING MANAGER necessary. Bitcoin holders should split for the accuracy of the information herein, or any
Rebecca New: [email protected] their BTC holdings 50/50 between BTC consequence arising from it. Please note that all
ADVERTISING CONSULTANT and straightforward, physical gold.” judgements have been made in the context of equipment
Alexandra Thomas: “No matter which way I look at available to PC Pro at time of review, and that “value for
[email protected] crypto, it still amounts to gambling money” comments are based on UK prices at the time of
PRODUCTION mixed with deforestation. To quote review, which are subject to fluctuation and are only
SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGER Junior Johnson: ‘The best way to
Lawrence Brookes make a small fortune in racing is to applicable to the UK market.
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT SYNDICATION & INTERNATIONAL LICENSING
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8
Briefıng
Background and analysis on all the important news stories
oRnapthidemwoabyilealarms
Government warnings about floods, terrorist attacks and other threats been around since the early days of
mobile phones. Instead of relying on
Wcould soon be delivered directly to our phones – and not via SMS networks to send messages, it uses the
hen the first lockdown emergency alert system for mobile cell towers to send a message directly
began in March last phones. “So what we saw is those text to phones. This also makes it easier to
year, phones around messages going out and taking target warnings such as flood alerts at
the country started to anything up to 72 hours to actually a particular geographic area.
“It doesn’t require any telephone
ping with a text message. “GOV.UK land on phones.” numbers or any knowledge of which
CORONAVIRUS ALERT”, the message This was far from ideal, which is handsets are in a particular area,”
began, with a link to new rules that why in June and July 2021, Rhodes said Rhodes, pointing to another big
we had to follow. Alas, not everyone and his team conducted the first advantage of the system.
got the text right away. major public trial of a new alert “The people who are most at risk
“When you send SMS messages on system in the UK. The system, which [during emergencies such as floods]
such a vast scale, you have to batch has been in use for several years iaownnrhayaIitcpnphdayhorohktenaniscenonudwn’ltsaulerermetdasqbgraueeeriraroesef are people who are
them up because you cause network around the world, is specifically visitors to the area,
congestion,” explained Frazer designed for emergency alerts, and is and that could
Rhodes, who had been working with capable of overriding your phone’s include international
the Environment Agency on flooding volume settings to blast a siren if the tourists, and
alerts, and became part of a team emergency is particularly severe. therefore they are
from across the government that not going to be
worked to build a new, better Under the hood, it’s based on Cell opted into a flood
Broadcast technology, which has
10
Briefing News
warning system. But if they’re Face-recognitionwarningissued
roaming on UK networks, then you
have got the ability to use Cell CCTV firms argue that there’s a place for live facial recognition
Broadcast to reach those individuals.” technology in the UK, but privacy and bias concerns remain
The other advantage of this It has long been established that Britain “There isn’t this thicket of case law,
approach is that alerts can be left is one of the most heavily surveilled [so] we need to go over and above to
broadcasting from the transmitter, so countries in the world. London alone has assess what we’re doing to make sure
if someone drives into the affected more than 600,000 CCTV cameras, that it is okay,” said Simon Randall, CEO of
area and their phone connects to the averaging just over 67 cameras for every Pimloc, a CCTV video analytics firm. “We
mast, the alert will pop up on their 1,000 people, according to analysis by need to make sure that the security and
phone too. Comparitech. It’s the only city outside of safety aspects are fine, the data privacy
China to make the top ten. And, slowly, the aspects are fine, that personal freedoms
Ten-second warning cameras are getting smarter. are fine, and that citizens are happy.”
Perhaps most crucially, though, At the moment, only a small Randall has seen the trade off with LFR
the Cell Broadcast system is fast. proportion of cameras are capable of up close as someone in the industry, but
“There’s no network congestion live facial recognition (LFR), but the he believes that the line between privacy
issues whatsoever,” said Rhodes, numbers are growing. In a bid to get and utility can be successfully managed.
adding that alerts are received in as ahead of the technology, the information
little as ten seconds after they have commissioner Elizabeth Denham has fired He argues that when someone crosses
been sent. a warning shot at the industry, in the into a different environment, such as a
form of a new official “opinion” from her retail store or a football stadium, there’s
But this doesn’t mean the office, setting out the rules around use of often an implicit understanding of how
government can be too trigger-happy. the technology. data might be collected and used. “There’s
Before the pandemic, Rhodes worked a known contract that you’re stepping
on an early trial of the technology “The law requires them to into a private environment and,
with the University of Hull and EE, demonstrate that their processing can therefore, there may be slightly different
looking at the behavioural response be justified as fair, necessary and rules” he says.
to alerts. “If you overuse a service like proportionate,” the opinion concludes,
this, then of course, people start to arguing that: “Where LFR is used for the He gives the example of how the case
switch off, so you do need to keep that automatic, indiscriminate collection of for live facial recognition might be
threshold high at [the level of] saving biometric data in public places, there is a questionable in a shop, but at Wembley
lives,” he explained. high bar for its use to be lawful.” Stadium there is a stronger case for using
the technology. For instance, to keep out
By all accounts, the first tests The key issues are around the the hooligans who broke into the
appeared to go well, but real-world governance of LFR, and concerns around European Championships final.
usage could be staggered because of the automatic collection of biometric
the complex way the government is data. There are also concerns about So how can citizens – and the
structured, with different agencies the lack of choice by individuals over information commissioner – trust that
and departments responsible for whether such systems are used on them, LFR isn’t being misused? Randall argues
different types of emergency. the risks of bias and discrimination from that more transparency over what is
facial recognition algorithms, and on collected and allowing people to see what
“We’ll onboard various hazards how data on children and vulnerable data has been collected is key. “As long as
and threats as it goes along, as adults is processed. that’s there, I think most people are
opposed to perhaps what they might pretty happy,” he said.
have done in other countries where
they’ve done a lot of planning in
advance, and then launched with all
hazards and threats from day one,”
said Rhodes.
Wgoiensdloivwes365
Microsoft has launched Windows
365, a cloud service that allows
businesses to stream Windows
desktops on demand.
There are various SKUs available
with a range of specs, with the
lowest starting with a single CPU,
2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage,
which is designed for frontline
workers and call centres. At the
other end of the scale, an eight CPU
system with 32GB of RAM and 512GB
of storage is aimed at developers
and content creators.
Prices had yet to be confirmed at
the time of going to press, although
leaked docs suggested one of the
more modest specs would cost $31
a month.
11
PCProbe
Exclusive investigations into technology practices. Email [email protected] if you have a story
oCfocuynbteinrgattthaecckosnsequences
How are governments allowed to respond to cyberattacks? call that a violation of sovereignty? We’re taking those
rules that were not meant for cyber. And we’re saying, in
WJames O’Malley talks to the legal experts international law, rules apply to new phenomena and new
hen President Biden met President Putin in technologies,” he said.
Geneva in June, he reminded his Russian
counterpart of something important: that The big problem is that cyber is more complicated than
the US has “significant cyber capability”. the physical world. That means the first question to ask
With a nudge and a wink, he was warning Russia that after a cyberattack is does it even count as an attack at all?
enough was enough.
“When does a remotely conducted cyber operation
This subtle shift in tone is unsurprising. From Russia’s violate sovereignty?” asked Schmitt. “You hurt someone?
alleged interference in the 2016 election, to the attack last Sure. You physically damaged cyber infrastructure? Sure.
year on networking firm SolarWinds, which compromised What if you simply caused the system to work in a manner
software used by the US and UK governments, the US has it wasn’t intended to work? What if you’re simply sitting
long been a target of foreign hacking capabilities. inside their system with malware that you haven’t
activated yet?
But what can Biden do? And, more importantly, what is
he – or any other world leader – allowed to do if attacked? “What if you’re engaging in espionage, and it’s
widespread espionage where you’re just scooping up
Pointing fingers mountains of data on people?”
“If country A flies its aeroplane into the airspace of Unfortunately, there’s no clear definition of what
country B without permission, it’s violated its constitutes an attack. However, even if the lawyers do
sovereignty,” said Michael Schmitt, professor of public agree an attack has occurred, and a response is justified,
international law at the University of Reading and a there’s another important step: figuring out who is
scholar at the US military college West Point. He’s also the responsible. This is something that international legal
editor of the Tallinn Manual, an influential study that scholars call “attribution”.
aims to figure out the laws of cyber conflict, which since
the first edition was published in 2013 has been considered “To factually attribute conduct in [cyberspace], it’s
the authoritative text in this area of legal study. very tricky because of the use of VPNs and stuff like that,”
said Dr Talita Dias, a research fellow at the Oxford
“But what if it doesn’t do that? What if it conducts Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict. “It’s difficult
cyber operations? Under what circumstances would we forensically to identify the source of an attack.”
Another potential complication is not just the technical
attribution, but also the question of whether or not
DoweneedaDigitalGenevaConvention?
At the Geneva summit, President years, governments around the
Biden told President Putin that “we world, both Western and non-Western,
need to set basic rules of the road” have released position statements,
when it comes to cyberattacks. essentially outlining their view of the
Microsoft’s chief legal officer has “rules” of cyber-conflict. While no one
called for the major states to go a step is forging formal agreements, the
further and agree a “Digital Geneva existence of the statements help
Convention” that sets out the rules other governments understand each
of cyber conflict. other, and how hostile cyber actions
may be received.
The legal experts we spoke to
are sceptical that such a treaty will Similarly, the United Nations has
ever happen. “Strictly speaking, we convened a “group of governmental
don’t need a treaty,” said Dias. “You experts” to consult on the legal
already have rules that apply by default issues around cyber conflict, while
to cyber, it’s only a matter of fleshing them out. And understanding how legal academics are already hard at work on a new edition of the Tallinn
they apply.” Manual, which will go further in defining how existing international law
works in the cyber arena. “If you start with a treaty, you may be forgetting
Dias argues that having lawyers patch together existing law, which has the fact that there already is law,” explained Schmitt. “It may actually be a
evolved over time, the cyber rules of the road could actually be more clearly step backwards.”
established. In fact, this is a process that is already ongoing. In recent
12
@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO Briefing PC Probe
hackers are working on behalf of a country or are just ABOVE Inextreme sometimes you may not get in that system,” said Schmitt.
based in a given state. cases, even a “So what you’re trying to do is impose a bit of pain on the
“[Imagine] you have an attack coming from Italy,” said militaryresponse other side, where the other side says, ‘I don’t know if this
Dr Antonio Coco from the University of Essex’s School of couldbelegal is worth it anymore. Let’s knock this off.’”
Law. “You have no evidence that Italy has sponsored or This, for example, is why we might be seeing an
directed this attack at all, but you do have evidence that increase in states getting hold of cryptocurrency caches.
the attack comes from a hacker group that operates from “If we can’t [hack back], let’s block the resources that
Italy. If you can demonstrate that Italy has failed to these malicious actors are using,” said Dias.
exercise due diligence in preventing that attack to hurt “So, in the context of ransomware, can we seize, for
people or entities in the UK, then the responsibility of example, crypto assets? We could do that as a
Italy may be implicated.” proportionate response.”
Consequently, even if the hackers can’t be directly
linked to their host country’s government, it could still Sparking real confrontations
be lawful to respond with countermeasures thanks to That’s not to say countermeasures have to be “cyber” in
this due diligence principle, which is known as the “rule nature. Under the current legal understanding, other
of sovereignty”. types of responses are legal.
Schmitt gives the example of Estonia. In 2007, the
Fighting back country came under sustained cyberattack from Russia,
“Countermeasures” is the legal term for responding to an which launched DDoS attacks,
attack, and this appears to be what Biden had in mind
when he spoke to Putin. “That is clearly what Biden is I think Biden is saying pingfloods,andotherattacksona
threatening,” said Schmitt. “I think he’s saying ‘no, no, range of Estonian websites and
no, the gloves are off now. If you keep this up, then we’re
going to start shooting back.’” ‘no, no, no, the gloves are organisations,includingthe
country’s Parliament. It’s this
However, the options the US – or any other country
off now. If you keep this experience,andthequestionsover
up, then we’re going to howtheTallinngovernment
that has fallen victim to a cyberattack – has are limited. should respond, that gave the
Tallinn Manual its name.
start shooting back’“International law does not recognise tit for tat, ever,” said The problem is that Estonia is a
Schmitt. “There’s no international law rule that says
retaliation is lawful. International law is designed to tiny country of 1.3 million people that lacks Russia’s cyber
return a situation to one of peacefulness. So, the striking resources. But in Schmitt’s view, under international law
back must always be to make the other side stop.” it would be legal for the country to respond another way,
The law might not be enough to prevent retaliatory such as by blocking Russian ships from passing through its
attacks, though, because the cost of responding is territorial waters in the Baltic Sea – a crucial strategic
relatively cheap. “The risk of escalation with cyber pinch point for Russia.
confrontations is always high,” said Coco. “When you “Estonia could impose pressure by doing something
have two countries confronting each other in the offline that would normally be illegal… but now it’s okay to get
world, usually they do it with their armies. This is costly. the other side to knock it off,” said Schmitt.
It’s resource intensive, and it’s also very difficult to Schmitt thinks that in extreme circumstances, it could
conceal. In cyber dealings, it’s very cost effective to even be lawful for a country to respond to a cyberattack
empower hacker groups.” using military force, if that is the only countermeasure
Retaliation can also lead to de-escalation, too. “If you available. These cyber conflicts could eventually have
can hack back and shut the system down, great, but very serious consequences.
13
The A-List
The best products on the market, as picked by our editors
PREMIUM LAPTOPS BUSINESS LAPTOPS
Apple MacBook Air ynabook Portégé X30W-J-10F
uAlftfroarpdoarbtlaebAleppfrleomM1£999
he best convertible money
from apple.com/uk
1,020 exc VAT from uk.insight.com.
Apple’s ARM-based M1 chip is ot only is this 2-in-1 convertible ludicro
away its AMD and Intel x86 opposition l ghtandslim,butitalsooffersaquiet
with truly extraordinary speeds. Even the low-end model with 8GB of RAM is eyboard, performance fireworks, por
ludicrously fast. Apple makes no changes to the Air’s design, but it still looks a-plenty, a natural-feeling touchscreen
fabulous and now supports both USB 4 and Wi-Fi 6. Add baery life into the a baery that will see you through a bus
teens and its biggest threat comes from the updated M1 MacBook Pro 13in. working day. Dynabook by name,
REVIEW Issue 316, p40 by nature.
REVIEW Issue 319, p56
ALTERNATIVES ALTERNATIVES
APrpopl1e3Mina(McB1)ook SBaomoksPunrog Galaxy LG Gram 17 8H4P5EGlit7eBook TLehninokvPoad T14s Dell has updated the
gorgeous XPS 13 with
Apple has replaced Intel’s (15.6in) (2021) If you can’t afford the Solid, dependable and Intel’s 11th-generation
Core processors with A powerful laptop Lenovo ThinkPad T14s a pleasure to use, the Core chips to great
its own M1 chip and the with a 15.6in AMOLED The combination of a to the right, the sturdy powerful and slimline effect. The 13.4in screen,
results are sensational: screen that weighs a 2,560 x 1,600 17in screen Ryzen 7-based EliteBook ThinkPad T14s includes touchpad and solid
the MacBook Pro 13in is mere 1.05kg? And with and 1.3kg weight – as 845 G7 is an excellent a new Ryzen 7 Pro, as keyboard are similarly
fast with an incredible stonking battery life too? well as a well-rounded – and much cheaper – well as a super-plush sumptuous. From £1,489
battery life. From £1,299 The Galaxy Book Pro is a specification – make alternative. £988 exc keyboard. £1,181 exc VAT exc VAT from dell.co.uk
from apple.com/uk winner. Core i7, £1,449 this a great buy for VAT from amazon.co.uk from lenovo.com/uk REVIEW Issue 317, p50
REVIEW Issue 316, p44 from johnlewis.com homeworkers. £1,549 REVIEW Issue 316, p50 REVIEW Issue 318, p48
REVIEW Issue 323, p50 from amazon.co.uk
REVIEW Issue 320, p51
GAMING LAPTOPS EVERYDAY LAPTOPS
SA1s7usGXRO70G3Zephyrus Asus ZenBook 14 UX425
GgreaFpohriccesRfoTrX£330,48909 Everything you’ll
from scan.co.uk from uk.store.asus.
The ROG Zephyrus replaces Whenwesaythatthe sZenBook14UX425
Asus’s own excellent ROG Strix offers everything you’ll need, we’re not kidding:
Scar 17 as our top choice thanks to blistering performance in an this simply brilliant laptop oozes quality, with
even sleeker chassis. The combination of RTX 3080 graphics an11th-generationInte orei7-1165G7
and Intel’s Core i9-11900H CPU in the model we tested – GX703HS- processor,aclassykey ard,head-turning
KF004R – was simply phenomenal.. touchpad/numberpad, henomenal
REVIEW Issue 323, p56 screen,superbbaery eof
11hrs 41mins and even
some gaming grunt.
REVIEW Issue 319, p80
ALTERNATIVES ALTERNATIVES
GAasumsinTgUAF15 (2021) AGiegraob1y7teHDR XC AANce5r15N-i4tr5o 5 MHoangoicrBook 14 1H3P(2E0n2v0y) MSGuoicrfraocseofLtaptop
The TUF Gaming A15 We’re not fans of the tenth- A ridiculously powerful A stunning amount of It may not be the world’s
is a great choice if you generation Intel silicon, laptop, with an RTX 3060 power wrapped up in most exciting laptop, but A superb travelling
need both power and but the gorgeous 17.3in 4K married to a Ryzen 7 a high-quality metal the Envy 13 is a compact and companion, the Go offers
portability, thanks to a screen makes the most out 5800H CPU. Add a 15.6in, chassis, making it head forward-looking machine all the power you need
Ryzen 7 5800H processor of Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 144Hz screen and it’s and shoulders above its that’s ideally suited to these in a stylish and well-built
and RTX 3070 graphics. 3070 for creatives. £2,700 unbeatable. £1,000 from similarly priced rivals. homeworking times. £900 1.1kg chassis. 128GB,£699
£1,600fromasus.com from overclockers.co.uk pcpro.link/323nitro £800 from hihonor.com fromstore.hp.com/uk frommicrosoft.com/uk
REVIEW Issue 319,p51 REVIEW Issue 319, p53 REVIEW Issue 323, p60 REVIEW Issue 319, p82 REVIEW Issue 319, p83 REVIEWIssue 316, p48
14
@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO The A-List
CHROMEBOOKS FAlsipusCC43h6roFmebook Lenovo IdeaPad Duet
Flip C436F is a fast laptop that’s a
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook rong choice for businesses as well The Chromebook answer to
Microsoft’s Surface tablets, this is a
Flexible laptop for £530 consumers, with a slim magnesium seriously versatile device – albeit not
y chassis that’s easy on the eye, a the speediest (although we never
from lenovo.com/gb GB SSD, a fantastic 14in Full HD found it to be painfully slow while
een, a rugby pitch-sized touchpad carrying out everyday tasks). For
It’s not the flashiest machine on the plenty of speed, thanks to its Core this price, and with a 16hrs 14mins
market, but a Core i5, 8GB of RAM, 12 processor. £699from johnlewis.com baery life, the Duet is a great
SSD and rotating 13.3in screen ad choice. £280from lenovo.com/gb
a flexible workhorse that can handle Issue 321, p83 REVIEW Issue321,p86
entertainment on the side.
REVIEW Issue 321, p87 alist Aurora APCurSopreacRialist
EVERYDAY PCs sed around the Asus PN50 A solid PC from day one courtesy
rebones chassis, this miniature of its Core i5-11400 CPU and 512GB
Apple Mac mini (M1) stands tall next to its far bigger SSD, but the best feature of the
rivals thanks to its sheer pace – PCSpecialist Aurora R is its expansion
Mini masterpiece, from £699 even if demanding gamers should potential – which is boosted by the
look elsewhere. Oh, and the low roominess of the case. Jam today,
from apple.com/uk price certainly helps. £499 from cream tomorrow. £499 from
pcspecialist.co.uk/reviews pcspecialist.co.uk/reviews
Apple has applied its M1 formula to the diminutive Mac mini with predictably REVIEW Issue 317, p83 REVIEW Issue 323, p83
stellar results: superb performance in native apps to the point where the mini is
challenging the much more expensive iMac for speed. If the software you want HP Omen 25L GChaimllbinlagsPtCFusion Frigate
to run is compatible with the M1, it’s an obvious, quiet and bargain choice that
will get you through your working day without fuss. It might not be as upgradeable as its Chillblast again demonstrates its skill
REVIEW Issue 318, p54 British-made rivals, but this sleek and at extracting the most from a budget
stylish system offers plenty of power by partnering a Core i5-11600K chip
ENTHUSIAST PCs for your money right now: a Core i5- with a water cooler for a superb set
11400F and RTX 3060 graphics see to of results. And when you outgrow
PCSpecialist Opal R that. If it had a larger SSD than 256GB the GeForce GTX 1650, it’s easy to
it might even have toppled the Opal R. upgrade. £1,000 from chillblast.com
RTX 3070 powerhouse for £1,499 GT12-1011NA, £1,400 from hp.com/uk REVIEW Issue 323, p87
REVIEW Issue 323, p88
from pcspecialist.co.uk/reviews
HP EliteDesk 705 G5 Dell OptiPlex 7090 Ultra
This huge PC includes one component you’ll want
to gaze at lovingly: an RTX 3070 card that, with Based on AMD’s Ryzen 5 Pro 3400GE This clever PC slots into a custom
the help of AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X CPU, blasted chip, this minuscule machine won’t monitor stand that you can then
through games and all other tasks with ease. win awards for speed – or indeed attach to any screen with a VESA
REVIEW Issue 323, p89 quietness – but it’s still more than 100x100 slot – which is virtually all
speedy enough for business use of them. We tested the Intel Core
BUSINESS PCs (including for remote workers at i5 version with 16GB of RAM and a
home), and is just as secure and 512GB SSD, which proved more than
StonePC Lite (Ryzen) manageable as you’d expect from HP. fast enough for office-based tasks
£698 exc VAT from uk.insight.com From £669 exc VAT from dell.co.uk
Ryzen 4000 PCs, from £389 exc VAT REVIEW Issue 318, p59 REVIEW Issue 321, p48
from stonegroup.co.uk XA6rm4Ta-rGi3MFaWgnLetar Acer ConceptD 700
Not one but a trio of compact, great-value PCs that are based
on AMD’s Ryzen 4000 Pro Series of processors. The 4650G The Magnetar X64T-G3 FWL might be We love this quiet-running and stylish
version, for £459 excluding VAT, hits the sweet spot for far pricier than the Acer to the right, – there’s even some “wood” detailing
performance and price, with StonePC also including 16GB of but in return you get AMD’s 32-core on the top – workstation with its
RAM and a 500GB SATA SSD. Ryzen Threadripper 3970X combined Xeon CPU, 64GB of ECC memory and
REVIEW Issue 316, p56 with Quadro RTX 5000 graphics. Quadro RTX 4000 graphics. It even
The result is a machine that’s fast at packs some luxury extras, such as
WORKSTATIONS modelling and absolutely flies when Qi wireless charging. Search for the
rendering. £6,895 from armari.com product code DT.C04EK.002.£2,291
Scan 3XS GWP-ME N1-32T REVIEWIssue 307, p84 exc VAT from pcpro.link/319acer
REVIEWIssue 319, p63
Quadro RTX A6000 power, £9,000
15
from scan.co.uk
There’s little that this Nvidia Quadro RTX
A6000-equipped workstation can’t do: tough
multithreaded jobs will be completed without
a grumble. The £9,000 price is the only major
sticking point, but you’re getting a lot of bang for
your buck with the Scan 3XS GWP-ME N1-32T.
REVIEW Issue 319, p62
TABLETS Apple iPad (2020) Lenovo Tab P11 Pro
Apple iPad Pro 12.9in (2021) While we yearn for thinner bezels, the There are faster Android tablets
boost in power courtesy of Apple’s to be found, and cheaper ones, but
M1 power in your palm from £9 A12 Bionic chip means that the vanilla if you’re looking for the complete
iPad is the obvious tablet choice for package – including a sleek keyboard
from apple.com/uk under £400. The negatives are the and full-size stylus – nothing beats the
extra £100 to step up to 128GB and Tab P11 Pro for value or for quality. The
Blurring the boundaries between laptop another £130 for 4G – and that’s 11.5in screen is particularly strong.
and tablet like never before, the M1-powered before you think about accessories. Paying another £30 buys a version
iPad Pro 12.9in is every bit as fast as we From £329 from apple.com/uk with 4G too. £630 from lenovo.com
expected – and the “Liquid Retina XDR” REVIEW Issue 316, p88 REVIEW Issue 322, p60
display is simply phenomenal.
REVIEW Issue 323, p62 Samsung Galaxy A52 5G Google Pixel 4a
EVERYDAY PHONES The Galaxy A52 5G is of the most The Pixel 4a is a fabulous everyday
compelling arguments yet for not smartphone: it’s compact, lightweight
Xiaomi Poco F3 buying a flagship phone: why bother and streamlined – despite the lack of
when you can have a 6.5in 120Hz gleaming aluminium or glass, it doesn’t
Power and panache for £299 screen, a high-quality quartet of feel cheap – as well as being very
cameras and a stylish and slim design? reasonably priced. Even beer, it has
from pcpro.link/322poco The only obvious sacrifice is outright Google’s brilliant camera technology in
speed. £399 from samsung.com tow. £349 from store.google.com
Xiaomi does it again: staggering power for ridiculously low REVIEW Issue 321, p71 REVIEW Issue 313, p60
prices. And this time it includes a 120Hz AMOLED screen and
128GB of storage. The only areas where rivals such as the Apple iPhone 12 Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
Google Pixel 4a beat it are for quality of photos.
REVIEW Issue 322, p68 Its design tips a hat to the iPhone 4, Despite Samsung’s bamboozling
but the internals are up to date. decisions to bin the microSD slot and
PREMIUM PHONES Apple tempts with 5G support, an bundled charger, the Galaxy S21 is a
AMOLED screen (albeit only 60Hz), simply stunning flagship smartphone
OnePlus 8T chart-topping performance and that boasts three phenomenal
superb cameras, although its baery cameras, a stylish design (with the
Android 11 phone, 128GB, £449 life of 16hrs 30mins is disappointing merest whisper of bezels) and bags
compared to the competition. of pace. It’s the pick of the S21 crop.
from oneplus.com/uk 64GB, £799 from apple.com/uk 128GB, £769 from samsung.com/uk
The OnePlus 8T fend off its new sibling, the OnePlus 9, REVIEWIssue 315, p58 REVIEW Issue 318, p68
because – for a surprisingly low price – you enjoy a baery
that lasts for two or three days of modest use, a 120Hz XIiUyaBm24a9P3rHoSLiUte-B1 XIiUyaBm27a9P2rQoSLUit-eB1
wide-gamut screen, buckets of power via the Snapdragon
865 processor, 5G support and a fine set of cameras. If you’re on a tight budget then this It might lack frills such as USB-C
REVIEW Issue 315, p63 24in IPS Full HD monitor is a superb docking, but this is a high-quality 27in
choice. Image quality is astounding screen with a 1440p resolution that
EVERYDAY MONITORS for the price, it looks great thanks to looks sharp from normal distances,
an edge-to-edge display with minimal making it ideal for viewing photos
Philips Brilliance 328P6 bezels, and Iiyama even includes a and videos. Quality is staggering for
flexible stand. £150 fromscan.co.uk the price. £245from cclonline.com
Dynamite docking monitor, £486 REVIEW Issue 313, p76 REVIEW Issue 313, p79
from uk.insight.com LG UltraWide 38WN95C APAsu2s78PQrVoArt Display
The 4K version of this brilliant 32in monitor (part The high price buys you a stunning This is a terrific panel in an incredibly
code 328P6VUBREB) not only offers excellent ima 38in 144Hz curved IPS monitor with flexible stand, all backed up with
quality but also great docking features: note the 3,840 x 1,600 pixels that’s equally at the guarantees that a professional
60W USB-C connection and Ethernet port. home playing games as it is displaying, working in the sRGB or Rec.709
REVIEW Issue 313, p85 say, a spreadsheet. This impressive colour space will require. The ProArt
combination of specs is the reason Display PA278QV’s low, low price
PROFESSIONAL MONITORS why it blew the competition away to only sweetens what is an already
win our most recent monitor Labs. sugary deal. £324 from scan.co.uk
Acer ConceptD CP5271UV £1,300 from laptopsdirect.co.uk REVIEW Issue 314, p74
REVIEW Issue 313, p90
27in creative, £800
from scan.co.uk
The ConceptD CP5271UV is an astonishingly
versatile screen that can jump between
pre-calibrated Adobe RGB, DCI-P3 and sRGB modes at
the press of a buon. With USB-C and Ethernet, it’s a
great docking monitor too.
REVIEW Issue 319, p65
16
@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO The AList
WEBCAMS aPmC-W3 1080p NEW ENTRY
Logitech C925e Busi hought of spending £100 on AC3n0ke0r PowerConf
has you spluering into
Top quality 1080p video, £ ophone then you should It may not be able to match the
Logitech C925e for all-round quality,
from logitech.com er this far cheaper but high- but this 1080p webcam supports
lternative. Its colours are 60fps capture and includes software
Logitech remains the supreme ruler y in comparison to Logitech’s, that means it can follow you round a
world and the C925e shows why. till produces both a sharp and room. It’s an excellent alternative to
image quality under challenging ligh image. £30fromaukey.com our top choice if such features maer
Logitech backs this up with the best W Issue321,p72 to you. £80frompcpro.link/324anker
compatibility with the likes of Teams REVIEW Issue324,p70
REVIEW Issue 321, p73
Canon Pixma Pro-200 Epson EcoTank ET-2750
HOME OFFICE
Yes, it’s big and it’s expensive – and If low running costs are your priority,
Canon Pixma G650 you don’t even get a scanner – but the printers with refillable ink tanks are
Pixma Pro-200 means that you can a brilliant choice. The photo quality
Bottle-fed MFP, £227 print A3 photos with glorious colour might not rival the Pixma Pro-200 to
accuracy and detail. If you’re after the left, but the EcoTank ET-2750 will
from printerbase.co.uk an office workhorse, look elsewhere, handle home office duties with aplomb.
We think this might be the breakthrough but it can’t be beaten on photo To literally top it off, it also includes
bole-fed printer, because not only do you quality. £450 from johnlewis.com a scanner. £260 from argos.co.uk
get supremely low running costs (0.4p REVIEWIssue 320, p80 REVIEW Issue 320, p82
mono, 1p colour) but also excellent photo results thanks to its six-colour system.
REVIEW Issue 323, p69 HMP25C5odlowr LaserJet Pro KMy6o2c3e5rcaidEncosys
WORKGROUP PRINTERS The Color LaserJet Pro M255dw A strong contender for small and
is an excellent choice for smaller medium businesses that want good
Epson EcoTank ET-5880 businesses thanks to its price, decent print speeds and great access
running costs (2.6p per mono page), security. The M6235cidn’s large
Features galore, £1,077 exc V duplex printing and respectable operator panel is very user-friendly,
17ppm speeds. The only fly in the the print quality is excellent and its
from epson.co.uk ointment is the slow warm-up time. running costs are surprisingly low.
A great office all-in-one with plenty of £217 exc VAT from store.hp.com £696 exc VAT from printerland.co.uk
features, good output quality and REVIEW Issue 320, p89 REVIEW Issue 323, p98
top-notch cloud support. Expensive, but
phenomenally low running costs will Asus RT-AX82U Honor Router 3
mean SMBs recoup this in no time at all.
REVIEW Issue 323, p97 The impressive RT-AX82U punches This affordable Wi-Fi 6 router
well above its price when it comes delivers consistently fast wireless
WIRELESS ROUTERS to raw Wi-Fi 6 performance and speeds, broad coverage and a modest
includes a fistful of useful features – speed boost for newer hardware –
Netgear Nighthawk RAX80 such as an ultrafast 20Gbits/sec USB and the Router 3 has a cute design
connector, outbound VPN support, too. If you need more range, you can
Winning Wi-Fi 6 performance, £301 site-blocking and a host of parental pick up a second unit to use as an
controls. £174 from box.co.uk extender. £55 from amazon.co.uk
from broadbandbuyer.com REVIEW Issue 318, p80 REVIEW Issue 318, p51
The Star Wars-esque Nighthawk RAX offers TP-Link Deco X20 Asus ZenWiFi AX
class-leading Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) speeds, a
feast of connections, a stylish design and an The price below isn’t a typo: the Deco The interface and design certainly
easy-as-the-proverbial-pastry setup process. X20 makes it possible to upgrade your aren’t the prettiest (the nodes look
REVIEW Issue 318, p82 home network – as well as manage like mini space heaters, while the
its security – for the price of some charcoal version is straight out of
MESH WI-FI standalone routers. The included the 1980s), but if you’re after strong
HomeCare functions are also a performance, great features and
Netgear Orbi RBK752 great bonus for households where plenty of expansion potential, the
lots of devices are fighting over the ZenWiFi AX is a compelling prospect.
Wide Wi-Fi 6 mesh, £450 bandwidth. £229 from box.co.uk £474 from pcpro.link/318zen
REVIEW Issue 318, p84 REVIEW Issue 318, p87
from pcpro.link/318net2
More expensive rivals may boast beer 17
performance, more connections and more
impressive selections of features, but the user-
friendly Orbi RBK752 offers unimpeachable
mesh coverage for the price.
REVIEW Issue 318, p83
BUSINESS WI-FI TP-Link OHmDada Netgear Orbi Pro SXK80
ine alternative to the DrayTek
DrayTek VigorAP 960C VigorAP 960C, this Wi-Fi 6 access If youwant to spread yourWi-Fi6
signal over a small business, classroom
Wi-Fi 6 access point, £159 exc VAT t is fast, offers plenty of business or retailunit, thissecure mesh kit
atures and can be cloud managed is callingyour name. Themultiple
from broadbandbuyer.co.uk VLANs provide strongersecurity
your choice of hardware or and more granularmanageability
With three operating modes and a choice of four ftware controllers. £224 exc than aregularmeshsystem. £604
management methods, this is a versatile access T from broadbandbuyer.co.uk exc VAT from pcpro.link/318net4
point. Add great performance and a low price REVIEW Issue 320, p101 REVIEW Issue 318, p90
you have the perfect Wi-Fi 6 solution for SMBs.
REVIEW Issue 322, p100
NAS SERVERS AAsSu5s3t0o4rTNimbustor Synology DS1019+
Synology DS218+ This is a hugely powerful four-bay This five-bay NAS includes many of
NAS that will be overkill for most the features that make the DS218+
Two-bay NAS, £297 people – not just due to its speed to the left such an attractive buy: a
but also its slightly intimidating user superb selection of apps, an elegant
from box.co.uk interface – but techies and gamers hardware design and a good deal
should investigate the Nimbustor of power. And those five bays make
The Synology DS218+ is the best two-bay NAS AS5304T for both its speed and it perfect for RAID5 configurations,
server around, thanks to a dual-core Celeron that flexibility. £480 from amazon.co.uk or Synology’s own Hybrid RAID.
gives it some added grunt, an intelligent design REVIEW Issue 305, p82 £685 from pcpro.link/305synology
that makes adding disks a piece of cake and a REVIEW Issue 305, p88
wide-ranging spread of apps.
REVIEW Issue 305, p87
VIDEOCONFERENCING LfoorgMiteiccrhoRsoooftmTeSaomlustion PwoitlyhSTtCu8dio X30
LP£44Kihf,7meo5sne0ieezetexiHncgDIVcrAooTonm5s0o0lutaionnd, (Large Room) Designed for small meeting rooms
with up to six participants, the Poly
from voipon.co.uk If you’ve seled on a supported Studio X30 (which you can bundle
videoconferencing service, and with a touch-friendly TC8 control
A videoconference room solution that’s easy to deploy, you need to cover a decent-sized unit) brings together a 4K camera,
is blessed with highly intuitive controls, has a fine range of client meeting space, the Large Room loudspeaker and beamforming
apps and delivers great call quality. Expensive but worth it. Solution for Microsoft Teams has quad-mic array in a single bar. £1,500
REVIEW Issue 313, p98 everything you could ask for. £4,600 exc VAT from onedirect.co.uk
exc VAT from onedirect.co.uk REVIEW Issue 313, p100
SCANNERS NEW ENTRY REVIEW Issue 313, p99
K73o0dEaXk PSlcuasn Station
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18
@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO The A-List
SECURITY SOFTWARE BACKUP SUITES PASSWORD MANAGERS
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BUSINESS CLOUD STORAGE REMOTE SUPPORT VOIP SERVICES
Box Business IDrive RemotePC Team 3CX Phone System Pro 16 Update 8
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Business plan, £12 Vision and Meeting apps add versatility. Team, 16SC Pro edition, £554 exc VAT from 3cx.com
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Egnyte Business NetSupport Manager 12.8 RingCentral Office
Egnyte is the ideal cloud platform for any business that If you want the full gamut of support options, this is a A smart cloud-hosted communications solution with
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ManageEngine OpManager Plus 12.5 Sophos XG 230 Rev.2 Qsan XCubeNAS XN7016R
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REVIEW Issue 316, p96 REVIEWIssue 319, p98 REVIEW Issue 321, p97
19
Wwsoiomthueltdhcyahote?uaplikcehips Dick Pountain is
editorial fellow
of PC Pro and
pretends to have
known that gadget
prices will soon be
rising all along.
Customer demand for the old, inexpensive chips in our phones, cars and
gadgets is far outstripping supply, but there’s some super news coming
D ‘Arm’s probably safer with this guyguitarpedal.Thiswasn’toutof passengerstoNewYorkinthree
In my realist’s hat, I thoughtgadgets: a phone, a tablet and a state of the art, able to whisk 100
uring lockdown I bought three the airline industry. Concorde was
than the clueless shower currentlybecome unusably slow (phone) or head. It was ultimately killed off not
boredom but because the old ones had hours for several thousand pounds a
running the country’(tablet). I wonder how many VLSI or US regulatory machinations but by
noisy (pedal) or packed up altogether by cost of purchase, noise regulations
Apedal and heaps of memory. None of
chips that means I bought? I’d guess Boeing’s 747 Jumbo, which carried t the CogX 2021 AI conference
at least 20, what with phone and four times as many at less than half in King’s Cross a couple of
tablet SoCs, signal processors in the the speed for a tenth of the fare.) weeks ago I heard Nvidia
Tcontain not the latest chips but CEO Jensen Huang talk about his
these were premium items, all costing he economics of new fabs isn’t company’s takeover of ARM. I was
under £150, which means they likely the only cause of the shortage: appalled when the UK government
“acts of God” like fires
rather the cheapest, fabricated using destroying factories and the Covid-19 allowed the firm to be sold abroad,
older processes. pandemic all take their toll too. And first to SoftBank and now to Nvidia,
And there you have one cause of the shortage doesn’t look like but Huang explained his company’s
the drastic shortage of chips that the slackening any time soon. The MIT commitment to working with the EU
whole world is experiencing. Moore’s Technology Review reports that: (irony alert) to build a state-of-the art
law is turning around to bite us on the “Automakers have been shutting supercomputer called Destination
arse: the cost of building fabs for new down assembly lines and laying off Earth for climate simulation, and
processes like the 5nm used by workers because they can’t get another called Cambridge-1 in the
Apple’s M1 CPU keeps rising enough $1 chips. Manufacturers have UK. Far from wanting to move Arm
exponentially, meaning chips cost resorted to building vehicles without out of Cambridge, he wants to invest
more and must be sold in higher-end the chips necessary for navigation and expand it there.
kit to repay the investment. systems, digital rear-view mirrors, Wearing my cynic’s hat, I might
Taiwan’s TSMC, the world’s largest display touch screens, and fuel- have thought “he would say that
contract chip fabricator, earned over management systems. Overall, the wouldn’t he”; in my historian’s hat, I
half of its 2020 revenues from top-end global automotive industry could might have thought “Frank Whittle
chips with feature sizes below 16nm, lose more than $110 billion to the and the jet engine all over again”. But
including the M1. At the same time shortage in 2021.” in my realist’s hat, I actually thought
putting chips into everything – cars, Meanwhile, China, while lagging “Arm’s probably safer with this guy
washing machines and so on – means behind the US for cutting-edge than the clueless shower currently
demand for the cheapest chips has design, possesses quite a lot of old fab, running the country”. Arm had
exploded. These chips, made on older which might have interesting decided decades ago that fabrication
fabs, now sell for so little that there’s geo-political consequences – was a mugs’ game, and preferred to
almost no margin left in making President Biden is already getting license the IP of its low-power cores
them, hence no one builds fabs for the antsy, signing executive orders to that drive many, if not most, of the
old processes any longer and demand approve a $50 billion boost for cheap chips that run mobile phones
is outstripping supply. Market forces strategic semiconductor and IoT smart devices.
are biting us on the other cheek. manufacturing, research and Where does this all leave Intel?
(As an aside, this is not at all supply-chain protection. However, Are its days as a mass-market CPU
unheard of by economists. Think of that won’t relieve the shortage in the vendor numbered? Will it instead slog
short or medium it out with Nvidia and AMD at the
terms, given the supercomputing end, using its Rocket
bkbeiuteiMelpduosinsorgorisenfi’asntbhglsaeewfaxorpirssonetneu:ewtrnhntepiinarcgololcyasertsoosufensd to time it takes to Lake and Ice Lake CPUs and GPUs?
build a fab and Arguably, it’s where the money lies:
that the US has climate change simulation could be
exported almost the last happy hunting ground for fat,
all its capability to government-assisted margins.
the Far East.
[email protected]
20
@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO Viewpoints
sBThhroietui.scldho.bcuoekmfdoopramnaieins Nicole Kobie is
PC Pro’s Futures
editor and she will
find the perfect gift
even if it kills her.
Almost did.
@njkobie
If I have to cross borders in real life, I want domains to tell me who I’m
really buying from online
As an immigrant and – before pounds, and the contact address was a my heart. But the “.co.uk” website I
the last 18 months – a frequent short bus ride away from my flat in was shopping at no longer shipped to
traveller, I find borders North London. It seemed reasonable the UK – a bewildering prospect, as
annoying. But we need to build some to believe that I was shopping locally. Fwho else would shop at that domain?
tougher ones on the internet. It wasn’t until I hit the checkout ine, I thought. I’ll find it
elsewhere. Another cheese
I try to avoid relying on Amazon page that the site revealed that the paraphernalia retailer, again
for online retail for the usual reasons: socks weren’t shipping a short with that “.co.uk” domain, also
complaints about staff treatment, distance, but from across the North
damage to local businesses, and the Sea. Does it matter? Not only are
company’s efforts to avoid paying shipping times longer than if they stocked this perfect gift, but shipping
taxes, while making enough money to had been popped in the mail from a would take several weeks and I don’t
blast founder Jeff Bezos into space. postcode away in London, but my plan birthday celebrations that far
And that means that when I need to socks also need to be processed and ahead. This saga repeated,
buy something, I turn first to the handed off by customs to Royal Mail.
wider, and wilder, internet. I’ve had a deluge of emails from hsthtaoerSrdcheeoo–rnpattpihnninadengnthpotahntyliisnniecclahulaldysegbsoetichnoogmsteoeotnhe
Before bashing a search term into PostNord and Royal Mail about it,
Google, there are obvious options Awhen what I really want is socks.
such as eBay, Etsy or John Lewis. The t least they’re on the way, and
latter has the benefit of being a UK the company has figured out
brand, while the two former sites at shipping between Denmark
least allow a would-be shopper to
search geographically, only showing and Brexited Britain. Earlier this year,
results that are based in the country. just after that January deadline, I frustratingly, until I almost gave up.
That’s more important than ever made a crazed decision – let’s blame In a last fit of desperation, I searched
thanks to Brexit. Some companies it on lockdown – to buy my husband on Amazon: there was a Marketplace
simply won’t deliver to the UK any the same number of gifts as his listing that would deliver in two days.
more, claiming the paperwork and looming milestone birthday. I’ll This is why people sell their souls
charges aren’t worth it. While I was admit to turning to Amazon at times and subscribe to Amazon Prime.
researching cargo bikes earlier this of desperation, because the shipping Shopping online has become harder
year, plenty of continental suppliers situation at the time was bonkers. than physically going to the store
greeted my arrival to their online While plenty of gifts could be bought – and that includes those on the
shop with a banner warning that they locally, there was one key item that continent. Imagine if you set out to
were no longer shipping to UK could only be found in Europe – but as your local John Lewis, only to find
addresses, while others left that soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have that it was closed, in Denmark or
nugget of information until the it. I mean, have it for him. unwilling to sell to you because your
checkout phase. I’ll explain. My husband likes compatriots voted to leave the EU.
But at least I knew those stores cheese, but somehow has never We need honesty in online
were across the Channel. When owned a fondue set. While trawling shopping, and it shouldn’t be Amazon
shopping for compression socks – not the internet for suitable gifts, I setting that bar. If a site has a “.co.uk”
everything I buy is exciting, okay? – I spotted a fondue pot designed to look domain, I don’t expect it to be run
accidentally ended up importing a like a cartoon piece of cheese, a yellow by Brits, but it should at least ship to
pair from Denmark. The website URL cratered slab of ceramic that’s clearly the UK and perhaps even hold some
ended in “.co.uk”, the prices were in the most perfect device ever designed stock in the country. Otherwise,
for heating and what’s the point of country-specific
eating cheese. domains? I’m happy to order from
uesoxpccWikmitshipne–ognnr,ostoihtknoeagpvyaep?rpi–nyaIgtirhafocifnrcrgoicdmIoebmnDutpeyarnlilesmyseasnriokdned Enchanted, I Danes, but I want to know when I’m
added it to the doing it. If we’re going to take back
basket and headed our country, or whatever the point of
to the checkout, Brexit was, can we also take back our
with a smile on my top-level domain?
face and a song in
[email protected]
21
Viewpoints @PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO
Barry Collins is a
sIlesyaistdtaeenmr?ooprearalotisnsg former editor-in-
chief of PC Pro. His
dad will be delighted
that he sneaked
a Frank Sinatra
reference into his
column.
@bazzacollins
Don’t fall into the flytraps that come bundled with every operating
system: fly free with cross-platform software and services instead
What is an operating system? or can’t sync data between devices services that its owner wants to
Relax, this isn’t some Will on two competing platforms, I don’t promote. It’s no act of generosity for
Self-style navel gazing that use it. Apple and Microsoft to drop upgrade
ends up with me concluding that But I’m sure this isn’t true of the fees as they try to keep shovelling
they’re actually a digital reflection of vast bulk of the general computing users towards the latest version of
Marx’s Gattungswesen; that’s Dick public. Like most of you, I’m the their OSes.
Pountain’s job. But release the grip person who friends and family ring
on your phone for one second and when something’s gone wonky on Don’t imagine that Android users
consider the real role of Windows or their computer or mobile devices. If I are immune. It’s only three years
macOS or Android. ask which browser or email software since Google was fined £3.6 billion
I’ve spent the past few years they’re using to help diagnose the for forcing mobile network operators
trying to detach myself from OSes, latest disaster to befall their system, to install Chrome and other Google
making myself as platform agnostic most don’t know. “I click on the
as possible. I bought a MacBook Pro email icon” is a common response. trWoeisgInttldu’asoerhwecausbr,sdemtctoooammceeOsirncSsga,tpAfolenytttdhrhreaeoppifdslea,eathlnfieondlrgptmihtnhsegat
because it was the hardware that best They’re using what shipped with the
suited my needs at the time, but I TOS. Why wouldn’t they? apps on Android phones. The Big
run both macOS and Windows on the his correlation is particularly Three all make money from bundled
laptop. I don’t use Safari or Apple strong on mobile. If I take a
Mail or iCloud backup or any of the look at that stats for my website Iapps and services in some way.
other gubbins that come with macOS, t’s not as if the competition
because I don’t want to be locked into bigtechquestion.com in the first half authorities haven’t tried to do
the platform. If it’s a Windows 11 of this year, I see that 88% of visitors anything about it. I’ve lost count
laptop that catches my eye when it’s running iOS were using Safari of the times that Microsoft and
time for my next hardware refresh, it (almost all of the remainder were on Google have been spanked by the
won’t be difficult to extricate myself Chrome). On Android, 82% of users competition authorities, but they’re
– almost all of the desktop software I rocked up via the Chrome browser. both still doing it, as is Apple.
use is cross-platform. What is bundled with the OS matters Bundling is commonplace, expected
The same goes with my mobile as much now on phones as it did on even. The fines are merely the costs
setup. I have an Android phone and PCs when Microsoft was fighting of doing business.
an iPad. Yes, it would probably make court battles at the turn of the
more sense to switch to an iPhone century to defend bunging in Internet Should there be an outright ban
and benefit from the cross-device Explorer with Windows. on bundling? Force consumers to
harmony you get when everything is This brings us neatly to Windows pick from a range of browsers, email
on the same platform (think features 11 and the apps that Microsoft has clients and so forth as part of the
such as AirDrop or shared decided to bundle with its refreshed installation process, like the
clipboards), but there isn’t an iPhone OS. Out goes yesterday’s brand infamous Windows browser ballot?
that can get close to the battery life on Skype, in come Teams and an app Considering that scheme’s lack of
my Samsung Galaxy M31. At least not dedicated to Microsoft’s cloud success, I’m far from convinced.
without spending silly money on gaming service. The OS update
extra battery packs. And it’s not a becomes the vehicle for whatever its However, it’s hard to escape the
massive hassle to live in a mixed maker wants to push next, whether feeling that Windows, macOS,
mobile environment: if an app that be a new browser, email client or Android and the rest are increasingly
doesn’t support Android and iPadOS, now collaboration software. becoming flytraps, helping to glue
So, back to my customers to the various platforms. I
original question: shall continue to resist the bundled
atmrgaynIki’onvisngetgtsicopmaedysnesttpeatolchfsheassimpbpalyelsastetffleofwrfrmoymeaOrsSes, what is an OS? In apps. Come fly with me, let’s fly, let’s
many ways it feels fly away…
like a loss leader,
shining the [email protected]
spotlight on those
products and
22
Readers’comments
Your views and feedback from email and the web
Attacks from within ABOVE TheKaseya of the network looking out – like a tools that are suddenly causing the
attack should prompt general in a castle surveying the problem, leaving two choices: turn
At the time of writing, Kaseya, the a security rethink, computer systems and dictating how them off and with that the ability to
patch management and monitoring argues Michael Dear things will work – and this means see and control, or leave them on and
company, hasn’t managed to get its that they can talk to everything and spend the time fighting the system.
cloud or on-premises servers back control them. However, with the The Kaseya attack was a surprise: it
online after an attack last week. Kaseya attack, suddenly it’s the came from an unexpected direction
general in the castle that is doing the and then it was done, almost before
The supply chain attack, where damage, the “outside” parameter you were aware it had started.
you attack the provider of the has been bypassed and the attack is
software but then use the software in the centre of things. It makes me think that the “castle”
running in computer networks of nature of computer security is going
others to do the actual attacking, is When looking at the way that most to need a rethink and that the Kaseya
similar to the SolarWinds attack would respond to a computer attack, attack will be a milestone. There’s too
earlier in the year. But I think that the the primary go-to tools are the very much trust accepted and passed on,
Kaseya attack is something different from software vendors, via resellers,
and will require a different mindset to cloud providers and on to the end
solve. Sophos tells us the Kaseya users, and this transitive trust is
attack took six minutes from launch something that can be subverted. Will
to infecting and encrypting the end the answer be to have two systems
computers – that’s fast and most watching each other? Do you accept
people wouldn’t be able to log in and that in under six minutes it can
shut down a server in that time. happen to you and hope that
exfiltration and encrypted can be
To protect a computer system, we stopped by your antivirus? Perhaps
typically have antivirus installed on ignoring it is a valid strategy as there’s
the computers, which is centrally little that can be done about it?
managed, and then a second system
that manages the patching and I suspect that dealing with the
logging and monitoring. You could “ransomware head” will actually cure
then add in a SIEM and another set of the problem – a global and political
acronyms, but what all these systems issue, which isn’t normally a quick
require is that they are in the heart recourse. In the meantime, I expect
vendors to tell me that they have a
Starletter I wonder what Ofcom thinks (answers on a tool that can stop the last attack, but
postage stamp, please). I also feel that this is a gross I’m left with a feeling that I don’t have
I write in reference to Barry Collins’ recent article misuse of a monopoly situation and perhaps the an answer to a problem that may be
(see issue 322, p36) about the closure of the PSTN competition authorities should step in. unsolvable. MichaelDear
system. This is a bad idea driven by greed as the
current system is now reaching the end of its life, In the article, Barry mentions using mobiles Let there be Linux
with BT having failed to invest. rather than landlines. I generally use my landline
when telephoning the doctor or dentist, who don’t do Ever since first booting an Ubuntu
My main objection is a security one. At the email, when I know or suspect I’ll be in a telephone live CD (taken from the cover of your
moment, the PSTN system is isolated from the queue for some time and don’t want to run out of magazine way back in 2012), I’ve
internet and as such is immune to cyberattack, but battery power. Andrew Deacon been a Linux convert. At first, it was
routing all communications via the internet will BarryCollinsreplies:Objecting to the closure of the a novelty, then a curiosity, and the
give a single point of cyberattack to devastate PSTN network is like mourning the loss of cheque ability to successfully drive a Linux
internal UK communications. books or AM radio – it’s a technology that’s had its day. operating system rapidly became
The public made Openreach’s decision relatively simple an essential engineering skill as my
My second objection is on behalf of the 1.5 million – home landline phone usage is down massively, profession evolved to encompass
people without internet access either by choice, business has largely migrated to VoIP. Yes, there is an embedded technologies that required
which is being overridden in the interests of BT, or important tail of users that must be carefully catered Linux be built and deployed on host/
geography, which will mean no phone system if you for, not least the elderly and vulnerable, but there are target systems.
live in the deep countryside. These groups will be plans to cover these cases. I see what you’re driving at
forced to change against their will to meet the with your “singlepoint of failure” argument, but the Sadly, the corporate world I
demands of BT. internet is a diverse, multi-faceted network, not a single inhabit is Windows, and I’m typing
pointof failure. And ifhome broadband went down, this email on an HP ZBook that (being
The article suggests that a minimal internet 99% would have a mobile to fall back on. locked to Windows 10) is nothing
connection will be provided free of charge, but do more than an expensive email/SAP
you believe this? BT made a profit of £1.47 billion in interface. All of my real work is done
2019/2020. I submit that they should be forced to on repurposed ex-sales laptops that
invest in the PSTN system and retain a cyber-secure have fallen out of the gaze of our IT
communication system. department. As you can imagine,
driving to the race track in a Porsche
Our star letter writer wins their very own PC Pro mug to help them get through only to be forced to race in a Model T
even the sternest IT challenge. For your chance to win, email [email protected] is incredibly frustrating.
But wait, virtual machines to the
rescue! Sadly not, for not only do VMs
hold back vital CPU and memory
24
@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO Viewpoints
resources from the nested OS, but poll 59%
they also present hardware interface
debugging issues. Furthermore, From p26, we crIy’lpl ntoecvuerrrbeunycy
with development tools being an shine a light on
80GB installation (per release) plus cryptocurrencies, 23%
individual projects running from while examining
20GB to 70GB each, VMs always run the pros and cons cryI’pvteobcouurrgehntcy
out of space just when you are about of investing in
to complete your latest hardware/ them – but how 15% 3%
firmware/software compilation. many of PC Pro’s
Here’s what that means: readers have I huapvmeny’tmminadde abI’omutthbiunykiinnggit
On an HP ZBook running an Ubuntu already made
VM, the software project build time is the leap?
five hours.
On my son’s Ryzen 5 gaming rig 5%
(running Ubuntu off an external USB
3 drive), the software project build cIr’yvpetmocinuerdrefnocry
time is 24 minutes.
The most elegant solution is, of I“stTesheeenewamshssottluhepecimrdy.apIjttoowrciitulylrnoreefvoneucryrrtceerpcalhaz-ecsehaatvrsvaybdreietciaoodmneaerlsccuuhlratrv-eleiknnecoywtirnituhWcpkeeswotipetrlhenctsrhoyacptitdeootcynu,”’rtwrseurnpocptieoeSrst.eiatn.
course, a dual-boot Windows 10/ lwfBCiufiohettlcuT,ainoirhtfeiCyeintsorrsjeaueuonsswausdtrnewtesdorhedessololate,uioemnhlodghaegbnotaohedwnoefewudirmtlehtwoobiilsforebslar,ieutckctptoeelrpendduod.t,e”oIru,wttbciehttreripeonssrdtk,coehaaibtConr’aswehebadrxeliylpovsoieefHsarfr.d.r”.im“o“oACmfesroniylvtotp.:enTt“rgoIh-bhwaaoystipulsyleagofdoihudrtn,fmaeloikenvpelesacereroynvtmsesoemrffoy.o”atruhltlraianbfmgilneoeawulnsnciettihiaonlf
Linux system, but this is met with
the following challenges… awtiltIehta’smsatormrieguhmgt’sonngoeawymtehfaDonarvstiehdnossee, Itechacweuoostfuiuyoltsduutserr.meeDcaiognmidtJamholasechsnuidrtrsiteobnwucnytbise
a)IT says no. eetsfuheaatearrCurtllyyrrebyedsewptalatteyosgrsN,ceeobui,cnfuarktotrbhecsientapccrleisaykerewdiswtleaihmrhteeeaitntnshoer
b)IT says no, and don’t ask again. sveponelvMacitruiionllenaint–mgiinetig’snsattne.noArdtrngiindbavlimete’ssfbotfliirannrtgght,eoito’s
c)The BIOS in HP laptops is so secure
that making it boot anything other Ben Bruce
than Windows is a dark and poorly
documented art. pbteocoeoegwIlnodoeoamgrdninca’dteairnteleshidmstienrspdeekaadticotm’tsmsugoMinonftiiekinalehlgtlBhatvheee Jointhedebate
d)IT says no. byeeafIormrbeauditteIc’amralosstthioellfdinmetaohrneleiegyrretheins.
e)The mystery that is Secure Boot, Jfcaoocminembthoueonkgit.rcyooowmni/nFpgaccPpeCrboPorook at
and driver sign-off.
As a loyal subscriber to your u@Gpepdtcatphtreeoslabtyefsotlnloewwisnganuds
wonderful publication, I’ve seen the
regular reviews of various Linux @ pEmcpariol u.csoa.ut lketters@ H WTOUPGRADEYOUSRSLADPTMOPE’SGSSADTINE15ST
distributions, so here’s my plea. The
next time you cast your gaze towards lon M
Linux, could one of your insightful
colleagues write a side piece on how SUBSCRIBE 5 SURPRIS
to install this vital OS in a manner
that will satisfy a slightly petulant To subscribe to PC Pro, visit subscribe.pcpro.co.uk. For existing SWecinurSU14ITSEESCTUERSITTEYD Wi
development professional, whilst subscriber queries, contact [email protected], The Re●●●BBBeeesssttPVFRARELEMEIEUpsMreoccteuhcroittiicyoes EVWEhReYnHioNt’sEcto
mollifying the concerns of IT call 0845 126 0386 or visit subsinfo.co.uk min
departments and overly zealous try
secure boot systems. DavidEvans
Editor-in-chiefTimDantonreplies: We EUSSI
hear you, David! Although I fear that such a 9
simple-sounding article would actually be
fraught with difficulty… 23 rRgiKdTaiiXclmule0irunp£gop9w9iecpr9to8 apLATE T EVIE rBuwepowreturrtbilntepienh-sgfetctodoheCatsnrapdu6 losn
17
Message in a box
£ 20230EBME 6
I’m glad Barry highlighted error
messages as a cause for concern in his 90
recent column (see issue 323, p22).
As I software developer, I have held
the view for some years that users
want remedy messages (“what do I do
now?”) rather than error messages
– and it’s our job to provide each of
the separate constituencies with the
appropriate data. CrispinHorsfield
cArAoapzllolyp-unrlxfeeuplwi,Mfns2sait4caein LA 8 25
a9ut9er9frrfyoolcrifsopLbf6telpie aobpl 4
.5 202 S
3
6
417
SSI
9
CUCRRRYPETNOCY
Should you invest?
Cryptocurrenciesaregoingnowhere.However,
bigquestionsremainovertheirlongevity,theamount
ofenergytheyconsumeandthemoralsofinvesting.
So,shouldyoubuy,sellorignore?
CONTRIBUTORS: Nik Rawlinson and Barry Collins
“B uy them only if you’re intrinsic value, and second by making mThineibnigg:geensetrcgoyst of
prepared to lose all your it incredibly difficult to mine.
money,” said Bank of “It is its very cost of production “Any [crypto] coin with a limited
England governor Andrew that gives it value (among other issue over time becomes significantly
Bailey in May 2021. He was factors),” wrote Dominic Frisby in more complicated [to mine],” said
talking about cryptocurrencies, one MoneyWeek last October. “You can’t Laura Shin of Coin Trade & Mine
problem of which is that they “don’t just conjure up Bitcoins. You have to (coin-tradeandmine.com), a site
have intrinsic value”. do some hard computer work first dedicated to mining and trading. That
Does that make them a bad and thereby make your contribution means mature cryptocurrencies such
investment? And are traditional to the [Bitcoin] network. And even if as the 12-year-old Bitcoin will be
currencies any better? Sterling was you do this, there is no guarantee significantly more difficult to mine
underpinned by gold until Britain you’ll get bitcoins at the end of it. than younger alternatives. To make
sold off half of its reserves between There is risk.” money through mining, you’re going
1999 and 2002, when gold was at its So, there’s a chance you could to need to make an investment in
lowest value in 20 years. When burn a considerable amount of hardware and sufficient power to run
governments can make fundamental electricity for no financial gain. That’s it. Minimising both costs is essential
decisions like that, whether or not just one of the risks involved in to turning a profit.
the electorate approves, decentralised mining cryptocurrency, and it needs Evidence presented to the United
cryptocurrencies over which no exploring if we’re to discover whether States Senate Committee on Energy
single party has absolute influence it’s possible to turn a profit. and Natural Resources by Princeton
start to look appealing. Particularly if
they’re set up to mimic a traditional
To make money through mining, you’regold-backedmeansofexchange.
Indeed, Bitcoin’s pseudonymous
going to need to make an investment increatorSatoshiNakamotomimicked
gold in two key ways: first by making hardware and sufficient power to run it
it rare, and thus giving it more
26
@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO Cryptocurrency
University’sArvindNarayanan, Bitcoin price from October 2013 to July 2021
outlined how Bitcoin miners were
computing “about 50 billion billion $70,000
hashes… every second. Most mining is
carried out in large-scale commercial
operations using purpose-built $60,000
computing devices specialised to the
task of repeatedly computing these
hashes – and nothing else.” $50,000
Combined, Narayanan estimated,
those operations were consuming
just under 1% of the global electricity $40,000
supply “or slightly more than the
electricity consumption of the state of
Ohio or that of the state of New York”. $30,000
Narayanan’s written testimony
(pcpro.link/324arvind) was
presented in 2018 – the same year in
which Elite Fixtures calculated the $20,000
cost of energy burned to mine a single atsitatS :ecruoS
Bitcoin in 115 different countries.
These ranged from $1,190 in Trinidad $10,000
and Tobago to $26,170 in South Korea.
In the UK, the cost was $8,402. So,
to maximise your profit, it would 0
have been best to set up in Trinidad 79798897605*48365401650*411112111111111111112111h202020002000000000t000000r0000s2o202222222r22222222w222e2222)2thbsntsbtnbttbttnbbn’tbnnhchtcobcnecyccctutne(eueeuecnuneuOuOseOloOFOuOOoJFueFFFJuFOJmFJmJJrFJuJJregunfioOff*oera
and Tobago.
27
Even then, though, mining isn’t a economic and reliable mining pools ABOVE China’s and restrictions were placed on banks
get-rich-quick scheme. As we’ve and hardware, you can easily earn crackdownmeant and payment companies providing
noted, mining cryptocurrencies gets enough to break even while collecting thevalueofBitcoin crypto-related services. Bitcoin and
more difficult over time and, by 2020, some revenue on the side”. plummeted 50% some other cryptocurrencies
digital assets exchange Zipmex stated Logically, if the cost of electricity immediately lost 15% in value, and
that “it takes a large setup nearly 30 got significantly more expensive in further losses were on their way.
days to mine one bitcoin. This setup one location, you could just move Later in the month, the Inner
is not as economical as we think it is, your mining operation somewhere Mongolia Development and Reform
after deducting the electricity cost else to maximise your profit. Except Commission said that
and the overall hardware and it’s not that simple. “telecommunications companies and
software cost you will be left with 0.1 internet firms which are engaged in
bitcoin of profit every month at best. Mopoevriantgioanmining cryptomining will see their business
With the majority of setups and the licences revoked by regulators,”
electricity cost and some manpower, The Cambridge Centre for Alternative according to Reuters, and explained
it would cost you a total of $73,000 to Finance has been tracking where the move as part of a drive to meet
process one bitcoin every month.” most Bitcoin mining takes place. In energy efficiency targets in a region
At the time of writing, a single April 2020, the most recent period for heavily dependent on coal. Sichuan
bitcoin is worth $34,471, which is which figures are available, China followed suit in June, despite mining
below Zipmex’s calculated costs – but accounted for 65% of all work activities there being largely driven
that doesn’t mean it’s not worth completed, with the US a distant by cleaner hydroelectric sources.
doing, as there’s no way to know that second at 7.2%.
a single coin won’t be worth $100,000 Expect that to change. In May 2021, By the end of the month, the
by the end of the year. Furthermore, China announced a crackdown on value of Bitcoin was down 50% and
Zipmex itself says that “with Bitcoin mining and trading activities mining machines were “selling like
scrap metal” according to Reuters
Any mining operation that wants to (pcpro.link/324reuters). This isn’t
continue being profitable really needs to surprising: although you can mine
keep up with the latest hardware cryptocurrency on a desktop PC,
commercial mining operations use
specially designed hardware, and
finding a buyer isn’t as easy as selling
a job lot of laptops.
28
@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO Cryptocurrency
This wasn’t the first time the units (FEU). The largest of vessels, How to mine: the basics
value of mining hardware had like the Ever Given of Suez Canal
dropped through the floor, either. In fame, can hold some 20,000 TEU.” Fundamentally, cryptomining is about using a computer’s
November 2018, the International resources to crunch through equations. Most of those
Business Times reported that, with Over the past six months, the price equations will amount to nought, but just occasionally (if you
Bitcoin hitting a then 13-month low of ferrying an FEU across the Pacific have a powerful enough system) you will hit the jackpot –
of $4,300: “Some small and medium- has risen almost 200% to more than that is, find a coin. Turn to p33 for our rundown of the main
sized miners in China’s Xinjiang and $6,000 per unit. But, more seriously, currencies to choose from.
Inner Mongolia have been selling the estimated time required to ship a
their mining machines in the single 20ft container from Shanghai The equation-crunching is also used to verify a block of
secondhand market. The miners were to San Francisco is up to 32 days. From transactions, and this constant need for verification is one
not able to cover the electricity cost Guangdong to Trinidad and Tobago, of the reasons why cryptocurrency is so controversial: it
by mining currencies with their older for anyone who wants to benefit from needs people to keep mining for it to work. And that
machines… A mining machine bought cheap electricity, the transit time consumes epic amounts of electricity (see p31). Whoever
at a price of about 20,000 yuan increases to a possible 41 days. And, wins the race for verification is rewarded with currency.
($2,885) a year ago is being sold for a while at sea, the hardware isn’t
price between 100 yuan to 1,600 earning, so the lost revenue could Similarly, when a transfer of currency is made, that
yuan. Discussions on Reddit echoed it dwarf the cost of shipping. transaction must be verified and added to the public ledger
was difficult to sell these machines – which is where blockchain technology comes into play.
even at the quoted low price.” Ideally, if you want to generate a
profit from a mining operation, you Once you have earned cryptocurrency, you need to
The alternative, then, would be need to set up in a territory where you deposit it into a wallet. There are hundreds to choose from,
to transport the operation to a more can remain for the longer term. ranging from hardware to desktop apps.
favourable jurisdiction. The time
taken could be minimised by flying Gthernoeurgahtimnginminogney BELOW Ifyouhave converting to 24 cents, it would cost
the hardware between the two £6,500 to spare, around $18.72 per day to mine around
locations but, warns mining Turning a profit through mining, you can invest in a the clock ($6,833 annually), and
hardware company Compass, “air therefore, relies on low energy prices, mining rig generate 0.0007 BTC per day (0.2563
freight can be up to five times as political stability and, as your PC is BTC annually). That would deliver a
expensive” as surface transport. So, unlikely to be up to the job, dedicated profit of $4.25 (£3.05) per day, or
you put them on a boat, despite the mining hardware. Assuming you had $1,551 (£1,116) annually. However,
fact that “sea freight isn’t cheap, everything you needed to host it, you you would still need to pay down the
either”. Compass continues: “moving could buy an Antminer S19 Pro for cost of your hardware, which, at that
goods by freight is measured by £6,500. Its power consumption is rate, would take around six years.
shipping containers, called twenty- around 3.25kW and its hashrate is After that, you’d start making money,
foot equivalent units (TEU). Some 110TH/sec. With the UK average cost but only without other costs, such as
measure in forty-foot equivalent of electricity standing at 17.2p per maintenance or upgrades.
kWh at the time of writing, and that
But there’s a further complication.
In December 2020,
CryptoAge reported
that “it has become 20
times more difficult to
mine Bitcoin in the past
three years”. So,
“cryptocurrency miners
are now getting 20 times
less for the same work
they did in 2017”. That’s
because every time 2016
blocks have been
calculated, each of which
takes the global mining
network around ten
minutes to resolve, the
complexity of the
algorithm is tweaked to
compensate for
technological advances
in the mining hardware
and avoid the network
running away with itself.
Any mining operation
that wants to continue
being profitable really
needs to keep up with the
latest hardware.
That’s why regular
CPUs, which were where
mining originally took
place, were unseated by
GPUs, which were better
suited to the complex
maths involved. Today,
many large-scale mining
29
We can’t emphasise enough that using power of your system to mine for
your CPU to mine for crypto is an incredibly cryptocurrency. In Norton’s case,
bad idea as it’s so slow and inefficient Ether. Your earnings, such as they
are, will then be transferred into
operations have switched again to check the minimum required ABOVE Aneasy Norton’s own Crypto Wallet.
field-programmable gate array investment, minimum contract route into mining is
(FGPA) and application-specific length, expected profit and the terms viaacloudservice However, we can’t emphasise
integrated circuit (ASIC) chips, as on which you can withdraw your suchasShamining enough that using your CPU to mine
found in the Antminer S19 Pro. share of the operation’s earnings. for crypto is an incredibly bad idea as
If you’d rather not handle ongoing it’s so slow and power-inefficient.
upgrades and maintenance, you can Can you still use a PC? You’ll burn up far more money paying
mine in the cloud using services such Despite all the problems we’ve for your electricity than you’ll make.
as Shamining (shamining.com), described around mining, you may
Hashing24 (hashing24.com), Genesis still be wondering if you can use your This is why we mention GPU-
Mining (genesis-mining.com) and own computer or do you need based rigs above. Graphics cards, with
others. Not only do you benefit from a specialised rig? The answer is yes, their abundant cores and parallel
the expertise of teams whose job it is but with many caveats. processing, are far better tuned to
to operate and refine a mining One approach is to join forces with mining, so if you have a discrete,
operation full time: in many cases, others, and NiceHash (nicehash.com) powerful graphics card then it may
you can also make responsible choices is an obvious choice. However, just to just net you some cryptocurrency.
regarding energy consumption. show the risks involved with crypto,
Shamining has a focus on solar and it was hit by an attack that stole $64 cOuffirrceinacliuesse of digital
wind energy, for example, while million worth of its coins back in
Genesis Mining is based in Iceland, a 2017. Still, its profit-sharing approach China and the UK are investigating
country where 80% of power comes is an interesting one, and was (a little establishing their own digital
from renewable sources. bizarrely) copied by Norton with the currencies. In April 2021, the Bank of
Most cloud mining services require latest release of its Norton 360 England announced the creation of
an upfront payment, and many give antivirus software. a Central Bank Digital Currency
you the option to withdraw profits on The idea (as with NiceHash) is that (CBDC) Taskforce “to coordinate the
an ongoing basis. When choosing one, it will use the “idle” computational exploration of a potential CBDC
[which] would be a new form of
digital money issued by the Bank of
England and for use by households
and businesses. It would exist
alongside cash and bank deposits,
rather than replacing them.”
30
@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO Cryptocurrency
However, the Bank of England is T“dhiertdyectuarilreonf cthye” Hardware generation
keen to point out that “a CBDC would
be fundamentally different to When, at the time of writing, a record-breaking The environmental cost of cryptocurrency
cryptocurrencies and cryptoassets” heatwave is being blamed for the deaths of mining isn’t only felt in electricity consumption.
and that “cryptoassets… do not hundreds of people in Canada, it seems almost The massive rigs of graphics cards and other
currently pose a risk to monetary or abhorrent to even be considering adding to the components that form a mining rig aren’t made
financial stability in the UK”. problem by mining your own cryptocurrency. from wood grown in sustainable forests and
recycled yoghurt pots.
Introducing a CBDC would be a As our guide to mining makes clear, you don’t
logical move, as the Bank’s own get serious quantities of crypto by running mining Anyone who’s tried to buy a graphics card
figures show that traditional cash is operations in the background on your desktop PC in recent months will know that they have been
now used for less than a third of all anymore. You need dedicated rigs that guzzle vast in shorter supply than loo roll at the start of the
transactions, with the remainder chunks of any profits earned on the sheer amount pandemic, because the cryptominers have been
being electronic transfers driven by of energy they consume. To restate a fact: gobbling them all up. The shortage became so
debit and credit cards, automated large-scale cryptomining consumes around 1% of acute that Nvidia hobbled certain models’ ability
credits and direct debits. However, if global electricity. None of that is helping us to get to to mine cryptocurrencies so that some cards still
it was hoping to come up with a net zero. get into the hands of gamers – although it’s also
snappy name for its mooted digital selling crypto-dedicated GPUs, so it’s not exactly
currency, it may have missed a This – somewhat curiously – led one of discouraging the practice either.
“golden” opportunity, with the aptly Bitcoin’s biggest cheerleaders to announce
titled Britcoin emerging elsewhere in recently that it would no longer accept Nvidia’s environmental responsibility
summer 2021 (see britcoin.finance). cryptocurrency. “We are concerned about rapidly policy might state that its goal is to “reduce the
increasing use of fossil fuels for Bitcoin mining and environmental impact of our products in design
While the Bank of England is transactions, especially coal, which has the worst and manufacturing”, but it can’t get away from
cautious about traditional emissions of any fuel,” wrote Tesla’s CEO Elon the fact that GPUs and the memory in graphics
cryptocurrency and related assets, Musk in May, only two months after the company cards are a hefty cocktail of silicon, copper,
other jurisdictions are more announced that it would accept Bitcoin for vehicle boron, cobalt, tungsten and chemicals. Some of
welcoming. The Swiss canton of Zug, purchases for the first time. “Cryptocurrency is a those raw materials are in short supply, which
which is home to several fintech and good idea… but this cannot come at great cost to is in part to blame for the global CPU shortage.
crypto operations, announced in the environment.” Rare-earth materials are – in part – being used up
February 2021 that residents could to mine highly volatile virtual currencies.
pay their taxes using Bitcoin or How great is that cost? Until a recent slump in
Ether. But, said the canton’s finance mining caused by China banning cryptomining in Can it go green?
director, Heinz Tännler, “this is of certain regions, the Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity
course also an image campaign. A Consumption index put Bitcoin’s electricity There is, at least, evidence of self-awareness
large part of the fintech industry is consumption roughly on par with that of a of the harm being caused within the industry.
at home in Zug, so it is important medium-sized European country, such as Sweden The Crypto Climate Accord (cryptoclimate.
that we lend a hand and not ignore or Ukraine. China accounts for around 65% of all org), founded earlier this year, describes itself
new technologies.” Bitcoin generation, according to the index, with the as “a private sector-led initiative for the entire
US running a very distant second on 7.2%, so that crypto community focused on decarbonising the
Zug issues residents with a QR Chinese ban could be very significant indeed – if it cryptocurrency industry in record time”.
code that, when scanned, initiates lasts, and if production isn’t simply exported
a transfer. Zug receives Swiss francs elsewhere. Russia is, notably, third on the list of The Accord – which is backed by some big
and the cost of the conversion from mining superpowers and shifting all that heavy names from the crypto industry – seems largely
cryptocurrency is borne by the equipment across borders will come at an focused on de-carbonising the electricity the
taxpayer, rather than the canton. This environmental cost of its own. industry consumes, aiming to make mining use
presents residents the opportunity to 100% renewable energy by 2030. That is, to be
earn a small amount using crypto, “Bitcoin could be the first inefficient version of fair, more aggressive than many climate targets,
since by initiating the transaction at a disruptive technology,” Dr Larisa Yarovaya, a but given that much of the mining is undertaken
a time when the currency is strong, lecturer at the University of Southampton told the by unofficial farms in China, it’s highly unlikely to
they will pay fewer crypto coins to Financial Times recently. “It should die for the clean up the entire practice.
transfer an equivalent number of common good of the planet and be replaced by a
francs, allowing them to benefit from new model. It consumes more electricity than a And even if it does move generation to
fluctuating exchange rates. country. All the rest is detail.” solar, wind and other renewable electricity
sources within nine years, the question remains:
In June 2021, El Salvador went wouldn’t that energy still be better used to
further and voted to make Bitcoin power something more worthwhile?
legal tender. It was “a move that
analysts say risks putting its economy Estimates suggest that the Bitcoin network
at the mercy of the digital currency’s guzzles the same amount of energy as Sweden
sharp swings,” reported The Wall
Street Journal, but, “the designation
allows Bitcoin… to be used to buy
goods and pay taxes and bank loans.
Businesses would be required to
accept Bitcoin for payment, with the
Bitcoin-dollar exchange rate set by
the market.”
tAulrtneranpatriovfietways to
In June 2021, BBC News reported on
Philip Hughes’ Denbighshire cattle
farm, which is mining Ether on-site
as a by-product of its agricultural
31
activities. Hughes has installed an
Consider buying cryptocurrency when theanaerobicdigestertogenerate
electricity from his cows’ manure that
market is down to maximise your chancespowersanon-siteminingoperation.
“If the [cryptocurrency] market
of selling at a profit latercollapses,”hetoldtheBBC,he“will
put the computing power of the rigs
to other uses.” Having found a way to
take power costs out of the equation “more Brits have bought into ABOVE Afarmeris can only look back and rue what we
– and another use for his hardware cryptocurrency than into equity, evenusingmanure missed. However, with AJ Bell’s
should crypto stop turning a profit – noting that 7% of young adults have togeneratepower calculations indicating that fewer
Hughes has greatly reduced the risk of invested into crypto over the course forcryptomining than one in 25 of us has yet invested
setting up on his own. of the last year. The FCA estimates in a digital currency (in the UK, at
Not all of us have our own herd, that 2.3 million Brits now own least), it’s possible the market could
digester and a barn full of computers, cryptocurrency, which amounts to still see gains as interest increases –
but we can invest in cryptocurrency 3.4% of the UK’s population.” particularly if other countries follow
the way we would any other currency If you’re not among them, you the lead of El Salvador and Zug.
and turn a profit by riding the might be wondering whether you’ve We can’t advise on whether you
exchange rate. This is akin to currency left it too late. Nobody can say what should buy into cryptocurrency.
speculation and, according to will happen to the market day to day, There are many factors to consider,
CryptoCoin News, a 2021 study by let alone over the longer term, so such as the environmental impact
investment firm AJ Bell found that those of us who didn’t invest in 2010 (see p31). But, if you want to do so,
there are several points you should
Theexwpoernlsdi’vsempoizsztas keep in mind.
f you wanted a demonstration of the volatility of
First, make sure you trust the
institution you use to buy your
currency. Some well-known app-
based banks offer crypto investment
ryptocurrency values, consider the first commercial tools. Second, consider buying when
itcoin purchase. In 2010, programmer Laszlo Hanyecz the market is down to maximise your
ought two Papa John’s pizzas for 10,000 Bitcoin, chances of selling at a profit later.
which was then worth roughly $30. If he’d held onto And third, heed the advice of the Bank
hem, they would be worth $337 million at the time of of England: although you’re by no
riting (or $472 million four weeks earlier). A Twitter means guaranteed to end up out of
account (@theBitcoinpizza) tracks the value of Laszlo’s pocket with cryptocurrencies, “buy
takeaway as it changes throughout the day, and Bitcoin them only if you’re prepared to lose
Pizza Day is celebrated on 22 May every year. all your money”.
32
@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO Cryptocurrency
sWhohiuclhdcyroyupctohcouorsree?ncy millilitecoin and microlitecoins (or photons), are
equivalent divisions to Bitcoin’s millibitcoins and
Therearenowmorethan6,000cryptocurrenciesinvirtual satoshis. However, by processing transactions in
circulationandnewonesareappearingeveryday 2.5 minutes, rather than ten, Litecoin is a “faster”
cryptocurrency than its predecessor, confirming
Bitcoin (BTC / XBT) Non-fungible token (NFT) transactions in less time. At the time of writing, its
market capitalisation was just under $10 billion.
The first name most of us think of when someone NFTs (pronounced “nifties”) attracted worldwide
says “cryptocurrency”. Invented by the attention in early 2021 as a way of selling digital Basic Attention Token (BAT)
pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009, its assets, such as the world’s first tweet (for an
market capitalisation (at the time of writing) equivalent of $2.9 million, which Twitter’s Jack Built by Brave (the browser people) on the
stands just shy of $700 billion. Bitcoins are divided Dorsey donated to charity), virtual locations in Ethereum blockchain, BAT was used to fund
into millibitcoins and satoshis with, respectively, computer games and pixel-based art. Crypto artist further development of the browser and, on
1/1000th and 1/100,000,000 of a full-value coin. Beeple sold a single image, Everydays: the First an ongoing basis, to reward online publishers
Only 21 million bitcoins will ever be mined, of which 5000 Days, for the equivalent of $69.4 million – when Brave users view their content. This is
18.6 million are already in circulation. slightly more than what Picasso’s La Gommeuse apt as Brave is designed, in part, to reduce the
sold for in 2015. number of adverts that its users see. There is
Two new cryptocurrencies Bitcoin Cash (BCH) $750 million worth of BAT in circulation.
and Bitcoin Gold (BTG) were spun off from The term “non-fungible” denotes the fact that
Bitcoin in 2017. Bitcoin Gold can’t be mined using NFTs are not directly exchangeable since they are Monero (XMR)
the ASICs conventionally used to mine bitcoins, tied to specific objects. You could, for example,
making it accessible to miners using traditional swap any two Ethereum with no discernible Monero allows cryptocurrency investors to keep
PC hardware. outcome, but artworks, text and other assets their holdings hidden. Transactions are encrypted
recorded in the NFT ledger are unique, and thus so that it’s impossible to see who holds what at
Ether (ETH) not interchangeable, or “fungible”. any moment, and it’s therefore said to be popular
on the dark web and as a medium for settling
The second largest cryptocurrency by market Dogecoin (DOGE) ransomware demands. However, it will be equally
capitalisation, the global stock of Ether is worth attractive to anyone who believes that crypto
$255 billion. Ether is the native currency of the Inspired by a meme, Dogecoin is approaching its holdings should be as private as bank balances. In
Ethereum blockchain and is issued to miners who eighth birthday and has a market capitalisation of 2017, the US Internal Revenue Service offered a
process transactions. Ethereum was developed $34 billion. Its protocol is based on Luckycoin and $625,000 bounty for developers who could help it
as a scripted platform for adding real-world Litecoin and, at one point in first year of existence, crack the Monero blockchain, among a handful of
products, such as stocks, to a blockchain in the the number of Dogecoins being traded outranked others. Should anyone succeed, the IRS might
same way as units of virtual currency. As such, even the longer-established Bitcoin. It’s steadily discover which taxpayers hold a portion of the
the Ethereum codebase is frequently used as a increasing in value as it becomes more widely coin’s cumulative $3.9 billion value.
jumping off point for other cryptocurrencies, accepted and, by May 2021, its value had increased
including NFT (see below). by 20,000% over the previous year, and SpaceX cMriycprotosocuftr’rseunncnyamed
announced that it would accept the coin as
In 2017, Microsoft, Banco Santander, the payment for an upcoming lunar mission. This one might never come to pass, but Microsoft
National Bank of Canada and around 30 other has filed a patent for a new kind of cryptocurrency
organisations formed the Enterprise Ethereum Litecoin (LTC) that’s generated using “human body activity”
Alliance with the goal of creating a standard rather than electricity-intensive mining. “For
version of the Ethereum software that businesses A fork of Bitcoin, Litecoin was spun out of its example,” says the patent, which you can read at
can use to track data and financial contracts. parent cryptocurrency in 2011. Its subunits, pcpro.link/324mic, “a brain wave or body heat
emitted from the user when the user performs
the task provided by an information service
provider, such as viewing [an] advertisement or
using certain internet services, can be used in the
mining process”.
The value of your investment can most certainly
go down as well as up
33
THE INTERNET OF
IoTdevicesaretransformingbrewing,bothinthe
professionalbreweriesandthehome.JoBestgetsa
tasteofwhat’sgoingon
B rewingisoneoftheoldest mThicerroisbereowf ethrye involve a few buckets, an airing
crafts in the world – the cupboard and, often, results that
first beer recipes date Once vendors began making cut- tasted like the contents of the drip
from thousands of years down versions of hardware that was trays at your local. But a new crop of
BCE. But for beer makers, traditionally the province of bigger automated machines are helping
from home brewers to industrial operations, smaller-scale operators home brewers make deliciously
producers, technology is an could acquire the equipment they drinkable ales.
increasingly vital ingredient to needed to set up craft and
making the perfect ale. microbreweries. “With the rise of Companies such as PicoBrew and
small breweries in the last few Coopers’ BeerDroid have built devices
Brewing involves a handful of decades, it’s not necessarily new and apps that allow home brewers to
processes that haven’t changed for technology, but scaling down of produce a batch of beer without the
decades: malting, where the enzymes existing technology to sizes that traditional equipment and funky-
in grains such as barley are activated; make sense and work for smaller tasting results. The original all-in-
mashing, where those grains get members,” said Chuck Skypeck, one machine is the MiniBrew, created
milled and soaked in hot water to technical brewing projects manager by a Dutch firm of the same name
break them down; filtering the grains at the Brewers Association. after raising almost £250,000 from
from the liquid; boiling, where the an Indiegogo campaign and £6.8
liquid is heated up with additional Hardware for canning beer in a million in venture capital funding.
flavourings; and the final stage, format that worked for smaller The company’s co-founder Bart van
fermentation, where the beer takes producers simply didn’t exist 15 to der Kooij began working on the
on its individual flavour profile. 20 years ago, he said. More recently, machine after tasting the variable
technology to remove carbon results of his home brew efforts. The
And the tech behind all that? dioxide generated during first commercially available
That’s largely remain unchanged too. beer fermentation is also becoming MiniBrew machine launched in 2019
available to smaller brewers. The and the equivalent of 186,000 bottles
However, as any beer lover will captured CO can then be reused to of beer have been made with the
tell you, there has been a massive other brewing proc sses.
shift in brewing over the past couple .
However, it’s in the smallest of The MiniBrew takes the gue swork
, microbreweries – the back bedrooms out of making beer at home. Be inner
craft breweries expandi g the types, brewers can order “brew packs ,
flavours and styles of be r that
drinkers can enjoy. Wha made that
@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO Internetofbeer
hdniL : tiderCingredients, scans the brew pack’s QR
We believe that the beer brewingcodeintotheMiniBrewapptogive
the machine its instructions on how
industry has been underserved bytomaketherecipe,andthemachine
will carry out the mashing, brewing
and fermentation. A few hours later,
technology for too longthebeerisreadyforfermentationto
begin. A few weeks later, there’s a
The new brewbatch of beer, ready to drink.
the beers normally found in bars and ABOVE Muchof
While the MiniBrew handles much off licences, so users can make their thecorebrewing In recent years, breweries have
of the hard work, van der Kooij still favourite brews at home. “We believe techhasn’tchanged begun turning to Internet of Things
wants to see users get involved in the that the beer brewing industry has fordecades technologies to guarantee the taste
brewing process. “I still believe beer is been underserved by technology for and consistency of their beer. IoT
craftsmanship,” he said. “If you want too long,” explained van der Kooij. tech can be used to measure and
to create it yourself, there should be a “We believe it can help you brew a adjust factors that affect the crops
human touch in the process. If you better beer.” that are used in beer – for example,
completely rule that out, then it’s just While all-in-one machines are monitoring the soil the crops are
like making coffee – push a button relatively rare due to the upfront grown in to ensure the best quality
and you get it. That’s something that costs, expect homebrewing to become ingredients. Once the ingredients
we don’t want to achieve.” more automated over time. “With are picked, they’re shipped to the
Once a homebrewer has built up a respect to automation, the sky is, as brewing plant. When fresh hops are
bit of experience, they can get into ever, the limit,” said Dave Carpenter, used, they have to be transported
creating their own recipes, trying editor-in-chief of Zymurgy, the within set ranges of humidity and
new combinations of ingredients and journal for American Homebrewers temperature to stop spoilage, and
varying the work that the machine Association members. “Temperature, delivered within a matter of hours to
does. Once they have cracked a whether of the mash or of make sure they reach the brewery in a
winnin formula the can then share fermentation is robabl the most usable condition. GPS trackin on
th ir recipe with others on the widely automated process variable transport vehicles lets brewers track
MiniBrew platform. among homebrewers, but virtually the progress of their hops, while
The company is exploring using anything can be automated today, sensors can e used to ensure they’re
If you’ve ever looked at Star Trek’s replicator dishing up dinner on the
Enterprise and thought “I wouldn’t mind one of those”, you’re not alone. 3D
printing companies are increasingly turning their attentions to retooling
their machines to turn out beautifully crafted foodstuffs on demand.
3D-printed food uses pretty much the same process as printing other
materials: a substance is extruded through a printer and built up in a series
of fine layers, allowing a 3D design to be gradually created. As well as paper
and plastic, 3D printers can now create shapes out of anything from
chocolate to biscuits, pizza to pancake batter.
Chefs were among the early adopters of the tech, using the machines to
create eye-catching and intricate dishes: one company, Food Ink, toured
cities across the world with a pop-up restaurant where everything,
including all the food, utensils and furniture were made by 3D printing.
3D printers are also taking off in restaurants looking for new ways to
customise their food. One Japanese restaurant is reportedly planning to
create 3D-printed sushi customised to individuals’ health needs. The firm
behind the idea, Open Meals, has experimented with meals created in one
country, uploaded to the internet, and printed out elsewhere, potentially
allowing people to experience meals from restaurants across the globe
without hopping on a plane (remember those?).
And for anyone who has watched Seaspiracy and fancy their sushi a
little more plant-based, there’s a 3D printer for that too. Companies such as
Revo Foods are looking to use 3D printers to make sushi from plant
proteins that resemble the look, texture and taste of fish.
been designed that can float in the skin diseases from
r fr h realising they didn’t
Bluetooth used to relay information have enough data,
on the temperature of the beer during they settled on using
the process. The data can then be AI to build beer
inputted into brewing software that recipes instead.
adjusts the temperature accordingly,
to guarantee it stays within the The AI, called
boundaries needed to produce the Brauer AI, is based
drink’s flavour and aroma. on natural language
Using IoT doesn’t necessarily processing
mean blowing the tech budget, techniques, and was
either: some brewers have even used trained on more than
Raspberry Pi units as the controllers 150,000 beer recipes.
for temperature monitoring Now available as a
and adjustments. web app on the
Once the beer has been made, IoT university’s website,
can also be used for logistics Brauer AI can
purposes, cutting waste and ensuring generate recipes
the timely delivery of beer to pubs, companies to put AI to work in the ABOVE MNBrew based on brewers’ preferences, such
bars and supermarkets. RFID tracking service of beer making. The first has produced its as the style of beer, which hops a
systems allow businesses to track the AI-powered brew was manufactured first AI-inspired brewery has in stock and which
position of their kegs in transit – in 2016 by IntelligentX. It released the beer, Deeper non-traditional ingredients they
handy when their resale value, even beer alongside a bot that gathered ABOVELEFT The want to use.
when empty, means they make an feedback from drinkers. The results MiniBrew handles The combination of ingredients
attractive target for thieves. were fed into an algorithm for all the elements of wasn’t one that a human brewer
Becoming a brewer isn’t just a analysis, with brewers tweaking the home beer making would necessarily have put together,
matter of learning the technical skills: recipe according to the results. according to Marc Brevin, a
there’s also the strong creative researcher at HSLU who worked on
element of learning to combine and The latest brewery to employ AI the project. “This is something in the
balance the hops, grains, yeast and is MN Brew, a Swiss craft brewery domain of artificial creativity, it
that’s added a new line of AI-inspired
@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO Internetofbeer
latigiD reklawyaJ .scitoboR occaM : tiderCto use them in – brewers’ expertise
Whether it’s the first cocktail or theisstillrequiredtoproducethe
finished drink.
thousandth, the quality is going toMNBrewusedoneoftherecipes
created by the AI to create a speciality
IPA. The resulting brew, is “crisp,
be the same from a robotslightlyacidicbutstillsmooth,”said
Karl Geiger, product development
at MN Brew. “People have said they that the quality of drinks remains TOP Macco instead of bar staff. A partnership
can taste lychee.” MN Brewery is consistent. “Robots can definitely Robotics’robots with Boston Dynamics even saw the
convinced that AI-assisted brews serve more drinks per hour compared canbeusedtopour company’s dog-like robot dispatched
have a future: the brewery is hoping to humans, but that’s not the only ordeliverdrinks to a busy Seville bar to deliver beers
to introduce further AI-inspired goal,” said Renganathan. “Robots can to punters.
brews in the future. be more creative in the drinks that are Does the advent of robot servers
being served, and the quality that can mean that the age-old practice of
Bot brewing be maintained throughout: whether sharing your woes with the barman
Covid-19 has brought with it no end it’s the first cocktail or the might be on the wane? Renganathan
of difficulties for the hospitality thousandth cocktail, the quality is believes not.
industry, not least reduced takings going to be same.” Robots work best in high-traffic
and problems with recruitment. Macco Robotics’ have built KIME, areas where speed is of the essence:
Could robots help the industry with a robotic bartender. Sited in its own nightclubs, festivals and modern
its post-pandemic recovery? kiosk, the humanoid robot can be bars that are frequented by younger
Spanish hardware company programmed to pour a number of drinkers who “just need the beer
Macco Robotics, which makes robots drinks during service, from coffee to fast” and “don’t care who gives it,”
for use in restaurants, hostelries and cocktails, beer to milkshakes. KIME’s said Renganathan. It’s the older
coffee shops, says that it’s seen a technology is based on the same generation, the pub dwellers,
change in people’s attitudes to robotic robotic arms that have been used in who “want that small talk with a
waiting staff. “The pandemic has industrial applications such as car bartender while they get their drink,”
affected robotics’ role in hospitality,” factories or agriculture. They have he added.
explained Kishhanth Renganathan , now been miniaturised and refined to But that doesn’t mean there’s no
the company’s chief innovation and serve beers to thirsty drinkers, who role for the robots in your local.
technolo officer. “Prior to Covid, can lace their orders and a via an “When it comes to ex eriential
lHuinapo1gpw5rttmoaopidn’esuyStoSeuDsr
Lee Grant provides practical,
step-by-step advice on both the
physical and digital aspects of
replacing your laptop’s SSD
SSDs are the miracle
component in a laptop. few selected apps. You’ll also need a BELOW We’llbe so you can play along at home. It’s a
They’re the undervalued small screwdriver, a cool head and a using this HP from 2016 HP with an Intel Core i3-6100U
and rarely mentioned MVP smidge of bravery, which is a free gift 2016 as our guinea CPU and 8GB of RAM. We’ll come to
that thrash themselves with this month’s issue. pig machine the hard drive later.
In true Cooking with Mother style,
stupid to give our machines some we’re going to demo these techniques However, before we show how to
actual performance whilst CPUs and on our “guinea pig laptop” (the GPL), deliver breathtaking speed to your
RAM bask in the glory. machine, there are some things you
They’re also – and don’t tell
anyone we said this – a way that need to know.
some manufacturers can maximise
profits by supplying small capacity, First steps
low-grade versions with no one
really noticing. Here, we’re going to It’s impossible to begin
demonstrate, with some preparation, without working out what
how to upgrade your laptop’s SSD in type of drive is inside your
just 15 minutes. current machine and
We’ll go through the two most exploring the options for
common upgrade scenarios. First, the replacement. The
we’ll cover opening the laptop and simplest method to is use
installing a spanking new SSD with Speccy (ccleaner.com/
a fresh copy of Windows. In our speccy) to analyse the
second guide, we’ll tackle the more system. Depending on the
complicated procedure of drive laptop, Speccy should
cloning, explain everything you need detail your drive but if not,
to get through the upgrade and point a quick Google of the model
out some handy resources on the way. number it displays will tell
These procedures require extra kit: you what’s inside. Capacity
a USB stick, some drive caddies and a is important too because
it’s a frustrating experience
failing to migrate 750GB
of precious data onto a
38
@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO SSDupgrade
256GB SSD. Open File Explorer, select is almost certainly
This PC and Windows will display the best upgrade. If
how much data is on your partitions you’re very lucky,
and drives. your laptop’s
Speccy reveals our GPL has a bog- motherboard may
standard 1TB SATA hard disk with have SATA ports and
around 56GB of data. an NVMe M.2 socket
enabling the “golden
SSD spotting upgrade”: a sluggish
SSDs come in two flavours: NVMe and SATA hard disk to a
SATA. NVMe SSDs use the PCI Express rocket-ship NVMe
(PCIe) system to shuttle the data SSD. If there is
around at a much faster rate than a already an M.2 NVMe
SATA SSD, but your machine may present in your laptop
only be compatible with one type. then you should
NVMe laptop drives use the M.2 replace it with the
form factor, which is incompatible same, but how fast and
with SATA connectors. M.2 drives of what capacity is
come in various lengths, but the 2280 your choice.
format (which is 22mm wide by Owners of 11th-generation Intel ABOVE Speccy speed difference will be worth the
80mm long) is the most common. To or third generation AMD Ryzen shouldshedlighton effort, but only if you have those
confuse things further for a moment, processors should investigate if the yourdrive–ifnot, latter-day chips: if not, you’ll have a
M.2 drives also come in a SATA laptop can accept a PCIe 4 NVMe Googlewillhelp superfast PCIe 4 drive sitting in a
version. The confusion occurs SSD instead of PCIe 3. Your existing
because M.2 describes the connection drive should be a big clue but also PCIe 3 slot and therefore running at
to the motherboard and not whether research the motherboard model PCIe 3 speeds.
the SSD is SATA or NVMe. number (available from Speccy) or
If your research reveals that look in the service manual on the For our GPL, we’ll upgrade the
there’s a SATA hard disk, a SATA SSD laptop manufacturer’s website. The SATA hard disk to a SATA SSD.
Although it’s won’t be as perky as an
NVMe SSD, it’s well worth doing.
39
Upgrade 1: The Clean Install
REQUIREDTOOLS TOP Taketimeto e manufacturer’s website promise of this article. Insert the
USB stick (8GB minimum) double-check the as it will probably have a Windows USB stick and turn on the
Screwdriver connections to basic service guide that machine. As we’re using a new SSD
Small towel avoid reopening… should cover how to get containing no boot information, the
Credit card or guitar pick ABOVE …anddraw inside the machine. laptop will boot straight from the
(you’ll see why) a screw map to stick. After some screen flickering
prevent any wince- Time to use the tools. and a few spinning circles, the
Let’s get our hands dirty. The worthy mistakes The towel is simply to Windows language selection screen
simplest upgrade is a clean cover your work area so will appear. Make your choices and
install. We’re going to remove BELOW Useapick that the laptop doesn’t click Next then Install Now.
the old drive, install the SSD and bung or credit card to get scratched. A small Thankfully, the time-consuming
the latest version of Windows on it. – noisily – prise Phillips screwdriver doesn’t require stage of inputting a 25-digit licence
What’s more, we’re going to do it in 15 open the seam explanation but as you remove the key is omitted as Microsoft’s digital
minutes. But first, some prep. screws, place them onto a sheet of licensing has spoken to the BIOS, got
paper in the layout of how they were the code and worked out which
Whilst the machine is extracted – a screw map. The length version of Windows to install. Put a
operational, visit the of the screws can vary and a tick into the box to accept the EULA
Windows Media misplaced one could damage the and select “Custom: Install Windows
Creation Toolkit page components. Once the screws are out, only (advanced)”.
to create a bootable USB use a guitar pick or credit card to
of Windows (pcpro. find the gap in the chassis and gently The next screen gives choices
link/324win10). Under work along the seam, prising apart about where you want Windows to be
“Create Windows 10 the plastic lugs. It will make an awful installed, but there’s likely only one
installation media” click noise but take your time. In the choice so click Next and the machine
“Download tool now” unlikely event that it all goes wrong, will get started. Get prepared for the
and run the file, which the card can be used to buy a new next steps by digging out your Wi-Fi
will pull the latest version laptop and the towel to dry your tears. code and Microsoft details.
from Microsoft’s servers. After you’ve fitted the new drive,
just sit the covers back together, The machine wants to restart
Select “Create installation media”, without pressure or screws, and (press Enter to speed this up) then
insert a USB stick and select Next. power up the machine to test. If you display Getting Ready whilst the
Click Next again (unless you require a need to re-seat a cable or check a clock ticks away. Cortana is next up
different language) then select “USB connection, this saves having to so answer her questions about region,
flash drive” then Next (again). On the wrench the unit apart again. I’ve keyboard layouts and Wi-Fi networks.
following screen, ensure that the USB Input your Microsoft account details,
drive is selected and, once again, click minutes for this, but set up a PIN. Next is a barrage of
Next. The tool will now grab the ate that you might take options including speech recognition,
software, and squash it onto the stick. device tracking, diagnostic data and
Depending on the speed of your if it’s your first time advertisement tracking. Make your
laptop, this can take a little while. enching apart a laptop. selections and select Accept. Fight
your way through a few more options
When it’s done, remove the USB Tuhpegcrlaedaen and then Cortana will wrap things up.
stick, shut down the machine, pull Within seconds, a desktop will appear
the power and grab a screwdriver. For the GPL upgrade, I’ve so slap yourself on the back as you
We’re ready to start the stopwatch. selected a 250GB Samsung have successfully upgraded your
Evo 870 Pro SATA SSD, laptop with an SSD.
Opening your laptop which is perfectly adequate
or everyday use. The installation process took ten
Most machines from the last four or We now have ten minutes minutes and five seconds on the GPL.
five years are reasonably accessible. if we’re going to fulfil the Can you go sub-ten?
If your machine has “Scrabble-tile”
keys that stick up through holes in
the top cover, the bottom cover will
probably come off in one piece. If your
laptop has a keyboard that’s
the top cover, there may be
and traps to look out for.
You can watch a video I
made for PC Pro a while
back about getting
into laptops by visiting
pcpro.link/324lap. I
apologise for the lighting
in advance! If you have
never tackled this before,
please watch it. Another
useful resource is the
laptop’s product page on
40
@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO SSDupgrade
Upgrade 2: The Clone 12 SSDsWe test
Aclean install is a common groiSneueopp7ut2rest
request from our customers,
but most SSD upgrades
involves cloning the existing drive.
It’s a more attractive proposition as
all files, settings and apps are retained
and the customer always prefers to
return home with a turbo-charged
version of their old machine.
There are many ways to perform
this procedure, so I’ll show you my
favourite, but it involves drive
caddies. A caddy will connect the new
SSD to the laptop’s USB port so the
software can read from one drive and
write to the other. If you remember
the 80s, it’s press play on one tape
whilst pressing record on the other. LEFT Macrium
I’d recommend the £14 Startech SATA will ensure the
to USB cable (pcpro.link/324star) partition fits
for SATA SSDs and a fabulous £22 perfectly
tool (pcpro.link/324fideco) from
Fideco that handles SATA and working SSD that’s a much faster
NVMe M.2 SSDs at up to 10Gbits/ bit-by-bit clone of your existing drive.
sec. Irrespective of this project, I’ve deliberately chosen the small
these are great products to own. drive to fabricate this scenario, but
with SSD prices dropping, you can
Mthaecrrieusmcuteo save yourself from these shenanigans
by size-matching your new drive to
Many SSDs come with some the old one. If you want to move from
software to help with the cloning a small drive to a larger one, then just
process but if yours doesn’t, increase the size of Drive B’s “C” drive
Macrium Reflect (macrium.com/ (using Partition Size) until there’s just
reflectfree) will do the job. enough room for the final partition
Although Reflect 7 Free is indeed free ABOVE Flickthe is used, so we’ll eject a lot of that from Drive A to slot alongside.
for home users, you’ll only receive it switchandwaita unused space to squeeze everything This free version of Macrium will
in exchange for an email address. minute–or48–for onto this smaller SSD. Select the C get the job done, but there are other
Download from the link that arrives theclone drive partition from Drive B then cost-effective pieces of software that
and install onto the machine. click Cloned Partition Properties. This automatically resize the partitions if a
Our upgrade is the 250GB Samsung window allows us to shrink the different sized SSD is being installed.
Evo 870 Pro SATA SSD, but as we’re partition size, but by how much? If Macrium Reflect 8 Home Edition
coming from a 1TB SATA hard disk, a you move this window over, you’ll (macrium.com/products/home)
restriction of the free Macrium is that glimpse the remaining partitions on costs around £50 and is also useful as
it doesn’t automatically clone a larger Drive A and also how big they are. On a backup tool. Another favourite is
capacity drive to a smaller one, so we the GPL drive, our last partition is AOMEI’s Backupper Professional
will show you how to work around only 516MB in size, so I type 517 (to (ubackup.com/buy-ab-pro.html)
that. If you’re upgrading to a larger TWHOERLDAST round up) into the Free that has similar features to Macrium
SSD (why not!), keep reading. Space and click OK. and is priced at just over £40.
A good SSD makes a computer
Start the machine and connect the Macrium will make a yLoooukriSnSgDafter
new SSD to a USB port. Open Macrium small size adjustment
and check that both drives are visible. (don’t panic!), leaving
The top drive, Drive A, is the existing runsmoothly.Therightdrive enough room to drag Although SSDs are fantastic, they can
disk, broken down into partitions, willhavealargercapacity down the final partition fail just like any other mass-produced
and Drive B is underneath and empty. whilsteasilyoutperforming from Drive A to Drive B. piece of electronics. Backup is vital
Under Drive A, select “Clone this themodelfittedinthefactory Fits like a glove. because data recovery can be far more
disk”. Click “Select a disk to clone to” bythelaptopmanufacturer. Click Advanced complicated (and expensive) than
and Drive B will appear so click it. Theycanalsoextendthelifeof Options, make sure that with traditional SATA hard drives. To
Now it’s time for the magic. Alongside anoldermachinebyinjecting SSD TRIM is ticked and help optimise and monitor your SSD,
each of the partitions of Drive A is a performanceinawaythat click OK. Finally, click download the management software
ticked checkbox. Remove the ticks RAMupgradescannot. Finish, untick the box from the manufacturer’s website. The
then drag the first partition from Takeyourtime,doyour next to “Save backup and GPL’s Samsung uses Magician (pcpro.
Drive A to Drive B. Repeat this process researchandreapthe schedules as XML” and link/324sam), but I like HD Sentinel
but stop after you’ve moved the rewards.Also,ifyouupgrade click OK. The clone won’t Professional (hdsentinel.com), which
largest partition, the C drive. inunder15minutes,letus finish in ten minutes (our costs around £30. If you’re unlucky
Macrium shows that our GPL [email protected]. GPL took 48 minutes), enough to have a problem, advanced
partition size is 930GB but only 56GB but you’ll have a fully warning is always welcome.
41
AWCHPAUT FMAASKTE?S
WOAFTHOCEPPT-UHPsEERTROYFOOCURH’MOROIENSBGEUCFYRPINOUGM–O.ADRNABDRUIWEILNHDEGITNRHGAEHARANYMEO-WUSMNPECITE,HDTHEOEXNRPEEL’OSRAESWWHOHLAETSMPARKEEASDPUsmayalldothesame
broad job, but they’re notinevitable, and that can price CPUs usually sell
all alike. As the benchmarkhave a significant effect better than cutting-edge
scores in our reviews on how hot a particular models, a manufacturer
confirm, the chips found inunit gets. This matters
lightweight laptops arebecause if the chip might bin chips down
nowhere near as powerfuloverheats, the whole to a lower speed than
processor – and the they’re capable of just
Castheheavyweight computer it’s housed to meet demand.
processors used in graphical in – is liable to crash.
workstations and gaming desktops. In To deal with this, In theory, there’s
this feature, we’re going to explore chip manufacturers test nothing stopping you
exactly why. their silicon before selling dialling up the clock
Perhaps the simplest reason is that it; chips that are perfectly speed on any processor
different models run at different stable at 4GHz will be sold as to get some free extra
speeds. If one processor runs at 3GHz such for a pretty penny. Others performance – all you need
and another runs at 4GHz, it’s pretty might not work reliably at 4GHz, but ABOVE Chip is a motherboard that gives
obvious that the latter will be faster run just fine at lower speeds – so makerslock–or you access to the required timing
to complete a given task. rather than junking them, they’re “bin”–theirCPUs settings. However, if you stick with a
This raises the question of why locked to a lower maximum speed tosetspeeds standard heatsink and fan then
anyone bothers making processors and sold at a discount. overclocking your CPU by more than
that run at slower speeds. One reason This process of testing chips after a few hundred megahertz will
concerns manufacturing challenges. manufacture and categorising them probably cause it to become unstable.
There’s never any guarantee that according to their observed With more powerful cooling solutions
every chip that comes off the capabilities is called binning – a you can go much higher: the current
assembly line will be stable at its slightly ironic name, since it means overclocking record was set in 2012
target speed: tiny, sub-microscopic that sub-standard chips don’t get by enthusiast Andre Yang, who used
variations between chips are almost thrown away. In fact, since mid- a liquid nitrogen cooler to overclock
his AMD FX-8350 processor from a
standard speed of 4.2GHz to 8.8GHz.
42
PCPRO OM/PCPRO CPUs
GOINGTURBO This creates additional TOP Intel’sTurbo instructions to process. This isn’t
performance differentiators for CPUs. Boost temporarily something you can take for granted.
We tend to think of processors as Some chip models have big Turbo ups the clock speed
running at a set clock speed, but that Boost ranges, while others will offer when pushed… To see why, let’s imagine a
isn’t really the case. To minimise heat only a small speedup – and some ABOVE …while processor that loaded its instructions
build-up and power consumption, low-end designs might not support AMD uses a similar one by one from the main system
both Intel and AMD’s chips reduce Turbo Boost at all. technology called memory bank, and executed them in
their clock speeds when there isn’t Turbo Core turn. This would be a very inefficient
much work to do, then quickly rev The upshot of this is that you don’t way to proceed since it takes several
back up to full speed as needed. In necessarily need to overclock your clock cycles to fetch a value from
fact, Intel’s “Turbo Boost” technology CPU to get a performance boost: if it RAM. This processor would spend
allows the CPU to temporarily supports Turbo Boost, a better cooler much of its time sitting idle waiting
accelerate above its nominal clock will allow it to sustain its maximum for the next instruction to arrive.
speed under heavy load, and AMD speeds for longer. Conversely, a
chips use a similar system called powerful processor with inadequate To avoid such delays, modern
Turbo Core. cooling will only be able to achieve CPUs include fast on-chip memory
short bursts of peak performance, caches that can keep the processor
As to how fast the CPU will go, holding back overall performance. cores continuously supplied with
and for how long, that depends. The This is why thin and light laptops are instructions and data. Typically a
manufacturer normally sets a often slower than chunkier models three-level arrangement is used,
maximum Turbo frequency for with better airflow and larger fans with the level one (L1) cache
single-core operations, with a lower comprising a small amount of
limit for multicore jobs. The processor FLUSH WITH CACHE–evenifthey’reusingthesameCPU. extremely fast memory, while L2 and
will try to maintain these speeds for L3 get progressively larger and
as long as there’s work to do, but once The clock speed of a processor slower. Clever logic is used to
a predefined temperature limit is determines how quickly it can execute anticipate which data is likely to be
reached, it will drop back to standard incoming instructions, but this relies wanted in the near future, and to
speed to cool down. on there being a continuous flow of pre-emptively transfer it into the
appropriate cache.
The trouble is, it’s not always
possible to predict which data will be
needed next – for example, a program
might do different things depending
on which button you press. And if
you’re doing heavy multitasking, the
cache might simply not be large
enough for all the information your
CPU cores want to access at once.
Chip designers use excruciatingly
clever and complex models to try to
maximise the accuracy of their
caching predictions. But if the budget
allows, it can also help to simply build
more cache memory into the chip.
Thus, Intel’s humble Celeron G5905T
processor has 4MB of cache RAM,
while the mighty Core i9-11900 has
16MB and the server-grade Xeon
Platinum 8358 has 48MB. AMD’s
43
mighty Ryzen Threadripper 3990X,
meanwhile, boasts a massive 256MB
of L3 cache, helping it keep all 64
CORES, OF COURSEcoreswellfedwithdata.
On that note, it’s time to acknowledge
the not very secret fact that almost
all modern CPUs have more than one
core. This allows them to perform
multiple operations at once – a big
step up from the old single-core
approach, which required the
processor to continually switch its
attention back and forth between
different processes.
Multicore computing can be a big ABOVE Thebetter connected to the operating system, diminishing returns outside of
help for multithreaded workloads – thecooling,the others carrying out background specific multithreaded workloads.
HYPER-THREADINGindependent sub-processes that can maintaintopspeeds open but not active. Although it may
that is, ones that divide into a set of longertheCPUcan duties for applications that may be
all be performed in parallel. Not every appear that everything is running on We implied above that a processor
task can be broken down in this way, one CPU core, the individual core can only handle one operation
however, and doing so increases the execution threads will be distributed at a time. The truth is a little more
complexity of the program, so even across all available cores to keep complicated. Modern CPUs feature
applications that could take everything flowing smoothly. custom hardware that lets them
advantage of multithreading don’t For this reason, having two cores parallelise certain tasks: for example,
always do so. is a prerequisite for a modern Intel’s SSE instructions (Streaming
The other benefit of having multitasking operating system; going Single Instruction, Multiple Data
multiple cores is for multitasking. up to four helps give web browsers a Extensions) allow programs to
Even if you only have one application boost when they need to render perform a single operation on
in the foreground at a time, the multiple tabs at once, or allows games multiple values simultaneously.
Windows Task Manager will show to generate and manage a whole What’s more, many Intel models
you dozens of little processes all onslaught of enemies. Beyond that, make use of a design enhancement
running behind the scenes – some though, you’re likely to hit called Hyper-Threading, while AMD
chips use a similar system called SMT
X86 vs ARM (simultaneous multithreading). In a
Hyper-Threaded chip, each core has
two instruction pipelines and two sets
of registers (the internal variables
AMD and Intel have the x86 CPU market largely WhileARMchipshaverarelybeenthefastest, that a CPU works with). As a result,
sewnup–butthatisn’ttheonlyplatformintown. theirdesignhasmadethemaffordableand each core appears to the operating
ThemajoralternativeistheARMarchitecture, power-efficientcomparedtotheirCISC(complex system as two virtual processors –
originallydevelopedin1985byCambridge’sAcorn instructionset)rivals:there’sareasonwhynearly although in reality, these are different
(the story, and that of 19 computers from the every smartphone and tablet has been built on interfaces to a single execution core.
1980s,istoldinoureditor’sbook,TheComputers ARMarchitecture.Ifit’snotahouseholdname, Although the chip can still only
That Made Britain; see pcpro.link/britain). that’sbecauseARMdoesn’tmakethechipsitself. execute one instruction at a time, its
ARMchipsembodyadifferentphilosophyto Ratheritlicensesitsdesignstomanufacturersfor available resources can be shared
x86.Theyusetheprinciplesofreducedinstruction useinchipssuchastheNvidiaTegra,Samsung between the two pipelines, so one
setcomputing(RISC),prioritisingsimplicityand ExynosandQualcommSnapdragon. thread can take advantage of
efficiency rather than chasing performance by TheARMapproachhasbeensosuccessfulthat resources that the other isn’t using.
buildingcomplexinstructionsandextensionsinto it’sstartingtoencroachintotraditionallyCISC- And Hyper-Threading really comes
thecore.ARMalsopioneeredthe“big.LITTLE” dominatedmarkets.We’renotjusttalkingabout into its own when a program has to
chipformat,whichcombineslowandhigh-power Apple’sM1CPU:MicrosofttriedtobringWindows fetch a value from the system
coresinasinglepackage–theformertokeepthe ontoARMbackin2012withtheoriginalSurface memory: in a regular chip this would
devicetickingoverwhendemandislow,andthe tablet,andhadanothergoin2019withthe just leave the processor sitting idle
lattertofireupforbigcomputingtasksandgo ARM-basedSurfaceProX. for ten or 20 clock cycles, but with
back to sleep afterwards. These ventures weren’t unequivocally Hyper-Threading a different thread
successful. Windows RT died because it can have full use of the core during
LEFT Microsoft couldn’trunx86desktopapps,whilethelatest that time.
usedQualcomm ARMeditionofWindows10canrunregular Hyper-Threading clearly isn’t the
ARMchipsinits Windowsprograms,buthastodosothrough same as having twice as many
SurfaceProX emulation,whichdragsdownperformance. physical cores, but it provides extra
Even so, Microsoft hasn’t given up. It’s headroom for everyday desktop
reportedly working to ensure that Windows 11 computing at a much lower cost. Even
runsassmoothlyonARMasitdoesonx86,while in hardcore multithreaded workloads
Qualcomm–whichproducedtheARM-basedchips it can often provide a benefit of
for the Surface Pro X – has pledged that its next aWroHuAnTd’2S0I%N.A NAME?
range of laptop processors will outperform the
Apple M1. In short, don’t take it for granted that
your next Windows PC will be With all these factors contributing to
running on x86. processor performance, it’s not
reasonable to expect a normal person
44
@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO CPUs
WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT APPLE’S M1?
When Apple’s M1 processor was unveiled last mathematical transformations, encryption and Additional benefits are achieved through the
year it caused a sensation, delivering even machine learning, all using Apple’s “neural M1’s unified memory architecture, which allows
performance far beyond what analysts had engine”. The pairing of ARM efficiency with all parts of the CPU (including the sound and
expected from an ARM-based chip. In some x86-type specialisms and extensions delivers graphics subsystems) to share access to the
benchmarks it put high-end Core i7 and even the best of both worlds. pool of RAM. Data-intensive applications such
Core i9 desktop systems to shame, while as video production get a real responsiveness
maintaining astounding energy The M1 benefits from a unique memory boost, with little of the stuttering and struggling
efficiency – we found the structure too. Rather than using external that can plague x86 systems.
M1-powered MacBook Pro ran
for more than 17 hours on a memory modules, the entire provision of Since Apple owns both the silicon and the
single battery charge. system RAM is built into the CPU software platform, it’s even been able to direct
package. This means the design of the chip to fit the needs of the
How was this achieved? you can’t upgrade it; operating system. Most notably, the M1 includes
The M1 uses eight ARM cores once you’ve picked an bespoke translation hardware that accelerates
running at up to 3.2GHz, 8GB or 16GB model, the emulation of x86 code – meaning it can run
which Apple partners with you’re stuck with it. But older software written for Intel-based Macs
a slew of custom on-chip it keeps the system’s with almost no slowdown. It’s easy to see why
modules, to accelerate power consumption this remarkable new chip has persuaded a fair
tasks like image and down, and slashes the wait few Windows die-hards to dip their toes into the
video processing, time involved in accessing Mac world.
system memory.
to work out which of two models will Some Intel chips use the lightweight If you intend to run Windows
be faster. From 2008, Intel set out to UHD Graphics GPU, while others then there are two main chipmakers
simplify the market by dividing its have the latest Iris Xe silicon, and to choose from: AMD and Intel. You
Core processors into three families different models have different don’t have to agonise too much over
– Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7, numbers of graphical execution units this choice: thanks to long-standing
targeting lightweight, mainstream (EUs). The “G” rating appended to the licensing agreements, the two
and high-performance systems. It’s a model number gives you a hint of companies both make processors that
good, clear system, and AMD has comparative GPU power: the Core fully support the x86 architecture,
shamelessly followed suit, dividing i3-1125G4 has UHD Graphics with 48 and can, therefore, run Windows and
its own chips into Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5 EUs running at 1.25GHz, while the all popular desktop apps. And the
and Ryzen 7. Core i5-1155G7 features Iris Xe with truth is, unless you’re looking at real
80 EUs at 1.35GHz (note that the “11” bottom-of-the-barrel hardware,
The branding isn’t as transparent at the start of the processor name almost any processor you buy today
as it may seem, however. For one indicates it’s an 11th-generation will do for everyday computing.
thing, Intel cranks out a new chip). As with the main Core
generation of chips almost every branding, however, these numbers Chips from the rival
year, and the capabilities of the chips don’t promise anything consistent, manufacturers tend to have different
are constantly changing. In some strengths and weaknesses, however.
recent years a Core i3 chip has meant AMD INTELespecially not across generations. Historically, Intel’s processor cores
two physical cores and no Turbo are individually faster than AMD
Boost, while the current roster vs models for single-threaded tasks, and
includes quad-core i3 models with often run at faster clock speeds. AMD
full Turbo capabilities. We’ve talked a lot about the compensates for this by building
BELOW Intel’s11th- generalities of processor design; this more cores into its processors –
Even within a generation the generationchipsare may be interesting, but it doesn’t meaning that, while Intel’s chips
branding doesn’t necessarily tell you designedtoboost necessarily tell you which processor mostly offer between six and eight
a lot, because each chip family spans gamesperformance you want in your next computer. cores, you will see plenty of Ryzen
all the way from lightweight laptop CPUs with 16 cores or even more. To
chips right up to chunky workstation keep all of these cores fed with
processors. The latest 11th-generation instructions and data, there’s
Core i5 lineup comprises 21 different normally more on-chip cache
models, with power consumption memory too.
levels between 7W and 125W.
Needless to say, between the top and As we’ve intimated above, more
bottom of that range there’s a huge cores doesn’t always equal better
variance in performance. performance. While some
As if that weren’t confusing applications can benefit
enough, the original three-tier enormously from the extra
lineup has been extended with silicon, an everyday desktop
even more powerful Core i9 might be better off with fewer,
processors, in both regular faster cores. We recommend
and top-end “X-series” that you work out your own
configurations, while AMD now requirements, and check both
offers Ryzen 9 chips. Intel’s old the single and multithreaded
Pentium and Celeron brands have benchmark scores to identify
been kept alive for budget CPUs the best options within your price
that rank below Core i3 too. range. It should quickly become
apparent which CPU models are
You can’t even be sure about a right for you.
given chip’s graphical capabilities.
45
Revie fpoarpVcsiaspLitrtopoor.ulaoiernrkkivn/tdiiineniexdcgewauxt l?ar
HTC Vive Pro 2Thebiggest,best,mostexcitingproductsintech–tested,evaluatedandreviewed
VaurVHefnRiTfvaloCiehlkri’etsPedyarlaaaedobntxsle2ypees’o,stetbtrivhshuiieireftgantrthurch-aefeerl-inosdm
SCORE sensors to track your movements. It ABOVE Thedesign, distributing weight across your head,
PRICE Headset only, £599 (£719 inc VAT) also requires plenty of play space to including the tangle of and the adjustable headband can
from vive.com get going. wires, hasn’t changed accommodate a wide range of sizes
since 2018… as well.
The barrier for entry into the The Vive Pro 2’s key improvements BELOW …butit’seasy
world of cutting-edge VR is still come from within. The headset’s LCD to adjust the headband The Vive Pro 2 is well suited to
painfully high. While the panel now has an increased and make room for glasses wearers and you can adjust
standalone Oculus Quest 2 (see issue resolution per eye of 2,448 x 2,448, your glasses the interpupillary distance (the space
314, p54) brought virtual reality into with a wider 120° field of view and a between both lenses) by between
console-like territory at £299, if you refresh rate of 120Hz, up from 90Hz. 57mm and 72mm to correctly focus
crave the best that VR gaming has to Clearly, the Vive Pro 2 is geared more the image. It’s easy to do: simply hold
offer then you’ll need to invest much towards gamers with high-end rigs, down a small button on the left side of
more money (and time) to get things using modern graphics cards capable the headset and pull the front either
up and running. of pushing VR to its limits. towards or away from your face until
everything looks clear.
Just like the original HTC Vive Price is where things really start to
Pro (see issue 287, p48), the Vive Pro 2 get interesting. Unless you already One thing I’m not pleased about is
is the most expensive way to access own a Vive then you’ll also need to the return of the Vive Pro’s removable
VR at the moment – and that’s before buy a pair of base stations and two face cushion. This felt itchy during
you take into consideration the beefy controllers – either Vive’s own or any long VR sessions and – there’s no
gaming PC you’ll need to enjoy it to others from Oculus or Valve. pleasant way of saying this – it’s a
the fullest. Nevertheless, the Vive Pro According to HTC, a full bundle will sweat sponge. It’s no good at blocking
2 offers a premium VR experience like soon be available for £1,299. out light, either, since it doesn’t sit
no other. around your nose. The good news is
Same old design that you can eliminate these
Temper, temper problems if you attach a (far better)
The lack of design changes
Temper your expectations, though, means you’re third-party
since the Vive Pro 2 is more of a getting exactly face pad.
refinement to the 2018 headset than a the same
radical change. Design-wise, it’s comfort theInbsoixde
identical. You must still plug it into experience with
your PC via a confusing mess of wires, the Vive Pro 2 as Aside from the
and it still uses a pair of base station you did with the headset, your
original. It still £719 buys you a
does an admirable link box (which is
job of evenly used to connect the
46
@PCPRO FACEBOOK.COM/PCPRO Reviews
Vive Pro 2 to your PC), a DisplayPort RTX 3070 FE graphics card and 16GB ABOVE Theface THE RIVALS
cable, a USB-A cable and a power of DDR4 RAM. cushion doesn’t quite
adapter. If you buy the bundle, you This finally brings me to the good blockoutthelightand OculusQuest2
also get a pair of Vive controllers, two stuff. I tested the Vive Pro 2 with a cangetsweaty
SteamVR 2 base station sensors and variety of games, and (assuming you SCORE
all the relevant chargers and cables have the PC for the job) I can R64EGVBIE, W£2I9s9siunec3V1A4,Tpf5r4om oculus.com
that come with them. confidently say that virtual reality This wireless headset is our pick of the
gaming really doesn’t get any better. bunch if you’re looking for a simple
Unfortunately, the HTC Vive Pro The stunning post-apocalyptic way to access VR without spending a
2’s setup process remains the stuff of environments of Half-Life: Alyx were fortune. There’s no need for a separate
virtual nightmares. After you have rendered beautifully, with top-notch PC as it’s self-contained, and the 90Hz
plugged in all the cables, switched on performance from beginning to end. “fast-switch” LCD looks sharp thanks
the three extra plugs, appropriately If there was any slowdown during to 1,832 x 1,920 pixels per eye. Whilst it
positioned your sensors, charged the gameplay, I certainly isn’t as powerful as the Vive family, the
controllers and pressed the button didn’t notice it. s“loiTgohnkeisfViacisvatenoPtnirimsohp2irn’sogdv,ieasmnpdleaintyt’soan game library is excellen
on the link box, you then need to Ia’lvlethteesottehderprVeRvhioeuasdlsye”ts
launch SteamVR and pray that the Wacky wobbly- HTCViveCosmo
software detects the headset and weapon-waving
associated gubbins. colosseum battler Gorn SCORE
also ran without any £R6E9V9IEinWc IVsAsTuefr3o0m9,mpy5s6hop.vive.com
You also need to run HTC’s new noticeable performance HTC’s other VR headset, the Vive
Vive Console software alongside hiccups, as did time- Cosmos, also needs to be connected to
SteamVR during games and VR stopping shooter Superhot VR. The a gaming PC. Its £699 price includes
applications. This grants access to all Vive Pro 2’s headsets and controllers two controllers but there’s no base
sorts of extra settings, however, support both first and second- system. We would have liked it to be
allowing you to manually adjust generation SteamVR base stations, cheaper still – in terms of quality and
per-eye resolution, maximum refresh and I tested both – and they experience there was lile to separate
rate and apply motion compensation. successfully registered my head/ this from the Oculus Rift S, which cost
This last setting is best used for PCs body movements and arm £399 but has now been discontinued,
with weaker specs and adapts video waggles. and if you’re spending this much you
resolution during gameplay to reach It’s only a shame might as well opt for the Vive Pro 2.
a 90fps target. that HTC hasn’t
updated the ValveIndex
New eyes design or
functionality Not tested
As for the display, the Vive Pro 2’s of its now s£t9e1a9minpcoVwAeTrefrdo.cmosmtore.
low-persistence LCD panel provides five-year- Finally, the Valve Index – like the Vive
a boosted total resolution of 4,896 x old input Pro 2 – needs a pair of base stations,
2,448. That’s the highest of any VR controllers, and costs £919 for the full bundle (with a
headset yet. they’re showing their free copy of Half-Life: Alyx) and has a
age. The halo design at the higher maximum refresh rate of
As mentioned, the panels now top throws off the balance in the ABOVE Theresolution 144Hz, as well as a wider 130° FOV.
refresh at 120Hz (up from 90Hz) and hand, and they are cumbersome and refresh rate have However, as is the case with all the
have a marginally wider 120° field of compared to the Quest 2. been boosted – with other VR headsets listed above, it
view. The latter doesn’t make a huge spectacular results doesn’t come close to the Vive Pro 2’s
difference during gameplay, but the Simply the best
former is a serious game-changer if Despite such criticisms, the Vive generous per-eye resolution.
you’re lucky enough to own a gaming Pro’s sequel is once again the very
PC that can reliably push out frames. best that VR has to offer. Provided Where it falls down is the
One thing to note, however, is that that you have the hardware high cost and the lack of any
the wireless adapter (sold separately) to support it, the Vive Pro 2 offers an meaningful design changes.
restricts the Vive Pro 2’s refresh rate exceptional VR experience, with an This won’t be a VR gaming
to 90Hz. as-yet-unmatched maximum setup that attracts new people to
rendering resolution, as well as a the market. Instead, if you’re
Quality-wise, the Vive Pro 2’s good selection of added gaming- keen to take your first steps into the
display looks astonishing, and it’s a friendly benefits. virtual world, the Oculus Quest 2 is
significant improvement on all the our top choice. On the flip side, if
other VR headsets I’ve tested you’re already a VR enthusiast and
previously. Colours are rich and are looking for an excuse to upgrade,
vibrant, although since the Vive Pro then there’s no better reason than
2’s lenses are more rectangular than this. NATHANSPENDELOW
the original lenses, the vertical field
of view is reduced slightly. SPECIFICATIONS
Dual2,448x2,448120HzIPSscreens 120°
Power behind the throne fieldofview dualmics Bluetooth USB-C
forperipherals G-sensor gyroscope
The Vive Pro 2’s system requirements proximitysensor IPDsensor SteamVR
are understandably stringent. HTC Tracking2 requiresWindows10 257x300
recommends at least an Intel Core x110mm(WDH) 555g 1yrwarranty
i5-4590 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500 CPU,
8GB of RAM and either an Nvidia
GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX
480 graphics card. You’ll also need a
DisplayPort 1.2 output and a spare
USB 3 port for the link box.
As a frame of reference, my testing
rig consists of a Ryzen 7 1700 (which
is close to the minimum), an Nvidia
47
AwAEbcouncsonttlerivdemdreorirnCnapt’nihptrbdeorilesxawopetCmetehrSrcearptocbtimtonhiveoe5ebkl1ao3sotk, large and easy to hit. Acer even
lavishes the touchpad with a coating
SCORE of Gorilla Glass for added smoothness.
PRICE £324 (£389 inc VAT)
from ballicom.co.uk The touchscreen will come into
play if you take advantage of the 360°
The seed of the Chromebook’s hinge that gives this laptop its Spin
success was planted in the moniker, although it’s a far better
fertile ground of education. laptop than it is a tablet. My biggest
From an IT point of view, what’s not issue is that the screen becomes so
to like about a laptop that updates slim in tablet mode: a 16:9 aspect ratio
itself, can easily last a day without and much bigger bezel on one side
being plugged in and needs such
minimal setup? Log in using your than the other makes it
Google account and everything you feel uneven.
need is on tap, with the hardware
merely the portal into a cloudy swirl That 1.1kg
of applications and data. budget. Nor will users weight soon feels heavy
feel short-changed: there are in the hand, too.
As we stumble our way into the signs that it’s a cut-price machine if Aside from the keyboard,
unpredictable world of hybrid you hunt for them, but a sleek 15.5mm ABOVE Considering another sign of this laptop’s low price
working, those arguments resonate chassis and light 1.1kg weight lend it itsprice,theglossy is the Snapdragon Kyro 468 processor,
with businesses’ IT teams too. If you immediate appeal. So what if only the Spin513makesafine which is much slower than Intel Core
can wean workers off full-fat lid is made from metal, with the rest firstimpression chips in benchmarks: compare the
Microsoft Office and towards relying on plastic? It’s robust enough Acer’s score of 25 in Speedometer 2 to
web-based apps, which typically to survive life in a laptop bag, and if the 108 of the Core i5-powered Lenovo
work better for collaboration anyway, something does go awry then it’s IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook (see issue
then why not switch? Those who cheap to send out a replacement. 321, p87). But, while I wouldn’t
insist on using Word and Excel can describe this Acer as nippy, it was
download stripped-down versions via The glossy black bezel around the never aggravatingly laggy.
the Play Store. 13.3in screen adds to the sense of Other cut-price inclusions are the
class, although the IPS panel falls RECOMMENDED 64GB of eMMC storage, with no
smell the opportunity – behind the best for quality. Coverage microSD card slot to complement it,
expect to see many of 78% (sRGB) with an average Delta E and it’s Wi-Fi 5 inside rather than
business-focused of 2.02 doesn’t make for dreamy Wi-Fi 6. Nor do you get an HDMI
Chromebooks in colours, and I found myself pushing connector. This means the USB-C
the months to brightness up to its 315cd/m peak to slots on either side are your only route
come – and make it more pleasant to read. to video output, but it’s great to see
whilst this that Acer hasn’t saved a
updated Spin This will shorten battery life, and o“Ifffyfuolul-cfaatnMwiecarnoswooftrkers few pounds by making
513 (identified the Spin didn’t fare overly well here as wOwfehfbyic-neboaatsnsedwdtaoitpwcphas?r,”dthsen one of them data only.
by part code it is. A time of 8hrs 20mins in our Aside from USB-C, there’s
NX.HWYEK. video-rundown test is okay, but we’ve a USB-A slot, a 3.5mm
001) is a minor audio jack and a (flimsy)
update of what twice that. Based on my own volume control.
came before rather usage, with the screen at These ports mirror
than something peak brightness, I those of the Lenovo IdeaPad, which
completely new, there is still would expect around retains its A List spot due to its higher
much to commend it. Not least seven hours of life. quality screen, an 11-hour battery life
the inclusion of Chrome Despite this, I and that superior turn of pace. It’s
Enterprise, with the additional wouldn’t sling the more expensive at £530 inc VAT, but
management tools this brings. 280g USB-C LEFTAsitsname you can see the results. Still, if all you
charger into a bag indicates,theSpin513 need is the basics then there’s much to
But this laptop’s primary on a day trip into cantransformitself like here: the Acer Chromebook
attraction is surely its price. A town, because two into a tablet Enterprise Spin 513 is a great machine
medium-sized business could of the benefits for the price. TIMDANTON
buy a dozen and roll them out to Chromebooks offer
workers as a pilot without come to the Spin’s aid: BATTERY Videorundown,8hrs20mins
making a dent in its annual
first that they consume little LEFT The chassis is SPECIFICATIONS
electricity while asleep, second they sleek and light, even if Eight-core 2.1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon
wake up near instantly on opening the Acer doesn’t cram it Kyro468processor Adreno618graphics
lid. Combined, these traits give you with ports 4GBRAM 64GBeMMCstorage 13.3in
licence to simply close the lid when touchscreen1,920x1,080IPSdisplay 720p
you’re done tapping. webcam 2xUSB-C3.1 USB-A3.1 3.5mm
headphonejack 2x2Wi-Fi5 Bluetooth5
Which brings us to the keyboard. 4,670mAhbattery ChromeEnterpriseOS
This is a typical budget offering, with 310x209x15.5mm(WDH) 1.1kg 1yrlimited
little tactile feedback, no backlight warranty partcodeNX.HWYEK.001
and not much travel. But it’s hard to
be too critical at this price, especially
when it’s so quiet and the keys are
48
@PCPRO ws
T(oHIsni2lhugdti0nesapl2iwmo’fsi1rcin)etnaseionwhMrtasrCmapeoetfprreeeeedBrsi both right-
t USB 2’s
SCORE . A 3.5mm
PRICE £625 (£750 inc VAT HDMI output
from consumer.huawei.c ff well, but
to update its
By now, we know : at the very least
exactly what we’ B-C 3.2 ports,
going to get with m needs to
MateBook D series. Focused on value, lay. It also
these laptops always cram a powerful e webcam tucked
specification into a metal chassis that he F6 and F7
rewrote our expectations for budget button and up it
machines back in 2019. And so it is for is superb for
this 2021 update of the 15in variant, awful for
the MateBook D 15. angles.
keyboard itself
What’s less predictable is whether rue to this
Huawei is going to swing towards ptop’s budget
AMD or Intel, as it’s equally at home ots, with no
with both chip makers. Here, the action. At
benefactor is Intel, with its familiar and write scores of 2,785MB/sec and screenismatchedby least the large keys make it easy to
four-core Core i5-1135G7 inside. It’s 2,395MB/sec, which are spectacular largekeysanda120x reach high typing speeds, and that
an 11th-generation chip with Intel’s for this price. If you ever need to 73mmtouchpad generosity of size continues to the 120
fastest integrated graphics, Iris Xe, replace the SSD, remove the chassis x 73mm touchpad.
and Huawei wrings bottom with a Torx screwdriver. Then we come to the 15.6in screen.
last drop of power I don’t want to be overly harsh,
the combination. The MateBook carried its because something has to give for the
momentum into our games tests, with price, but I hoped for more than 55%
To see this, 61fps in Dirt: Showdown at 1080p coverage of the sRGB colour space –
compare the (High quality) to the Dynabook’s that means almost one in two colours
MateBook’s scores 54fps, and 1,221 in 3DMark compared can’t be displayed. Let’s not even talk
with the Core to 1,157. It was also faster in the about an average Delta E of 5.48, or
i7-powered OpenGL GFXBench Car Chase test, the maximum of 23.5. This IPS panel’s
Dynabook on p51. with 76fps versus 70fps. This makes only plus points are its size and that
The Dynabook is you wonder just how quick it would brightness goes up to a
faster in the PC Pro be with a Core i7, and is one of the “The SSD returned reasonable 250cd/m –
benchmarks, with sss2pec,3oqe9ruc5eteaMsnctoBuifa/l2alsr,re7efc8ao,5drwMathhnBiidc/shswpearrcriicaeteen”d plenty for indoors.
an overall score of f having a larger
to 140, but in our pho and the greater You’ll want to tap
editing test the difference ing this affords. brightness down if you’re
was 65 seconds versus 61 seconds. An advantage of running off the battery,
Things were closer still in Geekbench Intel’s latest chips with the D 15 giving up
5, with the MateBook managing 1,394 is that they bring after six hours in our
in the single-core test to 1,461 for the Wi-Fi 6 with video-rundown test. Not that this
Dynabook – and it was actually faster them, but if you bulky laptop is suited to life on the
in the multicore segment, scoring were hoping for road, despite its surprisingly light
4,622 versus 4,482. Thunderbolt 4 LEFT Thepop-up weight of 1.6kg. The good news is that
then prepare for webcamisgreatfor Huawei’s super-compact USB-C
Another speed boost comes in the ppointment. privacy,lesssofor charger won’t take up much room in
form of the 512GB SSD. This fast ei has stuck with flatteringangles your bag if you decide to go on a trip.
id selection of I’m left with mixed feelings about
ports as on the previous the MateBook D 15. The port selection,
MateBook D 15, and that means the mediocre display and webcam
single USB-C connector remains in placement let it down badly, but it’s
the slow lane. Huawei doesn’t also fast and well-built enough to last
state whether it supports USB 3.1 or for many years. In fact, it’s the best-
higher, but with extremely slow BELOW Thenewest specified laptop I’ve seen for less than
transfers during my testing I suspect MateBookkeepsits £800. If that’s what you’re looking for
it’s USB 3.0 only. metalchassis–and then buy it, but I would sacrifice some
Slow ports are something of a DANTON
BATTERY Videorundown,5hrs59mins i5-1135G7 Intel
x 1,080 non-touch
PCPRO BENCHMARKS
NVMeSSD 16GB
OVERALL 140 Full HD webcam
tooth5.1 USB-C3
0 100 200 300 400 500 xUSB-A2 HDMI
BREAKDOWN SCORES eImd1i6ati0gneg eVd1idi1tie8nog taM1s4kuil8ntig Windows 10
358 x 230 x
16.9mm(WDH) 1.6kg
1yr RTB warranty
49
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